

The Seven Spell Saga Book Seven

An Ending and a Beginning

Tessa Stokes

****

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 978-1-908210-66-1

Copyright Tessa Stokes 2012

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to actual people living or dead is purely coincidental.

All rights are reserved.

Covers designed and produced by the author; Copyright Tessa Stokes 2012

Also available by the same author

Spellbinding: Book one of The Seven Spell Saga 2010

The Spell Breaker: Book two of The Seven Spell Saga 2010

The Seven Spell: Book three of The Seven Spell Saga 2011

The Sealed Door: Book four of The Seven Spell Saga 2011

The Task: Book five of The Seven Spell Saga 2011

Bartholomew Pike's Spell Book: Book six of The Seven Spell Saga 2012

****

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

An Ending and a Beginning
Chapter One

The Sword

Esteban had been traveling for three weeks and was bored with it. He arrived back at his palace and stored the new spells and potions he had acquired in his workshop.

He was at his dining table eating a meal when he looked across at the chair Claudine would have occupied. It incensed him that she was not there, and he threw down his knife. It clattered against his goblet and the thing tipped over spilling his wine over the polished wooden table.

A servant ran to him to mop it up, and without hesitating Esteban held up a hand and turned the servant to stone. He watched the wine pool on the table around the bowl of fruit and a plate of marzipan sweets that was there. He picked up his plate of chicken and vegetables, and threw it at the wall. The other servant standing to one side of the room made the slightest move to go and clear up the mess, and then thought better of it. He stood silent and still as Esteban clapped his hands, which brought two young girls running in. They brought with them a large bowl of warm water and a towel. They washed Esteban's hands. He stood up after this and walked out of the dining room.

He went to Claudine's room and found it as he had left it, destroyed. He stalked about it lifting things up and opening an almost concealed cupboard he had not previously looked inside. He stared with disgust at the clothes hanging there, clothes that were not from his own world. Some kind of trousers made of a blue, woven fabric that looked like workmen's trousers to Esteban and a shirt. The shirt was filmy and Esteban pushed at it with annoyance. Suddenly he pulled it off the hanger and tore it up. He dragged the trousers from their hanger and searched the pockets. He found a coin. It was alien to him and he stared at it for a minute.

Esteban knew this coin had come from the other world that Claudine had visited. He cursed and dropped what was a pair of jeans to the floor. He decided that the next day he would go to that fountain of hers and try his hand at the magic. He had found another water spell on his travels. A spell that enabled him to command water into waves and spirals something like what Claudine could do with her fountain water.

He went to his chamber and watched the sun sink through the window until all that he could see was darkness, and the black shapes that were the two turrets opposite. He moved then and lit the chamber with his magic lamps. They did not have to rely on candles in his world. Esteban could provide light when he wanted to, and he usually did.

****

The morning light came early as it was high summer and a butterfly came through Esteban's open window. He watched it flutter about and then land on the tall vase standing on a chest near the window. Esteban expected his bath to be ready in the next room and he got up.

The bath was ready and so was a breakfast on a small table by the open window.

After he had bathed, Esteban put on his clean clothes and went to eat his customary fruit, bread, and cheese breakfast. He considered the idea of trying out his new spell at Claudine's fountain, and then went back into his chamber and collected one of his swords. He left the castle by the front bridge on one of his horses but otherwise alone. He didn't want anyone to know what he did at the fountain.

He reached the pool and magic fountain and dismounted his horse.

Firstly, he walked around the pool. It looked benign and inconsequential to Esteban. He bent and scooped a handful of it. It trickled between his fingers and he sighed. Nothing but ordinary water he thought, and then he stepped back and cast his spell at the pool to cause a wave that would swamp the other bank. Nothing happened. Esteban knew this spell worked, and was furious that nothing happened to this pool. He had tested the spell on the way home and knew it was powerful. He had flooded a village. Esteban cursed. He strode to the fountain remembering he had thrown his sword in there after fighting with Claudine. Whilst magic, this fountain with its stone basin catching the water was not deep. You could see the bottom of the basin and Esteban expected to see his sword at the bottom. He expected to reach down and pick up his sword. There was no sword as far as he could see and he cursed again. Someone must have come along and collected it. He would inquire amongst his courtiers and his subjects. He wanted it back and he would have it, or someone would suffer.

It was lucky that Esteban had not been tempted to put his hand into the fountain basin right then, having been able to see the lack of his sword within it, because it was just the right time for him to have been transported to Tristan's waterfall, through the portal that now existed there.

Chapter Two

A shock and Oliver's solution

The waterfall in question was pouring its silky water over the rocks right then, and Chloe with Oliver standing holding her close, was telling him about the news her mom had given her that afternoon. He held her closer as fear washed over him.

****

"Oliver, they are leaving. Dad's not selling the restaurant complex, he's going to rent it to Marcel, but they are going. He's given notice to Tristan about the hunting lodge we rent, and he's written to the Dearing trust. I know they have decided to go back to California for sure. It's really their home you know, and I can't blame them for wanting to go home, but my home is here now with you, with Tristan, and with everyone else we know now".

****

Chloe was so upset, and I held her tight feeling so scared of losing her I couldn't think straight for a couple of minutes as she continued to tell me that her mom and dad expected her and her brother to leave with them.

"You will be twenty-one at the end of the year, and I already am. We're not children. We both have our own businesses. I love you dearly. I can't let you go. Please stay. Tell them that you and I are getting engaged and you're staying here with me. That would stop them insisting you go with them". I held her face in my hands, and kissed the track of a teardrop down her face to her lips. I would fight for her.

"Oliver, that's an amazing idea. We could say it and then they would let me stay, and we could just never mention it again to them", Chloe said, looking cheered by my suggestion.

It wasn't what I'd hoped for. "Chloe I mean it. I mean really get engaged. Tristan and Dale are an item for sure, although I know they haven't been together that long, a few weeks I guess, but he's in love with her. You know it. Chloe I love you so much, you must know I always hoped we'd be properly together".

I didn't care if I sounded pleading. We had been growing even closer for a couple of months, and then the last few weeks had been like heaven for me because we gelled so well, Chloe and me. We were such a good team and making love with her had just gone to new heights.

She kissed me. It was full of love and I closed my eyes holding her face to mine.

"I love you too Oliver. I didn't mean to hurt you and it wasn't about Tristan. It was about doing it in a rush for these reasons. Steven wants to stay. He's devastated and stormed out to go to John's house after we were told the news. It's so sudden and I can't help wondering if the visit from Kim had anything to do with it. Mom says not, but she has so much work over there and is forever visiting". She sighed deeply and I hugged her again.

"Has Tristan said anything? Chloe he would let you and Steven stay in the house. He doesn't need it and he doesn't need money. His treasure box is still in your wardrobe isn't it?" I grinned then as it struck me as so funny that Tristan just left millions of dollars' worth of gems and gold in an ancient box in Chloe's wardrobe.

Chloe smiled too and snuggled up to me. "He hasn't said anything yet. I haven't called him. I called you Oliver. I can't lose you. I can't leave. This is awful. Mom and dad still look at Steven and me, and see their kids. I don't think she knows I've grown up. She doesn't seem to know Steven is nearly nineteen. Boys his age die in wars. They are too young for that, and now I have made myself feel even sadder thinking about it".

She gave a little sob and I felt tears come into my own eyes at the sob, and at what she had said. I was about to speak when my cell phone sang out in the pocket of my jeans.

It was Tristan and he had received the news. I put my phone on speaker so that Chloe could hear what he said.

"It's okay. Chloe and Steven don't have to leave the house if they don't want to. If their parents will let them stay behind, I will insist they are my guests. Chloe, are you listening? You can't go. I can't lose you. We can't lose you".

I smiled at Chloe as I held the cell phone up for us to listen. She answered him.

"Tristan I can't leave. This is my home. Oliver thinks we should get engaged so that my parents see me staying as something indisputable". As she said that I heard Tristan gasp, and then he said.

"You and Oliver get engaged? Oh. Oh that's radical, can't you just tell them you are old enough to live where you want? You have your own business. You've just started up with Bartholomew too. I'll talk to them".

I sighed, there was no question in my mind Tristan didn't want me getting engaged to Chloe and then I had to smile a little at his reaction, but if she accepted me, too bad.

Chloe looked at me and smiled too. "Tristan I will talk with them again and tell them you said Steven and I can stay in the house. Dad might want something concrete about that, like a new agreement. Tristan where are you? Could you come over to the house this evening?"

I was definitely going to be there too I thought as Tristan answered.

"Like a shot. I'll ditch the work on Jo. Just give me half an hour. Okay I'll see you then".

I put my phone back in my pocket and then put my arms around Chloe.

"The offer still stands. If they dig in and think you and Steven have to go back to California with them, I'm buying you a ring, not that you haven't already got two sitting there on your desk. Tell me what you think Chloe".

She put her arms up around my neck and pressed against me so that I felt a spark of need start in my lower stomach. She kissed me and I waited for her answer kissing her back gently just hoping.

"Oliver, I think it might be the thing that sways mom. She's always thought you and I were meant to be. I love you enough to do it. Could it be a long engagement though because I still feel as if we have a very long time ahead of us? Could we just get the ring you gave me after the 'chamber time-travel event' made a little smaller, because you did give that to me for this reason, remember?"

It was good to hear, and I pressed her tightly against me and kissed her until I couldn't breathe. "It can be as long as you want. It can be any ring. We should call Steven and ask him to come home to talk with us".

Chloe smiled at me and I took her hand to climb the path up from the waterfall.

We would work things out for sure. Tristan was going to fight for her to stay too and that was a good thing.

Chapter Three

The Decision

We walked into the kitchen at Chloe's house through the big French windows, which were flung open. Steven had come home and was in there with not just John, but Will too.

They were sitting at the table with bottles of fruit juice in front of each of them talking in low voices and they all three looked around when we came in. Chloe went quickly to Steven.

"Steven you're back. Where's mom? I want to talk to you. Oliver and I want to talk to you".

Steven grimaced. "Mom has gone shopping, which is great because I couldn't see her right now without a scowl on my face".

Chloe gave him a hug, her arms around his shoulders as she bent over him.

I smiled at Will and John, and then said, "Don't worry Steven, we think there is a solution to this whole thing". He stood up, walked up and down the big kitchen a couple of times, and ran his hands through his hair.

"I hope so I really do because I'm not leaving. This is home for me now. I have the band, and we are doing well. I just applied to university. This can't be happening".

I shook my head at him. "Steven it will not happen, we won't let it", I told him.

I turned to Chloe. "I'll make some coffee Chloe. Do you want anything?"

She shook her head. "No thanks Oliver".

Just as I was taking a coffee cup from the cupboard, her cell phone rang.

She answered and then gave me a glance walking out of the kitchen listening to whoever it was.

I turned back to Steven. "Chloe and I are getting engaged and that means she will stay. Tristan is coming over and he has already said neither you nor Chloe needs to move out, and he wants to talk to your parents". I told him this and as soon as Will heard Chloe and I were getting engaged, he stood and ran over smiling. I had to get the rest of the sentence out as he shook my hand, slapped me on the arm, and then congratulated me.

Steven began to smile. "Maybe that will help Chloe and congratulations Oliver, but it may not mean I can stay".

Chloe came back into the room and grinned as Will hugged her, and both Steven and John called out congratulations. She waited for them to finish and said. "That was Tristan on the phone. He's already told dad that if we want to stay he will not be charging rent on this place. Dad apparently was open to us staying on a trial basis. Tristan is coming over now. Oliver I want to talk to you for a moment outside, okay?" She took my hand and we walked out to the garden.

"Tristan doesn't want me to rush into getting engaged. He says he still loves me and that it would seem so final. I told him I thought it was the only way mom might come around".

I listened to her and felt the smile I had on my face disappear.

"Chloe you didn't tell Tristan you loved me enough to do it then, the way you told me?" I couldn't help feeling hurt. As soon as I had said it, I wished I hadn't because Chloe looked devastated. I reached for her and held her close.

"I probably will tell him that Oliver when things are less fraught. You know I wouldn't even do it at all if I wasn't totally in love with you". She whispered this, and I put my hands around her face and kissed her.

"I'm being horrible. I'm sorry", I told her, and I did feel as if I had somehow made things worse for her.

She kissed me back and then hugged me tight around the waist. I was surprised when she said, "Oliver let's make sure people know it's real. That the engagement is real, because I think it should be. I think it's you and me, and Tristan and Dale".

I was frowning a little and wondering what had prompted this, but I smiled and a sigh of relief escaped before I could swallow it down. Chloe heard it and she leaned back from me and grinned.

"You have to know Oliver after these last couple of months that if there was still a choice to be made for me, I would choose you. I love you so much it's unthinkable that I wouldn't, not now, not the way you love me, not the way you constantly make me feel loved".

I stood there with my arms around her and was stunned by this. I heard Tristan's truck drive onto the driveway and I stared at her.

"Tristan's arrived", I said. It was all I could get out. She reached up and kissed me. I held her face to mine and kissed her softly.

We went into the kitchen when we heard Tristan's voice. He was talking to Steven and as we walked in he smiled at us.

"Let's work things out now and present your parents with it Chloe. There's nothing more important to me than keeping you here and Steven too since that's what he wants".

I made the coffee I had started making a few minutes ago as Tristan outlined his plan.

"You both get to stay here rent free. I'll include the services in that too. Chloe has her business and what about you Steven. Do you make enough on your gigs to live?"

Steven shrugged and looked across at Will. "We sometimes do, but we're still working on it. We could get more gigs couldn't we Will? We've knocked a few back because of John and I taking exams. I reckon that I could feed and clothe myself if I give up designer jeans". We all laughed at that.

Chloe joined in. "My design business will do the same for me and I think Marcel might be pleased to give me some table waiting at the restaurant. Tristan it's so generous of you to do this".

She smiled at him and he gave her a look loaded with love. He still loved her then, just as much as before, I realized. That was okay I thought because suddenly I knew his love wouldn't ever go away despite Dale being on the scene. I think we had all shared too much over the last few years.

Tristan nodded. "The icing on the cake though is the fact that Oliver and Chloe are getting engaged, and Steven you will get into university to study music, I'm sure of it". He smiled around at everyone, and then he went to Chloe and hugged her close.

I didn't even feel a twinge. He looked at me over her shoulder and gave me a strange look. I didn't flinch from it, and when he let go of Chloe he came to me, thumped me on the upper arm, and said, "Congratulations Oliver, I can't think of anyone I would rather have engaged to the girl I love".

A silence descended after he said that, and then the front door opened and Chloe's mom came in, which was just as well because I don't think anyone knew what to say after Tristan's statement.

Chloe sat her mom down, I made her coffee, and we all of us told her what was happening until finally she stood up and came to me. She hugged me. I looked at Chloe as this was happening because I knew we had won.

"Oliver I always knew you and Chloe would end up getting engaged, and I can see how you might have brought it forward since her dad and I are leaving the country, but all the same it's great. I know you will both be so happy. We must have a party before we leave. Does dad know?" She had turned to Chloe and asked this last question.

"We thought we would tell him later. Go up to the restaurant for dinner and tell him", she added.

Chapter Four

Tristan and the ring

The night before when we had all gone up to the restaurant and ambushed Nick McGarry with the plan and the engagement, I had learned that Chloe wanted one of the rings on her desk for her engagement ring. It pleased me because they had both been mine originally, and then when she needed it altered to fit properly, and Oliver was working today I just had to say I would take her to get it fitted this morning. I had to do it too because the truth is I still love her. I wish it was me getting engaged to her and I know that's outlandish because I have Dale. Dale loves me and I love her, but I know in my heart I love Chloe either more, or differently. It's not something I'm proud of, but it's not something I can help either. I know now I never really understood when Chloe used to say she couldn't choose between Oliver and me, and loved us both. Now I'm in the same position I look at it all differently. If I didn't know Oliver loves Chloe absolutely I would somehow have persuaded them not to do the engagement thing. It was what swung Chloe's mom in favor of the whole deal though, including that Steven could stay because Oliver told her and Nick that he would look after Steven.

Nick will be helping them financially too, which means they will not be so worried about their businesses. I intended to do the same.

I was driving over to pick up Chloe and go into the jewelers. Since I had confessed about Dale to Chloe, I had only seen her a few times. I still hugged her close when I saw her and the last two times I had to kiss her even though I knew it might not be the right thing to do. She kissed me back though and we agreed we still felt the same about each other. We had been for a walk and talked for hours the last time and I hadn't wanted to leave that night but I did.

Chloe was on her porch when I arrived at her house.

"Hi Chloe you have the ring with you, the one you want to use?" I asked unnecessarily, because I knew she would have, being super organized the way she always was. I said it because I was nervous.

"Tristan what a question, of course I do. It's the blue one", she told me, and for some reason I wished it was the red one. I had given Oliver the blue one, and he had given it to Chloe. I wished she had chosen the ruby as I had given that to her directly. I smiled and leaned over to kiss her. I kissed her lips because I love her, and she sighed afterwards.

I opened the door of the truck for her and she grinned at that.

I turned the truck and drove off.

"Is everything okay Chloe? I hope nothing has changed overnight, your mom hasn't changed her mind?" I asked her.

"No Tristan nothing like that", she replied.

"I wish you wouldn't do this Chloe, get engaged I mean, not for real, because it does seem as if it's real to me", I said, and she looked out of the window.

"It just cements things", she told me, and I wondered what exactly.

At the jewelers the man was very impressed by the ring and asked if we were sure we wanted it made smaller it was so old and lovely. I nodded.

"Yes Chloe needs to be able to wear it properly", I told him, and I glanced at her smiling.

"So have you two named the day?" he asked, and I looked at Chloe again wondering what to say as he thought it was us getting engaged.

She grinned at him. "Not yet", she answered, and he grinned back as if they shared some joke.

The ring would be ready by the end of the week, and we left the shop with a receipt and an invoice.

Outside I took Chloe's hand.

"Let's go and get some coffee. I really don't want to give you up just yet", I told her, and I knew it sounded an odd way of saying I didn't want us to go home, but it just came out like that as if I was losing her love.

Chloe put her arm loosely around my waist as we walked and it felt good.

We went to the little café near the library and sat at an outside table.

I felt as if it was ten years since we had been sitting there after I had found the artifacts in my attic, and not the short time it had been. I almost wished I could go back in time and not say anything about them. Not bring them to Oliver and Chloe's attention, and have just pushed them to one side in the attic.

"Chloe I wish you wouldn't get engaged", I said again, and she leaned forward to take my hands over the table.

"Tristan I need to convince mom and dad that I am an adult and can be left here. I really think what with Oliver saying he would look after Steven, and you of course helping us both, that it was the deciding factor for mom and convinced dad not to insist we leave with them".

I smiled and let go of her hands to shuffle my chair around and sit so that I could hug her to me.

"Chloe I wish it was me. I wish things were different. I know now how hard it must have been for you when I asked you or maybe Oliver did about choosing between us. Please tell me we will still see each other", I said, and I knew as I said it that it sounded strange. She smiled at me and kissed me.

"Tristan what are you on about? I'm not going anywhere. You will still see me. We still love each other. We're stuck with each other anyway you, Oliver, and me. Stop this weirdness".

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes that's all true. Yes I know", I told her.

When I dropped her off home I felt better because we had talked and hugged each other, and it felt the same as always between us.

I would pick the ring up at the end of the week and give it to Oliver to give to her. I could do that much because it's true I can't think of anyone I would rather have engaged to the girl I love other than Oliver. Actually come to think of it, if it wasn't him there would be no way I would let it happen.

Chapter Five

Chloe receives a package

Tristan had dropped me home and gone off to work and I watched him drive away smiling. I still loved him. It was hard to think back about what we had shared and not love him, not want him. I shook my head as I opened the front door thinking to myself that I would call Oliver and tell him about the jeweler, because Oliver should have been the one with me there, not Tristan, but I suspected Tristan had to do it.

There was a flat, padded-bag package on the doormat with the other mail that had been put through the mail slot when I was out. I opened it as it was addressed to me. It was a little flat purple-blue box and a note. I opened the box already knowing it was the bracelet Oliver and I had given back to Marti when I was there trying to surreptitiously heal her daughter. I took the bracelet out of the box and held it as I read the note.

You brought us luck with your generous gesture. Rachel is completely well as if her kidneys are new. We got your address from the auction house copy of the receipt that they provided to your boyfriend for insurance purposes. I would like you to have the bracelet. Marti

I smiled at this. I'd wondered if the healing had worked for the last couple of weeks. In that time I had helped someone with arthritis, an older man who was in obvious pain in a shop in town. I'd started to work with Bartholomew too. He'd shown me the symbols, which if I incorporated them into stained glass window designs, would relax the person looking at it. That was my first task, but I knew I would work with him on other designs soon.

I called Oliver and his phone went to message so he must have been working and unable to answer. I took the bracelet up to my room with the note and left them on my desk.

I decided to get some work done and booted my computer. I walked over to my window to look out at the expanse of garden and the woods beyond. It was unthinkable that I should leave this house, ever actually, and I sighed thinking that eventually I would have to. You couldn't have Tristan semi-funding where you lived forever. I had the stupidest thought then, and it was how it would have been okay if I was getting engaged to Tristan, and we would live here together. I felt shocked at myself. Was I always going to crave Tristan as well as Oliver? I needed to pull myself together.

I was lucky because right then my cell phone rang and it was Oliver. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found I was elated by his calling me. I told him about the return of the bracelet and he was so pleased that Rachel had been cured. He asked me about the ring, and when it would be ready, and I reluctantly told him Tristan was picking it up at the end of the week. Oliver sighed, but didn't comment, and we arranged to see each other that evening. He would come around after work and pick me up.

I applied myself to work for the rest of the afternoon and early evening determined to make a success of the new designs incorporating Bartholomew's symbols. Half an hour before Oliver was going to arrive I had a shower and put on a dress. It had been some time since I had worn this dress and it reminded me of other times, times with Tristan, and I frowned thinking I must be having some kind of delayed reaction to his finding Dale, and my getting engaged to Oliver.

Oliver arrived.

"Chloe you look gorgeous. I haven't seen you in that dress for ages. I should be taking you somewhere special not just to my place". He smiled as he held me at arm's length and looked at me.

"I'm just thankful to be with you Oliver no matter where we are going. I feel a little on edge for some reason, and I just need some quiet time with you", I told him, and hoped that it was true.

When we got to Oliver's place he went to have a shower and left me looking at a website he had built for a new client. I was supposed to check the user friendliness of it, and so I did until I became interested in what they were selling. They had taken photographs of beautiful scenery around the area, processed them at poster size, framed them, and that was what they were selling. Some had special effects on them such as sepia or raindrops. You might think this was a simple and possibly not very lucrative business, but the pictures were stunning. Someone had framed and composed the shots with huge skill. I was looking at a photograph of a stream when Oliver came into the room and cuddled me. He bent close to my ear and whispered, "I love you so much".

I turned my head to kiss him and put my hand up into his hair, which was still wet. His kiss was gentle and loving. "What are you looking at Chloe? That's pretty isn't it?" He had noticed the picture I had on the screen. I smiled at him.

"It is. They have taken a simple idea and made some stunning pictures. Look at the frames too. Some seem old and some look specially carved to suit the photographs".

Oliver pulled up another chair and sat beside me.

"You know Chloe, you did this too, remember, you took photos of Tristan's horses and got one framed for his birthday present. It's hardly a new concept".

I grinned at him and leaned in to kiss him again. He is just so sweet.

"I know Oliver but what I see here are such beautifully framed, composed photographs. Everything about them is beautiful. They are compelling. The light, the mix of texture it's all gorgeous".

He smiled at me. "You know this stuff. I'm a simple computer junkie".

I shook my head. "No Oliver and you know that's not true".

We put our arms around each other and kissed.

He had to know it wasn't true and I put all my love for him into that kiss.

He kissed me breathless and unzipped my dress.

It fell off one shoulder and Oliver kissed along my skin murmuring how much he loved me. I reached inside his unbuttoned shirt to trail my fingertips along his chest muscles. For a computer junkie Oliver was built. When his lips found mine again, he had pushed down my dress to stroke along my backbone, and unhook my bra. I felt the intense pleasure that always came with the knowledge that Oliver was going to make love to me and everything else went out of my mind.

Chapter Six

Another vision

Oliver and I had left the website up on the computer screen the night before. As he made coffee, and I used his computer to check my email that morning, I just minimized the window and opened another. He brought me orange juice and kissed down my neck.

"What's going on with you today my love, my betrothed?" he asked, and I giggled.

"That's a little funny Oliver", I told him.

He smiled enigmatically. "You are. You are my love, and we are betrothed. You accepted my offer of engagement regardless of if you wear the ring yet".

His eyes sparkled at me and he widened them slightly as if in challenge.

I stood up and put my arms around his waist.

He kissed me and pressed me to him. "Oliver I have to meet with Bartholomew at midday but first I need to catch up with Joshua Glazer. He loved the idea of the special patterned stained glass, well it's Bartholomew's symbols actually, but I'm not telling him that". I smiled at Oliver and he sighed.

"I don't work until tomorrow so I had hoped to spend all day with you, but I will just have to miss you until this evening".

I snuggled against him. "I'll be around sooner than that. I'll call you about four probably, and we can talk about what we might do for an engagement party. I want control of it so that mom doesn't go overboard".

Oliver held my face in his hands to look at me. "Is that because you still see this engagement as a solution and not as a real engagement?"

I saw the slight worry in his eyes and pulled him back against me.

"No, it is real. It is Oliver", I told him before he kissed me.

He dropped me home, but got out of the Land Rover to come to the door with me.

After we kissed each other and he was just turning to go I said, "See you later darling" and as soon as I had said that Oliver turned around, came back to me, and crushed me to him.

"You called me darling", he said against my lips.

"I did, didn't I?" It had finally slipped out. I thought that was significant because I don't actually use endearments that often, or at all now I come to think about it.

"You are", I told him, and kissed him.

He did leave then and I was grinning to myself as I ran upstairs to change, and pick up my portfolio for my meeting with Joshua Glazer.

I met Bartholomew over at Evangeline's house where he had set up a little office.

We were using the Dearing Arts holiday studios for classes, and workshops that we planned to offer later that summer.

Bartholomew is great to work with because he is so intuitive, and full of knowledge. What amazed me most about him is the way he adapts. Dale and Gaston were home and they hung around talking for a half hour before we got down to any work.

We planned another couple of designs for healing, one to relieve depression, and one to help insomnia. I found the whole thing fascinating and kept smiling at Bartholomew as he drew the symbols for me to trace and learn.

"You'll be a mage in no time Chloe", he told me.

The meeting with Joshua Glazer was excellent, and I wondered if Bartholomew had incorporated some kind of soothing spell as he taught me things because everything went so well.

At four fifteen I arrived home to find Steven, John, and the other band members except Will who must have been at work. They were practicing in the library, and I went to stand in the doorway and listen for a few minutes. They finished up one song and began to play the song Oliver had written for me. I hadn't thought about that in a long time and hearing it I felt overwhelmingly emotional.

I ran upstairs two at a time and put my portfolio on my desk. I was about to call him, and had my cell phone in my hand, when he rang me.

"Chloe, have you finished with your meetings? I have to see you as soon as possible". I heard the urgency in his voice and felt suddenly worried for him.

"Oliver are you okay, nothing's wrong?" I asked him.

"I'm okay, it's just that I had another one of those vision things, but I don't want to tell you on the phone. I'll come over".

I was still worried about him.

"No Oliver I'll come to you. Are you at home?"

"Yes I am Chloe. Okay you come to me. Will you come over right away?" He asked, and I told him I would.

As soon as I was in Oliver's driveway in the Jeep, he came out of his front door and watched as I parked, and then opened my car door.

I turned to him as he put his arms around my waist to hold me to him when I was getting out of the Wrangler.

"Oliver what is it?" I asked him, as he kept his arm around me to walk into his place.

We were in the hall and he started talking.

"I went over to see those new clients. We had done everything by email and phone so it was the first time I was to see them in person. I had set up the website and put it online for them to check as a preliminary thing. I was in their shop and I saw that stream picture you liked last night. I thought I would buy it for you and I went over there, and touched the frame as it hung on the display, and wham I get his vision. It was bloody awful. A woman, dead, she had cuts on her face, and the top of her chest was covered in blood. It was horrible Chloe". He had put his own hand up to his face and chest as he described the woman's injuries.

I took his hands in mine and pressed against him as we had reached the kitchen and were standing there against the cupboard.

"Are you sure she was dead Oliver?" I asked, and he nodded.

"She looked dead. She was very pale and almost gray. Her hair was matted with blood. Her eyes were staring. It was very grim. Needless to say I didn't buy you the picture". I frowned and nodded at this, and I cuddled him close.

"Did you ask about the picture? It must have been the frame Oliver. Was it old?" I asked as he shuddered a little.

"When I get the visions, they are so clear Chloe, as if they are real. I can't tell you how weird it is. I feel better now I have told you, but still its nasty isn't it? Do you think there is some woman lying dead somewhere and we are supposed to find her?"

I was rubbing my hands along his arms and his shoulders the way you do to comfort people. "I don't know. Let's make coffee or something, and Oliver isn't there something amongst Bartholomew's things that you still have to help you over this horrific vision. I don't want you traumatized", I said, and he started to smile a little.

"I'll be okay; it's just that it looked like she was murdered". I hugged him.

"Let's make coffee", I said, and pulled him along to the kettle.

He took a deep breath when we were there and hugged me.

"Sorry, it only happened ten minutes before I called you. I told the guy in the shop that I needed to check on another website and would call him, or he could call me when he had decided if any changes needed doing to the website I had built for him, and I hightailed it out of there back home".

I nodded at him and he made his coffee, and poured water on a tea bag for me that I had put into a cup.

"I get it that you were spooked Oliver, so don't worry, it shows you are a lovely sensitive person".

He turned to me and we put our arms around each other.

"Chloe, the thing is I don't get the visions with everything do I? I get them when we are supposed to do something. Well so far". He bent his head to mine and kissed me.

"That's true", I said as I stopped kissing him back.

"Let's go back there. Let's go over there and check the thing out, ask questions, and that way we can assess what's really going on. What do you think Oliver? Have you told Bartholomew about the visions, because I bet he would help somehow?"

Oliver shook his head slightly. "No Chloe, no one knows but you".

I looked at him and raised my eyebrows slightly in surprise.

"Not even Tristan?"

"Not even him", Oliver answered.

We sat down close to each other with our drinks and I considered that, and hoped we were not all growing apart.

"Okay we'll go back. They are open until six", Oliver suddenly said.

I drank some tea. "Okay sure", I said, and got up from my chair.

Chapter Seven

We find another immortal

I drove and Oliver directed me. It was only a ten-minute drive and was a shop tucked away in a side street that I didn't know existed, on the same road as the library. Oliver took my hand as we entered the shop. I glanced at him and he smiled.

"Don't touch anything Chloe I don't want you harmed in any way".

I grinned. "Oliver it's just a shop", I said. He pulled me closer to him.

He took me to the framed photograph on the display wall. I stood in front of it with him and looked at the frame. It was an old frame. It looked good with the photograph of the stream in it.

"It's a lovely old frame", I said, and a voice behind us said.

"You're right it is an old frame, about two hundred and fifty years old actually".

I turned around to see a young man behind us. He was a little shorter than Oliver was and had dark hair, cut short and spiky. His eyes were an intriguing shade of gray, and as he smiled at me, a dimple appeared in his left cheek.

Oliver had turned around too. "Hi Eddie, I came back to show Chloe this picture. She saw it on the website last night and really liked it".

He turned to me. "Chloe, this is Eddie Marchant he owns the store. Eddie, Chloe is my fiancé".

I smiled as much at the word fiancé as at Eddie.

"Hi good to meet you Eddie", I said not knowing what else to say, and I held out my hand to shake his.

I heard Oliver sigh slightly as Eddie took my hand and shook it.

In that moment I knew Eddie was different. He was incredibly healthy and strong. The feeling I got from touching his hand was similar to how Oliver and Tristan felt, not that I was attracted to him, but that he had an aura of extreme vitality. It was different from touching mom and dad, and Steven. It was different from touching other people as I brushed their fingers in shops being given change, or taking shopping from them. This guy was like us. I knew he was immortal. I tried not to let him know I had felt anything other than the usual handshake, and I turned to the picture.

"I would like to buy it Eddie", I said, and Oliver squeezed my hand, he had not let go of that left hand, even when I had shaken Eddie's hand with my right.

I sent him a thought. 'Oliver, Eddie is different. I want the picture to take the frame to Bartholomew'.

Oliver took over the conversation.

"We'll buy the picture Eddie. How come it has such an old frame?"

Eddie shrugged slightly. "I have lots. I buy up old stuff from auctions and junk sales. I do them up and use some of them for my photographs. I'll have Mitch get the picture off the display for you. By the way Oliver, the website is great. I'm pleased with the look of it. Let's hope it generates some sales for me".

He walked over to a doorway in the back wall of the store and spoke to someone in a room obviously concealed from the body of the shop.

Another young man came from in there and approached us.

"Hi there, I'll get the picture for you, if you want to go and pay Eddie at the front desk".

I nodded at him. I followed Oliver to the front desk and he finally let go of me to give Eddie his credit card. Mitch came along a moment or two later and handed me the picture wrapped in a stiff, white tissue paper, and tied with a tan colored, paper ribbon in a crisscross shape. I took the picture carefully and found it was heavier than I expected. Oliver had finished dealing with the payment and took the picture from me.

Before we left the shop I smiled at Eddie. "You take really great photographs Eddie", I told him, and he smiled at me.

"Thanks, I do enjoy it".

We were outside on the sidewalk and Oliver whispered. "Come on Chloe", as he started to walk quite quickly away. I followed and as we turned the corner onto the main road, he said. "What do you mean he's different?"

Oliver slowed down his pace.

"Oliver are you getting the vision again from the frame?" I asked him, and he looked at me and stopped walking.

"No maybe the wrapping is protecting me. Although I think I only get it the first time I touch the object. So how is Eddie different?"

"He feels like us, he feels immortal", I said, and Oliver looked startled.

"You can feel it?"

I nodded slightly. "Well I feel the difference in people, and he feels like you and Tristan".

Oliver started walking again.

"Let's get this to your car and then you can explain to me what that really means".

Fortunately, it wasn't far to the Jeep, and as soon as we had put the picture in the back Oliver put his arms around me.

"Tell me what you mean".

I had not really thought about it before because I attributed it to being able to heal people.

"Oliver when I touch someone I get the general feeling of them. You and Tristan feel really healthy sort of vibrant in comparison to say mom, who just feels normal like Steven, dad, and the guy Mitch I just brushed fingers with as he gave me the picture. It just started happening when I started being able to heal people".

"Right and you never thought to mention it Chloe?" Oliver asked.

I shrugged. "It seemed to go with the territory and it's not as if I get zaps or anything after that first time healing mom's headache, it was just a gradual realization".

Oliver frowned at me.

"Chloe, do you think he could have felt that you are different? Eddie I mean".

I didn't think so.

"No I doubt it. It's a facet of my healing thing. When I hold your hand can you feel anything?" I asked him.

Oliver grinned at this.

"I feel lots of things when you hold my hand, mostly l feel like kissing you. No I think that phenomenon is all yours Chloe".

We got in my car and I drove us back to Oliver's place. On the way Oliver called Tristan.

"Tristan something strange just happened. Chloe touched this guy in a shop and she thinks he's like us. Yes the life thing. Is someone with you? Well can you talk now? When will it be okay to drop over? Oh okay, see you then".

He finished talking with Tristan and said to me, "Naturally Tristan was intrigued, but was with someone so he's coming over to my place in half an hour".

We had reached Oliver's house and I parked next to his car on the space out front.

Oliver carried the picture inside and we took the tissue paper off and propped it against the wall. Oliver didn't have another vision and the thing leaned there looking innocent.

"We didn't actually ask many questions about the frame Oliver", I commented.

He nodded in agreement. "It wasn't exactly easy to ask much".

I agreed. "I didn't really want to ask much after I felt his aura".

Oliver grinned. "His aura?"

I smiled. "Yes that's what Bartholomew would say and it's true it's like this vibe that comes off people".

Oliver turned and hugged me. "Can you tell the vibe coming off me right now?"

I put my arms up around his neck and kissed him.

Chapter Eight

Are we still 'we three'?

We had been kissing and cuddling for a few minutes when Tristan arrived. We could see him clearly through Oliver's big front window and we smiled at each other.

"I'll go and let him in", Oliver said.

I heard Tristan asking Oliver what was going on as he came through the front door and then they were there in the office.

Tristan walked right up to me and I thought for a moment he was going to hug me, but he stopped and smiled instead. "Hi Chloe" he said.

Oliver told him the story noticeably missing out that he'd had a vision and concentrating on my reaction to Eddie. Tristan sat down on a chair, and shook his head.

"Who could he be? Could you be mistaken Chloe? Perhaps he's just super healthy, an athlete, or something", Tristan asked.

I thought I was right but then I decided I should make sure.

"We could go back and I could somehow touch him to check", I said hopefully.

Oliver made a little groan sound.

"How would we do that without seeming suspicious?"

Tristan was thinking.

"What if you took me over there and I bought a picture? Chloe could pay the guy and get the chance to touch him that way". He offered the plan and Oliver groaned again.

"Perhaps just you two go. I think that way it will not seem so weird. Chloe did tell Eddie that he took great photographs and if she took you around there to show you it might be more believable".

I agreed. "I think that might be better because you're doing business with him", I said to Oliver.

Tristan sighed. "We have to wait until tomorrow; it will look too weird if we dash back now just before closing. What else is going on? Do you want to come out to the Kool Kafé and catch up?"

***

We were at a table outside in the warm evening and Tristan was playing with the menu. He turned it over and over displaying an edginess that I hadn't seen for some time. Oliver looked across at me and I could tell he was thinking the same thing.

"What's going on with you Tristan, you seem a bit on edge?" Oliver finally asked.

Tristan threw the menu down and ran his hand through his hair.

"It's Dale. She thinks because you and Chloe are getting engaged we could make our relationship more visible".

I looked back at Oliver and he raised his eyebrows.

"Visible?" he asked.

Tristan sighed. "She thinks we're hiding our relationship".

"Are you?" Oliver questioned, and I said nothing. I didn't want to be commenting on Tristan's other love interest it seemed too weird.

Tristan glanced at me because I was quiet and then said, "In a way. I think Evangeline has guessed, unless Dale has actually told her, but I did ask her not to. I haven't told anyone but you two. I find it hard enough to have feelings for her without proclaiming them".

Oliver looked pained. "You have to face it Tristan. You must know if it's real, if it's a long term thing".

Tristan shook his head. "That's just it. When I am with her it feels real, but then I miss you two. We just don't see much of each other recently. I think it's because of her. I feel as if we three have drifted apart over the last three weeks. I don't like it".

I smiled at him.

"You still mean as much to us as ever Tristan. I'm sorry it feels the way it does for you", as I said this I wondered if it was the engagement that was really at the heart of how Tristan felt.

Oliver took a deep breath. "It's a little true Tristan we haven't seen much of each other. Things are going on with Chloe and me. I've developed yet another facet of our abilities.

I don't know if it's because of the artifacts, or if I would have developed it anyway, but sometimes when I touch objects I get a vision. It's meant that Chloe has healed two people, and that's why we went to the shop and bought that picture. I got a vision from it, and we were going to try to find out more about the frame in case there was someone for Chloe to heal". Oliver had said all this in a rush and Tristan watched him quietly.

"See this is what I mean. You two are off having adventures and stuff whilst I am plodding along on my own". Tristan looked hurt.

Oliver started to laugh. "Will you stop it. You sorted out the issue with Chloe and Steven having to leave, and you have taken Chloe to deal with an engagement ring. What's really wrong?"

Tristan looked down at the table and then shook his head. "I don't really know, but I do feel apart from you two. It just used to be us three and now it's us eleven".

I had to laugh then and Oliver laughed again.

"Us eleven? Who exactly do you mean?" Oliver asked when he had stopped laughing.

Tristan had to smile in spite of himself and listed off, 'Bartholomew and his people, Evangeline, Dale, Gaston, and us three'.

I smiled at him.

"We could all three spend a little more time together like we used to, couldn't we Oliver?"

Oliver gave me a look loaded with amusement, and affection. He answered, "We could, and if you want to Tristan you only have to say so".

Tristan seemed to cheer up after that and we arranged to go over to Eddie's shop the next day. Tristan dropped Oliver and me off at Oliver's place, and then drove off to do some accounts work.

When he had driven off Oliver turned to me.

"He's jealous I think. I think he doesn't want you and I engaged, and he's feeling he will lose you properly and for good".

I frowned. "Surely not Oliver, I told him I still cared for him and we would always be friends".

Oliver opened his front door.

"Even so I think that's it. Don't forget he was literally ages on his own, not really making friends, and then suddenly he has not just you who loves him, but me as his best friend. We've shared such a lot together and now it's true over the last few weeks since Dale arrived he has been on the sidelines in a way".

We were in Oliver's office and once again standing in front of that picture.

"Oliver that's because we, especially me, gave him the chance to be with Dale", I told Oliver and slipped my arm around his waist.

Oliver kissed my cheek.

"I get it. I think if I was him I would feel the same. I think you and I drifted into being closer earlier than when Dale arrived on the scene though, don't you?" he asked me.

I didn't know if that was strictly true but I nodded. "I think so Oliver", was all I wanted to say.

I wasn't staying with Oliver that night because I really wanted to have a good talk with mom about her leaving. She was going to California ahead of dad, and so she would be gone in a week. Dad was staying a further two weeks in England. I still thought the whole thing was very sudden.

I left about ten minutes later.

Oliver was working the next day anyway on the eleven until eight shift so we said we would call each other. I hugged him extra tight when I kissed him goodnight.

"Oliver call me if anything, and I mean anything, weird happens with that picture in your office", I told him.

Oliver grinned and kissed me again. "Nothing will now I'm sure of it, but we do need to work out what to do about the dead woman".

I shook my head. "Don't think about it yet Oliver", I told him, and finally got in my car. He kissed me one more time through the open window and then I did drive off.

At home, mom was in her study when I went down there to check, and so I made her coffee and then went to sit with her to thrash out arrangements

Much later, I stood by my window in my bedroom. It was dark and the night was sultry. The moon was half covered by clouds, but the lights in the garden were effective, and lit up at least halfway up the path to the woods. I decided to walk out there. I needed to think.

I left the house via the kitchen French windows and walked up the path.

I was thinking about Tristan and what he had said, but couldn't bring myself to feel sorry that we had found Bartholomew, and he had found his people, and especially Evangeline. I thought we could all do a lot of good in the community, in fact I felt grateful for that. The thing that was most challenging was Dale and Tristan in love, and yet I couldn't even wish that away because how could it have gone on forever that both Oliver and Tristan were my lovers and I theirs?

I was almost at the start of the woods when I heard it, the sound of a horse.

Tristan came out of the woods riding Cedric. I stood still as he approached me slowly and stopped Cedric alongside me.

"Chloe what are you doing out here?"

I waited until he got down from Cedric and let the horse wander off.

"The same as you I guess Tristan. I was thinking".

He looked once at Cedric and then pulled me into his arms.

I put my arms around him as he kissed me.

It was so good to kiss, and be kissed by Tristan. He left me breathless and held me pressed against him.

"Chloe, I miss you so much. I can't tell you how much I miss being with you. I'm confused and worried".

I pulled away a little so that I could look up into his eyes as he had my head clasped to his chest.

"I know", I said simply, and let myself reach up to kiss him again.

"Do you want to go and get some coffee, and talk about things?" I asked after the kiss.

"I'd like that. Cedric will too", he answered.

He took my hand to walk down to the kitchen. Tristan fell back into his comfortable way of making the coffee and I stood close by just watching the way he moved. He was so very attractive and still so very dear to me.

He suddenly moved to hold me again.

"I'm not happy about you and Oliver getting engaged Chloe. I wish I had never met Dale. I wish it was me you were getting engaged to".

I was so saddened by this. I put my hands up around his face and kissed him softly before I said. "But you have met her, you love her, she loves you. I think that you always needed someone who only loved you. I really think that's why you fell in love with her Tristan. Your heart needed it and looked for it, and so it's happened. Tristan I'm still here. I still love you. What do really want to happen?" I knew I was treading on dangerous ground, but I looked into his beautiful blue eyes, and I traced the few silver strands in his hair.

"I want to sit with you, hold you close, just to feel I haven't lost you Chloe".

It had been a number of weeks since we had made love to each other and I thought back to it. I had to keep away from that avenue of thought.

"Tristan we can go up to my room or we can go and sit in the middle drawing room. I think that it would be good to talk properly".

We went up to my room.

We sat together on my bed and then started to hug each other so that we lay on the bed face to face.

"I need to see you alone a little, to talk and know that we are still close, still love each other. It's so hard to forget what we had, what we've been through, how it felt to make love with you". Tristan whispered.

I closed my eyes as he kissed me. The old feelings welled up in me. I still loved him. I still wanted him.

"I think we should do that, as long as we remember the other people in our lives".

I meant that we might kiss each other the way we were doing now, but it had to stop there. I felt Dale might be really hurt by even that, and maybe Oliver too.

"You've been trying to stay away Tristan that's how it feels to me", I said.

"I have a little. I thought that was the right thing to do, but as I said earlier when we were with Oliver I feel cut off now from you and Oliver. Are we still 'we three'? I really need that Chloe. I still need it to be you, and Oliver, and me. I know it's got to be different between you and me, but I'm desperate to have everything I used to have with you except". I didn't let him finish, instead I whispered, "Making love to each other".

"Yes", he said, but he didn't sound convinced, and then we kissed each other again. Obviously, he didn't count kissing under that banner when in fact it was really.

Tristan stayed for about an hour. We talked and laughed together about things the way we used to. We checked on Cedric, and made more coffee. He was so much happier and settled when he left. We were seeing each other at lunchtime the next day anyway to check out Eddie.

Chapter Nine

Tristan is recognized

I hadn't slept very well mainly because I had thought about Tristan after he'd gone home. I showered, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and left my hair loose down my back. I spent some time on my designs, and then just before midday I went down to the kitchen and poured some orange juice. I went to sit on the patio and drink it. Tristan arrived five minutes later and I walked around to meet him.

He got out of the little white car he was driving and came to me to hug me close.

I smiled at him and hugged him back. He seemed happier today.

"I'll drive us Tristan. How are you feeling today?" I asked him.

"Okay really, after seeing you last night. I really needed that time with you". He kissed me gently and we got into my Jeep.

As we drove along Tristan asked me about the visions that Oliver had, and I told him basic details.

"I can't believe he didn't tell me and I wonder why not. He's my best friend you know".

I glanced at him. "I know Tristan".

We had reached the car park and I parked the Jeep. Tristan took my hand to walk to the store and I wondered what that would look like to Eddie when I walked in hand in hand with Tristan after Oliver had introduced me as his fiancé.

Tristan let go of my hand as we went into the shop and we walked side by side to the display wall. Tristan was looking closely at one of the photographs.

"This is really lovely", he said, and just as before there was a voice behind me.

"I'm glad you like it, it's a photograph of one of my favorite places". I knew that was Eddie and I turned to him.

"Eddie, I brought along a friend to see your lovely pictures".

Tristan had turned at the same time and Eddie was staring at him.

I looked from one to the other. Eddie was visibly shaken, and Tristan just looked a little puzzled.

"I'm sorry do we know each other?" Tristan finally asked.

Eddie looked around, and then answered.

"I know you. I'd know you anywhere. I can't believe you are still alive too. It's been two-hundred and fifty years, more. I'm astonished, and I would love to talk to you. I looked for you for years actually. There's a café on the high street, is it possible that we can go, get coffee, and talk?"

I was astonished myself. How did he know Tristan? If it had been so long since they had seen each other then Tristan's face must have been imprinted on the guy's memory for him to have recognized Tristan. I looked at Tristan, he saw my look, and shrugged.

"Okay that's fine", he said, and Eddie smiled.

"I just need to let my associate know that I'm going out for lunch", and he went off down to the room at the back of the store presumably to tell Mitch I thought.

Tristan took my hand and pulled me closer.

"I have no idea who he is, but we have to find out because the very fact that it's been two-hundred and fifty years Chloe, well that means your assessment was correct. Eddie is probably like us".

I nodded at Tristan as Eddie came back to us.

He led us up to what I thought of as our café by the library and as we sat down at a table Tristan glanced at me in amusement.

"Do you come to this café often Eddie?" I asked.

Eddie nodded. "I do now. I've come back to town after being away for about ten years. I opened the shop about three months ago. This is one of my favorite towns".

Tristan cleared his throat. "Sorry Eddie but can you just tell me how you know me. I'm wondering if you've mistaken me for someone else and surely the time span you mentioned, well", Tristan paused as if to insinuate that this was all a bit improbable.

Eddie glanced at me and then at Tristan. He looked spooked for a few seconds and I felt sorry for him.

Then he seemed to gain courage and started his tale.

"You saved my life. It was in seventeen-twelve. I had been set upon by thugs and was in a bad way. You fought them off, and got injured yourself, because there were four of them with knives. You took a knife from one of them as you broke his arm, and they realized that you meant business, and took off. I was bleeding and you took care of my wounds. I remember saying to you. 'You are injured too' but you said, 'Not badly' and you got me into a carriage, took me home, and gave my wife money for a doctor.

We never used that money because by the time my wife had found a doctor, who then actually refused to come to our end of the town, my wounds had started to heal. She came back to me in tears, but then when I showed her I was healing fast we put the money aside. I wanted to find you and give it back.

After some time of fruitless searching, I finally used the money to set up a business, and I have never looked back. You not only saved me but you gave me longevity and health. I'm never sick, and if I do get wounded, I heal.

I had always been able to draw and I drew a picture of you. I asked around showing people your picture, but no one knew who you were. I never saw you again, although I have always hoped to. I don't even know your name".

Eddie had finished his story and I raised my eyebrows at Tristan. He had inadvertently created an immortal in almost the same way he had done it to Oliver.

Tristan sighed. "Where was this?" he asked.

"In Paris, you saved me in Paris, but I have lived in England this last two hundred years".

Tristan seemed to be searching his memory. "And the year was?" he asked.

Eddie sighed slightly. "Seventeen-twelve. It was you. I only want to thank you. I don't know what you did, but I am still grateful for your care and for my life".

Tristan shook his head. "I'm sorry Eddie. I was in so many fights and I did help many people. I must ask you what you intend to do now with the knowledge that I'm still alive like you, more than two-hundred and fifty years later?"

Eddie actually grinned. "Not a thing. I'm so happy to have the chance to thank you. I would never expose you and how could I anyway without exposing myself?"

The coffee we had ordered arrived and we were quiet as it was placed in front of Tristan and Eddie. When we were alone again Tristan seemed to soften his stance.

"Eddie how have you coped through the years living on after others close to you have died?"

Eddie nodded his head to give a positive viewpoint. "I lost my wife very early in the time. That's why I left France. I've had a charming life mostly as an artist. I never re-married but had my share of lovers. I have no children. I can do as I please. People love my work and I've become adept at hiding my true age. I'd like to think we could be friends. How is it that Chloe knows about you?" He finished his speech with this question and Tristan immediately answered.

"We're very close friends. I trust her with my life".

I thought that was a good answer.

I smiled at Eddie. "We could be friends Eddie, isn't that right Tristan?" I asked.

Tristan gave me a look that was hard to interpret.

"Yes Eddie we must get to know you".

I wanted to steer the conversation onto less worrying topics.

"Eddie tell me about the photography. Your pictures are stunning".

He talked then for about five minutes and I found it very interesting.

He turned to Tristan. "I'd like to give you a picture. You came looking for one. Let me give you a gift. Come and chose one".

He was so happy to do this but Tristan said. "We need to leave. I'm in town on Friday maybe I can call in then".

Eddie nodded happily. "That will be great". He stood up politely, realizing it was time to go.

After he had walked away Tristan brought his chair closer to mine and took my hand.

"Oh my god, I don't know how to feel about this. I have this urge to leave town and disappear before he can cause trouble".

I looked into Tristan's eyes. He was serious.

"Tristan I don't think he knows he's immortal. He called it longevity. I think he's quite sweet, and he couldn't have been very old when you saved his life. He looks about twenty. Tristan he was so happy to find you. I think we have to be friendly. I think he is harmless".

Tristan didn't comment. He kissed me and put his hands up into my hair to kiss me again.

Chapter Ten

Chloe reveals her true feelings

We left the café and I drove us back to my place. Tristan was quiet and I finally said, "Tristan it might have been better just to accept the picture today because now you need to go back and see Eddie tomorrow. I don't think you should go alone. I'll go with you. Let's tell Oliver about this".

Tristan took a deep breath. "I'd rather it was just Oliver and me that went back there to be honest Chloe".

I nodded but didn't speak thinking Tristan must have some good reason for that.

When we were home Tristan suddenly perked up.

"Chloe let's go up to the restaurant for some lunch and see Oliver".

I grinned. "Okay that's a good idea. Shall I drive us?"

Tristan shook his head. "Let's walk".

I was sure that he wanted to walk so that he could hold my hand because that was the first thing he did as we started up the little lane to cross the gardens to the restaurant.

"Chloe despite this thing with Eddie I feel so much better now I have you and Oliver back".

I glanced at Tristan as we walked. It seemed a strange thing to say and then I realized I felt like that about him. I felt as if I had Tristan back.

I sighed because I wanted to let him know his feelings were valid. We had been through such a lot and this was my Tristan walking beside me holding my hand. We used to think we belonged together.

"Tristan I want you to know something. I still love you, very much, not just in a friendship way. I still want you, and even though events have suddenly made me think I need to be engaged to Oliver, I wish they hadn't. Tristan I wish Dale had never happened. I mean that I wish we were still together the way we used to be".

Tristan stopped walking and turned to me. He hugged me close and I could feel him nuzzle my hair on the top of my head. I could hear his heart beating. I remembered when I hadn't known what he was, and he had held me as we stood by the ancient little church, and I had heard his heartbeat.

The most dreadful feeling of loss suddenly swamped me. I really did wish he didn't love Dale. I wanted him back. I wanted him and Oliver just the way it had been for the last three years.

Tristan moved back from me and I was shocked to see that he had tears in his eyes. His blue eyes that I had always loved so much sparkled with teardrops.

"Chloe I feel the same. I don't know if I do love Dale. I didn't want to say anything but it started maybe yesterday. I have this feeling that something isn't right. It happened suddenly too. Yes I know I told you and Oliver I was unsure of making Dale and I public. That was something else. This feeling suddenly came over me yesterday. It was as if I could see more clearly or something. I'm sorry I'm not making much sense. I didn't think I was being influenced by magic and I don't think Dale is doing it, but now I feel that I am being used by magic in some way. I love you too. You know that don't you? I didn't want Oliver engaged to you but at the same time, I didn't want to stop an action that might keep you here without your parents. I'm worried about everything". He stopped talking and I put my arms around him hugging him again.

"Tristan we need to talk with Oliver. If you really are sure there is magic going on he might need to know. He's kind of wizardly now, which I know sounds bizarre, but it's true".

"He wants to be engaged to you properly, you do realize that. I'm sorry Chloe. I wish things hadn't turned out this way. I feel as if it's my fault".

I held his face and he bent his head to kiss me. It was very tender and I felt a little tearful myself.

"Tristan don't think that way", I whispered as we stopped kissing each other.

"Let's go up to the restaurant as we planned and see Oliver".

Tristan nodded and put his arm around me as we walked up there.

At the restaurant we found an outside table and Patricia soon arrived to take our order. We also asked if Oliver was busy and she said she'd mention to him that we were out here.

Oliver brought our order to us grinning. "How did you go with Eddie?" he asked.

I raised my eyebrows at him as Tristan said, "Weird. It was weird. He knew me and said I saved his life two hundred years ago. He is like us after all". Tristan had started to whisper halfway through the sentence.

Oliver looked around and then answered. "I knew it. I could feel weirdness around us again, and so what next?"

"We, as in you and me, we're going back tomorrow for a picture. He's expecting that. Chloe offered him friendship".

I smiled at that. "Yes because he seems so nice and don't you think it must be fate that we've suddenly met him?"

Oliver considered that comment and Tristan taking advantage of the silence asked, "Oliver we all need to talk. Things are a bit weird all round. Can we all meet and talk tonight? We could use my room at the Dearing place, or your place, we really need to talk".

Oliver raised his eyebrows a little looking mystified but answered, "Sure. What if I come up to the Dearing house as soon as my shift has finished?"

Tristan smiled. "Thanks Oliver. That's great".

Oliver gave me a questioning look but left us and walked over to a table to take their order.

I watched him and sighed.

"He really is good hearted isn't he? Does he know he's my best friend? Does he realize that he means as much to me as Richard did? I might tell him just to make sure. Will he be very upset do you think when he knows I want you back?" Tristan's voice was very soft and low. I looked into his eyes across the table.

"Tristan what does that mean? Want me back".

He took a deep breath. "I do, I want the Dale thing to go away, and I want you back".

I looked down at the food I had ordered and watched two huge tears drop onto it.

This was going to be difficult.

Tristan saw it and put his hand across the table to hold mine.

"Please don't Chloe. I know it's all been weird, and frankly you must have thought I had really chosen Dale especially when we all met at the Kool café. I'm sorry and if I could make it all go away, this last few months I mean, I would".

I looked up at him.

"So would I Tristan".

We didn't eat lunch really and I noticed Oliver glance over at us a couple of times as he served people. I smiled at him each time.

Chapter Eleven

The Meeting

We left the restaurant and we walked home hand in hand. I was thinking about what we would all say later when we met at Tristan's place. I had to get a little work done and so Tristan left me at the door. He held me close before he went off and told me he would try to make things right. I didn't know what that meant but I hoped things could be right.

I found that I couldn't work and I sat staring out of the window at the woods. For a few seconds I was lost in some dream, I don't know what, just a staring dream, and then I started to think about what Tristan had said. Where could the magic have come from or better still who? Could it all have started with those artifacts? I tried to pinpoint some time in the last few months when it was evident Tristan was changing.

The only thing I could think of was Dale's arrival. I didn't dislike her or anything horrible like that, I just thought maybe it would have been better if she had not arrived and then I remembered she had come for help to free Gaston. We couldn't wish that away, Gaston had to be freed, so what else was there? Nothing. I couldn't think of a single thing I would wish away so that Tristan had not fallen in love with Dale.

I watched as a group of small deer came out of the trees and began grazing on the vegetation at the edge. It wasn't the first time I had seen them and they were growing more daring.

I turned back to my computer with a sigh. There was no way I could work.

I went to take a shower and change.

****

I wasn't expecting Oliver to come over but he arrived just before eight as I was going down the stairs to leave and drive over to the Dearing house.

I opened the door as the bell was ringing. Oliver smiled at me and then hugged me.

"What's going on?"

He whispered it and I held his face, kissed him, and then steered him out of the door.

He smiled as he turned to me. "Seriously what's going on? Please don't tell me Tristan's changed his mind and doesn't love Dale after all?"

I stopped walking as we were making our way to my Wrangler.

"Oliver how bad would that be really, if that's what it was?" I asked him.

He sighed. "That's it isn't it? I knew it wouldn't last. I actually said to myself 'don't get too used to having Chloe to yourself Oliver, because Tristan's under some spell or another, and when it breaks he'll realize he still loves Chloe and not Dale'. Chloe, I almost expected it".

I looked at him in surprise. "Oliver, why didn't you tell me that? I guess it doesn't matter. Let's get in my car and I'll fill you in quickly".

Oliver grinned. "I knew you still loved him. It's been the best thing ever having you to myself, thinking that you and I were going to get engaged. It was great".

He stopped by my Jeep and I threw myself at him. He caught me and crushed me to his chest. I started to kiss him and he smiled but kissed me back holding me up as he leaned back against the Jeep's door.

"Oliver I love you", I whispered. It was true. What a mess as usual.

He put me down but kept hold of me. "I know and I love you, and you know what if we went back to you me and Tristan the way it used to be, it would be okay. It's weird I know, but there it is. He's like a brother to me, which is even weirder when you think about it".

We hugged for another few moments, and then changed our minds about going in my Wrangler and Oliver drove us over to the Dearing house.

We walked up to the door hand in hand and rang the bell.

Liz answered the door and grinned.

"Hello you two, how're things?"

I smiled at her. "Okay Liz. We've come to see Tristan he said he would be in".

I didn't want to say too much.

"Just go up", Liz said, as she closed the front door and so we started up the stairs. Tristan appeared at the top of the second flight of stairs.

"Hi come up I've made coffee and tea". He grinned at me as he said 'tea'.

Oliver took my hand to go up the remaining stairs and I glanced at him smiling. Oliver would want to keep things as they were now.

Tristan had put two more chairs around his desk by the little stained glass window and he indicated them.

"The drinks are on my desk".

I smiled at his formality but walked over and sat down.

Oliver didn't, he went to the window and stared out at the growing darkness.

Tristan looked at me and then at Oliver. I think he really wanted to talk sincerely. I thought we should all have been in the big kitchen at the hunting lodge, which is where we had shared so much. It was too late for that, and anyway mom was around the house packing bit and pieces, and she would have been bound to come to talk to us.

Oliver suddenly spoke. "Okay Tristan what's going on?" he turned around, and came over to the desk but didn't sit down. Instead, he reached over and took his coffee to take a sip of it standing up.

It felt as if he was hostile to Tristan and I hadn't expected that.

Tristan must have felt it too because he looked down at his hands holding his own coffee, and then when he looked up at Oliver I thought I saw sadness in his eyes.

"Oliver, this isn't easy but I need to know the exact time that you actually met Eddie?" This was a surprise. I had no idea Tristan would start the conversation with this question and I looked at Oliver for his answer.

Oliver was obviously surprised too because he put down his coffee, pulled out the chair and sat down in the middle of Tristan and me.

"I had talked with him on the phone, we emailed, and then I went to see him. It was odd because he had been hard to pin down to a time when I would meet him in person. I'm sure now that has something to do with him being immortal, you know the hiding it all thing. When did I meet him in person? It was yesterday afternoon. I was hanging around waiting for Chloe to have finished her meeting, and I knew I had a couple of hours so I called him, and said I'd drop by. It was about three-thirty yesterday afternoon. Why Tristan what's going on?"

Tristan took a deep breath. "Oliver I want you to know, you are my best friend. I care for you and it's at least as much as I used to care for Richard, my half-brother, if not more actually. I never intended any pain to come to you or Chloe when I suddenly seemed to be in love with Dale".

Oliver put up a hand as if to stop Tristan talking. "Wait, what, 'seemed' to love Dale, you did, you do".

Tristan sighed. "Oliver I know, I know, but something bizarre happened to me. I was trying to tell Chloe today. I'd been feeling a huge sense of loss and then a strange feeling of being able to see more clearly just washed over me. It happened in a rush and at about the same time as you met Eddie, and now we find he's immortal and he knows me, it's got to be something to do with him".

Oliver groaned in his endearing way.

"Tristan have you any idea how that sounds? It sounds like a stretch. Why not just say you are jealous that Chloe is getting engaged to me and it's sparked the old feelings you had for her. Suddenly you are doubting the love you said you felt for Dale. It seemed real enough to both Chloe and me, real enough for her to withdraw so that you could have Dale".

I was a little shocked by this outburst but I understood it.

Tristan shook his head. "Oliver in the beginning when I told you about Dale do you remember you asked was I sure I wasn't being influenced by magic and I didn't think I was? Well now I do".

Oliver was thoughtful for a few moments. "I remember, yeah I do". He sighed. "Tristan please make sure this isn't a jealous bid for Chloe, because if you turn around in a couple of weeks and start with the 'I love Dale' stuff again I really will be annoyed with you".

Tristan grinned. "I'd like to see that Oliver, but I'm not going to get the chance because honestly I feel differently".

I sighed then and they both looked at me. "I'm wondering about Eddie now because if Oliver meeting him did something to some magic you are being influenced by, what does that say about him?"

"Are we all influenced by this magic, do you think?" Oliver added.

I was thinking the same thing myself because it had been remarkably easy to let Tristan go, and yet I'd always said I would, so maybe that wasn't anything to go on.

Tristan ran his hand through his hair.

"I think Eddie is significant but I don't know why. Things don't 'just happen' for and around us three, there's always something that isn't co-incidence. We seem to be in a special place with regard to fate, magic, and destiny. Sorry I know that sounds bizarre but surely you get what I mean. Nothing around us is not fate. We are always connected to each other, and some kind of magic. That's probably my fault so sorry". He sighed again.

Oliver nodded. "I agree. Not that it's your fault but about the destiny stuff".

I shivered then, just one of those shivers that go down your spine when you realize something is seriously spooky. You'd think I'd know already wouldn't you after the last three years? Odd I seemed to have been so comfortable and kind of cushioned these last few weeks. I felt as if I had suddenly remembered we weren't normal.

"I want it to be the way it used to be. I want things back to the way they were before Dale appeared. Do you think that could happen?" Tristan asked. I don't know who he expected to answer the question because I had already confessed to him that I wanted that too.

Oliver sighed. "I'm okay with that except for the fact that Chloe's parents are expecting us to get engaged. I don't want to find they are going to drag Chloe and Steven off to California because we say it's off".

Tristan shook his head. "What if you still go ahead, just for the look of things? Does it matter? What do you think Chloe?"

I shrugged. "To be truthful I don't know. I only know I'm not leaving here. I love both of you enough to be engaged to either of you and I know that sounds bizarre but if you must know I'd have gone on loving both of you forever in the same way if Dale hadn't happened along. I've stopped caring about it, stopped agonizing about loving you both". After I had said it, I was surprised I had.

They looked at me and then at each other. They must have known I meant sexually as well as every other way. I wondered what impact that would have. It seemed none as Oliver said, "Right then we need to get to the bottom of what's going on. I don't think it's anything to do with Bartholomew and his crew. I don't think it's anything Dale is doing either, so who?"

Tristan stood up and walked to the window and he looked out as he answered, "I was thinking not 'who' but 'what'?"

Oliver pushed his coffee cup around. "Have you said anything to Dale, Tristan? Told her you don't love her?"

Tristan sighed and came back to the desk. He shook his head. "No because it would hurt her wouldn't it? I do still care for her, feel fondness for her, but it's just as if I was obsessed with her after my dream, and then she was real, and now the obsession has melted away. I'm so sorry. I feel so bad for you all".

Oliver looked at me with concern. "Well that's a worry", he said.

Tristan sat down. "I'm working up to it. Let's talk about going to see Eddie tomorrow Oliver. What time can you make it?"

Oliver got up. "Can I make more coffee Tristan?" he asked.

Tristan nodded. "Let's go down to the kitchen. I've not actually eaten yet so maybe we can get a sandwich too".

We went down there quietly. I hoped no one else would be around because it felt like we really needed to talk some more.

Chapter Twelve

Equilibrium

In the kitchen, the old dog Charlie sat in his basket by the radiator and he got up to greet us all. Oliver made coffee and Tristan made sandwiches. I sat with Charlie next to me and stroked his ears. It was soothing.

About eleven we had settled on a plan.

Oliver and Tristan would meet at Eddie's shop the next day around two, which was when both of them would be totally free and wouldn't have to worry about having to be anywhere else. I wouldn't be going, but they would come back and tell me what had happened, if anything.

Tristan was going to build up to telling Dale he didn't quite love her the way he had led her to believe, and the engagement between Oliver and me would go ahead just for the time being.

It seemed a very precarious situation to me.

I hugged Tristan at the door as he saw Oliver and me off for the night and Oliver took my hand to walk across the big car park to his Land Rover.

We were out of the car park and on the way home.

"Oliver will you stay a little longer with me?" I asked him because I needed some kind of alone time with him after the evening's talk.

He glanced at me.

"I certainly will, there's nothing I would like better", he said, and smiled.

We went straight up to my room after Oliver had parked the Land Rover behind my Jeep in the driveway. I turned to Oliver as soon as I had closed my bedroom door and put my arms around him.

"Tell me the truth Oliver, how do you really feel about things now?"

He smiled and kissed me softly before he answered with a question. "Things being?"

I squeezed him. "Everything Oliver".

He picked me up and took me to my bed where he put me down and then lay down beside me. We were snuggled up together and he stroked my hair from my face.

"Nothing will ever change for me. I love you. I'm staying with you no matter what. You've always loved Tristan as well as me and so what's the difference there? I don't know if it's okay for us to get engaged when we both know it's not real".

I sighed then and he kissed me before continuing. "Well it isn't is it Chloe? We will not be going on to be married and the truth is I will be sharing your love with another man despite it's Tristan. It's a bit of a lie to your parents too".

I cringed a little at this but knew Oliver was right.

"We've been through a lot together haven't we Oliver? When I am with you it's just you and me. I give you all my love. I think it's too bad about my mom and dad, and the truth is they can never know everything about us anyway. They're going to be asking what the hell is going on in a few years when we don't look any different. Nothing is normal for us".

Oliver held me closer and I traced my fingertips along his jaw. He smiled just a little. "Let's go to bed Chloe. I want to hold you close all night and its past midnight already".

The next morning Oliver had to go and do some of his computer work and I went out to his car with him about nine. I had only just gone back into the house when my cell phone rang in my back pocket. It was Tristan.

"Hi Chloe. I'm passing by and could stop for a half hour. It would be great to see you. Will that be okay?"

I smiled as I answered.

"Yes Tristan, it will". I put my cell phone back in my pocket and grinned as I started to make coffee.

When Tristan arrived he hugged me close and I smiled with happiness as he let go. "It's so good to feel normal," Tristan told me, and I smiled even more.

"What does that mean Tristan?" I found it funny.

"It means I feel back to my old self. Not torn up".

I frowned at that and went back to hold him close.

"Have you seen Dale this morning?" I asked because wouldn't she be wondering where he was?

"No and over the last two days we haven't seen each other that much actually". He seemed thoughtful and I let it go.

"Are you having a cup of coffee? Tell me where you are off to next".

We took our drinks out to the little patio table. Tristan didn't sit down instead he pulled me into his arms and kissed me gently. "Chloe thank heaven you still love me", he whispered.

Chapter Thirteen

Things get weirder

Tristan had left to finish taking boxes of stem roses to a wedding florist and get plants from the greenhouses, and I had been working happily. I was surprised when I looked at the time. It was quite late and I was wondering if Oliver and Tristan had actually seen Eddie.

They must have been about to make their way back from seeing Eddie when Tristan called me.

"Chloe sorry we've been gone so long the most bizarre thing happened. Oliver has already left and I will come over too, but I had to tell you. This morning when I left you and went over to the White Woods greenhouses Dale was over there. She sometimes collects things in the woods, bits of tree and leaves. Anyway she stuck around as I worked and ended up coming to the florist with me and to meet Oliver at Eddie's shop". I sighed then as I pictured it because I'd done that stuff too, and hearing him talk about Dale doing it brought back some memories dear to me. Tristan heard me and stopped talking for a few seconds.

"Chloe?" he asked.

"Yes, go on Tristan what happened?"

"She and Eddie couldn't stop talking to each other. They were there as if they had each met a long lost friend. I could see that Eddie finds her attractive in a sexual sense too. He was smitten with her".

I was surprised at this to say the least and I got up from my desk and walked to the window, but didn't say anything.

"Chloe?" Tristan asked and I nodded as if he was there with me.

"Yes Tristan, I'm just surprised. Did she seem smitten with him too?" I asked because a little part of me hoped so.

"She did, she actually did. It was bizarre. Oliver was astounded too".

I raised my eyebrows to myself. "I bet he was", I said.

"What else though Tristan? What about Oliver's vision and wanting more information out of Eddie?" I asked him.

"We got some. How about I drive over now I've told you about Dale? She's still there by the way. Eddie asked if we could all go off for coffee as his shop was about to close. We, that's Oliver and me both said, almost simultaneously I might add, 'that no we had somewhere to be'. Dale said 'that would be lovely' and Eddie's dropping her home after. It was so weird Chloe". Tristan started to laugh then and I smiled too.

"Come over Tristan, I think I already hear Oliver's Land Rover on the gravel. He must have broken the sound barrier to get here". We ended the call and I ran downstairs to open the door for Oliver.

He was getting out of his car when I opened the door and walked onto the porch.

I smiled at him and he held out his hand to me as I approached. I took his hand.

"Oliver I know about Dale because Tristan called me, but tell me about Eddie, tell me what you found out".

He leaned over and kissed me.

"Okay", he said, and laughed a little.

"I took the picture from the wall when Tristan had chosen it. Nothing happened. No visions, but I did ask Eddie again about the frames. I said to him that I was sensitive to old things and that frame on the picture you and I had was giving me weird vibes. What was up with that?"

I gasped, but smiled too at Oliver's statement.

Naturally we went into the kitchen and started making coffee, but Oliver leaned against the table then and pulled me against him.

He kissed me softly and hugged me.

"Eddie said he knew just what I meant and that was why he actually liked old things, then he said he happened to know that frame had come from a house where someone had been killed many years ago. It was a job lot he bought up in a house clearance".

I was tracing my fingertips around Oliver's face and he smiled.

"Do you believe him Oliver?" I asked.

He nodded as we both walked over to deal with the coffee as we heard Tristan's truck scrunch on the gravel drive.

"I do believe him. I think the vision I had supported what he said". He kissed me then let go and looked a little rueful. "Back to hiding my kisses now I guess", he said as the doorbell rang.

I didn't like the slight tone of sadness in his voice and I caught his hand, pulled him back to me and kissed him again. It made him smile.

I went to the door and opened it to see Tristan with his cell phone in his hand.

He followed me into the kitchen as he spoke.

"Yes, it's okay. I know. I get it. Don't worry I'll talk to you later. Tomorrow sure".

He put his cell phone in his pocket.

"Dale", he told us, but I had guessed, and I think Oliver had too.

I waited and Oliver handed Tristan a cup of coffee.

"Thanks Oliver. So what do you make of that then?" Tristan asked, as if he had just told Oliver a story, but Oliver knew what Tristan was talking about, and he shrugged.

"I think Eddie just fell in love with Dale at first sight, and there's just a chance the feeling is mutual", Oliver said, and drank some of his coffee.

"Wait, what?" I looked from Oliver to Tristan. "She's in love with you isn't she Tristan?"

He took a deep breath. "Who knows? Who really knows? When I dreamed about her it was just the once before she appeared at 'Hawthorns'. It was shocking but somehow when I met her things seemed to fall into place. She told me she had been dreaming about me for weeks, that she already loved me from her dreams and that we were destined to be together. I kind of fell into it but then so did she. I still don't think she is the source of the magic that was influencing me and probably her, maybe even all of us".

He looked from Oliver to me and we all stared at each other.

Chapter Fourteen

The storybook

****

The magic that had them in its grip until Oliver had met Eddie wasn't coming from Dale but it was about her. It was about her destiny and her kingdom. The magic fountain and spring in her forest had picked up the image of Tristan from Gaston's memory. Magic knows magic and that Tristan was immortal. The threads of destiny began to seed Dale's mind with dreams of a love, and a lover that would ensure she inherited what was rightfully hers.

****

Esteban was very angry. He had not found his favorite sword nor had anyone else. Three advisors were imprisoned in his magic tower and four more were busy buying up spells from anywhere they could get them in an effort to calm their increasingly frantic ruler. He threw tantrums at the slightest thing and no one felt safe.

It was growing dark in the kingdom and one of the younger sorcerers who had brought spells for sale at the castle gates asked where he might find lodgings to stay the night.

He was directed to one of the inns along the market square and there sitting in the room he was given he took out his other item he had brought for sale. The book that his grandfather had given him long ago and told him to keep safe until his own magic was strong and he must then deliver it to Princess Claudine. Leonay, for that was his name smiled to himself. He knew the princess was gone. It had been the talk of the realm and beyond. He had decided to sell the book to her brother Esteban along with some water spells he had picked up in the far south. He had heard of Esteban's obsession with water spells.

Leonay had ordered an evening meal and it was brought up to him.

He put the silver threaded cloth over the book on the table as he ate and considered why the book might have been important to Claudine. As far as he could ascertain it was a storybook. There seemed to be nothing at all magical or significant about it. Unless he was missing something he thought, as he cut up the cooked and seasoned array of vegetables, and took a bite.

Leonay was skilled and he knew that. What he didn't know was that the story was prophecy and had been spelled at least a thousand of his years ago to happen. He finished his meal and after bathing, he took the book to bed with him and read the story again. That was the third time he had read it in as many days and each time the invisible, undetectable magic strengthened.

The story, whilst rather romantic to his way of thinking, was strangely soothing. It told of the daughter of the greatest wizard ever known. She had been born to a queen who loved the wizard, but was married to another against her wishes. The queen passed the child off as her husband's daughter, after all they already had a son together, and they lived seemingly happily because she tried to make her king happy. She thought fondly of him but could not love him. Strange things happened as the son grew up, jealousies occurred, and the son slew the king, his father. It was his intention to kill his mother and claim the throne of their ancient magical kingdom for his own, but she escaped through the same enchanted lake that her beloved high wizard had also fled through. Leonay stopped reading at that point and considered an enchanted lake. It warmed his heart. He loved water spells. He loved water, all water, and he had actually been born in a reed boat on a river. He drank some of the crystal clear and cool water in his goblet on the table by the side of his bed and then continued reading the story.

The prince and his sister the princess lived in apparent harmony, but all the while the brother craved the ability to command water with an enchanted sword that his sister had inherited and only she could wield. The sword had only to be combined with the enchanted lake water and it would become a hundred times more powerful. The princess could never become queen unless she married an immortal, and, said the story's narrator, 'we all know how hard they are to come by'.

Leonay sighed. The last part of the story was so sad. The princess followed a friend into a foreign land and her kingdom seemed lost to her forever. Her people would suffer under the rule of her cruel and greedy brother, and in time the ancient magical kingdom would be torn apart by disenchantment until only ruins would remain.

Only a water sprite could help her, and, said the story's narrator 'we all know how hard they are to come by'.

Leonay sighed again. It was sad but soothing and he put the book down on the table by his goblet and sank into his pillow to dream about an enchanted lake.

He woke up just before dawn and remembered his dream because it was so vivid and real. It was of a waterfall, beautiful, ancient, holy, and to his joy, magic.

Leonay dressed carefully and slowly, savoring the memory of his dream. He packed his belongings, and went down to eat breakfast.

Chapter Fifteen

Where is the sword?

Esteban was also having breakfast. He hadn't slept well. Even he was concerned at his growing ill temper and he tried to be calm. It still made him angry thinking about the way Claudine had gone off through that portal with his prisoner. It still rankled that she could control that water and he could not. It was a deep source of anger in him that she was now in another world, one which should have been his. He'd bet a bagful of spells that she now had Bartholomew Pike's spell book too, had maybe even met him, and was gaining power at that very moment. Power that would bring her back and then he would have to share the kingdom. Share everything because that was the way it worked when the female came of age and her own magic appeared. He threw his goblet at the wall and then watched the water trickle down the tapestry.

'Where was his favorite sword, the one he had hoped to spell so that it functioned in the same way as Claudine's?'

He got up cursing. 'Today he was going to find it and more water spells, new ones. Spells he had not yet tried had to be found'.

Leonay had taken his place back in the queue of travelers and merchants all looking to trade something, mostly spells.

When it was his turn to state his wares he mentioned the storybook, but it was his water spells that caught a senior official's attention and he was taken to meet with Esteban.

Esteban was in a chamber at the bottom of one of his towers. He had thrown out two merchants already for wasting his time with spells he already knew. This young man before him now had brought more water spells.

Leonay tried a smile. "Good morning your Highness, I have brought water spells from the far south. They enable the control of ancient magic hidden in fountains and one of them will make the water act like a mirror to show the viewer anything their heart desires. That is to say, you might find out where your favorite sword is your Majesty. This spell could allow you a glimpse of its whereabouts".

Esteban gazed at Leonay as if he was about to eat him. "How do you know they work? Why would you want to sell such spells?"

Leonay did not want to tell how he had fallen on extreme hard times. How he had lost his home deep in the oceans of the west. It hurt him badly. His heart actually hurt when he thought of it.

"I am poor your Highness. I cannot continue my education unless I sell these spells. I know they work because I used one in a fountain to hide myself from an enemy and I used another to see where some of my stolen family possessions were hidden by that enemy. I have proof. I was able to retrieve some. Amongst them was this storybook that my grandfather had given me. It was to be given to the Princess Claudine but since she is gone, that's for sale too your Majesty.

Leonay told the truth. It was his custom and his undoing.

Esteban couldn't believe his ears. A spell that would let him 'see' where his sword was, this was good news indeed. He dismissed the storybook in his haste to use the spell.

"I'll only give money for it when I see where my sword is, and then we will talk about the other spell". He stood up and two of his henchmen came to him.

"I'm taking this", and he gestured at Leonay, "young man to the forest with me. I don't need you, but run down to the stables and get them to saddle two horses now".

He turned to Leonay. "You do ride?"

Leonay nodded. He loved horses, but naturally preferred seahorses and even sea-dragons were a welcome sight.

He picked up his bags and followed Esteban.

In the stable he was helped up onto a lovely horse by a girl, who then attached his bags to each side of his saddle. She grinned at him and he smiled back.

As Esteban told the men ready to accompany him firmly that he did not need them and rode out of the stable door, the girl gave the horse a small slap on its hindquarters and the horse raced after Esteban's horse.

Leonay took control of the horse and followed Esteban over the bridge passing a guard with a leopard on a chain and then on into the forest.

They were at Claudine's pool and fountain a short time later. Leonay knew of this place but had never been. It was rumored that Esteban had murdered Claudine here and her body was in the pool with this favorite sword thrust right through her chest.

Leonay hoped not and as he approached he sent his senses out searching the water's aura for any signs of a dead body within. He found none but what he did find was breathtaking, the remains of a portal in time. Leonay sighed as he realized it no longer functioned but it warmed his heart to think of such a thing. Water was so wonderful.

He saw the stone basin in the natural spring where a little fountain bubbled as if singing him a song. He stopped his horse alongside Esteban's and they both got down.

Esteban left his horse and strode to the fountain.

He pointed at it and Leonay looked. "This fountain used to hold magic I believe. It seems to work only for my lost sister Claudine. She would dip her sword in there and command storms". He looked at Leonay closely to see the effect his words had on the young man. Leonay gazed back and waited quietly.

I want to use a spell in the fountain to see where my favorite sword might be.

Leonay walked closer.

"Your Majesty it may not work. The surface of the water in the basin is broken by the laughing spring".

Esteban gave him a look that if it were daggers he would have been speared through. "You'll make it work or spend the rest of your life in my servitude researching magic and making me spells".

Leonay couldn't face that thought. He wanted only to get back to his houseboat on the big river where he now made a simpler home than the ocean palace he had lost, but where he was happy.

"I will do my best". He took one of the spells from his bag. It was suspended in aquamarine colored liquid in a small vial.

He approached the fountain.

"I am Leonay and I am here to find the king's sword. Please assist me". He poured the spell into the stone basin where the spring stilled and the water grew placid like a mirror. Esteban almost shrieked with joy.

He ran to Leonay's side and looked into the water, satin and clear. He could see his sword, it lay on soft earth with ferns, and curling leaved plants around it. He couldn't understand where it really was but he could see a curtain of water. He plunged his hand into the water and tried to grasp the sword but it shimmered away. The picture in the water disappeared and the spring began its bubbling to make the low fountain once more. Leonay sighed.

"Your Majesty I fear the sword is lost to you".

Esteban blinked at Leonay. He was suddenly calmer than he had been in weeks. He knew that the sword had travelled with Claudine and was even now wherever she was, probably in the world that was rightfully his to rule.

"I must have the spell that can control ancient magic within water", Esteban said in a low menacing voice.

Leonay paled. "It will not necessarily work now Sire because you have only just used a spell in that water". He waved his hand at the fountain.

Esteban shook his head.

"Not there you idiot, in the lake, that's the water I must use. He knew that the portal used to be in the small lake better known as Claudine's pool".

Leonay cautioned him.

"Your majesty there is no magic available there. It is in decay. I promise you that will be a waste of a spell".

Esteban looked murderous.

"Do it" he said.

Leonay took a dark blue vial from the bag of spells and sprinkled the potion in the pool. "Let the magic within bring the gifts we request".

Esteban waded out into the water. He stood thigh deep in it looking around hopefully. Nothing happened and after a few moments he waded back to the bank where he grabbed Leonay by the throat.

"You said those spells worked".

Leonay was horrified at being held by the neck and tried to turn his head away.

"They do work your Highness but that lake, it has nothing to give, only the fountain and the spring water in the stone basin has magic now". Leonay didn't want to say exactly what he detected with his affinity for water and his extensive sorcery studies because he knew it was special.

Esteban dropped him and raced back to the fountain. He peered in. "I want my sword and the world that contains it" he cursed, and thrust his arm into the stone basin. In that instant he was gone.

Leonay shuddered. 'The gods help whoever was in that world', he thought, and then he picked up his belongings, and mounted the horse he had ridden there. He collected the reins of Esteban's horse and led it to the bridge where the guard and his leopard allowed him to pass without a word.

****

Chapter Sixteen

Esteban's arrival

****

Esteban bent to pick up his sword. For a moment he didn't realize he had left his own kingdom behind he was so focused on reaching his sword. His intention was to have Leonay use a water spell on the fountain with his sword touching the water so that he might mimic Claudine's ability to create storms and control water. That way he might be able to create a portal in the lake to take him to different worlds. Suddenly he felt a shiver go over him. He felt cold and looked around properly. He was behind a waterfall.

****

Claudine otherwise known to her friends as Dale was sitting in Tristan's kitchen at the Dearing house. It was two days since she had met Eddie and she was explaining to Tristan carefully just what had happened to her when she saw Eddie.

"I'm so sorry Tristan I was certain you and I were meant to be. My dreams had me fall in love with you. I can't explain it but it's not you and me that are destined, it's Eddie and me. I'm convinced of that. Are you angry with me? I still care for you, have a fondness for you, but since meeting Eddie I know the difference now between the dream love I had for you and the way I feel for him".

Tristan smiled slightly. "It's okay Claudine. I'd guessed and I know you are right we were wrapped up in some kind of dream magic. I'm not sure what, but I too have had a change of heart. Have you said anything to Evangeline or Bartholomew about Eddie?"

She grinned. "I did tell mama and she was surprised. I think she thought it was you and me for sure".

Tristan shrugged. "It did look that way for a few weeks".

They drank the coffee Tristan had made and looked at each other over the rims of their cups.

Tristan was grateful for the development. He had agonized over his waning romantic love for Dale during the previous week.

Dale was surprised that Tristan was so calm, but she was happy enough, especially since she was really in love with Eddie and he was in love with her too. She had not needed to plead with Eddie to recognize their love the way she had with Tristan when they first met. Although, she reminded herself, it was not for long and Tristan had been right, their feelings had been based on dreams. She decided to ask her mother and Bartholomew what might have happened there, because it suddenly seemed very strange to her. Almost as if she had woken up, she thought.

****

Liz, knowing Dale and Tristan needed to talk seriously had taken Charlie out for a walk. Even though his body was old, the dog was young at heart and insisted on dashing down the bank to the pool and the waterfall on the Dearing estate. The very one that contained ancient magic, was linked irrevocably with Tristan, and also where Esteban stood cursing behind the curtain of water.

He was angry again thinking he would have to dive through the water and become wet to find his way into this world he was going to conquer. It didn't matter that he could simply chant a spell to dry his clothes afterwards, just the idea that he had to do this was annoying.

Liz was calling Charlie away from the edge of the pool when it happened. Someone leapt in rather a graceful arc from behind the waterfall into the middle of the pool. It was quite deep there and Esteban was in over his head clutching his sword.

Liz ran to the edge of the bank and watched for the person coming back up to the surface. She already had her cell phone out and was calling Tristan.

Tristan saw it was Liz calling as he answered his phone and was smiling. The smile froze on his face as he heard what she had to say.

"Tristan I'm at the waterfall and someone just leapt from behind it into the pool. I think they might be drowning. I'm going in after them. Will you come down here quickly please?"

Tristan went cold. "No Liz don't go into the water. Please don't. Get Charlie and come home. I'm on my way".

Liz was about to protest when Esteban surfaced. "Tristan it's okay, it looks like a man, and he's okay. I'll wait and find out if he needs help".

"Liz I mean it. Please leave the place now", Tristan sounded frantic, and so Liz clipped on Charlie's lead and started up the bank holding the big ferns now and then to assist her rapid ascent.

Tristan grabbed Dale's hand and raced down the hall with her to where his old truck was parked outside the front door.

"Dale someone has leapt from behind the waterfall and it can only be a time traveler. We need to go and look", he told her as he hurried her along.

Dale felt a wave of horror. It had to be Esteban. He had come after her. How had he got the portal to open?

"Tristan it will be Esteban I'm sure of it".

He nodded as from habit he helped her into the truck politely, and then ran around to the driver side.

"I think that too. Call Bartholomew, we'll need his help. Call Oliver after that and Gaston, we need all the help we can get. Keep calling everyone. It might not be Esteban but I think it probably is".

Esteban was pulling himself out of the pool. He had not noticed Liz at all and she was now on the top path walking as fast as Charlie would allow towards the hunting lodge, the house where Chloe lived. She knew that's where Tristan would park to access the quickest way to the waterfall.

The very wet Esteban shook himself and chanted a spell. It dried him in seconds and he smiled as he waved his sword in a circle around his head and aimed it at a tree trunk. The expected explosion didn't happen. Esteban tried again and this time a weak bolt of lightning put a streak of charring down the tree trunk. His powers seemed diminished, but he was convinced they would return in full force.

He looked around him. He would need lodgings from where he could plan his takeover of this world. He set out around the pool to where he could see a path and some ruins. The remains of a castle curtain wall he thought. If this was how they maintained their fortresses then his battle was already won.

Chapter Seventeen

A surprisingly easy victory

I was in the middle of designing a website for an author when I got a frantic call from Dale. Esteban was at the waterfall. I have to tell you I was shocked. My first thought was how did he get there and my second thought was what if he walks over to Chloe's house. The guy besides being a wizard is a maniac. I called Chloe as I ran out to my car.

"Chloe have you heard Esteban is apparently at the waterfall?" I was trying to get the hands free on, and start the engine at the same time.

"Oliver, Liz has just arrived and told me what happened. We don't know for sure it's him that's just Dale and Tristan guessing, but it probably is him". She didn't seem that worried.

"I'm coming over there". I told her this as I threw my cell phone on the passenger seat and edged out into the traffic.

It hardly takes any time usually to get from my place to Chloe's but today there had to be a hold up, farm vehicles trundling along and a tailback for miles. I don't mind them ordinarily, but today I was sighing, and hoping they would turn off the road soon.

I finally arrived at Chloe's place and parked on the lane because Tristan's truck was already in the drive and so was another car.

Chloe must have heard my car engine in the lane, because she opened the door as I got to it, and before anything else, she hugged and kissed me. That's always great.

"Oliver nothing has happened. No one has actually seen him. Come in".

I followed her in and around to the kitchen where a crowd had gathered, Bartholomew, Tristan, Dale, Liz, Charlie, Gaston, Chloe, and now me.

"Hi Oliver", Tristan grinned at me, and I thought apart from this weird thing now with if Esteban had arrived or not, he looked really happy for the first time in a couple of weeks. Maybe it was the idea of battle that had cheered him. I mean the guy is a knight after all.

I said hi to everyone and Chloe asked me if I would like coffee and she was making more.

"Thanks that will be great. So what's going to happen and do we know for sure it's Esteban?" I asked anyone who would answer.

Bartholomew answered. "It has to be him. Who else would make a leap from behind the waterfall? I'm surprised though because wasn't there supposed to be no portal left. We are all stuck here".

I grinned at that and surveyed the faces.

Gaston shook her head. "Not stuck. I like it here".

Tristan looked resigned. "There wasn't supposed to be a portal. He must have found a way to open the one that was there. Although if you all remember it was leading to Gaston's garden and then to here, and he would have had to find that out. My vote is that we all go out there in different directions and find him. He's left the waterfall area Oliver, so he could be up to anything, and we are sitting here".

I nodded in agreement at that for which I got a smile from Tristan.

Bartholomew sighed. "We are not just sitting here. The others are looking into our 'seeing bowls' to find him. He will show up and we'll go there then".

I had forgotten the artifacts could help, and although I had one or two of them still at home most had now been shared up between Bartholomew and his people, because they used them all the time and I didn't.

Dale's cell phone rang and it must have been her mom because she started talking in their language and grinning.

I took the coffee Chloe was handing me and kept hold of her hand. She smiled at me and I wanted to kiss her right then. She turned to the others.

"I hope Esteban isn't doing any harm out there. He seems crazy to me and another question, will his magic work here, because if so Tristan is right he could be up to anything. How about you ring Marcus or Pia and ask how they are doing?" Chloe said, and it netted a round of agreement from everyone.

Right then Bartholomew's cell phone rang from on the kitchen table in front of him. We all watched as he answered it.

"Right, you're sure. We'll go now".

He stood up. "He's by water. They think a lake. In the background there is a large building that's all lit up".

Liz laughed. "Well it could be anywhere. He's not had much time though come to think of it, to get far that is, unless he can fly. Can he fly Dale?"

Dale shook her head. "No Liz, not ordinarily".

I looked at Chloe and Tristan who like me seemed faintly amused by this.

Chloe spoke. "Sounds like the restaurant. That's probably it. He might have gone in a circle and come out at the restaurant".

Tristan grinned. "I'm in agreement. Let's go".

I wondered what we were going to do against magic and asked.

"So how do we tackle him then?"

Everyone except Liz and Charlie were already crowding out of the front door.

"I'll do it" Bartholomew turned to tell me.

We drove to the restaurant. I took Chloe and Dale in my car. Bartholomew had Gaston and Tristan with him. Liz hadn't come with us. She was clearing up all the coffee cups and 'guarding' the house.

I found the whole thing a little jokey when in fact Esteban was a dangerous man in his own kingdom so I couldn't figure out why Bartholomew seemed so relaxed. Dale wasn't. She kept bouncing up and down in the back seat saying hurry.

It took about two minutes and then we were all wandering around the car park and the lake edge looking for Esteban. There was no sign of him and I took Chloe's hand to walk out of the restaurant car park and check the road. If he had walked up it then we would still be able to see him for a long way, as the road was straight as far as the eye could see.

We stood on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant car park and saw an incident of some kind about two hundred yards up the road. Chloe held my hand tightly.

"What if he's injured someone and other people have stopped to help? she asked, and looked around for the others.

"Let's check it out Chloe. Come on I'll drive us up there. We can't waste time walking".

It was a bit further away than I had estimated so I was glad we'd leapt in the Land Rover and driven up the road. I parked behind another car and we walked quickly to the front of the row of cars where a bus was the first vehicle. On the road in front of it was what was obviously a body covered by two jackets. One jacket was at the top over the head and one covering half the lower body.

Chloe gasped and I put my arm around her.

"Sorry, but may I just check the injured person in the road? I might know him." I asked the people close by, as a police car arrived, and then an ambulance. The people on the bus were either standing in the aisles looking out of the windows, or had collected around the driver who was being comforted by someone.

An older man in a business suit turned to me.

"Maybe ask the police now they have arrived. I can tell you it's a man. I was in the car behind the bus and saw him run out".

Chloe put her arm around my waist and squeezed.

I looked down at her and then at the man who had spoken to me.

"Okay thank you".

I let go of Chloe. "I'll ask to see the body. He has to be dead whoever it is. People don't cover injured people's faces up".

We held hands and I approached the police Officer who had knelt by the body.

"Sorry Officer but we might know this person, could we see them?"

She stood up. "It's not too gruesome but there is a fair amount of facial blood. Will you be okay?"

I nodded and she bent to take the jacket away from the head.

It was him. It was Esteban and Chloe said, "It's Esteban. He's dead then?"

The police Officer stood up. "Oh yes, sorry was he a relative, friend ...?"

I murmured, "No it's not him Chloe, it's not him Officer".

I gripped Chloe's hand because I knew if we owned him there would be all kinds of questions, mostly ones I couldn't answer.

The police Officer gave me a strange look but turned away to another officer.

I edged Chloe to the side of the road and hid behind a small group of people to call Tristan.

"Tristan where are you all? Esteban has been run over. By a bus. Yes it's him. Yes he's dead. Out on the road to town. Okay".

Tristan was going to round up the others.

"I don't want to deal with this stuff Chloe. If we had said yes we know him, they would be asking his name, his family, the address. How could I answer?"

Chloe nodded and we edged to the Land Rover to wait for the others.

I put my arms around her and she leaned on me. It was natural for me to kiss her and she smiled.

"Oliver I hoped to see you tonight just you and me".

I smiled at her. "I know, but now who knows, we may have company".

Right then Tristan's truck pulled up behind the Land Rover. Everyone got out. Bartholomew and Dale went to the police Officers who were taking people's names and addresses, and waving off the cars that had stopped.

Gaston and Tristan stood back with Chloe and me.

"So", Gaston began. "He didn't last long, magic or not".

Tristan nodded. "Surprising. Does anyone know what happened?"

I shook my head and Chloe answered, "Not really, although I think someone said he ran out"

Right then Bartholomew and Dale came back. Bartholomew was nodding at something Dale had said.

"It's him, but we can't let anyone know we know him for obvious reasons. Already they were saying he was some kind of sick person. Ran straight out as the bus was coming along the road waving a sword above his head. There are no scheduled stops here and the bus was doing maybe fifty miles an hour, he didn't stand a chance. I'm surprised he was not terribly crushed".

Dale looked at each of us in turn. "He was a bad man. He would not have hesitated to do harm. I think his arrogance led to this. As for the sword it's lying over in the bushes by the roadside just up there", and she pointed.

We all looked. One of the police Officers came to us. "Folks this is not a freak show. If you didn't see the accident you need to leave. Has Officer Stevens got your contact details?"

Bartholomew took over and answered for all of us, which was just as well since he lied.

"Yes she has, sorry officer we are just leaving".

With that we did all climb into our cars and drive the short distance to the restaurant car park.

Bartholomew collected his car and Chloe called Liz to tell her what had happened. We all went back to Chloe's place.

Chapter Eighteen

The portal

We gathered in Chloe's kitchen and had coffee. Tristan made it and made tea for Chloe and Liz.

I talked to Dale.

"I'm sorry Dale he was your brother after all".

She sighed. "Thank you Oliver, but I don't feel too much sadness only curiosity. He was cruel and sometimes I even wondered if he was really my brother we are so different".

I turned around to see Bartholomew with a look of sadness on his face, but I would not have thought he was sad for Esteban. I didn't mention it as he saw me and looked away.

"How did he get here? That's my question people", Liz said into the sudden silence, and then we all started talking again.

"I ask myself that also", Gaston agreed.

"There must still be a portal there", Chloe said.

"I don't know how that would have happened given Aristide's assurances", Tristan said.

I drank some coffee. "It's still daylight maybe we should go and test it out".

Everyone looked at me.

I shrugged. "Well it is", I said, referring to the daylight.

"Let's do it. Do you have apples or something Chloe?" Tristan asked, and then laughed.

Chloe laughed too. "Yes".

Bartholomew smiled even though he couldn't have got the joke.

"Okay" he added.

So the whole crowd of us walked down to the waterfall. Tristan had a few apples in his jacket pockets. When we got there Tristan stopped us.

"I really think it should just be Gaston and me that climbs in. It's a difficult place to find and you do get a little wet. We will throw the apples around and see if any disappear".

Chloe stepped towards him and caught hold of his arm. "Tristan what if the whole area behind the falls is a portal? You might both be taken somewhere".

He frowned and nodded. "I hadn't thought of that Chloe, but since it's not a pool of water and the portals on land have been in a particular spot I am guessing just a patch of the area behind the pool is the portal".

Bartholomew shook his head and took the words out of my mouth as I was about to say them.

"Tristan we can't be guessing. This is serious. What if you, or Gaston climbs the waterfall, and throws the apples in? You know leans in and hangs from the rocks, watches what happens".

I nodded. "I agree".

Chloe looked at Tristan. "That's a better idea than you guessing, because I'd have to follow you Tristan if you traveled anywhere".

He smiled at her and I sighed inwardly. He'd never really stopped looking at her as if he loved her, but there was that 'extra' back again in his look, that 'you are my only one' look he had for Chloe.

Gaston took the apples from Tristan. "I'm doing it. I am the most skilled at this waterfall climb. I've been doing it through the centuries".

We all looked at her and Tristan nodded.

"Be careful or I'll be forced to follow".

She stuffed the apples inside her shirt and off she went.

I have to admit Gaston knew what she was doing. She was up the side of the waterfall and leaning in very quickly. I watched her toss one apple and then the others with her head and shoulders through the curtain of water.

She came back down to applause from Dale and Chloe. I grinned at her.

"There's no portal. Nothing happened the apples are just there on the ground. I aimed them to fall in a few places".

She shook her head and Bartholomew offered her his jacket. Gaston grinned.

"Thank you but I'm used to this. I'll dry".

Tristan was looking around at us. "There still might be one and it might only work at certain times".

Chloe sighed. "It's a pain Tristan. We're surely not going to start monitoring and testing again".

He grinned. "Perhaps".

Dale who had her arm around Gaston's shoulders and seemed to have been thinking said, "My concern is for the kingdom. Esteban was unpleasant, but he did look after the kingdom in many ways".

Bartholomew nodded. "Yes Dale the people will need someone". He seemed saddened by this.

Tristan suggested that we all go home for the evening.

After going back to Chloe's place Bartholomew, Dale, and Gaston left promising to call us the next day.

We three sat down in the kitchen and were silent for a few minutes.

Tristan suddenly got up and started to make coffee.

"This is so unexpected. Do you think Esteban cast a spell to come here? That might explain things. One like Max did to send me back in time". He asked as he made coffee.

Chloe got up and went to the fridge.

"I'm starving are you two hungry? In answer to your question Tristan, who knows, but Max didn't cast a spell to send you back in time. It was to send you into the ether, a void. It was you and the waterfall that did the time travel thing".

I nodded and went over to help Chloe get us something to eat.

"I feel sorry for Dale now, because she will more than likely worry about her kingdom".

It was about an hour later when Tristan left to do some work.

Chloe and I went over to my place.

Chapter Nineteen

Tristan and Bartholomew

I couldn't sleep. I went over to the stables and saddled Matin. It had been a month since I had ridden him. Brett one of the grooms had taken a liking to the horse and usually rode him. Matin was pleased to see me and we trotted out of the stable yard and over the field towards the abbey ruins.

I let him run on the grass alongside the road until we stopped and crossed over. The terrain around the abbey is grassy interspaced with garden and ruined bits at ground level as well as the substantial ruins. I let him set his own pace. A horse like Matin knows what he's doing. We started to walk peacefully through the wooded area and then past the ancient church and the Norman ruins. Matin knows things and he knows that he used to live here when they were not ruins. He always goes sort of quiet and treads softly. What a great animal.

We picked our way over the more treacherous bits of outcropped rock and down to the waterfall. Matin also knows this is where he entered the future. He goes to look at the spot. Does he want to go back to the past? I doubt it. Tonight we were softly approaching the waterfall pool, both of us silent. I was thinking how happy I was to have things sorted out with Dale. I'll always think of her fondly and offer friendship but whatever had gripped me to think I loved her has completely gone.

Matin stopped quite suddenly at the side of the pool, and I looked up, and across it. The light is never that great and even when there is a huge moon as there was right then the tree canopy shield keeps the place quite dark. I could see a man and I knew him almost instantly. Bartholomew was standing on the other side of the pool.

I urged Matin on and he walked around keeping a little way from the soft bank edge.

Bartholomew looked up.

"Hi Bartholomew what are you doing down here in the dark?"

He smiled as I approached and answered as I dismounted.

"It's the idea that there's a portal behind the falls that's brought me here. There must be one Tristan. Esteban wouldn't have been able to create one. He was powerful but let's not forget he came from a completely different world. It would be impossible for him to create one without special power. I didn't create the portals I used. They existed in the water. I could use water in different ways but not create a time or world travel portal. You know how I am looked upon as a great wizard?" I nodded at his question thinking of Dale's description of him. He continued, "Well I am not great enough to create a time travel portal".

I took a deep breath. "You know of Aristide? Well he used the waterfall pool here and some kind of affinity I have with it to create a portal. I appear to be some kind of catalyst for magic spells".

Bartholomew stared at me.

"I'd be surprised if we could open anything that would take us to Dale's kingdom, unless there is a portal already. It is her kingdom you know Tristan. She was destined to be the queen".

I could feel some emotion coming from him that I hadn't felt before.

"Bartholomew would you like to go home, back there to Dale's kingdom?"

He sighed. "I want to be where Evangeline is and she is at home here. Sometimes I think I would like to go back and then I realize the place is not what I would want it to be. By that I mean it needs change, change I honestly don't have the energy for, but more importantly I don't want to take time away from being with Evangeline to do".

I nodded in sympathy and understanding. Sometimes you just want peace.

"So then why are you down here Bartholomew? You're not thinking of climbing in there?"

"Well I was actually, because the fact is Dale's kingdom is now without a ruler. You might think that would be a good thing, but it will not be. Our world is simply magic, everything is magic, and it has to have a king or queen who has magical abilities".

I checked on Matin who had wandered a little way up the path towards the ruins again. "I actually understand. If you are going to do it, check on the waterfall portal, I must go with you".

Bartholomew shook his head.

"No Tristan I can't ask you to do it, people here rely on you".

I smiled. "You're not asking Bartholomew. I'm telling you".

He looked at me sadly. "I'm climbing in. Please don't follow me".

I shook my head. It just isn't in me to let anyone do anything dangerous without I try to help. "I'm coming too", I told him, but I got out my cell phone and left an unsent text on the screen to say what I'd done. I put that in the pocket of my jacket and tied it to Matin's saddle. He'd go home and it would be found sooner or later.

Bartholomew watched me and then started climbing the old Norman steps, which are shored up and restored, until we could step onto the rocks within the edge of the curtain of the waterfall. Then step again and down into the area behind it. He did a good job considering he had never done it before and I wondered if he had memorized what Gaston did earlier or had actually asked her.

We stood together at the very edge of the area of vegetation behind the falls. Ferns and some kind of curled leaf plant, which even I didn't know the name of, grew there in patches. It was eerie and yet spectacular. It was also bizarrely as light as if we were on the bank of the pool.

I looked at Bartholomew and he grinned saying, "Nothing to suggest a portal. No shimmering spatial deformity or anything".

I laughed at that.

He had a handful of pebbles that he had taken out of his pocket and he began throwing them around. I watched closely. There was nothing going on. Not one of them seemed to disappear. He had a little penlight, which he aimed at the trajectory of each pebble as it fell. The water behind us was soothing and the moon seemed to shine through it as if it was a window. I felt at home there for some reason.

Bartholomew had exhausted his cache of pebbles.

He shrugged. "I suppose if there was a portal it's now closed".

"Bartholomew in my experience if there was a portal open in the last few minutes the pebble thrown in it would have disappeared. It could be it's not open right now, we've had one that opened at intervals, and I can't tell you what a pain that was. The other thing is maybe it only comes one way, from there to here. Sorry but the things are capricious, and I hoped we had done with them for good when we got back with Gaston and Dale".

We looked around again and Bartholomew shone his little beam of white light around again. There really seemed to be nothing going on, and I thought about Esteban being here in this space and then leaping through the waterfall into the pool. He was lucky not to get sucked into the deep pothole but then he did run out of luck later.

****

"Where was the last place you saw his highness?" Leonay was being quizzed for the fifth time that day about King Esteban and he was becoming worried. He didn't want to tell them that he had used water spells and then the king had disappeared. For one thing he had no idea how that had happened, for another he didn't want the blame, but he couldn't deny he had been seen going to the lake with Esteban, and he couldn't deny bringing the king's horse back home rider less.

Leonay told a lie. "He left me in the forest and when I was on my way back here I found his horse and he was nowhere to be found. I saw him last in the forest". Leonay emphasized last and forest as he talked and thought that was not really a lie because the lake and the fountain are in the forest.

They left him alone then and went off to gather a search party. The group of court officials, elders, and advisors were busy with spells to find their king. Spells that would track him, spells that would reveal his whereabouts, so many spells that Leonay was seriously worried they would find out what really happened.

He sneaked away from the castle by boat, and then ran the long way round to the forest where the fountain was so that no one would see him. He took his bag of water spells with him because he was worried about the officials searching his lodgings and finding them.

Leonay was worried they might see him with one of their vision spells. He cast one of his own so that he appeared as mist. He was going to check that stone basin of spring water again where the king had seen his sword and reached for it.

He shimmered in front of it as a mist of water droplets. He didn't want to risk taking his own form but knew he must. The little fountain of spring water bubbled at the outer rim of the stone basin. Leonay put his spell on the water and it became still. He looked within and sought the king. What he saw was Bartholomew. He knew the high wizard. He knew his face because he was famous. Leonay gazed at Bartholomew and he seemingly gazed back. Leonay called to him, but there was no answer and the high wizard turned and spoke soundlessly to some unseen person close by. Leonay was shocked and delighted. As the picture faded, he took the form of mist again and wisped into the forest to think.

****

I turned to Bartholomew. "Let's go, there's nothing going on, and it seems to be a bit darker in here now. It's probably three in the morning by now. We've given it a try".

He nodded and turned back to me.

"It's a strange thing to say Tristan but I thought I heard someone call my name just then, before it got darker. Imagination I suppose, unless Evangeline has woken and is trying to find me".

I had started to climb the little rocky outcrop, and I glanced around at him again curiously.

We got out of the place remarkably easily but wet. Matin was on the bank of the pool eating the more lush grass there and came to me as I jumped the last few steps down from the Norman stairs.

Bartholomew followed me as I took Matin's reins and led him up to the top path, and then we walked along, and through the edge of the hunting lodge gardens. I resisted the urge to look up at Chloe's windows. Bartholomew had parked his car in the lane and we skirted the garden lights to get to it.

We split up and as I watched Bartholomew drive away I knew that would not be the last time he tried looking for a portal.

I said so to Matin and he nudged my shoulder. The horse speaks Norman French for sure, but now I reckon he's picked up English too.

I got up into the saddle and we walked off home to the stables through the access lanes.

Chapter Twenty

Tristan

The next day I only had one delivery of flowers to make and I had promised Dale I would meet her at the Kool Kafé with Eddie at lunchtime. I was going to go alone so that I could have a really good talk with them. It suddenly seemed important to see them both together just so that I knew they really were an item.

I parked the old truck in the library car park. I still used that truck even though the estate had bought a new one. It brought back so many memories parking there that I had a fleeting need to call Oliver and Chloe to come over if they could, but I pushed it down and walked through the churchyard to the Kool Kafé. I saw Dale at an outside table almost as soon as I rounded the corner. She wears purple and all shades of it most of the time. Even her boots are often purple and when Chloe said she loved a pair of them a couple of weeks ago, the next thing is Dale has given her a pair. I think she conjures them up because they couldn't have been her own that she gave to Chloe as she's taller, and hers would have been too big for Chloe. These fit Chloe perfectly and look great.

As I approached Eddie came out of the café door with a tray. He'd obviously gone for the order as opposed to having Samantha bring it out. He looked up and grinned at me.

"Hi Tristan it's great to see you. I knew you wouldn't be late so I got you coffee, that's your favorite isn't it?"

I had to smile at him and then at Dale who was helping him with unloading the tray and beaming at us both.

"That's true Eddie, thanks".

Dale took my hand and pulled me down on a seat next to her and Eddie sat on the other side of her.

I watched as she took his hand too and wondered what was coming.

"Tristan we are all friends isn't that right?"

I nodded and then said, "Yes", and I had a question in my voice because it felt as if she was about to say something weird.

"Well I've told Eddie about where I come from and other things".

I frowned because I immediately thought 'what other things?'

Dale smiled. "I told Eddie about how you and I thought we were supposed to be together but as soon as I saw him I knew that was not so. I told him about the dreams and I told him about Esteban".

She had let go of my hand and I picked up my coffee. I had to keep quiet because in my opinion the less anyone knows about you the better, that is until you know them very well.

She continued talking as Eddie held her hand across his lap and I knew then that they were a real couple. It looked very intimate and I smiled.

"I may try to go back to my kingdom. I am searching through not just Bartholomew's spell book but all the old manuscripts that Pia and Marcus have. I have talked with mama and she would be happy for me if I wanted that. You know to go back and rule the kingdom.

Tristan I know that you do not want to meddle with magic again. Well that's what Chloe said, but I am wondering if you and the wizard Aristide might try to open a portal for me?"

Eddie transferred his arm to around Dale's shoulders probably to shield her from my answer, which he could read on my face.

"Dale it's not going to work. The portals opened up because of a seven spell, and because I am somehow magically linked with the waterfall and some natural magic there. I've talked with Bartholomew and even he thinks there's no way we can open a portal to your world".

I felt bad because she was visibly disappointed. She leaned a little on Eddie.

"I was glad to leave when Esteban was king, but now I'm worried about the place. There are good people there and they need someone...".

She didn't finish her sentence just tailed off.

Eddie frowned in sympathy and then looked hopefully at me.

"Tristan could we just go, and check the place behind the waterfall again? How did Esteban get here if not through a portal? Even though I'm new to this stuff it stands to reason there's some way back".

I watched him holding Dale and I felt a strange wash of love for them both. Eddie having lived all those years and looked for me all the time and Dale who genuinely thought I was her destiny. It's hard to turn your back on that stuff.

"Okay we'll try again. We'll try it out every so often. There's nothing to go on as to when it might exist if it ever does, so it will be a pain to do, and I hope you understand that".

They both started to grin and cheered so completely I felt as if I had given them something when I hadn't because I'm convinced there's no portal back to Dale's world.

We talked about Eddie's business then for a little while and Dale talked about how Bartholomew loved to work with Chloe. Then she said, "Eddie will come with me you know if I go home. We will be married".

I put my coffee cup down and leaned back to look at them both.

"Eddie it's a big step. It's nothing like our world".

It just came out of my mouth and then I looked at Dale. "Sorry Dale but he does need to know".

Eddie smiled. "I get it, but Tristan I've been alone for so long and now Dale fills my heart with love. I'd go with her anywhere. I mean that".

I nodded and drank some more coffee because right then Dale turned to Eddie and held his face kissing him. They looked like they were in love, and I felt glad about that.

As I put my cup down I looked up to see Chloe and Oliver, Liz and Will wandering down the street talking and then waving at us. They crossed the road to come to the table and Oliver gave me a little punch on the shoulder as he sat down next to me.

They all sat down and Will dragged a couple of chairs from an empty table so that we could all fit around this one.

I hoped Dale wouldn't continue with the same conversation because Will doesn't know anything. He knows nothing about how Oliver, Chloe, and me are different. He doesn't know about the portals, or where Dale came from. Sure he and Liz are engaged but it still the truth can't be told to him.

Eddie must have seen something in my expression because he took Dale's hand and said to everyone. "We're getting married".

I hadn't realized when Dale said that she had meant right away and I was amused.

Chloe leaned over and gave Dale a kiss on the cheek. "Dale that's so lovely, when?"

Eddie was smiling now and being shaken by the hand first by Will and then by Oliver. I felt I had to do the same.

When we were all sitting down again, Eddie asked Oliver, "So when are you and Chloe getting formally engaged, maybe we can make it a double celebration?"

Oliver looked straight at me before he answered.

"Things are a little too hectic for us both at the moment so it could be another few months".

Chloe stood up.

"I can't think why no one has been out to take our order. I'm going inside to give it. Who wants what?"

I said I would help and followed her inside.

We were about half way down the little corridor before the café widens out properly when she turned to me.

I put my arms out to have her hold me, and she did.

I hugged her and then held her face to kiss her. She kissed me back so that I felt the melting sensation I get in the bottom of my stomach.

We stopped kissing each other and just looked at one another.

"It won't happen. Oliver says it's not right somehow and that's true. We need to stall for my parents, but too bad".

It took me a second to realize she was talking about the engagement between her and Oliver.

"Sorry Chloe, will things be okay?" I asked her, and not just about her parents.

She reached up, kissed me again, and then whispered. "Everything will be okay".

At the café counter we ordered for everyone, and Clare who was helping out in the café said she would bring it out.

Chapter Twenty-One

Oliver

I watched Tristan follow Chloe into the café and I knew he had gone to be with her after what I had said. It's true though, we shouldn't go ahead with an engagement. It's better we let the whole idea blow over. I could see Dale and Eddie meant it though and had to smile.

Liz watched Tristan and Chloe, and then looked at me.

"Oliver what about Chloe's parents wanting to see you two engaged before they leave?"

Trust Liz to ask an important and really practical question.

I glanced at the expectant faces around the table before I answered.

"Her mom leaves on Saturday and her dad the Saturday after, so there's only two days. We decided to tell them that's it's too important to rush and then you know if and when it happens we'll all get together. Maybe even go over to the States to do it".

I felt like the biggest liar on earth saying that, but if there's one way to stop people asking about things it's considering doing it in another country.

Dale shuffled a little closer to me and put her hand on my arm. I looked at her questioningly and she said softly. "Sorry Oliver".

I knew what she was saying, she was saying sorry that you don't have Chloe all to yourself now. She was looking at me sympathetically, but I grinned at her because she really doesn't know all about Tristan, Chloe and me. It would all be okay.

Liz thoughtfully changed the subject and started asking Dale where she got her fabulous clothes and boots. Eddie took Dale's hand and she shuffled back close to him. Will put his arm around Liz's shoulders. I looked back at the café doorway wondering what was taking so long.

Tristan and Chloe appeared right then and only a moment later Clare and Samantha came out with our order.

Clare talked with Liz for a while and then left the table to serve other people.

It was only five minutes later that Liz and Will left because they both had to work at the restaurant. I grinned at them because I had the night off.

As soon as they were down the street, Dale leaned forward to Chloe and me.

"Tristan says he will help me find the portal behind the waterfall".

I gulped the coffee I had in my mouth and looked at Chloe.

She grimaced slightly.

"There may not be one Dale. Tristan what's going on?" Chloe turned to him.

Tristan sighed. "I know that and I've told Dale, but I feel I must at least check the wretched place out again a few more times. Although Bartholomew and I think there's no portal after we checked last night".

I broke into a laugh then. "You were out there last night Tristan?" I asked, incredulously.

"I was out riding and Matin will sometimes walk to the waterfall. He did last night and I found Bartholomew about to try climbing into the falls so I had to help him didn't I?"

We all nodded and laughed a little because it was true, we would all have helped him.

"So what's the plan?" I asked, because knowing Tristan there had to be one.

"I haven't thought of one yet", he admitted, and I grinned.

"Okay. It more or less has to be that we check every so often. We don't have anything to go on, no time spans and not even a particular spot to monitor so it will just be random".

Tristan nodded.

"What are we all up to for the rest of the day, and night, I guess?" Tristan asked us with a smile.

"I have to go back to work", Eddie said regretfully, but Dale turned and kissed him.

"That doesn't matter Eddie. I'll call you with news and maybe you can help tonight". She reassured him and I watched fascinated as he looked at her with complete love and acceptance.

Eddie left us about five minutes later and we started to plan properly.

We would start checking at approximately the time Esteban had leapt through so that meant this afternoon in an hour or so. Tristan was going to give Dale a ride over to the estate and Chloe came with me.

We all left the café at the same time and I took Chloe's hand to cross the road to where we had parked. I pulled her close to me by the side of the Land Rover and she smiled at me.

"Oliver that stuff about the engagement, I've already said about the same thing to mom and dad".

I raised my eyebrows. "What did she say, now we've stalled, and she leaves in two days?"

Chloe put her hands up around my face and I kissed her. "Well what did she say?"

"She said she hoped things would work out. I told her it was such a rush for me and I had so much work that I wanted a bit more time. I said to her after all it's hardly any time on the plane to fly to the States, and we could go over there to do it. She just smiled and got on with her packing".

I was stunned. "Really? That's about the same story I gave to the others just now at the café". I hugged her tightly and she snuggled against me.

I moved a little so that I could look into her eyes.

"Will it be okay Chloe?"

She nodded. "It will be okay".

I was going to drive so we took off to the Dearing estate then and I think both of us were almost looking forward to it. You get used to this bizarre adventure stuff.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chloe

I looked out of the window on the way to the Dearing estate and thought about how we could check out the waterfall for a portal. I didn't think there was one. It didn't make any sense to me. I thought Esteban had happened upon a spell and got here only to be crushed by a bus. Magic or not they don't have buses in his world. I turned to Oliver.

"Oliver what do you really think about testing out the waterfall? I feel that it will be a waste of time".

He smiled as he glanced at me. "You could be right. I don't feel there's a portal open to anywhere, but who knows about from somewhere to here Chloe?"

I ran my hand along his arm and up his shoulder for comfort. He grinned as we arrived at my place and parked behind my Wrangler.

Tristan's truck was outside the drive in the lane.

Oliver and I went into the house and found mom talking with Tristan and Dale.

She gave me a curious look and went off to her study where just about all her technical equipment is boxed up now. I followed her just to find out what the look was about.

"So mom did Tristan and Dale say anything interesting?" I asked her, and she grinned.

"You know very well what they said Chloe. It seems Dale and Tristan are no longer together. I'm guessing that has something to do with you and Oliver slowing down on the engagement, but I've realized Chloe that you're an adult now. Thinking that you and Oliver were getting engaged has made me see that. I'm okay with it and as you said it's not much of a flight to the States. Now go back to your friends. I recognize plotting when I see it although I can't imagine what it's about this time".

I hugged her because she's pretty cool sometimes.

When I got to the kitchen Tristan was naturally making coffee. Search me how he drinks so much of the stuff. Dale was on her cell phone to Bartholomew and Oliver was swinging on his chair at the kitchen table. He looked up when I walked into the room and smiled.

"Everything okay with your mom Chloe?" he asked me.

I moved close to him nodded, and gave him a thought. 'I do love you Oliver'

He seemed shocked for a second and then smiled again.

It had been a little time since any of us had shared thoughts. It just wasn't something you fell into naturally not when you had been talking aloud to people all your life.

He brushed my hand with his as I passed and then we all started planning what to do about the waterfall.

Bartholomew was going to join us. It seemed the best thing to do was visit at random times, climb in, and toss things around the place. Innocuous things like pebbles and apples, the latter at least could rot down and fertilize the ground.

I sat in between Oliver and Tristan and we decided to check it three times that night. We would go over to the stable apartment in between times and dry off. Dale laughed at that and said Bartholomew could dry us with a spell if we asked in advance.

Even so we decided to make the stable apartment our base from which we would trail over to the waterfall and back after the tests. Dale called Eddie and stood by the door telling him what was happening. I heard her say to him that she would see him later and Bartholomew would drop her later. I looked at Tristan as she said this just to see if there was any kind of reaction because it was obvious to all she and Eddie would be together for the night. Tristan didn't bat an eyelid. He knew I had looked at him questioningly and to my surprise sent me a thought. 'Chloe, I have no feelings for Dale other than friendship'

Now that was bizarre. 'We three' really must be back on.

Oliver drove us all over to the stable apartment and we piled in there in high spirits.

About ten minutes later Bartholomew and Gaston arrived and we gathered an orange, a couple of apples, and some pebbles. Oliver had his flashlight from the Land Rover.

We walked over to the waterfall en masse. It seemed such a familiar secretive trek and a smile kept coming to my lips.

Dale talked about her kingdom and Bartholomew told her that he regretted he couldn't go back with her if there was a portal.

She seemed to know already and that her mother wouldn't go either.

I looked first at Oliver and then at Tristan when she announced this and they shrugged.

At the waterfall we all looked at each other for a few seconds and then Gaston grinned.

"Come on then I'll lead the way, but have a care inside because if one of us suddenly disappears I'm not following". Everyone laughed at that but it was a consideration.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Leonay

Leonay was in his lodgings and was sitting by the window where a sunbeam danced on the wall behind the small table on which he had placed his bag of spells.

He couldn't stop himself from wanting to go back to the fountain in the forest and check if he would see Bartholomew again. It had been wonderful. There had been a painting of the high wizard in his ocean home but he no longer had it.

He took a deep breath. He had a plan. Clearly the wizard was trapped in that world where Esteban had seemingly vanished. He decided to go back and check the fountain again. Leonay had plenty of his water spells. It was why he was confident to sell them to Esteban; he had been able to replicate the spells.

He ate the last of the bread and cheese that was his afternoon meal, picked up his bag, and wandered nonchalantly out into the square.

He was careful to go the long way around. He was screened by the throngs in the market square. Trade was still thriving as all the officials thought Esteban would be back any moment and there would be hell to pay if they had not acquired more magic.

Leonay reached the pool and the bubbling spring fountain. He set down his bag and took a spell from it. He cast the spell on the water in the stone basin and held his breath as the fountain stilled and the surface became like glass.

He looked into it.

****

Dale and Bartholomew stood at opposite ends of the patch of ground behind the waterfall. Gaston and Tristan had thrown items around in a twenty-minute period. They had estimated that Esteban would have arrived during those twenty minutes on the day he came to their world. Nothing had happened and they were about to leave. Dale started to walk around the area.

"I think if only I could find exactly the right spot", she said, "Then I will find the portal".

Bartholomew glanced at Tristan and they both looked sympathetically at Dale.

"There is no portal to your world Dale. I just feel it", Tristan told her.

Bartholomew nodded. "Claudine, I agree with Tristan".

Dale stood still and looked around. She stared at the closest rocky wall and the trickle of water that ran down it. "There has to be", she said, but she knew she didn't believe it any more.

****

Leonay stared at the vision before him. This was the princess. What was she doing there in that world? She looked beautiful and sad. Leonay called to her. For a moment he thought she had heard him because she opened her mouth and yet no words came out, at least none that he could hear.

Leonay watched her turn away and then she was gone.

He stayed by the pool for a long time and then he went back to his lodgings to think and make a new spell.

Leonay's special affinity with water meant he didn't need many ingredients with which to change a couple of the spells he already had into the ones he wanted.

He wrapped the book that was to have been given to the Princess Claudine in special wrappings, and spelled them to be waterproof. He wrote a note to the princess telling her how to use the spell to get home. She could bring one other person back with her and that, thought Leonay, would be the high wizard. Leonay wrapped the spell and the note in the same waterproof wrapping and put the parcel into his bag.

He considered how he would get the package to the world where the princess was trapped. Leonay knew it had nothing to do with his spells when Esteban had disappeared. He couldn't produce a spell to send his package to the world because he had no address. The spell within the package was addressed to his own world.

Leonay was careful not to be seen again as he went off to the forest pool later that evening.

He stood by the stone basin for a while and then he spelled the water to see where his heart's desire was. He was hoping it would let him see where the princess was, or the high wizard, he'd settle for either of them.

He looked into the water for a long time but all he could see was a patch of ground with ferns and other curly leaf plants. A natural stone wall of some kind was just discernible but the Princess Claudine was nowhere to be seen. Leonay sighed and put the package in the water. Maybe whatever took Esteban to the other world would take the package sooner or later. He decided to come back the next day and check if it had gone. If it had not then he would go over to the next river where relatives lived and ask them for any advice they had about the whole situation.

He sat on the banks of the pool and dipped his feet into it. The decay was still there within the water and Leonay sprinkled a calming spell into it just because he loved water.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Package

We were not really too wet, only on our shoulders, and we gathered on the bank of the waterfall pool. Bartholomew seemed to be able to dry us as Dale had said, but don't ask me how that worked.

"I'm sorry to say this but I genuinely believe now that there is no portal to your world Dale", Tristan said regretfully.

Bartholomew nodded in agreement. "I'm of that same opinion. I wouldn't have believed that Esteban could open a portal himself with a spell but I'm beginning to think that's what must have been done".

"The only other answer is that there is a portal but it's only from there to here", I said, and looked around for some kind of acknowledgement of the idea.

"Chloe that's a possibility too", Bartholomew said to me, and Dale looked at me unhappily.

I looked at Tristan and he sighed.

"You could be right Chloe. I have no new ideas. I half hope that Esteban did manage a spell because who else, or what else might arrive if there is an open portal in your world?"

Oliver went over to Dale and put his arm around her drooping shoulders.

"Dale you have your mother, Bartholomew, Pia and Orlando, Marcus and Gaston and now Eddie here in this world. You could have a happy life here. We're all your friends".

I looked at him affectionately he is just so kind.

Dale got some comfort from this gesture and she nodded. "That's true".

She seemed resigned and then she added, "But could we try again in a few hours just to have one last attempt?"

Tristan laughed, and I smiled at this too because she looked so cute.

Bartholomew was hesitant. "I don't know Claudine you could be simply setting yourself up for disappointment".

Tristan seemed to decide it. "We'll come over here about seven thirty before it goes dark. Lucky the nights aren't quite drawing in Dale".

With that we wandered back to the stable apartment. Tristan and Oliver walked with me. Bartholomew walked with his arm around Dale, and Gaston by his side so that we talked about different things. I suggested we go back to my place and eat, but Tristan said we should all go to the Dearing house as the place was stockpiled with food. I grinned at that and without thinking took Tristan's hand. I didn't want to let go so I took Oliver's too. Whatever, friends hold hands don't they?

Laura and Corbett were at the Dearing house and it was great to catch up with them, although we are still careful of what we let Laura know because the less people know the better.

We left about seven fifteen and walked down to the waterfall. Gaston, Dale, and Tristan climbed in. Bartholomew, Oliver, and I waited on the bank of the pool because there seemed no point in us all going in there.

They had only been gone for a moment when Gaston was climbing back out calling something. Oliver and I had been leaning on each other and now we stood up and walked closer. Bartholomew glanced at us with surprise on his face.

"Something has come through the portal. A package", she called again, and we all three started forward closer to where Gaston leapt down the last three Norman steps.

"A package?" Bartholomew asked.

Dale was next through and then Tristan who had the package with him.

We stared at it and Tristan stood silently for a moment and then held it out to Dale.

"It's got writing on it. I can't read your language".

Bartholomew stepped forward. "I should check. It could be something unpleasant".

He took the package and then raised his eyebrows. It's addressed to you Dale, look 'For the Princess Claudine'.

Dale looked at it and then shrugged.

"What can it be?"

Tristan looked over her head at me and then Oliver said, "More like how did it get here? The wrapping is like a ducks back the water just rolls off it. I guess none of the others, for instance Orlando, could have put it there?"

Bartholomew shook his head. "No they wouldn't do anything like that. It wouldn't be a joke to them, or anything they would think of doing".

Tristan shrugged. "Well then maybe one of us should open it, Oliver or me, just in case it's a trap, something sent to hurt Dale".

Bartholomew looked kindly at Tristan and then opened the package himself. Tristan stood partly in front of Dale and Oliver moved towards Gaston.

There was nothing but a book, a note, and a vial of violet liquid.

Bartholomew held them out to Dale. "The note is for you Dale and so the book must be too".

She took the note first and read it quickly with a gasp.

"It's from someone called Leonay, he knows water spells, and was given this book long ago to give to me. He says the book is a story and very pretty. He says he saw me in the fountain after he had seen the high wizard, and knows I am stuck in another world. The vial contains a spell to bring me, and the high wizard home where we belong".

She looked at each of us in turn as if she couldn't believe what she had read. She handed the spell to Bartholomew and turned some of the pages in the book.

"It is a story. I'll read it later. Do you suppose that's how Esteban got here? This Leonay sent him with a spell?"

Bartholomew held the vial of liquid up in the failing light.

"My question is how did he see you and me in the fountain Dale?"

Tristan grinned. "Magic I guess. Let's go back to the house, or somewhere, it's starting to get dark".

No one answered but we all set off up the steep path worn into the vegetation and reached the top path.

Gaston stopped and waited for Dale who was with Bartholomew, she looked a little sad as she said, "Dale if the spell will only take you and Bartholomew home then I'll be sorry about that. I had thought to go with you, and Marcus was thinking about it".

I was surprised at this and watched Dale for her answer, but she didn't speak she just went and hugged Gaston.

It was Bartholomew who spoke. "It could be that you follow. It stands to reason that this Leonay can make another of these spells. I wouldn't want to take even the tiniest drop to analyze just in case it reduces the spell's effectiveness. I assume you do want to go back Dale?"

She spoke then.

"I must. Do you want to go Bartholomew because if not then I will ask Eddie if he meant it when he said he would come with me?"

Bartholomew looked down at the path and then back at her.

"I don't want to go".

Dale started to smile. "Excellent I'll call Eddie". She meant right then and got out her cell phone.

Oliver, Tristan, and I walked ahead. Bartholomew and Gaston walked behind us with Dale chattering happily on the phone.

At the stable apartment they decided to go home. They wanted to tell Evangeline what had happened. She would have left work at the Dearing house and be home then. Eddie was driving over there too to talk about things.

It was nearly eight-thirty and Oliver said he had to go too.

"I'm working tomorrow, nine to four for your dad Chloe. I also have some computer stuff to do and will get that done tonight if I leave now".

Tristan's truck was at my place so Oliver drove us all over there. Tristan got out of the Land Rover and walked over to his truck. I kissed Oliver and he held my face to his for a moment.

"I'll call. I wish I was staying with you", he whispered.

I got out of the car and watched him drive away.

I was turning to the porch and the front door when I realized Tristan hadn't left. He was standing next to his truck. He smiled at me and walked back down the drive.

"Can I stay a while?" he asked me.

"I'm longing to kiss you Chloe. I'm longing to be with you and talk about everything". Tristan put his arms around me and held me close.

I put my arms up around his neck and pressed close to him. "Let's spend some time together now. I admit I feel the same way. I'd also like to talk to you about everything".

He kissed me softly, and lingered against my lips the way he used to.

We went up to my room and Tristan looked at the designs I had on my computer, moving the mouse as he sat down on the desk chair and pulled me onto his knee.

"These are pretty. Do they have some of Bartholomew's symbols in them?"

I nodded. "They do". I traced a finger down his face and over his bottom lip. "Tristan do we just go back to the way we were? Do we just ignore the fact that you and Dale?" I didn't finish because he looked so sad.

"Chloe, if I could go back and erase the last weeks when I was with Dale instead of you I would do it in a heartbeat. It's not going to be between us is it because Chloe I'm not the only one of us who has shown their love for someone else physically? I know it happens, it must. There would be something really wrong if not".

He stopped talking and took a deep breath. "Do you love me just the same as you always did?"

I knew I did. I knew I'd never stopped. I didn't know how it had been so easy to let Dale have him and then after thinking that thought I smiled at it.

"I do love you just the same as ever". I looked at the few silver threads in his hair by his temple and my heart skipped a beat. I always would love him, it was in my DNA, and I suddenly felt that as if it was a new realization. Somewhere over the centuries our destinies had intertwined, and I looked into Tristan's lovely, dark blue eyes.

"Tristan through the centuries you have lived you have touched so many lives, and for some magical reason we can never fathom, or I can't, every so often you bump back into one of the threads you maybe even started. Some of them you untangle, and some just go on without you, or with you, like me and like Oliver.

This was Eddie's destiny, you made him immortal for a reason Tristan. Isn't that bizarre? I wonder what it is about him that meant he needed to hook up with Dale? Do you think Gaston has anything to do with it all?"

Tristan was smiling and he held my face and kissed me for a long time. We put our foreheads together. "Chloe you are so special, you always have such a creative outlook on everything. As for Gaston, maybe we share the waterfall in some way, and maybe the magic in there infused her or liked us both. I don't know. It's a mystery. I hope the portal stuff this time is just that character Leonay in Dale's world spelling her fountain. Now that would be a relief".

We looked at each other amused for a few seconds and then Tristan kissed me.

It was about two in the morning when he finally left. I went downstairs with him and watched him drive away.

I ran back up the stairs to my room and dived back in my bed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The story

At seven in the morning my cell phone woke me up.

I found it on the floor next to my bed and looked at the screen. If it wasn't Tristan or Oliver, I wasn't answering. It was Tristan.

"Chloe the whole thing is just what you said. Dale and Bartholomew read the book she was sent and they are sure it's a prophecy. They are sure it relates to her and now the pieces fit Chloe. The magic was about her finding an immortal so that she could rule her kingdom". Tristan barely took a breath and I had to smile even though I was very tired.

"Tristan is there any chance you could come over and talk more slowly?"

"I'll be there in ten minutes", he answered, and I dropped my cell phone back onto the floor. I closed my eyes again and then the next thing I knew there was a knocking on my bedroom door.

It was Tristan. Steven had let him in.

He grinned at me and kissed my cheek.

"Tired Chloe?" he asked, and I nodded.

I was about to drag my jeans and sweater on.

"Come on Chloe", he steered me back to my bed, and then sat next to me with his arm around me.

"Okay listen to this. The book that was sent to Claudine as I said before is some kind of magical prophecy book. Bartholomew is certain. In fact I think he knew all along. The magic in the prophecy targeted me because I am immortal, but also because I was easy to 'see' owing to Gaston traveling in Dale's world and knowing me through the waterfall. My guess is that it was really Eddie who was the immortal destined for Dale. She has to marry one you see to inherit her kingdom".

I sighed. "Why Tristan? Isn't she the princess and would get the kingdom anyway?"

Tristan kissed the top of my head as I snuggled up to him.

"Mmm that's a good question. I don't know but it's in the book. We are after all talking about a magic kingdom. She and Eddie will go today".

"What? Go today. Do you mean to her world?" I asked, and sat up.

"Yes to her world. Gaston is understandably upset but Eddie's happy to do it".

"It's only seven a.m. Tristan, were they up all night arranging this?"

He smiled and put my hair behind my ears, then kissed me.

"No idea and it's already eight".

I sighed and snuggled back up to him. "What time are they going?"

"I haven't finished talking about Eddie yet. He's asked if you will take an interest in his business".

I was amazed. "Me, why me? What's up with his assistant person?" I couldn't remember his name right then.

"Mitch will not be able to do it on his own and it seems a shame for him to lose his side of the business".

I sat up again and sighed. "Tristan I'm not sure I could help. I'm quite busy already".

Tristan grinned. "Stop it, you'll love it. I'll help, hey Laura will help too. She's arty".

I started to laugh. "Okay but I'm holding you to that. You will help".

He hugged me close. "I'm holding you too".

We were silent for a moment or two and then Tristan kissed my forehead.

"I'm going down to make coffee, Steven is down there. I said we would meet everyone at ten".

"Where?" I asked him as he got off the bed.

"To see Eddie and Dale off at the waterfall.

I nodded.

"Tristan what about Oliver? What about arrangements for Eddie's shop? It's a little hurried isn't it?"

He smiled at me.

"It's what Dale wants so that she can seek out this Leonay and find out if he or she can bring Gaston and Marcus over too. They seem to want to go. I think maybe you're right everyone was probably up all night".

With Tristan gone, I ran in the shower to wake myself up, and then threw my jeans and a shirt on. I hurried downstairs.

In the kitchen, Steven and Tristan were talking about music, and I got some orange juice before I sat down next to Tristan.

Steven left a few moments later to meet with friends and Tristan leaned over and kissed me.

"This is so great just being here with you. I'm so relieved things are back to normal".

I raised my eyebrows. "Not sure anything about our lives could be called normal Tristan. Have you told Oliver about Eddie and Dale? I think he might want to see them off too".

"I rang Oliver at work and he said he would ask for a break to come down and say goodbye to Dale. We're going over to get Eddie and bring him down to the waterfall, and we'll pick up Oliver too. It doesn't feel rushed to me. It feels like an ending and a beginning".

I looked at his serious expression and thought about that, it seemed to me as if there had been an awful lot of endings and beginnings since I had met Tristan.

"Let's go Chloe", he stood up, but then when I did too he suddenly held me close. He kissed me. "I love you. You do know that. Whatever happens it always comes back to that. I love you".

Tristan had the old truck outside but I decided to drive us. We got down to Eddie's shop, and he was obviously so happy about everything I didn't have the heart to ask him, as I had planned to, if he was absolutely sure about the whole thing.

Mitch shook my hand and we arranged a time for when I would come back and go over things with him. It didn't seem so bad after all. I was more like a creative team member than anything else. There was another assistant too that I hadn't known about, Mitch's girlfriend with a business degree so I figured that Eddie had roped me in purely for my love of his work. Perhaps he hoped I would keep that element of complete beauty that was in his work alive.

He talked excitedly to Tristan as I drove us to pick up Oliver all about how great it was to have Dale and the new adventure he was about to start. I didn't comment at all. I just hoped with all my heart that it would be a lovely life for him and for Dale.

Oliver bounded out to the Wrangler as soon as Tristan texted him that we were out in the restaurant car park. He slid into the passenger seat because Tristan and Eddie were in the back seats. I glanced at him and he gave me his look. The look that made me feel loved and more than that, treasured. I smiled at him and drove over to the house.

We walked down to the waterfall and found them already there, Dale, Bartholomew, Gaston, and Evangeline. I didn't ask where the others were.

Eddie went straight to Dale, hugged her, and then she went to Tristan and hugged him. I smiled at her as she came and hugged me, and then Oliver.

It seemed they had said their goodbyes because she, Eddie and Bartholomew followed Gaston up the steps, the rocky outcrop, and then ducked into the area behind the waterfall.

Tristan went to Evangeline and put his arm around her shoulders, but she smiled.

"It's okay. I am sad a little of course, but this is Dale's destiny and she has Eddie. It's what's supposed to happen".

It had happened too because there was Bartholomew coming back through the curtain of water, closely followed by Gaston.

They were there in front of us and Bartholomew took Evangeline's hand.

Gaston looked downcast and I walked to her. I hugged her.

"You still have friends Gaston we are always here for you".

She smiled slightly. "I know and despite I will miss her greatly I must confess that I had second thoughts about going too. This may not be my time exactly, but it is my world".

Bartholomew sighed. "It's sad and happy. It has to happen. Let's face it Leonay has some fantastic water spells, she may be able to visit, but at the very least I think she will send news, even if it is just the once. Of course Leonay is a water sprite".

"How do you know?" I asked, and Bartholomew smiled.

"He or she must be one, only a water sprite could help Dale inherit her kingdom".

We all walked up to the top path. Bartholomew, Evangeline, and Gaston walked off to the path to go through the woods, as they were heading for the Dearing house.

Tristan and I dropped Oliver back at work and arranged that he would come over to my place when his shift ended.

Then Tristan and I went back to the house and wandered into the kitchen.

Mom was there making coffee.

The next day she too would leave. I smiled at her and thought about how strange it would be living in the big place and she would not be there in her study working away.

"Hi Mom, how's everything? Are you all set for the trip?"

She sighed. "You know how I was convinced it was a good thing and really wanted to go? Now I'm not so sure".

I looked at Tristan and he raised his eyebrows at me.

"Really Mom, have you told Dad?"

"We talked about it last night and your Dad feels the same. Suddenly we both feel as if we might be making a mistake". She stopped talking. She had made Tristan coffee too just out of habit and she put it in front of him. He muttered a thank you. I waited for a moment.

"It's not too late to simply say that and stay Mom", I told her.

She nodded but then said, "I will go and see how I feel when I am there". She left us then and Tristan came to sit next to me.

"Do you think the magic could have influenced your parents too?"

I looked at him startled. "Surely not Tristan".

He took my hand and we were quiet for a few moments.

"Maybe", I said.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The note

Dale and Eddie had been well received in her city and been told the story about Esteban's disappearance. Dale hadn't even had to try to claim her throne. It was assumed she would be queen. Leonay the water sprite had seen to that when he had sent her the storybook, which she had brought with her through the portal along with Eddie.

In her old room was a letter brought there by a courtier after Leonay had left the city. The letter was from the water sprite and wished her a long and happy life.

The day after they had safely arrived Dale looked through all the water spells that had been collected in an effort to find one, which might send a message through the fountain to the waterfall on the Dearing estate. She wanted to tell everyone all was well. She found nothing that might open a portal between worlds. Perhaps Leonay was the only one who could do this stuff she thought.

Seeing her disappointment Eddie lovingly encouraged her to put a note in the fountain pool anyway. They wrapped it well within a little of the waterproof material that had held the storybook, and attached a stone so that it sank to the bottom of the stone basin.

Dale held Eddie's hand.

"It's not disappeared or anything. Could it be that only Leonay can make these spells? If so we are in trouble because it's very difficult to find a water sprite". She voiced her thoughts to Eddie.

Eddie hugged her. "Leave it, we'll check in a couple of days". He kissed her and they walked back to their horses.

****

It was two days later and Chloe's mother had left for California. Bartholomew had firstly called at the Dearing house where his beloved Evangeline worked and then walked down to the waterfall. He had not told anyone what he was going to do. He climbed behind the waterfall and checked for any sign of a communication from Dale. Sure enough there was the note from her. He smiled when he read it and put it into his pocket.

Bartholomew knew there was a portal but it was in everyone else's best interests to be unsure and so he would deliberately let everyone think Leonay had sent the note with a spell. It was easy and it hurt no one. He thought too that unless Dale put her hand into the water of the fountain at exactly the right time then the machinations of the portal would remain a secret even to her. Perhaps that was for the best he thought. He took a gold ring from his little finger and put it in exactly the place he had found the note from Dale.

The gold ring never moved and Bartholomew realized the portal really did only lead from Dale's world to this one. He had no way of communicating with her.

Over the next couple of weeks Dale sent other notes, she knew they must travel through a portal to the world she had left behind and just as her father had done, she realized it was one way. Dale had no idea exactly when the portal opened but Bartholomew decided to try to estimate it just for his own peace of mind. Dale sent out a call throughout her land for Leonay to come back to the city for her to thank him, and she hoped, for him to help her one day visit her friends and family in their world. She knew she couldn't do this without a spell to come back to her kingdom again.

****

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Nothing's changed

I was working on some new designs for the stained glass windows and at the same time waiting for Oliver to come over after his shift at the restaurant. I stopped work and wandered downstairs to get a drink. The supplies in the fridge were a little depleted and I decided that I would go to the market the next day and stock up.

Mom had emailed and said she was fine but strangely unsettled when she had always been so at home on her visits to Los Angeles.

I took some cranberry juice back up to my desk and looked over my work. The symbols for peace and tranquility that Bartholomew had taught me were in the border around a design of a waterfall. Finally after three years I had depicted the waterfall in my designs.

I was happy with the design and walked over to my bedroom window. I stared out at the garden changing now for autumn. Bartholomew was just cutting across the back half and then he disappeared into the woods. He must have been for a walk and was on his way back to the Arts building where I knew he had a class later that day.

I expected Oliver to arrive any minute and so when the doorbell rang I ran down and opened the door thinking it must be him. It was Tristan. He stepped into the hall and hugged me.

"Chloe I was passing and just had to see you". He kissed me and I smiled as he let me go.

"Hi Tristan, where are you passing to?"

We walked into the kitchen

"White Woods greenhouses. I need to pick up some conifers. I thought Oliver would be here". He pulled me into his arms and leaned with me against the table. I put my arms around him and kissed him.

"He will be soon. Do you have time for some coffee?"

Tristan grinned. "Naturally, but I want more hugs first".

I laughed at him and hugged him tight.

When the doorbell rang again I knew it had to be Oliver. Tristan started to make coffee and I opened the door for Oliver.

"Tristan dropped by then", he said as he hugged me.

I smiled. "Yes". I stopped and put my arms up around his neck to hold him close for a few seconds, and then we went into the kitchen.

Tristan turned around and nodded at Oliver. "Hi Oliver".

Oliver grinned at him and then turned to me.

"Your dad just got through telling us all that he wasn't leaving after all Chloe. Did he tell you? I got the impression it was just decided. He'd been on the phone in his office for maybe half an hour and then he gathered us all together for just a couple of minutes before my shift ended".

"Really. I've not heard a word. Can you believe it? You would think he'd be telling me and Steven before anyone else". I looked from Oliver to Tristan and they shrugged amused.

My cell phone rang then and it was mom.

"Mom what are you up to? Oliver just told me dad said he's no longer leaving the restaurant and so presumably that means the country too".

She told me it was cancelled. She was coming back in just over a week. It had been some kind of nostalgia when she had wanted to go back to LA. She could still fly to and from when business called for it, but this place had become her home now.

When we ended the call, I told Oliver and Tristan who were watching me as I walked up and down the kitchen talking to mom.

"There you go. Your dad must have been on the phone to your mom and they made the decision. It's quite cool really. No more worrying about if they will suddenly want to have you and Steven over there too". Oliver smiled at me.

Tristan was thoughtful. "That's interesting, good, but interesting".

I nodded at him.

Tristan left about ten minutes later saying he needed to finish the work he had on for the day.

I took Oliver to see my new designs and we sat together talking for a little while about the fact mom and dad were not leaving. We both thought it was significant of something, but we didn't know what.

I went over to his place then for the evening. It was good to be with him, peaceful.

He had the ring that had been altered to fit me properly when we were going to get engaged and he put it on my finger.

We were sitting on his bed side by side and he kissed me.

"It was great thinking it would happen, but it never will, isn't that right Chloe?"

I looked at the lovely ring and shook my head.

"Maybe not, probably not, but I do love you. I never want to lose you". I kissed him and we snuggled together.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The end of the seven spell

With Dale gone Gaston went to live with Marcus.

Gina, Pia, and Orlando insisted there was heaps of room and it seemed she was really happy. Even though they don't live that far away we don't see them that much because they have their businesses and work, so I guess we might not see too much of Gaston now.

Bartholomew and I had been running two art classes each week and I had arranged to help Mitch out two days a week.

It had been just over two weeks since Dale had left. Mom was arriving in another day and I had unpacked her study for her.

I was with Tristan at Hawthorns and he was tidying up the young trees in the garden.

"Evangeline is leaving the Dearings. She said we don't need her anymore and as much as I feel sad, I know it's true. She and Bartholomew are setting up some plant business near her home. That part is cool isn't it Chloe?"

I was shocked. It seemed radical to me as she had been such a fixture, but Tristan seemed fine with it.

"I suppose Bartholomew is still going to work with me? He hasn't said anything to me about changing our arrangement".

Tristan turned to me. "Yes I think everything else will go on".

He came close and kissed me.

"What are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?"

I smiled at him. "I was thinking I would stay with you Tristan", I told him, and caught hold of him to kiss him again.

We spent the rest of the day together and then about nine we went over to my place.

Steven and the rest of the band were there in the library jamming. It was fun to hear them as we sat in the kitchen waiting for Oliver. He was working until ten and then we were all going to meet Clare, James, Laura, and Corbett at the Kool Kafé. Liz would more than likely be there too since Will was in the library with the band.

I looked out of the French doors onto the garden that was lit up. The grass out there was covered in leaves. Fall seemed to have taken a real hold without me noticing.

Oliver arrived and hugged me at the door. I was going to drive us down to the Kool Kafé and he had brought his jeans to change into. He grinned as he dropped them on the table.

"I heard from Liz that Evangeline is leaving the Dearing employ Tristan".

Tristan nodded. "We really should manage ourselves. Everyone is grown up. Jack and Jonathan will never come back now. They've retired completely to Italy. It's great that she and Bartholomew will spend more time together".

Oliver took his jeans and went into the utility room to change.

Will was meeting Liz at the Kool Kafé and he left just before we did. The rest of the band scrambled into the kitchen to get snacks and coffee.

As I drove I thought about things. Everything seemed to be settling down.

I parked over the road from the café and we all walked together over there.

Everyone was there and Corbett made room for us at the tables pushed together. The music was quite low and we talked for a time before it became louder and people got up to dance.

Laura and Corbett put on their usual show of dancing as if they were glued together. I watched them and smiled. James was talking to Tristan about some kind of new dig on the Dearing land. Oliver was talking with Will about computers.

I looked around feeling very much at home.

Oliver suddenly glanced at me, leaned, touched my hand, and smiled. He went back to talking with Will and Tristan shuffled closer to me.

"Do you want to dance Chloe?"

I smiled at that. "I'd love to".

****

Bartholomew and Evangeline shone the flashlight around the area of ground behind the waterfall. They were waiting for the portal to open. A package appeared wrapped in the kind of waterproof fabric that Leonay had used to send the storybook to Claudine. Bartholomew stepped forward and picked up the package. He opened it and gave the letter to Evangeline. Bartholomew had brought her with him to show her that he had calculated the portal opening correctly. She smiled at him and took his hand. They would read the letter at home together.

"This is wonderful to have her letters, but a little sad that we cannot reply".

Bartholomew smiled at her and kissed her. "Yes, but I am working to fix that". They carefully climbed back out of the waterfall.

They walked along the top path and back through the woods using the flashlight to see the path.

"It's important no one knows about the portal Evangeline. So far they think it was just the spells that did the trick. It's best we leave it that way, don't you agree?" Bartholomew asked softly as they reached the access road where Evangeline had parked her car.

She nodded as she unlocked it. "There's no likelihood of danger from the old world now the prophecy has been fulfilled. Everything is as good as it could be Bartholomew, but I do agree there really is no need for anyone, not even Tristan to know".

Evangeline turned to Bartholomew before she started the engine. "You are sure that you lifted the seven spell forever?"

He grinned at her suddenly looking mischievous. "Banishing that was the first thing I did when I was sure there was a natural portal behind the waterfall. The balance in the waterfall is restored again Evangeline. It's back to perhaps the way it was a thousand years ago. It may even be stronger as the holy spring and waterfall are combined this time". He smiled again and leaned to kiss her, before he continued, "We may even find a sprite or two sets up home there again, in the future of course".

She happily started the engine to drive them home.

****

Find the Seven Spell Saga online:

http://tess-three-in-the-morning.blogspot.com

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seven-Spell-saga/138580806204048

 https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107096961952142643679/107096961952142643679/posts

