debut
A brightness fills her heart, making her feel slightly light-headed at the prospect of what is to come. She had seen her mother summon spirits before. Their dances and story-weaving had provided entertainment, giving her mind freedom to run to places far from this isle. No, it was a far greater thing than that. It was the reason behind it, the act that these spirits were celebrating.
Looking down at Ferdinand’s hand which is entwined with hers, she smiles. Her heart is beating loudly in her chest and she knows it is only for the good feelings. When she raises her head, she catches his eyes on her and offers a smile in return.
This really is one of the most of happy of days and there is the knowledge of far happier days to come.
More spirits join the scene, twisting in their song and dance. It is a lovely thing though the look on her dear mother’s face is enough to bring worry to the hardest of hearts. Ferdinand has seen it too and she shares with him a look as her mother calls the spirits to be gone.
“This is strange: your mother’s in some passion that works her strongly,” he notes leaning in and speaking in hushed tones. Miranda nods in reply, worrying marring her features.
“Never till this day saw I her touch'd with anger so distemper'd.” No, in all that she can remember even when her mother was calling up such wild storms, Miranda has never seen her acting so strange. The speech her mother gives as an explanation only calms a little. Even as the pair of them are dismissed, Miranda wants to stay even as she stands.
Her hand is still linked with Ferdinand’s as she nods, blushing as they speak together as one. “We wish your peace.”
They walk back towards the cave that she and her mother have turned into their home. Carefully she looks back at her mother, catching a glimpse of her calling Ariel forth before the scene is gone from her line of sight. Ferdinand is smiling at her talking brightly of his good fortune and she finds herself smiling in return. It is a grand thing, to be allowed to marry the man who makes her heart feel like it is going to leap from her chest.
No sooner has she sat down next to him when she begins to hear sounds that do nothing to ease the worries in her head. Turning to look back at where they came, Ferdinand offers her some comfort. Perhaps it is nothing, just the sound of the wind as it rushes by. Another cry, like the howling of mongrels or madmen and the fear takes over. Something is amiss and Miranda will not let her mother perish.
“Mother!” she calls, getting up from the chair and moving towards the entrance of the cave. Ferdinand’s hand is still linked with hers and he tugs, trying to get her to stay. With one last look at him, she offers him a small smile. Her worry is plainly etched on her face as she releases his hand and rushes towards the noise.
“Mother!” She hopes that she is not ruining some sort of spell by calling out like this, but her bright day is overshadowed by the worried such mongrel cries are turning up in her. Bursting out of the cave, she epics fire and wind, a true tempest being called forth. The sand and rocky floor has given way to cold dampness, the sudden change causing her to stumble forward in surprise.
Her hands land in a blanket of whiteness, cool to the touch. The hairs on her arms stand on end and she gasps in surprise. What is this madness? Falling back onto her haunches, she looks up expecting some sort of explanation to be clear on her mother’s face.
“Mother?” she echoes looking around but seeing nothing but whiteness and trees. A shiver runs down Miranda’s spine and she hears a cracking coming from the trees. Something emerges from the trees, a beast that she’d only seen in her father’s stories. A beast as pure white as the snow it walks on, with a glistening horn. Her mouth falls open in surprise and wonder.
“What be this act of magic?” There is no one to answer her and Miranda shivers once again as she gets to her feet, swaying slightly. Her heart sinks into the pit of her stomach, a new sort of worry springing up. What is she to do?