I want to let you all know that I am sorry I haven't been able to get another update on the net... and that I propably won't be in some time. Real life has come in the way as well as another project I'm working on along with some other people.
This blog *will* continue, I only don't know when. I apologize to all of you for the wait.

Parting

I saw the sad decline,
a rift become a storm
Stayed so cold last night,
This lonely heart inside me says:

Almost seems to late to turn,
What do we burn to learn?
Almost seems to late to turn,
To you.

(Clannad: Almost seems)


A year ago Erin's whole life had suddenly fallen into pieces. Now the feeling was back. Everything she thought she believed in, all her feelings were now fighting each other. After balancing on a sword's blade the false calm has broken. The swords... if only they had not taken those swords out... maybe it wouldn't have happened. Or maybe it would have happened later, giving them a few more days of happy pretending.

Erin could remember the whole scene very well, every detail, every single word spoken. Everything thad had looked so innocent... and that stole all her hopes away.

They were sitting with Dorren... she still called him Dorren in her mind, even though she knew his real name now... just enjoying each other's quiet presence, knowing Finn wasn't paying any attention to them at the moment. They were both lost in their own thoughts and dreams until raised voices brought them back into reality.
"Leave? Now, that we finally have everything settled?"
"If you don't want to get found by Eberhardian soldiers. The forest is being searched. And if they find this camp, they..."

"I know bloody well what will happen if we are found. How did they find out we were here in the first place? We haven't been here for long and this place is far away from... from anything in fact."

"They haven't. Don't you know about the lost crown prince of Eberhard?"
"Of course I do. But I didn't know they were expecting to find him here. Since when do princes hide in forests?"
"I don't know much more than you do. But someone obviously does."
Erin didn't hear what her brother said then, but from his expression he was propably calling all Eberhardians and especially their prince some unpleasant names. Then he took a sword from somewhere, their father's sword, as Erin recognized, and begun practising the most difficult moves he knew to help him calm down and think.

Erin, too, started thinking about this situation and about the lost prince and she got so lost in her thoughts, that she din't even notice Dorren stand up and walk to Finn.
"Can I join?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"With the sword. If you have another one..."
"I'm not a fool to put a sword in hand of an Eberhardian."
"When will you finally stop believing he wants to kill you, Finn? Why don't you let him try?" Erin broke in and Dorren continued:
"It may help bring my memories back. Help me remember who I am. And isn't that what you want in the first place? For me to remember and leave?"

Erin could see Finn didn't have anything to say. Apart from "All right then."
He brought another sword for Dorren and what went on next was propably the greatest duel Erin had ever seen, even back in the old life.

The swords were clashing as the two were exchanging blows. Erin knew nothing about swordfighting, but there was something in their moves that reminded her of dance. And then Dorren suddenly stopped, his eyes wide.

"I have won." Finn said, stopping a blow just before Dorren's neck, but he didn't reply.
Erin jumped to her feet. "Dorren, are you all right? Has anything happened?" she asked, leading him to their favourite log under a big tree.

"Are you feeling well?" she asked again.
"Yes. I think. Erin, I..." he started to say, but then he stopped.
"Dorren, you're scaring me. Tell me what happened."

"You will hate me forever." he said quietly, looking away from her face and she knew his feelings and beliefs were fighting each other. Just like hers were now...
"I never will. Please," she said, gently touching his hand, "please tell me."
He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes.
"I am prince Tankred of Eberhard. It is me they are looking for."
For a moment Erin couldn't believe her ears.
"It will be better if I leave now. So that you don't have to keep an enemy in your camp any longer. And if I return to the castle, there will be no more need to search these forests."

"Dorren... or should I say..."
"Please, remember me as Dorren. I don't want you to remember me as an enemy. Because no matter what wour brother might say, I am not one. I would never do anything that would hurt you, Erin, please, believe me that."
Erin hugged him, hiding her face in his hair. She didn't want him to see tears in her eyes.
"Will I see you again?" she asked finally.
"I don't think so." he said sadly. He kissed her and after what seemed like long time to Erin he turned and walked away, leaving Erin standing there alone with her eyes full of tears.

"I love you, no matter what your name is." she whuspered, though he couldn't possibly hear her.

"Erin?" Finn's voice broke into her thoughts, "Do you know where Dorren is?"
"Why?" she asked in a tiny voice, "Is he your prisoner now?"

"No. Which shows what a fool I am. We don't need Eberhardian soldiers searching the forest at all. Not when we have an Eberhardian knight in our very camp."

"He is gone. For ever."
Finn swore and rushed away, giving orders for the camp to be abolished and everything prepared for quick departure. He rushed away so quickly that he didn't hear Erin's last words "He is not our enemy." or see her burst into tears. All her romantic ideas, all her hopes and beliefs, everything was gone.

She understood Finn and knew he was right, but at the same time she knew him to be completely wrong. How could she hate the usurper king and love his son? And how could she love Tankred (or Dorren?) and hate his father?

Hopes and fears

I don’t need to know the answers
I don’t want to understand
We were born to take the chances
I know the truth when you hold my hand

Now the night don’t last forever
Every moment is a song
Cause we face the night together
Something this right could never be wrong

(Blackmore's Night: I'll be there)


As days passed and Tankred's memories didn't return despite Erin assuring him it can't last long now, he was beginning to lose hope. Slowly he was starting to accept his new name and life and with Erin, his fair angel on his side, he would almost like it... but only almost. There was still something telling him this is not right, not the life he was supposed to be leading. He could feel there weas something else waiting for him, something completely different, but when he tried to grab this feeling and think about what it was, it disappeared beyond his reach, into the familiar darkness.
Maybe it was just that Finn and the others didn't let him forget even for a moment he was a stranger there. Because of his sister's pleading, Finn had stopped snapping at Tankred, but there were still many ways left to make it clear he had not changed his mind. The other men in the group seemed to share their leader's oppinion and their coldness formed a barrier so strong Tankred could almost touch it. Only Erin ignored it and though she did her best, even she wasn't able to make Tankred feel at home.

And though Erin would spend hours with him, chatting about everything, hoping that some unimportant detail or word can bring his memory back, he had learned almost nothing about the group. He had tried to ask them, of course, but wanting to know who they were and why they were living in the forest, but if he had got any answers at all, they weren't very helpful. Even Erin went silent, saying Finn didn't want her to tell him anything. Tankred accepted the fact and stopped asking, but not wondering what the answer would be. For Tankred didn't believe they were ordinary peasants. Not with Erin's smooth skin and hands so tiny and gentle, definitely not meant for hard work.

And it was then, when he had almost given up hope and had stopped searching his mind, when tiny bits of memories begun to come back. He still wasn't able to make a clearer picture of it... he wasn't able to make any picture in fact, but it certainly was something.And, if nothing else, it hardened his suspicion that Finn and his group were something more than they were pretending to be.

"You should live in a castle, Erin. And wear beautiful silken gowns and jewels."
"Oh no, that would be too much for me. I'm not..." Erin started to say, but Tankred didn't let her finish.
"...in need? You are completely right. You're too beautiful for jewels. It would be unfair to them. And it would be impossible to want someone to make a jewel to match your beauty."

Erin blushed, not knowing to say. But there was no need, for before she could at least try to say something, Tankred continued,

"But you definitely should live in castle. If I didn't know you were an angel, I would say you were a lady. And can you imagine what the world loses with every day you spend hiding here in the forest? My forest fairy, I would build you a great castle for you, if you would allow me to take you from your knights."
Erin tried to smile, but she wasn't able to hide how uneasy she suddenly was.

Tankred had hit the right nail on the head without even knowing it. Then she saw the waggish look in his eyes and calmed down a bit.
"If I had known what nonsense you would say, I would never have helped you with the your Aberdeenian." she said and quickly tried to change the topic.
"Have you remembered anything? Any detail? Something that would help us find out who you are?"
Tankred noticed how Erin looked at her brother at the other side of the camp and how quickly she changed the topic, but he thought it was only because Finn definitely wouldn't like this conversation.

"Just tiny bits," he replied after a while of thinking, "but it's like seeing a few little stones from a huge mountain."
"I said it would come back eventually!" Erin was suddenly gleaming with happiness. She glimpsed at Finn quickly and when she saw he wasn't even turned towards them, she hugged Tankred.

"You see! I told you it will be all right! What did you remember? Tell me," she pleaded, excited and curious like a small girl on her birthday.
Not much, really. It's nothing to tell. Yet."
"Please... did you live in a castle? Are you a true knight?"
"I think... I think I did. But I don't remember much. Just..." Tankred started and when he saw Erin's curiousity he tried to tease her a bit, "just that none of the ladies was half as charming as you are." he smiled.
Erin immediately blushed. "No, I mean really... I really want to know."
"There's really nothing more to tell, my angel." Tankred replied. She was so beautiful when she was blushing... and monets like this were even worth Finn's coldness.


Erin didn't know what to think. She knew in her head this can't go on. She knew her brother would never really accept the handsome stranger into their little group. And she knew once Dorren remembers who he really is, she can't ask him to stay and leave everything behind. She knew that very well. But still... something in her hoped that moment would never come. Something that had nothing to do with her head.
She was happy for Dorren when he told her his memories started to return... but at the same time she was sorry, because it meant they would have to part one day. And though she didn't really know anything about him and Finn kept telling her is is an enemy and can't be trusted, she couldn't help herself. It felt so right when they were together... he made her feel like no-one ever did.
Finn didn't know about this. Erin could very well imagine what he would say. And, in her head, Erin knew that, too, can't last long. Still, she prefered to live in the present and to try not to think about the future.

Video Outtakes

I'm really sorry I haven't been able to publish an update in a long time - I'm writing many tests at school now...
Instead, when I was browsing through my Sims folder, I found two videos, taken at the time when I was shooting pictures for the Midsummer chapter.
Please be patient with me - I'm new both at making videos (I'm not realy sure where these two came from, I don't remember recording them) and uploading them. When Iearn more, I'll try to make this post better. Until that time enjoy.

At the Midsummer's campfire. Lovyan watches Sheridan, Maeve and Kyffen. Is she trying to remember how to dance, or just thinks them completely mad?
link

Despite now having made both Brighid and Rhianna angry, Torrin really knows how to enjoy himself - even if it means having to dance alone.
link

P.S. Update coming soon... I hope :-)

Plans

Haunted echo that surrounds the glen
the heather creeping through
the burned out ruins
and I'm watching
and wondering
feeling spirits of long ago

(Clannad: Poison Glen)

Pomurnik smiled when he heard the familiar tapping sound coming from a window. He walked to it and opened it, holding his arm before him. If anyone had looked at him at the moment, he might have thought it strange, but only until a great raven flew in and seated itself on Pomurnik's arm, looking at him in a way one would not expect from a bird.

"I've been waiting for you, my friend." Pomurnik said, "Have you seen anything? Have you found him?"
The bird didn't reply - quite obviously, for birds of course don't speak, but there was something strange in its gaze. It gave away signs of intelligence and not just the kind that allows animals to learn quickly, but the real one. From the way how it looked at Pomurnik you would almost say it understood his every word. The raven lowered his head and raised it again, with his movements looking very much like a nod - just that it couldn't have been a nod, because a bird can't really nod in response to human questions, can they? Pomurnik, however, didn't act like he thought it at all strange.
"Are you sure it was him?" he asked.
The raven cackled, seeming almost annoyed. It looked straight into Pomurnik's face, its whole body expressing something like "Of course, do you think me a chicken?"

"I didn't want to underestimate you. Of course I believe you, dear friend," Pomurnik said, "It's only that..."
The raven cackled again, interrupting him. Pomurnik didn't finish the sentence and started again, differently.
"Where is he?" he asked, "Tell me. Show me." Pomurnik looked deep into the raven's eyes. If anyone had been in the chamber, he could have seen him standing there still, staring into eyes of a great bird sitting on his arm. He would probably have thought him quite mad. But there was nobody there and Pomurnik knew very well what he was doing. A series of images flew into his head, flooding his mind.

"You have done great, my friend." he smiled after a while, "Keep an eye on him... on them. I want to know as much as possible. If you can do it, of course."
The raven once more did something very much resembling a nod and then looked at Pomurnik in an almost human way of trying to look very important and reliable.
"I put my trust in you." Pomurnik said, "Now go."
The bird gave him one last look and then hopped to the window and flew out. Pomurnik stood at the window, watching it until it disappeared from his sight completely.

Then he turned back to his table, taking a map of Aberdeen. He bent over the map, studying it closely, drawing a line with his finger from the castle in one direction. A straight line, like the way a bird might have flown. Then he stopped.
He looked at the spot his finger stopped at almost like if he wanted to hypnotize it and make it tell him its secrets. He was imagining how it can look from above, from bird's perspective. A forest clearing... and some people in the middle of a small camp of tents. Even from a distance he could see a young man with long flowing black hair...
"That must be it." he said out loud, tapping with his finger on the map.
If someone had looked into the chamber at the moment, he would have seen him once more walking to the window and staring out of it for a long time, hypnotizing the forest outside. But there was nobody there and Pomurnik's mind was far away.

Tankred wakes

Take all I know
Turn it into darkened shadows
They´ll disappear in the sun
When a new story has begun

Blackmore's Night: Gone with the Wind

Tankred opened his eyes, trying to remember what happened. His first thoughts were he was in Heaven, because all he could see were bue skies and the sun, shining tright into his eyes. He tried to raise and look around, but great pain shot immediately up his head, interrupting all his thinking. Slowly and carefully he laid his head back, trying not to move it more than necessary.

Before he could at least try to put together all his memories and to see whether he would be able to get answer where he was and what he was doing there... or maybe who he was in the first place, he heard a voice. He didn't understand the words at first, but the voice itself was nice and gentle, Just as Tankred wondered what he should say, if anything, and whether he should have another try at raising a girls's face appeared before him. With the light shining through her hair and creating a golden halo around her head, she looked like a divine being, sent on the Earth to help him.

"Are you an angel?" Tankred muttered, but even as confused as he was he realized she wasn't. Angels certainly don't giggle like this girl did before she disappared from his sight. and an angel wouldn't speak Aberdeenian to him, for that was the language she had used. Strange that he was sure about that, but didn't even know why and he certainly didn't know anything else. He didn't recognize her... but at that time he propably wouldn't have recognized even his own sister, so that didn't have to mean anything.

All seemed clearer now as the pain started to ease. Tankred was once more able to think clearly, but all of his memories were still gone. Once more he tried to raise and this time he felt better.

Slowly he sat on the groung, looking around himself. He was on a forest clearing, in the middle of some kind of a camp. The girl he had mistaken for an angel was walking towards him, with a young man on her side.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked with a nice smile. Then she blushed and repeated the question slowly, trying to use her hands to help him understand. What was strange, he did understand her. He didn't remember where or why he learned, but he did and he was glad for it.

"Yes. But who are you? Where am I? How did I...?" he immediately started to ask, but before the girl yould answer, the young man spoke.

"I am the one who should be asking questions here." he said sharply, "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

"I do not..."

"What kind of business do you have here? Who sent you?"

"Finn, please..." the girl broke in, but he didn't pay any attention to her.

"Tell me."

Tankred didn't understand his situation very much. He had no idea where he was or what he was doing there, yet they obviously wanted him to explain. He tried to put all his memories together, but it didn't make much sense either. Just cloudy visions that didn't even match each other and when he tried to focus on them, it all disappeared into darkness.
"So?"

"I don't know. I think my horse went crazy and I fell." Tankred said finally. That was the only thing he could make from the mess he had in his head. A fall. But when he tried to go further than that, before the fall, there was only darkness there.
"Is that all?" the man asked suspiciously, "What were you doing here in the first place? So far from home?"
Tankred shrugged his shoulders. "I want to know that too." he said.
The man frowned, but before he could say anything the girl spoke: "Finn, don't forget he hit his head. He can be telling the truth."

"Or not," Finn said sharply, "Never trust an enemy."
"How can you know he's an enemy?"
"I have no friends in Eberhard." he snapped, giving Tankred a sharp look. "You called my sister an angel. She very well may be one, bacause it was she who saved you. And it was she who made me take Eberhardian knight into my camp."

The girl smiled shyly and opened her mouth to say something, but her brother spoke first.
"Don't say I am the guardian here, dear sister. You are the one who saved your knight and nursed him." Finn said and then he added, turning to Tankred: "I will propably regret having made this decision, but you can stay until you feel better and remember who you are. You can thank your guardian angel for that, I'm doing it for her and not for you. But remember that you are no Eberhardian lord here. Don't take benefit of my sister. She's your angel, not your nurse. She's too fine for you and if you hurt her in any way, I shall kill you." With these words Finn left.

"So, thank you, my angel." Tankred smiled. His head still hurt him and he still had no idea where - or who - he was, but it was so easy to smile at her...
"Please, don't call me that." she said "I'm Erin. And that was Finn, my brother. How should I call you?"
Tankred shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I don't remember my name."
Erin looked at him with sympathy in her eyes. "Don't you remember anything?" she asked as she sat beside him, "Your home? Family?"

"I remember the fall. Before... just black."
"I'm sorry. But maybe it will come back in time."
"I hope it won't make us enemies like your brother said. He doesn't look to like me."
"Don't worry. He's not as bad as he seems." Erin replied, hoping it was true. She understood the Eberhardian were their enemies, but... it wasn't fair. He doesn't even remember his name, how can he be an enemy?
"I must hope you are right, my angel." Tankred said, "I don't want to be enemy of you." Tankred said and then he added: "And you can call me what you like."
"Then I'll call you Dorren, the stranger. But I hope youwill remember you real name soon." Erin smiled shyly.
"I too."

Silently they sat next to each other, both occupying their minds with the same thing.
Tankred tried hard to remember, but it seemed almost like the harder he tried, the farther in darkness the answers he sought seemed to be. After long and useless trying he finally gave up, gazing up into the sky and thinking of his fair angel.
She was also thinking about his past at the same time, imagining the man she had saved as a great hero, the ideal knight.
"We have no friends in Eberhard..." her brother's words still echoed in her head. You're wrong! This time you're wrong! she thought, wishing for it to be true. Surely even there there were honourable men, just living under the wrong king...
She looked at Tankred once more. "We will find yout who you are, I promise." she said, hoping with all her heart for Finn being wrong.

Prince Tankred arrives

Its not for the money
The hope and despair
Its not for the leaving
Of love that was there

If its for the danger

A fortune beware

Leaving it all back

To somewhere the same

Those mystery games

(Clannad: Mystery Games)

Everyone in the castle was in hurry, busy to prepare everything for the arrival of the new ruler of Aberdeen. King Adalbert was planning to return home to Eberhard and instead he was sending his firstborn son Tankred to rule. Pomurnik didn't like the fuss and haste much. But, giving it a second thought as two maids stopped to chat right behind Pomurnik's chamber door, maybe the hurry wasn't that bad after all. Not if "not to hurry" meant to gossip about the young prince, just as the two girls were doing.

"What do you think the prince will be like? Do you think he's handsome?" asked one of them, giggling.

"They say he is. My cousin told me prince Tankred has flowing raven-black hair and beautiful eyes and..."

"How does your cousin know? Maybe it's just..."

"She knows! She lives in Eberhard, so she could see for herself." the other replied, "At least that's what she told me." she finished in much less certain voice.

Pomurnik couldn't be less interested in Tankred's hair and eyes, but even he was wondering what will his new lord be like. King Adalbert knew very well what he wanted and when Pomurnik proved he could be usefull in archieving his goals, he didn't care much for the means he used. Will his son be different? They say he is young and inexperienced...

"...and she says prince Tankred is a real knight too."

"The one killing dragons or what? What's so special about being a knight? I mean when he already is a prince?"

"I mean the one saving beautiful innocent ladies and fighting bravely in battles and tournaments."

The girls' conversation suddenly caught Pomurnik's attention. This could very well be a clue. Of course it was nothing more than pure gossip, but gossip was often the fastest and surest way to get information.

"My cousin said prince Tankred is honourable and brave and..."

...and propably also foolish enough to spend all day with swords and spears, fighting other young fools for a doubtful fame and glory. All young knights are like that. If prince Tankred is so, that would be the best thing possible for Pomurnik. Such a ruler would desperately need someone to help him deal with the outside world, or at least the part of it he can't deal with on battlefield or tournament.

The trumpets started playing to welcome the new lord. Pomurnik looked out of the window and smiled as he saw prince Tankred riding towards the castle. The girls had been right about his hair and he hoped it wasn't the only thing they were right about.

Pomurnik tried to imagine the conversation he would have with Tankred, but the reality was quite different.

"My lord," Pomurnik bowed, "I want to offer you my loyalty and services."

"Who are you?" asked Tankred, looking at Pomurnik suspiciously.

"My name is Pomurnik and I come from..."

"I mean what do you do? What kind of services are you offering me?"

"I'm working on finding Sheridan, the... the son of the former king or Aberdeen."

"Are you a spy?"

"No, I'm..." Pomurnik searched for the right word. He didn't want to say enchanter, but how could he explain? Before he could finish his sentence, Tankred broke his thoughts.

"So you must be the magician my father spoke about."

"I am," Pomurnik nodded, glad he didn't have to explain it more, "though I wouldn't call myself a magician." he added.

"Maybe you wouldn't, but from what my father told me, you look and behave just like one. I don't know what you did for him, but I'm certainly not going to need a pet warlock, or how you prefer to call yourself. I don't want services of anyone, who can very well be already serving some ungodly force. Isn't that how do witches and magicians get their powers? You are free now."

"I prefer to call myself a wise and experienced man," Pomurnik said coldly, ignoring the remark about ungodly powers, "and you will see you aren't being very wise just now."

"I will decide that." Tankred said sharply and Pomurnik left, disappointed and angry.

He went to his chamber and slammed the door violently. All his plans, so carefully invented, were falling into pieces because of this high-handed and arogant lordling. This... this boy was no knight, just a young fool thinking too high of honour and trying hard to look like a real ruler. And someone like this was going to destroy everything Pomurnik had been doing since his arrival? He couldn't allow that to happen. Pomurnik looked at a paper with some notes before him and begun planning what to do next.

As soon as he was sure he had seen everything and spoken to everyone important at the castle, prince Tankred had his horse saddled and rode from the town. If he was supposed to stay here as a lord, he wanted to see the land he was about to rule.

As days passed, riding around the lands became Tankred's daily habit. He liked to get out of the castle for some time, as well as the chance to see everything for himself and practise the Aberdeenian language he started to learn some time before he left Eberhard. His father thought it was all useless, but Tankred didn't want to depend on advisers and translaters.

As he was discovering the beauty of Aberdeen, he enjoyed his rides more and more, until one day it went wrong.

"Easy boy." Tankred tried to calm his horse, but withous success. It continued to jib and it was difficult even to stay at it's back.

Tankred managed to get the prancing horse back on all of his feet, but that was all he managed as the horse seemed unable to stand still. Tankred was a good rider and he didn't want to jump off and let the horse run away, but as he tried to calm it, he didn't notice a branch in front of him. A branch which was too low for him on the horseback. Tankred could only remember hitting the branch, falling to the ground and then everything disappeared into darkness...

Love lost and found

Tossing and turning
And burning dreams across the night
(forever searching)
Silently waiting for such a long time
But will I know tomorrow
If you will be mine?

I've got a notion
I might as well be closer to your heart
It's out in the open
I might as well be closer to your heart

(Clannad: Closer to your heart)


"He loves me... he loves me not... he..." Brighid stopped suddenly and threw the flower away. "Of course he doesn't love me. I already know that. Stupid flower." She looked at the rest of the flowers in her lap angrily as if it was their fault that Torrin didn't even seem to notice she existed. Or that Cailean, his firtborn son, existed, which was even worse.

She had wanted to put flowers in her hair, laugh and dance around the fire of Midsummer's Night as if nothing had happened and she didn't care, but she was tired of pretending. After all, it was useless. Torrin was the one who didn't care and Brighid had already lost all her hopes of him returning when he would see that she can be happy even without him.
She looked down at the almost finished wreath, but she didn't like it anymore. Why to wear it? Why to pretend anymore? She took it and threw it into the pond. No flowers today...
"Isn't it a pity? It would definitely look very pretty in your hair..."

Brighid turned and saw Kyffen standing over her, smiling. At first the wanted to snap at him, but then she just said: "Oh, I don't care anymore."
She didn't even let him to reply and left, leaving him at the pond with the wreat still floating on the water.

"Will you tell me about how you went to the forest?"
"Don't you know it by heart by now?" Arleen asked Devin with a smile, but he insisted.
"Please tell me... you promised."

"All right. So we went into the forest, Kieran and I and..." Arleen started, but Devin interrupted her.
"No. You must say: 'We took our swords and like two knights we...' "
"See, you already know it better than I do!" Arleen laughed "But let's go now, they're going to light the Midsummer fires soon."
"Great!" Arleen smiled. She was lucky, little Devin got so excited about the fires that he forgot about the promised story... at least for a while.

It had been wonderfull at first, with Devin worshipping her and Kieran like real heroes, but now it was just annoying. And she was slowly losing the track of all the little changes she had made to the story to make it more interesting.

Brighid was staring into the fire, not paying any attention to the joy all around her. She didn't feel like dancing or pretending to be happy. Not that she had to, Torrin was dancing and enjoying himself enough for both of them, as she had noticed.

The magic of this happy night and the mead he had drunk made him even forget the Christmas Eve when he approached Rhianna.
"Hi, sweetheart. You look just wonderfull today. Totally enchanting."
Rhianna frowned. "You have been drinking."
"Just a drop," Torrin laughed, "but it doesn't change anything. It certainly doesn't change how sweet you are."
Brighid watched Torrin smile at Rhianna and say something to her. She didn't hear what, but it must have been some of his sweet nonsense, like she had heard so much of back in the happy days. Rhianna replied something which must have been positive, because Torrin caressed her face, trying to open her dress with his other hand.

Brighid's first thought was to turn away, but she stopped herself. After all, as she tried to convince herself, she no longer cared for Torrin.
But still! What does Rhianna have, that it makes Torrin care for her? The dog leader in boy's clothes, with her hair wild and always untidy? Brighid almost wanted to be friends with her, she needed a friend, but... no, never. Not after she stole Torrin from her! The... Brighid's thoughts stopped there as she watched Rhianna pushing away from Torrin and slapping him hard.

She could only stare unbelievingly. Since Christmas Eve she had believed that it was Rhianna who seduced Torrin, but from what she saw now it must have been the exact opposite. Brighid watched Rhianna turn and walk away angrily, not knowing what to think.

Lovyan was watching the young around the fire and one part of her wanted to join them. It kept telling her: "You're not that old, you still know how to dance." and for a while she wanted to try it, to behave like a young maiden again. That was until another voice in her head spoke, telling her to behave like a proper respectfull widow.

Blaise saw Lovyan's thoughts mirror in her face and walked up to her.
"Are you trying to remember how to dance?" he asked her with a smile. "I was thinking about the same thing." he added.
"Yes... well, really... I don't know..." Oh no, put yourself together! Say something... something normal! "It's a long time I last... I mean Dughall didn't..." Damn! She didn't want to start speaking about her dead husband, especially not with Blaise. "I mean..."
"Would you like to try?" Blaise asked simply and Lovyan nodded.

The adventure ends

Bring to me all of my arrows
Bring to me my crossbow too
I fear we might need them both
Before the night is through

(Blackmore's Night: World of Stone)

Lovyan was walking around the chamber nervously, trying to convince herself that Arleen was all right. She just got so absorbed in her game that she had forgotten to come, that's all.
It was true that Arleen did that quite often, especially after litle prince Athelin was born and she had to get used to the fact that her brother Sheridan now has a wife and a son to care for - and they both needed it. Lovyan knew that Arleen now wanted even more to be a brave knight to make Sheridan notice her and she got lost in her games so easily... but it was getting late.
She finally decided to find her and remind her to go home for dinner, but just as she left the fortress to ask Kyffen, older brother of Arleen's friend Kieran, she nearly bumped into him.

They exchanged greetings and Lovyan just wanted to ask him about Arleen, but he was faster: "Could you please tell Kieran he should go home? I'm really sorry to interrupt his game with the princess, but..."
"They aren't at your place?" Lovyan asked, surprised, "I just wanted to visit you to ask you the very same question!"
"No. He told me he's going to play with Arleen and left. Haven't you seen them?"
"I have. They rushed from the castle like if a band of demons was chasing them. Only that they were laughing and they had Aife with them. I thought..."
"They have propably gone to see Rhianna and her Badwyr. They often let the dogs play together."
"So they say. But I think the true reason is that Arleen wants them to have puppies." Lovyan laughed, feeling quite relieved. Rhianna! How could she have forgotten that?
"If they're going to be like Badwyr, why not? In that case, I would like one myself. Rhianna may be just a girl in boy's clothes, but she certainly knows how to train a dog."

"It's a pity she can't train Arleen as well. I would really like her to be as well-behaved as Badwyr is. Let's go and ask Rhianna."

But when they arrived, Rhianna was bathing Badwyr and there was no sign of the children or Aife. When Lovyan asked about them, Rhianna only shook her head.
"No, they're not here. I haven't seen them the whole day and... Oh, stay, Badwyr! Let me just get the rest of that mud of you!"

Badwyr, well-behaved as he was calmed down until Rhianna finished washing him. Then he jumped out, shook the water from his fur, splashing everone around, and started barking.
"What, Badwyr? Do you want to help us search for the lost children?" Lovyan asked with a smile, but Badwyr barked once more and started sniffing the ground.
"Oh, I don't think that would be necessary." Kyffen laughed. "Maybe we should just ask Etain. The three of them often play together.

They half expected Etain to be missing as well, but at least he was at home.
"Oh, Etain, do you know where Arleen and Kieran can be?" Lovyan asked immedietely after she saw him. "They're missing and we can't them anywhere."
Etain's eyes widened. "Missing? Oh no, I should... but I didn't know they really meant it, I thought Arleen was only joking and..."

"Joking about what?" Kyffen broke in, worried by Etain's response.
"About wanting to go to the forest." Etain replied, looking really worried too, "To explore."
Kyffen and Lovyan looked at each other with the same worried expression on their faces.
"Go tell Sheridan," Kyffen said finally, "he is the king and little Arleen's brother. I'll fetch Rhianna and Badwyr. I guess we are going to need his nose after all.
Lovyan only nodded and left.

Sheridan was in his chamber, talking to his baby son Athelin when Lovyan stormed in.
"Arleen and Kieran have gone to the forest." she said as soon as she caught her breath, "To explore."
"Alone?" Sheridan asked and in his voice there was both surprise and fear.
"With Aife, but they haven't retirned yet. Kyffen has already gone to get Rhianna and Badwyr, they want to go searching for them."

"I'll go with them" Sheridan decided immediately. He now looked his old self, as if the danger woke him up from a dream he fell in after Athelin was born small and weak and Maeve fell ill after the childbirth. Now he was as before - prepared for any crazy adventure as always.
"Just take care of Athelin until we return... all of us."
"All right, just..." Lovyan started to say, but Sheridan handed her the baby and rushed out of the chamber. "...just be careful... all of you." Lovyan finished, but she doubted he had heard her.

Arleen and Kieran were trying to find their way back home, but in fact they were getting completely lost. They seemed to be walking in circles and despite all their trying, when it got dark and the moon rose, filling the forest with its blue light, they were still there and still lost. Even the most ordinary forest sounds now sounded balefully and though they would never admit it, both Kieran and Arleen were afraid now.
"How come you aren't able to find your our way back, Arleen? You said you were sure and.."
"So obviously I wasn't! The forest looks so defferent at night.. and, anyway, I never said I will find the way. We have Aife for that."

"Maybe she can't..." Kieran suggested
"Oh, she sure does! Come on, Aife. Show him you're even better than the praised Badwyr!"
Slowly they went on, trying to remember which way they came, but they didn't seem to be getting any closer to the edge of the forest.

"KIERAN! ARLEEN!" Sheridan shouted once more, but, once more, there was no response.
"That's useless. We won't find them this way..." Kyffen said, but despite his words he continued walking onwards into the dark even faster.

Rhianna caught up and walked on his side.
"We will find them. Badwyr has found their trace and he'll lead us to them... eventually."
"Let's hope so. Now Badwyr can prove he's as good as we all think him to be.
Rhianna nodded and just wanted to say something when the wolf howl broke the silence.

Kieran and Arleen jumped from shock, standing back to back to each other instinctively.
"What was it?" asked Arleen, trying not to show how much scared she was. This game was getting too real...

"Wolves." said Kieran, "But they won't attack us, they only do in winter when they have nothing to eat... at least Kyffen said so..." he was trying to sound confident, but he wasn't very sure himself.
"But what if they aren't normal wolves?" Arleen said aloud the question they both had in mind Now, although they both tried hard not to show it, they were too afraid to continue walking into the darkness, so they just stood there, back to back, listened to the howling and waited...

After they heard the howl, Rhianna was the first to react. "Run, Badwyr!" she shouted and followed right after the dog. Sheridan and Kyffen caught up and all four of them ran through the forest, hoping they would find the children before the wolves do. Or some other creatures, even more dangerous than wolves.

Aife started barking suddenly. The two young knights just nestled against each other even more, holding their swords tightly. They were both afraid, but they were also decided to fight - if only with wood in their hands.

When they saw the lights moving through the darkness of the forest, they didn't even dare to move. The leaves of the trees sounded almost like a faint call... or was it really a call? As the lights were drawing near also the sounds were growing louder and soon the children could recognize familiar voices in them.
Overjoyed, they ran towards the lights to the arms of their loved ones. They were not afraid of anything anymore. They were together and Sheridan and Kyffen had both their big swords and there was Badwyr. They were safe now and the adventure was over for them. At least for now.

The two knights

Came upon on an ancient forest
A guided path that led me there
Walking through the mystic forest
The legend, tale of times gone by

Giant trees so full remind me
Of many years and ages past
Will they ever share the answer
Of legend, tales, and times gone by?

(Clannad: Ancient Forest)

Days were getting longer and wormer again and Arleen's thirst for adventures grew stronger with the sun. She hoped they will finally start exploring the land they settled in, but her hopes weren't to be fulfilled..
Everyone was preparing for the upcoming sowing and had no time for crazy adventures. Dissappointed by the adults, she turned to her friends Kieran and Etain, but even they weren't sure going to the forest on their own was the best idea.

"After all, we aren't sure we would find your Sidhe..." started Etain, tired of Arleen's constant talk of finding the Sidhe, but she didn't even let him finish.
"I'm telling we would! Why doesn't anyone believe me?"
"Because we're living here for almost a year now and we have seen no sign of anyone else. You'll have to accept there might be no Sidhe in this valley."
"We have! What about the footsteps?"
"Those footsteps again! That's no proof. You could have done them yourself, from all we knew. We haven't actually seen anyone else here." Etain tried to look grown up, but it didn't help.

"We haven't seen them only because no-one has really bothered to search. We're living here for almost a year and we still don't know what's on the other side of the valley!"
"You should tell your brother and not us. What can we do about it?" asked Etain, but Arleen
"Go out and explore, that's what!"
"Alone? You can't be serious! You know we can't go into the forest on our own. It's dangerous."
"So now you believe? Are you afraid of hungry demons and werewolves?"
Of course I do! Etain wanted to say. Even the adults are and that's why nobody would go into the forest at night. He wanted to say it, but he couldn't. He had told Arleen he didn't believe in her Sidhe and he couldn't tell her he believed in other mythical cratures.
"Well... there are certainly wolves." he said finally.
"Booo! Watch out, the werewolves are coming!" giggled Arleen. "So stay here, you chicken-heart, but I'm going"

Etain wanted to say something about dangers of the forest, but Arleen ran away.

"They're all only stupid cowards." Arleen said sulkily to Aife, her dog. "You're the only one who understands. But we can go on our own, if the others are too afraid to leave this fortress. We will be like heroes from the legends, two warriors alone together." Aife barked happily. She didn't care for legends, she just understood that her little mistress was going to take her for a long walk and it will be fun.
Arleen smiled at her dog. "I knew you would understand. Let's go! Just us two!"

"Us three."
Arleen turned and saw Kieran standing behind her and smiling. "You want to go with us?" she asked.
"Yes, if you let me. I just can't let you two lovely ladies..." Kieran grinned at Arleen's uneven braids and Aife's abristle fur, "...go into the dark forest alone. I will be your knight, if you allow me to do so, my lady."

Arleen giggled. "If you wish to accompany us on this quest, you will be welcome, my lord. We are happy to be in a presence of such a brave knight." she said in tone and words of fair ladies from fairytales to continue the game, but than she finished in completely different voice: "But we two ladies will show you that we don't need protection so much. Maybe we will even have to protect you"
"We'll see." laughed Kieran. "Let's go, my ladies. Our quest awaits us."

The two of them ran out of the fortress with Aife runing around them and barking happily. They were laughing and swinging their wooden swords in the air, challenging each other trying to talk in a way knights from all the stories would. They felt like great heroes from legends on a great quest and everything was just a game for them. They didn't care about any danger... and if they did it was part of the game too.

When they entered the deep part of the forest and the green cloth closed behind them completely, everything seemed much more real.It was like entering a new world - a foreign and maybe even unfriendly one. Even Arleen wasn't so sure of herself suddenly, being away from everything she knew with only a wooden sword in her hands... but she had also Aife and she definitely wasn't going to let Kieran think even for a moment she was afraid.
The two adventurers contined deeper into the forest and as they went, there was much less alughter and jokes until they progressed in complete silence. The forest was even thicker as they went further on. The only light that reached them came through the leaves and gave them a strange, unhealthy look.

Both Arleen and Kieran were thinking of going back, but they rejected the idea quite quickly. None of them wanted to seem like being afraid and, after all, they were knights on a quest. And now, the quest didn't seem as a game anymore. Branches of the trees were bending towards the two adventurers like giant arms and they would swear they could hear strange whispering in the leaves. They were expecting every shadow to turn into a magical being, but despite the atmosphere nothing like that happened.
"Maybe we should go back... I mean before we get completely lost." Kieran finally said, but Arleen didn't want to hear anything about it.
"But we haven't found anything yet! We haven't gone so far only to turn back now, without archieving what we came here for! Maybe if we went a little further..."
"What do you think would change? Anyway, we should get back before someone starts missing us."
"Maybe everything. I'm not trying to find the Sidhe, I'm waiting for them to find us." Arleen said "In the legends they always appeared to the hero and sometimes even gave him a magical weapon. That's..."
"So this is what you want?"
"Yes! I mean no, not a magical weapon, but to see them! And I want everyone to believe me finally. Do you believe me?" she asked Keran, looking at him suspiciously.
"Of course I do! After all, I'm here with you, am I not? But do you really think they will apper? You know, they don't always do, not even in the legends and... What's the matter?" he asked when he saw Arleen had stopped with her eyes wide open.
"Look! Over there! There's something white there!"
"What?"
"There! Behind all those threes! And before you ask, yes, I am sure it's not a tree."
Kieran tried to look in the direction Arleen was pointing and there was indeed something white.
"That looks like... a column?"
"Let's explore it! I think we have found something!"
Excited they came closer and found not only a column, but something strange.
"This is..."
"...definitely a froof we're not here alone. Someone had to build it and it wasn't us, so it has to be..."
"...unbelievable."

What they found was definitely a building, but it didn't look like anything they had seen in their whole life. There were six stone columns built around a natural stream, but there was no roof... and no signs there had ever been one. The whole place seemed very old, but there was a cross just above the stream.
"Whoever built this, they must have been Christian. This doesn't look like your Sidhe."
"Maybe... and maybe not. Let's explore it!" Arleen said, determined to find out what the truth was about the Sidhe.

Worries

When the warmth of the day
becomes the night
Who could sleep beneath
a strange moonlight?
No guiding star
So far from home

(Enya: I may not awaken)


Father Hieronymus was worried. He had a strange feeling something wasn't right. It started the night the litle prince was born and though nothing extraordinary had really happened, it just refused to go away. Or had nothing extraordinary happened? Father Hieronymus wasn't sure. Sometimes he felt he can't be sure about anything and that worried him even more.
He wanted to pray to the God and ask Him to lead him, show him the right way, but he wasn't the first one to get this idea. Brighid was already kneeling before the altar, her lips moving in a silent prayer.



Hieronymus didn't want to interrupt her, so he only stood back and watched silently until she turned and saw him.


"Father..." she said in such a voice, like she was saying "Help me."



"What can I do for you, child?" Hieronymus asked kindly "What's wrong?"
"Everything." replied Brighid silently.
"What do you mean?"
"I... I don't know really, it's just the place... and the queen's childbirth and..."
"The childbirth? What was wrong with it?"
Brighid looked at Father Hieronymus, her eyes like those of a frightened animal. She didn't know what to say for a while, but then she finally spoke. "The baby was born too early. And the queen's mirror broke that night - that must be a bad omen. And..." she hesistated for a moment, but than she added: "... and we're not here alone."
Hieronymus said nothing and just gave her a reassuring look.

"It's something the queen said. Just after the childbirth, when she was almost sleeping she muttered: "He's watching us." Someone is here, with us! And princess Arleen saw his footsteps... Maybe he's not human at all! Who would walk barefoot in the snow? Or be afraid of mirrors?"
"Calm down, child. This all might have been nothing but a pure coincidence. For all we know, the footsteps may have been done by Arleen herself. They are no pfoof that there is a demon with us!"
"I just thought... I was afraid that we are cursed." Bridgid said hesistantly.
"Cursed?"
"Yes... I thought... because of me and Torrin... But I swear to God, I never wanted... I never meant to..." She his her face in her hads and broke into sobs.

"That is impossible, my child. Our Lord is loving and merciful, He would never punish you like this. He knows very well why did you do it and has surely forgiven you by now. You shouldn't worry too much, my child." Father Hieronymus said kindly.
"But what if it is no coincidence? What if something bad is really happening? Even if it's not because of me and my son?"
"It definitely isn't because of you and your son, Brighid. Stop blaming yourself. Our Lord loves you. He loves all and He would protect us from every unholy being you can imagine."
Brighid looked at him, with tears still in her eyes.
"Don't worry." Father Hieronymus repeated. "The winter will soon be over and everythng will be all right."

"Thank you, Father."
"There's nothing to thank me for." he said.

After Brighid left, Father Hieronymus spent long time thinking about what she had told him. He thought of his own feelings and prayed for what he had told Brighid to be true. Or, if it wasn't, he prayed to the God to protect them from every evil.

Questions and lies

Let me show you a face
In disguise
A colour that's faded
Swept aside by the tide

(Clannad: Turning Tide)

Weeks had past since Pomurnik tried to find Sheridan, as he had promised. weeks had past, but he still had not told King Adalbert about the outcome of the ritual. It wasn't that he was afraid to bring bad news to his king, but because even after long thinking about the vision and trying to find some sense in it, he still didn't understand it.

He tried to think of a way to explain it to Adalbert, but how can one explain something he doesn't understand himself? Pomurnik finally decided to describe his visions, add some occutism and let the king figure it out by himself, but that decision wasn't to last long.

"It has been a long time since you promised me to find the missing prince. Have you finally fulfilled that promise?"
Pomurnik looked in Adalbert's face and immediately rejected his earlier. He could see his king was only interested real, factual information like where to send his cut-throats and didn't want to be bothered with occultism and visions.
"Well... not really." he only said.
"How is that possible? You said you were sure this was going to work." Adalbert frowned, unsatisfied. This wasn't the answer he wanted or expected. He looked at Pomurnik sharply, waiting for him to start explaining or apologizing. Pomurnik did neither of that.

Don't ask me, he thought, that's what I would also like to know, but aloud he said: "I don't know, my king. It definitely should have... and I think it did, in a way..."
Or at least almost. He could feel he was very close, so close that he would definitely have seen him if.. if something had stopped him, blocking his sight. He should have seen Sheridan... but all he saw was a strong barrier, mirroring every attack against it, and then darkness. As if...
"What do you mean by that?" Adalbert broke his thoughts.
"I think Sheridan is dead." Pomurnik replied, using the possibility which caused less questions, though it didn't explain the strange barrier at all.

"That's the only reason I can find for not seeing him." he finished, trying to make himself believe this. But it wasn't the only possibility.
If he was under strong magical protection... but that's impossible, isn't it? It would need someone very skilled and strong for blocking my sight completely... It is impossible, he repeated to himself, but the image of a girl in white dress he had seen only for a glimpse just refused to disappear from his mind...

"Is this all you can tell me?" Adalbert once more interrupted Pomurnik's thoughts, sounding very unsatisfied.
"I'm afraid so."
"If it is true and Sheridan really is dead, it definitely means good news to us, but you didn't seem very sure..." the king said and looked deep into Pomurnik's eyes. He expected him to turn away and thus admit Adalbert was right, but Pomurnik didn't do that. After long moments of looking at each other in complete silence, this fight of two strong wills, Adalbert was the one who turned away fist.
"He is dead," Pomurnik then said, now sounding much more confident, "if he was alive I would have seen him."
"And Arlana, Sheridan's sister? Is she dead too?"
"I don't know." Pomurnik repeated once more, "I concentrated only on Sheridan this time. I can try again, of course."

"You definitely should." I don't want any nasty surprises. Even if he, the heir, is dead, the young princess can still be a danger to us. If she gets a husband..."
"I understood she was a child, about eight or nine years old." Pomurnik wasn't able to hide his surprise completely at the first moment.
""She is ten years old." Adalbert replied, not understanding Pomurnik's surprise. "Does that stop anyone from marrying her? Or, to be precious, marrying the right to claim this country? Believe me, there are many who would take this as a great chance to become a king."
"I see. Of course..." Pomurnik said quietly. It has been so long... for so long I have been away from the court and all it's intiques. Have I forgotten the life of kings completely?
"I will try to find her." he said finally.
"So you should and as soon as possible. My eldest son Tankred is to be crowned the king of Aberdeen soon and if he was married to this little princess, it would give everyone something to think about."
"I see." Pomurnik repeated. It definitely gave him something to think about.
"I will do my best, but it will take some time to prepare another ritual." he said and left. He needed to think. To think about all the strange happenings... and all the normal ones.

Long night

I could see that the world was crumbling
Nothing is ever as it seems

I tried to run but my feet were frozen
Tried to scream but there was no sound
In my head voices echoing
Girl you should know better by now

(Blackmore's Night: 25 Years)


Maeve woke up from a nightmare, all covered with sweat. She opened her eyes to the darkness and for one terrible moment she just lay there, unable to move. She calmed down slowly, recognizing her chamber in the fortress they had built for themselves in Erethia and feeling Sheridan sleeping next to her. Everything seemed all right... exept her mind, or the part of it, which told her often strange things, refused to exept this as true.
Danger, danger! something in her head was screaming and it didn't stop, although Maeve tried to quiet it.
Frightened, she got up from her bed, as quietly as she could, and looked round her. Everything seemed to be in order and there was nobody in the room exept her and Sheridan, but she still felt that something was terribly wrong. She could feel eyes looking at her, searching...

"No... you can't... you won't..." she whispered, concentrating hard on imagining an invisible, but strong wall around herself and Sheridan. She tried with all will, but she could feel the defense she was building fading away, with the strange attack growing stronger.

Panicking, Maeve glanced around the room caught the sight of a mirror hanging on the wall. She tried once more, staring in the mirror and calling all the ancient gods to help her.

"Please... please help me... to save Sheridan... help me..." she whispered, staring into the mirror and concentrating only on keeping her wall. The pressure was strong, but this time she managed to withstand. And as she concentrated and the pressure begun to ease slowly, something strange appeared in the mirror. Dark figure, glowing candles, strange symbols... Maeve tried to look deaper... and everything fell into darkness.

Maeve's cry woke Sheridan up. He jumped from the bed, looking for his sword, prepared to defend his wife from the enemy... exept there was none. There was no sigh of anyone entering the chamber when he slept and everything was as always... exept for Maeve, who was lying on the floor.

He knelt beside her, calling her name and rubbing her cheek gently until she opened her eyes.

"Oh, Maeve, I was so worried... you suddenly screamed and... what happened?" he asked, still shocked and not understanding what was going on. "I almost thought..." Sheridan went on, helping Maeve to stand up.

"Sheridan, I..." she started, but than she only gasped "The baby. It's coming."
"It's too soon. We thought..." Sheridan wanted to protest, but the sight of his beloved wife in pains didn't let him finish the sentence.
"I'll bring Lovyan. Everything will be all right. Just wait." he said backed out quickly.

Sheridan ran to Lovyan's chamber and woke her up.
"Please come quickly. It's Maeve. The baby... it's coming now."
"But it's too soon. This is..." Lovyan started to reply, but then she took a closer look at Sheridan's face and understood that she certainly shouldn't make him worry more than he already did. "...it will be all right." she finally said and smiled at him in a way she thought would calm him... at least a little bit.

"But... she's in pains and..."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it." Lovyan said, sounding more confident than she really was.

Followed by Brighid, Lovyan rushed to Maeve's chamber to help the young woman, leaving Sheridan behind the door.

Though Sheridan knew that there was nothing he could do here, not knowing anything about these woman matters and he would only make things worse for Lovyan, being left behind and having to hear his beloved wife scream in pains didin't make him worry less. Time passed and every minute seemed like hour for him. Finally the door opened and Lovyan came out of the chamber, holding a baby.

"How is she? And the baby?" Sheridan immediately asked.
Lovyan hesistaded for a moment. "You have a son." she said, handing him the baby.
Sheridan looked at his newborn son with a smile. "He is so small..." he said quietly. "But he looks just like Maeve. Her pale skin, her hair..."
"...and your eyes." Lovyan smiled mildly.
After all the fear Sheridan was so happy that he had a healthy son, that he wanted hug Lovyan, but he didn't. After all, she was still holding the baby.
"And Maeve? How is she?" he asked.
"She is...fine." Lovyan replied, looking away from Sheridan. "She is just tired and needs rest." Lovyan was trying to sound confident, but it didn't fool Sheridan.

"I want to see her." he said. "And I want to be by her bed when she wakes up and be the fist one to congratulate her."
Lovyan sighed. She knew Sheridan well enough to know that when he wants something, he can be really stubborn and lets nothing to stop him from getting it.
"Maeve will be all right," she said, "but she need time to fully recover. And you shouldn't worry if it takes longer that you expect, that wouldn't help her. Everything's in God's hands now..." she finished mostly to herself. She didn't tell Sheridan that the baby was born too early and it nearly costed both the boy and his mother their lives.

Erethia Outtakes

Here I present some of the pictures that didin't make it to the real updates, but I liked them as well as some of the ones I consider quite funny.

Oh, Kieran, stop acting like you've never seen the castle before!

Arleen playing with little puppies. There are three of them, as well as their mother Aida on the right and Rhianna's Badwyr. I just love these dogs... and so do Arleen and Rhianna!

Lovyan wants everyone think she watches Blaise only to make sure nothing will happen to Devin, but the truth is a little bit different...

Sheridan and Maeve's wedding night. When they were married, there were no buildings in Erethia yet and no beds, so I made them this "bed" of petals. I just thought it was cute...


This really made me laugh. After finishing all the pictures and making sure there will be a heir, I left Erethia for Aberdeen. When I returned, I was too busy building and preparing for Christmas, that at first I didn't notice Sheridan and Maeve were still standing outside in their undies, propably wondering what happened to the sunny weather.

Blaise really likes the new stereo... um... enchanted statue. Or myabe he's celebrating that Lovyan smiled at him?

Next real update coming soon, I promise.

Christmas in Erethia

Say goodbye to November

She must be on her way

The cold winds of December

Look like they're here to stay

Me, I´ll just count the snowflakes

As they start to fall

Getting lost in the beauty

The magic of it all...

It´s Christmas Eve

Bells will ring

Through the town we gather to sing

Christmas Eve has begun

Peace and love to everyone

(Blackmore's Night: Christmas Eve)

Time passed quickly in Erethia. Summer turned to autumn and then to winter and soon the quick-built buildings were covered with snow. The children enjoyed it, building snowmen and holding snowball wars, but the adults grew more serious with each day. This was going to be their first winter in their new home and many of them worried how well they would survive it. Everything seemed that this winter will be hard and the happiness they all felt in spring was now far away.

Then Father Hieronymus reminded everyone that winter was time for joy too.
"After all, this is the time when our Saviour was born and we all should celebrate." he said and Maeve added: "Celebrate new life and new hope."
Their eyes met and they smiled at each other, having found some kind of understanding for the first time.


Everyone agreed that christmas celebration was exactly what they needed to make their mood better and soon the new-built "Castle of Erethia" was decorated with greenery and mistletoe and a feast - maybe not as big as they were used to, but definitely not less pleasant - was being prepared.

But despite all the preparations, not everyone was happy. Bridgid tried to smile and help with everything she could, but the way Torrin had been treating her from their arrival to Erethia was deeply hurting her. He didn't speak a word to her and allthough she had often "by chance" chosen the same way or work to do and even without that they met very often in the small fortress, he had been ignoring her completely. Bridgid tried to behave as if it didn't matter to her, but it wasn't easy.
Now she was pretending she didn't know about the mistletoe hanging above her head, waiting for Torrin to pass round. There was a custom, that when a man sees a girl under mistletoe, he can kiss her and Bridgid was hoping that maybe this time... but Torrin only passed round her as if she wasn't there.

Blaise was playing with Devin and they both enjoyed the game so much and were so absorbed by it, that neither of them noticed Devin's mother Lovyan was watching them silently.

When Blaise later went out of the fortress for a moment, Lovyan came to him.
"Thank you for helping me to look after Devin." she said "He likes you very much."
"That's fine. I like him too. I mean..." Blaise stopped, trying to find the right words. "He'll be a great knight one day, a brave warrior. Every man would be honoured to have such a son." he said finally.

Lovyan smiled silently. There was so much she wanted to say, but at the end she said just plain "Thank you." and left.

The Christmas Eve came and all the people of Erethia gathered to celebrate. They were all wearing their best clothes and to everyone's surprise even Rhianna, who had always been a boyish type of a girl, helping her father like a son would, was wearing a dress.

Torrin came to her. "Hello, Rhianna, you look very beautiful tonight." he said and leaned towards her to kiss her on a cheek. Bridgid, who had been watching, turned her head away with tears in her eyes, so she didn't see that Rhianna pushed Torrin away.

Bridgid wanted to hide somewhere and cry, but it was time for the Christmas feast. She ate silently and tried not to look at Torrin while he behaved as if nothing had happened and joked about the entire kingdom sitting at one table.

As soon as the feast was over, all the food eated and all the toasting made, she ran to the room she shared with Lovyan straight to her son Cailean.

"You're the boy I love the most," she said to him "and if your father doesn't want you, we'll make him change his mind. When he sees what a beautiful and clever boy you are, he will see that he was behaving like a stupid fool."

Sheridan and Maeve were standing outside the fortress, looking at the stars above them.
"Don't worry," said Maeve after some time of silence, "We tried to disturb the forest around us as little as possible and it has accpeted us. It won't let us all die. Winter isn't a season of death. Only rest. And new life." Sheridan smiled, looking at her belly. "Yes, new life indeed. Soon Erethia will have a heir. And Aberdeen."He rubbed Maeve's belly gently and then kissed her.

"Sheridan, Sheridan, we've found something strange!"
The long kiss was interrupted by Arleen's calling.
"What is it?" Sheridan asked "What happened?"

"We have found footsteps in the snow." Arleen said, seeming very excited from the discovery.
"That's all? You'll find many footsteps here. Anyone could have made them."
"No, not anyone." Arleen replied "Come and have a look.
Sheridan knew that in cases like this Arleen just didn't take no for an answer and so he sighed and went with her. But when he saw the footsteps she was talking about, he understood. They were small as if a child had made them, but the child would have to walk barefoot.

Welcome home, stranger

I´ve been many places

I've traveled ´round the world

Always on the search for something new

But what does it matter

When all the roads I´ve crossed

Always seem to lead back to you

(Blackmore's Night: Home Again)

This just wasn't right. When he thought about returning to Aberdeen, he had never imagined it could be like this. The country he remembered... it was never perfect, but always so full of life. Now he could see only devastated land and only weeds grew in the fields. Home, sweet home...

The stranger went on, but what he saw didn't change. Ruins, land burned or trampled down by horses, gallows... He had heard there was a war in Aberdeen, but to hear it and to see the aftermath of it, the destruction... He shook his head. He had never imagined to see his homeland like this...
In fact, he didn't think he would ever return at all. All those years spent in far away lands and now he was back again, riding though a war ravaged country, heading towards the castle.
As he went on, the strange feeling only grew. Memories he thought were forgotten forever appeared again, but still he felt even more he didn't belong here. Not anymore...
But still he went on, lost in thoughts and memories and not paying much attention to the destruction around him.

When he arrived to the castle, memories once more filled his mind. This was the place he grew up in...
Not paying any attention to the flags, he rode straight to the gateway. It was closed and there were guardes, but that didn't surprise him. After all, the times were bad...

He came right to it and said: "I want to speak with the king."
"That's not possible. The king has ordered us not to allow anyone who could be a spy." one of the guards replied
"But I..."
"It's an order."

Just as the stranger wanted to protest, he saw someone he recognized. It was Gabhain, one of his father's loyal men. Gabhain looked at the stranger closely, shook his head and then led him to the castle.

"I want to speak with the king." the stranger repeated before Gabhain could say anything.
"I don't think the king is expecting anyone. Who are you to imagine you can just come and say..." "I'm his brother."
"My lord Fergus? Is it really you? We all thought... and in these hard days..."
"I'm Pomurnik now," he said, "and I'm not sure whether I want to use the other name again. Especially when my dear brother thinks I'm a spy..."
"Don't you know what happened?" asked Gabhain, surprised. "Your brother, king Niall, is dead. His son, prince... now king Sheridan is gone, he took his sister and went to the west..."
Now it was Pomurnik who stared unbelievingly.

"But the guards... they said the king..."
"King Adalbert of Eberhard." said Gabhain, "He has called himself the king of Aberdeen and is now here. You can't stay here, my lord. If he finds out who you really are, king Niall's brother..."
"He won't." Pomurnik replied shortly. "I've been away for many years, I don't think anyone remembers me. And now I would like to speak with the king."
"But the king..."
"With king Adalbert."
"What..?"
"There was no place for me in the old Aberdeen." Pomurnik said, "Maybe there will be in the new one."

"What do you mean, disappeared?"
"The spy shrugged his shoulders. "The heir left the castle and we have no idea where he went. My men are searching the whole country and I'll send someone to the outland in case he already crossed the border..."
"You'd better find him quick." said the king, "Before he gets help and turns up with an army."
"I'll do my best, my king." the spy bowed and left.

King Adalbert once again looked at the portrait hanging on the wall. He could get rid of it, but he decided not to.
One day I'll have the pleasure of burning it, he thought, on the same fire as Sheridan's body. Until that day it will remind me that I'm not safe when he's alive. When there's still chance that heir of the dead king might come back with an army.

"But where is he now?" Adalbert asked aloud.

"Maybe I could help you there." Pomurnik said.
The king wasn't expecting an answer and it surprised him very much that he got one. "Who are you? How did you get here? What...?"

"Don't worry, your Majesty." Pomurnik replied with a smile. "There's no need to call the guards. I'm here to offer you my services - in every way you wish."
"Who are you? And what kind of help could you offer me? I think you're a spy."
"If I was a spy, why would I show myself to you? You can trust me, my king."
"But who are you?" king Adalbert asked, not trusting him at all.
"My name is Pomurnik and I'm here to help you find Sheridan."

The king frowned. "Is it Pomurneek or Pomoornik?" he asked, "And where do you come from?"
"None of that. But it doesn't matter. I've been long in the south. And I've learned much there. Do you want my services? If not, I will return there and take all my knowledge with me."
"What king of knowledge do you mean?" Pomurnik could see Adalbert was now definitely interested, but he pretended he didn't notice.
"Many useful things. For example, I'm sure I could find the missing heir for you. And much more if you wish."
The looked at each other and then king Adalbert finally spoke. "I think I could use your help. But tell me, what do you ask for in exchange?"

"Nothing. This was my homeland once, but this country cast me away. I only want to be part of the new order." Pomurnik said and he could see in Adalbert's eyes, that he understands.

Forming of resistance

There's a rumor spreading all around
We're on the way
To a change of setting, homeward bound
Autumn day

'Cause indoor we will light the fire
Light the fires of hope
Lost between the mountain and the sun
Caught the high emotion by the setting sun

(Clannad: Indoor)

Dear diary,When I look back, it's hard to believe it all happened just in a few weeks. Our lives have changed completely and with every passing day I think even more that they're never going to be the same again. It all looks like a dream or story from an old book, exept this it real.
But I think I should rather start at the beginning...

Erin was looking out of the window, thinking of her father and older brother. They were away for so long... or at least it seemed long, without her getting any news from them. It was true that she was told no news were good news, but Erin suspected someone is trying to hide the news from her. And why would anyone do that if they were good? Erin was very worried and there was nothing to calm her.

She tried to speak to Torrin, her younger brother about her fears, but he didn't seem to understand at all.
"Don't worry, Erin. Everything will be all right, you'll see. You can't believe the old stories, bard were often exaggeraing to make their heroes even more heroic."
"Yes, but..." Erin started to reply, but Torrin pretended not to hear.


Time passed and still there were no news from the battlefield. At least no news for Erin. Torrin definitely knew more, but he refused to tell his sister. And the only result of all her asking was that he tried to prevent talking about the situation completely. The bigger was then Erin's surprise when Torrin one day started by himself.

"Erin? We need to talk."
"Yes? What's the matter?"
"You know that the situation is like, don't you..." Torrin started
"No, I don't. You never told me anything."
"Anyway, prince Sheridan decided to..." Torrin stopped for a moment, trying to find the
right words, "...to try to find a new land for us... and maybe even some help in the war..."

"Do you mean he's going away?" Erin frowned "Now?"
"Yes, it's... necessary. And I'm going with him."
"Are you serious? You can't do that! What if..."
"It's the best thing to do, Erin. And it will be a great adventure. To find Erethia..."
"What? But Erethia doesn't exist! And you told me you're going to find some help. There's
nothing on the west, just..."
"Just a land without an owner, waiting for us to take, you mean? And who knows, we COULD
find a help there." Torrin replied.

"But... but you can't leave me alone here, with the war going on and..."
"I have to go. I'm Sheridan's friend and he asked me to. And you won't be here alone for
long. Our father and Finn will be back soon, don't worry."
"What if they don't return?" asked Erin, but she was speaking only to a closed door.

Torrin left, despite everything Erin made to make him change his mind and left his sister alone in the castle.
She was very scared, but she decided to defend the castle alone, if she had to. She didn't want to leave her home, and home of her ancestors for many generations back. And, after all, if she did leave it, there would be nothing between her and the war raging outside. She prepared to fight, decided to try everything she could learn from old stories to help her to resist successfully.

And then, as she was preparing for siege, Finn came back. He was alone and looked horrible,
but Erin was delighted to see him.


"Oh, Finn, I was so afraid..." she whispered as she embraced him tightly. "But what happened? You look terrible." she asked, but she immidiately realized that asking
questions on the doorstep, with Finn looking as tired as he did wasn't the most polite thing to do.

They went inside, sat on a bench and then Erin turned to her brother with much curiosity in
her eyes.
"Now tell me everything, please."
Finn sighed. "I wish I had beter news for you, Erin. The war is over. We lost." he paused for a moment and then he continued, "We were heavily outnumbered and bravery isn't enough when the enemy has much more man and better weapons and armour... The king died when leading us to the fight. And our father..."

"Aberdeen is... conquered? And we have no king now? And... our father... dead?" Erin couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"No king? There is prince Sheridan. He will now.." started Finn, but Erin interrupted him.
"Sheridan is gone. He went to the west. And Torrin with him. Oh, Finn, what shall we do
now?" Erin blinked, trying not to cry. She admired Finn and wanted to be as brave
as he was.
"There are some men like me, who survived the war and don't want to like under Adalbert of Eberhad. We're going to live in hiding and..."
"And fight against the usurper?" Erin asked"
"If we're strong enough one day, then yes. but until that time we will lust live... and be free. I came for you... and Torrin, but if he isn't here... Do you want to join us?" Finn asked.

"Of course I do. But why don't we stay here and defend the castle?"
"We would soon be under siege and we can't defend ourselves against the whole army. We must hide. That's our only chance."

At that time it seemed so romantic. Freedom in a forest, being real outlaws and fighting bravery against the usurper... It was like something from old stories that Erin loved so much.
She was very excited about what they're going to do when she helped Finn pack everything they might need. She was very excited when she met Finn's friends and when they built a camp. But, as weeks slowly turned to months, her excitement begun to fade.



Erin had always loved romantic stories and this seemed like one of them, but when reading stories, Erin was always safe, warm and had plenty of food. And when she tried to tell Finn she expected more adventures than just hiding from everyone, he only said: "This is no adventure story, Erin. This is the real thing and I hope you're old enough to understand that."
He didn't say, but Erin could very well read it from his eyes, that he had many problems and doesn't need to attend to a child who's too much interested in stories.

...and so, dear diary, I've decided to change. I'll do everything to make Finn proud of me, happy that he has me here. I promise you that.
Erin

Erethia

May this vale be my silver lining

Pleasing nature with a heart's desire

And i'm watching

And wondering

Feeling everything from long ago

(Clannad: Poison Glen)

The journey went on to the unknown, leading beneath the edge of the map. Everyone in the group now could feel the excitement of going to a place no one has propably been before. It gave them a feeling the're discoverers rather than refugees.

The ones who enjoyed this the most were propably children. They didn't care about danger and if they did, they saw it only as a prt of a game. A game they didn't want to give up only because the adults wanted them to behave properly, like in the civilized lands.

"Have you seen Arleen, Father"
"Yes, I did. But I have no idea where she is now. At the moment when the lesson ended, all three of them ran away, laughing. And thank God the lesson ended."
"What happened?" asked Lovyan, knowing this is exactly what Father Hieronymus wantsher to do.

"They only think about their crazy games. And they're more interested in old legends that the Holy Bible. Only yesterday they asked me when God created the Sidhe. This ungodly pagan heresy..."
Lovyan expected something far worse than interest in old legends, but she knew that saying that would make the Father even more angry. She just wanted to say something neutral when Maeve appeared.
"Don't reject it so quickly, Father." she said "There can be time when ancient knowledge might save us. After all, we're going to a land of ancient magic..."

Father Hieronymus looked at Maeve angrily. He said nothing because she was soon to became his queen, but he thought: Christ save us from ever needing this pagan witchcraft. It's a sure path to the Hell.

Arleen, Kieran and Ethain didn't care about that. They believed the legends about Sidhe, giants, dwarves and all the magical beings and didn't mind they weren't mentioned in the Bible. Especially when they had other things to think about, like who's turn it is now to be a brave hero and who's to be a giant guarding the way.

"That's not fair! I want to be the hero too!" said Etain, an orphan being raised by Father Hieronnymus.
"It is fair." replied Arleen "I invented the game."
"And you can't even fence." added Kieran.
"As if you could." protested Etain

"I can! I've watched my brother Kyffen and he's a knight! And I will be one too, while you can be only a priest." Kieran replied and jumped onto the log, shouting: "Watch out, giant! I'm going to defeat you!"
Etain wanted to shout at him that Kyffen is not a knight but just a mere soldier, but he didn't. After all, he wanted to play with them again.

To children's disappointment they didn't meet any giants or any other mythical beings in the mountains.
"See? I told you. Father Hieronymus was right. There aren't any giants. Or Sidhe." tried Etain to take advantage of that, but Arleen had answer to everything.

"Sidhe exist!" she said "They only don't want to show themselves a the priest. Or to you."
Just wait, I'll show you you're not always right, thought Etain and decided to study hard to be able to impress Arleen with his knowledge one day.
Father Hieronymus was pleased by Etain's sudden interest in his lessons and the Bible.
"So you've finally changed your mind and want to become a priest?" he asked.
"Er..." no. I only want to show Arleen how clever I am. thought Etain, but he knew that in this case it was much better to stay quiet.

Though Arleen expected to meet the Sidhe at any moment, but they had to hide very carefully. If they were there at all, of course.The journey through the mountains went on without anything unewpected happening - which maybe pleased the adults, but not Arleen - and soon they reached the end of the mountains.
When they were building a camp for the night, everyone was so excited and busy, that they didn't notice a strange wolf watching them.

In the morning they begun the descend to the valley. Everything seemed they are the first to settle there. There weren't any buildings, fields or other people in sight. Sheridan claimed this land their own and called himself a king of Erethia and Aberdeen.

Before the day was out, he and Maeve were married. The ceremony was very simple, without any long prayers. At first Father Hieronymus wanted to have a proper church ceremony, but on the beautiful springs day, in the middle in an ancient forest, it seemed somehow improper. So improper, that he didn't insist. Despite the lack of latin, the ceremony was beautiful and as Sheridan and Maeve said their vows, surrounded by flowers everywhere, they felt the forest was friendlier than when they arrived there. And they knew that whatever they might find there, they will face it together.

True love

I feel like I've known you my whole life

And every day and night was made just for us

I don't know what I ever did before

You walked through my door and changed my whole life

We could call it luck

We could call it fate

We could call it heart's desire

We could call it a dream even though we're wide awake

Let's just call it love

(Blackmore's Night: Call it love)

The same cards came up again. Knight of wands, the Chariot meaning action and movement and her own card close to these with the two of cups, new love, between them. That could mean only one thing. Her king was coming, a knight with fire in his heart, bringing change to her quiet home. A long journey is ahead, leading to the unknown...

Maeve came to the window and looked at the mountains again. The west was callig her. She was sure about that. But there was one thing she still wasn't sure about. Did she really want to listen to the call, leaving behind everything she knew?

Though Sheridan worried they can be recognized and did his best to avoid that danger, their journey west was very peaceful. And, in some way, it worried Sheridan even more. It could mean that there was no danger at all and the enemy wasn't looking for him, but he didn't believe it very much. From what he knew about king Adalbert of Eberhard, Sheridan was sure that he would never let them escape so easily and he would prefer a threat he knew about to this uncertainity. At least he would know what to prepare for.
The journey went on and soon Sheridan's group reached the western border of Aberdeen and the last fortress before the mountains. Here ended the world they knew and only legends spoke of the lands further on the west.

They decided to stop there to buy some food for the journey and maybe learn something about the land they were about to enter. Sheridan wasn't sure how will lord Rhan Feorain accept them in these hard days.
Of course Sheridan could say he was the rightful king of Aberdeen, but he thought it may not be the best idea. But though (or maybe because) the times were hard, lord Rhan welcomed Sheridan and his companions and asked for news from the east.

"We've heard terrible news about our king being dead. Is it true?" he asked.
Sheridan sadly nodded, not knowing what to say.
"And prince Sheridan? He is the rightful king now. What is he going to do?"
"Sheridan shrugged his shoulders. "When the war was lost, I decided I'd rather travel to the unknowh than accept king Adalbert of Eberhard as my ruler. I know nothing of plans of others." said Sheridan who decided to stay unrecognized for as long as possible.

"Aberdeen will need a strong leader now. Strong and wise" said Rhan. "We can only hope that king Sheridan will be like that."
Sheridan nodded and quickly changed the subject: "You live close to the mountains. Do you know anything about what lies behind them? We have nothing but legends in the east."
"I don't think I can tell you much more than legends. I haven't heard of anyone who traveled west and came back to tell about it." Rhan stopped for a moment and then he added: "But you can ask Maeve. She knows all the legends about the west and she says she had even dreams about it. If anyone can help you, it's her."

Lord Rhan invited Sheridan and his companions to stay for dinner and introduced them to two young people. The young man was Adair, Rhan's only son and he was very friendly towards the visitors, but it was the girl, that Sheridan couldn't stop looking at.
He thought her the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, with her white skin, raven black hair and dark eyes shining like two stars. And when lord Rhan introduced her as Maeve, his foster doughter, Sheridan couln't believe his ears. He had already imagined Maeve as the local elder woman and wise storyteller and this image just didn't fit to this beautiful young girl.

During the dinner Sheridan didn't speak much and though he tried not to stare at Maeve, he wasn't thinking about anything else. He had a strange feeling he knew her from long ago, but at the same time he knew that was impossible.
He wasn't the only one who wasn't paying much attention to the conversation at the table. Maeve was also very quiet and when her and Sheridan's eyes met, he felt he could drown in her eyes, so different from all he had seen before.

That night Maeve couldn't sleep. He was the one, she was sure about that. Her cards were right again. As always...
She could almost hear the call, stronger that before, leading her to the west. The previous day she didn't want to listen to it and leave her quiet home, but now... things have changed. She had found her true love. And when her heart called her, she felt no more fear...

Maeve left the room and went out, not even knowing why. She only knew that this is how it's supposed to be.There, just outside the building she met Sheridan. He was looking towards the western mountains and seemed lost in his thoughts.

"My lord? What are you doing here?" Maeve asked, but even before he could open his mouth she suspected what the answer would be.
"I couldn't sleep. There is something there... something..." Sheridan looked once again westwards, thinking that Maeve can't understand what he meant. But she did.
"Can you her it too?" she asked "The call?"

"Sheridan turned and looked at her closely.
"Sort of. What do you know about it?" he asked.
"Ever since I was a child I felt there's something awaiting me behind these mountains. Strange dreams, visions, the call... it's hard to explain. I just knew. Like I knew that one day I'll find my true love..."
"I've never believed in true love." Sheridan replied. "Until now..." He looked deeply into Maeve's eyes and then said: "Now I think I've found it."
There was no need for Maeve to reply. The two hugged and their lips joined in long kiss. For a moment they felt as if their souls were joined.

Sheridan looked at Maeve and he couldn't imagine living without her for the rest of his life. He proposed her, despite the fact that they knew each other only for a few hours and she accepted, all shining with happiness.

The first thing in the morning Maeve went to tell her stepfather the happy news."
"I'm engaged!" she said, her eyes glowing and showed Rhat the ring Sheridan had given her.
But, to her surprise, Rhan didn't seem happy at all.
"You're - what?"
"Engaged! And I'm going with Sheridan to the west! We'll..."

"No, you're not." Rhan interrupted her.
"What do you mean?"
"You're not going away with some homeless trampgoing to a land that doesn't propably exist."
"But you welcomed Sheridan in your house and treated him as a dear guest. What's wrong now?"
"This is different, Maeve. I just want you to be happy..."
"I am happy! With Sheridan." said Maeve, trying not to cry. She didn't understand her stepfather at all.
"With someone you know for less than a day? On the way to... to nowhere?"
"Yes! You don't understand..."
Maeve ran to her room with tears in her eyes. She picked her cards, but even before she could start asking them, she knew what she had to do.

"Sheridan, I have to run away with you. My stepfather, lord Rhan, said he won't allow us to be married and..."
Sheridan looked at Maeve, dressed in old clothes. She seemed to be serious. Sheridan loved her with all his heart and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and he could see she was willing to go. But...
"I can't do it." he said, shaking his head slowly.
"But... why?"

"Your stepfather welcomed me here as a guest and I can't betray his trust. I can ask him for your hand, but I can't take you against his will."
"Why don't you say you're the rightful king of Aberdeen? Then he would have to..."
"Obey a king running from his own country? We have no idea what we can find behind the mountains and I don't want to take you to danger."
"But..." Maeve didn't know what to say. She knew what she had to do, but how to tell Sheridan to make him understand?

"I love you, Maeve." Sheridan continued. "And if we reach Erethia and manage to settle there, I will return for you, I promise."
Maeve nodded, trying not to cry.

After the conversation with Maeve, lord Rhan thought whether he had done the right thing. He only wanted better life for Maeve, but... but somehow he felt that maybe it wasn't the best decision.
He was on the balcony, thinking, when he overheard Maeve and Sheridan and what he heard changed his mind. He saw how much they loved each other and also how honest and righteous Sheridan is.

He changed his mind and when he was the happiness in Maeve's and Sheridan's eyes, he knew he had done right.

Journey begins

A blind bargain can't you see
In a cloud of secrecy
Voices whispering for they might get heard
Play with fire, be insane
It's a danger game, cast aside
A guiding star leads the way

(Clannad: Sirius)

As a younger son Torrin never expected to inherit the land. Not that he was jealous or something. In fact, even if his brother offered him to change their positions, he would refuse. From all the lessons Finn had to take, managing the household definitely wasn't fun at all... And Torrin couldn't imagine his life without having fun. And he definitely knew how to enjoy the life.

He had had many romantic relationships, but none of them was serious enough for Torrin to start thinking about finally settling down and starting a family. Or to stop visiting many pubs with Sheridan. The two soon became best friends and when one got to something crazy, fun and adventurous, the other never stayed behind. It was only natural for Torrin to follow his friend on his quest... especially, when it solved another Torrin's problem...

"Brighid! I've been looking for you. I have to tell you something..."
"Oh, me too..." the girl smiled, blushing.

What can she possibly want to tell me? thought Torrin. Maybe she hopes that I will finally ask for her hand... well, she will be disappointed...
"I'm leaving Aberdeen. Prince... king Sheridan wants to find Erethia and I'm going with him."
"Fine..."
Torrin looked at the girl, surprised. Fine? He had expected tears, shouting...
"...I'm going with you."

"What?... But... you can't... what about your family, what would they say?"
"And what would they say if I stayed? I'm pregnant, Torrin, that's what I wanted to tell you."
"But... but... it will be dangerous! I'm not taking you and that's that!"
Brighid didn't answer. She didn't argue with Torrin, but she decided that she won't give up.

Meanwhile, Sheridan finally told his sister about his decision to leave the country. He had worried a lot, but her reaction surprised him.

"Going away? To the west? Are you serious, Sheridan? That's..."
"No, it's not running away. Trust me, please. We must..."
"...so exciting! It will be a great adventure!"

Sheridan smiled. He had been afraid, that Arleen would refuse to leave the kingdom and when he heard that she saw it as an adventure rather than flight, he was very relieved.

Arleen was too excited to keep the news for herself. She ran to her best... her only friend, Rhianna, the doughter of kings's dog handler. Rhianna was much older than Arleen, but she never treated her like a child or like a princess.

"Oh, Rhianna, we're going away!"
"What? What happened?" Rhianna asked. At first she was afraid it will be more bad news, but Arleen seemed happy...
"Sheridan said we're leaving to find Erethia! Will you go with us? Oh, please say you will..."

Erethia? But that exists only in myths... doesn't it? Is this a game? But it's hardly the right time for games, with the enemy so near...
"Please, come. It will be a great adventure..."Arleen continued pleading
"Well... we'll see." said Rhianna finally. She didn't want to promise anything before she knew more about what was going on.
"Do you want to see Aida's puppies?" She asked to change the subject, "They are now old enough to be seperated from their mother, so you can have one."
For a moment, Arleen forgot about Erethia and started playing with the puppies. "Oh, thank you so much. She is so sweet..." she said hugging the little dog. "I'll call her Aife, that means warrior."

Rhianna smiled. "That's a good name."
"And can I take her with me when we leave?" Arleen asked.
"Of course, but where are you going?"
"I've already told you. To Erethia! We'll cross the western mountains and find the Sidhe!"
What can that mean? They aren't really...?
"Of course you can." Rhianna repeated.
Arleen hugged her and then ran to show Aife to Sheridan.

When she left, Rhianna thought about what she had told her. At first the idea of finding the mythical land of Erethia seemed like game, but as she thought about it, it started to make sense to her. Rhianna understood, why Sheridan wanted to leave the country and going west seemed crazy only until Rhianna realized it's hardly the place where someone would look for the lost heir of Aberdeen. Then she thought again of Arleen's offer. To go to a new land, to cross the mountains not knowing what lies behind them... It was crazy and dangerous, but also very challenging.
Rhianna started to like the idea. At least it would be something new. After all, what awaited her in this world? Marriadge, children... and a husband who will make all decisions for her. No chance of taking care of the dogs after her father. That's was men's work.
But behind the mountains, in the new world... It was said that for Sidhe, men and women were equal. And even if Sidhe belonged only in legends, they will have to make a completely new society. And she would have a chance to find a place she could like more...
Rhianna smiled and petted Badwyr, her dog. They will go. Although she knew her father won't like her decision, she definitely wasn't going to change her mind. Ahead of her was Erethia... and a new life.

Finally everything was prepared for the departure. Despite the fact that he was leaving everything he knew for a land that propably didn't even exist, Torrin didn't regret his decison at all. He was looking forward to all the adventures ahead of them, the new land and...
"Brighid? What are you doing here?"

"What do you think? The same thing as you." smiled the girl.
"But I told you I'm not taking you. And don't even try to persuade me, I..."
"I don't need you to take me." Brighid interrupted him.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Lovyan has offered me to join her. I can help her on the journey and..." Brighid started and when she saw Torrin's face she finished angrily "...and there's nothing you can do about that!"

Torrin frowned, but, as usual, he decided to solve their relationship later and concentrate on something more pleasant: all the adventures and excitement waiting for them on their journey.

Sheridan's decision

Follow the storm I've got to get out of here

Follow the storm as you take to the sky

Follow the storm now it's all so crystal clear,

Follow the storm as the storm begins to rise

(Blackmore's Night: Storm)

“AAARRRRGHHHH!” The horrible scream seemed to make the very Earth tremble!

The brave knight looked at the dragon without fear in his eyes and said: "I am Killian the Dragonslayer and I've come to put a stop to your bluster!" With these words he drew his sword and...

princess Arleen closed the book. She was bored and ever reading didn't help at all. Only a few weeks ago, when her older brother used to read to her, everything was different. He could make the stories come to life by the way he changed his voice and made funny faces Sheridan woud pretend he was a fearsopme dragon while Arleen would be a brave knight. Then they would both laugh and play and... she sighed. She missed those games very much.

As a princess Arleen wasn't allowed to play with peasant children and her nanny, Lovyan, was such a boring old lady - she must be at least thirty! And besides, she treated Arleen as if she were a little child, a child who was expected to act and think like a proper lady!
"And real ladies don't play such loud games." Arleen imitated Lovyan and smiled. How could she explain to her that she didn't want to be a lady, but a brave knight? Sheridan would surely understand...

Meanwhile, Sheridan was in a church, praying to every god that would listen. Though his mother Cerridwen had been Christian and Sheridan was raised in this faith, Christianity was still a new religion in Aberdeen and many people still believed in the old gods and fairies. Although Sheridan was standing in a Christian church, he prayed not only to the Christian God, but also to Camulos and Morrigan, the old gods of war. He asked all of them to help his father, king Niall in the fight, and while he prayed with all his heart, the gods didn't seem to hear.

Sheridan often found himself spending more and more time on his own, not only in church, but just sitting by the lake, lost in thought. He wasn’t sure just what he sought, but he knew that he wasn’t finding either peace or clarity from any of the gods in the church.

Although the answers he searched for were elusive, unwanted bad news found an easier path to his unwilling ears.
"Sheridan..." from the look in Blaise's eyes the prince could tell the news was grave.

"What is it?" he asked. "What happened?"
"Bad news my prince. The battle..." Blaise stopped for a moment begore he continued: "...is over. Most of our men are lost, dead or captured and your father himselt died in the fight..."
Sheridan bowed his head, unable to say anything for a moment but when he fianally spoke, he didn't recognize his own voice.

"What shall I do?" he asked.
Blaise looked at him. "You must decide. Your father gave you responsibility and you can't return it now. I trust that you will do what's best... my king."

It was later in his chamber when Sheridan fully realized what Blaise had said. His father, the king, was dead and now Sheridan was alone. But was no time for mourning. The enemy was coming and Sheridan had to decide what do do in this difficult situation.

Had this all happened just a few short weeks earlier, the thought process and his final decision would have been simple and quick - he would have taken every man able to use sword and either reverse the war or die a honourable death. But now he thought of his sister Arleen. Sheridan knew that the chances of winning the war were almost non-existent and what would become of Arleen if he died? His father had told Sheridan to protect his little sister and he was going to fulfill his wish. But how? What could he do?
Suddenly he got an idea. An idea so strange and crazy, that he couldn't get rid of it. They could leave Aberdeen and find a new home. He thought of the high mountains on Aberdeen’s western border.

No one knew what was behind them. Legend spoke of the mythical land of Erethia, a blessed place where magic was still alive. And it was said that it was the place where the last of the sidhe leaving Aberdeen went.Sheridan didn't know whether he should believe these legends or not, but if they managed to cross the mountains, they would be safe from the enemy and who knows, maybe they could find a new home there. And besides, it would be a great adventure...

His choices seemed to be limited to three – to die an honourable death on a far off battlefield, to attempt to defend his castle and homeland with the few old men and boys remaining, or to do something totally new and unexpected. The idea of finding the lost mythical land was very appealing, and Sheridan had little difficulty to decide. He would find Erethia and set a new life there, with his sister and a few friends.

Shadows

Hard to tell
Or recognise a sign
To see me through
A warning sign

First the thunder
Satisfied, if the past will not lie
Then the storm
Torn asunder
The future you and I got blown away
In the storm

(Clannad: In a lifetime)

The sound of trumpets was so loud that even high on the rooftop Sheridan could hear it very well. It reminded him once more where he knew he should be, but he tried not to listen.

He had come to the roof to sulk, but his anger was slowly leaving him and with it all of his reasons for not saying goodbye to his father and wishing him good luck in the war. But Sheridan didn't want to give up so easily. Once he made up his mind he didn't like changing his decision.
Frowning he thought of his last conversation with his father.

"Why can't I go with you? I'm old enough and I can fight, don't think that..."
"It's not because of that, Sheridan."

"So because of what? I'm really curious."
"It's just that..." the king started, but Sheridan didn't let him finish.
"And don't think that I wouldn't be brave enough. I'm prepared to fight - as you would have seen for yourself if you ever bothered to come to any of my lessons."

"LISTEN, Sheridan! I'm trying to tell you that..."
"Oh, never mind! If you don't trust me enough to let me fight by your side, I won't trouble you"

Then Sheridan turned and stormed out of the room.
"Sheridan! I..."
SLAM!

To Sheridan's surprise the memory didn't act like he hoped. All his anger was gone and instead he begun to feel guilt. I should have let him say what he wanted... he thought. He surely has reasons for wanting me to stay...
Now Sheridan knew where he needed to be. He rushed down the stairs, hoping he won't arrive too late.

The sound of trumpets was so loud that it was impossiblle to overhear it. Everyone had come to see their king leave and wish him good luck in the oncoming fight. Or almost everyone, because someone was still missing...

"Where is Sheridan?" murmured Blaise for himself. "What is the hot-blooded fool up to?"
"Don't worry, he'll come" said a voice beside him. Blaise turned and saw Lovyan, who worked in the castle as a nanny for princess Arlana.

"How can you be so sure?" he asked. He had heard the argument between the prince and his father and he didn't believe Sheridan could cool down so soon.
"I know him." Lovyan replied with a smile. "When he gets angry he is like a suden storm... but such storms don't last long."
Blaise shook his head in disbelief and opened his mouth to say that this storm wasn't likely to disappear so quickly, but he closed it again when he saw the prince rushing across the court toward his father.

"I'm sorry." Sheridan said quietly. "I should have let you tell me your reasons."
King Niall smiled at his son.

"If you went with me and we both died, there would be no one to rule Aberdeen. You're my only son and heir and the land needs you. If I die..." he stopped there. He didn't want to tell his son that if his army was defeated and he died, there wouldn't be enough man to defend Aberdeen and he would propably have no land to rule.
"Never think I don't trust you." he said finally. "When I'm gone, you are the ruler of Aberdeen. You are in charge of the land and your little sister. And whatever happens, keep in mind that I trust you."
After finishing his speech, which came right from the heart, Niall embraced his son and rode away to face the enemy and defend his land.

I've started the Royal Kingdom Challenge and right now I'm finishing the first part of my story. So if everything goes well... (fingers crossed) it should appear here soon!

But first I'd like to say a few things:
1) English is not my mother language, so I'm sure I'll make some mistakes. I'd like to improve, so, please, let me know about my mistakes so I can correct them and try not to make them again.
2) This is my first attempt on having a blog, so I'll have to find out, how it wors and what can I do with it. As I learn, I'll try to make the blog look better.
3) Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions... anything you like. I'd love to know what you think about my stories...

Stories coming soon...

Rowena