Aidan cupped her chin and cheek in his hand.
“Are you okay? What happened back there?” His eyes, back to their usual green, were concerned. Gwen noted dark circles under his eyes to rival her own.
“Just a touching mother-daughter moment.” She pressed her cheek into his hand slightly, enjoying the feel of his skin on hers. “I promise I’ll tell you later, when I’ve processed it a little.” She smiled at Aidan, who still looked concerned. “But hey, on the plus side, I got the locket.” She held up the locket by its gold chain. Aidan raised his eyebrows and laughed aloud in triumph.
“Wow,” he said, and he picked her up and twirled on the spot. Gwen shrieked in surprise and then started laughing uncontrollably. They clung together, Gwen’s face wet from tears of laughter or sadness or relief or regret, she didn’t know.
“Gwen?” A small voice questioned tentatively. Gwen looked across the barley at Ellie. She was ghostly pale and clung to the nearest tree, but her bare feet were clean and free of wounds. In the nearby shadows Bran stood, grinning.
Gwen had eyes only for Ellie. She ran over to her friend and squeezed her tightly, her gulping laughter turning to sobs as they rocked.
“I thought I’d never get you back,” she choked out.
“But you rescued me,” Ellie said, wiping her eyes and smiling through her tears. “You did it. Even though you had to confront your mother to do it.” She looked carefully at Gwen. “Are you okay?”
Gwen gave a laugh or a sob.
“Yeah, eventually. Just maybe not today.”
Ellie gave a watery chuckle.
“I hear ya.”
Gwen dried her face on her sleeve, the sleeve of the beautiful gown Ellie had made a lifetime ago. She turned to Bran.
“Bran. Thank you so much. For taking care of Ellie,” she waved at Ellie’s healed feet, “for everything. You’ve been an amazing friend.”
Bran grinned at her.
“It’s been a grand adventure. The best prank ever, I reckon. I’ve got a winter’s worth of stories for my younger cousins.” He blew air out of his mouth so his fringe flew up into the air. “I’m going to have to have a good story for my father, though. Maybe you could let me back into my world a little way from the castle? I don’t fancy meeting the queen again anytime soon.”
“I think she’d be all right,” Gwen said slowly. “But that’s probably smart. I only wish we knew where we were. In this world, I mean.”
“Oh, I do,” Aidan piped up. “We’re only a mile out of Amberlaine. That way.” He pointed into the afternoon sun.
“Can you walk?” Gwen asked Ellie.
Before she could respond, Bran said, “I’ll help,” and moved quickly to Ellie’s side, lifting her arm to his shoulder. Gwen glanced at Aidan who raised an eyebrow. Gwen gave a smile which she quickly suppressed.
They walked through swaying fields of barley and over stiles. Bran was awestruck, especially by the sheep and cows they passed. Gwen let her mind swirl with everything that had happened in the last few days. A thought occurred to her.
“Bran?”
“What’s up?”
“Do you know why, when I made a portal in the barrow there was a really bright light, but all the other portals I’ve made since have been dark?” She recalled the blinding power of the barrow light when she and Aidan first entered the Otherworld.
“Huh. Maybe because the barrows are places of power. They’ve been used for portals for thousands of years, and they probably have a magic of their own.”
Gwen nodded as she digested this, and fell back into her thoughts as they continued down the lane.
When the village came into sight, Gwen stopped.
“I feel bad just sending you back like this. Let’s get you some food or something. You’ll be in the middle of the forest with nothing. You won’t even know where you are.”
Bran looked at her, amused.
“Crevan’s only a day or two away. I’ll catch up to them soon enough. And the forest is my home—I know how to fend for myself. Don’t worry about me.” He carefully disengaged from Ellie’s arm and gave her a sweeping bow. “It was a pleasure, my lady.” He kissed her hand. Ellie smiled, the first Gwen had seen since this had all began. It transformed her face, and Gwen could see the start of her journey of recovery.
He turned to Aidan, who held out his hand awkwardly. Bran looked at it, bemused.
“Come, cousin. Say farewell to me properly.” He put his hand on either side of Aidan’s head. “Do the same to me,” he instructed. When Aidan had done so, looking puzzled, Bran brought their foreheads together briefly. “There. That’s how it’s done in our world.” Aidan looked unsure, but pleased.
Bran turned to Gwen. “An embrace from my lady?” he said, eyes twinkling. Gwen laughed and threw her arms around him. A brief moment of vertigo momentarily dazed her. She released him.
“Thanks, Bran, for everything. You ready?”
“Back to the real world, I guess,” Bran said. Gwen laughed aloud—it sounded so bizarre. She reached out her arm and thought of Isolde. It was less painful, somehow, to think of her. Gwen’s core remained barrier-free. A large portal opened into the Otherworld forest, dark and still.
Bran held up a hand in farewell.
“So long, hermits. Until we meet again.” He smiled wickedly, his eyes bright. Then he stepped through the portal and it sealed shut behind him. Gwen gave a heartfelt sigh and turned Bran’s ring absentmindedly on her finger. They all began walking toward Amberlaine, Ellie leaning on Gwen’s arm. As they reached the first cottage Gwen stopped short.
“What’s up?” Aidan asked.
“I don’t know where the locket went,” Gwen said, patting her dress in vain. The truth hit her and she gasped.
“That little sneak!”
“What?”
“Bran took it! When he hugged me goodbye—he used a spell on me, I could feel it.” She shook her head, amazed at Bran’s gumption. “I was wondering why he was so accepting of returning to the Otherworld right away. He can come back whenever he wants.”
She and Aidan stared at each other. Aidan laughed incredulously.
“Well, nothing we can do now. Hopefully it’s in better hands than before.”
Ellie swayed beside Gwen.
“Come on, let’s get her back.”
***
Gwen fought to keep her eyes open. The echoing hall was dim and cool. The only sounds came from her literature professor, whose words were having difficulty permeating Gwen’s brain. Beside her, Ellie gazed at the wall with her eyes unfocused. She was still very pale and frail-looking, although food and sleep had done wonders. Gwen tried to focus as the professor continued her lecture. Today they were discussing Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the many pre-readings Gwen hadn’t completed over their long weekend. She wondered if the professor would accept her excuse—I was trapped in a parallel universe and forgot my textbooks. She had her doubts.
“Let’s spend one minute before I let you enjoy this fine Tuesday to discuss the figure of the Green Knight. He’s the one who tests Sir Gawain to see if he is a worthy knight. His character is very mysterious, and scholars are unclear as to what or who the Green Knight represents. One theory postulates that he symbolizes the Green Man, a mythological figure epitomizing the wild, the forest, nature—a sort of vegetative deity of pre-Christian cultures in Britain. He is often depicted in art as a face surrounded by dense foliage. Perhaps you have seen the excellent carved sign of our village pub. I imagine you’ve all visited that establishment thoroughly during your time here.”
The class tittered. Gwen almost laughed aloud but for a different reason. She’d met the Green Knight. She shook her head, marveling, and wondered if she should have called him ‘Sir Loniel.’ The title seemed far too civilized for the green man she’d met.
“How are you feeling? Do you have enough energy to go shopping with me?” Gwen asked as they packed up their backpacks at the end of the class.
&
nbsp; “What a silly question.” Ellie pushed herself upright with a groan. “I’m always ready to go shopping with you.” She looked at Gwen. “Anything in particular?”
“Yes,” said Gwen definitely. “I want you to choose me some new shirts. Sexy shirts,” she added to clarify.
Ellie’s eyes widened.
“Who are you and what have you done to Gwen?” she asked. Her face opened up with a crafty smile. “Do we get to burn your boring tees, then?”
Gwen laughed.
“Well, I’ll put them in the very bottom of my drawer, at least.” She paused. “I have another errand, too, but I won’t tell you yet. I don’t want you to get too excited in your present state.”
“You’re full of surprises, young Gwendolyn,” Ellie said as they walked to the door. “I think I like the new you.”
“I still don’t like dancing,” Gwen said warningly. “In case you were getting ideas.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Ellie shuddered. “I’m off dancing for good.”
***
The phone rang through the speakers of Gwen’s laptop as she waited for her father to pick up. She still wasn’t sure what to tell him.
“Hello?”
“Hi Dad.” Her father’s familiar voice made Gwen’s throat constrict almost too tightly to speak.
“Hello, love! It’s been a while since you called. Having a good time?”
She answered with a small sob.
“I—uh—I met my mother.”
Silence on the line, and then, “Oh, Gwennie. Are you all right?”
Another sob escaped her. Her father always asked the important questions. Not how she met her mother, or what happened, but how Gwen herself was doing.
“I’ll be fine. I just really miss you. She’s not what I expected. Also, she’s—I’m—” Gwen searched for the words to tell her father that she was only half human. “Just keep an open mind as I tell you this, but—Isolde is a faerie. Like, from another world. I swear I’m telling you the truth. That’s why I had all those crazy accidents as a kid. I’m not—entirely—human.”
Her father released a long sigh.
“Is that so?” He didn’t sound incredulous, but rather contemplative. “That would explain a few things, wouldn’t it? You’ve got some pretty special abilities, kiddo, and now I guess we know where they came from. And why there was never any record of Isolde.”
“You’re taking this awfully calmly.” Gwen was a little shocked. Acceptance of a parallel world and a half-human daughter were pretty big facts to swallow.
“I had my suspicions. And besides, you and I both know there’s a lot in the world we can’t explain. First-hand experience, right?” He chuckled.
Ellie appeared in the doorway of their room and mimed pointing at her watch. Gwen waved at her and said, “Yeah, I guess so. Look, I’ve got to go, but I’ll tell you everything when I get home. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“I’ll be waiting at the airport.”
Gwen swallowed. “Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, Gwennie.”
***
“I still can’t believe it,” Ellie said as she and Gwen strolled down the main street of Amberlaine. They had just exited the bus from nearby Cambridge and Gwen wanted to stop by the pub to see Aidan. Ellie had agreed, seemingly happy to do whatever Gwen wanted, but Gwen could see she was tiring. She promised herself to keep it short.
“You can’t believe what? That we were trapped in a parallel universe? That I’m not fully human? That my mother tried to kill you?” Gwen shaded her eyes against the setting sun. The street was quiet at this hour with only a few stragglers heading home.
“No. Well, yeah, that too. But I really can’t believe the wardrobe change.” Ellie brushed her fingers over Gwen’s shoulder, the neckline of Gwen’s shirt swooping low to expose her tattoo. It snaked by her collarbone and disappeared into the shirt down her back. She’d already received raised eyebrows from an elderly lady at the bus stop, and admiring glances from some younger girls in the shopping mall. It was much more attention than she’d ever been used to. Gwen thought she might like it. Ellie continued, “The clothes and the new ‘do. You look amazing.”
Gwen, to Ellie’s astonishment and delight, had stopped in at a trendy salon in the town center and asked about their craziest hair dye. An hour later she sported a bright stripe of blue amongst her black waves. She kept fingering the lock unconsciously, admiring the brilliant splash of sky.
“Thanks,” she said, pushing her hair back over her shoulder to stop herself touching the blue again. “There’s the pub.” The wooden sign swung in the slight breeze with its carved likeness of the green man staring intently out of a multitude of leaves. Gwen gave the sign a small smile as they ducked through the pub’s doors.
The pub was quiet, with only two tables filled and an empty bar. Aidan stood behind the counter listlessly stacking glasses. He glanced up at the sound of the door. His face lit up when he saw Gwen, and then his eyebrows rose as he took in her hair and the flattering top. He grinned when he caught her eyes again. Gwen blushed, but only a little. It was nice to be noticed. She’d spent her whole life staying under the radar and had never realized what she might have been missing.
“You’ve been busy,” he said when they climbed onto bar stools in front of him.
“Yeah,” Ellie groaned in relief as she removed the weight from her feet. “Doesn’t she look amazing?”
“Yeah, she does,” Aidan said, gazing at Gwen. He shook his head slightly and turned to grab two glasses.
“What’ll it be?” he said. “On me, of course.”
“Well, in that case—” Gwen smiled teasingly and scanned the taps. “That one.”
Aidan raised his eyebrows.
“You seem sure. Do you even know what it tastes like?”
“Nope,” she replied brightly. “I’m willing to take the risk.”
Ellie laughed.
“That’s my girl. My strange, new girl. Nothing for me, thanks Aidan. I think I’ll make it an early night.”
“So, how did you manage to pacify your boss for your absence?” Gwen asked as Aidan drew her beer. “He must have been wondering where you were.”
“Yeah, that’s an understatement,” Aidan said, placing the full glass in front of Gwen. “He was royally pissed off. I pled family emergency, but I don’t think he bought it. I expect I was only kept on because he doesn’t have a replacement yet, and he really didn’t fancy taking on all the shifts himself.”
“I’m sorry, Aidan,” Gwen said.
Aidan shrugged. “Nah, it’s fine. I was thinking about moving on anyway.” He picked up a beer mat and started fiddling with it, not looking at Gwen. “I was thinking of maybe going back to school. For music, I mean.” He ripped the mat in half then looked surprised.
“That’s great, Aidan! Good for you. You’re so talented, it’d be a shame to let you languish in the shadows.” Gwen beamed at him. He smiled shyly back.
“I wish I had heard you play,” Ellie said with mock-grumpiness. “When you’re rich and famous, send me a ticket to your concert, okay?”
“Will do,” he said, grinning.
Ellie pushed herself off the counter.
“I’m going to head out. I’m exhausted, and I should pack a little tonight. Here,” she waved at Aidan to come around the counter, “Come give me a hug goodbye.”
Aidan looked confused as he made his way around the bar to their stools. Ellie stood waiting for him.
“Packing? Are you leaving already?”
“I know, right? It’s been a quick month.” She gave him a swift, tight hug. He returned it, his face fading from confusion to loss. Ellie pushed back and held his shoulders. “Thanks for saving me, Aidan. Words can’t express. And thanks for looking out for Gwen, especially when I couldn’t.”
“She didn’t need a lot of looking after,” Aidan said, still looking bewildered. “But, hey, have a—a good trip home. Take care of y
ourself, okay? Gwen’s on her own if you need saving again.”
Ellie laughed and punched his shoulder lightly.
“You take care too.” To Gwen she said, “I’ll see you later, okay?”
Gwen nodded. Aidan waited until the door had swung shut behind Ellie before asking, “You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“The day after,” Gwen clarified. “But tomorrow night is full of mandatory dinners and meetings and things. I wanted to come tonight to see you. To say goodbye.”
She quickly busied herself in her backpack in a futile attempt to lessen the impact of her words. Aidan’s body was frozen next to her. She found a pen and scribbled hastily onto a scrap of paper, the force of her pen leaving dints in the soft wood of the counter. She passed him the slip of paper and he took it mechanically, staring at it in a daze as if the meaning of life had been scrawled there.
“There’s my phone number and email,” she said. “In case you make it out to Vancouver one day. I could show you around. We could go camping.”
Aidan was silent for a moment, staring at the paper. Then he said, “And see bears?”
Gwen let out her breath in a half-chuckle, half-sigh.
“Yeah, and go see bears.” She hesitated, and then grabbed his hands in each of her own. The scrap of paper crinkled between them. “Look, I want to thank you, for following me into the woods in the first place, for saving me again and again, for believing in me.” She swallowed. Aidan looked into her eyes. His were sad, and full of dread for when she would say goodbye. She continued, “I couldn’t have got through it without you. So thank you.”
She paused, building herself up for what she wanted to say next. Aidan spoke first.
“The thanks go both ways. I’m so glad I met you.”
Gwen took a sharp breath and bit her lip.
“I know—I know this has to be goodbye. I live on the other side of the world. But I didn’t want to go without telling you something first.”
Aidan looked at her, waiting. She let go of his hands and cupped her own around his face.
Breenan Series Box Set Page 22