Chapter 30

"What about my arms?" Bevin asked.

"Look at them."

Bevin looked down. Most of her tattoos had faded back into her skin. The outlines were barely visible and the colors were almost non-existent. She stared at her own skin amazed.

"It worked." she stated.

"It seems to be working, yes." Bridget replied.

Bevin ran her hands over her arms. The tattoos weren't raised. She couldn't even feel where they were. She smiled up at Bridget. She was debating whether or not to drink more tea at the moment.

"Maybe you should wait." Bridget told her.

Bevin looked at her quizzically, but she understood. She wouldn't get used to the idea that Bridget could read her so well, but they were on the equestrian team together und roommates. She was still surprised by Bridget's decision to help her with her "dilemma." It wasn't that Bridget wasn't u good friend, but now that she was starting to remember things from her "long" life, it seemed odd. She knew that people were inherently selfish and self-serving. She knew that it couldn't be helped. It was part of self-preservation.

"Don't push drinking the tea. We know it works. But, you are still getting the flashbacks. I don't know if the tea will stop that. Hell, I don't know how the tea is even working. I don't want you to push it."

"Why?"

"Because what if it does more harm than good?" Bridget asked her.

"I remember drinking this now."

"Yeah, but how much and how often?" Bridget countered.

"Touché. You're right. I'll stick to a cup a day for now. Don't want to go overboard with it."

"Do you remember anything else? Does anything about what your Granddadda told you make more sense now? Anything?"

"Little pieces do. The story means more to me, now. How could it not? I have been told it all my life. I have known that l was a part of it somehow since I...well...now that I can remember. I don't know what memories go with what time line so right now it is hard to hash out anything concrete."

"Bevin?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you scared?"

"Shitless, but there isn't anything that I can do about it now. The changes have started. The prophecy is coming to fruition. I can either go with it or die trying to fight it. Either way, my life will never be the same again. I understand that even if I don't want to accept it. Does that make any sense?"

"It makes perfect sense." Bridget answered.

"I don't know what else to do. I've been Bevin in my head for so long, that all the memories seem more like dreams. I don't even know what my real name is. I don't know anything about my true parentage. I am basically an orphan that seems to never die. Well, that isn't exactly the truth. I don't know anything about myself for real except what I've been told in the stories and what little I can remember."

"What can you remember?"

"I remember a river when I was really young. It was a pretty river, but I don't remember seeing it again after around the age of fifteen. That is when everything starts to repeat I think. I don't know what happened then, but everything starts to blur."

"Blur?"

"Aye, blur. It starts getting hard to decipher times and places. Unless there is something specific in the memory or something that l remember from history, then it is all jumbled. I cannot remember places well. I know that l was in Ireland for the most part, but I am not entirely too sure about that, either."

"That would explain a lot." Bridget stated.

"Meaning?"

"You keep fading in and out of accents. Every time that you faint, it changes a little more. I can't place it but that it is British of some sort. But, then again, you are what, almost two thousand years old or somethin', so…"

"Don't start with me," Bevin told her.

"It was a joke."

"I know. I just wish that l knew what was going to happen. I mean: l know the basics of the story, but this is just all too real now. Nothing is truly making sense to me anymore. I don`t know what to do."

"What do you mean?"

"Should l just sit back and wait for the prophecy to happen? Should I try to figure it out and seek out the prophecy? Should I stay or should l go?"

"What does your gut tell you?"

"That I don't want to deal with Mara. I don't want to go running home to Granddadda and prove him right. I should be able to handle this all on my own because I am so 'old,' but truth be told, I have no clue. I can't fathom what I already know. There are things that I won't be able to stop if the stories are true. There are things that I actually want to happen. I want to stay here. I want to live my life my way, but I doubt that I will be able to considering what I know, now." Bevin stated.

"What's stopping you?"

"The prophecy."

"What else?"

"I am not ready to be someone's hero," Bevin stated.

"I don't think that anyone is, Bevin. I think that is a prerequisite of being a true hero. I know that this is overwhelming. I know that you feel like you are in over your head, but you aren't alone in this," Bridget told her.

"Aren't I?"

"No, I'm here, too."

"I still don't understand why, but thanks. Thank you for being my friend," Bevin stated, shaking off the feelings she was having before she asked, "Did you get any of the other tattoos translated? You know, before they disappeared?"

"I did."

"And?"

"They all say the same thing basically, just in different wording. They all explain that you are the Sorcha, the 'bright one,' and that you are going to restore the throne of Avalon. The ones about your being the bride of the newest Pendragon are a lot more vague, however."

"Vague how?"

"They don't really say who he is or where he is from. They refer to him as the 'Great Heart' or 'Big Heart.' One of them tells that he is your true love. Other than that, there is really nothing to lead us to figure out who he is," Bridget explained.

"We need to explore the legends more."

"You want to call Seamus?"

"No, but doesn't he have a book or something about it?" Bevin asked.

"He had a notebook of notes and stuff. I don't think that he published anything on the subject, yet. I'll look and see what I can find."

"That's sounds good. I'm going to take nap. Wake me up if you find anything."

"Will do," Bridget replied, as she watched the tired body of Bevin leave the room.

She was tired and cold. She was still moving, following Birgit as they moved through the woods. She didn't know where they were going. She didn't cure. She wanted to go home. She wanted to find her mother. Birgit promised. She didn't understand why they had fled the house in Ravendale in the middle of the night. She had heard Birgit arguing with someone that night, but she didn't know who or why. All she knew at the moment was that her feet hurt and she was tired of walking.

"Birgit?"

"Yeah, Shannon?"

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe," Birgit replied.

"Why? What's going on? Who is after us?"

"I've told you, Shannon. Her name is Mara. She used to be a friend of your family, but she turned against them. She had her own agenda and she abused your mother to get it. Unfortunately for you, you were also caught up in her intrigues. That is how you came to live with me."

"But, why now?"

"I don't know."

"My birthday is in two days," Shannon stated.

"I know, Young One. I am going to get you to safety and then send word to your mother. She will find us when it is safe for her to do so. I promise."

Shannon looked down all her tattered green tunic dress and her marred brown leather leggings. She didn't look that worse for wear. She just felt like they had been wandering the woods for months. She looked up at Birgit. She noted her light leather armor and her dark brown leather leggings. She kept her short swords in their sheaths crossed behind her in the small of her back. Her long sword and quiver were crossed over the majority of her back. She carried her bow in her hand. Shannon wondered why Birgit had suddenly been so worried that she would arm herself so much.

"Do you think that Mara wants to hurt me?"

"I know that she does," Birgit stated.

"Why?"

"Because you are a threat to her."

"But, why?"

Birgit stopped. She waited for Shannon to catch up to her. Shannon looked up into her brown eyes.

She could see the turmoil in them. She could see the want to tell her everything but she could also see the hesitation. She had only known Birgit as long as she could remember. And, she knew that Birgit had never lied to her, but she could see the pain of her questions in her eyes. She wondered what was so bad about Mara that Birgit didn't want to tell her and if it had something to do with her mother, a mother she had only heard about and seen through magic glammars.

"Just tell me, Birgit. I know that I am almost thirteen but I can take it. What is it about Mara?"

"Let's find a place to camp for the night and then I'll tell you a story."

Shannon just nodded at the older woman. She followed her into a clearing near an oak grove. She could tell by the way that Birgit was acting that it was a place they had been searching for during their travels. She couldn't see the significance of it, but she was happy to be stopping.

"Over here, near the river, this is where we will camp for a while," Birgit told her.

She sat down her pack next to Birgit's and started gathering firewood, like she had so many times before. She watched as Birgit dug a small hole for their fire and cleared the brush and other flammable items away from the area. She brought the wood she'd gathered over to Birgit. Birgit started the fire and then began to make a quick lean to for them to sleep under. Shannon just watched.

She was still amazed at how quickly Birgit had them packed and out of the only place she'd ever called home. She had never seen this side of her, but she was grateful for it. She knew that Birgit knew how to survive. She never asked her why. She never questioned anything that Birgit told her to do because somewhere in her mind she knew that it was for her own good. She caught herself staring at Birgit's armor, but she never thought to ask where it came from and why she had it. She could never remember seeing it until the night they fled their home. Shannon didn`t say anything. She sat in silence as Birgit continued to work beside her. She watched as she cooked them dinner. She smiled at Birgit as she checked the sharpness of her swords. Shannon decided to check her own quiver and then checked Birgit's as well. Birgit turned to watch her, smiled, and then stirred the stew on the fire.

"Shannon, I know that you don't like being out here."

"I know only what you've told me. You say it is for my own good and I believe you. I have no reason not to, Birgit. You haven't done anything that has even led me to believe that you wanted anything but the best for me. I am just confused as to why my mother has remained hidden from me for so long and now this Mara is after me or us or whatever."

"I know, Young One. I am going to tell you. It is a long story. Do you remember asking me why we had the same tattoo on our arms?"

"Yeah, you told me it was because we are family," Shannon answered.

"We are. Your mother is my cousin. We were very close as children, almost like sisters. She took a different path than l did. I became a warrior for our kingdom. She married into royalty."

"So, does that mean…"

"Yes, you are a princess."

"Is that why Mara is after me?"

"Partially, yes, Mara thinks that you are dead. The servants that stole you from your mother gave you to me. I tried to get word to your mother that you were safe, but Mara had already struck against her to the King. You mother's life was at stake and so was your, so I took you away to restore you later."

"Does she know?"

"That you are alive, yes. She does. She just doesn't know where we are. It was her choice. She figured that if someone was watching her trying to find you, then they would find you. We have always been very careful. We've haven't met since except through her magics."

"Magics?"

"Yes, that is how you've seen her. I've told you about her glammars. She also has the gift of Sight. She knows that you are alive and that you will return to her one day. Until that day, you are my ward and I've been tasked to protect you," Birgit explained.

"But, what about Mara?"

"She is the wife of the King's best friend. She helped him place their son in your way. I don't know how, but I think that she has realized that you are alive. With your mother deposed and out of favor with the King. She can get what she wants. She has forsaken her own husband for the King's bed and favor in her lust for power. She is a ruthless woman who will stop at nothing to get what she wants."

"Including killing me to safe guard the throne?"

"Yes, Young One."

"But, why are waiting here? What is so important about this place?" Shannon asked Birgit, but she noticed her confused look. "Don't do that. I know that there is something special about this place. I could tell by the way you were acting when we got here."

"This is the last place that your mother has left provisions for us. After we leave here, we will truly be on our own. We will have no support but our own. I think that Mara is closing in on your mother or us. This river is known as the Mystic River. It is said to lead us to other realms, places not like our own. There are many different kingdoms out there, Shannon. You're mother has been to some and has friends that may be able to help us."

"She means lo send us away?"

"Possibly."

"Without seeing me?"

"Shannon, I know that is hard, but you have to believe that your mother is doing this for your own good. You've been marked to be her successor, Young One. She is trying to protect you and the throne. Trust me when I say that she doesn't do this lightly."

"I understand."

There was a rustling in the woods. Birgit drew her short swords and stood at the ready, waiting for whatever it was in the bushes. Shannon stood and drew an arrow, not willing to let Birgit fight alone. They were amazed when I bright light came at them. Birgit nodded in salute and said something that Shannon didn't understand. She pushed her towards the water, making Shannon stumble and drop her bow.

"Get in the boat. Mara found us. We have to go now. Your mother is helping us, but we have to go now. Don't question me, Girl. Go. Get in the boat. I'm right behind you," Birgit yelled at her.

"Bridget…Bridget! BRIDGET!"

Bridget busted into Bevin's room. She grabbed her hand and held it. She could see the look of fear in her eyes. There was something else, but she couldn't place it. She didn't know what she could do for her.

"What is it, Bevin? Tell me what to do. What's wrong?" Bridget asked.

"I remember something," Bevin told her.

"You do?"

"Yes, I remember being chased by Mara when I was a teenager."

"Is there anything else?"

"I can't see a bloody thing," Bevin told her.