Life continues..........

[Dream Loxley]

With each step she came just a little closer to him, the snow was thick and she tried her best to place her booted foot into his larger footprint. Although this task seemed the easiest way of reaching him, it was taking far too long and every movement found her raising arms to steady herself, ducking and bending to avoid the lower hanging branches. He was still so far from her, and yet he was just a whisper away, one more step, just one and her hand could take his. She could see his face, his mouth curved into that grin she had always adored, his dark hair blowing freely with the breeze, decorated with jewels that had fallen from the skies as snow. He was beautiful still, after all these years time had been kind and he looked just the same as that first day......if she could find his eyes then she could fall into them, like she had when first her own found him, oh how she had fallen in love with him, in an instant.

If he would just stand still, for just one more moment....... arghh, she grumbled as a branch caught in her hair, tangled masses of curls and waves, so in dire need of his gentle touch with a comb, that would be soon, she smiled softly, after......soon after, but she had to reach him first and then.......after she had smothered him with kisses and held him so tightly he may never leave her side again......then they would sit, as so oft they had done before, beside the fire, he with a comb and her simply giving of her very soul as he untangled her long tresses. Tugging and pulling he would be so gentle and yet bring tears to her eyes, but he would comb it and she would be grateful......if he would just stand still so she may reach him.

It seemed as if she would not succeed, this was taking so long, all the while she held his gaze, reaching a hand to wards him, willing herself to make it through the snow, angry, frustrated, breathing hard, so weak, so tired......so afraid of failing him. He called her name, reaching out both hands to wards her as she flailed and teetered, the snow so deep, too deep now to step through, it was rising quicker than she could lift her legs, consuming her, almost to the point she may drown in it. Her hand so cold, ice forming on her skin as she watched it with fear in her eyes. He moved away, she could not reach him, step after step he became further and further away until she could not see him within the heavy snow that was falling now, like a blanket in front of her face, it felt warm, soft, comfortable and safe.

Her eyes were closed, they should have been open, but they were closed, all was dark, he was gone but she felt him still. A hand softly stroking her face whilst another wrapped about her shoulders with this heavy blanket of snow. His warmth next to her, holding her closer as her body shook slightly. She frowned, no........she did not want to wake lest she would never find him again, she was not sleeping, not again......surely this was real.......It was then that she placed her own hand over his, realising it was softer, less calloused and strong, yet so comforting and safe.

Her eyes opened and she saw him then. Not her Robin, but Thomas, their Son, gently shaking his Mother, stroking her cheek to wake her from this slumber, to take her from this cold place that she should never have found herself sleeping. He watched as she roused herself, sitting up from the snow covered ground, her face flushed from both the cold air and her own embarrassment at having been found this way.

For a while she sat still, his hand held within her own now as she smiled to him, searching his features for some message, some feeling he could share......but there was none, he had not spoken since birth and still remained silent as he looked down upon her with his empty eyes. She could loose herself within Ellissia's eyes, even see her beloved Husband in her features, but Thomas his young eyes held nothing but fear and anger. He was bereft of all feeling and seemed filled with a deep seated hatred of all he encountered. Sometimes, as if for a fleeting moment such as this, then she saw the love he held for her, and she cherished it always. Dream knew it was not his fault, something must have happened to him while she carried him within her, for he was unlike any other child she had ever known. At first she had berated herself, taking the blame, but as he grew, she realised he was just different, and simply needed all the love she could muster, especially since his Father had hardly known him before becoming lost to them all. She smiled again, lifting her hands to cup his young face, speaking gently as she had always done. Her Son, her perfect loving Son who was so sad, it almost broke her heart at times just to look upon him.

"Tis alright my Son........I was but resting......we shall go home now........aye......some hot broth for us both. Ye must be cold.......'tis alright Thomas.....all be as it should be."

The young man who had seen but Seven Summers helped his Mother to stand, instinctively brushing the snow from her cloak before wrapping tightly, the extra blanket he had placed about her shoulders. She would always be here, this was where he looked first each time he could not find her. The small clearing in the woodland he felt so at ease in. He took her cold hand within his and they began the short walk back to the Castle. He guided her just as his Father would have, taking each step with care, willing her to be safe, his Mother, his perfect loving Mother who was so sad, it broke his heart at times just to look upon her...........

[Lady Edfeil]

((lovely writing, Dream. It brought me near tears))

[Halethala]

It warmed her, the pooling spill of soft, well laundered linen spread across Letha's lap as she bent over it to work the tiny stitches. It would soon be time to re-fit the men of the Castle guard with lighter summer-weight tunics, and Letha stepped out of her self-imposed exile to offer her skills in the effort.

A cream colored leather thimble clung to her third left-hand finger, pocked by the dull butt of the treasured needle, a rare, strong, thin find that had not broken in the weeks of usage. Yet. It left smaller holes in the perfectly woven fabric, and made the task much more pleasant since each swift stitch met with less resistance. Still, it had worn at a weaker spot in the thimble until it broke through, and try as she may to turn the hole away from the lion's share of her work, it occasionally sneaked its way around again until provoking a muted yelp from Letha as the needle dug into soft flesh as she flinched from the pricking.

It became rather mindless work, requiring little real thought to assemble so many of the garments ... they were simply rendered, and made even moreso in the repetition. Letha became extremely efficient in producing them after several good practice runs, so with the excess of time, she began to secretly turn each one inside out and adorn the inside hems with tiny woodland creatures and fauna. She knew several of the guards, some by name, others by face ... but there were a few new men that she had been told of. For both those she knew and those yet unmet, she thought of as she sewed, willing them safety and protection, both from the dangers of intruders and enemies as well as the cold and boredom.

On one she embroidered tiny red foxes with knots of black for the noses and tips of the ears, and white at the end of their tails. On another, silvery fish, bent as if in mid-leap, with forked tails slapping at the one behind them. Yet others held bearded heads of full, ripe wheat, bent in the harvest winds ... tiny, brightly colored birds, prickly hedgehogs, grizzled insects, whip-like corded snakes, and even one with strings of spike-horned goats.

She grew sober and quiet when they returned, her heart aching to reach out to the handsome young man who never spoke. He almost frightened her, his demeanor ... so unnaturally mature for a lad his age. She wished there could be something ... something ... that would make his face alight into joy.

She stole lingering glances at them as they vanished back into their quarters before dropping her gaze back down at her work. She decided to try something more difficult this time so that she had to think harder about what her hands were doing than where her heart was wandering.

[Dream Loxley]

*Dream had followed Thomas into the Castle and held his hand as they returned to their chambers. The lad glanced about as if noticing people and things all the time, almost as if he did hear the noises. It was a mystery, everything about her Son was a mystery, perhaps it was time she did seek a healer or ask more of the Village Elders, just for guidance, some answers to her many questions......she was alone now, bringing up her children and was at times in dire need of advise.

Thomas settled into his room and Dream washed her face and hands, changed her now quite sodden gown and tried her best to run a comb through her tangled locks. She cursed under her breath but knew such words would change nothing.......she was alone and would manage even her own tangles from this moment forth. The decision almost cut her deeply, how could she accept such to be so.......a simple gesture, a word, a whisper on the wind.....she shook her head and placed the comb back upon her bed. A new day would come and she would still believe him to be somewhere......anywhere.....but simply to still.......be.

Millie pushed the heavy door open after a gentle knock upon it, she carried a tray of hot broth and warm freshly baked bread. Dream noticed there was but one bowl and one plate. Tilting her head as Millie explained, her heart leaped and she smiled brightly.

"Tis tha Lady Letha......Mollie be settin' a tray for ye both in tha Hall.....forgive us fer bein' forward like M'Lady but we knew ya would be wishing ta visit wit 'er."

Dream smiled even brighter if such was possible, nodding her head in agreement. *Oh indeed Millie, how thoughtful ye both be.......thankye lass.......thankye most kindly.* With that, she lifted her skirts slightly, enough to allow her hurried steps out the door and along the corridor to the stairs. With care and a lighter heart than of late, she descended the stairs and met Mollie as the lass was about to enter the Hall with her own tray. Dream smiled softly, taking the tray herself and allowing Mollie to open the large door. The warmth emanating from the hearth was so welcoming, as was the sight of her dear friend sitting close by with her sewing. She placed the tray beside Halethala and sat down beside her, in an instant she placed her hand over Letha's and smiled brightly, her eyes filled with questions and yet for the moment, simply so content and happy to see her again.*

"How are ye my friend........'tis a while since we sat together and shared some broth......"

[Robin of Loxley]

He hung close.... listening then..................He stepped forward....

[Lady Edfeil]

(*pounces oocly and hugs but leaves the writing board quietly, expecting beauty*))

[Dream Loxley]

*Suprised smile.......relieved......watches the pouncing and hugging, smiles more.......steps away not really knowing what to expect.*

((Let me know if you need email address, passwords and such ))

[Robin of Loxley]

((That would be much appreciated!!))

[Dream Loxley]

Robin, you can email me on [e-mail] I can give you your passwords etc then. I will check my junk mail if you are using an email I do not know. Best wishes

[Robin of LOXLEY]

DONE