Heartlines (Cashel)

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

Unlike some of the other Druids on Hy-Brasil, Sadhbh Wormwood remained perfectly content with her life on the island. It wasn't the same as life off in the non-Druid world; that was true, but that was what she liked about it. Apart from occasional interference by the Ministry of Magic into their affairs, there were few difficulties for them. The gods provided for them, and they cared for the land and the creatures on it as they had always done—and as their ancestors before them had done, and their ancestors before them.

By adulthood, there was a certain rhythm to life to which Sadhbh had become accustomed, especially during harvest season. At twenty-three, Sadhbh was firmly a winemaker, not that she had once considered doing anything else with her life. Harvest season, as it was at that point in the year, was an exciting time for her, and the intricacies of winemaking were familiar to her. The best part—apart from drinking wine—was getting to stomp grapes. There were, theoretically, more efficient methods, but there was something to be said about standing in a vat of fresh grapes.

With her feet firmly planted in the vat full of grapes and her vivid red hair pulled atop her head, Sadhbh could hear footsteps approaching from nearby and turned to see that it was one of her cousins, Cashel. She waved, not really able to move swiftly for wading in a mixture of grapes and their juice. "Cash!" she called to him, her voice thick with the accent of her mother tongue, Brasilic. "Have you come to help with the harvest?"

@cashel

[Deleted]

Fresh out of school, graduating with high marks in his NEWT exams, Cashel had joined the guardians. He was eighteen and was now joining the rest of the Druid life as a full adult, done with school and everything. Already processing many of the skills required to enforce the law, it was the obvious choice. He loved his home, never intending to leave it again. This was where he belonged. He was happy, he was courting Fae, his astrological twin, and there was not much more to be said. Though he didn't show his joy, Cashel had always been quite a stoic young man, reserved and choosing to observe rather than speak.

Taking the day off of his duties, the bright eyed boy made his way to his mother's family winery. His family had regularly helped with harvest, especially on plentiful years. He had always been intrigued in the wine making process, having learned much about it. If he hadn't become a guardian, he would have joined the Wormwoods, his cousins, in their trade.

As he approached the winery, he spotted his cousin stomping grapes. He waved at Sadhbh when she spotted him. "Have you come to help with the harvest?" He nodded "Where do you what me Sadhbh?"

sadhbh wormwood

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

Cashel nodded and asked her where she wanted him, and Sadhbh—who couldn't really hop out of the mass of grapes she was busy stomping—gestured vaguely at first. She trusted her cousin to know what he was doing. He'd been watching how her side of the family made wine for nearly as long as she had, even if he wasn't directly involved in making it quite as often as she was anymore.

Realizing that a mere gesture probably wasn't the clearest set of instructions that she could have given him, however, Sadhbh paused. "Actually," she considered, "the grapes in here could use some more help." It would save her time, at least though Cashel wasn't confined to just that. "Unless you don't want to dirty your clothes," she added thoughtfully, "then there's probably something else…"

@cashel

[Deleted]

Cashel had helped with harvest and wine making a number of times. The bigger the harvest, the more the winemakers called on their family for help. This was a regular thing for Cashel, and he enjoyed stepping into another role every once in a while. It also meant that he knew what he was doing. The woman had gestured around, and he looked, trying to spot what part of the process needed more help.

As he looked around, she spoke again. He nodded and shrugged. "Cloths can be cleaned." He said, moving towards her. While grape juice wasn't the easiest to get out of clothing, he came with the intentions of getting dirty. He took off his shoes and hopped in, feeling the grapes move and crush around his feet. He gave a small smile as he started to press the grapes with her.

sadhbh wormwood

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

Although Sadhbh had expressed some reservations about having Cashel join her in stomping grapes so that he wouldn't dirty his clothes, he was quick to remind her that clothes could be cleaned. She was grateful for that, too, she thought. Though she appreciated the burgundy color of many of the family wines and thought that it would make for a very nice dye if desired, she didn't want or need everything she wore to be that color.

"That is true," Sadhbh said in acknowledgment of her cousin's comment as he moved closer to the vat in which she was wading. Luckily, they had the benefit of magic, so even getting out stains that wouldn't budge with water alone was hardly a problem. It just took a little bit of extra time; that was all. Besides, it wasn't very often that people on Hy-Brasil were in much of a rush.

Before Sadhbh could offer him her assistance, Cashel had made it into the grapes. It was a unique sensation, though it was the opposite of unsettling to her. "It shouldn't take very long," Sadhbh considered then, "especially with two of us."

@cashel

[Deleted]

Ri never cared much for keeping cloths looking clean. They served one purpose, for him to wear while he went about his life. He stated so to his cousin, and she seemed to agree with his sentiment. Taking off his shoes, Cashel hopped into the vat with his cousin. The squishy substance under his feet was familiar and comfortable to him. He gave a small smile when she said it shouldn't take long with the two of them. "Time will fly." He squished at the grasp below, sure more would come, or they would find something else to help with once it was done. "Wont they bring more?" He figured he would check.

sadhbh wormwood

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

Once he had made his way into the vat, Cashel assured Sadhbh that time would fly with the two of them working on the grapes simultaneously. Sadhbh had no doubts about that, but it did help to hear her cousin confirm it. It was always easiest to get things done with more people around, as the sentiment about many hands making light work went. Hy-Brasil in general was like that, even with a relatively small population. People didn't mind pitching in to help one another, even if it wasn't under dire circumstances. That was just the kind of people on their little island—always in tune with what was happening and in community with one another. Though each family had their own specialties and skills and though not everyone followed their family members' same occupations, everything worked when they worked together and honored their gods as had been done for ages.

"Won't they bring more?" Cashel checked then, barely into his work on the current vat. Sadhbh appreciated his enthusiasm, especially because it meant that even more might get done than she had anticipated. That would work out well for her and for Cashel, she thought, since maybe they wouldn't have to spend their entire time visiting with one another with grapes between their toes.

Sadhbh nodded in response to Cashel's question. There was plenty more where that vat had come from. They had been very fortunate with their harvest so far, and Sadhbh felt sure that her constant praise of the gods and visits to the Forest Shrines had been part of the reason for that success. "There are many more grapes," she confirmed for him in Brasilic. "Medb should be coming with more soon," she added. Her sister, younger than she by two years, had been preparing more grapes earlier. Honestly, squishing them was almost the easy part.

@cashel

[Deleted]

Life was simple on Hy-Brasil. Their community was strong, if someone needed help, others were always quick to lend a hand. Harvesting season was one of those times when the Wormwoods and all their relations gathered to help. Especially in good years. Everyone on the island helped out. The druids were small in number, but strongly bound to each other. Every druid had their own specialties. Helping with what they could. Everyone played their roles and worshiped together, then the island proved to be blessed.

Cashel stepped into the squishy vat, his feet reaching down to the bottom, feeling the grapes crushing under his weight. This wasn't the first time he had done this, and it wouldn't be his last. He moved instinctively. More was always added, especially by this time. When he had asked, his cousin confirmed that more would come with a simple nod. As a young man of few words, Cashel enjoyed simple responses.

She talked about her sister, bringing more soon and the boy nodded. "How's she been?" He asked, referencing her sister.

sadhbh wormwood

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

At her mention of her younger sister and only sibling, Medb, Cashel asked her how she had been. Medb had been well, though they were lucky on Hy-Brasil that there were rarely many significant issues unless they happened to affect the island as a whole. That was largely either because of the gods or because of the Ministry of Magic, though. (The former were much easier to appease, but that didn't come as any surprise to Sadhbh.)

"Medb has been well," Sadhbh answered Cash. Her sister hadn't deviated from winemaking, either; they were both in the family business. (Sadhbh had never understood why some people from outside of Hy-Brasil found that so difficult to grasp. There were never any tensions between her and her sister, even if some people imagined that might be the case. "We all have been very busy," Sadhbh acknowledged, "but I am grateful. We have had a good harvest this year, and it is something to celebrate." There was no point in allowing it to cause her stress. It was joyous, because it meant that the gods were pleased. "And especially at Samhain."

@cashel

[Deleted]

Life on Hy-Brasil was quite simple. The druids lived most of their lives, rarely leaving it. One could live grow, learn and then start working all in the same community. It felt as though little happened without the island knowing about it. As such, the island was a bit of an easier life. Exciting things rarely happened. The older generation watched the kids grow, making speculations and not being quiet about their thoughts and beliefs. That was why he and Fae had become friends. Since birth, he had been told that because they were astrological twins, they were fated to be together. He hadn't fought it, there wasn't a reason to. Hy-Brasil was often quiet, and calm, it allowed Cashel, as a druid, to draw closer to the land and their traditions. Starting as a guardian gave him the opportunity to ensure the safety of that peace.

The woman mentioned that her sister had been well. And he nodded, acknowledging the answer he had expected. If something big had happened, he felt as if he would have heard about it earlier. Family ties were important on the island, and one helped another out of duty, family and kindness. The woman then also mentioned that everyone had been busy. He nodded. In times of harvest. From gathering the grapes to turning them into wine, the process that they had done for generations took time. That was why Cashel had come, to help out where he could. Sadhbh and her family were related to him, on his mothers side, and as such, he had just as much a responsibility to help out. He huffed a bit of a laugh as she mentioned that their harvest lead for much to be celebrated. "Celebrate we will." He gave a small smile to his cousin. They worked hard, but it was fun to dream and think ahead to the upcoming celebration.

sadhbh wormwood

[sadhbh wormwood]

Autumn 2018

If anyone on Hy-Brasil cared about the religious rituals that came along with their various festivities, it was Sadhbh. Having good quality wine to offer to their gods was incredibly important, especially at the harvest. It was all the gods' doing, and they deserved to be thanked. That, though, didn't only involve stoicism—with the exception, perhaps, of the month of January. Otherwise, the consumption of both alcohol and mushrooms was common, and Sadhbh was no exception there. She didn't maintain the same "work hard, play hard" attitude that some of the mainlanders seemed to possess; the Druid lifestyle didn't exactly follow that, but she could let loose once the harvest was in and the wine made. And the time was close.

"There's Medb now!" Sadhbh pointed out to Cashel. Just as she'd anticipated, her sister had just come with a large vat of grapes that she was pulling behind her with the help of magic. Sadhbh climbed out of the vat, feet covered in grape residue. "Medb," she called eagerly, walking towards her sister. "Cashel has come to join us. Let me help you." She wouldn't be able to go straight back into the grapes without washing her feet anyway, so it was hardly a hassle when she took over for her sister and brought the vat the rest of the way over in the direction of their cousin so that her sister didn't have to waste any time.

@cashel