Final card for the Eight of Diamonds – It’s time to put the work in, to block out all distractions, and focus completely on the task at hand. You are no longer interested in playing small. Skill and mastery. Tedious, repetitive labor.
A new day starts at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming as the moon sets behind a mountain shining with alpenglow. It’s just another magical moment from this remarkable natural treasure. Photo by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.
Castle Varrich’s (Caisteal Bharraich) precise origin and date are unknown. The ruins are located in the far north of the Scottish highlands near the village of Tongue on a local high point of rock overlooking both the Kyle of Tongue and the village of Tongue. Varrich Castle has spectacular views of mountains Ben Loyal and Ben Hope.
The castle was the ancient seat of the Clan Mackay and it is possible that they built the castle over the site of an old Norse fort sometime in the 14th century or later. Little is known about its history.
…My first memory is being born in my Father’s light, and feeling at the instant of my own awakening, the stirring of my twin’s. We knew nothing except the light and each other, and we were beautiful. Our backs and hands together, our minds resting peacefully against each other’s. We were Named, and called ourselves brothers. Then all our brethren followed; not for a solitary moment during creation did we experience loneliness, nor doubt.
Strange. I would want my final memories to be similar, if from a different angle. I never wish to be alone again.
She is one of them– not an Ainu, but a thing outside of creation. They are part of the Void; darkness so old it gained magnitude. When we came into being, that old shadow was scattered; no longer all that ever was, but only its opposite. If you go far enough from Creation, you can still hear them, as the particles of being and light grow thin in the vastness. Their kingdom is far greater than ours. We are lucky they lack ambition…
I do not know how long I spent with them. Time did not mean anything. It was long enough that I learned to distinguish their individual voices.
That is where I met her. I told her of what was made by the thoughts of Eru. She was curious. Hungry. She followed me back.
….Platinum has a crisp and acrid taste, like watercress. Gold is sweeter. I like sweet things.
He dared repeat a watery version of my own history back to me, as if he knew it better than myself. I had never spoken at length with any Second Born who could look me in the eye– imagine my surprise when the words spilling out of him reeked of my brethren’s lies. I hadn’t realized how deeply their foul myths had dug their roots into the realms of men. I hadn’t realized how desperately that garden wanted weeding. An example had to be set.
…And more than that, I could not abide to have a mortal man, a doomed, miserable race whose species had been dealt the worst hand of all my Father’s creatures– sing his praises before me, as if he truly believed every injustice shat upon him by the Theme was a gift from our Creator.
I hated him, hated his every word. And more so did I hate the reality I had to show him. Nothing and no one came to his aid. Whatever my savagery, remember it was the gods he trusted who failed to intervene on his behalf. No Valar armies waded over the sea to save his rotting hide as he watched you perform your farce of a life.
I would not suffer such a wretched fool to have hope in the face of death; not when I, who death touches not, fear its darkness so terribly.
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