He would like to know about previous Samhains first

“Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t be the worst. And like you say, I can always pull out.” Duane says. “Say, what about previous Samhains? Have any of you participated in a Samhain before?”

“I have once.” I answer. “When I was 18, I didn’t feel ready, so I skipped out. But when I was 19, I was ready for it for the first time. I failed to find the clearing with the bonfire, but I did find the path. It was a clear enough night, so I would follow on to safe side of the rope, without accidentally stepping onto the actual path. Until eventually I came across Cerridwen as she was following the path back home.”

I already told the story to Merlan, shortly after it happened, but Kynan and Fionn never heard. Suffice to say the two 18-year-olds and the traveler guest wanted to hear more.

“Well, she was quite surprised. She expected to not come across anyone, because she was on the path and all that. So, she quickly covered herself with her hands.” I reminisce. “It’s also not like I could do anything. Not without incurring the wrath of the ancestors. So, I simply walked with her, made some conversation, made a few jokes. Eventually she asked why I participated in the event.”

“To have sex, right?” Duane interrupted.

“Yes and no.” I answer. “It isn’t the first time someone falls in love during the chase part of Samhain. It happened to my parents, actually. One year, my dad caught my mom, they did it, but mom didn’t get pregnant. They did start a relationship after that, and next Samhain they were already married. So, I told Cerri about that and she felt it endearing enough to lower her defenses and then she showed me her boobs.”

“Aw man. What I wouldn’t give to see Cerri’s boobs.” Kynan groans.

“Yeah, I’m starting to think maybe it’s better to join than skip.” Fionn admits.

After the kids fawning over my former girlfriend, Kynan suggests Merlan to talk about his previous Samhains.

“Let’s see. I recall my first one being with Kaileigh. The oldest of the two milkmaids. We were both only 18, but man was she hot. My second Samhain was with Aislinn. She was supposed to get married to the smith’s oldest son, but that guy accidentally got his sister at a Samhain and even knocked her up. So, those two had to get married.”

Merlan adds the story about Aislinn and her lover for Duane’s sake, as the rest of us already know about it.

“Well, Aislinn made the mistake of remaining close to her man. As in, close enough to get preggers while her man was already married. So yeah, that’s how she became a single mother. Due to Aislinn not being married, she had to participate in the next Samhain bonfire still. That’s the one I had her. Fortunately for me, she was too bummed about her lover staying with his sister, so she hadn’t yet focused on forcing a man to marry her through a Samhain child. But these days, she does have that focus, so she is one to watch out for. Last year, I had Mearna.”

Merlan takes a moment to drink a swig of mead, then tells about his encounter with Mearna.

“Well, it was dark. So, I didn’t know it was her. I couldn’t see her face.” He starts. “In fact, I recall being under the impression I had caught Gwendolyn. So, when she started asking me to cum inside her, it was like my brain turned off and instinct took over. Only after I got back home and checked the necklace I got from her did I see the name Mearna spelled out. I can tell you, for the next 2 months, I was quite worried about getting Mearna pregnant. But it turns out my seed didn’t take root.”

Merlan takes another swig from his mug. Then says something that surprised even me.

“Still, I think this year, I may actually be ready for it. Starting my own family.”

“You sure, brother?” Kynan asks.

“Yeah, I am 21 now. A lot of men in this village became a father at this age. Some even did so earlier. So this year, if I catch a girl, I’m going to let her know that I am ready for fatherhood, but I’m going to let her decide if we actually make a Samhain baby or not.”

I nod at Merlan and say, “That is a very good way to get about it.” Then I raise my mug of mead and toast with him.

“Alright guys, thanks for explaining everything. I think I might actually join.” Duane says. “Actually, I have a few friends who might want to join too. So, I’ll just go and explain the event to him if you don’t mind.”

Duane gets up and is about to leave, but Merlan stops him for a moment.

“Make sure to explain them that they need to get a white stone necklace first, can’t get on the path, exchange necklaces with the captured girl before intercourse, and they also can’t have sex with a girl who already has a white stone necklace. That’s a girl who already had sex. Oh, and eat a lot during the banquet, because the chase can last quite a while and take a lot of energy. And certainly, don’t forget to use the outhouse before the event starts. You do not want nature to call in the middle of chasing a girl.”

Duane smiles and says, “Right, I gotcha.”

After Duane leaves, Merlan and I continue talking about the chase and which girls would participate. We keep our discussion mostly on the hot ones to try and motivate Kynan and Fionn to join. In the end, they decided that it was better to go for it than chicken out. Just in time too, because that is when we hear the bell being rung three times. We quickly head over to the outhouse, just to be sure, and then we head over to the building where the participating men gather.

As I enter the building, I notice Duane is already there, together with some other guy I don’t know. I guess Duane succeeded in getting one of his friends to join. I greet them both, then guide them to the table where the necklaces are being handed out. I first help Duane and his friend Pwyll get their necklaces, then I get mine. Since the single village girls are mandated to participate, their necklaces can me made ahead of time. With us guys, it is a lot harder to predict who will participate. But the elders can afford the time to make new necklaces as us guys have to head out later anyways.

Once we get our necklace, we start undressing. Got to be ready for when the signal is given. Pwyll and Duane are a bit shy about their nudity. The same goes for Kynan and Fionn. Amoung the other guys, I notice my uncle, Kenric. The poor guy is already 40 and he still doesn’t have a wife. I don’t want to wish to see any of the girls **** into having a child, it seems like it’s the only way uncle Kenric is ever going to get a wife. I do hope it doesn’t end up being my sister, though.

After a decent time waiting, our druid enters the building. He is the oldest person in our village at 68 years old. He is the wisest person any of us know, so many people go to him for advice. He is also knowledgeable about medicine and disease, so serves as our village’s doctor. Finally, he is also our religious teacher, informing us about the gods, the nature spirits, our ancestor souls and everything in between. Though on this Samhain day, he now informs us that the girls are deep enough into the forest and we are free to go and find the bonfire they are at.

The lot of us hurry towards the exit and head through the door. About 19 nude men exit the building and head into the village. Fortunately, all the other people have already gone home for today. As we cross to the other side, I already notice two groups forming. One group heading to the left, the other goes to the right.

“Hey, brother. Which side to you want to take?” Merlan asks Kynan.

“Uhm, I think I’d like to take the right side.” Kynan says.

“Alright, you go right, I go left.” Merlan replies.

“Wait … we’re not going together?” Kynan asks.

“You can’t lean on your big brother forever, Kynan. And if you want to make a girl realize you’re worth staying with, you will have to show confidence.” Merlan then places a hand on his brother’s shoulder and looks into his eyes. “When you find your way to the glade all by yourself, it will give you a big confidence boost. That boost will then help you for the rest of the evening. Trust me, you’ll have more success at catching a girl, then by following me around.”

Kynan nods and says, “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll make it. Good luck, Merlan.”

“Same for you. And tell Fionn I wish him good luck as well.” Merlan says.

After that, Merlan and Kynan part.