Free Fate's Hand: Book One of The Celtic Prophecy by Melissa Macfie Page B

mortal life gives off a vibrant aura. Watching them fight environmental conditions, illness, and starvation, and celebrate life and unions ta make their mark, made th’ gods envious. Their observations became interactions as they tried ta understand th’ mortals need ta be. In their search, they found tha’ mortals had emotion more profound than any god had experienced. They found through these interactions tha’ th’ vistas were more beautiful, food tasted sweeter, and th’ cries o’ their lovers were more arousing.
    “Cernunnos, th’ god o’ th’ hunt, craved mortal com-panionship. He would disguise himself as a stag and move amongst th’ forest glades whaur a crystal clear stream flowed. Time and again, he would watch as women would come ta th’ stream ta collect water. For many moons, he would stand in th’ brush and just observe. Ta any who cared ta look, a stag would be all they would see.
    “After a time, he grew tired o’ this and yearned for a closer connection ta th’ gaily dressed, laughing women who traveled together, sometimes ta get water, rarely ta bathe. These times were most desirous, for th’ obvious reasons, and one tha’ made him th’ most curious. Th’ women, after they had washed th’ dirt from their bodies, would relax with an easy companionship, moments he guessed were few and far between. Th’ episodes would always end too early, and he craved more.
    “One day he got up enough courage ta step out of th’ thick underbrush as one single woman with auburn hair curling down ta her waist was bending ta get a bucketful o’ water. Bright copper and silver shone as th’ dappled sunlight fell on her glorious mane, paling th’ verdant surroundings. He longed ta touch it. She gasped when she saw him, an enormous twelve point buck, just on th’ other side o’ th’ stream.
    “Water sloshed from th’ bucket as she picked it up with shaky hands ta place on th’ ground next ta her. She smoothed her damp skirts and tried to remain still, lowering her eyes ta th’ ground as she was taught. She was scared, more afraid than she ever had been, and when th’ buck stepped inta the water, she trembled.
    “She risked a glance at its face after th’ initial shock wore off. Cernunnos stood thaur, falling in love with the brash sense of adventure tha’ made her leuk at him despite her childhood lessons. He was roused at th’ quick pulse at her throat, and th’ thought tha’ he alone could make it race.
    “He let her go, interested as she turned time and again ta catch another glimpse o’ him as she traipsed back ta her village.
    “He returned on th’ next full moon and she was thaur waiting. When he approached softly, she held out a tentative hand. As she brushed th’ fur on his neck with her fingertips, he sighed, amazed ta find th’ stories had been true. Th’ touch o’ a mortal was like nay other. He leaned inta her hand ta get more. Emboldened, she buried her hands in his soft fur, whispering soft endearments and prayers ta th’ gods for showing their favor.
    “Each full moon they met and he carried her ta vistas so beautiful, in this world and Tir-Na-Nog, as ta make her weep. She lay close ta his side as she watched waterfalls, sunsets, or th’ waves crashing on th’ shore o’ a remote beach. Once, she nuzzled close and whispered words o’ love into his neck.
    “Cernunnos heard this, but until then had nay idea wha’ th’ feeling building in him was. His heart rejoiced, and he shifted inta his godly form, th’ form o’ man, but unlike any man kent ta earth. Cernunnos is th’ horned god, so while a man, magnificent in form, he had th’ antlers o’ th’ buck, shortened as a sign o’ his office and duty.
    “She shifted ta give him freedom o’ movement, but when she eased back ta lounging, it was inta th’ arms o’ Cernunnos. He held her tight as th’ shock turned ta recognition. He took her lips in a tender kiss and caught th’ soft cries as she rose ta