Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not

(snip)

A handful of Edmans made their way onto the stage making themselves at home, all carrying instruments. Runa appeared by Mike and winked and jerked a thumb over behind Bubba where an electronic portable piano was sitting. “Ya know, just in case.” Then seeing Tara, Runa walked over, linked arms with the feisty older woman and led her away from the stage and into the crowd. Revna looked out over the assemblage, that was the only word. For the most part they were all seated somewhere, eating and drinking. Where all the food came from was anyone’s guess. Someone came up with a small microphone to clip to her and she waved them away. She didn’t need it. She didn’t think anyway. Ragna came out of nowhere, “You really gonna do this?” and she waved at the mass of people. She looked at her little sister, “I don’t think I’m being given a choice. This isn’t Bømlo.” Ragna shook her head with a chuckle, “No it’s not. But it’s beautiful isn’t it?” Revna looked around and her eyes settled on the shields hanging from the fence. Each one told a chapter of one Maiden and added to the story of the Edmans, and there hanging next to Ragna’s was the shield made for Blaire. As the Edmans finally quieted as Revna appeared a sound caught her attention. Tor, Arne, Viggo, Alexandra, Ida, Gudrun, and Maja had a group of the McKenzie children with them. The girls had given their tiny shields to the girls, and child size wooden bearded axes and swords were being shared and between the girls and the boys they were teaching the others how to use them. And when someone got accidently hit there was laughter and joy and patience. The McKenzie children seemed surprised at first and then were whole heartedly invested in whatever scheme had been suggested. Then suddenly a giant tree had become a fierce dragon and was being whole heartedly attacked by a troop of fierce screaming tiny warriors and maidens.

Revna tugged on Mike’s hand to get his attention and nodded towards the children. Ragna walked over to Seamus where he was standing off to the side, she slipped an arm around his waist and stared at the children, “There goes the next generation of blood oaths.” And she smiled.

“You know we are very lucky here. We are not just clan, a grouping of close knit families, but family no matter what last name we carry. We learned a long time ago to open our hearts, homes, and life to others.” She glanced around meeting the gaze of several people, all clan, all adopted, all precious. “We Edmans have a knack for Rising when it’s darkest. And when one of us is lost to that darkness we reach in grab them by the hand and pull them out. No one is alone.” She kissed Mike earning a few whistles and cheers from those assembled.

“Don’t need ta say it!” Mike yelled. “We do have a room!” and the crowd erupted in laughter.

“I forgot that. I got lost in the dark and you all pulled me out, but, you know, I’m stubborn,” laughter rippled around, “and sometimes the gentle prodding, support, and love isn’t enough. Sometimes,” she meets Mike’s eyes, “you need someone to get right in your face, issue executive decisions, and walk you out of that darkness. Our clans have grown, overnight, and they were lost in that darkness for a long time. So long they thought there was no way out. We all knew, McKenzies and Edmans, what we were walking into today. Now subtlety isn’t how the Edman’s usually do things, all quiet and stealthy” lots of laughter and good natured grumbling, “But we had faith in Lady Tara and her ability to guide us in the right direction.”

A very loud rumbling voice rose above the crowd, Cuyler. “Aye and we knew Mike and Seamus would kick arse if it went south!” There was a deafening roar of approval from every Edman and McKenzie. Shouts of “Michael and Seamus!” were repeated several times. Revna turned slightly to look at Mike and winked. “So what do we do? We Rise and we are going to do it together, one clan now, back into the light.” Revna looked over at Runa who was sitting with a circle drawn in the sandy ground in front of her, the old Gothia sitting in a chair next to her. She reached into the bag drawing out a hand full of stones, murmured softly in Norwegian and cast the stones. She looked up at Revna after a moment, “Love, Vicory, and Light.” Revna nodded, “Would we accept anything less of ourselves?” Loud and immediate agreement issued forth. Revna turned to look at the gathered Edmans on the stage. She opened a case beside her, slipped small metal rings on the tips of her left hand, and slipped it into the back of bodhran and then picked up the double sided cipín in the other and ran through a couple quick rhythms. “You know which one we’re doing.” There was excitement and an air of expectation. She turned back, “So this is how it works. We’ll play it two times. First time you get a feel for it, the second time we all sing it.”

Revna

Mike slung his bass’s strap over his shoulder and tuned the instrument in seconds, a process born of familiarity. He looked at Revna and said “You lead, will pick it up as you go.”

Mike

Revna felt the nerves settle in her stomach, but never one to back down she smiled at Mike and turned to Ada on the guitar and nodded. The music started with a guitar setting the beat and rhythm, then a bowed instrument, and drum and bodhran in Revna’s hand. Then standing for the first time in years before her clan, she breathed and her voice sounded carrying out over the crowd. Eyes closed, finding the rhythm on the drum, her body moving with the rhythm

I’ve been sleepin’ in my mind
But now my heart is risin’
Risin’ with the tide
Floating on a wave
Buoyed by the sea
Carry me away ‘cause the world is not for me, mmm

The Edmans went quiet as they listened. They all knew about Revna’s injury and thankful for her survival, the return of her voice was a gift to them all. Where the children had settled to listen, the Edman children suddenly stood and grabbed the hands of their McKenzie family and pulled them to standing where they began dance in a very child like and exuberant fashion. Runa looked around as the stillness left, leave it to the children.

If I could see through different eyes
From ten thousand foot skies
I’d navigate the lies
And never fear demise
Nor be timid of the rule
How can I grow wise
If never I’m a fool?

Helka appeared next to Tara, took her hand and led her forward. Oddvar walked up to Seamus and Ragna, put one hand around each and led them over towards Helka and Tara.

And home, home is in my heart
So why do I get lost in the crowd
Trying to be proud
Oh I must be quiet
Enough to hear the sound
The song inside my soul
As it echoes in the clouds
Hey, I’m going to sing it
Loud
Hey, I’m going to sing it
Loud

Revna turned and nodded as her father, Cuyler, walked onto the stage and stood beside Mike, one hand on his shoulder and winked as Revna sang the next verse directly to Mike.

Raindrops ripple as I breathe
I can feel the deep blue miles from my feet
Coming up for air, conscience coming clean
I have left the past at the bottom of the sea

Edmans, one at a time or in small groups, stood grabbed the hand or two of the McKenzie next to them and pulled them to standing.

‘Cause home, home is in my heart
Why I do get lost in the crowd?
Trying to be proud
Oh, I must be quiet enough to hear the sound
The song inside my soul
I’m going to write it down
I’m going to sing it
Loud
I’m going to sing it
Loud

Runa looked, but knew she wouldn’t find the mysterious Capall anywhere in the crowd. She did spot Blaire standing off to the side, walked over and dragged McKenzie Clan’s resident problem child with her to the front.

No matter where you land or how far you may fall
You have heart, you have hands
And the highest calling of our lives
Is to find the grace at the very place we stand

The music paused and everything was still and then her voice rang out lifting and carrying out to the worlds of Yggdrasil.

And rise
I’m going to sing it
Rise
I’m going to sing it
Rise
We will rise

Then the music played for a moment and the song started over, this time HUNDREDS of voices joined hers. And at the very end, “We Will Rise!” echoed for miles across the Scottish countryside. There were cheers, hand shakes, hugs, laughter rippling out.

“HEY! LORD MICHAEL! Was the Paannaaq Mead worth waiting for?!” Revna found the face in the crowd - Devlin.

Revna (with special thanks to Caroline Jones)
https://youtu.be/Eu-xNin-iNk