Tuesday, June 23, 2020

"Love Eternal" by Lisa Forget- Chapters 3 & 4


Chapter Three


Talgarth Castle, Wales
5th century

            Dwynwen was greeted by a familiar melody as she descended the stairs of Talgarth castle. The May carol rang from the harp in the great hall and she could not help but hum along in harmony.
            Since the break of dawn, the castle was alive with the sound of servants preparing for the feast of Nos Calan Mai, the eagerly anticipated celebration of fertility and new life.
            She peered into the great hall before joining her family standing near the main entrance decorated with branches of draenen wen, laden with plump, red berries. The tapestries had been cleaned and now adorned the stone walls aglow from thrushes lit and hung about the room. The fire roared in the hearth filling the room with warmth and a sweet, fruity scent .
“I was beginning to wonder what was keeping you.” Ceinwen whispered. “Father requests we be ready for the arrival of our guests,” her sister said, gesturing toward their father arriving from his council chamber in his festive robe and tunic.
“Come.” Dwynwen took her sister’s hand scurrying over to him, placing a kissed on his cheek.
“There you are,” he said. “My two beauties.”
Delicate features, radiant complexions with sparkling eyes, his daughters warmed his heart with their love of life.
“I am truly blessed.” King Brychan of Brycheiniog turned to his family,  waiting by his side. “Let the merriment commence!”
The doors opened and visitors from the bordering kingdoms of Dyfed and Glywysing entered Talgarth castle.  Within moments, cups and trenchers were filled to overflowing, and conversations regarding the sporting games and the choosing of the May King and Queen could be overheard. Eager to participate, many young women hoped to be crowned May Queen.
“Go.” King Brychan addressed his children, a cup of mead in his hands. “Enjoy the festivities.”
“You are most gracious, father.” Nectan, the king’s eldest son, bowed and then offered his arm to his sisters.“ Come, I will escort you.”
With eyes aglow with excitement, Dwynwen and Ceinwen followed their father on the arm of the heir to the throne.
“Dwynwen, Ceinwen!” The voice of their cousin Ifor echoed above the music. “May we have the pleasure of your company for the next dance?” 
“You haven’t promised it to anyone else, have you?”  His twin brother Tomos asked, stepping in their path.
“How could we?” Ceinwen smiled, turning to greet her cousin.
“We promised the first dance to you.” Dwynwen added. “If we may, dear brother?”
“Yes, of course.” Nectan nodded. “Ifor, Tomos, I am very pleased to see you again.”
“We are, as well.” The brothers replied.
The sisters took their cousins’ proffered hands and joined in the dancing where the pipers delighted the guests with a quick melody. The sisters were fluid dancers, and the foursome danced throughout the night.  
Dwynwen’s sweet smile captivated the hearts of many young men, as they longed to steal her away from her dancing partners, but none more than the regal one who had been watching her every move.  He decided she was by far the prettiest of all the women in the room.
She was perfect, and in so being, she would be his.



Chapter Four


Gwen’s eyes sprang open. She pushed herself up from the cushions of the settee in the parlour. She felt her hair falling loose against her shoulders, no longer tied back.
“What happened?”
“You fainted.” Mr. Pryce turned from the window, the gold pendant that had been swinging like a pendulum in his hands, stilled.
 “How do you feel?” Mr. Pryce asked.
“I don’t know. How should I feel?” Annoyed, she padded the cushions, searching for her hair clip. “I’ve never fainted before.”
“You’ve been through so much, you said so yourself. Perhaps more than I’d imagined.” He slid the pendant back into its pouch. “Now that you are recovered, I will take my leave so you may rest, Miss Evans.” He took his hat and make his way to the front door. “I shouldn’t have come.  I apologize for adding to your burden.”
“But—" Bewildered, Gwen stared at the door, wondering what exactly had happened in this morning and how, in only a few moments, her simple life could be filled with so many questions. She sprang to the window but Mr. Pryce was nowhere in sight. She threw open the door and dashed down the porch steps. Turning in a circle, she glanced around, but the man had disappeared, just as he had a few days ago.
Only this time she knew who he was.
Liam Pryce.
Leaning against the post, the things he’d said to her came flooding back. Nothing made sense, but neither did mysterious whispers and humming noises. Could they all be connected? She had to find out more about Mr. Liam Pryce from Wales.  A stranger in a small and protective town like Angel’s Cove didn’t usually go unnoticed, especially if he had been asking making inquiries. Her most reliable source of information was sitting in the front office of the parish parsonage, and she had an appointment with him this morning. Running back into the house, she gathered her things and left, slamming the door on her way out.
Mr. Pryce felt the vibrations of the front door banging shut, and Gwen’s determined footsteps descending the stairs, as he leaned against the side of the Evans’ home. Catching his breath and bracing himself against the pain in his chest, he waited until Miss Evans’ footsteps faded before venturing back out onto the road.
* * * *
“Gwen. I’m happy to see you,” Reverend Matthews said as he opened the door.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
“No, you’re right on time,” he replied, leading her to his office. “Please excuse the mess.  I’m attempting to do some filing.”
She noticed papers strewn across his desk. The paperwork her mother usually took care of, no doubt. The reverend looked tired. His face looked older, his eyes, dimmer. Gwen wondered when he’d hire a replacement. Her heart ached at the thought.
“Let me clear a spot,” he said, straightening up his desk. “Here, sit down.”
“Thank you.” She took a seat in front of his desk. “I’m so grateful for your help.”
“Your mother was… well, you know.” He slid some files into the top drawer of his desk and sat down in his chair. Swallowing hard he looked up. An unguarded truth about how much he loved her mother, shone in his eyes, confirming what Gwen had always suspected. “I’m happy to help you, in any way I can.”
 “You were special to her as well.  I hope you know that.”
The reverend, lowered his head and nodded. “Thank you for saying so. Should we get started on this paperwork?”
“Of course. But before we do, I just wanted to tell you that I had a visitor this morning, a man from Wales claiming to have known my mother’s family.”
“From Wales?’
 “Liam Pryce,” Gwen replied. “Have you heard of him. He says our families are somehow connected.”
“I can’t say that I have.” He looked puzzled. “Is he a relative?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She took the pendant from around her neck and placed it on the desk.  “Look at what Mum left me. Her letter said it had been in her family for years, but I’d never seen it before. Mr. Pryce had one exactly like it.” 
“It’s a Celtic cross, a common religious symbol,” the reverend said, shrugging. “Perhaps it’s a coincidence that they look similar.”
“There are exactly alike, and both have an inscription on the back.”
The reverend turned the pendant over in his hands.
 “According to Mr. Pryce, it’s written in Welsh, and it says ‘a cross to guide us and a never-ending circle to bind us forever’. His pendant had the same inscription. It can’t be a coincidence.”
“That does seem odd,” he mused.  “And this last word here, is that your grandmother’s name?”
“Mr. Pryce said the name actually belongs to one of our ancestors. That a connection exists because of the name, and the two pendants”
“I’m sure he intended to only offer his condolences and used the pendant as a way to start conversation.”  He handed the pendant back to her. “Perhaps he’s a history and genealogy enthusiast.”
“He did seem to know a lot about that sort of thing, but he didn’t stay long so I didn’t get a chance to ask,”  she said, deciding against telling him what they had actually talked about.  “So, you haven’t heard gossip about a stranger in town and where he might be staying?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” His brow furrowed.  “Is everything all right?  Was the visit unpleasant? Did he try—?”
“Oh no. Nothing like that. I guess I was just caught off-guard about the pendant, especially since Mum never mentioned it before. I’d be interested to know more.”
 “Well, your mother kept a lot of things to herself, so don’t be vexed about that.”
“I’m not.”
“And, I’ve haven’t really been out this past week, so I’ve not heard anything, but Mrs. Reilly might know. She knows everything.”
 Gwen chuckled. “I’ll ask her, when I visit Anne later.”
“Well now my curiosity is piqued,” the reverend said, sliding a folder across the desk.
Gwen opened the folder and took the pen the reverend offered to her.
“So is mine,” she whispered.

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