The Fifth Age
Chapter 5: Sean
By Glorfindel's Girl
Author's Note: I know, I know. I took too long getting this chapter posted. ~slaps self on wrist~ Bad girl. Anywho, here it is, so enjoy!
Disclaimer: Don't own them, not making any money. Wait…I take that back on this chapter. I do own Sean. He's mine. Use him if you want, just for God's sake ask my permission (I promise I'll say yes). Use him without my permission and have a curse placed upon your muse. Oh, and the email addresses in this chapter are flukes. Not real addresses. At least, I hope they're not. ^_~
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Islamorada, Florida…
Sean sat down at his computer and hit the Internet Explorer icon. The computer whirred for a split-second while the high-speed DSL connection linked him to the World Wide Web. As soon as his home page popped up, it was clear to him that things were amiss. He scanned the news headlines with interest.
"Celtic style ruins discovered in American Southwest…controversy over reporter's purported "murder" continues – bizarre crime or elaborate hoax?…scientists pondering existence of hitherto unknown species as sightings of giant eagles continue world wide," he muttered, reading the headlines. "I better email Lauren."
He opened his email only to find that Lauren had beaten him. He clicked on her message and read:
To: sean.morella2093@fldkey.com
From: goldengirl1385@newwavearchitecture.org
Subject: (none)
Brother-
Are you blind to the changes that are occurring? Have you not seen? Our People are re-awakening and remembering. I have felt a dark presence growing for some time, and now the Rings stir anew. Have you not felt it as well? Or has the Sea has caused you to forget your Duty? We must act quickly, for already I fear we may be too late.
May Elbereth watch over us all!
Lauren
"Well that's reassuring," Sean said aloud as he re-read the letter. He closed his email, shut off the computer, and stood. Trust Lauren to read death and destruction into every shadow, but he had to admit that she was right. He had sensed it as well, and no matter how hard he tried to ignore it, the sensation kept growing stronger. He needed to think. He walked through his living room, and into the kitchen. He slid on a pair of sandals which rested beside the back door. He wondered briefly why he even bothered. The hardwood floor near the back door was already gritty with sand, from his coming and going on the beach, despite the fact that he never wore his shoes inside the house. He needed to sweep. Shrugging the thought off, he walked out the screen door, letting it bang shut behind him.
His feet seemed to move of their own accord down the familiar path over the sand dune behind his house to his private stretch of beach. When Sean reached the damp sand, he kicked off his sandals. It was still early, and the sand was not unbearably hot. He pulled off his shirt and waded into water. When he had gone out far enough that the water was just past waist high, he stopped and stood perfectly still for a moment, his eyes closed. He listened to the waves lapping up on the shore, the gulls crying in the sky. He breathed deeply, smelled the salt of the ocean, felt the water rising and falling around him. If the world truly did have a heartbeat, a pulse of life, as some said, then the ocean was the place where it could be felt.
He dove beneath the waves, and swam away from the shore. After long minutes, he surfaced and took a deep breath. He was feeling better already; the ocean always had that calming effect on him. It was what had caused him to cling to it, returning again and again even after all these years. He sank beneath the waters again, and swam further away from the land.
The sun was high overhead by the time Sean finally made his way back to the beach. Out of habit, he reached down to confirm that he still wore the thin gold ring upon right hand. He always half expected it to be gone, having slipped off his finger and sunk to some unknown place on the ocean floor. Wouldn't that make for a wonderful think to explain to Lauren. He glanced down at the band of gold, the sunlight glittering upon the deep red jewel enmeshed upon it, and briefly considered emailing Lauren and telling her that he had lost it, just out of spite. But in the end he decided against it.
He sat on the shore, and stared out at the glittering sea for a long while as the breeze dried the water from his skin. The salt clung to his hair, weighing it down into his eyes. Finally, he sighed heavily, stood, retrieved his shirt, and pulled it back on. He knew what he was going to have to do, but first he needed to go visit a friend.
