Reunited
(Dedicated to Tanth And Alspeth)
©2003 Elizabeth L. Clark

Today was the day. Three hundred years since they were last here. She stood by the place where their home once stood. In her minds eye she could see the thatched roof, the lazy tendril of smoke rising from the grey stone chimney. Their children ran about the yard and fields, laughing, chattering as they went about their chores.

She shook off the memories and went back to her horse and leaned against the large black mare. He had to come. The signs were all clear. She brushed back her fiery red hair as the wind whipped it about her delicate face. Emerald green eyes once more seemed to see what was not visible to anyone else. She saw him, tall, blonde top knot unbraided and spilling down his muscular back. They had loved each other so. But circumstance kept ripping them apart life after life. This time however... this time was forever.

They had paid their debts, paid the price for youthful escapades. Now they were granted their hearts desires... all eternity together. She waited as darkness began to fall and the winds chilled her to the bone. She would not leave here alone. If he did not come, then her life would end at the bottom of the rocky cliffs.

He raced like the wind as the shadows crept over the lush green land. He had been delayed and feared she would give up on him. Blonde hair flew behind him as he whipped the dark brown stallion to make him move faster. When he got to where they had last lived and loved his heart swelled with relief and love as he saw her slender figure standing by the cliffs. He called out her name  as he leapt from his horse and ran to her.

She turned slowly and opened her arms to him. He swept her up and their laughter rang out into the night. Time stood still as their lips met in a deep, tender kiss. Years vanished as two hearts born to be joined reunited.

With a wave of his hand the home they once shared reappeared. A small barn came into being and with his arm around her waist he led their horses into it and he let her go long enough to settle the beasts. Then he scooped her up in his arms and with his lips pressed to hers carried her home.

All was as it had been and with tenderness they made love throughout the night as the winds howled outside. The modern world ceased to exist as they remade the world they had once known. Magic flowed from them as they joined in heart, mind, body and soul.

When morning came on the wings of singing birds, a home stood where none had before. Tendrils of smoke rolled lazily from the grey stone chimney. They stood in the door way of their home, his hands splayed across her belly. Within her already grew the first of many happy children. They looked to each other and smiled. Eternity started today.