Blackbird Sings

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. Indeed, many would say no dragon has existed in Talamh in over two millennia. But then again there are those who have always known. In the shadow of the Gwynn ap Nudd Mountains, on the road toward Tir na Romhainn lies Taliesin Forest. A lush world filled with primeval trees, and creatures, familiar and sometimes, not so. Sweet water, blessed by the Gods, bubbles from ancient springs and refreshes weary travelers. But be wary. When the mist settles, one might just lose their way.

After passing two long weeks of travel through extraordinary weather, Aislinn found herself at the northern most point of Taliesin Forest. One more night in the wild, a day's ride and she would be home. She should have arrived three days earlier, but the unusually turbulent weather had slowed her progress. She patted the neck of the gray stallion and turned to see the large wolf leap onto a boulder beside the road.

"There you are. I thought you found your way home without us." The wolf tilted his head. "I know," she said with a smile. "You would not leave me unprotected. But we couldn't be more safe as we enter the Western Wood." The wolf let out a low growl. "Bran, you worry too much. Come," she said nudging Gailleann into the shelter of the great trees.

She dismounted a short distance from the road, choosing a location where she could see travelers, but could not be seen herself. Aislinn removed the saddle, and pack from Gailleann. She started to gather wood for a fire, but a twinge at the base of her neck told her it might not be a good idea. She sighed deeply and rolled her bedding out on the pine needles which created a soft mattress for the night.

Bran circled the area in ever shrinking circles until he came to rest beside her. She ruffled his ears, as she reached into her pack and pulled out the last of her food. She sighed deeply and began to slice the bit of cheese and bread. She put a small piece of each back in the pack for morning and took a bite of the apple.

Bran's ears perked and his large pink tongue traversed the edges of his mouth. Aislinn smiled and offered him a piece of cheese. "Would you like some bread with that?" The cheese had barely touched his tongue before it was gone. "You didn't even taste that!" He put his head in her lap, then rolled over with all four legs up in the air. Gailleann snorted. "I haven't forgotten you. But as you can see I am pinned. Could you come closer please?" He flicked his ears but stepped toward her as she took a second bite from the apple. The three companions shared the remaining food, then settled in for the night.

The morning mist cast a gray hue over the sun's pink light. Aislinn was thankful for the warmth of Bran, who was curled tightly against her. She was both reluctant to leave the warmth, and excited to see her family and friends. She took a deep breath and threw back the blanket. A low growl came from behind her. The blanket covered Bran, and it was now subject to his wrath. It was a valiant battle, but eventually the great wolf won. The blanket surrendered without sustaining a single wound. Aislinn laughed.

A snort from Gailleann drew her attention. She saw nothing, but quickly put everything in her pack. Bran had disappeared, no doubt to investigate some scent. A low growl was heard, then the piercing cry of a hawk. A rumble sounded on the road, and a group of riders approached. Aislinn watched them as they passed. They were a dark looking bunch wearing leather armor and carrying a variety of weapons.

Aislinn got no sense of animus from the riders, but she became slightly concerned when one rider slowed and looked her direction. A cry from the hawk, took his attention away from the wood and he rode on. Bran returned to her side and nuzzled her hand. "Are you saying you'd like some breakfast?" He sat and put a paw in her hand. "Not much to choose from this morning." She pulled the remaining cheese and bread from the pack. She broke a piece of bread and cheese for Bran and then herself.

Gailleann lifted his nose to the air. “What? You think there is more?” The great horse nodded. Aislinn shook her head. “I don’t think so,” as she pawed through the pack again. “Oh! Look what I found!” She said as she pulled an apple from the bottom of the pack. “Good nose.” She took a bite of the apple and shared the rest with Gailleann. Aislinn washed it down with a long draught of water.

The three companions traveled the road to the village of Taliesin for five hours when Aislinn noticed Bran was behaving oddly and Gailleann had slowed his pace. She looked around but saw nothing and sensed no danger. She gained her bearings. There was an ancient path to the hills above the village nearby. Few were aware of its existence, and none traveled it as the terrain was uneven. "Shall we travel the way of the ancients?" Bran crossed the road, entering the wood. Gailleann followed the wolf without prompting.

Aislinn enjoyed being among the trees. The dark, damp of the deep wood. The fresh smell of pine and spruce filled her not just with their scent but their energy and power. She heard the riders on the road beyond the wood. They were stopped, probably for a midday meal.

She heard the cry of a hawk again, this time closer than before. Looking up, she saw the great red-tailed raptor sitting in a tree only a few yards from her. She heard the call of its companion, the man who had stopped near her campsite. The hawk remained in the tree, watching her. Aislinn began to feel a sense of unease. Was this merely a companion hunter, or were the two entwined? And if they were connected, how close? Might the man be able to see her through the eyes of the hawk.

Aislinn reached for the amulet beneath her cloak, whispered a few words, and took a deep breath. She exhaled softly and watched as the mist began to form. She pulled her hood closer about her face and nudged Gailleann to continue. Behind her she heard a soft laugh. It intrigued her.

The mist quickly filled the wood surrounding the men and Aislinn for several hundred yards. She urged Gailleann up the hill to ensure they could not be followed or seen once the mist vanished. Aislinn had bought herself ten minutes of cover. As she reached the crest of the hill, she slowed the pace and thought about the circumstance of the last few minutes. She was confused by the whole event. "Why did I call the mist? There was no threat. There was no reason."

"You should not second guess yourself," a voice sounded in her head. "Every action you take is for some reason. You may not ever know why but trust yourself and know your actions have purpose."

They reached the clearing at the top of the hill. Aislinn closed her eyes and smiled. She let her mind find the memories of that day. The memory of Anwyll Aneurin was strong. She smiled as his presence filled her mind and the clearing. She opened her eyes to find him watching her. The look upon his face made her smile. To see a dragon smile is not something witnessed by many, but it is a lovely sight.