Thus all was ready on the dancing day. The lords of the three towns had come, each well armed and with many wary warriors. Each had come to see the dance but more to see that the other two gained no advantage by their absence.
The priestess stepped onto the floor and began. Age had not been kind to her and her steps were pained, her first spins and twirls were unsteady and slow. The dance to the forgotten goddess began.
But step by step something happened. Step by step the grace of her youth returned. Spin by spin she became faster and more sure, twirl by twirl her movements began to flow like dancing water.
On and on she danced, every step and turn filled with grace and beauty.
Many stood and watched and wondered. All had seen the woman walk, all had seen the years heavy on her. What magic now let her dance like a girl in the bloom of youth? On and on she danced and those who scoffed at ancient magic came to doubt their own words.
Step and spin, step and jump, step and twirl. On she danced the ancient dance, on and on she went. Words came from her lips, barely heard at first but rising in volume till all could hear the song. Many had heard the rasp of her aged voice; many had heard her cough and gasp.
Yet now she sang words long forgotten but gentle and fine. Like silk flowing through the air came the words and many a hardened heart was touched.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang.
Hands relaxed their grip on hilt and haft. Angry and hate faded a little from face and stance and on and on she danced and sang.
Another voice was heard, matching her song but gentle as if from far away, another voice joined her and another and on she danced, stepping and spinning the worship dance.
Half way through the dance and faster she spun and faster she sang. Then the air was filled with the scent of spring flowers, flowers many moons gone from the late autumn air of this day. Many drew breath and memories of spring joys came unbidden. Veteran warrior glanced at those around them and seeing no threat wondered why they still stood as if on guard.
On and on she danced and her voice and many other voices became louder. Those outside the hall stood ready for war, alert for attack form their enemies. They heard the words and looked toward the hall. Those by the doors who could see spoke of the dance and the flowers and the singing and here away from the dance still its magic spread and weapons were lowered.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang, spinning and twirling the ancient dance. The voices of many sang with her, unseen but clearly heard.
Step by step she danced, step by step she sang.
One who watched caught the pattern of the dance and began to clap, gentle claps to guide her on but not to disturb the dance. Three quick, two slow, two quick, three slow. He clapped the dance and others joined him till all present joined the pace.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang. Her every step matched by a single clap as those who watched unknowingly became one with the dance. Outside the hall others heard the clap and joined in, rough and loud they clapped but inside the hall muffled by distance and walls they became one with the others.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang till suddenly the dance was done and exhausted she fell to the floor. The singing stopped, the clapping stopped, the scent of spring slowly faded.
Men hardened by battle and war blinked and looked around to find others doing the same. Some found themselves shoulder to shoulder with enemies and quickly stepped away then wondered why they felt foolish doing so.
Quiet words were spoken throughout the hall, enemies traded hesitant words with those around them and wondered why it felt normal to do so. Weapons were forgotten and old hatreds set aside for a while at least and the lords of the clans spoke in peace to their equals.
For the first time in many years hands grasped hands in friendship not weapons in war, words were spoken not shouted. Orders were passed and servants were summoned for fire and feast that night.
For a single night there was peace and each lord pledged a score of warriors to escort the priestess home and spoke of peace and friendship with the others. But then the night was done and with the dawn they left.
The guard gathered and left, taking the priestess home. Marching in three wary groups as much watching each other as the land around them for threat.
Away from the hall and with the dancing day gone old troubles return. Borders of land, owners of beast and bird. Arguments and hostile words, but something lingered still, voices were raised but never fists. Grown men shouted at each other then felt shame like errant children.
Then winter came, gentle and mild. The oldest among them spoke of it, never so mild, never so gentle, and never so peaceful.
Winter feast came and still the guard had not returned. Spring drew near and not a man had been seen. Some spoke of treachery, some gathered in darkness and spoke of war again.
Then suddenly the sun shone bright and warm, the air was full of spring and the flowers bloomed. The scent was heavy in the air when the runners came, the guard returned, they had been seen on the road.
Many came out to greet them and wondered at what they saw. Half the guard walked ahead, shoulder to shoulder and all mixed together. Then came a wagon, covered in bright strips of cloth and behind came the rest of the guard likewise mixed.
They walked past the first town, ignoring the shouted calls and questions. Past the second town they walked then turned into the ancient valley and up the forgotten path they went. Since the dance many had walked this way to see and listen to the tales and the path had been cleared by the feet of the walkers. Along this path they went and to the dancing hall where they stopped. Many ran to follow them and as word spread the lords of the three towns themselves came to see what new magic as about.
The wagon was opened and down stepped a woman of middle years, clad in the garb of the dancers, young girls followed her, acolytes of the dance and servants of the hall.
The priestess saw the lords approached and waited for them on bended knee, humbly she asked for their permission to reopen the hall of the dance, quietly she asked that the priestesses be allowed to return.
Stunned the three lords stood, looking at each other for guidance. Their fathers and grandfathers had driven the dancers out and yet here one knelt before them asking to return. Words failed them and still they stood until one, the oldest among them moved. As a child he had seen the dance and he remembered the days of the dancing before the wars.
He had no words to speak but he stepped forward and taking the priestess by the hand he gently lifted her to her feet and gestured her toward the hall.
Cheers filled the air and rang from the hills. People laughed and hugged and sang with joy.
The dancers had returned.
Those of the guard knelt as one and spoke oaths of service and loyalty. No longer would they serve lord or town, they pledged their lives to the dancers.
Beasts were killed and feasts were held and many spoke as friends.
In the years that followed girls were chosen from the towns to dance the ancient dance. Many an argument or fight was ended when someone began to sing the ancient song. Long after the names of the Heroes who had made it possible had been forgotten, long after the names of the lords who made it so had faded, still that day held its magic.
Against enemies within and without the three stood firm and grew closer, bound by the dance and the song. One day in every year, the day of the dancing comes and across the land of the three everyone stops what they are doing and prepares for the dance and the feast. Every village and town holds a dance led by acolytes from the dancing hall.
The priestess herself leads the dance in the hall, stepping and spinning the worship dance to a goddess she cannot name and a magic she cannot know, but for the peace of the people and the love of the dance she steps and spins and sings.
In fullness of time a mighty empire shall arise and armies will march to bring peace to the land. Great lord’s shall rule all they survey and yet, one day in each year, they will travel the length of the land to stand in a once forgotten hall and be made humble by the day of the dancing.
From this empire shall come a girl to learn the ancient dance. Then as a woman grown she will dance the dance and born of mortal flesh she will rise to the skies as a goddess.
The priestess stepped onto the floor and began. Age had not been kind to her and her steps were pained, her first spins and twirls were unsteady and slow. The dance to the forgotten goddess began.
But step by step something happened. Step by step the grace of her youth returned. Spin by spin she became faster and more sure, twirl by twirl her movements began to flow like dancing water.
On and on she danced, every step and turn filled with grace and beauty.
Many stood and watched and wondered. All had seen the woman walk, all had seen the years heavy on her. What magic now let her dance like a girl in the bloom of youth? On and on she danced and those who scoffed at ancient magic came to doubt their own words.
Step and spin, step and jump, step and twirl. On she danced the ancient dance, on and on she went. Words came from her lips, barely heard at first but rising in volume till all could hear the song. Many had heard the rasp of her aged voice; many had heard her cough and gasp.
Yet now she sang words long forgotten but gentle and fine. Like silk flowing through the air came the words and many a hardened heart was touched.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang.
Hands relaxed their grip on hilt and haft. Angry and hate faded a little from face and stance and on and on she danced and sang.
Another voice was heard, matching her song but gentle as if from far away, another voice joined her and another and on she danced, stepping and spinning the worship dance.
Half way through the dance and faster she spun and faster she sang. Then the air was filled with the scent of spring flowers, flowers many moons gone from the late autumn air of this day. Many drew breath and memories of spring joys came unbidden. Veteran warrior glanced at those around them and seeing no threat wondered why they still stood as if on guard.
On and on she danced and her voice and many other voices became louder. Those outside the hall stood ready for war, alert for attack form their enemies. They heard the words and looked toward the hall. Those by the doors who could see spoke of the dance and the flowers and the singing and here away from the dance still its magic spread and weapons were lowered.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang, spinning and twirling the ancient dance. The voices of many sang with her, unseen but clearly heard.
Step by step she danced, step by step she sang.
One who watched caught the pattern of the dance and began to clap, gentle claps to guide her on but not to disturb the dance. Three quick, two slow, two quick, three slow. He clapped the dance and others joined him till all present joined the pace.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang. Her every step matched by a single clap as those who watched unknowingly became one with the dance. Outside the hall others heard the clap and joined in, rough and loud they clapped but inside the hall muffled by distance and walls they became one with the others.
On and on she danced and on and on she sang till suddenly the dance was done and exhausted she fell to the floor. The singing stopped, the clapping stopped, the scent of spring slowly faded.
Men hardened by battle and war blinked and looked around to find others doing the same. Some found themselves shoulder to shoulder with enemies and quickly stepped away then wondered why they felt foolish doing so.
Quiet words were spoken throughout the hall, enemies traded hesitant words with those around them and wondered why it felt normal to do so. Weapons were forgotten and old hatreds set aside for a while at least and the lords of the clans spoke in peace to their equals.
For the first time in many years hands grasped hands in friendship not weapons in war, words were spoken not shouted. Orders were passed and servants were summoned for fire and feast that night.
For a single night there was peace and each lord pledged a score of warriors to escort the priestess home and spoke of peace and friendship with the others. But then the night was done and with the dawn they left.
The guard gathered and left, taking the priestess home. Marching in three wary groups as much watching each other as the land around them for threat.
Away from the hall and with the dancing day gone old troubles return. Borders of land, owners of beast and bird. Arguments and hostile words, but something lingered still, voices were raised but never fists. Grown men shouted at each other then felt shame like errant children.
Then winter came, gentle and mild. The oldest among them spoke of it, never so mild, never so gentle, and never so peaceful.
Winter feast came and still the guard had not returned. Spring drew near and not a man had been seen. Some spoke of treachery, some gathered in darkness and spoke of war again.
Then suddenly the sun shone bright and warm, the air was full of spring and the flowers bloomed. The scent was heavy in the air when the runners came, the guard returned, they had been seen on the road.
Many came out to greet them and wondered at what they saw. Half the guard walked ahead, shoulder to shoulder and all mixed together. Then came a wagon, covered in bright strips of cloth and behind came the rest of the guard likewise mixed.
They walked past the first town, ignoring the shouted calls and questions. Past the second town they walked then turned into the ancient valley and up the forgotten path they went. Since the dance many had walked this way to see and listen to the tales and the path had been cleared by the feet of the walkers. Along this path they went and to the dancing hall where they stopped. Many ran to follow them and as word spread the lords of the three towns themselves came to see what new magic as about.
The wagon was opened and down stepped a woman of middle years, clad in the garb of the dancers, young girls followed her, acolytes of the dance and servants of the hall.
The priestess saw the lords approached and waited for them on bended knee, humbly she asked for their permission to reopen the hall of the dance, quietly she asked that the priestesses be allowed to return.
Stunned the three lords stood, looking at each other for guidance. Their fathers and grandfathers had driven the dancers out and yet here one knelt before them asking to return. Words failed them and still they stood until one, the oldest among them moved. As a child he had seen the dance and he remembered the days of the dancing before the wars.
He had no words to speak but he stepped forward and taking the priestess by the hand he gently lifted her to her feet and gestured her toward the hall.
Cheers filled the air and rang from the hills. People laughed and hugged and sang with joy.
The dancers had returned.
Those of the guard knelt as one and spoke oaths of service and loyalty. No longer would they serve lord or town, they pledged their lives to the dancers.
Beasts were killed and feasts were held and many spoke as friends.
In the years that followed girls were chosen from the towns to dance the ancient dance. Many an argument or fight was ended when someone began to sing the ancient song. Long after the names of the Heroes who had made it possible had been forgotten, long after the names of the lords who made it so had faded, still that day held its magic.
Against enemies within and without the three stood firm and grew closer, bound by the dance and the song. One day in every year, the day of the dancing comes and across the land of the three everyone stops what they are doing and prepares for the dance and the feast. Every village and town holds a dance led by acolytes from the dancing hall.
The priestess herself leads the dance in the hall, stepping and spinning the worship dance to a goddess she cannot name and a magic she cannot know, but for the peace of the people and the love of the dance she steps and spins and sings.
In fullness of time a mighty empire shall arise and armies will march to bring peace to the land. Great lord’s shall rule all they survey and yet, one day in each year, they will travel the length of the land to stand in a once forgotten hall and be made humble by the day of the dancing.
From this empire shall come a girl to learn the ancient dance. Then as a woman grown she will dance the dance and born of mortal flesh she will rise to the skies as a goddess.