A Push in the Right Direction – Epilogue/Outtake- emersli1!

Reading Time:
4 Minutes

Corvus carried Nathaniel down to their family altar while the older two boys paced solemnly behind him.

They were determined to have the Bond of Brothers Ritual, since they hadn’t been there to witness their little brother joining the family and welcome him.  Each of them had thought about what they would say, and they were ready. 

Stopping to take off their socks and shoes, the little family left their footwear by the stairs and continued on across the floor to kneel before the family altar.  The living stump looked as it always had (so far as the boys were concerned) with their papa’s water and their flowers around at one side.

“Great Lady, bless our purpose here today.  May our intentions be pleasing to you, and may we never stray from your paths.”  Ambrose opened the ritual as the head of the Balfour Family.  The warmth and welcome he’d always felt in his ritual space enveloped him, and he could see that it had wrapped around his family as well.  Corvus, Matty, and Thad were accustomed to the way the ritual space felt, but Nathaniel looked startled.

Matthias stepped forward first as the eldest and the heir of the Balfour Family Magick.  “I come before my family of my own free will, clear of mind and firm of purpose.”  Ambrose had coached both boys, so they would know what to say, and what to expect.

Thaddeus joined his slightly older brother kneeling before the family altar.  “I come before my family of my own free will, clear of mind and firm of purpose.”  Thad had a slight lisp, so he’d worked really hard to get that all out with tripping over any of the words.

Corvus knelt with Nathaniel, and spoke to the little boy.  “Nathaniel, your brothers want to make sure you know they love you.  They want you to know you can always count on them.  Matthias and Thaddeus want to promise you that you will always be brothers.”

The two-year-old looked up at his new Papa, and then rather doubtfully at his brothers.  So far they hadn’t hurt him, but Papa or Avi was always close.  Of course, that had never stopped Tixie or Cissy.  And they had taken him and showed him a little room that was all his, with things to play with and books to look at.  They had shown him the soft blankets they picked for him, and the little table where he could draw pictures.

Maybe brothers were a good thing.

Taking a deep breath, the little boy sat down between his brothers.  “K Mat.  K Tad.”

Matthias ginned and took one of the small hands carefully in his own.  “Nathaniel Rhys Quinn.  I am your big brother.  I promise to help you when you need it.  I promise to teach you about our element Earth.  I promise to play with you, and walk you to school, and hold your hand in the shops so you don’t feel scared.  I promise to protect you.  I love you.  As I will, so mote it be.”

Thaddeus took the other hand gently to make his own promises.  “Nathaniel Rhys Quinn.  I am your big brother.  I promise to hold you when bad dreams come.  I promise to help you learn to sing.  I promise to listen to you, always.  I promise to pick you up if you fall down.  I promise to protect you.  I love you.  As I will, so mote it be.”

Nathaniel didn’t really understand what he was supposed to do, but someone to hold his hand and keep him safe from the bad things in the dark sounded really good.  And someone to play with and learn with.  He didn’t really understand what this ‘love’ was, but the rest sounded good.  So when the older boys each leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, he kissed them back.

The warm, hugging feeling in the room was happy.  And suddenly a new flower appeared on the stump.  Small blooms, bright pink, and delicate, the camellia took its place proudly with the paintbrush and the heather.

Many years from now, people would speak with respect and awe of the Lions of Andorra.  The Dark Lion Matthias, herbologist and ward master.  The Red Lion Thaddeus, healer and musician.  The Golden Lion Nathaniel, storm mage and beast master.  Three brothers united in an unbreakable bond, a force for protection, healing, and beauty in the world.  And this was its beginning.

But right now, they were just three small boys, and it was time for supper.

Ambrose closed the Ritual, “Great Lady, bless the promises made today, that they may become loving bonds rather than nooses.  As I will, so mote it be.”

Corvus shepherded the little boys back to the stairs to put their socks (at least) back on.  Destra called down from the kitchen to let them know dinner was ready.

And around the table that night a family came together in joy.  In safety.  In love.