(Magh Croimor RP)

When we get to Tara, everybody goes off in different directions, just like we always do here. I see Ma is keeping the poet with her. They'll be easy to find in the crowd, and he'll lead us to the princess.

I take Winter Mist's hand and we walk slowly along the edge of the festival grounds, following the waterway until we get to that special place behind Baine's tent. It feels like it was yesterday and it feels like a thousand years ago when we sat on this grass and had our own little wedding feast. Am I still afraid of her? Everything is different now. I hold her hand and look into those elvin eyes, finding the tiny silver star that shines so deep and faraway in each one.

"Remember?" I steal a kiss and run the tips of my fingers along her ear. "Remember your flower? The purple flower I gave you to say I was sorry? It was on this spot that I asked you to go home with me and you said yes!"

The silver stars in her eyes seem so faraway today, even more than they were the first time I noticed them.

"Winter Mist," says I, very softly. She is staring hard across the field at something and I don't even think she hears me. Following her line of sight, it's just Ciara standing there with her baby all in a bundle and the brat-boy Lann alongside. The babe was nice and quiet since we left home. Now it's started up that howling again. Maybe it is upsetting my wife's sidhe-senses to hear it.

I say her name again and tug at one of her braids to tease her, make her giggle or at least smile. She bites her lips and turns her stare down to her feet, shutting me out.

"Wrong, something I done wrong. What?"

Only Toad speaks. Winter Mist sighs.

I grab both of her hands. "Come on, let's find something to eat. We can bring it back here and have another feast, in this same spot, and then maybe -"

Something stops me, as if a hand has just choked my throat. "Wha -" I croak while a chill of fear shivers through me.