Chapter 17
Early the next day, Edna was awake and worrying.
What if the council wouldn’t agree to reunite the couples?
What if Angus was taken from her? The sun was barely up when she rose from their bed.
Angus stirred and reached for her. Edna didn’t wish to disturb him.
He hadn’t slept much of late and so she cast a wee spell upon him.
He rolled over and closed his eyes. She smiled down at him, knowing that her spell would only last a short time, but hopefully long enough for her to get back before he woke.
Angus had held her close all night long, happy to have her back by his side. She was doubly happy to be there, but she needed time to think and so she wandered down to the stream where she could be alone for a few moments before the day began.
She wondered what the Council could possibly find wrong with what she’d been doing?
Of course, they hadn’t been aware of it really. If they had would they have objected? She should be able to use her magic in any way that she saw fit. She wasn’t hurting anyone. Although there had been a few minor issues along the way, everyone was happy and healthy and wanted to stay that way.
“Edna!” Angus irritated voice called to her.
“Down here,” Edna replied. It seemed her spell hadn’t worked the way she expected. She’d have to work on that one.
Angus appeared above her and made his way down to the stream bank. “Edna, ye canno’ leave me like that ever again. If ye plan on getting up, tell me please. Me heart canno’ take the worry ye put me through.”
“I’m sorry, love.” She offered him her lips and he gave her a quick peck before sitting beside her.
“What troubles ye?” he asked.
“Why would ye think me troubled?” She raised an eyebrow in question as she gazed at him.
“Ye left our warm bed to come sit by this cold stream.” He said this as though it should be obvious to her.
“I’m worried. Why did they no’ reunite the couples last night? Why are they waiting?”
“They’ll be reunited just as we were last night.”
Edna’s mind was a million miles away, but when he kissed the sensitive spot beneath her ear, she wondered what he’d just said. “I’m sorry, what did ye say?”
Angus chuckled. “Last night… we were reunited. Surely ye remember. ’Twas no’ so long ago.”
“I do remember. ’Twas wonderful.” She nestled into his arms, enjoying the warmth of his body.
“I think we should go back to bed. Come.” He stood and put a hand out to Edna.
“Angus, as much as I’d love to, I canno’ until the other couples are reunited… I hope.”
“What do ye mean? Where is the woman who always tells me how important it is to remain positive?” He leaned down and chucked her under the chin.
“She’s still here, but there’s so much at stake here. It scares me to think they could possibly deny us.”
Angus sat beside her once again, taking her hand in his. “I choose to believe that love is as important to them as it is to ye. What can be wrong with what ye’ve done?”
“No’ a thing, but I’m no’ the Council. They may have differing opinions.”
“Isn’t that what the bridge is for?” Angus asked.
“When me mother handed its care over to me, she gave me verra little instruction. There were nae dos and doonas. And so I did what I wanted.”
“Ye wanted me,” he said.
“Ye were me first match. After that I always knew that ’twas what I wanted to do. It took some time before the right couples formed in me mind and once I started I could no’ stop.”
Angus chuckled and nodded his head. “Ye are one of a kind, Edna Campbell and I love ye.”
“There ye are,” Maggie said from up above.
“Is something wrong?” Edna asked.
“No. No’ at all. Everyone is up. I wondered if ye were hungry.”
“I’m no’,” Edna said. “Angus?”
“Aye. We’ll be right there.”
“Doona wait too long. The men are hungry. I’ll tell them to leave ye some.” Maggie disappeared from sight.
“Shall we?” Angus asked.
“Ye go. I’ll be there in a little bit.”
“Doona wander away on me,” Angus said.
“I’ll be right here. I promise.”
***
“Where is Edna?” Mardella asked as she conjured a table and chairs.
“She’s down by the stream,” Angus said.
“Would ye like me to get her?” Maggie asked.
“No’ just yet,” Melusina said. “Let’s give her the time she needs.”
Angus wondered if they knew why Edna needed time alone. “She’s much to think about.”
“I imagine she does,” Daire said. “Please sit with us.”
Maggie and Angus took the two available chairs and pulled themselves up to the table.
With a blink of Melusina’s eyes and a wave of her hand fresh fruit, scones, and a bowl of softened butter appeared in front of them.
“Coffee anyone?” Mardella asked, producing a pot and cups.
“Aye, please,” Maggie said. “I could use a little caffeine this morning.”
“That was quite the show ye put on yesterday,” Melusina said.
“I had plenty of help from Biera.”
“Speaking of Biera, where is she?” Mardella asked.
Maggie looked around and realized that her tent was gone and so were her horses. “She must have left. She did no’ say goodbye. Auntie will be disappointed she did no’ get to see her.”
“What a shame. I had some questions for her about her magic.”
“She’s been friends with Auntie Edna for many years. I’m sure ye could ask her. She’d probably ken how to reach her.”
“’Tis no’ important.” Mardella said. “It would seem that yer following in the footsteps of all the witches who’ve come before ye in yer family.”
“’Twas a surprise to me. Me mother has nae talent for it,” Maggie said.
“Or perhaps she is no’ interested.”
“I guess that’s possible.”
“She was no’ happy when Maggie moved to Glendaloch,” Angus added. “She did no’ wish her to be a witch.”
“Is that true?” Daire asked.
“Unfortunately it is. She’s better with it now. She kens I wasn’t happy and now that I have Dylan she’s just waiting for grandchildren.”
“I believe every mother dreams of grandchildren. Soon, aye?” Melusina cast a knowing gaze Maggie’s way.
“That’s the plan,” Maggie said.
Angus got the feeling Melusina knew something that Maggie didn’t know. Was he about to be a granduncle? The thought made him smile. He knew Edna would love having a little one running around that she could spoil.
***
Making her way back to Angus and Maggie, Edna noted the Council seated at a table with them chatting happily and enjoying breakfast.
“Edna!” Melusina said as she approached. “Come join us. Daire another chair please.”
A chair appeared in front of Edna and she sat, pulling it in to the table beside Angus.
“We’ve much to speak with ye about,” Mardella said.
“Ye do,” Edna replied. This was it, they were going to tell her that everything she’d done would have to stay undone.
“Ye sound nervous. Doona be.” Daire said, smiling warmly.
“Let’s finish our breakfast and then we can talk more about what ye’ve been doing with the bridge.”
Edna wished they could talk right now. She glanced at Angus who gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Never having to answer to anyone, with the exception of her mother, Edna didn’t like the feeling of being judged, but there was nothing she could do about it now.
Sitting as quietly as she could manage without blurting out her thoughts, Edna nibbled on her food and sipped the coffee Maggie had poured for her.
She wanted tea. She swirled her spoon around in the cup and slowly the coffee spun itself into the tea she wished for.
A satisfied smile appeared on her lips as she lifted the cup and took a sip.
“Is something wrong?” Melusina asked. “Ye’ve said barely a word.”
“I’m fine,” she said, moving a strawberry back and forth on her plate.
She couldn’t do this. She had to know. “No. I’m no’ fine.
I can no’ sit here and wait while ye all talk politely about this and that.
I must ken what ye wish to speak with me about.
I must ken if I can bring all of me couples back together.
I must ken if Angus will be able to stay with me. ” There. She’d said it.
Everyone at the table, including Angus, stared silently at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shouted at ye. This is tearing me up inside and sitting here and pretending that it doesn’t matter is no’ something I can do.”
“Calm yerself, Edna,” Mardella said. “If ye’d like to talk now, we can.”
Edna took a deep breath and steeled herself for what they were about to tell her.
“We’ve sent the jury home. There was nae need for their input on this subject. The three of us have spoken at length about the bridge. We ken ’tis been in yer family for generations and ’twill stay that way. We have nae wish to take the bridge away from ye.”
“That’s good, is it no’ Auntie,” Maggie said.
“Aye.” Edna was wound up tighter than a top and she couldn’t uncoil herself.
Mardella smiled indulgently at Edna. “Me dear we’re impressed with what ye’ve done here. Ye’ve a kind heart and are a talented witch. We have need of someone like yerself on the Council. We’d like ye to join us.”
Edna was stunned speechless. This is the last thing she was expecting to have happen.
Maggie and Angus were both staring at her with mischief in their eyes.
“Ye knew!” she said. “How could ye no’ tell me?”
“’Twas no’ up to them to tell ye.” Melusina seemed to be enjoying Edna’s surprise at their pronouncement.
Edna looked from one to the other and back again.
“Well? Will ye join us?” Daire asked.
“Aye! Of course I’ll join ye.” Her excitement could hardly be contained. She wanted to jump up from the table, dance joyfully and shout to the world. She’d never dreamed it possible to be part of the Council. “But what about the bridge?”
“I think ye ken leave it in Maggie’s hands.”
“Maggie, would ye be okay with that?” Edna asked.
“It’s what ye’ve been training me for. I’m more than okay with it.”
“But ye will no’ be able to leave. Ye’ll be tied to it as I have been all these years.”
“We’ve got that all figured out. Maggie will have an apprentice to help her, much as ye’ve done with her.”
Angus took hold of her hand and held it to his lips. “This is wonderful news. We’ll be able to travel. Ye ken I’ve always wanted to. Where will we go first?”
“We’ll talk about that when we get back to the inn. I’ve got plenty of ideas, but first there are some things that need to be spoken of here with the council.” She let go of Angus and spoke to the three witches. “I must ken what ye’ve decided about me couples.”
“Mardella spoke first. “Ye ken we have had concerns about matching men and women from different times. There are many things that could be considered difficulties for them. Things that ye may no’ have taken into consideration.”
“I would like to address those issues if I may,” Edna said.
“Let us finish first, Edna, then ye can address everything all at once,” Daire said.
“Go on then.”
“Now, for those traveling from the past to the present, one might think it would be a wonder to them and I’m sure it is, but it must be difficult to constantly feel out of touch with everything going on around ye,” Melusina explained.
“We also have concerns in both times about keeping the time travel a secret from parties outside of the time travelers and their families. In fact, it causes us much concern. If it were to be found out in medieval times it could lead to persecution of the time traveler as a witch. In the future it would create a frenzy of attention and possible ridicule for the time traveler. We can no’ allow this to happen,” Daire said.
Edna’s heart sank. They were going to keep them separated.
“Please, I beg ye. These couples love each other. Doona punish them for what I did in the name of love. They need each other. They have children. All of the issues ye’ve spoken of can be handled.
Medicines can be sent to our medieval travelers if need be.
If they doona wish to stay, they are welcome to return to their own time.
I keep watch over all of them. I’ll do anything, but please… ”
“Edna ye have no’ allowed us to finish.” Daire looked kindly towards her.
“We understand yer attachment to all of these couples. Ye did what ye did with a kind heart. Ye meant nae harm and we doona believe ye have caused any. We are happy to allow all the couples to stay together. Ye may reunite them when we’re done here.
Maggie, ye must promise us to keep watch over these couples as yer aunt has and to intercede on their behalf if need be. Can ye do that?”
“I will gladly promise to be their time travel guide.”
They all got a laugh out this.
“Ye might as well get started then. Ye’ll reunite everyone and then ye will cross the bridge with Angus and Edna.”
“What a relief. I thought ye were going to say they could no’ be reunited.” Edna’s hand was on her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart.
“We are no’ heartless, Edna. Ye’ll come to ken us better once ye’ve joined the Council. I expect ye’ll take a wee vacation first and then join us in Edinburgh.”
“We’ll stay to see that the travelers return and then we will be on our way.” Melusina exchanged glances with the other two witches.
“Thank ye,” Edna replied. She was ecstatic with everything that had happened. Perhaps being kidnapped hadn’t been all bad. She had gotten a new position on the Witch’s Council, Maggie was taking over the bridge, and she and Angus would finally have some time to relax and enjoy their lives.
“Aye, thank ye,” Angus said. “I doona ken what I’d do without me Edna.”
“Ye doona have to worry about that anymore,” Mardella assured him.
“Shall we go tell the others and start the process of reunification?” Melusina stood and waited for the others to do the same.