Py was curled at the foot of her bed as Anna’s mind calmed and she drifted into her own sweet dreams.
CHAPTER FIVE
Visitor
Dreamweaver Manual, Page 178: Good dreams should be about those things that make the dreamer happiest while giving a sense of fulfilment; and so Anna’s dream-library was extensive and filled with her favourite books, the Dreamweaver had made certain of it.
All the classics, including a few new ‘classics’ from her newest favourite guilty pleasure; paranormal romance. Anna looked around her expansive library with satisfaction. She'd become hooked on PNR after reading a series about a sparkly vampire and his quirky girlfriend. She had all her favourites in hard-back catalogued according to genre. Some of the covers were a bit embarrassing, featuring gorgeous men with long, flowing hair, impossibly perfect physiques and rakish bad-boy grins.
She’d discovered that reading books with explicit covers, were best read on her iPad’s e-reader, allowing her to read what ever novel she wanted — anywhere — without fear of judgement. Not that she really cared what people thought, but why cause office tongues to wag if she didn’t need to?
Pyewaket padded softly into the room and jumped effortlessly onto the tall walnut shelving where Anna was currently organising her collection of Jane Austen 1st Editions. Well, it was HER dream, she thought with a smile…so why not dream BIG?
Py purred, reaching out one soft paw to direct her working fingers to scratch his tummy as he rolled over to give her access.
“Py, you’re a funny little guy, most cats don’t like having their tummies rubbed.” Anna murmured, gathering him from the shelf and walking to her settee to give him her full attention for a few minutes.
Anna gazed out onto the beautiful landscape of her expansive front garden, currently covered in snow with more being added as fat flakes drifted lazily down from the heavy sky. Py purred happily on her lap, as a firm knock on the front door broke her reverie.
Startled, Anna jumped up, dumping a surprised Py unceremoniously onto the floor. She strode to the front door, wondering at the unexpected direction of her dream. She’d finally reconciled herself to enjoying these lovely nighttime escapes, and as she was certain dreamers had ultimate control over a dreams direction, she had nothing to fear. It was only a dream after all.
Opening the door revealed as gorgeous a man as adorned any of her naughtiest book-covers. Dressed in an old-world style complete with furry-topped boots, a heavy wool cloak, and a beaver-skin top hat, his a button-up shirt even had a silk cravat tied elegantly at his neck. He was tall, perhaps not as tall as her brothers, but certainly over six feet, his long dark brown hair restrained in glossy braids that were held back by a thin leather band that stretched across his high forehead, and under that, arching brows over dancing grey eyes and full lips that were currently spread in a rakish grin.
Okay…Anna thought, my dream psyche is taking a turn for the better, She smiled back, “Come in, it’s freezing out there.” She moved back a step to give him room.
“Thank you, and you’re right, it is cold. My what a lovely home you have!” He exclaimed in an accent Anna could not quite place…wait, she’d heard before it at college, “Thank you, are you Welsh?” Anna asked taking his cloak and hanging it next to her jacket on the rack.
“Well, how clever of you to recognise it.” He exclaimed, “I am Wyllt.” He said, removing his hat and bowing low, with a sweep of his arm.
“Oh my, that is nice!” Exclaimed Anna delightedly, clapping her hands like a little girl, “I am Anna.” She replied, giving him a proper curtsy in return.
This was becoming a FUN dream she thought, it was like stepping into one of her Jane Austin novels.
“Oh, I know your name, Miss Anna L. Stewart from New York; you are my favourite.” Wyllt replied with a wink.
Just at that moment Py sauntered into the hallway and spotted him. The shocked cat jumped, arched his back, flattened his ears to his skull, and hissed running upstairs angrily.
“Well, that is odd…” Anna remarked bemusedly, “he is ordinarily so friendly.”
Wyllt watched the cat’s departing form as he sped up the stairs, “No worries, Anna, he was just surprised to see me. I imagine he’ll come around in a few minutes.” Wyllt smiled sardonically, “Have you a cup of something hot to warm my bones?” He rubbed his cold hands together to empathise his chill.
“Oh, yes… of course, how rude of me, you must be chilled through and through! Come with me.” Anna led him to her kitchen where she set about putting the kettle on to boil and placing an assortment of sweet honey biscuits on a china plate.
As the water heated, Anna remembered Wyllt’s strange comment just before Py’s reaction at seeing him in the hallway, “What did you mean when you said earlier, ‘I am your favourite?'” Anna asked as she offered him a warm quilt for his shoulders.
“Did I say that? Must have been the cold, my lips are still numb.” He smacked loudly to thaw them, “No, I meant the cabin…I’ve passed it often and always meant to stop. It’s my favourite in the area.” Wyllt answered smoothly as he accepted the quilt, draping it over his wide shoulders.
“I didn’t know there were other cabins here…” Anna was getting confused. Wouldn’t she know if there were other cabins in HER dream? Wait. This WAS her dream…she concentrated a bit harder, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment to try something.
Wyllt grinned, “What, exactly, are you doing?” He asked as he moved to the stove to pour boiling water into the two waiting cups.
Anna peeked, opening one eye, surprised as she’d just tried to alter her dream by making Wyllt change into a friendly bear who’d just come to borrow a cup of honey. Wyllt (still a man) was now grinning and waiting for an answer.
“Oh, sorry, I was just trying…” she stammered, “Never mind, where are the other cabins?” She queried, looking out the window, giving into the direction the dream seemed to be taking.
“Not very close, or maybe very far away for that matter, depends on the traveller I imagine, and whether or not they know the way.” Wyllt mused cryptically as he sipped his tea while watching her with twinkling grey eyes as he waited for her next question with delighted anticipation.
“I see.” Said a confused Anna, who suddenly wished she could wake up from this odd dream. She’d begun to feel as if she’d just fallen down the same rabbit hole as Alice.
She had an idea — she poured a drop of her hot tea onto her knee, “Oww!” She cried, still obviously dreaming as the hot liquid didn’t wake her, but it did burn! “That was supposed to wake me up!” She rubbed her sore knee grabbing a dish towel to dry the spot.
“About that … now that I’m here the line between dream and reality is somewhat blurry, and although your ‘dream’ may end soon, my presence will not.” Wyllt’s odd words further confused Anna, but her next question was interrupted by Py, who chose that moment to nonchalantly stroll into the room and jump onto Wyllt’s lap with a resigned growl.
“Well, Cat, I see you’ve found you’re stuck here. Must’ve been a bit of a shock to the old feline nerves to discover your new wormhole had vanished.” Wyllt rubbed the cat’s stiff back, who regarded him with cool amber eyes.
“Wormhole?” Anna shook her head to clear her confusion, “Look," she said recovering herself a bit, “I don’t know what this is all about, but this is my dream and I think all of this," She waved her hands wildly, "is just a bit too weird for me, so its time for you to vanish or to turn into a white rabbit who’s late for a tea party with a dormouse or something.” She closed her eyes tightly again.
Emrys’ eyes twinkled, “Now shapeshifting is something I can do, although I haven’t practiced it in quite a while. Is a white rabbit the best you can come up with?”
Without further notice, Wyllt calmly set his cup on the counter, placed Py on the floor and snapped his fingers. Where he’d once stood, now stood an enormous white rabbit with smiling grey eyes, wearing a monocle, and a chec
ked waistcoat.
Anna opened her eyes and stared, again wishing the dream would end, but since it was just a dream, and her dream to boot, she played along.
“Okay, rabbit, now turn back into the cute guy with the long hair.” She closed her eyes and tapped her heels together three times just for effect.
Instantly the rabbit was replaced by Wyllt, who was laughing so hard he spilled his cup of tea.
“Seriously, Anna? What do you think, this is Oz and you’re Dorothy?” He made a pretence of looking at her feet, checking for ruby slippers, “No, they’re not even red, and you’re way prettier than Judy Garland too. Oh and by the way, you think I’m cute?” He asked watching her reaction with keen interest.
As Anna mopped up the spilt tea, she replied in a surly voice, “Well, it was worth a shot. So what’s next dream-guy? Do we make-out? Dance a waltz in the snow? Or maybe we’ll fly through the air like Peter Pan?” She waited for the next surprising twist to this very unlikely Anna-dream.
“I like the ‘make-out’ idea quite a bit.” He mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “But since you still think this is just a dream it probably wouldn’t be fair, and I’ve already gotten into trouble for taking advantage of a pretty girl once this millennium.”
“So let’s build a snowman!” Anna suggested, thinking it would be a good way to get the dream-guy out of her dream-cabin.
“I’d love to…but since you’re about to wake up, there really isn’t enough time to do a snowman real justice.” Wyllt smiled, “See you on the other side!” He exclaimed as he planted a quick kiss on her confused, pursed lips.
Anna stirred, hearing a steady banging noise in the distance, like a drum or something, “Anna! Do you hear me? Wake-up!” Anna’s mother’s voice entreated from the other side of the closed bedroom door, where her knocking continued, “I’ve made you a cup of coffee and some scrambled eggs. Your train leaves in exactly fifty-two minutes! This is your final departure call.” She chuckled as her retreating steps let Anna know she’d gone.
Anna sat up. Wow, her head was pounding. Did she drink more than two glasses of wine last night? And that dream! Weird! She looked around for Py and not seeing him, figured he must be downstairs having breakfast with her mother.
Anna quickly showered, dressed, packed her bag and grabbed Py’s carrier. Quickly making her bed, she rushed downstairs and into the kitchen for breakfast with her Mom.
“Morning, Mom.” Anna mumbled as she cradled the coffee like a life-line sipping it gratefully, “Can you drive me to the station?” Anna asked, taking a bite of her scrambled eggs and buttering a slice of warm toast.
“Of course, I’ve brought the car out of the garage and have it warming up outside.” She replied, “Where’s your kitty by the way”
Anna looked at her mother blankly, “I thought he was down here with you.”
“No, I called and called to give him some milk, but he didn’t come.” Her mother answered, “Maybe we should check outside for him? Maybe Dad or one of the boys accidentally let him out last night.”
“Oh no!” Anna jumped up and began searching in earnest for her cat. She called for him both inside and out, but Py didn’t appear and time was running out. She had to get back to her apartment this afternoon to put the final touches on her presentation as well as get ready for an early work day tomorrow.
“I am so sorry, Anna.” Her mother soothed as she drove her to the station, “I’m sure he’ll show up, he’s probably outside chasing rabbits. I’ll open the old dog-door flap and leave some milk on the porch. Cats are survivors; he will be fine. I’ll find him and call you as soon as he shows up.”
“I know Mom, its just he’s my first pet since moving out, I kinda feel like I failed somehow.” Anna sulked looking sadly at her empty kitty carrier.
“Now you just stop, Anna Lynn, you are a great cat owner, why with the story you told me about him, he’d have been dead by now at that shelter — you gave him a chance at a new life and he will be fine.” She scolded, “Cats are like that, honey. Remember when you were a little girl and you kept finding them”? Anna nodded, “Well, they came from somewhere, probably someone else’s house and they probably felt bad about losing them too.” She pulled the car into the station’s drop off point and cut the engine.
“I know you’re right, Mom. Just let me know when he shows up, okay?” Anna gave her a weak smile and a strong hug, “I love you, Mom.” She said as she gathered her bags, waved bye to her mothers departing car and headed for her train.
CHAPTER SIX
Wyllt and Anna
Anna’s feet dragged as she pulled her bags, and a few more groceries, up the stairs to her apartment. The ever-present aroma of the Indian Restaurant made her feel ill for once — how had she ever thought that living above a take-a-way was a great idea?
She missed Py. Yes, she’d only had him a short while, but he’d become her roommate and another beating heart in the lonely apartment. Anna sighed, maybe her Mom would call soon with good news, Anna could go back to Cooperstown next weekend if she did.
Anna, as usual, had to dig around in her too big purse for the ever evasive keys to the apartment. Opening the door, bags temporarily blocking her vision, she heard something unbelievable, “Meow…" the last sound Anna thought she’d hear in her empty apartment.
“Py?” Anna whispered in confusion as the cat did his typical leg circling thing to greet her.
“Welcome home, Anna.” Wyllt said quietly, leaning against the wall next to the kitchenette with his arms crossed.
Anna’s eyes grew big as she spotted him, gasping in shock, she dropped her bags, promptly fainting in a heap at Wyllt’s feet.
“Anna…Anna…” Came a soothing voice from somewhere far, far away. Something wet and cool was on her forehead, she reached a trembling hand up to feel a damp folded washcloth as she opened her eyes.
“Welcome back.” Wyllt said softly, “Take it easy for a few minutes. You scared me...do you make a regular habit of doing that to your guests?” he asked with gentle humour.
“You…you can’t be here. You are my dream-guy. Wait, this must be a dream. Maybe I’m asleep on the train, or in my old bed at Mom’s house.” Anna rationalised, “I am dreaming, right?” She asked hopefully.
He pinched her...hard. She flinched and scooted back a few inches, rubbing her arm.
“No, sorry Anna, this is real, and I am really here.” Wyllt’s soft voice continued, “I will explain the science behind it as best I can, but now it is enough that you accept that this is not a dream." He regarded her cautiously, "When I came to your cabin the other night, even though it had started out as your dream, once Cat found you, it was no longer technically a dream, or at least not your’s any longer.” He mused, “You’re just going to have to accept that as a fact for the moment.”
He paused, watching her closely and continued, “Think of how people a few centuries ago would've reacted if you showed them your iPad,” He said noticing the tablet beside her bed, “what I’m going to tell you will be no less difficult for you to understand than your modern devices would be for an 18th century person.” He spoke calmly, like a well practiced teacher.
Anna tried to raise herself off her bed where he’d obviously carried after she’d fainted.
“No, not just yet.” Wyllt gently eased her shoulders back down onto the pillows, “I’m a doctor as well as quite a few other things, you need to rest for a bit longer.” He touched the rapidly beating pulse on her wrist gently.
“I am confused...Wyllt is it? Right?” Anna asked in a shaky voice, remembering meeting him in her dream...was it a dream? She wondered in growing confusion.
“Yes, that is one of my names. I am also called Merlin Ambrosius, Emrys Wledig, Aurelius Ambrosius or Merlinus Caledonensis.” He explained, "Sometimes I am referred to as Myrddin Wyllt, or Myrddin Emrys or just Emrys... and at one time Ambrosius Merlinus by the Romans." He mused while noting Anna's bewildered expression, "Often two of my names are
spoken together or sometimes used singly or abbreviated; like Wyllt, Merlin or Emrys. Existing as long as I have often creates many names as a consequence I fear.” He murmured as he considered his lengthy introduction, “But you can call me what ever you like — maybe you can give me a new name.” He said amiably as he inclined his head in a small bow.
Anna’s eyes grew big, “So... am I supposed to believe you are ‘the Merlin,' the wizard?” Anna stammered in a little, somewhat frightened voice as she edged a little further away from him.
“Well, yes. That is who I am, but the Merlin you know of is from stories that have been somewhat distorted and exaggerated by a few drink addled necromancers, 11th century bards, various poets, some modern authors and a few so called 'expert’ mediaeval historians. Very few of the stories you have heard hold any truth of my life or the actual events I had a hand in.” He sighed, “Humans have a way of doing that to history you know; glamorising something that really happened beyond recognition or spinning it to make either it, or themselves, more interesting to their listeners or readers. Historic value is often compromised in the re-telling so much that the real truth is completely corrupted or consigned to legends and fables.” He explained sadly, “If you need to label my real profession, using definitions from this age, I would most likely be a particle physicist."
The Dreamweaver Page 4