WeatherMaker Hearts Desire Prologue

Many times the three of them would visit the little fortress built in the tree. There they would play and frolic and have fun.

On one of these days, they heard a sound.

‘What was that?’

Amaia let go of the swing, falling lightly on the ground.

‘There it goes again’ Gracie added, peering over the edge of the box built in the tree.

‘Come on’ Ramana said to them, climbing down from the tree. ‘Let’s find out what it is.’

She helped Gracie down, following Amaia as she ran ahead of them through the woods.

‘Amaia!’ Ramana called after her. ‘Amaia slow down!’

They came to the section of woodland where the noise was coming from, and there they saw what was making the sounds. It was a bird. A small green bird with a long downwards curved beak. It was a tiny little thing, flapping around helplessly on the forest floor.

‘Poor creature’ Ramana murmured at the sight of it. ‘It must have fallen out of its nest.’

‘I don’t like it’ Amaia said immediately, holding onto Gracie’s arm for reassurance. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s a baby bird’ Ramana told them. ‘It won’t harm you’ she said bending down to pick it up. ‘Come here and have a look.’

Gracie skipped over to Ramana to see, Amaia hung suspiciously back.

Ramana knelt, holding the bird out in her hands.

‘See?’ she said happily. ‘It’s friendly.’

The little bird sat there on her open palms. Its feathers looked more like fur, and it was a dark moss coloured green, with beady little eyes. Its large wings were folded now, though they were still too small to be able to fly, still underdeveloped.

‘Come here Amaia’ Ramana said encouragingly to her. ‘It won’t hurt you, it’s just lost.’

Amaia approached cautiously, she watched as Gracie petted the bird gently. The little bird just sat there, allowing the girl to stroke it. It seemed happy to have found something to interact with, having now fallen silent.

‘It must have been abandoned’ Ramana said. ‘I don’t see the mother anywhere’ she said glancing around. ‘Poor little thing.’

She gave it to Gracie to hold.

‘We should care for it’ Ramana told them, ‘or else it would surely die out here.’

‘We can’t let it die!’ Amaia cried.

‘Here’ Gracie said to Amaia. ‘You can hold it.’

Amaia took the bird tentatively.

‘We should give it a name’ Ramana suggested. ‘Something nice.’

‘I can’t think of anything right now.’

‘That’s ok’ Ramana patted her daughter’s arm. ‘We’ll think of something.’

‘We can share it’ Amaia said to Gracie. ‘I’ll keep it one day; you can keep it the next.’

‘That’s a wonderful idea’ Ramana beamed at Gracie. ‘We should show your mother. Let’s go.’

They headed back to the town, dropping Gracie off home and showing Alice their find. Alice fawned over the bird eagerly as the little creature pecked at her fingers. Shawn complained that it would make a mess everywhere if they kept it, Brice, though he agreed with Shawn, reluctantly allowed Gracie to share the bird with Amaia, seeing how happy it made her.

‘Come on’ Ramana said excitedly to Amaia. ‘Let’s go home and show your father.’

They said their goodbyes to Alice and her family, and made their way home, taking the bird with them.

‘What the hell is that?’

‘We found it’ Ramana explained to Farrell, kneeling and cooing over the tiny bird that Amaia held. ‘The poor little thing had fallen out of its nest and been abandoned. It needs a home.’

‘Well don’t bring it in here’ Farrell protested.

‘Why not?’

‘It smells.’

‘But look how cute it is.’

‘It’s not staying here’ Farrell told her flatly.

‘What?!’ Ramana squeaked. Beside her Amaia looked suddenly desperately sad. ‘But why?’

‘Please daddy’ Amaia pleaded. ‘Can’t we keep it?’

‘No.’

‘Please?’ Amaia repeated immediately.

‘No means no’ Farrell told her sternly, quickly becoming irritated.

‘Come now husband’ Ramana spoke kindly. ‘There’s no reason why it can’t stay here, it would make her happy. Won’t you let it stay here?’

Farrell felt his heart sinking as he glanced from Ramana to Amaia. He felt suddenly that if he were to take away this thing that made his daughter so happy, he would be an enemy.

‘Fine’ he said in exasperation, throwing his hands in the air. ‘You can keep it.’

‘Yay!’ Amaia squealed in delight.

She ran up the stairs with the bird, heading to her room.

‘How many times?!’ Farrell called after her. ‘How many times do I have to tell you not to run in the house?’

‘Come on husband’ Ramana teased, moving closer to him. ‘Let her have her fun.’

She kissed him playfully, dancing away from him and swaying her hips seductively.

She paused, glancing back over her shoulder towards him, casting her eyes down and moving away.

Farrell sighed; shaking his head he followed her out of the room.

That night, Ramana told her daughter a bedtime story. It was a story about a family who had been turned into different animals by a spell. One was an otter, another was an ox, one was a boar and there were many more. The spell that turned them into animals every day and back to humans by night would only be broken when they found true love, or found the one who placed the spell on them in the first place.

‘The bird’ Amaia voiced when the story was over. ‘You said it was called Yayew.’

‘That’s right’ Ramana whispered.

‘I think that would be a nice name for her’ Amaia said.

‘How do you know it’s a her?’ Ramana asked.

‘I’ve decided I want it to be a her.’ Amaia stroked the bird that sat on her lap. ‘Yayew’ she said. ‘You’re a good girl.’

Ramana leant forward, kissing her daughter on the forehead.

‘Well you two had better get some sleep’ Ramana said. ‘It’s late now. You should have been in bed hours ago.’

‘Goodnight mama’ Amaia hugged her mother. ‘See you in the morning.’

Early the next morning, Amaia was running up and down the corridors. The bird, newly named Yayew, had decided that Amaia was its mother. It followed her as she ran first one way, then the other, hurrying to keep up on its tiny little legs.

‘Amaia stop running in the house!’ Farrell yelled at her.

‘Look husband’ Ramana said to him, coming out of their room. ‘Look how happy she is.’

She laid a gentle hand upon his arm, calming him. She was still dressed in her nightgown, despite the fact that it was nearly mid-day, Ramana watched beside her husband on the balcony as their daughter played. The little bird continued to chase after her.

‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ Ramana beamed.

‘What?’ Farrell asked.

‘Everything’ Ramana said turning to him. She extended a hand for her husband to take. ‘Dance with me.’

‘What?’

‘Dance with me’ Ramana repeated.

Farrell took his wife’s hand, allowing himself to be dragged along, down the stairs and into the entrance hall of their home. Ramana stopped there, facing him. She held Farrell’s hand firmly, placing his other hand upon her hip. On the balcony above them Amaia leant against the balustrade, looking down at parents. She picked up the little bird Yayew, running to the top of the stairs were she watched her parents dance, sitting with the bird upon her lap.

They moved across the marble floor of the hall, immersed in their own little world, their attention only on each other. Both were smiling. Both were happy.

Ramana and Farrell danced together.

They slowed to a stop eventually, letting go of each other and just staring at the other, smiles still upon their faces. Farrell then grabbed Ramana roughly, pulling her towards him and kissing her deeply. Ramana pulled back only to come up for air, then to two began to wrestle, Ramana trying to escape but was laughing too hard as Farrell tickled her.

‘Stop!’ she gasped. ‘I can’t breathe!’

From atop the stairs Amaia watched her parents happily, thinking about how much they loved each other, thinking about how fun it was to watch them.

Farrell finally relented, giving into Ramana’s pleas for mercy to stop ticking her. She collapsed on the ground in a fit of hysterical laugher, holding her aching sides, her long beautiful black hair splayed about on the floor in a tangled mess.

Farrell helped her to her feet, and the two embraced again, calmly this time. They sighed, happy, joyful and content.

Later that day, Ramana and Farrell dropped Amaia and Yayew off at Brice’s home, so that she could play with Gracie, and Gracie could have her turn caring for Yayew.

Once they were alone, Ramana and Farrell went off together, walking in the woods alone, hand in hand.

They walked for hours, deep into the forest, just the two of them.

When at last they decided the turn back it took them a long while to return home, by which time the light from the day was beginning to fade.

It was evening and growing darker by the minute.

‘What are you working on this time?’ Farrell asked his wife in a whisper.

They had entered their now quiet home, where Ramana had wandered into her painting room downstairs.

Ramana drew back the blanket she had used to cover the easel, revealing a beautiful painting upon the canvas.

‘It’s nearly finished’ Ramana said proudly. ‘It’s my favourite one I’ve done so far, it’s taken so long for me to do.’

Farrell gazed at the painting. It was beautiful indeed. A stunning scene of woodland; with tall grass between the trees and lush green leaves in the branches. There was only a thin sliver between the trees in the centre of the painting where the blue sky could be seen. And in the foreground was a doe, walking across the painting.

‘It’s wonderful’ Farrell told her. ‘You’re very skilled.’

‘Oh?’ Ramana teased as she covered up the painting again. ‘You think so?’

Farrell took her by the hand, kissing the back of her hand tenderly. His eyes lifted to hers, and he pulled her to him, slowly, holding her body close to his.

‘Not a day has passed’ Farrell spoke to her softly, ‘since the day Amaia was born, that I haven’t felt like the luckiest and happiest man on earth. The both of you have given me so much joy….and so much grief.’

‘And you are still happy’ Ramana asked him, brushing his cheek, ‘even though we give you grief?’

‘I wouldn’t give you away for the world’ Farrell murmured. ‘Either of you.’

Ramana lifted her beautiful eyes to Farrell’s, staring deeply into him.

‘I know you speak the truth’ she said. ‘I feel it in my heart.’ She stepped back. ‘I would rather we spend one day together, than face the ages of this world apart. I want to be with you, now, and forever. In this life…’ she sighed happily, ‘and the next.’

‘Well’ Farrell smirked approaching her. ‘I do not believe in an afterlife. I think time is precious, time is short. I believe we spend far too short a time on this earth, too short a life we live, too soon we die.’ He moved towards her, his lips hovering over hers as he cupped her face in his hands. ‘I believe we should make the most of the things we love.’

‘I think’ Ramana whispered in sweet breath, ‘that you speak the truth.’

She glided away from him quickly, moving out of the room. Farrell followed her, heading towards the corridor where she was waiting for him.

Farrell glanced about the hall around him curiously, noticing suddenly that all the burning candles that had lit up the room had quickly been extinguished. Even those that were far away had been put out; when he was sure they had been burning not a moment ago.

He noticed Ramana then. She was standing a short distance away from him in the centre of the hall, the moonlight from the window nearby lit up one side of her body in a white light.

Her skin glowed. She looked radiant, beautiful, like a goddess herself. She giggled childishly, skipping away from him into the next room. The lights in the next room instantly went out.

‘Wait!’ Farrell called after her.

The house had fallen quickly silent; there was not a sound to be heard. Farrell listened carefully, noticing more of the candles being blown out as Ramana crept through the manor, teasing him. Before long, the only light that existed, was that given by the moon, pure white against the dark sky above, frozen in the air in its celestial beauty.

Farrell stepped slowly across the hall, moving carefully to avoid bumping into something. He moved into the next room, taking in what little he could see. Dark shapes, and outline of the furniture.

He looked around him; utter silence was all he experienced now. He saw no movement. Farrell spoke, but it felt like he was addressing the very darkness himself.

‘Ramana?’

His voice, though he spoke it softly, sounded loud in the still world around him.

‘Where are you?’ he whispered now, as if speaking to himself.

He felt a touch from behind him, arms reaching gently around him, holding him tenderly. Ramana rested her cheek against his back, sighing deeply, content.

Farrell lowered his head, smiling. He lifted his hands to Ramana’s arms that held him, holding her to him.

‘I love you’ she whispered from behind him.

‘I love you too’ Farrell responded.

He heard her sigh happily again.

She let go of him, and he turned, but she was gone.

The next he saw her; she was waiting on the stairs. Noticing that he had spotted her, she skipped away, heading up the stairs towards their bedroom.

He followed her, stepping carefully through the darkness and climbing the stairs.

He reached the open door to their bedroom. Two hands reached out of the shadows and grabbed him, pulling him into the room.

Farrell bent forward and kissed his wife, the two wrapped up in each other’s arms. Farrell felt something strange, like an electrical current running through his body as he touched her. The hairs on his body were standing on end as they caressed one another.

He pushed her back into the room, further and further until the back of her legs touched the end of the bed. She slowly fell back onto the bed, inviting him towards her. Ramana reached her bare foot out to him, running it down Farrell’s chest. Through the closed window, the full moon shone, and Farrell could see his wife lying back on the bed. Her long beautiful black hair thrown back and her arms above her head as she watched Farrell expectantly. The clouds gliding across the sky outside concealed the moon once again. The bedroom fell into shadow, and Ramana’s outline as she lay on the bed, became concealed.

The room became suddenly cold. Farrell heard Ramana shifting on the bed before him, perhaps moving away to give him space to enter. Farrell moved onto the bed, reaching Ramana who had crawled toward the headboard. Bearing over her, Farrell felt a cold draft on the back of his neck, though the window was closed.

He lifted the skirt of her dress up, running his hand up her thigh. Ramana shivered, her breath shuddering.

The room felt cold, felt icy.

Ramana grabbed his shirt roughly, ripping it apart and tearing the buttons away, running her claws down his chest. Farrell did not flinch as her scratches left red marks on him. He ran his fingers through her hair, as her hands ran down his lean and muscular frame and to his belt. She fumbled in the darkness, trying to undo the thing. He helped her, throwing the belt and the trousers away and turning his attention back onto her.

Their bellies touched.

Ramana gasped, throwing her head back onto the pillows as she drew a deep breath. She moaned; reaching out to Farrell and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him close into a deep kiss.

Minutes later, Farrell’s pace began to quicken, until he let out a final breath, sighing in pleasure as he felt Ramana below him stiffen.

Their breathing slowed, and Farrell pulled away from her, his skin beaded in sweat. He collapsed beside her, feeling in his chest his beating heart slowly return to its normal rhythm.

Ramana lay on her back beside him, though he couldn’t see her clearly, she was smiling to the ceiling.

Ramana lifted a hand slowly to her head, brushing her hair back.

‘You’ve messed up my hair.’

Farrell chuckled to himself.

‘So vain’ he whispered.

‘Am not!’ Ramana cried indignantly sitting up.

‘Shhhhh’ Farrell voiced, pushing her gently back onto the bed. ‘Don’t be so loud, you’ll ruin the peace.’

Ramana flumped back onto the bed.

As they rested, Farrell held her close. Ramana’s skin was burning hot; it was as if her body was aflame.

‘Are you alright?’ Farrell asked her concerned. ‘You’re boiling hot.’

Ramana took a deep breath, closing her eyes. It may have been a draft, or the fact that they had stilled now, but her skin suddenly seemed to cool.

‘I’m amazing’ Ramana breathed, holding him close as she opened her eyes again, ‘because I have you by my side.’

Farrell smiled, holding her tighter.

‘You mean so much to me’ he told her.

‘You mean more to me’ she replied quickly.

Farrell listened to the stillness of the room, feeling the beat of Ramana’s heart against his chest as he held her close.

Ramana sat up suddenly, leaning over Farrell. She was smiling.

‘What is it?’ Farrell laughed.

‘I’m just so happy’ Ramana answered, speaking through her heart. She was unable to keep the smile from her face as she did so. ‘You mean everything to me. I love you more than I can express in words, and I thank the gods everyday for bringing us together.’

Farrell lifted his hand as she spoke, stroking her hair back.

‘No matter what happens’ Ramana went on, ‘I will never stop loving you, no matter how badly we argue. You and Amaia are everything to me. You two are my world. If I lose everything in life, I will be happy as long as I still have my family.’

‘What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?’ Farrell frowned in amusement.

‘I just love you so much’ Ramana whispered, snuggling into him. ‘I’m almost afraid of loving you. If I lost you, my world would crumble. You and Amaia have become so precious to me.’

‘As you have to me’ Farrell said kissing her forehead. ‘I will never leave you or Amaia. Never.’

Ramana sighed happily again. She closed her eyes and dozed for a moment, basking in the love that radiated from her husband, and allowing him to bask in hers.

‘Oh’ Ramana said suddenly after a time.

‘What?’ Farrell said, alerted by the way she had suddenly tensed.

‘I forgot Amaia is still playing with Gracie. Her mother would have been expecting us to pick her up hours ago….she’s probably wondering where we are.’

‘You think?’ Farrell said rising from the bed. ‘I’ll go.’

‘Thank you my love’ Ramana gleamed. She touched his hand one last time, grasping tightly, before letting go.

Farrell leant forwards and kissed her swiftly one last time, before getting changed and leaving the room.

‘Don’t be long!’ Ramana sang after him. ‘I’m waiting!’

He ran outside quickly, heading towards Brice’s home.

‘I’m so sorry I’m so late’ he gasped when Brice answered the door. ‘I lost track of time.’

‘No matter’ Brice replied simply. ‘She’s still playing with Gracie and the bird. We let Gracie stay awake for longer’ he explained, ‘they’ve been having a lot of fun.’

‘Good’ Farrell sighed. ‘I was getting worried you’d get fed up with her.’

Brice waved him away. ‘I could never get fed up with family.’ He turned behind him. ‘Amaia! Your father is here!’

Amaia ran through the house at full speed, jumping into her father’s arms. Farrell lifted her up, hugging her tightly.

‘It’s about time you came home now isn’t it?’ Farrell said to her.

‘Awwww.’

‘Thank you for looking after her Brice.’

‘No worries brother. Anything for family.’

‘I’ll see you another time.’

Brice nodded to Farrell, closing the door as Farrell left.

‘Where’s your bird?’ Farrell asked as he walked away, carrying Amaia back home.

‘Gracie is looking after her tonight’ Amaia said. ‘I’ll get her back tomorrow.’

He carried her all the way home. Amaia clutched him around the neck as Farrell walked carefully through the almost pitch black, moving slowly and with caution.

As they reached the home, Amaia tensed in Farrell’s arms, staring mistrustfully into the field where Alastor lived. But he was not in sight at this time, his dark coat blending perfectly with the night.

Farrell entered the manor, carrying Amaia up to her bedroom.

‘I’m not tired’ Amaia whined as he placed her upon the bed. ‘Will you play with me?’

Farrell sighed wearily. ‘Of course. What do you want to play?’

Amaia leapt off the bed, running to one of her many toy boxes and pulling out everything she could see inside.

Farrell sat on the floor with his legs crossed, watching as Amaia brought him all the toys that took her interest, dumping them around him in a circle and sitting before him.

‘I like to play with the toy animals’ Amaia giggled, moving one of the decorative painted horses across the floor and pretending it was galloping.

‘Would you ever want a real horse?’ Farrell asked her.

‘Not one big and scary like Alastor. He’s so scary!’

Farrell chuckled to himself in amusement, reaching forwards and patting her hair.

‘Maybe I will get you one when you’re old enough to sit on one properly’ Farrell said.

‘Can I have one now?’ Amaia asked hopefully.

‘No’ Farrell told her sternly. ‘You’re still too young.’

‘I hate it when grownups tell me that!’ Amaia cried indignantly. ‘I can’t wait to grow up!’

‘Now don’t say things like that. You shouldn’t wish your life away.’

‘But I want to be taller and smarter’ Amaia complained. ‘Mama is so clever. I want to be like her.’

‘Well you just have to wait’ Farrell said.

‘I can’t wait to be tall and beautiful like mama’ Amaia went on. ‘She’s so beautiful.’

‘She is’ Farrell smiled warmly.

‘So when can I have my own horse?’

‘I told you’ Farrell said. ‘When you’re old enough to sit on one without falling off.’

‘Ok’ Amaia said becoming quickly distracted. ‘And I don’t want a scary one like Alastor. I want a nice one.’

‘Then a nice one you shall get.’

‘Good’ Amaia said shortly. ‘Just don’t forget about your promise.’

Farrell smiled again. He knew she wouldn’t forget.

‘I know!’ Amaia said loudly as an idea suddenly struck her. ‘Let’s play makeup!’

Farrell suppressed a groan as Amaia ran away again, digging through one of her other toy boxes and running back to him.

‘Are you ready? I’ll put some on you, and then you put some on me. Ok?’

The next morning, Ramana woke to find herself alone. Rolling over in bed and seeing an empty space beside her, she began to grow a little worried. She threw back the sheets and left the bedroom, heading automatically to her daughters room to check on Amaia.

Here she found Farrell, sitting in a chair beside the bed. He was fast asleep with Amaia sleeping on his lap. On the floor beside them was one of Amaia’s books, fallen to the ground it lay there untidily with its pages bent.

Ramana tip toed over to them, reaching forwards and squeezing Farrell’s shoulder.

Farrell groaned, turning his head towards the disturbance. On sight of him Ramana burst into laughter, cackling as she threw her head back, holding her stomach which began to ache with laughter.

Amaia and Farrell were abruptly woken by the sudden noise.

‘I’m sorry’ Ramana gasped, trying and failing to stifle her giggles in her hands. ‘Have you seen your face?! You look like a clown! AAAAHAHAHAAA!’

Farrell rose, Amaia jumped off her father’s lap as he regarded Ramana with a stoic expression, which made her laugh even harder, until she was on her knees barely able to breathe through her hysteria.

Farrell wiped the pink blusher off his eyes and cheeks indignantly, going over to the bathroom to make sure he had cleaned every bit of makeup off. Only then, did Ramana stop mocking him.

Later that morning, Amaia went back to sleep, having stayed awake most of the previous night playing and listening to Farrell tell her stories, she was exhausted. Ramana and Farrell were allowed some peace and quiet, as least for the meantime.

Farrell crossed the kitchen, walking past Ramana who sat at the table. He was heading outside to feed Alastor, but stopped suddenly, turning towards his wife.

She sat with her back to him, sipping a strong smelling herbal drink.

‘What are you drinking?’

‘Oh this?’ Ramana said innocently, taking another sip. ‘It’s nothing.’

Farrell strode up to her, taking the cup and smelling it.

‘What is this?’ he said in disgust, placing it back down hard on the table. ‘Why do you drink this?’

‘Because’ Ramana answered, her voice growing harsh, but she said no more.

‘Have I wounded you?’ Farrell asked. ‘Is there some reason you wish to do this?’

‘You have not wounded me husband. I am very happy with the way things are.’

‘Then why do you do this?’

Ramana fell silent for a moment before speaking.

‘I do not want any more children at the moment.’

‘Why?’ Farrell asked.

‘Because…’ Ramana sighed. ‘Amaia has been such a toll on me. I love her dearly, more than life itself, but she’s so demanding in attention. How could I have any more children?’

‘If she is too much for you then just say so. I am more than happy to spend more time with her if you need some rest.’

‘No’ Ramana shook her head. ‘I like the way things are. I love my daughter, and I want to give her all the time I can.’

‘So you never want to have children again?’

I did not say that’ Ramana replied. ‘It’s just…’ she turned to him. ‘I am happy with the way things are, at least for the meantime.’

‘I have always wanted a son’ Farrell told her.

‘Tough shit.’

Farrell’s eyes flashed.

‘Listen’ he said stepping towards her.

‘No you listen!’ Ramana said slamming her hands down on the table and rising. ’My word is FINAL!

‘It’s time you did your duty!’ Farrell shouted back.

‘My duty? Have I not been a good wife and mother enough already?’

‘I need a son’ Farrell growled. ‘To pass on my name.’

‘Because your daughter has clearly been a disappointment.’

’Damit that’s not what I meant!’

Ramana crossed her arms stubbornly.

‘Your brother waited for a long time before having a second child’ Ramana argued.

‘And his first child was a son’ Farrell countered.

’So Amaia is a disappointment?’

‘STOP MAKING THIS DIFFICULT!’

‘You’re the one who’s making this difficult.’

‘I am the head of this family.’

‘The fuck you are.’

‘It’s time you gave me a son. Amaia is five now. Its time you had another child.’

‘I am not a god dam factory!’ Ramana screeched. ‘And since I am the one bearing children I think it’s my say on how many we have.’

Farrell ground his teeth in anger.

‘And’ Ramana added, ’you cannot say otherwise.’

Farrell drew a deep breath, glaring at her, knowing she had added that deliberately to get under his skin. Deliberately to annoy him and make the point that she could not be controlled.

Like a free spirit, like the wind or the rays of the sun, she could not be bound. He knew once she made up her mind, it could not be changed by any will besides her own, and the more he were to fight, the harder she would fight back.

Ramana smirked at him arrogantly, knowing she had won.

‘Dam you woman’ Farrell sighed resigned, balling his fists. ‘You will be the death of me.’

He turned his back on her and strode out of the house to tend to Alastor and the mares. Once the horse was fed and watered, he went to visit his brother, without telling Ramana where he had gone.

‘I just don’t know what to do with her Brice’ Farrell sighed, sitting on a bench outside his brother’s home. ‘She is like wildfire. I love her like crazy but she annoys me more than I thought was ever possible. Some days….’

‘Some days what?’ Brice glanced sideways towards him.

‘Some days’ Farrell continued, ‘I find it hard not to raise my hand and strike her.’

‘Gods don’t do that.’

’She says things sometimes to deliberately annoy me. I know she does. She knows she does.’

Brice smiled in amusement.

‘Well’ he said clapping his hands on his knees. ‘If you can’t control her, there is only one thing left to do.’

‘And what’s that?’ Farrell asked sceptically.

‘If you can’t control her, then you must submit to her.’

‘What?’ Farrell scoffed. ‘Brother. That is not the sort of answer I expected from you.’

‘I’ll see you around’ Brice said, clapping him on the shoulder, rising and walking away.

Farrell watched him go, sighing and shaking his head.

‘Oh Ramana’ he murmured to himself. ‘Why do you pain me so?’

He noticed a figure then trotting towards him, a short figure with long black hair.

‘Amaia’ Farrell said. ‘You’re finally awake. What are you doing here?’

‘I wanted to find you.’

‘Your mother let you wander off on your own?’

‘It’s ok’ Amaia reassured her father. ‘I won’t get lost.’

‘It’s not safe for you to wander on your own when you’re so young.’

‘It’s ok’ Amaia said again, ‘if mother says so.’

Farrell gritted his teeth

‘What do you have there?’

‘Daddy. Do you love me?’

‘Of course I do’ Farrell laughed. ‘My precious treasure. Why would you ask me that?’

‘Because’ Amaia giggled, ’I love you.’

She handed him a large flower she had picked from the garden, a white trumpet shaped flower. She had been hiding it from sight.

‘See how pretty it looks on you’ she beamed, reaching up and placing it behind his ear. ’You look pretty now.’

Farrell chuckled, brushing his daughter’s hair back.

‘Silly girl.’

From a hidden place a short distance away, Ramana watched. She had allowed her daughter to wander off, allowing her to think that she was on her own. But Ramana was close by, watching over her. She loved her daughter, and wanted her to have freedom. But she also needed to be protecting. She was still so young.

Ramana grinned, seeing Amaia giving her father a flower to put in his hair. She leant against the corner of the house beside her, hugging herself in glee.

She jumped suddenly, hearing a shuffle by her side. Spinning around she saw Arlen standing there.

‘I’m sorry’ Arlen said, showing his hand in submission and taking a step back. ‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’

‘It’s ok’ she replied, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘You just startled me a bit that’s all.’

Arlen approached and stood near her, close by her side. Ramana could feel his eyes on her, but she just kept looking forwards; towards her daughter.

Arlen turned his eyes away from Ramana, towards Amaia.

‘She’s grown up fast’ he said. ‘Don’t you think?’

‘She certainly has’ Ramana said, glowing with pride. ‘I give her the freedom she needs. But I am never far away, I will always protect her.’

‘As will I’ Arlen said.

They exchanged a glance.

‘I know you will Arlen’ Ramana looked away again. ‘She is such a good girl. I love her so dearly.’

‘I understand how you feel’ Arlen replied. ‘She is dear to me also.’

Ramana turned to him, eyes wide. She opened her mouth as if she was about to speak. Then changed her mind, and looked away.

‘Do you ever wonder’ Arlen voiced, opening the subject. ‘How things might have been if…if….’

‘If we had been together?’ Ramana finished. ‘Sometimes.’

‘You do?’ Arlen said hopefully.

’Of course. I was happy with you. Happier than I had ever been before. I have suffered so much loss and grief in my past…and you…’ she looked to him. ‘You were the light in the heavens, in a world that was nothing but darkness behind walls.’

‘Ramana…’ Arlen breathed.

He stepped towards her, reaching a hand out to touch her, but Ramana drew sharply away.

‘I’m sorry’ Arlen whispered, dropping his hand. ’It just…..it takes all my will power to stay away from you.

Ramana lifted sorrowful eyes to Arlen, resisting the deep pull in her heart.

‘You’ve given me a wonderful gift Arlen’ Ramana whispered. ‘In making me marry Farrell. In time, I have come to truly love him. And because of him, I have been able to give the best life possible to my daughter. She is my world.’

‘As she is mine’ Arlen spoke. ‘As are you, even though….’ He broke off.

‘I would love to feel your touch again, to feel your heartbeat’ Ramana said. ‘But I dare not. I love my husband. But there is a piece of me that loves you still…and always will. You have been so good to me Arlen. You have made me so happy. But I feel that if I were to touch you, my will might break.’

Arlen smiled sadly.

‘Then we must stay apart.’

He turned and walked away.

‘Wait Arlen’ Ramana whispered furiously after him.

He paused, glancing back.

The two stared at each other for a moment, neither sure of what to say. But suddenly there was movement in the distance, a short squeak of terror. Amaia was running away.

Ramana and Arlen both tense slightly as they looked around towards Amaia. A soldier walking beside a great black stallion was approaching Farrell, who still sat on the bench outside Brice’s home. Amaia had fled at first sight of the horse that reminded her so much of Alastor, the frightening beast.

‘I’ve got to go’ Ramana whispered to Arlen.

She quickly slunk away, following her daughter from a distance and making sure she was safe.

Arlen stepped from the shadows of the house he hid beside, just as Brice returned, seeing the soldier walking with his black stallion.

‘Are you a messenger?’ Farrell asked, rising as the man approached.

‘The king has need of you’ the armed soldier growled in a low voice. ‘He requires you and some of your best men to accompany you.’

‘I shall rouse the townsfolk’ Farrell said.

‘No’ the soldier interrupted. ‘The king wants only a few.’

Farrell hesitated. ‘When do we leave?’ he asked.

‘Now.’

‘I just have to tell my wife...’

‘No’ the soldier interrupted. ‘The king insists that you ready your horse and come immediately. I will wait for you here. So who will you take?’

‘I will come’ Brice spoke up stepping forward.

After a moment Arlen spoke. ‘Me too’ he added. ‘I’m coming.’

‘Then hurry’ the old soldier huffed impatiently to all of them. ‘The king does not like to be kept waiting. And find a few more men, but not too many.’

Farrell nodded. He ran quickly to his home to saddle up Alastor. The horse tossed his head excitedly as Farrell mounted him, looking forward to battle and action. He had quickly tried to find Ramana, but she was not at home, and he didn’t have time to find her now.

With regret he kicked Alastor into a gallop, leaping over the fence and tearing down the hill to meet his brothers and the few other soldiers that would be accompanying them. One of them caught his attention.

‘Shawn?’

Shawn, now eighteen smiled back. Had he been a bit younger and not wearing armour and carrying a sword, mounted upon his stallion he might have looked comical. But now, he looked strong.

‘I thought it would be good for him’ Brice explained, sitting upon his own horse beside Shawn.

Farrell shrugged.

‘Is everyone ready?’ the old soldier interrupted impatiently.

‘We are ready’ Farrell replied.

‘Then I will lead the way.’ The soldier mounted his own horse. ‘The king is only a few hours ride away.’

He kicked his horse into a gallop, and quickly the other soldiers followed after him.

Farrell hesitated, glancing around him one last time in case he saw Ramana.

Shaking his head in annoyance at her disappearance he wheeled Alastor around, chasing after the other soldiers, out of the town and onto the open plains.

‘I called on you because you happened to be nearby’ the king spoke in a grumble.

The king was a well aged and wise man, thickset with a blonde beard and blonde shaggy hair. Upon his breastplate that he always seemed to wear, was the king’s crest, a wolf swallowing a half-moon.

Farrell glanced around him, wondering where the other men were, where the army was.

‘What need do you have of my services’ Farrell asked. ‘Do we ride to battle?’

‘No’ the king shook his head. ‘Not today.’ His gaze sailed over Farrell’s head. ‘I see you’ve brought some men with you’ the king noted.

‘As I was ordered’ Farrell bowed.

There were eight men including himself that had come along, all armoured and ready for a fight. They looked just as confused as Farrell felt, seeing that so few of them had been summoned, and no target in sight.

‘You will not need your horses for this’ the king said. ‘I have an unusual task for you.’

‘Yes your majesty’ Farrell bowed again.

The king led the men through the sparsely growing woods to a piece of the land where the earth had been torn open, walking slowly with Farrell by his side. In the centre of the mound of freshly dug earth, was a great hole.

‘What is this?’

‘I have no easy way to explain this’ the king said. ‘It is more a private matter. But I called upon you because I know I can trust you, and I know you will not ask questions.’

‘Yes your highness.’

‘All you need to know is that there is a great beast down there. It is nothing you would have seen before. I need you to find it, and trap it, so that my men can….’ he fell silent. ‘My men will take it from there’ he finished.

‘I understand.’

‘Don’t use your weapons’ the king told Farrell. ‘It will only attack you if it feels threatened.’

‘Yes your highness’ Farrell bowed, feeling more confused than ever. But he held his tongue.

‘I trust you and your men will get this done quickly?’

‘We will do what we can’ Farrell replied.

Farrell stood before the hole with his men behind him, glancing off to the side he saw the king, standing a short distance away, flanked by two guards. The king glowered at him, but it was said that he glowered at everyone. Except his wife. They waited there for Farrell to find this strange creature. Some of the kings men had already ventured down into the hole, but the king had told Farrell, that this strange creature, whatever it was, had burrowed many passages, and that it would take many to find it.

‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this’ Arlen grumbled behind Farrell.

‘It does seem unusual’ Brice agreed from beside him.

‘You’ve never done anything like this before?’ Shawn asked his father.

‘No. We haven’t.’

Shawn shuddered, resting his hand upon the sword at his side. ‘How exciting’ he said.

The other men they had brought with them mumbled to each other and exchanged nervous glances. It was clear they felt uneasy; it was so unlike anything they were used to.

Farrell standing ahead of all of them ignored their quiet discussions. He took a deep breath and ventured forwards, into the tunnel. The light soon was gone from above them, but there was still an unnatural light to be found. He didn’t know what it was, but the walls themselves seemed to glow in places, a strange sickly greenish blue colour. These patches were always high above their heads, closer to the ceiling of the massive tunnel. Squinting, Farrell thought they looked like some kind of slime. It was a thing he had not seen before, as if it was from out of this world.

‘What is this?’ Arlen whispered as he gazed about them in wonder, sticking close to Farrell as they walked.

‘I don’t know’ Farrell whispered back. ‘It’s…strange.’

The small group reached a section of the tunnel were the paths branched out in two different directions. They split up, and continued walking, until the group that Farrell walked with, now halved in size, reached another section where the tunnel branched off again, this time into three.

This continued for a time until Farrell was alone, walking through the dim place feeling utterly lost and out of his depths.

He began to worry that he might not find his way out again, as the path he followed began to twist and turn and plunge ever deeper into the earth. It was when he started to think that he would never find anything, that he saw it.

A colossal beast that filled the entire tunnel before him, it was a monstrous thing, a great mass of pink fleshy skin with two massive arms that pulled it forwards. Its torso was deformed and twisted, and at its head were several smaller flailing arms of different sizes that grew out from a mouth in the centre. The mouth was nothing but a circle of sharp teeth, with no jaw. Behind this and growing in a disorganised mass around the torso were a collection of eyes and smaller mouths and horns.

It was an abomination.

Farrell screamed in terror, automatically drawing his sword without a second thought. The beast had seemed to loom out of nowhere, so tedious had his ventures become, he was becoming used to the same tunnels he walked over and over again. When he did see it, it caught him off guard, in its sudden appearance and its grotesqueness. Instantly the monster lunged at him, its vast mouth a pit of teeth and blackness.

Farrell rolled to the side, out of the path of the hurtling beast. It missed him. It was slow, cumbersome. Farrell backed away, holding his sword in both hands as the thing turned in the tunnel, dragging its great tail around to face him again. It moaned, groaning, sounding as if it was in agony, as if its very existence caused it pain.

An arm, one of the many that surrounded its mouth, shot out towards him. It grabbed his sword, squeezing until its tiny hand bled, then drew sharply back, pulling the sword with it and tossing it away.

Farrell turned and tried to run, but the creature, though it moved slowly was bigger than him, and was able to catch him in a few short moves. Farrell was shoved forwards, falling on his front, the creature bearing over him, slapped one of its hands down upon his arm. Farrell cried out in pain, his voice echoing through the tunnels. He drew a knife out from his belt, stabbing the creature in the arm that held him down. The beast drew sharply back, moaning and cradling its injured limb.

Farrell shuffled back away from the thing, holding his own injured arm to him. There was no way he could outrun it, it could catch him; he knew this.

He gritted his teeth in determination, grasping the knife tightly in his hand.

The beast before him recovered, rounding on him again. It groaned, crouching back as if preparing to lunge for the second time.

Farrell drew his knife to the ready. The creature moved itself forwards, jaw gaping.

There was movement suddenly before him; something grabbed Farrell, shielding him from the beast. Farrell heard the monster groan again in pain, hearing it stumble back.

Farrell looked up, seeing his brother kneeling over him.

‘Arlen?’ he breathed.

‘Are you alright?’ Arlen asked him.

Looking over Arlen’s shoulder, Farrell saw what it was that had stopped the beast. Brice had attacked the beast with his son Shawn following his lead; they had cut it deep, taking it by surprise. They had come between the beast and Farrell, just as Arlen had run to protect him. Brice was the sword, and Arlen was the shield.

Brice spared a smug grin back towards Farrell, a gesture to tell him that he had him covered. Other men were arriving now, soldiers of the king. They pushed back the creature, waving flaming torches in the air. The thing began to wail pathetically, shaking its body and backing away from the flames in fear.

Brice approached Farrell as the beast moved away. ‘Are you alright brother?’

‘You would risk your lives for me?’ Farrell asked them both in awe.

‘Of course’ Arlen said. ‘You’re my brother. I love you.’

Brice coughed uncomfortably beside them, mumbling incoherently something that sounded sarcastic.

‘What is that thing?’ Shawn asked in wonder, staring up at the creature as it continued to back away down the tunnel, moving further from them as it was pushed back by the fires the king’s soldiers held.

‘I don’t know’ Brice replied.

‘You’ve never seen it before?’

Brice shrugged to his son. ‘We don’t normally do this sort of thing.’

Farrell glanced away from Brice and his son, and back towards Arlen. ‘You’re still wearing that cloak?’ he suddenly noticed. ‘The one I gave you years ago?’

‘It’s a gift from my dear brother’ Arlen replied.

‘You look like a jester in that bright red’ Brice interrupted loudly.

‘Very funny.’

Is your arm alright?’ Brice asked Farrell, noticing suddenly his injury.

‘It’s fine. It’s only bruised.’

‘You’re lucky to be alive’ Shawn voiced. ‘A thing like that could easily kill a man.’

‘I’ve had a lot of training’ Farrell replied with a grin, rising to his feet, ‘and two strong brothers to protect me.’

Shawn took a deep breath then, wishing in his head to be one day strong like his father, strong like Farrell, and as fearless and loyal as Arlen.

The four turned their eyes then on the thing behind them. It looked small now as it receded into the tunnel. It was no longer the nightmare they had thought it to be not moments ago, but a creature easily frightened, as it continued to back away from the flaming torches that were waved before it, moving away until it was out of sight completely.

‘Did you see the size of that bloody thing?’ Brice whispered.

‘Don’t swear’ Arlen scowled.

‘What is it?’ Farrell asked.

‘It is nothing you should concern yourselves with’ came the king’s voice as he approached them.

Walking with him, were three finely dressed men, they were much younger than the king. Farrell recognised them as the king’s sons. He had thirteen children in total. The princes wore their own crests woven into their fine clothes, a wolf depicted running up a steep mountainside.

‘Where did that thing come from?’ Farrell asked the king.

‘Ask no questions and I will tell you no lies’ the king replied. ‘You’ve done a great deed for me in finding it.’

‘You’ve done a great favour in helping my father’ one of the princes spoke; ‘we are indebted to you.’

Farrell looked at him. He was slim faced and handsome like his brothers, with wavy blonde hair and a piercing stare. He looked to be about the same age as Farrell. His name came to Farrell suddenly. It was Tristan.

‘We thank you for your help’ Tristan said. ‘But it’s time for you to go home now.’

It was dark when Farrell entered his home and walked through the kitchen hours later. He found the room lit by many small candles, and a meal waiting for him on the table.

‘My husband’ Ramana beamed, gliding towards him. ‘I’ve been waiting.’

‘Where’s Amaia?’

‘I sent her to bed early’ Ramana smiled. ‘Please sit.’

‘How did you know I was coming?’ Farrell asked as she moved across the kitchen.

‘I’ve been watching through the window for hours’ Ramana told him. ‘I saw you coming from a distance. Are you hungry?’

‘Yes’ Farrell replied, only just realising it. ‘I’m starving.’

‘Then eat.’

Ramana sat by his side, gazing at him lovingly as Farrell lifted his fork to eat.

‘You know I love you dearly’ Ramana told him. ‘I hate it when we argue. I just wanted to make it up to you. I’m sorry.’

‘No. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gotten angry.’

‘It’s ok’ Ramana smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ She sighed happily. ‘How was your day? Where did you go, did you do anything exciting?’

Farrell thought.

‘No’ he replied simply at last. ‘Just regular soldier stuff.’

‘I’m so lucky to have a man like you to protect me’ Ramana said.

Farrell smiled up at her.

‘Eat’ she said again, poking him in the stomach. ‘A man who doesn’t eat will fade away. Oh, what happened to your arm?’

‘It’s nothing’ Farrell shrugged it off. ‘It’s just bruised.’