Croí Clioche
Croí Clioche means Heart Stone and is a stone circle in the Seelie Kingdom. It's a place especially connected to the magic of Faeire and has a stone with a natural hole through it (a fáinne menhir) in the center of the circle. If two people clasp hands through the stone, the magic of Faerie compels them to only say the truth to each other. This makes it a traditional site for engagement ceremonies and marriages, especially with royalty as truth and intentions are important for an alliance that will lead to someone co-ruling a court or kingdom.
From the Animatic of The Glass Gate by Maru Exposito Animation Studio.
“What? No. This is all just pretend.”
“Okay, so I haven’t been there, but I know it has a fáinne menhir. It’s this rock with a hole in it. I was at Isobel's engagement ceremony—it’s a whole thing for the fae—and there's this part where you like, stick your hands through the rock and then you can't lie. I guess the point is to start your engagement off with truth or whatever.”
From The Books:
“Croí Clioche is a sacred stone circle in the heart of the Seelie Kingdom,” she said. “And there’s only one reason Tiernan would choose to meet you there. Well, two reasons. You aren’t getting engaged, are you?”“What? No. This is all just pretend.”
“Okay, so I haven’t been there, but I know it has a fáinne menhir. It’s this rock with a hole in it. I was at Isobel's engagement ceremony—it’s a whole thing for the fae—and there's this part where you like, stick your hands through the rock and then you can't lie. I guess the point is to start your engagement off with truth or whatever.”
***
A little chickadee flew off, startled as we appeared through a gate made of three giant stones. We arrived in a meadow bathed in silvery pre-dawn light.
***
Amber and I wandered through the long dew-covered grass to find flowers to weave into a crown for my hair. Towering evergreens edged a circle of standing stones surrounded by dewy grass and little white wildflowers. In the center stood what Amber told me was the fáinne menhir, a tall standing stone carved with runes and symbols I didn't understand. A hole was bored through the middle of it.
***
Tiernan walked around to the far side of the stone, and stuck his hand into the hole. I reached into the opening and felt his warm hand clasp mine. His hand felt more callused than I expected from a prince. A tingle ran through my hand and up my arm. Apparently, it had been too long since I had held hands with a boy.
Wait, that wasn’t a normal tingle. It grew to a vibration, and I gasped as all the runes on the stone lit up, glowing from within.
Wait, that wasn’t a normal tingle. It grew to a vibration, and I gasped as all the runes on the stone lit up, glowing from within.
***
Fun facts
Pronunciation: Kree Klay-ha
Article by Channon and Hanna