chapter two

Kerri meets the druid boy Tamwyn... and things get interesting.

chapter two:

 

 

Kerri woke up to a pair of midnight blue eyes staring back at her. She screamed and sat up, scooting away as fast as her butt would carry her. The owner of the eyes --- a tall, dark-haired boy of about eighteen --- stood and backed away, his brow creased.

 

            “Sorry,” he said; his voice was deep and rough, like he didn’t use it often.

 

            “What--- Who are you?” Kerri managed to sputter out.

 

            The boy blushed up to his ears.

 

            “Oh, um, I’m Tamwyn Briens.” He crouched back down and held out his hand. Kerri stared at it. She met his eyes and didn’t say anything. Tamwyn took his hand back.

 

            “Right then.” He leaned back on his heels and looked at her. Kerri narrowed her eyes and returned the stare. He was of medium build with broad shoulders. His hair was dark, dark brown and was plaited into dozens of braids that went to about the middle of his neck. He was wearing a dark green shirt and jeans; around his neck hung a leather cord with an iron key on it. But what really drew her attention were his eyes. They were the deepest shade of blue she’d ever seen.

 

            “Are ya all right?” he asked, concern shining from those fantastic eyes.

 

            “Oh, yeah.” Kerri nodded and looked around, slowly remembering what had happened. The cat…

 

            She jumped up, head turning left and right. But the trees were empty, the whispers gone. “What happened?” she asked.

 

“You were runnin’ from somethin’,” he said, sitting back on his heels. “I heard ya screamin’ so I came runnin’.” He smiled suddenly. “I guess it’s a good thing I found ya, too. You were headin’ straight for the Stones.”

 

            Kerri looked back at him. “Stones?”

 

            “Aye, the Standin’ Stones. In the wood.”

 

            Her dream flashed before her eyes. A ring of stones, the cat beckoning her towards them…

 

            “You’re an American, aren’t ya?”

 

            Kerri nodded, snapping back to reality. “Sorry. My name’s Kerri.” She held out her hand and Tamwyn took it, shaking. His hand practically swallowed hers. “Thanks for saving me.”

 

            He smiled, showing off white teeth. “My pleasure.” He stood and helped her to her feet; she barely came to his shoulders. “Where are ya stayin’? I can walk ya back.”

 

            “The bed and breakfast in town. I don’t remember the name.”

 

            “The Brugh?”

 

            “Yeah, that’s it.” She smiled back, looking up at him through her lashes. “You know it?”

 

            “Me cousin works there. C’mon, I’ll take ya back.”

 

            Kerri nodded and followed him. He moved easily through the brush, but he kept glancing over his shoulder at her, a frown on his face. After a while, he looked down at her.

 

            “If ya don’t mind me askin’,” he said, “what were ya runnin’ from?”

 

            Kerri blushed. “Honestly?”

 

            Tamwyn nodded.

 

            “I have no idea.”

 

            He nodded again, much to her surprise.

 

            “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

 

            Shrugging, Tamwyn said, “No. I don’t blame ya for gettin’ scared.”

 

            “I wasn’t scared.”

 

            He chuckled, and Kerri blushed again. She couldn’t have helped herself; the reply was instantaneous.

 

            “It doesn’t matter,” he continued. “These woods are…” He paused, moving his lips silently, then he shook his head. “They’re not safe.”

 

            “How come everyone avoids them?” Again, instantaneous. She really needed to start thinking before she spoke...

 

            Tamwyn ignored her and moved aside a branch, revealing the path that led straight to the village. “Here we are.” He stepped down and held the branch for Kerri. Having the feeling she wouldn’t get an answer, Kerri didn’t ask again. She was beginning to think it was a forbidden subject.

 

            They walked in silence until they reached the inn. There Tamwyn stopped and stuck his hands in his pockets, hesitating outside the door.

 

            “Well, I’ll just leave ya here, then, shall I?”

 

            “I guess.” An awkward silence filled their ears, and then Kerri stuck out her hand. “Well, thanks again, Tamwyn---“

 

            “No, please. Call me Tam.” He didn’t shake her hand, but smiled. “Look, how long are ya stayin’? For vacation?”

 

            Kerri put her hand down, feeling slightly stupid. “Two weeks. Why?”

 

            He grinned. “How would ya like to see the real Ireland?”

 

 

 

 

Kerri checked her face in the mirror for what was probably the hundredth time. Tamwyn had said that he would meet her at the inn around five that evening. It was 4:53. She didn’t even know why she was freaking out. It was just a tour from one of the natives.

 

            A really freaking hot native. Oh, wait. That was why.

 

            She sighed and left her room, trotting down the stairs into the lobby. She stopped at the bottom and grabbed the railing to keep herself from falling. She would hate to trip and look like an idiot in front of Tam.

           

            In all honesty, Kerri thought she was still dreaming. No way in hell would something like this have happened in real life. Going to a foreign country and getting your life saved by an insanely hot Irishman? Only in fairy tales.

 

            Call me Cinderella, she thought with a smirk when Tamwyn walked in the front door. Not like anything would actually happen, but it would be a good two weeks.

 

            “Fit to go?” Tam asked when he saw her. He had taken the braids out of his hair, leaving it to fall in dark waves to his shoulders. Kerri nodded breathlessly, wondering if she would be waking up anytime soon. She really hoped not.

 

            Tam grinned at her and jerked his head toward the door. “Well, let’s go, then.”

 

            Again Kerri nodded and took the last couple steps down the stairs. But Fate has a habit of being a cruel b***h and despite all her efforts at grace, she tripped on the last one. Tam caught her and put her back on her feet, his grin widening.

 

            “Careful now,” he said while he pulled open the door. Kerri sighed and looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

 

            “So where are we going exactly?” she asked when they stepped outside.

 

            “You’ll see.”

 

            “Oh, that makes me feel loads better.” Kerri stopped in the middle of the road. “How do I know you won’t take me out into the middle of nowhere and rape me or something?”

 

            Tam stopped and turned on her, smirking. “Are all Americans as outspoken as you?” When Kerri just stared at him, he frowned and asked, “Why on earth would I do that?”                   

 

            Kerri shrugged. “Dunno. I just met you this morning. You’re a complete stranger to me. I guess what I mean is how can I trust you?”

 

            Tam chuckled and stepped toward her. He looked down at her a second, then shrugged back. “I dunno. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” And he turned and continued down the road. When Kerri didn’t follow, he called over his shoulder, “Are ya comin’ or not?”

 

            “This is insane,” she muttered, but she followed anyway.

 

 

The moors were a brilliant shade of emerald and amethyst as the sun went down over the hills. Down in the little valleys, dots of white and grey milled about --- sheep grazing. Kerri listened intently as Tam told her about the County and led her up a steep trail. Glad she had put on her tennis shoes, she matched him step for step until they reached the end of the path. Tam had taken her to a wide field of purple heather, bordered by a dark forest.

 

            “It’s beautiful,” she said, glancing back at the bottom of the trail and taking note of how high up they were.

 

            Tam shrugged modestly. “This is just me little safe haven,” he said.

 

            Kerri looked up at him. “Safe haven? From what?”

 

            He glanced at the trees before saying, “So what brought your family to Ireland?”

 

            But Kerri had seen the glance. “Why are you so afraid of the woods?”

 

            Tam looked at her, then walked into the field. “It’s not the woods I’m afraid of,” he said. Kerri moved over to him.

 

            “Then what is it?”

 

            “What would ya say you were runnin’ from earlier?”

 

            “Huh?”

 

            “This mornin’ when I found ya. What were ya runnin’ from?”

 

            Kerri blushed and shook her head. “I don’t know. I never actually saw them.”

 

            “Them?”

 

            She felt the heat creep up into her face even more. She said, “Yeah, there were a bunch of them, whatever they were.” She frowned. “Why?”

 

            Tam sighed and looked at the wall of trees to their right. A shadow crossed his face.

 

            “Why don’t you like the woods? What’s in there?” Kerri asked again.

 

            He shook his head. “Nothin’. It’s Irish bollocks, that’s all.”

 

            “Tell me!”

 

            “No, I can’t.” When Kerri made an angry sound, he turned the tables. “Why were ya in the forest anyway?”

 

            “Why should I tell you? You won’t tell me.”

 

            “Fair.”

 

            A silence stretched across the field. Kerri stuck her hands in her pockets, staring back at the trees. A flash of red caught her eyes, and she started.

 

            “Tam!” she whispered urgently, grabbing his arm.

 

            “What? What did ya see?”

 

            She pointed to the patch of trees she’d been looking at. “There! Someone was there. A woman, I think.”

 

            Tamwyn stared hard at the spot she was pointing to. After a moment he frowned and took Kerri’s hand, pulling her back to the path.

 

            “Tam?”

 

            “We should go; it’s gettin’ late.”

 

            Kerri stopped and pulled her hand out of his. “Tam, what was it? Who was she?”

 

            He stopped and sighed, then turned to meet her eyes. “Look, if ya meet me up here tomorrow can I tell ya?”

 

            “Tam, what’s wrong?” She took a step toward him, looking him straight in the eye. “Tell me the truth. What was it?”

 

            He looked back at the trees and paled slightly, then locked onto her eyes. “I promise that I’ll tell ya. I swear it to the Goddess Herself---“

 

            “The Goddess?”

 

            “I’ll tell ya everything,” he continued, almost pleading. “Anything ya want to know. Can we please just leave?”

 

            “Tam---“

 

            He grabbed her shoulders. “Kerri, please.”

 

            If he hadn’t looked so adorable pleading with her like that, she might have said no. But those dark blue eyes were full of so much desperation and the way he was staring into hers was just too much. Besides, he looked genuinely scared.

 

            “You’ll tell me?”

 

            “Yes.”

 

            “Everything?”

 

            “Anything! Please, we need to go. Now!”

 

            She sighed. “All right. Let’s go.”

 

            Tamwyn’s face flooded with relief and he pulled her roughly toward the path. They weren’t running, but Tam walked so quickly that Kerri stumbled a few times. By the time they got back to the inn, it was almost dark. Again, he left her at the door.

 

            “Meet me back there tomorrow, around eleven. I’ll tell ya then. You remember the way?”

 

            Kerri nodded, and he turned to leave. She caught his arm.

 

            “Why are you so worried?” she asked.

 

            Tam looked down at her and smiled slightly. “There’s somethin’ about ya, Kerri. I don’t know what, but it’s special.”

 

            She blushed like crazy. “Oh. Is that all?”

 

            Tamwyn chuckled. “Aye. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

 

            Kerri walked into the inn feeling a bit dizzy. She saw her mom and Richard and Josh sitting in the dining room and went to join them. When she plopped down into a chair, Richard said, “About time you showed up.”

 

            She didn’t even have the brain capacity to roll her eyes. Forget about the cat; Kerri had bigger problems to worry about. Like how she was going to keep her head on straight around a guy like Tamwyn. Her vacation just got a lot more complicated.