Chapter 3(The ritual)

I just could not help myself and went to the dance floor grooving with the music shaking my booty with Iris who was busy dancing with my brother.

I closed my eyes and started shaking my body with rhythm. Oh, heavenly! I love this song and then suddenly I heard the tribesmen playing the bougarabou and djembe drums it was heavenly and I was swaying my hips with every beat lost in the music not noticing that everyone was dancing and watching me.

It went on for a long time and finally, when the drums stopped slowly I opened my eyes and saw everyone watching me and blushed as I tend to forget my surroundings when I dance.

Everyone was jolted back, and they started clapping, oh common I am just an amateur dancer I told myself but bowed my head, thanking them and rushed to my mom and hugged her.

“That was beautiful Frey my mom said kissing my head.” My mom told me lovingly.

Eros was grinning and came and whispered in my ears, “Now tell me with those bum shaking, I am sure your mate will be ready for you wherever he is?”

I went red and glared at him.

But he was too busy laughing.

Abba came and patted my back telling me to come with him to the sacrificial altar. It was a place of worship where we had occasional gatherings, especially during the time of harvest to thank Mother Nature for giving us good crops and during the time of sowing when we prayed for her mercy to save the crop from any natural disaster and animal.

It has been decorated and beautifully built. You can tell that this dome is highly sacred as we have almost all the weeding of our tribes’ man here.

My mom and brother were also behind me.

I could see our high priest and his wife standing and waiting for the ceremony to begin. There was a women's choir as well which sang the songs of love and thanksgiving in our language.

I was made to sit on a slab carved with the finest wood and the high priest started praying in our language.

While the tribesmen were beating their drums softly. I closed my eyes and thanked God for giving me a family so loving and caring. And sought his blessing for my new journey.

Finally, the ceremony was over and the drums started beating faster as it was a custom in our tribe that on a full moon night of the harvest, the people would dance the whole night thanking and praising Mother Nature for a good harvest. I happened to be born on a full moon night and this year my birthday has fallen on a full moon day, so it was a very good sign my Abba told me as we had an incredibly good harvest this year.

Mom brought a plate of food with all my favourite delicacies. And Abba started feeding it to me as it was a ritual so I could not even object.

I was being prepared for sacrifice as in feeding me and then sending me to mate with my mate. I wanted to laugh as it was ten in the night and I still could not sense my mate it was quite frustrating.

I was done eating.

“It’s about time you make your move and go to the blue lagoon.” My dad said lifting me and hugging me happily and having tears in his eyes.

“Remember this no matter what happens we are still here and will protect you. Come back after you have found your mate my Benevolent daughter.” Abba said lovingly.

“But if she doesn’t find a mate be ready for the consequences chief.” The high priest spoke warningly.

I looked with confusion, what if I do not find a mate what will happen? I wondered but did not voice it out. My heart started beating faster.

I walked outside into the darkness my brother followed me as he promised that he would reach me at the entrance of the lagoon and I was nervous.

As walked we walked into the deep jungle. I was lost in my thoughts and my brother interrupted me asking, “Freya what is going on in your little head?”

I wasn’t sure I should ask him and hesitated.

“Common you don’t want to share your thoughts with me? Am I so unreliable as the others think?” Eros said with a little sadness.

“Brother, you are the one I can rely on always and don’t talk rubbish, since when have you been listening to people,” I said softly and held his hand.

“It's just that I have been thinking about what the high priest had told Abba after the ceremony. Do you know about it? What will happen if I don’t find my mate?” asked curiously.

Eros smiled and said. “Don’t break your head thinking about it, you will mate as Athena had prophesied when you were born.”

“Do you still believe in that prophesy?” I asked him as I was amazed that during the time of science and technology, people still believed in prophecy.

“Don’t you Freya your biological mother had told Abba when she handed you to our father and look how our tribe had prospered ever since then and it was because of her prophecy,” Eros said urgently.

“Okay, okay, I will not argue again on that prophecy but what will happen brother if I don’t mate please tell me.” I urged him.

“You will be sent on exile away from the tribe and sent into the outside world alone.” Eros replied unhappily.” But you need not worry as the prophecy will come true and you will rule our people.”

I had doubts about it but merely shook my head as the only thing I dared was to go away from my family. Finally, we reached the entrance to the lagoon.

Eros hugged me and told me to walk inside towards the dense entrance of the cave which led to the lagoon.

I smiled. Then turned and ran towards the lagoon with the greatest speed. For normal people, it would have taken at least half an hour to reach this place but for me, it took just five minutes.