"I understand. It must be terrible to lose the one you love the most and have to move on, on the orders of the gods. I know what it is like to lose a loved one. You have to continue what you are doing for the gods and for yourself, Branwyn. One day the gods will let you rest and you will meet someone, not replacing the love you had but adding onto it with a great force," he said as he grabbed a piece of meat and put it into a small wooden bowl. And then, saying nothing more, he began to eat as she sat back admiring the stars.
Branwyn wakes from her reminiscing. Eavan finds something in the book that he doesn't understand and in doing so he gets up to look for her. She comes out of the bathroom and as she grabs for her robe Eavan comes up to the second floor. He opens the door as she grabs her robe. Branwyn is startled and they both freeze as they stare at each other.
" Branwyn, I want you to explain,” Evan says, stumbling on his words as he sees her with her hands clutching the robe around her naked body.
"Ahh! Get out!"
"Oh! Umm … I'm so sorry."
Eavan quickly rushes out of the room, embarrassed by barging in on her like that. Branwyn puts on her robe and ties her wet hair up in a ponytail. She quickly goes downstairs where Evan has already made his way.
"Eavan, look, I'm really sorry--"
He quickly spins around and looks at her. Still in her robe, she begins to talk to him. But his mind is filled with the thought of the way he just saw her—nearly naked.
"Branwyn, I apologize--"
She doesn’t give him a chance to speak. Quickly, she covers his lips with her finger.
"I understand. I was just startled. What was the thing you wanted to ask me?" she asks, listening very closely to what he is going to say. He can't help but stare at her. She is still dripping wet; he can see the water running down her legs. As he begins to talk, he realizes he would be far more comfortable with her dressed in clothes.
"I'll wait till you get dressed…"
"Are you sure? If you can wait, I'll be done in a few moments, okay?"
"Sure."
"Okay, I'll be right back." She quickly heads up the stairs again and goes to her room to get dressed. She comes back down in jeans and T-shirt, coming up to him so he can tell her the part he didn’t understand.
Looking at the combination of moves that he has to do, Branwyn is worried. "This one is hard. I'm not sure that you are ready for this."
"Oh, come on. I am a fast learner. I can handle this."
"All right, but if something happens to you and you get hurt, I am not responsible."
"Deal, now let's go."
As they make their way outside, Branwyn grabs their swords. She hands Eavan a sword as she takes hers. They begin to fight once more. Evan fights long and hard against her, trying to prove to her that knows how to fight. Branwyn won't give up too easily. They kick and punch each other during the battle. The swords’ clamor is all that can be heard for miles. He then, with a quick swipe, knocks her off her feet, causing her to hit the ground. Her sword falls to the side and she is now defenseless, or so he thinks. He points the sword at her throat.
"See? I told you I knew the move."
"The young are so wise. So…"
Branwyn knocks him off his feet with her leg. Evan falls directly onto her and she smiles at him. He is rendered speechless. He didn't expect that to happen. His sword was thrown next to hers and as he tries to retake it, she grabs his hand and squeezes it tight.
"So vulnerable. Willing to win at any cost. Learn how to control that."
They look each other straight in the eyes. A sense of fire grows between them. Evan wants to be with her; he knows it now just by looking into her eyes.
"You're so beautiful…" Caressing her face, he kneels towards her. Before he can come any further, she pushes off him and gets up.
''Training will proceed tomorrow. Right now, I'll prepare dinner."
She makes her way into the kitchen and brings some things to start dinner. As she begins to make dinner, she has another flashback. It is from her first life as a Celt. It is of Eavan and her sitting down in the forest. She was lying down on the floor and he was next to her. They had often escaped the small village together to have some quiet time. They were both lying on the ground on a fur blanket. He was caressing her face and hair. She smiled at him.
"It's so nice to get away for a while." She sighs as she caresses his face and gently places a kiss on it.
"Aye, it's so warm. The gods couldn't make a better day. Branwyn, I want to tell you something."
Branwyn looked up at him and quickly paid attention. He then began to tell her about the dream he had the night before.
"I had a dream. It's been haunting me. Since the night we were together. It starts with a battle and I die. You are left alone, but are forced to move on. It seems all too real, Branwyn, I fear that it could happen."
"No!" She got up from the blanket and looked at him. "I won't let you speak that way. The gods didn't bring us together to try to take us apart. Our love is stronger."
"I understand, but I want you to promise me something if I die," he said as he caressed her face lovingly.
Branwyn quickly got up and walked off into the forest and crossed her hands across her chest. He followed her and hugged her from behind.
"Please Branwyn, promise me if I die that you will move on."
"I can not make such a promise. "
" Branwyn, please? Promise?"
Branwyn then turned around and faced him with tears in her eyes. He wiped them off and caressed her face. She closed her eyes as he caressed her time and time again.
"I promise."
He then kissed her passionately. The wind blew lightly in the forest and the trees rustled. Then a beautiful white figure, goddess Epona, looked from a tree and smiled. She quickly turned into a white stallion and galloped across the land. She had grown fond of the two lovers.
And now her alluring tourist Eaven suddenly comes in and walks over to Branwyn. He places both his hands on her shoulders. She turns around, awakening from her reminiscing.
"Dreaming, are we? Tell me, Branwyn, why won't you allow me to get close to you?"
"I have never had a person so interested in me as you are."
"Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't have a--"
But she cut him off.
"Besides, I have to get dinner ready."
He spins her around and caresses her face. She freezes and is captured by his beautiful green eyes. She begins to remember everything that happened to her--everything with Evan in it--and then she comes back into reality. He holds her chin and slides one arm behind her. He kisses her passionately and she pulls him closer but, realizing her mistake, then pulls away from him.
"I cannot do this! It is too complicated," she yells, trying to get away from him. All this time trying to avoid her past…and it brings everything flooding back.
"You're going to have to let me in your heart sometime. Let your guard down for once, Branwyn."
Branwyn looks at him queerly. It triggers something in her memory. It was something that Eavan had said to her a long time ago when they first met. She is so confused that she just stands there looking at him.
"Eavan? No, it can't be … you died."
"What? Eavan…you've said that name before. Branwyn, you aren't telling me something."
She then runs out the door, running to the forest as fast as she can. She just runs out without looking back to see if he is after her, running to the shrouded part of the forest where she can pace and look to the sky, calling the gods as she screams at the top of her lungs. This time she will be heard.
"Aine! Gods and goddesses of the Celts, stop this now! Let my time on this earth end now! I have done your bidding! I am suffering! I told you once that nothing can take me away from Eavan and now you bring the very reminder, which brought me to this agreement with you. I have done what you asked. Your ways aren't forgotten! You torture me with your dreams and reminders of him! I beg
of you to let me go! I no longer belong here!"
Eavan has indeed gone after her. He hides behind a tree and watches what happens next. As the forest grows dark, a figure appears. She is wearing the original Celtic dress for women and stands in front of Branwyn, smiling.
"Branwyn, you must be calm. You don't know what we have in store for you. We don't control your fate, you do. You must remain here."
The figure then comes out of the darkness and into the light. It is Aine, goddess of love. Branwyn steps back and bows. She then lifts her head.
"Aine, my time here is done."
"How do you know that? Have you learned nothing from Cara? Druid priests speak the truth. What you search for is right in front of you."
"I do not understand what--"
Eavan comes out of the trees and comes up to the two of them. He looks shocked, and then walks over to Branwyn, but she steps back a few steps.
"Eavan is not dead, Branwyn …he is merely in front of you."
Aine then places her out and near Branwyn 's chest. Eavan is pulled forward and then towards Aine.
"What the hell?" he exclaims as a light appears, lancing right into his chest. But his eyes close as he accepts what is happening. Aine begins to speak to him. Branwyn has fainted, landing on the plush green grass before her.
"All that you know is knowledge… I return your real soul. I give you back the love of your life. You are in your rightful place; this is where you belong." As the transformation stops, Aine looks at Eavan and smiles.
"Take care of her; she means a lot to you. Be well." With that, Aine disappears and leaves Evan with Branwyn. Branwyn is on the ground, still breathing but knocked unconscious. He goes over to her and caresses her face. He kisses her forehead and carries her back to the house. Their life together was starting anew and he didn’t want to waste it.
About the Author, Denise Alicea
Born in Manhattan and raised in Connecticut, Denise Alicea started writing when drawing and painting simply weren’t enough. A writer of fantasy, time travel, romance and more, Denise has won two awards for her short stories and several finalist nominations. She loves technology, reading, watching movies, and managing her blog over at The Pen & Muse Book Reviews. For more information visit:
Website: http://denisealicea.com
Book Blog: http://thepenmuse.net
About the author, JC Cooper
JC Cooper is a student and overall optimist. Traveler marks her foray into storytelling, giving life to a story of hopeful romance. She lives in the Northeast with her daughter, two dogs, and two cats, ever dreaming of finding her own William.
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