Disclaimer- I am in no way affiliated with Marion Zimmer Bradley or the "Mists of Avalon" Series
In the days following Gaius's departure the bright sun of Beltane hid behind weeping skies, as if the season had decided not to turn into summer after all. Eilan crept around the house like a ghost. Days passed and Gaius sent to word. Just before leaving for the Forest House Dieda has said that she should have given herself to Gaius. Would he be more or less likely to forget her if she had done so?
Poor girl, she loves him and she can't speak to him because of so many things that get in the way. Wouldn't it suck to be her, but then again, it isn't that much better with me and Logan, except we can talk, but we don't.
At last a day came when her father sent for her. He was sitting beside a hearth in the feasting hall- only ashes now, for though the sky was gray and clouded, it was warm enough not to need fire. An odd mix of anger and amusement softened his usual sternness. "Eilan" he said gently, "I feel I should let you know this' an offer has been made for your hand."
Gaius, she thought. My doubts wronged him!
"But of course it was one I could not entertain. How much do you know about this young man who called himself Gawen?"
"What do you mean?" Surely he could hear the rapid beating of her heart.
"Did he tell you his true name?Did he tell you that his father is Macellius Severus, prefect of the camp at Deva?"
She saw the anger now beneath Bendeigid's gentleness, and fought to still her trembling' but she nodded.
She's in trouble, like her father is going to let her marry Gaius, it's almost like asking a father to give his daughter to a murderer.
"Then at least he did not deceive you." Her father sighed, "But you must put him far from your thoughts, Daughter. You are not yet of full age to marry-"
She raised her head to protest. Why had she not considered that her own father was far more likely to refuse permission than Gaius to deny his love?
"I can wait," she whispered, not daring to raise her eyes....... She said in a strangled voice, "Another man less honorable might have dealt with me that you would have been grateful to be rid of me."
Black anger suffused her father's face and for the first time in memory she feared him. He jerked her towards him, and struck her-though not hard-across the mouth..........
Ouch, Max said to herself as she saved her place and went to bed. When she opened her eyes she was on a soft bed on the side of a wall and there was light filtering through the windows. A girl came up to her and led her to a hall where she recognized the characters from The Forest House, and she sat down with a confused look on her face. "You should not look so vexed, it will bring my father to start conversation." Max looked over to a girl with very light hair and looked not older than 15."Where am I?", Max asked the girl, "You had a hard fall on the road from Deva, I am Eilan, and this is my home, you are in good hands, we have another guest here, if you should like to speak, his name is Gawen, and he is beside the hearth. This is Dieda, the man at the front of the table is Ardanos, my grandfather, the druid beside him is Bendeigid, my father, there is Rheis beside him, my mother and many other of my relatives that you will be introduced to, you should like to go beside the fire, it will warm you, you look cold." "Thanks, uh, my name is Max""Max, are from Briton?""Yes, from the south though, I am here for Beltane, some of my relatives live here." "Go now, we shall be eating soon."
Max walked over to the fire and went to Gaius. "Hello, and are you o this family also?", "Uh, actually I'm a visitor, my name is Max, and you're......""Gawen" the man smiled at her"What brings you here?""I'm not sure, I think I fell off of a horse or something, I can't remember" Max made up quickly, "Well, you'll remember soon enough." "Sure". This has got to be a dream, I can't be here, this is what you get for reading for so long, just play along and you'll be fine.
"Have you met any other of this family?" Max asked, "A few, but Eilan has been helping me heal, she has sat beside me for the past week or so."Gaius looked over at Eilan, and she smiled and waved, then turned back to Dieda to talk"I've only met you and Eilan" Max said as a plate of food was set before her. "Are you to be wed to anyone?" Gawen looked over at Max,"I have met a man, yes, but our situation is....... complicated" Max said with a bit of nervousness "How so?", "Our relationship is in a way, untouchable, we cannot be together." I'm getting OK at this old speech thing."I'm sure that you love him, though," Gawen said softly, there was a pause as Max thought about this, I do love him, but does he love me? After this virus and everything that we've been through, I'm not sure, it doesn't matter if I tell this guy though, this is all a dream. "I do." Max said slowly." Then you will be together, all you have to do is work at it, the next time you see him, tell him what you've said to me, and you will be together." it isn't that simple, Max thought, but it is! I love him, and I know he loves me, so all I have to do is tell him that I do, and we will be together, it may be hard, but it's worth it, there's no more virus to keep us apart, so why should we have to be? We should be together, no, we HAVE to be together. If we can, then we should. There's nothing stopping us. "Max?" Gawen looked over at her. "I will tell him, as soon as I see him again, I will tell him what you have told be to say.""Good, then you cannot fail."