“We must go! Oh, how can we not?” Cassa looked desperately at her people as she pleaded, “We cannot miss the Light Willow Ceremony. Don't you see?”
“Cassa, we know that the ceremony is tomorrow but we must not risk leaving here – the enemy will invade our home and destroy it all.” Altur was sure of this and was trying to make Cassa see that their home needed protection.
“If we stay then all of these lands will perish. We will be responsible for that. Our selfishness to protect that which we love will destroy everything. As your leader, I have spoken – We will travel to the heart of Willow Land and be the light for all these lands. If we fail to do this – if we fail to go to the Light Willow Ceremony, and fail in our duty, we will bring about the end of the magic: magic of our own and magic in everyone around us.”
Altur was shaken by the sound of doom and finality in his wife's declaration. He looked into Cassa's blue eyes, hoping to see a sign of hope. In their twenty years of marriage, he had never been opposed, as strongly, to her choices. The weight of this was fast becoming impossible to bear. He approached his wife and held her soft fingers in his. There would be time, later, to convince her that this was madness. For now, he would stand by her and guide their people by her side – he would not forsake her.
Cassa felt Altur's reassuring grip on her hand and felt a sigh escape her. She felt no joy in forsaking her home, but the vision had been clear. Ferntress had also sent a warning. This was the reason Cassa had been born; she knew it with a blinding certainty. “Prepare yourselves! We leave for Willow Land at dawn.”
Tears brimmed her steel eyes as she watched the other Lighters sombrely moving out of Willow Hall. From the window to her right, she could see her homeland and the dancing, merry lights shining through all the willow trees. Each willow stood proud and tall, houses and centres carved within its hollows. The design of each home was different, intricate details carved by the Lighters themselves. Stain glass paintings decorated the window panes that were made out of pure shimmer – which looked like and behaved like glass, but with magic. Shimmer protected the Lighters and the willows they lived in. It was made of the purest of waters; magic waters only Lighters could find. Shimmer was bright blue and speckled with star-like glitter and yet when you looked through it, it was crystal clear. Shimmer and the lights were what made this land so beautiful. Lights of all colours and shapes (leaves, trees, butterflies, stars – anything with life!) Each light could take on any colour and at times the lights would change colour as if by will to make everything more beautiful. Ferntress used to tell Cassa that the Lighters were as beautiful as their land and as Cassa looked at her people returning to their willows, she knew it was true.
The Lighters were distant relatives of the light fairies and the resemblance was vivid. The men were lean and stood at about two feet high. Altur was the tallest Lighter ever known at two and a half feet. The women were shorter and curvaceous. Lighters had hair the colour of sunshine and eyes the colour of bright blue skies. It was their wings, though, that made the Lighters resplendent. Each Lighter's wings were unique and took on their owner's personality: Altur's were golden and as they moved you could see the shape of a golden, majestic lion – shades of golden yellow and brown came together fascinatingly, evoking visions of a lion protecting its pride. Cassa's wings were heart shaped and rainbow coloured. The edges were tinted by a dizzying number of colours – black, white, gold, silver, amber and more. The heart shape and colour were reflective of the source of life. Other Lighters' wings comprised of flowers, trees, hills, some had written poetry and each depicted the Lighter's own core or skill.
“Come Cassa, we must prepare to leave.” Altur couldn't help the hint of bitterness in his voice.
“Altur, please hear me. My vision is clear. If we fail to bring the Grand Willow to life, the ceremony will fail and so will our magic. Our home will never be the same. We may save some of it, but the lights will die. Altur, I need you to help me with your heart. Please do not hate me.”
Altur looked at Cassa and understood that perhaps his sense of loss was blinding him. It hurt him beyond measure that they would lose their home; yet home without the lights was not home. “Cassa, forgive me. My selfishness has cost us time and caused us pain.” Placing his hand on Cassa's heart, he continued, “My life and light are yours to guide and share. We will light the Grand Willow. We will sacrifice our home so magic will live. It will be done as you say.”
Tears poured freely down Cassa's face. Laying her hand over his, she reached up and gave him a lingering kiss, “Together then, let us go onward.”
As dawn approached, Altur and Cassa watched as all the Lighters gathered together. Proud of their courage, Cassa began their journey song as they stepped out of Willow Heart and towards their destiny. Willow Light lay west and about half a day's journey away allowing a few brief stops for rest.
The Lighters carried on with their journey, forsaking their sorrow and following their leader. A sort of merriment filled their hearts – for they loved to travel. Altur and Cassa alone were aware of the sense of darkness in their surroundings. Where there had been light there was an eerie greyness. Cassa urged her people onward, hastening their progress away from the gloom and wanting to ensure that they would be on time.
It was high noon when they reached Willow Light. Unnatural rain, snow and an evil wind had slowed them down and Ferntress sighed in relief as she saw them approach the Grand Willow, where she was waiting for them. “Come dear ones. There is no time to lose. We must begin the ceremony.”
Cassa looked at Ferntress and beyond, “Where is everyone? We will wait for them so they may watch.”
Ferntress shook her head in sorrow, “They will not come. It is only us who are here. Many are scared, others have perished and more still cannot make it past the evil.”
“But...”
“Come Cassa, let us not lose heart now. We will triumph yet.” Altur grasped her hand and gave it a gentle but firm squeeze.
“Cassa, Altur, we must begin. If you do this you must know that you sacrifice your home – will you still light the Grand Willow?”
Cassa took a deep breath and turned to her people, “Lighters, we have been called. Light up your souls, forget your sorrows. Bring forth the magic – bring forth the light. Let our light be the light of magic. Let our loss be the gain of others. Let our tears bring laughter. Go forth, Lighters!”
Even as she spoke the words, Cassa felt the light dying in Willow Heart and tears drowned her face as she saw her vision come to life. This would be the end of her people, but at least the rest of Willow Land would be safe. She looked towards Ferntress felt her sorrow and saw her resolve. She sought Altur's eyes and knew instinctively that he felt the light dying as well.
“The ceremony will go on,” she vowed quietly and together Altur and Cassa flew around the Grand Willow, in spirals. Sparkled dust ran down the bark as they moved. The leaves turned golden, the Willow's bark was alight in a bronze glitter. The Lighters moved into a formation of a tree with a flower inside and a heart within the flower. In a single motion they flew higher, maintaining the formation, over the tree, protecting it and conferring it with their light. Cassa and Altur flew into the centre of the heart. The few spectators below were solemn and in awe of the beautiful sight. The lights were dazzling, and the Grand Willow itself seemed to be alive – a golden light was spreading through its roots and diffusing a sense of joy. Eerie lights that had take residence in the area around them, were disappearing. It was life beginning anew. Ferntress laughed her golden laugh again and the river beyond gurgled in unison.
Cassa watched as all of Willow Land was encompassed in their light. She could see the evil move away. She saw laughter and fearlessness return to the land. She felt the joy of life as she spun her light with Altur's. She needed to hold on for just a while longer. She looked at her people and through their song, sent them love and gratitude. She looked at Altur and silently told him she loved him more than life itself. She saw again, her vision.
It was time. She couldn't save their home but she would save her people. Quickly she gathered her essence and sough the presence of the evil. She wove her light and trapped the soul of the enemy in Willow Heart, her home. It pained her to have that evil in her home land, but it was inevitable. Only there, with the magic of their lights, their ancestry and the shimmer could the evil be contained. With quickening pace, Cassa summoned all her light and sent it forth from Willow Land to Willow Heart and barred the evil in a light prison it could not escape. She felt the light escape her soul and sank towards the earth. The Lighters' song had ended, but the Lighters themselves were alight and alive! She had saved them. She felt Altur's hand hold her before she hit the earth – he was safe too. She looked at him smiling, as her eyes closed.
Altur watched her smile. She had saved them. He didn’t know how, but knew it had cost her her life. The sorrow he felt was beyond him. He felt dead, alive. He heard her last message in her smile and heard his voice speak words that were his, but not his, “ Lighters arise! Lighters awaken! Lighters alight! The evil has been contained. The shimmers and a prison of light hold it in Willow Heart. Our home is lost to us, but our magic and light are with us still. Cassa, sends us this gift. Homeless we are but gifted we remain.” He could say no more. He knew he must lead his people but did not know how. Around him, Lighters were mourning as he held on tightly to Cassa.
“There is hope yet, brave one.” It was Ferntress. “Cassa, will live again.”
Altur looked up, hope threatening to surface. He said nothing, just waited to hear more from their friend.
“Altur, we have much to do. For now, Willow Land is safe and my people and the Lighters will take care of all the tasks at hand. We must journey.”
Altur couldn't move. He wouldn't leave his wife.
“Look carefully Altur, there is yet a spark in her soul. Let her rest. We will bring her the Heart of Willow from yonder. Make haste, lest we cannot help her.”
Altur looked at Cassa and the smile on her tranquil face. He laid her gently at the base of the Grand Willow. He magicked a shrine of light around her to protect her. He would journey, forever if that was what it took, to light that one spark that remained in her. To light her life – and his.
