The Maiden Anointed [semi-closed] [majorly backdated to March 1]

[acrookedchild]

"For five years, I have been the Maiden of Witches," Katherine Terrance, the former holder of the title, said with a soft smile. There might even have been some pride in it, though she was trying to hide that. After all, no one was supposed to be pleased that someone from Circle Midnight had been meant for this position. "Now, the time has come to step down and let another take my place."

Beside her stood Abigail Widdowson, dressed in a modest white dress that made her look remarkably more pale, almost like she was dressed for her own burial. The impression wasn't lost on her, either.

They were deep in Daybreak territory, overlooking the Thames from Wandsworth. The building was meant for ceremonies like this and large gatherings of a group of covens. Now, it was for this, with all witches invited to witness the making of a new Maiden, as she was to serve both Circles. To stand for all of them.

"I was told when I took the role that I would know when the time had come to step down, and I was told that I would know who to hand this mantle to. You are never given more than you can bear, the Maiden before me said. Now, I pass those words on to you."

Abigail knelt down on a pale blue pillow and bowed her head politely.

"I ask three questions of you," Katherine said with all due solemnity.

"I will answer," replied Abigail.

"Will you serve as the Maiden of Circle Midnight?"

"I shall."

"Will you serve as the Maiden of Circle Daybreak?"

"I shall."

"Will you serve as the Maiden of all Witches?"

"I shall."

"Then let it be known, that you, Abigail Widdowson, stand as Maiden of Witches. Part of the trinity that holds together all our sisters: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. From this day on, you are an example to us all. And you will be watched."

Katherine picked up a small silver urn and poured a few drops of the scented oil onto Abigail's forehead. She bowed her head, then, and rose of her own power. Katherine offered no hand, and Abigail sought none. She stood straight, took a deep breath, then nodded to Katherine. The former Maiden responded by bowing her head to kiss the spot on Abigail's head where the oil was placed before she stepped away. Then, Abigail took the few steps down from the dais.

Under her own volition, she'd have scurried away. But she had cause to mingle. So, she would.


(Open to all witches!)

Comments

[hurtfew]

A look of genuine surprise crosses his face at that, eyebrows lofting, and then he hesitates -- winces.

"Miss Fagin, I did not mean it as such. I meant if one party --" her, "should wish to leave and the other... did not wish to release them, then such a thing... can still be done."

His expression is, perhaps surprisingly for her, one of sympathy. To be trapped by a fae is not something pleasant, he well knows.

[stauncherhearted]

What?

Nancy blinks her swollen eyes at him, her jaw open and brow furrowed. He seemed so- almost grandfatherly. Perhaps this was why some people liked him. But some people also liked Fagin, and also liked Hitler, so you know how that goes.

She looks at him solemnly. "Yes, it can. But even then, there are consequences." She meets his eyes. A particularly nasty set of stairs, for example.

[hurtfew]

For all his faults, Norrell is not a inherently bad man. He is not someone who would willingly wish to do a young girl like Nancy harm. He winces sympathetically at her, studying her.

"There do not have to be," he adds after a moments hesitation. "A fae's permission to enter can be revoked, there are wards, and... they can be banished. To the other realm or more permanently."

[stauncherhearted]

She shakes her head. He doesn't understand. She can't expect him to. This man raised her. He was her father. As much as she hated him, she owed him some loyalty. And the boys. She couldn't cut them from her life. She couldn't do that to them.

"It's not so simple."

[hurtfew]

Is it not? Norrell looks doubtful, but he seems to accept that -- thins his lips and drops his eyes before darting them away.

"The women of your Circle are all equally stubborn," he says finally, "but the offer is there. Whatever you think of me."

Norrell studies her again a moment, lips pressed together, then slides his eyes away once more.

"There is always a solution, Miss Fagin. It does not always have to be a drastic action, at that."

[stauncherhearted]

"We have to be. Only way to survive." SERIOUSLY especially with the shit you put them through. That's really just the icing on the Nancy's Shitty Life cake. It's not even a good cake. There are egg-shells in there, and it's slightly burned but also still extremely battery. Not a good cake.

She exhales. "...Thank you." Surprisingly, she means it. "I've taken small steps." But Fagin is powerful. More powerful than she wants to admit. "I appreciate it. Truly." Even if it didn't seem like it.

[hurtfew]

"I do what I do," he adds, "so that it is more difficult for fae to make witches like yourself suffer. I know you dislike me, you think me heartless, but we all have our reasons."

He studies her a moment longer, considering, then adds.

"You know where my house in Mayfair is. It is well warded."

If you need a place to hide sometime.

[stauncherhearted]

Something stirs in her and Nancy finds herself looking up at Norrell with clear eyes once again.

"I do," she says with a nod, because she can't thank him for it. She won't need it. But it's nice to know it's there.

She presses her lips together and looks down, shifting slightly. "That's good to know."

[hurtfew]

Yes, well. Don't tell anyone he offered, Nancy. He has a reputation! He straightens and seems to sort of shrug back his shoulders, try to paint himself back into a haughty sort of expression.

"With London as it is one can never be too careful. See you are more careful yourself."

You know, with those stairs.

[stauncherhearted]

A reputation that she's going to destroy piece by piece.

She notices the shift in him, and it stirs her to raise her head just a little, remember who she was speaking with.

"I'll try to remember," she says.

Seriously though. Thank you.