Chapter One
"I am sorry. I have given you, what I always regretted having," the old man said quietly, looking at the child sleeping on the doorstep.
He had watched the frantic woman drop the baby off and he felt sad, for he'd seen her future, but then again, he'd seen everyone's future.
He looked down at the bundle and remembered the day when he'd found out what he was and the conversation he'd had with his teacher.
***
"My dear boy, you are different from most, your mother was a witch and your father was a demon. This sets you apart from the rest and it is this difference that will give you, your gift. It will appear when you are 16, because it is then that you are in the middle ground. At this age, you are no longer a child but you are not an adult and it is at this time, that there is a gap, a way in. You still have the child's openness to the world, but you also have an adult's perspective. You do not have an easy life ahead and neither will those that inherit your blood," his teacher had said.
"Then I shall never have children," he had answered.
"Your gift is not a curse but it is not a blessing either. It is part of who and what you are." "But I don't want to be, what I am," he'd screamed. He remembered his teacher flinching at the sound of his voice.
"Never say that. You are what you are."
"Fine, I am what I am. But I will not curse my family for it," he'd yelled, his frustration growing. How young and stubborn, he'd been.
"The magic in your blood will not appear in every descendant of yours. But will only appear in those that are worthy of it," his teacher had replied softly, rocking gently in his chair.
***
"Be safe, until we meet again," the man said quietly and ran a finger down the child's cheek before vanishing, leaving no clue that he'd ever been there, ever existed, because that is the way of a Merlin.
***
As the day hit her window, Gwen felt better.
She'd had the dream again, the one where she was standing in front of someone, who, she could never make out. All she knew was that there was a lot of pain and suffering surrounding her. In one hand she held a small dagger and in the other, a long wooden stick.
Then softly she whispered, "goodbye," plunging the blade into her chest and then.. She always woke up at this point.
Gwen felt the spot where she'd stabbed herself and felt safe in the knowledge that it was just a dream.
"Gwen! Breakfast!" Carrie Whitely called from downstairs.
"Back to reality, back to life," she thought to herself.
Gwen slowly drew back the covers and dragged herself out of bed; she then slowly walked down the stairs to have breakfast, quickly forgetting about her dream.
"What we got to eat then?" Gwen said, falling into a chair at the kitchen table.
"Is that all you ever think about?" Annabelle said, giving her a fake smile.
"Well, it beats fashion and boys, any day," Gwen replied, flashing her teeth back at her.
Although, Gwen and Annabelle were the same age, they were worlds apart.
Annabelle was blonde with big blue eyes and only concerned herself with whatever was fashionable.
Gwen on the other hand had dark hair and dark eyes and concerned herself with whatever was not fashionable.
"Come on you two," Carrie said firmly, bringing two plates of eggs and bacon over.
"You know, the way you two carry on, you could be sisters," she continued.
"Aren't we meant to be?" Gwen questioned.
"Yeah, but we're not and never will be, ever," Annabelle said viciously, staring at Gwen.
Miss Whitely sighed heavily, brushing her silver hair out of the way.
"No talking like that now, Annabelle."
"Whatever," Gwen said, stuffing the remaining pieces of her breakfast into her mouth and getting up.
"Where you going?" Carrie asked, worried that Annabelle's comment might have upset her.
"Upstairs, to read," she replied coldly, walking out of the room.
Gwen slowly walked back up the stairs and in the distance could hear Annabelle's voice, screeching, "she's always reading. What a sad girl. I mean it's the summer holidays, you would think."
Then the abrupt, "ssshh." from Carrie.
"Just another 3 years of her. Then you can leave," Gwen said out loud.
But where would she go?
She didn't have any parents, family, the only thing that she had, was a big fat nothing.
Gwen Aldan had been dropped off at "Little Woods Orphanage," when she was just 2 years old. She was left by a young woman who said nothing except what the baby's name was.
Then she made a quick exit without saying another word.
All she left with Gwen was a birth certificate, a blanket and a necklace.
Gwen then had spent about another year and half there, before she'd been sent to live with Carrie Whitely and Annabelle.
Carrie was a social worker who had dedicated her life to children but had ironically never found the time to stop and have any of her own. However, Carrie didn't really mind, she adored Gwen and Annabelle. they were her life.
Annabelle Strande was also an orphan but much less concerned about it than Gwen.
She adored the idea that she was alone in the world, that she was unique; she said it would go wonderfully in her autobiography when she was rich and famous.
Gwen often laughed at this whenever Annabelle would mention it. Annabelle however didn't find it quite as funny.
So, it had been like this for 15 years, just the three of them, an unconventional family. But this was about to change.
Gwen clutched the necklace in her hands, the only thing that she had of her parents.
It was made of silver and at the end of the chain hung the eternity symbol. She had always wondered what her parents had meant by leaving her this, maybe that she'd be eternally loved or maybe, that she'd be eternally alone.
As thoughts of her parents entered her head, she quickly pushed them to the back of her mind, and instead engrossed herself in the world of Jane Austen.
***
"We have to go tonight," Maggie said loudly, slamming the rolling pin onto the table.
"We can't," Alfred said bluntly, fiddling with his fishing rod.
"But.we've already done so much already. Why not finish it?" Maggie pleaded.
"No. Not yet." Alfred said firmly, pretending to cast. "Damn rod," he muttered, throwing it onto the floor.
"I think we should go," Nancy said, looking up at the other two.
"I've said no," Alfred said, louder this time.
"And I said yes," She replied softly, gazing into the old man's eyes.
"But." Alfred began but thinking better of it, stopped.
He looked at the two women and sighed deeply before collapsing into his chair.
Maggie smirked and began to make the final preparations while Nancy simply hummed, wondering if the weather would improve.
***
"Are you sure, you don't want to come with us?" Carrie asked, placing a hand on Gwen's shoulder.
"Nah. I just want to hang here. Have some quiet," she replied, smiling back warmly at the old woman, who had cared for her for the past 15 years.
"Come on, let's go! Otherwise, we'll miss the trailers!" Annabelle called, tapping her foot. "Ok, love," Carrie called back. "Got the number?"
"Yes. Go, before Annabelle blows her top," Gwen said, pushing her out the door.
"Ok. Bye, dear," the old woman said, giving Gwen a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye." Gwen called, before walking back into the house.
As she closed the door, Gwen suddenly felt scared, scared that she'd never see Carrie again but as soon as the emotion was felt, it disappeared again, leaving Gwen feeling slightly confused.
"Hmmm... What to do?" she said out loud, "TV? Reading? Food? Decisions, decisions." she walked into the kitchen and fell into a wooden chair.
As Gwen peered round her kitchen, she suddenly heard the familiar whistling of the kettle.
Funny, I don't remember putting it on, Gwen thought to herself.
As she walked over to the stove, she smelt a rich chocolate smell and standing on the counter was her red mug filled with chocolate powder.
"Hmm.Carrie must have left it for me," Gwen thought to herself, as she poured the hot milk into her cup.
As Gwen looked into the mug and breathed in the rich aroma, she felt so happy, with this thought in mind, she greedily drank the warm liquid.
"Mmmm." she hummed, as she placed the mug in the sink and began walking towards the lounge.
Then for no reason, Gwen suddenly felt sleepy and her eyelids started to close then with a final yawn, she tumbled onto the couch in front of the warm fire.
"Sleep..." Gwen mumbled softly, before closing her eyes and going into a deep slumber.
***
"Is she asleep?" Nancy whispered, cautiously coming out from behind the lounge door and walking towards the sleeping girl.
"I think so," Maggie answered, looking at Gwen with an inquisitive stare.
"Ok. Quickly now," Alfred said, picking up the sleeping child and walking towards the fire.
"Oh, it's so exciting," Maggie squealed, tiptoeing around the room like a prima-ballerina, her black cloak streaming behind her.
"Maggie! Stop that!" Alfred shouted.
"Ssshh.You'll wake the child," Nancy said sharply.
"Sorry," Alfred said, smiling weakly. "Now, where's the Floo Powder?" he asked, turning to Maggie.
"Umm.here," she replied, taking out a purple velvet pouch and tossing it gently towards Alfred, who tried to catch it with one hand but missed.
The pouch fell onto the ground, spilling some of its contents.
"Maggie!" Alfred said loudly.
"Sorry, sorry," Maggie mumbled, rushing forward and scooping the powder back into the bag except for a small amount which she threw into the fire.
This caused the fire to flare up and turn a bright emerald colour.
"Here, you can take the child," Alfred said, unloading Gwen into Maggie's arms who took a step back, not used to the weight.
"But.Alfred.I wanted." Maggie whined.
"No Maggie. This is too important, you'll fudge it up," Alfred replied firmly, pushing Maggie towards the fireplace.
"Fine. Alfred Arthur, you were always a spoilsport," Maggie said, before turning to face the flames.
"Scarlett Wood," she said in a clear voice, before walking into the fire with Gwen.
"Nancy, you go get her belongings and I'll do the photographs and other things," Alfred said, walking towards the mantle piece and picking up the family portrait.
He shoved a hand into his robes and pulled out his wand. He tapped the frame with it and said in a clear voice, "Eraderemus."
Alfred's arm tingled; he hadn't used magic for so long. Gwen's figure in the picture started to fade and soon, it was gone, leaving the smiling faces of Annabelle and Carrie in the picture.
"Now, for the others," Alfred said, walking out of the room.
"I am sorry. I have given you, what I always regretted having," the old man said quietly, looking at the child sleeping on the doorstep.
He had watched the frantic woman drop the baby off and he felt sad, for he'd seen her future, but then again, he'd seen everyone's future.
He looked down at the bundle and remembered the day when he'd found out what he was and the conversation he'd had with his teacher.
***
"My dear boy, you are different from most, your mother was a witch and your father was a demon. This sets you apart from the rest and it is this difference that will give you, your gift. It will appear when you are 16, because it is then that you are in the middle ground. At this age, you are no longer a child but you are not an adult and it is at this time, that there is a gap, a way in. You still have the child's openness to the world, but you also have an adult's perspective. You do not have an easy life ahead and neither will those that inherit your blood," his teacher had said.
"Then I shall never have children," he had answered.
"Your gift is not a curse but it is not a blessing either. It is part of who and what you are." "But I don't want to be, what I am," he'd screamed. He remembered his teacher flinching at the sound of his voice.
"Never say that. You are what you are."
"Fine, I am what I am. But I will not curse my family for it," he'd yelled, his frustration growing. How young and stubborn, he'd been.
"The magic in your blood will not appear in every descendant of yours. But will only appear in those that are worthy of it," his teacher had replied softly, rocking gently in his chair.
***
"Be safe, until we meet again," the man said quietly and ran a finger down the child's cheek before vanishing, leaving no clue that he'd ever been there, ever existed, because that is the way of a Merlin.
***
As the day hit her window, Gwen felt better.
She'd had the dream again, the one where she was standing in front of someone, who, she could never make out. All she knew was that there was a lot of pain and suffering surrounding her. In one hand she held a small dagger and in the other, a long wooden stick.
Then softly she whispered, "goodbye," plunging the blade into her chest and then.. She always woke up at this point.
Gwen felt the spot where she'd stabbed herself and felt safe in the knowledge that it was just a dream.
"Gwen! Breakfast!" Carrie Whitely called from downstairs.
"Back to reality, back to life," she thought to herself.
Gwen slowly drew back the covers and dragged herself out of bed; she then slowly walked down the stairs to have breakfast, quickly forgetting about her dream.
"What we got to eat then?" Gwen said, falling into a chair at the kitchen table.
"Is that all you ever think about?" Annabelle said, giving her a fake smile.
"Well, it beats fashion and boys, any day," Gwen replied, flashing her teeth back at her.
Although, Gwen and Annabelle were the same age, they were worlds apart.
Annabelle was blonde with big blue eyes and only concerned herself with whatever was fashionable.
Gwen on the other hand had dark hair and dark eyes and concerned herself with whatever was not fashionable.
"Come on you two," Carrie said firmly, bringing two plates of eggs and bacon over.
"You know, the way you two carry on, you could be sisters," she continued.
"Aren't we meant to be?" Gwen questioned.
"Yeah, but we're not and never will be, ever," Annabelle said viciously, staring at Gwen.
Miss Whitely sighed heavily, brushing her silver hair out of the way.
"No talking like that now, Annabelle."
"Whatever," Gwen said, stuffing the remaining pieces of her breakfast into her mouth and getting up.
"Where you going?" Carrie asked, worried that Annabelle's comment might have upset her.
"Upstairs, to read," she replied coldly, walking out of the room.
Gwen slowly walked back up the stairs and in the distance could hear Annabelle's voice, screeching, "she's always reading. What a sad girl. I mean it's the summer holidays, you would think."
Then the abrupt, "ssshh." from Carrie.
"Just another 3 years of her. Then you can leave," Gwen said out loud.
But where would she go?
She didn't have any parents, family, the only thing that she had, was a big fat nothing.
Gwen Aldan had been dropped off at "Little Woods Orphanage," when she was just 2 years old. She was left by a young woman who said nothing except what the baby's name was.
Then she made a quick exit without saying another word.
All she left with Gwen was a birth certificate, a blanket and a necklace.
Gwen then had spent about another year and half there, before she'd been sent to live with Carrie Whitely and Annabelle.
Carrie was a social worker who had dedicated her life to children but had ironically never found the time to stop and have any of her own. However, Carrie didn't really mind, she adored Gwen and Annabelle. they were her life.
Annabelle Strande was also an orphan but much less concerned about it than Gwen.
She adored the idea that she was alone in the world, that she was unique; she said it would go wonderfully in her autobiography when she was rich and famous.
Gwen often laughed at this whenever Annabelle would mention it. Annabelle however didn't find it quite as funny.
So, it had been like this for 15 years, just the three of them, an unconventional family. But this was about to change.
Gwen clutched the necklace in her hands, the only thing that she had of her parents.
It was made of silver and at the end of the chain hung the eternity symbol. She had always wondered what her parents had meant by leaving her this, maybe that she'd be eternally loved or maybe, that she'd be eternally alone.
As thoughts of her parents entered her head, she quickly pushed them to the back of her mind, and instead engrossed herself in the world of Jane Austen.
***
"We have to go tonight," Maggie said loudly, slamming the rolling pin onto the table.
"We can't," Alfred said bluntly, fiddling with his fishing rod.
"But.we've already done so much already. Why not finish it?" Maggie pleaded.
"No. Not yet." Alfred said firmly, pretending to cast. "Damn rod," he muttered, throwing it onto the floor.
"I think we should go," Nancy said, looking up at the other two.
"I've said no," Alfred said, louder this time.
"And I said yes," She replied softly, gazing into the old man's eyes.
"But." Alfred began but thinking better of it, stopped.
He looked at the two women and sighed deeply before collapsing into his chair.
Maggie smirked and began to make the final preparations while Nancy simply hummed, wondering if the weather would improve.
***
"Are you sure, you don't want to come with us?" Carrie asked, placing a hand on Gwen's shoulder.
"Nah. I just want to hang here. Have some quiet," she replied, smiling back warmly at the old woman, who had cared for her for the past 15 years.
"Come on, let's go! Otherwise, we'll miss the trailers!" Annabelle called, tapping her foot. "Ok, love," Carrie called back. "Got the number?"
"Yes. Go, before Annabelle blows her top," Gwen said, pushing her out the door.
"Ok. Bye, dear," the old woman said, giving Gwen a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye." Gwen called, before walking back into the house.
As she closed the door, Gwen suddenly felt scared, scared that she'd never see Carrie again but as soon as the emotion was felt, it disappeared again, leaving Gwen feeling slightly confused.
"Hmmm... What to do?" she said out loud, "TV? Reading? Food? Decisions, decisions." she walked into the kitchen and fell into a wooden chair.
As Gwen peered round her kitchen, she suddenly heard the familiar whistling of the kettle.
Funny, I don't remember putting it on, Gwen thought to herself.
As she walked over to the stove, she smelt a rich chocolate smell and standing on the counter was her red mug filled with chocolate powder.
"Hmm.Carrie must have left it for me," Gwen thought to herself, as she poured the hot milk into her cup.
As Gwen looked into the mug and breathed in the rich aroma, she felt so happy, with this thought in mind, she greedily drank the warm liquid.
"Mmmm." she hummed, as she placed the mug in the sink and began walking towards the lounge.
Then for no reason, Gwen suddenly felt sleepy and her eyelids started to close then with a final yawn, she tumbled onto the couch in front of the warm fire.
"Sleep..." Gwen mumbled softly, before closing her eyes and going into a deep slumber.
***
"Is she asleep?" Nancy whispered, cautiously coming out from behind the lounge door and walking towards the sleeping girl.
"I think so," Maggie answered, looking at Gwen with an inquisitive stare.
"Ok. Quickly now," Alfred said, picking up the sleeping child and walking towards the fire.
"Oh, it's so exciting," Maggie squealed, tiptoeing around the room like a prima-ballerina, her black cloak streaming behind her.
"Maggie! Stop that!" Alfred shouted.
"Ssshh.You'll wake the child," Nancy said sharply.
"Sorry," Alfred said, smiling weakly. "Now, where's the Floo Powder?" he asked, turning to Maggie.
"Umm.here," she replied, taking out a purple velvet pouch and tossing it gently towards Alfred, who tried to catch it with one hand but missed.
The pouch fell onto the ground, spilling some of its contents.
"Maggie!" Alfred said loudly.
"Sorry, sorry," Maggie mumbled, rushing forward and scooping the powder back into the bag except for a small amount which she threw into the fire.
This caused the fire to flare up and turn a bright emerald colour.
"Here, you can take the child," Alfred said, unloading Gwen into Maggie's arms who took a step back, not used to the weight.
"But.Alfred.I wanted." Maggie whined.
"No Maggie. This is too important, you'll fudge it up," Alfred replied firmly, pushing Maggie towards the fireplace.
"Fine. Alfred Arthur, you were always a spoilsport," Maggie said, before turning to face the flames.
"Scarlett Wood," she said in a clear voice, before walking into the fire with Gwen.
"Nancy, you go get her belongings and I'll do the photographs and other things," Alfred said, walking towards the mantle piece and picking up the family portrait.
He shoved a hand into his robes and pulled out his wand. He tapped the frame with it and said in a clear voice, "Eraderemus."
Alfred's arm tingled; he hadn't used magic for so long. Gwen's figure in the picture started to fade and soon, it was gone, leaving the smiling faces of Annabelle and Carrie in the picture.
"Now, for the others," Alfred said, walking out of the room.