held her limp body very close, burying my face in her hair, sobbing brokenly, not caring that soon the place would be swarming with soldiers and police looking for answers, demanding explanations.

"You didn’t kill him. You didn’t kill anybody," I sobbed, but she was far beyond hearing my Earth-bound voice.

In my grief, I never noticed the hooded figure approach until I felt a firm hand on my shoulder. I looked up, tears leaving dirty runnels down my cheeks.

"No, not one of ours, but more than a witch." Ian bent as other figures silently drifted about us, forming a loose ring within the larger circle of giant stones, Tary and I at its centre.

"You knew?" My whispered voice barely carried over the wind which was gathering strength.

Another of the figures came, kneeling at my side, touching Tary’s face gently. It was the High Merlin.

"We hoped," he said simply. "Not quite the same as knowing." He lifted the Crown of Fey, holding it aloft as it shrank before my eyes. Gently, almost reverently, the Merlin replaced the tiny ring upon my wife’s left pinkie.

A small ember of hope was kindled within me. "Can you help her? With your magic, here in this enchanted place? Can’t you save her?"

A small sad smile graced his lips as he answered. "We may neither help nor hinder. We merely observe."

Anger welled up within me, threatening to overcome my sense of pain and loss. "You refuse?" I accused.

"I did not say there was no help, Doctor, only that we could not. To interfere in this matter would endanger all she has suffered for, all she has sacrificed."

"Tell me. High One, what must I do?" I asked desperately.

"There are other enchanted places, Doctor, besides this place of death. Take her where she once before has been healed. Take her to the holy place where within the waters lies a healing of spirit as well as of body. Take her where life is enchanted and let her spirit take her where it will."

He laid his hand gently on my head. And I kneeled. "For what it may be worth, my blessing shall accompany you."

Ian helped me to my feet as the others melted back into the dark as though they had never been there at all.

He cradled Tary gently in his arms, turning toward the road. "Need a lift, old friend?"

I followed numbly, carrying her over-sized purse and dragging the duffle by it’s strap, just because I couldn’t stand the idea that she would never have need of them again.

©2000 by Trish Reynolds