Home Over Heart

Part 3 - The Letter

Dear Maeve-
When Rhiannon said you were still alive - I didn't know what to do. I wanted to, needed to, send a letter, but why break our hearts when Annwn claims me and the angels had taken you to the Shadow?

I am well here. Mother, Father, and Cordelia have returned to Connemara, but I have stayed at Temair. Arawn sends his boundless thanks at your sacrifice.

Rhiannon was a traveller, and has the strange ability to travel between Annwn and the Shadow, even where any other living soul would not find the weakest link. She has volunteered to pass letters to you, but she will live where she pleases.

Arawn and Morgana are set to be married, to the surprise of many. I have joined a group of actors and bards in Temair and am set to travel Avalon with our group next year.

With all my love,
Thomas.

~`~`~`~`~

Maeve leaned back, wishing she could cry. Tears, however, were reluctant in coming.

God, why did this have to happen now, when I thought it was over? I love him so much. But yet...

She didn't know what. Slowly she let sleep take her over, and slumped down.

Light streaming through her bedroom window the next morning cheered her up. She enjoyed the glory of late morning sunshine, but came back to earth with a start. I'm late! she thought.

Saturday, Maeve, a voice in her head chimed.

Oh.

Well then. Outside. Spring is here again.

The sun had burned off the morning fog already. Maeve half-ran down the street, heading to her favorite spot. It was a small park, but one without benches, or regularily, people. The small apple tree in the centre was putting out blossoms, not yet the white-frothy glory yet, but still filling the air with their faint scent.

Maeve leaned back against the tree, feeling its bark against her cheek. Days like this were beautiful and reminded her what the world really had to offer. The sky was blue and cloudless.

Maeve wasn't sure if she slept, but the next thing she knew a pair of feet were right beside her. Looking up, she saw her father's face.

"Hey, daddy." she smiled up at him.

"Good morning, Maeve. I didn't see you leave."

"I left out of the back door."

Her father looked down the street. A few teenagers were playing on a field at the end of it. "Maeve, I'm worried about you. You're sixteen. Why don't you have any friends? I know you've always been a loner, but you should at least find someone to confide in."

Maeve looked down a moment. "There isn't anyone here I'd like to be friends with."

He looked at her, worried. "You're sure?"

"More than sure."

"Well-" her father sighed. "I wouldn't want to push you to be friends with someone you don't want to be friends with, I guess."

She smiled. "I know, da."

Watching him walk away, Maeve wondered what he would think of Thomas. It was hard for him; Brandon was with her mother in Ontario, the divorce being final last November. She was his top priority here. Of all things, she wanted him to be happy. How happy would he be if she was in love with a boy a world away?