Unicorn Charm (book)

The Unicorn Charm
by Kaylasara Goldenmoon

"The Gods brought you to us, Kayla."

The words still ring in my ears, today: My Human mother's words said to help ease the sting of finding I was not Human myself. An Elf in a Human world, I had struggled for understanding. Always, my mother would tell me I had been a gift, to my parents, from the Gods. It seemed only natural then to find myself in awe of the clerics of our village. The ones who could speak to these Gods that had blessed me with my family, my brothers... but who, it seemed had cursed me with an Elven body. I wanted to know all that they knew. There were so many questions left unanswered.

I would find myself emulating their every move, hoping beyond hope that I would hear the words I could only imagine they heard. Of course, I knew that the Gods had big booming voices and if I was close enough I would hear them, too. I would see them in the chapel, every morning, heads bowed in prayer. I had always thought, "If I am here and I stay quiet, they will talk to me, too !" After all, the priests and priestesses just had to be sure they stayed quiet and still. Who, I thought, would want to interrupt a God if He or She had a mind to speak?

Of course, as every child, I had chores. My father and brothers tended to the fields and to the household repairs. Mine was the task of watching over our animals. Though looking over four chickens and a cow was hardly a job, I took my responsibilities seriously. Certainly, I believed, the Gods watch me do my tasks as well.

As I milked the cow, one morning, I heard a voice!

"She hears you, lost one."

So softly, I thought I had imagined it. I searched the entire barn. Looking frantically for one of my prankster brothers. I was certain it was them, for they had never understood my quiet nature. I grew more and more angry as I didn't find them. I was sure that I knew every spot in this barn.

"She hears you lost one."

In frantic tears now, sure that my brothers were tormenting me, yet finding them nowhere. I sat and cried. How could they be so mean? "Boys !" I harumphed, deciding not to let them bother me. I finished my tasks and took the pail of milk. Petting the cow once more before I left and thanking her for her gift to my family.

"She hears you, lost one."

I would have sworn the cow said it... But it simply could not be.

Quickly, I brought the milk in to my mother and excused myself, running all the way to the chapel. A talking cow! Surely I must be mad! Fervently I prayed, falling to my knees in that chapel. I didn't want to be thought crazy. Surely I had done something wrong! Tears streamed down my face as I begged for forgiveness.

A kind elderly cleric found me there, doing nothing but kneeling down, to pray at my side. Soon the tears had stopped. The warmth and love flowed from this woman. Her strength found its way to my heart and soul. Her prayers, spoken at a whisper, seemed a balm to my imagined madness. Many hours later, still on my knees, silence finally came to my spirit.

"Thank you, holy one." I spoke with as much reverence as I could find.

"Tell me child, what is it that troubles you so? What brings you to this chapel time and time again? Yes," she seemed to chuckle at me, "Yes, we have seen you here, child. For years now you are here as Hodierna sends the sun to break her way into the sky to bless us once again."

Her warmth again surrounded me. I found myself telling her of my life. My Human parents adopting an abandoned baby not desired by her own people. A loving family and the terrible shock of finding they were not mine. Of the Elves who had cast me out for crimes my Elven father had committed against my Elven mother. The only comfort outside the home of my adoptive parents here, hoping beyond hope to hear the Gods. All too soon I found myself speaking of the very madness that had driven me here.

"A talking cow, you say?"

She smiled, not knowing at all just how silly I felt. Standing quietly, she offered me her hand, the unicorn embroidered upon her robe beautiful in the sunlight. I stretched my hand to hers and stood. Quickly, so quickly I would have sworn, almost, that we had not moved at all, we were in a back alcove of our chapel. The highest of priests in our village stood looking down at me, a soft smile on his face.

"Father." The elderly woman spoke now.

"Father, it would seem that Berengaria has sent to us one who needs no longer be lost."

It was that very week that I was moved in to the elderly woman's chambers to begin my training. I learned of Berengaria and her love of children once lost. Lessons and more lessons were taught to me. I could not get enough! "Teach me more" my heart cried each morning as the sun rose. Ellinyn, my mentor, she who had found me, so patient. I was to find that it was believed that Berengaria had sent me to Ellinyn, to assist me upon my path. I learned the ways of the Gods and of the Clerics. The prayers, the offers of devotion, these became my life and for the first time I was alive!

The morning prayer brought me peace in ways that none other would. I felt a closeness to the morning unmatched by anything else. There was a joy that sang out in me at each sunrise.

"She is the bringer of the dawn... of the light and of life."

Ellinyn spoke softly to me.

"It is she who watches the crops, it is she who granted us life and who guides my steps, Kayla."

I listened carefully. I knew this, I thought to myself. My training had taught me all of the Gods and Goddesses. She is getting old, I also thought. It had been many years now since I fist came to the chapel.

"Kayla." She held both of my hands in hers now.

"She sent Berengaria to bring you to her. To bring you to me."

Tears welled up in eyes that I had only seen smile. Ellinyn took from her neck a charm, one I had never seen her remove. It was a small silver Unicorn. Silently, she placed the necklace around my neck and kissed a cheek, saying nothing more, she turned and left the room. Completely overwhelmed, I again wandered to the chapel that had become my home.

Kneeling to pray, there was a joy that I had never felt there, in the chapel. There, in my heart. I prayed to She who brings light and life. To Hodierna.

Suddenly, I awoke in my bed.

"Kayla, honey, time to get up."

It was my mother... I was in my parents house. I struggled for the right words. How could this be? Where were my books, my bed in Ellinyn's cottage? Where was Ellinyn? I panicked. Quickly I rose and dressed. What was happening?

"I thought you were going to sleep all day!" My mother announced. My brothers and father already eating breakfast.

A dream? How? It had been my life! Suddenly depressed, I sat to eat as well. It was then it caught my eye.

A small silver unicorn charm hung from a chain around my neck.

A knock from the door, I darted quickly to answer it.

"She hears you, lost one." Ellinyn said.