Chapter 16 #2
“Zeke!” Brenna shrieked.
She was so excited that Dougall had to hold her back so she wouldn’t burn herself in the fire.
“Brenna! Are you okay? I miss you so much.” His voice was strong, his happiness at seeing his wife coming through clearly. .
“Zeke! I want to come home. It’s been so difficult without ye.”
“What’s going on? Is it any clearer why we’ve been separated?” he asked.
“It’s a long story, Zeke. She’ll tell ye all about it when she gets back home,” Maggie interrupted. “Are Ashley, Jenna and Sara there?”
“Yes. Ladies!” he called. “I think you’ll want to see this.”
Shrieks of joy erupted from all of them as they spotted their husbands gathered around Maggie.
“Cailin!” Ashley cried.
“Ashley, love! I miss ye. We’ll be together soon I hope,” Cailin said.
“When?” Jenna asked.
“Maybe tomorrow,” Cormac answered. “Ye look beautiful as always, me sweet.”
“So do you,” she said.
“Where’s my Logan?” Sara asked.
“I’m here,” Logan replied. “Can ye see me?”
“I can. You’re a sight for sore eyes,” Sara said.
“We’ll be together soon, I promise.” Edna motioned to Maggie to leave the fire and join her. “Give them some time to talk,” Edna said.
As Maggie headed her way Edna could hear Richard and Latharn each greeting their wives. The happiness in their voices brought joy to her heart.
“They’re so excited to see each other,” Maggie said. “It brought tears to me eyes.” She swiped at them with the back of her hand. “I ken how they feel. I miss Dylan.”
“I ken it. Ye’ll be able to go back to Dylan without question. I’m nae sure there’ll be a happy ending for any of the rest of us.” Edna tried not to let her despair show, but it wasn’t an easy thing to do.
“Doona ye think the Council will allow the matches to stand?” Maggie asked.
“I’m no’ sure. I would hope so, but they were surprised to hear what I’d been up to and they may no’ approve.”
“We’ve got to convince them,” Maggie said sounding quite determined.
“I’ll do me best. The last thing I want is to break these families apart,” Edna replied.
Edna returned her attention to the fire. Ashley was speaking with Hamish now.
“Hamish, I’ll let Elle know you’re alright and that you’ll be home as soon as possible.”
“Thank ye, Ashley. ’Tis much appreciated.”
“Doona forget me,” Donal added.
“I won’t. As soon as we’re done here I’ll contact both of them.”
“Ashley, nae matter what happens, ye ken I love ye and I always will,” Cailin shouted.
“I know that, Cailin, but what could possibly happen?” Ashley asked.
“I doona have an answer to that, but I wanted ye to know,” he replied, blowing her a kiss.
“Now you’ve got me worried,” Ashley said.
“Us, too,” Jenna chimed in.
“I doona want ye ladies to worry. Tomorrow I will meet with the Council of Witches. I’m sure they will agree that ye should be reunited.
” As the images in the fire died out, Edna thought about how proud she was of all of her matches.
They were good people who only deserved the very best outcome here.
They all had time travel in common and it had created a unique bond among them that she felt could never be broken.
“Good night, everyone,” Melusina said. She’d been in deep discussions with the rest of the Council witches and as far as Edna knew was unaware of what had been happening around the fire.
“Good night,” was the reply from the group.
The Council conjured up their sleeping quarters for the night. Three large tents appeared where the house had once been. Melusina, Mardella and Daire each took the one that best represented their unique sensibilities and disappeared inside.
Maggie shook her head. “They are verra special witches, those three. Good night. I’m exhausted. I’ll see ye in the morning.”
“Maggie, ye were amazing today.” Edna embraced her niece. “I’m so proud of ye.”
Maggie returned the kiss and then turned to her uncle.
“Maggie, ye remind me of yer aunt. Yer kind, compassionate and loving. Ye would no’ harm a soul.”
“Thank ye, Uncle. It means a lot coming from ye.”
“I love ye, lass.”
“I love ye, too.”
“See ye in the morn,” Angus said as Maggie turned towards her tent
The jury of witches wandered off into the trees as they’d been doing right from the start.
“Where are they going?” Angus asked.
“I’m sure they’ve created a comfortable spot for themselves out there somewhere,” Edna replied.
“I prefer to sleep under the stars with ye, me love,” Angus said.
“A little privacy might be a good thing,” Edna replied. She gave him a seductive look.
“I see what ye mean. Where can we find this privacy?” he asked matching Edna’s look.
“The Council witches are no’ the only one’s who can create a tent.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.
“Well what are ye waiting for then?” Angus put a finger under her chin lifting her face so that she looked up into his eyes.
The others were all occupied with each other. Edna stood, searching for the perfect spot. It was just far enough away to afford them the privacy they needed. She peeked back over her shoulder. The only one watching was Angus.
Concentrating on the empty spot and hoping her powers had returned, Edna imagined the shelter she wished to create and uttered a creation spell while she opened her arms wide framing the space in front of her.
Much to her delight a beautiful pale blue, silky tent appeared.
She turned to find Angus, but he was already at her side.
“Shall we?” Angus asked, leading her inside and closing the tent flaps behind them.