Danu's Servant -The Messenger

        The cold water had left her skin feeling raw, but she had to wash it away. Morwen had watched as the mud and blood from the night washed off and mingled in the water. She had done the best she could to scrub her robes clean, tattered as they were, and had left them to dry on the one tree branch that the sun managed to reach. Now she sat with her knees pulled up to her chest on a squat boulder absorbing the warmth from the sun, her skin still pink from the cold bath.

         A messenger, the Mother Goddess had said, a messenger would appear to guide her on her journey. She wondered at the nature of this messenger, whether it would be human or spirit. Judging by the sun it was just past noon and this messenger had yet to show up. Morwen took a quick glance around the forest to see if she was still alone. The only other moving creatures were small birds and rodents scavenging for lunch, impervious of the dangers outside of the wood.  She had little hope that any of these small creatures had the likelihood of guiding her throughout Gaul.

         She glanced at the sky again, trying to note the direction in which the sun was setting. Even with a direction Morwen still did not know where she was and the nearest village could be anywhere.  Morwen knew there was a village a couple days ride south from where her home was, but it didn't do her any good now. There was also the possibility that the Romans may have struck there as well.

         With a sigh Morwen slipped off the rock and checked to see how dry her robes were.  The gray wool was still a little damp, but it would be bearable.  She pulled the loose garment over her head, shrugging it onto her narrow shoulders. Her eyes caught a shadow gliding over the water of the river. She nearly brushed it off as her imagination when a loud screech filled the air. Morwen glanced around her in a panic, eyes wide. She could not place the noise to anything she could see. Another loud shrill screech made her clamp her hands over her ears and suddenly she was blinded by feathers that fell on her with silent wings. Claws tangled in her hair and she covered her face with her arms, trying to fend off whatever wild creature sought to attack her. She felt the tips of feathers caress her cheek and the tight grip of a foot on her shoulder, the claws were digging through the fabric of her robes and piercing her skin. Morwen threw out a hand towards the creature to force it away and suddenly she was free, but not without fresh tears in her robe. Her chest heaved as she drew in a deep trembling breath. There was no sign of the animal that attacked her except a few tawny feathers that littered the ground. The wood had fallen quiet in anticipation, as if every wild creature had been watching.

         Morwen took several steps toward the river, watching for any signs of movement. She rubbed her injured shoulder with one hand to try to sooth away the sting. She knelt down by the river and dipped her hand into the water and gently rubbed at the new scratches, wincing when the water touched the open wounds. As she turned to reach her hand back down into the river she noticed a reflection that wasn't there before. Morwen lifted her gaze to the wood across the river and paused. Two large golden eyes regarded her every movement. It was the largest owl she had ever seen. His feathers were ruffled in places, the same tawny color as the feathers on the ground. In one claw was clutched a small patch a grey fabric. The owl's head swung from one side to the other so he could peer at her from each eye. Morwen rocked back on her heels, her wounds abandoned.  An owl in daylight was certainly an unnatural occurrence.

         You will be given a messenger who will guide your steps. The Mother Goddess's words echoed in Morwen's thoughts.  She pressed her fingertips to her temples then glanced back up towards the owl. The creature flitted its wings, ruffling even more feathers.

         "You are Danu's messenger."

         The owl paused in its cleaning and turned its luminous eyes on Morwen.  He dipped his head in acknowledgement and cocked his gaze so his eyes met hers. When his posture straightened he launched himself into the air, covering the short distance over the river and landed on the tree limb Morwen's robes had been on earlier. Morwen pushed herself to her feet, watching the owl warily.

         "Are you going to show me where I need to go?"

         There was no immediate answer. The owl simply watched her with hooded eyes before dipping his head again in answer. He turned his head so his gaze focused down the river and hooted quietly. Morwen moved closer to the tree, gently resting a hand on its trunk.

         "Does our destination lie along this river?"

         As if in answer to her question the owl took to the air, swooping from underneath the trees and riding a draft down the river. Morwen muttered a quick prayer to the Mother Goddess and followed after the owl. The path along the river was not always easy to follow. Briars spilled past the wood in places making it nearly impassible and Morwen would have to circle around it.  Once she made the riverbanks again she would see the owl perched patiently on a nearby tree. Sometimes he would fly ahead and she would lose sight of the owl completely, but then he would come back to check on her progress.

         It was late afternoon when Morwen first caught the smell of smoke on the air. She wondered if it was the village she was being guided to already burning in flames. Her pace grew quicker with urgency. About a league ahead she could make out the edge of the forest. Sunlight slanted through the tree trunks casting long shadows. The owl had settled itself on a tree some distance before her completely still. Morwen felt her skin prickle. The wood had fallen quiet except for the sound of bubbling water. Smoke still tinged the air, curling in the last rays of the sun. She took a couple of steps along the pebbly riverbank when her foot slipped and sent a small shower of pebbles into the water. The sound of splashing water was loud in the silence of the wood. The owl jerked his head around, giving Morwen a look of warning. She froze where she stood, her eyes locked on the forest edge.

         Shadows passed among the tree trunks at the forest edge. Light glinted off of steel. Morwen held her breath. The Romans were here. The smell of smoke was probably coming from their campfires. How was she to get past them? What if they found her sneaking around in the wood? She had seen what they did to the other druids. Morwen peeled her eyes away from the forest edge to notice the owl was looking at her, his eyes glowing in the dark of the trees.  The owl looked away as he stretched out his wings and thrust himself off the branch. He glided soundlessly to the edge of the wood and Morwen followed. She moved away from the riverbank to walk on the leaf fall. At a young age she was taught how to move quietly through the woods undetected.  

         Morwen reached the forest edge and pressed herself against the tree in which the owl sat. She could hear voices now. The tongue was unfamiliar and sounded harsh to her ears.  She took a deep breath and peered around the side of the tree. Her heart dropped. Never had she seen so many men in one place. Linen tents were erected all across the field before which glowed numerous campfires being stirred up to prepare the evening meal. Hundreds of horses were picketed to the right of the camp, many of them being scrubbed, brushed, and fed by the army underlings.  Everywhere poles bore the insignia of the Roman eagle, proud and defiant. She could hear the sound of hammer on steel as blades were being reworked and sharpened. The ground had been churned to mud under the feet of so many men. The majority of them still wore their protective garments.

         A twig snapped and Morwen jumped. Her eyes darted to a shadow moving in the trees. She felt her heart beating frantically in her chest. He was so close. The figure moved closer and Morwen scooted to the other side of the tree so she was out of sight. How could she have not seen him coming? He had stopped by a small stand of brush; a stone throw away from her. Morwen dared not breath. She could hear the rustle of leather and the sound of his piss trickling to the ground. He grunted when he was finished and strode back through the wood to the camp. Above her the owl screeched in defiance when he left. Morwen swallowed hard and looked back out to the encampment. There was the might of Rome. Hundreds upon hundreds of men come with weapons, war, and lust. Somewhere a cry was a taken up in victory and celebration.

         "Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!"

         Rome had come to Gaul.