I wrote this one for
https://www.cruxforums.com/xf/members/erin-the-brave.3134/
Erin's sacrifice
The midsummer sun bathed the village in golden light, casting long shadows over the hills where I had earned my right to marry. It was hard to believe that only a few months ago, I had been standing over the lifeless body of an orc warrior, the shaft of my arrow protruding from the gap in his armour at his neck. The memory of that battle was still fresh in my mind—the ambush, the cold weight of the silencing amulet around my neck, the eerie quiet as we descended upon the orc warband.
The amulets had worked perfectly, shrouding us in silence as we moved through the hills. The orcs never heard us coming. We had lured them into our trap, and I had been the one to land the lucky shot on one of their champions. It was a moment of triumph, a moment that had secured my place as a warrior among my people. And, more importantly, killing your first orc grants you permission to marry. So it secured my place by Gyrak's side.
Gyrak, strong and fearless, had chosen me over Fatha, the priest's acolyte. The memory of her scornful gaze as he announced his choice still lingered, but I had paid it no mind. I was the victor, and tonight, on the evening of midsummer, I was to marry the man I loved.
But fate, as I was cruelly reminded, had other plans.
The village square was abuzz with excitement for the midsummer celebrations, yet a dark undercurrent of dread wound through the festivities. Tonight, as with every midsummer, the sea gods demanded a sacrifice. One virgin woman, chosen by random lottery, would be offered to the waters to ensure the safe passage of our ships. It was a grim tradition, but one we all accepted as necessary.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think the lot would fall to me.
When the high priest Elthar drew my name, the world seemed to stop. My heart pounded in my chest as if trying to escape the confines of my ribs, and a cold sweat broke out across my skin. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The joyous anticipation of my wedding night was torn away in an instant, replaced by a suffocating terror.
This couldn't be happening. Not to me.
"You have one hour," Elthar intoned, his voice heavy with sorrow. "One hour to say your goodbyes."
One hour to bid farewell to the life I had fought so hard to claim.
Gyrak's face was a mask of anguish as he held me close, his strong arms trembling. "No," he whispered, his voice raw with pain. "This isn't right. This can't be right."
But it was. There was no escaping the decree of the sea gods, no matter how unjust it felt. The village would not risk the wrath of the ocean for the sake of one woman, not even for a warrior like me.
My family, my friends, all gathered to say their goodbyes. The words were a blur, their faces a kaleidoscope of grief and pity. My father clasped my hand, his eyes shining with unshed tears, while my mother wept openly. And then there was Gyrak, his face pale, his lips pressed into a thin line as he tried to hold back the storm of emotions raging within him. We kissed, a desperate, aching kiss filled with all the words we could no longer say.
But time was relentless, and soon the women of the village came for me. They stripped me of my clothing, leaving me bare, exposed to the world. They adorned my body with flowers, weaving jasmine and lavender into my hair, their faces solemn and unyielding. I felt numb, detached, as if this was all happening to someone else.
The walk to the beach was long, the path lined with villagers who averted their eyes as I passed. The sun was beginning to set, casting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a beautiful backdrop to the horror that awaited me.
At the water's edge, they laid me down, spreading my arms and legs wide on the stone altar at the waterline, securing them with ropes. The ritual was familiar, but knowing that I was the one being sacrificed made it all the more surreal. The wet stone was cool against my back, slippery from seaweed and algae, the scent of the flowers cloying and comforting.
Elthar, the high priest, began the prayers, his voice a deep rumble that resonated with the power of the ancient words. All the elves joined in, calling the sea gods to accept the offering. I stared up at the sky, trying to find some semblance of peace, but all I felt was dread. The waves occasionally lapped at my feet, a cold reminder of the fate that awaited me.
And then she appeared—Fatha, Elthar’s daughter, my rival. She moved with a practiced grace, her hands deftly placing the ritual flowers around me, her expression unreadable. I had expected her to take pleasure in my demise, but she was calm, almost serene.
When the ritual was almost completed, the others retreated to the field where the midsummer festivities were held, leaving me alone with Fatha. I felt a flicker of unease. Someone was supposed to take tha last step in the sacrifice, but I did not expect it to be her.
Fatha knelt beside me, her eyes meeting mine with a cold, calculating gaze. She reached into her robe and produced a bronze oval object, about the size of a fist. It was one of the silencing amulets, the very same kind we had used in the ambush against the orcs. Without a word, she pushed it between my legs.
This wasn't how the ritual was supposed to go. "Why the amulet? I should be a virgin to be sacrificed. You destroyed my virginity with that amulet." I asked, my voice trembling. She smiled, a cruel twist of her lips. "To keep you silent, Erin. It wouldn't do for you to disrupt the ritual with your screaming. I won't scream, on the other hand. I will celebrate my engagement to Gyrak soon, now I managed to get rid of you."
The realization of her betrayal hit me like a blow to the chest. "You… you rigged the lottery," I breathed, horror and disbelief warring within me.
Her smile widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Of course I did. Gyrak should have been mine. You stole him from me, and now I'm taking him back."
My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and rage. "They'll know," I whispered, desperate to find some way to stop her. "They'll find out what you’ve done."
"Shout as loud as you like," Fatha sneered, leaning in close. "The amulet will dampen your voice. No one will hear you. No one will save you."
Panic surged through me as I struggled against the ropes, but it was futile. Fatha had planned this too well. She reached into her robe again, this time pulling out a small, wickedly sharp blade.
"Now, let’s complete the preparations. The sharks are the messengers of the sea god. Now we make sure they come quicker," she said, her tone dripping with malice. She placed the blade between my legs, the tip resting against my clit.
I cried out, but the sound was swallowed by the amulet as she made a deep gash across my belly from my clit to my navel, the pain sharp and immediate. Blood welled up, warm and sticky, trickling down my sides and mixing with the cold seawater. My intestins were visible. "Please complete the cut, Fatha. Go until my heart. Let me die quickly, now you cut so deep.
Fatha stood, wiping the blade on her robe. " No, this is exactly the perfect cut for you, Erin. I am allowed to do the cut in the way that I judge right. Not too shallow, so you will feel lots of pain. And not so deep and long that you die too quick. Now I leave you at the hands of the sea gods. They will be disappointed that the virginity of the sacrifice is gone. They will claim ships this year. Goodbye, Erin," she said, her voice sickeningly sweet. "I am going to find Gyrak. Enjoy your wedding night."
And with that, she retreated while laughing hysterically, leaving me alone with the rising tide.
The water crept higher, the waves stronger, pulling at my legs, my arms. I thrashed against the ropes, screamed until my throat was raw, but barely any sound escaped. The amulet did its job, rendering me a silent, helpless sacrifice.
The saltwater stung the cut on my belly, and I could already see dark shapes moving in the distance, drawn by the scent of blood. The fins of the servants of the sea gods. My heart raced as the water rose to my chest, then my neck, then my chin. I fought to keep my head above the waves, but it was a losing battle.
The ocean was relentless, cold, and unforgiving. It produced one huge wave, summoned by the sea gods themselves. It crept closer, then towered over me and crashed down on my body with tremendous force. As the water closed over my head, I prayed for the safety of the elven ships and their crew. Not that it would matter any more. the last thing that drifted through my mind was the party ground, where the villagers celebrated midsummer, unaware of the betrayal that had sealed my fate.
And then, there was only darkness.