Jan Delima: Celtic Moon

Luc had remained at home, as did most of the other guards, but Enid, Porter, and the parents of the children from the village had traveled to Massachusetts, Sophie’s place of birth.

The minister had long since said his blessing and left. With Sophie’s permission, some of his people dropped treasures next to the grave for Francine to bring to her afterlife. Enid gave a golden spoon, placing it gently in the roses that covered the casket, with a blessing for Francine to “Wield it well.” That spoon, Dylan knew, had been the only treasure Enid had carried from Cymru.

“I’m going to wait in the truck,” Joshua said after the others had returned to their cars for the journey home, leaving his parents alone.

“Okay.” Sophie squeezed his hand as he passed. “We’ll only stay a few more minutes.”

Shaking with what he was about to do, Dylan wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed the top of her head. “Taliesin came to see me this morning.”

“He did?” He heard the frown in her voice. “What did he want?”

“Your forgiveness, I think.”

“Then it’s me he should be visiting, not you.”

“He’s here, Sophie.”

Her head shot up, scanning the cemetery, stopping when she found the lone figure in the distance. “Has he been here this whole time?”

“Yes.” Dylan briefly closed his eyes, unable to watch her face when he made the most difficult offer of his life. “Taliesin has agreed to reopen his home where you and Joshua once lived.”

“For what?”

“For you.” His throat thickened, choking on the words, not sure if he could finish this but knowing he must. “And Joshua, if he wants to go. Taliesin has agreed to stay with you, to continue Joshua’s training. If you wish, you can leave with him now.”

“And where will you be?”

“Rhuddin Village.”

“What is this about?”

“It’s a choice, Sophie. A choice to leave now before the Council decides our fate.” Opening his eyes, he waved his hand toward her mother’s grave. “This is only the beginning. One of four lives we’ve lost. Others will follow.”

Understanding hardened her features, like snow over a mountain, insurmountable to the weak of heart. But he wasn’t weak, and neither was she. “And you would do this? You would allow me to leave?”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “If it will keep you alive, Sophie, I will do more than you know.”

She wiped at her eyes as fresh tears began to fall. Amazing, really, that she had any left when she’d shed enough over the last few days to fill a river in autumn, enough that his heart had bled a bit with every single one, drop for drop.

Darkness closed around him. “I’ll do my best to stay away from you—”

“Stop.” A watery smile turned her lips. “ Please , just stop this right now! Thank you, Dylan, for giving me the choice.” She lifted her hands and cupped his face. “Do you want to know something my mother said to me a few days before she died?”

He didn’t respond, not sure that he did.

She continued anyway. “Mum told me she’d rather live her life to the fullest, around the people she loved, than fear the unknown alone.”

He frowned. “What are you saying?”

“It’s not the Council who’s going to decide our fate. It’s us, our family, and our people. Together we will decide our fate, while we live our lives around the people we love most. And for me, Dylan, that’s you. I choose you.”

Robbed of breath, he kissed her because he could do nothing else. “I won’t ask you again,” he warned against her mouth. It was a long while before he lifted his head, shaking with emotion in a bloody graveyard no less, with a demi-god pouting in the distance.

“So,” she said, resting her face against his chest, “did our son put you up to this?”

He smiled against her hair. “He told me you wouldn’t agree to it.”

“That little shit.” Then she laughed her first genuine laugh in three days. “Did that make it any easier for you?”

“Maybe a little,” he said, though serious. “But I’ve learned not to predict how your mind works, wife . I would have honored your choice. Well,” he amended, “I would have tried to the best of my ability.”

And to prove that he may never know how her mind worked, she stood on her toes and planted another kiss on his lips. “Will you marry me again?” she asked softly. “With a minister this time. I want our family there as well. Invite the whole town if you wish.” She reflected quietly for a moment. “My mum would have wanted that.”

His throat tightened. He had to swallow twice before he found his voice. “Is today too soon?”

TALIESIN WAITED IN A SHADED GLEN FOR SOPHIE AND Dylan to make their way toward him. He looked out at all the grave markers, aisles of marble and granite honoring their beloved deceased souls. They were at peace, he knew with envy, in the home of their God. Peace was something he would never know, just as heaven was a place he would never see.

With a final glance toward Francine’s grave, Sophie and Dylan made their way in Taliesin’s direction, hand in hand, joined in heart and in purpose, a marriage made whole by his intervention.

Taliesin heard Dylan ask, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m sure.” Sophie stopped a few feet away, her eyes direct and searching. “Hello, Matthew. I wish you had joined us for the service.”

Suddenly nervous, despite knowing the outcome of this day, he kicked at a clump of grass, his gaze looking to the ground. “My name is Taliesin,” he said.

“I know. My husband has told me everything about you. Is that what you want me to call you?”

“My friends call me Sin,” he offered.

“Are you my friend?”

“Yes.” He made sure his tone carried the weight of that curse.

“Will you tell me something, Sin?”

He sighed with regret. “Of course, Sophie, but you already know the answer.”

“Why did you give me the Serpent?”

“Because it wasn’t Francine who was supposed to die.” Whenever he changed the course of a human’s fate, another always took their place.

“Was it supposed to be me?” Her voice was heavy with guilt at the thought.

“No.”

A whisper of acceptance. “Joshua.”

He remained silent.

Gently, Sophie placed her hand on his arm. “Do you have a place to stay?”

He shrugged. “I have many homes, Sophie.”

“Will you be alone in these many homes?” she asked, ever observant as only someone with a pure heart could be.

“I’m used to being alone.”

She pursed her lips at her husband’s snort. “I want you to stay with us.”

To his shame, because his heart rejoiced in the warmth of her embrace, of family and forgiveness, he was tempted to accept her offer. Shaking his head, he whispered, “I shouldn’t.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Dylan agreed, but then his eyes met his wife’s. After a small wordless argument, his shoulders sagged in weary acceptance. “If it will make my wife happy . . . you are welcome to stay with us. Our lake house is available.”

And so will Luc’s apartments soon be, when Rosa comes to claim Dylan’s debt owed to her for helping Sophie, but Taliesin kept that foresight to himself.

“I’ve never seen greater courage, warrior, than I’ve seen from you this day. I will consider your offer.”

“A war has begun,” Dylan said with firm censure. “A war between the very creatures created to protect you. One of these days you will have to choose a side.”