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Judgment at Witches Court

Chapter 1



Selena ran home from school, down the dirt road leading to the edge of the forest and her home where she lived with her aging grandmother, the road is hard baked and cracked from the dry summer flashed under her pounding feet. Hardly any rain has fallen, making it the driest summer on record. Summer was over though, the days are growing longer and colder, the nights chillier. The animals have gone south or are preparing to go into hibernation, as the Earth prepares herself for a cold winter.

Selena increased her pace as she neared her home, she is eager to get home, it was getting dark, and she had stayed at the school Halloween Party longer than she had intended. She knew her grandmother would have dinner and cake ready for her when she got home.

Selena stops in front of her gate and she pulls the latch, giving the bottom of the gate a hard kick to release the edge that always sticks. Walking through the gate, she closes it and gives it another kick to put the gate back where it belonged. She made a note to herself to see if there is anything, she can do to get the gate fixed…she isn't sure how though. Her grandmother makes a little money from the herbal soaps and shampoos that she makes, but most of the money goes towards Selena's education, leaving little for household repairs.

Walking up the path to the front door Selena sees a black cat sitting on the porch and wonders where it came from. Her grandmother is always picking up strays, but this one doesn't look like a stray, he looks well fed and groomed. She walks toward the cat and it stays, allowing Selena to pet it under it's chin. "Hi little guy. Who are you?" The cat purrs in response. "You sure are a friendly little thing. You don't look like you are hungry, but I will put some milk out for you. You may not look starved, but I bet you wouldn't turn down some fresh goats' milk." The cat meows softly. "Old Tybora the Goat doesn't produce much milk anymore, but I am sure we can spare some for such a little sweetie as you." The cat meows again and Selena chuckles as she gives the cat one last pat on its back and walks inside the house.

***

Later that night, Morgana, Selena's grandmother sits with Selena. The kitchen is dim as they eat the chocolate birthday cake at the antique cherry wood table. This table has been passed down in her family for generations. The light of several candles chase the shadows away. They have electricity, but they like to save as much money as they can, so they rely on candles a lot.

Selena absently alternates between eating her cake and watching her grandmother, she can't help but notice that Morgana's expression is troubled. Morgana's brow, which is unusually smooth though she is well into her sixties, is creased and her expressive eyes are turbulent. Her shoulders bend as if a great weight is pressing down on her and her hands clench tight as she rests them on the table, showing that the skin on her knuckles is white and almost translucent. Selena saw that her fork is on her plate next to her untouched cake.

Selena can not stand it anymore; she has to know what the problem is. This is supposed to be a happy time; they have food in their stomachs, and their house paid for. Moreover, it is Selena's birthday, her grandmother should be dancing around the table in her usual manner. "Grandmother, what's wrong?" She asked as she rose out of her chair, moving to kneel in front of her grandmother, taking Morgana's hands apprehensively into her own.

"Selena." Morgana took a deep breathe in through her nose, out through her mouth, then glanced at Selena crouching next to her. She inclined her head toward the seat that Selena had abandoned. "Child, sit down, sit with me. I need to talk to you." She nervously licked her lips and murmured softly, "it is time. I have withheld this too long, there are things to take care of, this has gone on long enough." She waited until Selena had sat nervously in the chair closest to her own.

"What is it grandmother, what's wrong? What's gone on long enough and what have you withheld from me?" Selena fired the questions at Morgana, sure her grandmother was going to break the worst news Selena would ever hear to her. She did not know what it was, and she had a feeling she wouldn't like it, her nervousness causing butterflies to frolicked in her stomach, doing loop-de-loops as Selena's apprehension grew.

Selena has never been one to handle intense emotions well. Her feelings tend to run to the excesses, sometimes she feels she can sense people's emotions as she walks down the street, but that is impossible. Or is it? She thinks to herself. But how can you know what other people feel?
Selena sat on the edge of her seat, her eyes never leaving her grandmother's face. She stared at Morgana so intensely that she did not hear what Morgana had been saying, causing Morgana to start again.

"I am going to tell you something that you will find hard to believe." Morgana took a breath. She stared at Selena for a moment, and then began speaking, softly at first then gaining strength and volume as she went on. "I know that you have always been curious about our family and the vague answers I have always given you were frustrating. Until now, I have been unable to tell you what you needed to hear." Morgana sighed. "I have always told you that your parents were killed in a hiking accident," she paused, a look of distress clouding her eyes. "Sweetheart that is not the truth."

Selena started to speak, but stopped as Morgana silently shook her head from side to side. Selena closed her half-open mouth and let Morgana continue.

"Selena, to tell this properly, I must go back almost four centuries. It all started during King Henry VIII's bloody reign over England..."

Morgana's voice trailed off as she tried to form the words. Selena waited anxiously for her grandmother to continue, she knew from experience that her grandmother is not a woman to be rushed when she is telling a story, all you succeeded in doing is frustrate yourself. Finally, Morgana found the words she was looking for, and she continued her story.

"As far as any of the family knows, everything started happening about the year fifteen hundred and thirty-five, with our namesake, the woman we are both named after - " Morgana broke off as Selena interrupted.

"How can we both be named after her? We don't share the same name Grandmother."

"Easy. Her name was Selena Morgana Hadden. You share her first name and I share her second name. She started the wheel in motion and we are to continue that wheel. Life is an endless circle, hence, the term 'The Wheel of Life', or the ‘Circle of Life'. There is no beginning and no ending. It just keeps going on and on and on. Does that make any sense?"

Selena is quiet a moment as she thought. "What about when you are born? Isn't that the beginning of life? And when you die, that is the ending of life? If so, that would make it a straight line, therefore there would be a beginning and an ending. So, how can life be a circle?"

"In part, that is true. You are born and you die." Selena had a pleased look, her lips curving into a smile, only for it to disappear as Morgana continued. "However, life is never a straight line. It forks. For every decision, you choose between an upper line and a lower line. Each choice leads you to a new destination." Morgana looked straight into Selena's eyes, her eyes never wavering. "But life is never ending. As you said before, you are born and you die. However, darling, you are always reborn, and you have lived many, many lifetimes."

"Are you talking reincarnation?"

"Yes, I am."

"How can that be? I don't remember living before."

"You do not always remember, but the things you do are because of actions in a previous life. Have you never wondered why something or somebody seems so familiar, but you are sure you have never done that, been there, or met that person before?"

"Yes, of course. That is déjà vu."

"Darling, what you call 'déjà vu' is your past lives bleeding through to this life." Selena made a move to continue the debate, but Morgana stopped her. "However, we digress as I was telling you of Selena Morgana Hadden and what started this wheel in motion. The year fifteen-thirty-five was the year when our family became witches."

Selena gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Whatever she had expected when this tale had started, she did not expect that!

Morgana continued as if she hadn't noticed Selena's reaction. "To be precise... we married into the practice."

"How can you marry into witchcraft? Isn't it something you either have or you don't...not that I believe in witchcraft. Or reincarnation for that matter."

"Darling, it's not that you don't believe in it, but you have never thought about the possibility of it before."

"Are you so sure of that grandmother?" Selena asked seriously "How do you know?"

"Because, I was the same way when my mother presented me with the idea of witchcraft and me being a witch in the same sentence, I was very skeptical. I did not believe it or her either, it is a tough idea to swallow. Please don't close yourself off, this is your history and your destiny." Morgana pleaded, not just with her words, but with her eyes and touch too. She twisted her hands around in Selena's grip until she was clasping Selena's hands. She gently closed her hands around Selena's so she was returning the clasp.

Selena gasped. Her hands felt like sparks were zipping between Morgana's and her own, getting warmer and warmer. The energy crawling up her arms into her shoulders and neck. Selena looked down at their joined hands and saw flashes of white and blue light, the light zinging between their clasped hands. The light wasn't coming just from Morgana though, the light would curl from Morgana's fingers and palm into Selena's and the same was happening from Selena's hand into Morgana's. Selena thought, This reminds me of that science thingy with the electricity, what is it called? Jacob's Ladder! It looks like a Jacob's Ladder!

Selena moved her head to look at her grandmother as Morgana too gasped. However, she isn't wearing the same shocked look as her granddaughter, Morgana's expression is pleased. "Very good Selena. Very good." Selena didn't know what was happening or why Morgana would praise her, all she knew is she is getting scared. She tried to pull her hands out of her grandmother's, but Morgana held on tightly. Slowly the lights died down. As the heat cooled, Selena felt calmness come over herself.

Morgana started to talk again. It took Selena's confused mind a moment to grasp that Morgana had resumed her story of Selena Morgana Hadden. "It all started when Anne Boleyn befriended Selena." Morgana stopped as Selena made a move to interrupt. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"Grandmother, What in the world was that?"

"It was energy, love."

"Energy?"

"Yes. Our bodies, well everything that you see, is nothing but energy. "And under the right conditions, or if you are a witch or spiritualist, you can learn to manipulate that energy to do what you wish it to do. Like that with our palms, although that was more unplanned and a reaction rather than something purposely manipulated."

"Did you cause that to happen?"

"No sweetheart. That was your doing. You took the emotions that I was sending to you through touch and converted it to physical energy."

"Can I do it again?"

"If you choose to follow this path you can learn to do that any time you wish to. And yes, although it is your destiny, you still have the final say on how you bring it about."

"If it is a destiny, then how can I fight it?"

"You don't. However, you can choose how you get there. You can take the path of a witch and use the powers you have within you to help bring about the changes. On the other hand, you can live the life as a mortal and not a witch and still bring about the changes...they will just be done by different means is all. Also keep this in mind, if you choose to learn how to control and manipulate the powers, it will be almost impossible, and very uncomfortable, to shut down if you decide later to not go this path. Before you begin learning, you need to think about this so we do not open the floodgates when you do not want it."

"Then why would I even want to consider it Grandmother?" Selena tilted her head to the side.

"Sweetheart, I won't lie to you, especially about something like this. To open yourself up is to release powers in you that is only hinted at. These powers bring both good and bad--"

"Bad? Bad for whom?"

Well, mostly for yourself sweetheart, for these powers, while adjusting to them and learning what they do and what you can do with them, can range from a minor irritation, to a physical or emotional pain. However, it is also temporary for once you gain control you don't experience the unpleasant side effects until it changes, if it does. But the good of it is that once you have mastered it, it can make life a lot more pleasant. It will allow you to do things differently, allow you to have more control on the outcome of what you set out to do...including helping people to heal. And at times, it can be downright fun!" Morgana laughed softly.

"I don't know if I want that Grandmother. It doesn't sound like it is pleasant most of the time."

"In the beginning while you are learning, that is the toughest, but it does get easier. Just like any task you have to learn, it is toughest in the beginning." Morgana paused, "that is, and until at the end when you barely even have to think about that task to accomplish it. I am not saying that is so with witchcraft. Because you always have to pay attention to the smallest of details, but in my opinion, it is so worth the inconveniences."

"I don't know Grandmother." Selena said doubtfully.

"Selena, just promise me you will listen to the rest of my story, that which I still haven't told you, and to some of the lessons before you make up your mind fully. We will not open any of your gifts until you are sure you wish to go this route, but there are some things you can learn that won't harm anything. Do you promise me this at least?"

"Yes that much I can promise you, but the minute I decide that I do not want to do this witchcraft stuff, you have to stop."

"Deal." They smiled at each other. "Now where was I?"

"Hmm, let me think...I think you had just mentioned that Anne and Selena Morgana had become friends."

"Oh yes, as I was saying, Anne had befriended Selena Morgana--"

"But Grandmother, how did Anne Boleyn befriend Selena Morgana? How did they meet? Wasn't Selena Morgana just a peasant? I know that Anne was a queen. Why would a queen befriend just a lowly peasant woman?" Selena rattled the questions off.

"Selena Morgana wasn't an exactly a peasant, but she wasn't rich either. They met when Anna and Henry were holding a party. Selena Morgana was a lady's maid of one of the Court residents. I don't remember which one, but she had been a favorite of Anne's and so Anne had gone to see Selena Morgana's Lady and Selena Morgana had been running around, trying to get her Lady prepared for the party. Selena Morgana spilled some toilet water on Anne's dress. That is how they originally met. Anyway," Morgana continued, "Anne was married to King Henry the VIII. She was in fact his second wife. Anne and Selena met just after the first of January in the year fifteen-thirty-five. It was a turbulent time for Anne, she and Henry were having some serious marital problems, mostly about her inability to have male children. Anne had given birth to their daughter, Elizabeth, around a year after Anne and Henry were married. Unfortunately, Elizabeth was her only child. Even though she had gotten pregnant again, none had survived full term pregnancy."

"Henry desperately wanted a male heir, but because of Anne's problems, that was not possible. His secretary and confidante, Thomas Cromwell, was aware of this problem, so he approached Henry about a plan. He and Henry schemed and plotted until they had perfected a plan." Selena began to interrupt again, to ask questions, but Morgana continued.

"Henry did not love Anne, it was a marriage of convenience, as had all of his marriages been. Therefore, he decided to do away with her, and find a new wife, one that would get him his male children. Thomas approach Henry when the King's Court had been full of people and accused Anne of adultery and incest with her half brother."

Selena gasped. "No! How could they?"

Morgana appeared to not hear her though and continued. "They had decided that it was better to accuse her with a room full of witnesses. Of course, this accusation was simply absurd. It was true that Anne had grown to hate her husband, for he was not kind to her at all, however, she would never have cheated on him, especially with her half brother. She was a good Christian woman. Nevertheless, because of the charges, they sent her to the Tower of London, where they declared her guilty." Morgana paused, looked at Selena, and said, "No one believed Anne's cries of innocence, or at least none would admit to believing in Anne. Who in their right mind would disagree with the king? If any had spoken up in defense that would have saved Anne, they themselves would have met with her same fate of treason. For Henry had planted evidence in Anne's possessions to back up Thomas's accusations. So according to the evidence and the 'witnesses' there was no doubt of Anne's 'guilt'."

Morgana said this with such anger and hatred that Selena was sure that if her grandmother had been there at the time, Selena would have feared for the King's life. "Grandmother, what happened then?"

"Well," Morgana said, "after Anne was found guilty, her sentence was decided on. Since adultery and incest is a sin and the fact that Anne performed the adultery against the king...they said it was a treasonous act. Since it was treason, it was punishable by death." Selena knew what fate had befallen Anne, but she had never heard this version of the story, yet, Selena felt it to be the truth. After all, history books were famous for leaving out the right information, weren't they?

Morgana absently stroked Selena's hand, which was still clutching her own. Until that moment, they had both forgotten that they had kept that clasp of hands. "The judge then proclaimed the executioner would behead Anne. Moreover, as the Guillotine was the favorite device at the time, the judge determined it as the perfect device. They then settled that Anne's execution date would be May nineteenth, fifteen-thirty-six. When Selena found this out, she was horrified. She protested to everyone the charges were false, and that Anne was innocent, but no one believed her. She was a Lady's Maid. She was not a pheasant, but neither did she have any influence with the upper class. "

"Selena could not do anything about getting Anne set free. She knew the only thing that she could do was attend Anne's execution and show everybody her love, devotion, and support for Anne...her Queen and her friend. Surprisingly enough, when that fateful day finally arrived, Selena was not the only one there who did not approve, who knew that Anne was innocent. Still, nothing could be done. It was too late. On that disastrous day, Madame Guillotine, as she would come to be known as, took the life of her latest victim." Morgana freed one of her hands and raised it so she could gently wipe the tears that were pouring down Selena's face. Selena hadn't even known she was crying.

"It was there that Selena met her future husband. His name was George Abernathy. Everybody had their suspicions about him, but none knew if he was a wizard or not, he kept his secret fiercely. Morgana didn't realize he was a witch, or wizard as the male witch's were known at that time as, until after they were married and he could no longer hide it. At first, she was horrified. She was an honorable Christian and Christian women had nothing to do with witchcraft. However, she loved George so much that she could not turn him in, for witches were persecuted, then as well as now."

Morgana paused, and then continued when Selena made no move to ask any further questions. "It took a while, but Selena Morgana found out that witchcraft was not what the Pope and priests had carved it out to be thanks to the patient tutelage of her husband. It was a part of life. As free and beautiful as breathing. It was not a crime against humanity as it is taught to be, there was no devil worship, there is no devil period, and it was all done to help people, not hurt them."

"Is it true that most witches were a kind of healer?"

"Yes, most witches have extensive knowledge of herbs and so they were able to help others when they were ill. Where was I? Oh yes, it started that their children had only limited powers. However, their children and their children's children, for generations, refused to marry any nonmagical people. They all choose to marry witches, causing their powers to strengthen and become pure. They did this because a witch married to someone who did not believe in magic had to be so careful. No one but their spouse could know about their magical abilities. Hiding it with another of their kind was much easier. Also non-magic believers do not understand the laws and rules that a witch has to abide by, but we will cover these laws and rules later."

"Why do I have a feeling that is going to be an extensive lesson?" Selena asked with a grimace.

Morgana laughed and winked at Selena. "And that m'dear is how we came to be witches."

Selena was silent. She had never heard her grandmother speak of magic before this day. She knew her grandmother was not a religious person, but it was still unnerving to listen to Morgana speak so casually of witchcraft. However, with Morgana's herbal knowledge, she should have figured at least a part of this out.

The clock on the mantle above the fireplace in the living room struck the hour and the chime echoed through the small cottage. "It is ten o'clock. Do you wish to stop and go to bed, or do you wish to talk some more?" Morgana asked Selena.

"I wish to talk some more. I have a few questions that cannot wait."

"I understand sweetheart. What are your questions?"

End of Chapter One.






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