Fractured Paradise (Volume II)
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Chapter 1 Ceremony of Creation "In the beginning The Henin created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Henin of Spirit moved upon the face of the waters." From the Canon of Truth: Genesis, A Hebrew Memory. "In the beginning there was no birth nor death," chanted Minethule, "no time or space or laws to govern them, only the silence and unity within the Henin, the ones who have always been." "We may have called them gods when we lived on earth, but that was before we understood the truth of Addewid, a truth we came to know as soon as our eyes opened up in the Tavod river and saw the perfect skies and breathed in the air of eternity. It was Cren who created the Flesh Weavers and commanded them to take our spirits from the Yew trees as we crossed over and build for us the bodies of our resurrection." Minethule stared out at the faces surrounding her. Her wild, dark hair exploded around her black face, and her breasts quivered as she crouched down. Her hips hovered just above the soft grass. Even after so many cycles of Henin breath, she was still amazed at the sight of such eternal youth in the pilgrims assembled before her. The fact that they all looked like twenty year olds back on earth, regardless of how long they have been in Addewid, was fascinating to her. She knew there was nothing in her appearance to indicate her experience, or the wisdom, but she also knew that everyone sitting in the Devod knew of her Telling Ways. She was one of the few Tellers who knew and understood the ceremony of creation completely. For longer than any other, she had taken pilgrims through the ritual, leaving them physically exhausted, yet spiritually refreshed, as they prepared for the The Festival of the Cauldron. Those present awaited each word she spoke. Every eye traced her form as she ran and twisted through the narrative. Her body danced, her voice sang and her spirit soared. A light green Cuvrin stone hung between her breasts, held by a strap of braided Lening vine wrapped around her neck. It pulsed gently with the presence of Henin images and thoughts that Minethule absorbed continually, learning the stories of the Henin. Throughout the archipelago on the Biola Sea she was the Teller most well known. Word passed from person to person, island to island. Ceffelmor carried their charges from across the infinite distances of the Biola sea to Innisprid, Minethule's island. Pilgrims arrived throughout the Cycle of the Henin Breath, especially during the Festival of The Cauldron, celebrating the emergence of the twelve from the Silence. A large, black-grey Inoliaeth stone half the height of Minethule rose from the ground with one side sloping to her left. She jumped lightly to the base of it, then the rhythm of Clewig drums started to throb in the air around Minethule and the pilgrims. They all swayed and dipped to the insistent rhythm. With three quick steps, she was at the top of the Inoliaeth stone, standing, rising to the tips of her toes, almost lifting above the surface. Then the pilgrims gasped when a burst of brilliant, blue flames engulfed her. She wailed and sang:
Suddenly, the walls of the Devod became alive with the presence of the broad sweep of Anadl trees that had been invisible. They had been there all along, towering above the walls, but hidden from everyone but Spirit Walkers, except during the Ceremony of Creation when a Teller summons the Spirit of Hesbrid to the Devod. Every branch on the trees sway with the drunken magic of Hesbrid's breath and the beat of the Clewig drums. The pilgrims were left ecstatic, bristling with the Henin of Spirit herself. Their bodies became charged with excitement and started to quiver in anticipation. "If there is no time or space does anything happen?" chanted Minethule, reciting from the Ceremony of Creation. "Yes," responded the pilgrims. "And if something does happen, how long does it take?" she sang. "Only Cren knows!" came the response. "How long is infinity?" "Younger than Cren!" they yelled, and as each response followed the liturgy, the drums became faster and louder. "Is it shorter than nothing? Or longer?" "Longer! Longer! Longer!". yelled the pilgrims, rising to their feet and leaping to the beat of drums. "If there is no beginning or end, is there anything in between?" "Yes! Yes! Yes!," they cried, "The Creation of the Cavnod is in between. The Earth which gave us birth is in between. Our death and resurrection into Addewid is in between." After reciting this they started to run along the perimeter of the Devod and reached out to grasp the first hands that came to them. When everyone held the hands of two others, completing the Hold of Unity, they stopped. Minethule then spread her arms and started spinning above the stone. She cast blue arcs to each and every one in the Devod. A myriad of flames leaped through the crystalline air. When the drums stopped the pilgrims sank silently to the ground wherever they were standing, tightly gripping the hands that brought them into the Hold of Unity, never letting go, too caught up in the electricity of the moment to spoil the ceremony by breaking the Hold of Unity. They waited for Minethule to continue. "Somewhere before the end of infinity, but after nothing, a voice spoke, from within the Henin, saying, 'How long have I been here?'" Many of the pilgrims mouthed the words as Minethule spoke them, having heard them many times before. "But there was no answer," Minethule says slowly, "only silence." The pilgrims look around themselves to ensure that no one disturbs the silence. "The voice spoke once again", continued Minethule, "saying, 'Why don't you speak? I can feel you. I can feel all of you, yet you remain silent. Why? Have you no spirit within?'" Minethule held the silence longer, listening to the tense breath of those around her. "'This is Hesbrid,' said Minethule, speaking as the voice of Ysbrydyn, 'I am lonely and have grown weary of the silence.'" "Then," added Minethule, "Ysbrydyn extended her spirit to the others, and when she touched each one they shuddered as her spirit filled them." At that moment within the Defod, a surge of Ysbrydyn's spirit moved through the labyrinth of connected pilgrims, each one gasping as it passed through them, their eyes closing as images flowed through their consciousness, as though from their own earth memories. "With Ysbrydyn's spirit," chanted Minethule, "each of the Henin quaked with the breath given by Ysbrydyn. They greedily took in her spirit with the hunger of a new born child, crying out with the joy of their eternity." Minethule looked down at the pilgrims beneath her and paused as she took note of the tears forming in their eyes. From the expressions on their faces she knew they were thinking of their own births, remembering their own first breath and the warm touch of their mother's skin and the fierceness of air within their own lungs. Audible sobbing filled the Defod and Minethule slowly dropped down to the surface of the Unoliaeth stone and sat up, crossing her legs at the ankles. She always marveled at the rhythm of breath within the Hold of Unity, how it grew from the rhythm of the Henin themselves as they came alive with Ysbrydyn's spirit, their lungs synchronizing with each other and connecting with the force pervading all of Addewid. The Llewyg drums on the wall of the Defod started to beat again, slowly, beneath the Anadl Trees. "For the first time," sang Minethule, "the Henin pulsed with life, their breaths consuming Ysbrydyn's spirit, just as we are now, initiating our Cycle of Celebrations. Ysbrydyn could feel the ebb and flow of the spirit she had given them move into and out of them, bringing them all into an awareness of themselves and each other for the first time." "Ysbrydyn started to Walk the spirits of the others and images came to her of colors and shapes. It was chaos at first, without consistent form or purpose. Then there were thoughts, and the thoughts led to questions and the questions led to uncertainty and confusion. "Then Teimladyn cried, 'Out! Away from me! Do not Walk my spirit!.'" One of the pilgrims, rose to her feet and ran to the base of the Unoliaeth Stone and looked up at Minethule. She pointed a finger at Minethule's forehead and cried, "Out!, Out!" Minethule watched as two people rose and approached the woman from both sides. They placed hands on her arms and grasped her tightly. "Ysbrydyn withdrew", she continued, "from Teimladyn's spirit, surprised at the reaction, then she withdrew from the spirits of the other Henin, 'I was expecting gratefulness,' she said, not anger.' 'I am grateful,' said Teimladyn, 'You have breathed life into me. You gave me consciousness. You gave each of us an identity separate from each other, but I want to be alone now, separate from you, free of your presence.'" Everyone in the Defod looked up at Minethule and understood Teimladyn's feeling. Some of them had felt the presence of a Spirit Walker inside their own spirits, and they didn't like it. They wanted their own freedom from the intrusion of Walkers, and freedom from the Callers, whose flutes take control of their wills. Minethule's eyes widened and she stood up on her feet again, "Just then," she said, "Ysbrydyn experienced something she had never felt before. Teimladyn's presence was unlocking something within herself: She was experiencing anger and she became embarrassed by her own insensitivity, and she started to regret sharing her spirit with the others. She wanted to remove her spirit from them and attempted to do so, but the others resisted, refusing to allow their newfound spirit to slip away. She was not able to remove the spirit she had given and found herself locked within the Spirit Breath Cycle of all Henin, the Cylch Byr." "That is why we celebrate the Festival of The Cauldron, to partake in the Hold of Unity and Breathe together with the strength of the newly born Henin Breath. "Then Deddfyn spoke, saying 'You will not be able to remove your spirit from us now, You have given of your spirit, and now we are part of it. We call it good and demand that it remain.'" The pilgrims surrounding Minethule cheered as the voice of Deddfyn spoke out in the narration. 'Each of us must give something of ourselves to each other.' said Deddfyn, 'It is the only way we will have freedom and distinction from each other. Before Ysbrydyn shared her spirit we were neither separate nor one. We are now separate and and whole as individual Henin. From now on it will also be forbidden for any Henin to walk the Spirit of another.' Then Nerthyn spoke, Creuyn, you are the Creator. Make for us a place where we can go our separate ways, as individual Henin, knowing that we will always be connected through our shared gifts, breathing with the same breath. We shall call this creation Addewid, for it is a promise that we preserve for ourselves. There are twelve of us, so a cycle of twelve breaths will make up a Cylch Hir. At the beginning of each Cylch Hir we will meet to establish and discuss our laws. During each of the twelve breaths in the Cylch Hir one of us will to be ascendent with their influence within Addewid, starting with Deddfyn, who will establish our laws, followed by Gwybodyn, to collect and share all our knowledge, Rhesymegyn, to organize our thoughts, Trefnuyn, to instill us with our deepest instincts, myself, Nerthyn, to instill us with power, Teimladyn, to give us emotion, Amseryn, to provide the sequence of time, Creuyn, for our creative energy, Rhyfelyn, to instill within us aggression, Doethyn, for wisdom, Newidyn, to bring about change, and finally, Ysbrydyn, for new spirit into the next Cylch Hir. At the end of Minethule's quoting of Nerthyn's words, those joined within the Hold of Unity let go of one of the hands they held, but kept the other. The Llewyg drums slowed down and grew silent, and Minethule allowed the silence to linger as the pilgrims meditated on the twelve Henin and how they each effected those living in Addewid, from one Cylch Byr to the next. Minethule continued with the ceremony, "After many Henin breaths had been breathed in and expelled Creuyn started to dream and tell stories. She would fill the spirit of the Henin with images and ideas that were entirely unique from anything the Henin had experienced before. The other Henin enjoyed these stories and asked her many times to tell new stories, stories where she would describe creatures she would imagine, creatures with bodies that were self contained and independent from each other, with wings to fly, or legs to walk, or fins to swim with over strange places that occupied space. She spoke of distance between these creatures and the places they live and move through. "The very idea that a creature could be contained within a finite space and be able to exist entirely separate from others and live in a place where time would pass as these creatures moved from one place to another was enormously entertaining to the Henin, and they experienced great pleasure as she told these stories. "Teimladyn, especially, enjoyed them. She would request that Creuyn tell stories to bring about different feelings, besides feelings of joy. She wanted to experience all her emotions, so she would ask Creuyn to tell stories where she would create creatures that would deceive each other and cause anger, remorse and sadness, and the Henin reveled in the experience of these emotions as Creuyn told her stories. "One type of story that Creuyn enjoyed telling more than any other, were stories that allowed one creature to have a special feeling for another creature, or a group of creatures, feelings that were reserved for these other creatures only. She very much enjoyed an emotion that Teimladyn called love. "It was when Creuyn started telling stories of love that Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn began to respond differently to Creuyn's stories. They weren't simply listening and watching Creuyn's stories as spectators, they were experiencing something deeper, more complex, than anything they had felt before. Eventually they requested that Creuyn put them into her stories, and asked that Creuyn herself be in these stories as well. Creuyn wasn't too sure if she wanted to do this since the Henin were not something she had created. They were Henin, the ones who have always been. But she was intrigued by the idea and told stories as requested. At one point, at the beginning of a Henin breath, during the time referred to as the Cauldron of Ending and Beginning, when the Henin will soon begin filling themselves with Ysbrydyn's spirit, starting a new Cylch Byr, Creuyn told the following story: In the land of Ynyscread, Creuyn extended her long body beside the Duw river, where she loved to watch the water stream by. She would allow the tip of her tail to dip gently into the current, feeling the warmth and energy of the water's spirit gather within her scales. The nearby grass covered the ground on the bank of the river, displaying many shades of green and brown. Large mountains loomed over the Gorthwr valley where Creuyn lived and she enjoyed tracing the distant ridges of the peaks with her dark eyes. In the directions up and down the river she could see the gaps in the mountains where gorges allowed it to flow into the distant Bywiol sea, passing groves, forests, lakes, and marshland, all possessing their own forms of beauty, all awaiting her presence. Then Creuyn heard the rustle of grass nearby and she became excited. It was Ysbrydyn, she could tell by the rhythm of her hoofs on the ground and the way the leaves of grass twisted away from her furred legs. Soon the tall, slim horns that adorned Ysbrydyn's head towered over Creuyn. Ysbrydyn, too, is filled with the rich emotions of attraction and affection. Sinking to the ground beside Creuyn, Ysbrydyn nuzzles Creuyn's side with her broad nose. Creuyn curls her form around Ysbrydyn, drawing her into a roll that slips into the lapping sensation of water from the river. As they caressed and darted tongues towards each other, Trefnuyn approached from the depths of the river itself, her slick skin sliding into the crevices of the undulating embrace of Creuyn and Ysbrydyn, becoming one with the other two, three bodies captured in a moment of ecstasy. The three of them allowed the river to pick them up as they clutched each other tightly and carried them far downstream, almost to the beginning of Amser Gorge that cuts through the Amddiffynfa Mountains. Releasing from each other in a splash of labored breath and invigorating water from the current, Creuyn and Ysbrydyn rub the head of Trefnuyn as she sinks back into the depths of the river. Creuyn and Ysbrydyn make their way to the bank and take a long gaze into each other's eyes before touching one last time, then they depart, Ysbrydyn on four tired legs, and Creuyn slithering between blades of grass for a long nap." Minethule's voice becomes softer as the story of Henin love comes to a close and the Llewyg drums stop beating, but the hearts of the pilgrims have been fired up by the story and they are beating insistently. Each pilgrim looks into the eyes of the one whose hands they hold and they lock into an embrace. The Hyfrydwch drums begin to throb with the rhythms of eros and the pilgrims found themselves drawn physically to each other, completing the unity initiated by Unoliaeth Stone, their bodies twisting into rolling mounds of fired affection, expending themselves into a silent pool of exhaustion and renewal. Cecilia One of the pilgrims, Lejing, releases the woman, Cecilia, he was paired with, both sweaty from their mating. He looks at her, smiling. Suddenly she breaks into tears and covers her eyes. Perplexed, Lejing tries to draw her to his breast, but she recoils. "What is wrong," he asked. Lowering her hands from her face, her eyes swollen from tears and passion, she says, "I've never done this before. This is so wrong." "I don't understand," said Lejing, "what can be wrong with the Ceremony of Creation? It has been done within Addewid for as long as anyone knows, since Creuyn created us all." "But this is not what our Lord Huan said would happen. This cannot be the Heaven we were promised. I kept myself free from carnal knowledge, even to my death, because of my belief in Christ's salvation. I wanted to stay free from the sins of the flesh." Turning away from Lejing, Cecilia ran to the wall surrounding the Defod, and looked for a door, but there was none. It had been closed by Ingshul, Minethule's Caller after they were all inside the Defod. "Let me out of this evil place," she screamed, pounding her fists against the wall. The soil, from which the wall had been made, was smooth and felt slightly moist to her. It was soft enough to absorb the brunt of her strikes without inflicting pain. Only a muffled thud could be heard by those close by. Sing Hai, a short woman with a long dark face framed by thick braids approached her and said, "Has Minechthel's Ceremony been displeasing? Minethule always wants to know when someone has found her work unworthy of a pilgrim's time. The Creation Ceremony should be a time of blessing and joy." "A man has defiled me here," sobbed Cecilia, "How can this be a time of blessing and joy? I am no longer pure. What is wrong with you people? Have you no decency, no respect for that which is sacred?" "But this is sacred," said the Sing Hai as she reached for Cecilia, "Minethule is a most high Teller, speaking the words of Creuyn, sharing the spirit of Ysbrydyn, in the manner defined by Trefnuyn herself. There is nothing more sacred." "Just let me out," said Cecilia, pulling away from Sing Hai, "Surely there is someone here who obeys the laws of Nerthyn, the one and only most Holy Henin." "Nerthyn?" queried the Caller, "he most surely is Henin, but he is not the Creator. That is an honor that can only be claimed by Creuyn, for she is the one who formed us within the Cyfanfyd and allowed Ysbrydyn's spirit to fill each of us with life. She is the one who allowed Trefnuyn to put in place the cycles we all lived by within the Cyfanfyd, the cycles of the moon that we, as women, carried within our bodies and issued forth with the blood of life, and the sun, that marked our days and years, following the path of Creuyn. It was the Sun for which she named her only son Huan, born to Mair. That is what the Ceremony of Creation tells us. That is why we celebrate with the Hold of Unity, and why we partake of the sacred mating here in the Defod. Just as Huan was born to Mair from a mating between Mair and Creuyn, so must we partake in matings in the Ceremony of Creation, for even though we no longer give birth to new life here in Addewid, we do give birth to our emerging spirits through the Ceremony of Creation." "That is enough, Ingshul," said Minethule, who had worked her way through the pilgrims to stand beside Cecilia, placing a hand on her shoulder, "if you wish to leave, you may. Creuyn has no interest in a pilgrim's displeasure." Looking at Ingshul, she says, "open the wall. Allow her to leave." Ingshul lifted her flute from where it hung at her side and brought it to her lips. The Chwibanogle reeds were shifted beneath Ingshul's breath by thin olive skinned fingers. Music flowed into the air around them. Cecilia was entranced by effect the melody had upon her, and she frowned, looking away from Ingshul, who stared directly into her eyes. Then a segment of the wall directly in from of Cecilia disappeared, allowing her to look through the wall, to the grass covered ground that extended away from the Defod. Other pilgrims were waiting outside for their turn to enter in and partake of the Ceremony of Creation themselves, many of whom looked through the hole silently at Cecilia. They had seen the walls of a Defod form doors at the sight of a Caller before, but it was early for the Ceremony to be finished. The Llewyg drums had not signaled the end of the ceremony, nor was the Charmsee at the threshold of the entrance to lead the pilgrims past through the wall. Cecilia stood alone in the view of those outside and she was alone as she made her way through the wall, ignoring the stares of those curious about her presence and her actions. A gasp could be heard and muffled conversation was scattered through the crowd that parted, allowing her to walk through. "She has left the Defod ahead of the Charmsee," someone uttered. Cecilia made her way through the throng and continued walking until she reached the shore of Ynysprydydd, where several Ceffylmôrau awaited their Charmsees and passengers. A Meithrin tree loomed above her to the right, and off in the distance countless islands dotted the endless expanse of Addewid's Bywiol Sea. "Cecelia", called Lejing from behind her, "where are you going? You just can't leave the island on your own. You need a Ceffylmôr with a Charmsee." "I'm going wherever I can to get away from this evil, and to find others who have given their lives to Christ as I have." "But how could you have not known what was going to happen during the Ceremony of Creation?" asked Lejing, as he approached her slowly, "haven't you been to one before?" "No," whimpered Cecilia, "I had just arrived here in Addewid only a few feedings ago. I was alone on this island when a group of pilgrims arrived to eat Meithin fruit on the island. They said that they were going to a festival and asked if I wanted to go with them. I was embarrassed and scared. I had no clothes to wear, and neither did the people who stopped by. I didn't know what to do. I was hoping to find clothes and cover my body. I have been so ashamed of what I have done." "But you have done nothing to be ashamed of." "Oh, but I have. Can't you see? I am naked in front of you, a man. I have just laid with you in that sinful place. Valerian would be so disappointed in my behavior here." "Valerian?" "Yes. He was my husband on earth." "Your husband? Then you have been with a man before." "No. No! We both made vows to the Christ that we would remain pure. An angel was guarding my virginity and gave both of us crowns of roses and lilies. There were brought from paradise, and now I have failed to honor my crown." Pushing away from Lejing, Cecilia ran along the shore of the Bywiol Sea, towards a Meithrin tree that towered above her. Lejing turned around and headed back to the Defod, saddened, and confused by Cecilia's words." "Have you heard enough of Minethule's lies?" came a voice from above Cecilia. Looking up into the Meithrin tree she saw a large Ceidwad perched calmly, its wings drawn tightly to its back. She was startled at seeing the creature, but not afraid. "Don't be frightened," it said, "I am here to help you. It was a brave thing you just did, leaving the Defod before Minethule was done with the Ceremony of Creation. I take it that you disagreed with her stories about the Henin." "It was nothing like we were taught by Huan, Saint Paul and the priests on earth." "I agree," responded the Ceidwad, moving down the tree, closer to Cecilia, "there are many deceptions here in Addewid, and you are not the first to notice." "I'm not?" "Oh, no, my dear Cecilia." "You know my name?" "Why, yes, of course. I have watched you since you arrived here." "I am so ashamed of my behavior here at the Devod. I had no idea that it was that kind of ceremony, or that I would be seduced in such a manner." "It is quite alright. You actions will be forgiven, just as you were taught on earth." "I certainly hope so. Who are you? And how would you know of my presence here?" "My name is Diawl. I am the angel that guarded you on earth and gave you and Valerian the crowns of roses and lilies, and now I welcome you to Addewid." "I am so very glad to see you. I was confused. Do you know where I could find some clothes and cover my naked body." "Here, take these. I have put them together just for you." Diawl dropped robe down to Cecilia. "It is made from dried Meithrin skins. It works quite well. I'm sure you will be please." Cecilia draws the robe over her body and smiles gently, "It is quite comfortable. Thank you." Then looking intently at Dial, she says, "You said that I wasn't the only one to notice the deceptions here on Addewid. What did you mean? Are there other Christians here?" "Oh yes. Many, but they are struggling to find each other, and I am helping them get together." "This is so good to hear. I was beginning to feel like my death at the hands of the Romans was futile." "It was not futile. Nerth will be quite pleased to have you here in Addewid to spread his word here, with the commitment that you demonstrated on earth." Diawl stepped off of the lowest branch of the Meithrin tree and stood next to Cecilia, towering over her, his wings loosening and expanding. "There is someone you need to meet." "Who is that," asked Cecilia, curious. "Valerian, your husband and his brother, Tiburce. They have been waiting for you." "Valerian? You know where he is?" "Yes." "But how will we get there, do you have a Ceffylmôr?" "I don't need one. I can fly. You only need to climb upon my back." Diawl stooped down in front of Cecilia and she grabbed a hold of the wings where they entered his body. Effortlessly, Diawl's powerful wings lifted them both into the Addewidian air. The Meithrin tree was quickly beneath them and Cecilia looked out upon the infinite space of Addewid. There was no end to the islands beneath her as Diawl flew in the direction of one island that was larger than anything Cecilia could imagine. "What island is that down there?" asked Cecilia, who was surprised at how quiet Diawl's flight was. There was no breeze in her face and no noise from Diawl's efforts. Her voice clearly resonated in the air around them. "That is Ynyscread, Creuyn's island." "Creuyn! That is the one Minethule kept referring to. Who is she?" "She is the one who has attempted to usurp Nerthyn's authority over Addewid. It is she who Nerthyn wishes to destroy, and you can help him." "But how?" "You will soon find out," said Diawl, "I have a cavern on Ynyscread, deep in the Amddiffynfa Mountains. That is where Valerian and Tiburce await you." A part of Henin felt that it was a sovereign, a ruler, a leader over all that is, but another part disagreed and felt that Henin was law, a set of rules that governed how all that exists should be. Then there were the parts of Henin that thought Henin was host of all knowledge, the seat of all emotion, accumulation of all wisdom, a system of logic, a journey through time, a continuum of change, a balance between opposing forces, the spirit of all life, the creator of all that is and the conflict between all these. Until then, there was no awareness that there were different perspectives on existence, only unity. There was no notion of beginning or end since Henin had never experienced either. These different parts of Henin began to sense the presence of emotion In the beginning they were hardly aware of their differences or likeness. They were neither one nor many, only the ones who had always been. They had no concept of beginning or end since they had experienced neither, and between themselves there was no sense of preference of one for the other, or an acknowledgement of differences between each other. They were Henin. The collective "we" of their own existence. But then one of them, Creuyn, the Henin of creation, the one who entertains the others with dreams made up from her thoughts, started to realized that she preferred the presence of Trefnuyn, and Ysbrydyn and they responded with attentions towards her, seeking to find new ways to enter each other and become one, more together than any of the Henin ever thought it possible to become. They discovered that they could become closer only if they created distances between themselves, distances that they must cross in order the draw each other into themselves, one to other, to each of the three, in all of the ways that they could become one, from two, or from three, but most of all three. The further they moved from each other, the greater the pleasure became when they entered each other, each union giving birth to more joy and more understanding. This was when Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn asked Creuyn to create for them a separate space. A place where they could exist separate from each other and separate from the rest of the Henin, but Solonyn didn't feel that this was a wise thing for Henin to be doing and Eeryn didn't didn't think it was logical to be doing this and Deddfyn just didn't think it could be done. Preelyn welcomed the change in Henin behavior and Kraakyn said that he would expand the breadth of time for this take place and Raadyl was always ready to learn something new. Teimladyn was always excited when Henin were discussing something, so she was very supportive of the three rebels, and made a request to Creuyn for space for herself. Nerthyn, on the other hand, the Henin who had always been looked up to as the one to make decisions on behalf of all twelve Henin, didn't like the idea of Henin separating themselves from his control, and Rhyfelyn was willing to go to battle for Nerthyn against those siding with Creuyn, Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn. "But, Nerthyn," said Trefnuyn, "has it not always been that when the majority of us are for something then that is as what is done?" "Yes," said Nerthyn, "but we have always been unanimous before and I'm sure that we will be unanimous now, like it always has been." "However," continued Trefnuyn, "by my count, with myself, Creuyn, Ysbrydyn, Kraakyn, Preelyn, Raadyl and Teimladyn in support of us and yourself, Deddfyn, Rhyfelyn, Solonyn and Eeryn in support of you, that makes seven versus five, which means that we should be allowed to do this." Nerthyn's anger seethed as he comprehended Trefnuyn's logic, "That may be the case, but we have never had this kind of a disagreement before and I just don't think that it should be allowed." "I don't like it either," said Deddfyn, "but as the keeper of Henin Law, I will have to admit that Trefnuyn makes a case for herself. However, I must remind each of us that there is another aspect of our nature that cannot be ignored. Regardless of how separate we may become with this space that Creuyn is creating we will never be able act without some consent from each of the other Henin. Granted, we may in not like what is happening, but we are incapable, as Henin, or completely rejected the will of another Henin or acting entirely on our own, independent of the other Henin. This means that if Henin are given individual space by Creuyn, that space will always have some presence of the other Henin in that space, just as Nerthyn anger right now requires the presence of Staaren, the Henin of emotion, and none of us could have any of this space for separation without Creuyn, the Henin of creation." "I'm believe that I will have to agree with Deddfyn, Nerthyn," said Solonyn, "as much as I disagree with Creuyn, Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn for doing what they are requesting, Deddfyn is the holder of our laws. Having said that, I want to make one request, before we decide to do this, and that is that it become a part of Henin law that whenever Creuyn creates a personal space for a particular Henin, that space must have some kind of representative presence within that space for each of us twelve Henin." "Very well," said Nerthyn, his anger pulsing within each of the Henin, "Deddfyn has spoken and interpreted our laws and I am without a recourse but to allow this, unless one of the supporting Henin changes their mind. I officially accept, by a count of seven to five, the request made by Creuyn to create a space from within our existence for as many Henin as want them, and I declare the collective names for these private spaces to be Addewid, for I will, as the head of the Henin Council, promise to support this space as long as there is a majority of Henin in agreement with this." "Nerthyn, I want to state my extreme objection to this. It is an outrage that some of those among us would want to remove themselves from our presence as one, to emphasize our differences rather than our unity. This is simply outrageous! I will never request such space from Creuyn and I will demand that I be present within each of the spaces Creuyn creates for others and I will ensure that my presence is a painful one for each one that requests this space." But the more that they separated and rejoined, the more they enjoyed their own separate space, and the more they enjoyed their own space the more they enjoyed their unions, which drove them to become so distant and different that they started taking shapes and forming boundaries that excluded the other Henin, removing themselves from them, becoming something other than what the Henin together had been. Creuyn, in her desire to feel separate, surrounded herself with a great expanse of solid matter that she called Ynyscread, and Trefnuyn was allowed to bring forth a sea that she swam within, which embraced Ynyscread and Ysbrydyn was allowed to expand her spirit above the sea and the land and she flew high over Trefnuyn and Creuyn and they were together, within and around each other in ways never before experienced by Henin. Creuyn moved through the tall grass of the Gwelltal Plain along the Duw river, her serpentine form appearing and disappearing between the stalks and blades of grass caressing her dark skin. She loved the softness of long leaves in a place where she could lift her head above the plants to view the peaks rising high around her, from great distances, but clearly outlined against the clear sky. They surrounded her, enclosing the Gorthwr Valley that she called her home. She felt safe here, secure from the presence of other Henin and their activities across the eternal plane of Addewid, for she knew all too well how much the others hated her relationship with Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn and their work together to create the sky, the land, sea and the work they were most proud of, the Cyfanfyd. She knew and understood the spirit of every blade of grass that parted for her, their spirits touching her, quivering as she passed by. Occasionally, a winged creature would fly over her, acknowledging her briefly from beneath broad strokes of bone and black scales, the eyes blinkless, vigilant on their watch. The soil beneath her, the trees in all their diversity throughout Ynyscread, the rivers, desert and marsh, they have all come gently from her own creative force, particle by particle, brought together with her own ingenuity as the Henin of creation, filled with the spirit breath of Ysbrydyn, the spirit Henin, and placed into the delicate cycles of life by the able flow of Trefnuyn's compassion and majesty. It was Trefnuyn who connected the collective breath of the Henin, from which all that exists flows, to the spirits of all that was created within Ynyscread and the Bywiol sea. As the Henin breath in the essence of their existence, the life forces within all of Addewid grows stronger, richer and deeper, and as the Henin expel the essence of their existence, the life forces within all of Addewid grows weaker, more dim, more shallow. Just as the Henin, the eternal ones, expand and contract within themselves, so goes the creation of Ynyscread and the Bywiol sea, and the air above them all. They truly loved each other, the liberators from the void, the facilitators of the womb that gave birth to all that is beyond the essence of the eternal ones. It was the first time any of the Henin had merged so deeply into each other, the three of them merging their existence into the a single intimate bond that changed the nature of the void in which the Henin existed for so long. It was for their own pleasure that they crafted new forms of life from the elements of their work, and for the sharing of that which is most intimate between each other, and they called it good. First it was the soil and stone that they placed beneath them, and the air that flowed above them, bringing Ynyscread into existence, allowing it to grow beyond what the other Henin could ever have imagined, but by the time the island had sat upon the waters of the Bywiol sea, the eternal void that had pulsed within the depths of twelve Henin had been breached, and the three of them smiled and laughed inside, bubbling over with joy and celebration. They didn't want to stop, they wanted more life, more sensation, more growth beyond themselves, so they brought forth mountains, rising far into the newly expelled air. They dug deep into the soil, allowing the waters from the Bywiol sea to flow through rivers and into the lakes, and they raised up trees in groves and forests that grew in the valleys, along the coasts and up the sides of even the most dramatic peaks. They wanted to protect themselves from the penetrating presence of the other Henin so they surrounded the center of Ynyscread with the largest and highest mountains of all, and they created large flying creatures who would serve as guardians and sentinels against the other Henin and any forces that they may try to present on Ynyscread. They needed to spread their own life force into all that they created so they raised a grove along the banks of the Duw river, so their roots would fill the soil with roots and the three of them pressed their Henin force into the branches and leaves of these trees so that the roots could grow and release their presence into the waters flowing through the Duw river and disperse all that is within them throughout Ynyscread and Addewid. They called these trees the Hoedl trees, for they were, indeed, the trees of life for all that is within Ynyscread and beyond, into the eternal currents of the Bywiol sea. But the other Henin were dissatisfied with these actions by the the Liberators from the Void. They wanted their own presence within Ynyscread, so they demanded a place for each of them individually and collectively, to ensure that the Liberators from the Void could not leave them totally unaware, so the Liberators from the Void created, together, groves, forests, pools, lakes, streams, marshes and even deserts to satisfy the demands of the other nine, The Controllers, The Enhancers and even the Tricksters. The most difficult creation of all, though, was the creation of the Madrwg Grove. Within these trees were embodied the most undiluted essence of all the Henin, their evil and good characteristics all present within the each of the Madrwg trees in the grove. When their work was done they felt dissatisfied, though. They wanted something that was even beyond themselves, something that would exist in its own right, outside of any purpose that they could define, so they created Merch and Gwr, two creatures unlike anything either one of the three had envisioned before. These creatures were entirely capable of thinking for themselves and would serve as companions to each other, as well as to the three of them. In one are of Ynyscread, Creuyn, Trefnuyn and Creuyn turned their attention to large pool that they populated with galaxies, and the galaxies were made up of systems of suns and planets, and on one planet in particular they created amazing life forms that were astounding in their diversity. There were creatures that could fly in the air around the planet and creatures the swam in the waters on the planet and creatures that dug into the soil on the planet and creatures that walked on the soil on the planet. Over and over again the three of them worked on their masterpiece in the pool and they rested after many Henin breaths. When their work was done they felt dissatisfied, though. They wanted something that was even beyond themselves, something that would exist in its own right, outside of any purpose that they could define, so they created Merch and Gwr, two creatures unlike anything either one of the three had envisioned before. These creatures were entirely capable of thinking for themselves and would serve as companions to each other, as well as to the three of them. But they were worried about the Madrwg grove. They were concerned about Merch and Gwr eating of the fruit from the Madrwg trees before they were ready. How would Merch and Gwr react to such knowledge? So Trefnuyn asked Creuyn to create a vine to be blessed by the pesence of of Raadyl, the Henin of Knowledge, that would grow around each trees tree, containing both the raw force of good and evil within a cloak of knowledge, and Trefnuyn asked Creuyn to create a hedge to be blessed by the force of Eeryn, the Henin of Law, that would surround the Madrwg grove, protecting it from being too accessible to Gwr and Merch, allowing the fruit of the Madrwg trees to get into their hands before they were ready. It was not until then that Creuyn and Trefnuyn and Ysbrydyn were happy, totally satisfied and set about to rest and enjoy what they had wrought together. |
