The dreamweaver, p.8
The Dreamweaver, page 8
Emrys inclined his head slightly, pulling Anna to his side, "The one and the same, Cador Bran, and this is the Lady Anna of York, I am escorting her on a tour of this land and to my crannog.”
Anna's eyes were still wide with fear but she recovered enough to give a hint of a curtsy as she clung to Emrys arm.
Cador's sword dropped beside Emrys as he rushed forward grabbing Emrys in a fierce embrace, "By the Gods I never thought to see you in this lifetime again! We all saw the battle and you fall — we did not think to attempt a rescue...it was hopeless; there was no trail or hint that you lived still, you’d vanished without a trace!" Cador stepped back to give Emrys room to retrieve his fallen sword.
"It was hopeless, Cador my old friend. I was taken to a far away place where rescue would have been nigh impossible." In a cold dimension where life could only be viewed but never enjoyed, Emrys thought sadly remembering his indeterminate time as a dreamweaver.
Emrys face showed the true sincerity that he felt as he said softly, “Were it not for my good lady companion," Emrys nodded towards Anna, “I’d have rotted in that prison until the end of time.” Emrys smiled at Anna with genuine gratitude.
"Then we all owe the beautiful Lady Anna a debt of appreciation and our life-long service." Cador bowed low with a sweep of his hand over his heart.
"Um...I thank-eth you...and arise, Sir Knight!" Anna exclaimed awkwardly as she proffered her hand to him, which he readily accepted kissing her fingers with flourish.
Emrys laughter at Anna's attempt to speak in an 'old world' dialect left him choking, "Cador is no knight, Anna." He coughed out, "Unless things have changed...have they, Cador?" Emrys asked with a chuckle.
Cador smiled in good humour, releasing Anna's hand, "No, sadly not my friend, it has been nearly ten years since the battle and your abduction. The land is still as it was; King Constantine of Cornwall is alive and well,” Cador nodded to Anna, “and we are not yet knighted." The men in the group guffawed, smirking at the Knight comment and coming forward to pat Emrys on the back before disappearing into the cover of the forest to resume patrolling.
“We've been conscripted as scouts on the Kings business. We’re soldiers only as much as it suits us or the King commands our service." Cador shook his head sadly, "There are strange things happening, Emrys. People disappearing and a sickness that has no cure." Cador pushed his sword back into his scabbard but left the leather strap loose, keeping his weapon ready.
Emrys frowned, "When did these things come to pass? Last I recall this was a peaceful place for woodsmen and fishermen as well as a safe place for families."
"It began not long after your battle with Nivane and ours with her dark druids." He continued in a lower voice, “These woods, the valley beyond, and the village are under a pall of fear, and for good reason."
Cador guided Emrys and Anna back to the trail and they began to walk towards the village more briskly than before.
Cador leaned close to Emrys to speak privately, ”This forest is not safe, I would not want the Lady Anna to be caught traveling in the woods at the gloaming or nightfall — even with the stalwart warriors that accompany her presently." He said the last loudly and was answered by a series of muttered comments and sniggers from the surrounding forest.
"We thank you, Cador for your company and protection, and you're right; I do not think Lady Anna should travel too far past mid-day." Emrys agreed.
“Having you return to us is the first piece of good news we’ve had in a very long time, Emrys. I Would appreciate your counsel and perhaps you would cast for us to help us fight an enemy we cannot see. People are leaving, we must find a way out of this bleak time or the village may not survive.” Cador explained wearily, the strain of battling unseen foes showed in the lines on Cador's tired face.
Emrys slid his sword back into its scabbard as he helped Anna to choose her steps carefully on the rough, vine strewn path.
"Yes, of course, Cador. You know I am, as ever, at your disposal." Emrys patted him on his back roughly, "Do you remember my old home?"
"Like my own, my friend." Cador replied with a grim smile.
"I will have the hearth blazing and the ale ready. After nightfall, come and we will talk." Emrys kept a firm hold on Anna's arm as they picked up the pace.
Cador, like his men, then vanished into the surrounding wood without further comment or sound, as did the raven that had followed them, watching with soulless eyes, leapt from its branch to fly silently into the shadows.
Emrys and Anna walked on in relative silence for the next hour. Anna had tried to ask him questions, but he'd stopped her with a finger to his lips, "Later," he mouthed silently.
The day gradually brightened as they left the forest and started onto the road leading to the village of Caerfyrddin. The trail finally widened into a road that was scarred with deep wagon tracks and littered with both fresh and dried dung. Anna's nose wrinkled in distaste as she choose her steps carefully, avoiding the more recent, steamy deposits.
Once they were well and truly away from the deepening shadows of the forest, Emrys let out a breath that he hadn't realised he'd been holding.
"Okay, Anna. It is safe to talk, at least until we reach the village." He patted her hand that was still looped over his arm.
Anna didn't know where to begin, "That seemed so real, not much like a dream, Emrys." Anna said quietly, "Is this a dream? If it is, it is way more real than any dreams I've ever had before." Anna stole a nervous glance at Emrys face.
He paused, thinking carefully before he spoke, a frown drew the corners of his mouth down slightly. "Anna, I tried to tell you this is not a dream as you would know it, remember the time-dimensional science I explained to you earlier? You are here while your body rests in New York as well." Emrys draped an arm over her shoulders, "I know it is a lot to expect — to accept all I’ve told you. Perhaps you could think of it as an ‘out of body’ experience that many of people in your time seem to think they can affect. This is real, but you should be unafraid,” He regarded her still pale face, "You’re are safe with me.” Emrys patted his scabbard, "You have seen what I am able to do with inter-dimensional travel, remember the tapestry I summoned for you to see?” Anna nodded, and he continued, “That should let you know I have other methods of protecting you besides my sword, please have no concern as to your safety. I brought you here to show you my former life and the world as it was. I wanted you to see history first hand, not from old, inaccurate books, or misinformed Internet searches.”
As Emrys held Anna’s small hand in his, he realised he would protect Anna with all that he had. The fact that she had somehow become the very centre of his universe finally dawned on him.
Emrys paused, a sad look on his handsome face, "It appears the light-hearted time I had hoped to show you may not be possible. I need to find out what has happened here since my departure. These people in this place are good, hard working folk who do not deserve the problems that, in all likelihood, my mistakes have brought them."
Anna's throat constricted in sympathy at his words, "Emrys, I’m okay. Yes, I do remember you saying that this is more than a dream. But you have to understand I am still struggling with all this," She blinked back tears, "You are amazing to me — magic that has come to life, into my life, I should say." Anna continued, "I used to read fairy tales as a little girl and wished something magical would happen to me, well I guess I got my wish.” Anna's light-hearted, brave tone cheered Emrys, who smiled at her appreciatively.
"I will not let anything happen to you, Anna. You are precious to me and your presence has brightened my bleak existence beyond measure." Emrys stopped, pulling Anna against his chest in a tight embrace.
Anna allowed her arms to encircle his waist and returned his hug, pressing her nose to his chest breathing in his masculine, woodsy fragrance, "I needed you too. I didn’t really realise how much I needed you until you came into my dreams.” Anna murmured against his tunic, "I don’t want to be any place other than here with you, I didn’t mean to make you think I didn’t trust you… I do, completely." And she did, she realised surprising herself.
Emrys cupped Anna's face between his palms and tilted her head up slightly, he lowered his head and brushed her lips with a soft kiss, Anna responded by deepening it, returning his kiss with her own.
Emrys pulled back in surprise, regarding Anna's flushed face with hooded eyes, "Anna you constantly amaze me." He brushed the hair that had escaped her braid back behind her ear, "I find I am increasingly unsure if I will ever be able to leave you."
Anna eyes glistened with emotion, "I am increasingly sure I will never want you to leave me." She replied honestly.
Emrys gazed at her intently, “We will have to see where this road takes us." He responded in such a way that seemed to mean more than the path they were on to the village.
They resumed their pace, Anna’s hand entwined in Emrys, "Just ahead, maybe a half-hours walk, we'll enter the village and the merchants quarter." He said as he absentmindedly rubbed her palm with his thumb, "I need to buy a few supplies for us before we go to my home for the night. I think you'll enjoy the shopping. I am fairly certain it will be unlike anything you've experienced before.” He said with renewed enthusiasm.
"Well, I can't lie, I like to shop.” Anna replied with a lilt in her voice, "But I’d feel better just watching you, and letting you do the talking.” Quickly adding, “I know I will ‘hear and speak’ the language normally, but I don’t know the customs and don't want to do anything wrong."
"I understand, and allowing a servant to do your shopping would be a perfectly normal way for a lady to conduct herself in this time. Unless you were my lady wife," He smiled as she blushed at the thought, “Bartering for goods would be done as a matter of course by your escort or servant, which today shall be your's truly, Myrddin Emrys.” He made a pretence of bowing in deference to her high station.
Anna giggled, "I could get used to that, Emrys so watch out - I may like it so much that I'll expect the same service back at home in New York!"
Emrys smiled at the thought, "As long as you make your delicious coffee, and feed me from your Indian take-a-way neighbour, we have a deal. Don't worry about making any cultural mistakes; the people who live here know everyone for many miles around, it would be assumed you are from a far away place. You heard me tell Cador that you are from York, well it's not far from the truth." Emrys smiled at his small omission of the word 'New,’ "You'll be fine. Just walk a few paces in front of me, and point to anything you fancy and I shall procure it for you. People may be curious and might say good-day to you — just nod and smile without too much eye contact otherwise they'll think you're in for a natter."
"A 'Natter'?" Anna asked, bewildered.
"Natter... Oh, sorry Anna," Emrys chuckled, “It means a bit of gossip or chat."
The village was as Emrys promised, a real-life theatre of Renaissance type shoppes and services. Anna was awe struck at the wide variety of choice; hanging legs of lamb and numerous game birds with bright feathers hung in windows. Baskets of root vegetables, cabbages, potatoes, cheese, pots of honey, sweets, flour, cakes, casks of wine, ale, wine and spirits lined the market stall fronts.
There were fabrics of all description and colour hanging from racks and hooks under canopies. Soft leather goods, fluffy pelts for rugs, woven blankets, hats with unusual feathers and heavy gold chain necklaces featuring precious stones sparkled in thick glass cases.
Anna walked a few feet in front of Emrys, he kept slightly to her left so she could see him from the corner of her eye. At first Anna was shy and, as instructed, pointed at a few items that she thought could use for a meal later. Emrys paid a few coins to a youngster with a hand cart to follow behind him to carry the parcels they purchased.
Anna soon became a bit braver, and with a wry smile, slyly pointed to a bright multi-coloured shawl made from dyed lambs wool. Emrys nodded, grinning, and gave the shop keeper a few coins who wrapped it in burlap and tied the parcel with twine. From that point forward, Anna's busy finger pointed at a beautiful belt of soft leather that sported a shiny silver buckle with a Celtic design, a deep purple cape of boiled wool, and an ivory sleeping gown of crisp linen with delicate tatting adorning the neck and sleeves.
Emrys made a few purchases as well, as he watched Anna’s animated expressions, taking in all the new sights. He found himself thoroughly enjoying shopping for the first time in his very long existence.
They made one last stop at the smithy where Emrys bartered for two horses, and a sturdy donkey to be delivered to his crannog the next morning.
It was near the glomming time of evening when they finally approached Emrys home.
He stood back for a moment when his home came into sight. His crannog was positioned in the loch a good forty feet from the shore to account for the tides. The crannog's pylons had been imported from a granite mill in Scotia to form a massive and sturdy base. Upon that, twelve thick oak timbers had been set in a circle that surrounded the centre point of marble, to support a multi-level fireplace. The floor was formed from thick milled oak planks, and the walls were slender oak logs with the gaps filled with strong clay. The structure rose imposingly three stories, and was massive even from the distance they now viewed it. Emrys had designed it himself as a boy and although it was only one of many places he called home, it was his favourite.
"I thought you said something about it being a round tee-pee sort of place on a little island." Anna said in a hushed voice, "That is amazing. Huge! I had no idea."
Emrys smiled at her happily, "It is beautiful isn't it? It’s much larger than most, I built it to accommodate more than one family during a siege. I never believed I’d see it again." Emrys voice cracked with emotion.
The young porter they’d hired gave Anna and Emrys the parcels they wanted to take into the crannog and took the rest of their supplies to a thatched building that was on the land near the bridge, with the fresh food stored in the adjacent root cellar.
Beyond that sat two smaller houses that appeared to be occupied from the smoke that was curling from their central chimneys.
The narrow footbridge to the crannog was made entirely of thin wooden slats that moved ever so slightly as they walked across them. Noting Anna's nervousness on the bridge, Emrys explained, "The bridge to the crannogs were made to be easily set alight in case of attack. It’s safe, don't worry!" He grinned at Anna's white-knuckled hold on the rope hand rail as she carefully followed him.
Emrys opened the small oak door that led to the main room of the crannog. Anna had to bend down slightly to enter.
"The door is low so if enemies try to enter the crannog, the occupants have a bit of an advantage." Emrys patted his sword to empathise.
Anna shuddered, "I guess you don't much like drop-Ins then?"
Emrys laughed, "Sure we do, we usually have ample notice for when the bad guys are due to arrive, so friends aren’t given an unpleasant welcome.” He helped Anna off with her cloak, hanging it on a hook, “So…what do you think?”
Anna looked around in amazement. To the right and left of small doorway, two oak staircases followed the curvature of the structure to the upper levels. The floor was made of wide planks of highly polished oak and was covered in places with smooth goat rug pelts for warmth. In the centre of the spacious room sat an enormous stone fireplace, open on four sides, where a fire was already blazing. Warm pelts of shaggy goat skins were draped on leather bound chairs, and a long table sat to the side surrounded by sturdy stools and benches.
There was an aroma of something cooking that made Anna's mouth water, she looked at Emrys questioningly.
He laughed, "I think Cador may have warned someone we were on our way.”
Just at that moment, a small round woman with frayed greying hair and a big smile came around the corner of what must have been the cooking area of the fireplace.
"Oh my Dear, it is so! You're here! I never thought I'd see you again in this life!" The old lady eye’s streamed with tears as wiped her hands on her apron rushing past Anna to hold Emrys in a tight embrace.
