Ellida

by J. F. Kaufmann

  Arina stood up. “You need to go now. I’ll come to Winston to see you as soon as I can.”

  “Off we go, then,” Khalid said, still smiling “Thank you, Rowena, for everything,” he added softly and brushed his head against her leg.

  “Thank me by keeping your promise.”

  “As if you’d let me forget it. I’ll keep my promise.”

  Tibor walked to Rowena and lifted his eyes to her. “Rowena, tell Astrid about her father. Tell her… tell her he liked to sing to her when she was a baby. She got her beautiful voice from him, you know. Tell her that, Rowena. God, she still smells the same as when she was a child, sweet and innocent… Oh, how I wish I could stay here!”

  Rowena smiled and stroked his head “She certainly didn’t inherit her voice from me. I’ll tell her about her father, but when you come back, you’ll tell her, too. After all, who knows him better than you? And I know you’ll be back soon. You have to wait a little bit more, but then you’ll have all the time in the world to make up for those lost years.”

  She bended and gently kissed his head. “Take care, partner,”

  Arina knelt in front of Tibbor and buried her head in his fur. “I’ll see you soon. I love you, you know that, don’t you?”

  “I love you too. Don’t be long, Arina. Bring Amilla with you, will you? Come on, Khalid, it’s time to go.”

  Arina opened the door and left the room, followed by the two wolves.

  SHE SOON returned with Ahmed. The women exchanged a look. Arina made a discreet nod and Rowena let out a silent sigh. Tibor and Khalid were on their way to Winston.

  “Tell me about Astrid. How long have you known each other?” she said when Arina left.

  Ahmed told her about Rosenthal, their special connection, and how he’d decided to move to Red Cliffs to stay close to Astrid. Soon enough he was telling Rowena his whole life.

  She listened without interrupting, sitting almost motionless. From time to time she would let out a tiny sob and brush a tear from the corner of her eye.

  “Are you tired?” Ahmed said later. “I shouldn’t have done that, you’re still very weak.”

  “I’m stronger than I look. I’ll be fine. One day I’ll tell you about my life. But not now. Don’t let me keep you, Ahmed. They probably need you there.”

  “There are enough doctors there, otherwise they’d call me. For the time being, you and Heather are my patients.”

  “I’m glad she survived. She saved Astrid. Ahmed, how many people did we lose today?”

  Ahmed’s hands framed her face and his eyes found hers. “Not one of our people died! Seth’s dead, and some of his guards and mercenaries, that’s it.”

  She sighed with relief. “That’s good.”

  She yearned to see her daughter, her son, her parents, Jack... She’d always liked Jack. And James. She wanted very much to see her ex-brother-in-law, that stubborn and passionate, honest, brave and generous man.

  She still could not tell them the whole truth, but hoped they’d be able to trust her in their hearts. Could she and Betty, whom she’d loved like a sister, continue their friendship, so broken so suddenly by the tragic events many years ago?

  Ahmed’s phone rang. He glanced at the display. “It’s Jack,” he said. “What should I tell him?”

  She took a deep breath. “Tell them to come. And then I want to see my parents and my daughter.”

  “Astrid won’t let them come without her,” Ahmed said.

  A few moments later they heard the distant sound of their steps in the hallway.

  “Will you stay with me, Ahmed?” she asked quietly.

  “No need to ask, aşkim.”

  My love.

  Fifty

  Jack

  WE WERE in Darius’ house, the unofficial headquarters and meeting place for my family, when I phoned Ahmed to ask if Rowena could see us. He confirmed she was awake, well and waiting for us. She also asked for my grandparents to come with us.

  “Don’t upset her, Uncle,” Astrid said when she showed up with Betty and my grandmother. There was an unmistakable warning in her voice.

  “I won’t, Astrid. I promise.”

  She turned to me. ”Jack, couldn’t you wait a bit until my mother’s recovered?”

  “Your mother’s ready to see us, Astrid,” I said. “This conversation is long overdue.”

  When we entered Rowena’s room, Astrid rushed to her mother, hugging her fiercely, but it was my mother who spoke first. She walked to the mother and daughter, still in a firm embrace, and gently tapped Astrid’s shoulder.

  “Astrid, dear, I need a word with your mother.”

  Astrid took a step back, eyes moving quickly between her mother and her aunt.

  “It’s been a long time, Rowena. I’m glad to see you again,” Betty said and hugged her. “Let’s go sit over there. James and Jack have something to say to you. It’s time to heal our old wounds.”

  My mother took Rowena’s hand and walked her to the sofa, and, without releasing her hand, sat beside her.

  With her warm, reassuring words, Betty sent a clear message to James and me—it was time to mend fences, not to raise another wall.

  Both Astrid and Ahmed rewarded her with a grateful look.

  Mom’s warning wasn’t necessary. This time we were all on the same page.

  “Rowena…” James started in a thick voice, but she stopped him placing her free hand over his.

  “Let me talk first, James. I’m so sorry for all your pain.”

  James interrupted her. “No, let me. When Hal and Brian died, I was mad with pain, Rowena. I knew even then you didn’t have their blood on your hands, but I held you morally responsible. I was wrong. My son and my wife have been much wiser than I was. They’ve never blamed you. I did, and I’m sorry. That was what I wanted to tell you.”

  “Oh, James, I know how much you loved them.”

  A deep sigh came out of my father’s chest. “And I always will. Nothing can change that,” he said and then simply opened his arms.

  Rowena flew into James embrace, now sobbing heavily.

  Ahmed, who’d been on alert since we had entered the room, relaxed. Astrid and my mother cried.

  If I had a shadow of doubt my grandparents knew more about it than they showed, it quickly disappeared when I saw them protectively and affectionately embracing Rowena. None of them look surprised to see each other.

  It was my turn to make amends, but that was the easy part. As James had said, I’d always seen Rowena as Seth’s victim, not a villain. She had become a pillar of her community, its strength, its hope and anchor. It’d be hard not to notice how much the ordinary people of Copper Ridge adored her. I’d lost count of how many times since this morning I’d heard the same question over and over again: was Rowena going to be okay? It seemed that the entire town was far more concerned about Rowena’s recovery than about the mess Seth Withali had left behind.

  I pulled her into my arms. “Good to see you again, Rowena.”

  She swallowed hard and two big tears leaked from her eyes. She brushed them away with the back of her hand. “Your father would be so proud of you, Jack. I’m sorry he hasn’t been part of your life all these years.”

  “I know. But now we’ll leave the past and hard feelings behind.” I look at James. “Maybe we should leave Rowena to rest now. She’s still recovering and we’ve got her all worked up.”

  “No, no. It’s good that you came,” Rowena said. “I’d been waiting for this moment for too long.”

  I glanced toward Astrid. She looked tired. I walked to her and stroked her shoulders. They were stone-hard and tense.

  “Maybe you should stay here with your mother, baby,” I said.

  “Jack, Ellida Ariel’s here,” she said. “I can’t leave her to her own devices.”

  “I’ve just met her. She asked if she could help, so I sent her to the hospital to help there.”

  For unknown reasons, Astrid rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.


  “If you don’t need me outside, I’ll stay, then. Maybe Ariel could come here if she needs me,” she said.

  James took Astrid’s hand, pulling her from me. “Stay here and rest, sweetie. If anything arises that requires your presence, we’ll send for you,” he said, walking her toward the sofa. “Be a good girl and sit here. It’s been a long day for you. You’re pregnant, you must take it easy. Lift your feet.” He tucked the blanket around her. “There, that’s my girl. Rowena, come here and sit beside your daughter. Betty, let’s go.”

  “Arnaldur and Ella flew to Red Cliffs for some equipment. I’ll ask them to come here as soon as they’re back, Rowena,” Betty said. “I promised I’d let them know when you were awake. James, would you make sure—”

  She got interrupted by fast, angry steps rushing to the room, and the next moment the door burst open, letting a very agitated Darius in.

  “What are you all doing here? Mother, are you all right?” he said, looking sharply at James.

  “Darius! Son!” Rowena jumped on her feet and hugged him tightly. “Are you okay? Ahmed told me about you. I always knew nothing was wrong with you.”

  He smiled and stroked her face. “I know, mother.”

  I watched Astrid’s reaction to the deep affection between Rowena and her stepson, but Astrid being Astrid—unselfish, generous and wise—she just smiled happily.

  Then more trouble walked in.

  “I told you, they didn’t come to draw blood,” my sister said, closing the door Darius had left wide open. “What do you think about us? The Mohegans are not a bunch of savages.” She turned to Rowena, eyeing her with open curiosity. “Hello, Aunt.”

  “Hello, Maggie.”

  “Are you feeling better?”

  “Much better, thank you.”

  “I’m glad. Darius was worried.” Maggie smiled and turned back to Darius. In a spontaneous gesture, she linked her arm through his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “See, Darius? Relax, everything’s fine.”

  Well, not everything.

  “Margaret Alice Mohegan, what the hell is going on here?!” James’ voice thundered, as he fixed his eyes on Maggie and Darius.

  I laughed. “Told ya, Maggie.”

  “Take it easy, James,” my mother said aloud, sending a clear warning. She usually preferred a subtler approach in dealing with James’ occasional outbursts of temper, but this time she quickly realized it wasn’t the best time for diplomacy. James’ tantrum efficiently stopped, Betty turned to her daughter. “What’s going on between you and Darius, Maggie?” she said in a calm voice.

  “They’re bonded!” Astrid chimed in from her place on the sofa, obviously feeling obligated to champion Maggie and Darius’ case. “Not much you can do about it!”

  Darius moved his eyes between Rowena and my parents. “We haven’t gotten around to telling you that part yet. Astrid’s right. Maggie and I are bond-mates. We discovered it today.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh, well, I guess, now’s as good a time as any… Mrs. Mohegan, Mr. Mohegan, I’m asking you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

  Before a stunned Betty and James could respond, Maggie exploded. “What!? You promised you’d wait until I’m ready! How could you do this to me? I’m not marrying you!”

  “Calm down, Maggie. I said I’d wait, and I will, but now we are engaged, sort of, and I want James and your mother to know my intentions are honest.”

  Recovered from the shock, James grumbled, “They better be, young man, otherwise—”

  “Of course they are!” Rowena cut in. “My son is an honorable man.”

  “And you’d better not rush her with the wedding. My daughter is way too young to get married.”

  “James, stop it this instant!” Betty snapped.

  “What, Betty? She’s barely twenty!”

  “I’ll be twenty two in December, Dad. And I’m not getting married tomorrow, for crying out loud!”

  “You surely are not!”

  My mother’s eyebrows drew dangerously together. “James, enough! Give them a break! Darius’s still waiting for our answer!”

  “Wait a second, mom,” Maggie’s said, casting Darius a long hard look. “Listen to me, Darius. What’s your last name again?”

  “Officially, it’s still Withali.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I know that. I meant your real last name. The last name of your father?”

  “Arenvald.”

  “Listen to me, then, Darius Arenvald. This is going to be a long engagement, understand?”

  “Yes, Maggie,” he said and kissed her temple. “I totally understand. We’ll get married when you’re ready.”

  “She’ll keep him in line, you can see that,” I heard Astrid from behind.

  “James? Do we have your and Betty’s blessing?” Darius repeated his question, unconcerned with the entire ruckus he’d stirred up.

  My father finally managed the semblance of a smile. “You do.”

  “Thank you.” He smiled at Rowena. “Mother? Do we have your blessing as well?”

  “Of course you do, son!”

  “Thank you, Mom. That’s about it, then. Thank you all. Jack, a special High Council session is scheduled for 6 p.m.,” he said in a business-like tone. “You, James, Arnaldur, Einhamir Robert and Ahmed are invited to join us.”

  The news about Darius’ real parentage had spread like wildfire. He was well-respected and popular anyway, so the Copper Ridge officials were about to offer Darius the position of the clan’s Einhamir.

  “Let’s go, then,” I said.

  “Betty, why don’t you, Maggie and Anwen stay here to keep an eye on Rowena and Astrid?” Ahmed suggested. “They’ve promised to take it easy, but I don’t trust either of them.”

  My mother laughed. “Don’t worry, Ahmed. I will lock the door and throw away the key.”

  “Good job, Ahmed!” I said and bent down to kiss Astrid.

  At that moment, the door opened one more time and Peyton and Ingmar rushed in.

  “James, they told me we’d find you here,” Ingmar said, panting. He moved his eyes to my mother. “Rowena, nice to see you. I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Ingmar Mortensen, Astrid’s friend. And this is Peyton, my fiancée.”

  Fiancée?

  “Another zero-to-one hundred in five seconds!” I said, repeating the words Astrid had used once to describe her own concerns about the speedy progress of our relationship. Astrid smiled back and blew me a kiss.

  “I do remember you, Ingmar,” Rowena said. “It’s good to see you again. Hello, Peyton. I’m happy to see you.”

  “Hello, ahem, Rowena.”

  Ingmar turned his attention to my father. “James, you’ve been like a father to Peyton all these years. I’m asking you for permission to marry her.”

  “What!? When!?” several of us said at the same time.

  “Tonight.”

  Oh, I loved this family!

  Fifty-One

  Astrid

  I LOOKED around the room filled with my family and smiled in amazement. What a development! Two proposals in ten minutes, one of them to be carried out this night!

  “Oh, I love this family!” Jack said, laughing.

  My heart swelled with love.

  The men would take care of the ceremonial part. The hard part was left to us women—to find a wedding dress, shoes and flowers and everything else in this chaos. A piece of cake.

  Before we started, I wanted to do something else.

  I phoned Morgaine and ask her to come and join Peyton and me in a small room next to my mother’s.

  “I’ve decided to sentence Heather to exile for a ten-year term,” I said when she came in. “Ellida, do you agree to take her with you to Gelltydd Coch?”

  Morgaine nodded. “Of course, Ellida.”

  Peyton stood beside the window, motionless and silent, in the semi-darkness of the fading daylight.

  “Her werewolf and wizard powers will be temporarily neutralized, and for the du
ration of her sentence, she’ll be like a human,” I said. “Morgaine, you’ll need to do that. I still don’t know how, and I can’t do it anyway in my condition. I firmly believe Heather can become a better person. After she serves her sentence, if she truly changes, she’ll get her immortality and her wizard powers back.”

  “As far as we’re concerned, she’ll get a fair chance to turn her life around, Astrid.”

  “Thank you, Morgaine. She’s awake now. I’m going to see her now. I’m sending her back to Red Cliffs tonight. She’ll be under house arrest until you’re ready to go.” I looked at my friend. “Are you coming, Peyton?”

  Peyton took my hand and squeezed it. “Stay with me, will you?”

  “No need to ask.”

  A CHEERY bunch of women gathered around Peyton, trying to do the impossible: to pull off a wedding in just a few hours.

  “We’ve decided to stay here, in Copper Ridge,” Peyton said and looked at me in the vanity mirror. I was straightening her dark curls, this time with the help of a hair dryer and a round brush.

  “I know,” I said and swallowed hard. I was sure Peyton would be the mother of the future Copper Ridge Ellida, so she had to stay here, but my heart sank nonetheless.

  “Darius and Jack said the first thing they’d do would be to build a new expressway between the towns. It’ll be only for us. Humans won’t be aware of it. It’ll be less than a half hour drive between Red Cliffs and Copper Ridge,” Peyton said and then sighed. “I’m going to miss you nonetheless.”

  I found her eyes in the mirror and smiled. “Me too. You know you are my best friend ever, don’t you?”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Astrid, for saving Heather’s life.”

  “She saved herself, Peyton, by being ready to give her life for mine. Exile’s a harsh sentence, but it’s also an opportunity. I’m sure she’s not going to waste it. Don’t think about it now. It’s your wedding night. I don’t want anything to spoil it for you.”

  INGMAR HADN’T proposed on impulse. He’d had the ring ready. Among her rarely used gowns, my mother found an elegant beige dress for Peyton. I did her hair and makeup. Maggie had Andy fly her in the chopper to Red Cliffs. She came back with a small treasure: a nice bouquet of ivory rosebuds, several dozen long-stemmed pink roses and four crystal vases, a brand new pair of pretty white satin shoes, twelve bottles of champagne, Betty’s best white damask tablecloths and silver candlesticks. She even brought a dress and shoes for me.