Ripple Effect, Part One
It was a cool and misty Autumn morning when a stranger showed up to the house nestled between the woods and the farmlands on the outskirts of the city where the King of the Britons lived in his castle. In this humble home lived a farming family- Father, Mother, and 3 children. It was as the family was finishing their breakfast, readying themselves for the day’s work, when the stranger rapped upon their door.
Father, expecting no guests, was confused but happy to speak with any who’d seek him out- it could be anyone from a soldier or messenger from the city to a wayward stranger seeking to confirm he’d reached the correct city. Upon opening the door, he immediately assumed the latter, as the man wore an astonishingly clean white cloak embroidered with golden designs on the trims, the hood drawn to cover his eyes.
“Good morning, stranger,” Father greeted the cloaked figure, “what brings you to our home this day?”
The man smiled. “Is this the home of Othryn the farmer?”
“Aye, I’m Othryn. Come in, stranger, and sit with us. You can tell me about why you came on the condition that it’s good news!” Othryn chuckled, then added, “And of course, I can’t be calling you stranger! What is your name?”
Pleased that he was received so well, the stranger entered the house and said, “My name is Lugalbanda. It’s quite a mouthful, so call me Lu.” As Lu sat at the table, he said, “I do bring good news, on the condition that you believe me.” He kept his smile, a smile that couldn’t be less intimidating.
“I like the sound of that, Lu,” said Othryn. “But first, I must introduce my family. This is my wife, Arwnn,” he gestured toward a kindly woman of auburn hair, only the crow’s feet on her eyes belying her age. He then pointed out the children, “My oldest, my daughter Ceirwn, my son, Gwndyr, and my youngest son, Gaewyn.”
Lu turned toward each of the children, though none of them could tell exactly which way his eyes were pointing. Ceirwn and Gwndyr looked to be strong children of maybe 13 and 11 respectively, both nearly identical to their father. Gaewyn, about 8, had his mother’s auburn hair, but unlike her eyes of stunning green, his were pale and evidence of a life that the boy had never actually seen. What Lu already knew, but couldn’t be seen while they sat at the table, was that Gaewyn had never walked, either, his legs misshapen and useless. The child had never gotten the chance to be a child the way his older siblings had. Lu hoped to change that.
Still smiling, he said, “I see bright futures for all four- yes, even the one you haven’t quite met yet. Young miss, you will marry well and be the blessing of your husband’s life, and you’ll have more say in the matter of a happy life than he will by far. Gwndyr, you will travel with soldiers, but you will sow peace with your words and be rewarded justly.”
“And Gaewyn,” he turned toward the boy who could not see him, and after the slightest pause, said, “you will know a life that most men could never imagine. You will be the guide to a king who will save Britain from perhaps its darkest days. Your name will be known for a thousand generations, and you will ascend from history into myth and legend.”
Lu now turned to Othryn, whose smile was now a sad one. His eyes were wet but nothing like the tears that Arwnn shed silently behind her children.
Othryn spoke first. “These are kind words, Lu. I am honored that you see such greatness and such happiness in my children’s lives.” It was then he let out one shuddering breath before continuing with the fortitude of a man who was not just strong for his family, but strong because they gave him strength.
“My family is all that matters to me in this world. To know that they will be happy until their last days makes me proud.” He wiped a tear from his eye before saying, “Your prediction for Gaewyn is quite something. How will he achieve that greatness from the humble beginnings of a farmer’s son?”
The euphemism was carefully constructed and expertly delivered, but it was obvious to all what he meant. Lu took that to mean that they believed in their son as a person, they were raising him to be as selfless and kindhearted as they were, but they let on without words that none of the kingdom’s physicians, magicians, or priests of any god had seen any success.
His smile softened, more loving than any who’d met the child before. “He will achieve this greatness because I will train him. It may seem hard to believe, but I did challenge you to do just that. I’d like to show you something, but please trust that I would not bring any harm to you or your family.”
When they nodded hesitantly, he spoke again. “I know that Gaewyn’s eyes can be unsettling to those with less love in their hearts, but I wear my hood this way for nearly the same reason. These are mine.”
With that, he slid the hood of his cloak back, revealing soft hair that looked as if it were spun from gold. When he lifted his head, the four humans who could see let out tiny gasps. What they saw were eyes of sulphur yellow, that almost seemed to glow, and yet they made his face more beautiful than it could have been otherwise- which is to say that he would have been the most beautiful person any of them would ever see as it was, and the unsettling eyes somehow made him more angelic.
“I know, they’re quite a shock. I’ve had them my whole life, the whole life of every man, woman, and child who has ever lived. I’m as old as time and I’ve fought even my own brother to protect mankind. You’ve always held a special place in my heart.” He turned those timeless eyes to Gaewyn once more, losing his smile and becoming serious for the first time since meeting the family.
“That’s why I’ve come for Gaewyn. My role in humanity’s future is going to move ever further into the background. There will come a day when the part I play is only the ferryman to the next life, so I now travel the world, teaching people like Gaewyn.”
The characteristic grin spread on his face once more. “I don’t ask you to believe me with no proof. I’d like to heal him, give him eyes that see and legs that walk. What would you have me do to prove that I can do that?”
Othryn sighed. “I trust that you mean well, if only that you seek to prove yourself. If I’m honest, I don’t know what I would have you do. Annwn?”
Annwn took several deep breaths before she spoke with a voice that conveyed the strength of a mother who would face an army to protect her children and the softness of a woman who would rather see a world that never knew war and chaos.
“Can you let me see my younger brother? You said you were to be the ferryman, so I can assume you’ve already taken that role. Let me see him and speak to him.”
Lu smiled, somehow more light shone in his eyes. “It is done.” And with the snap of his fingers there was another knock at the door.
The room went quiet, so quiet that you could almost hear the heartbeats of the family. Annwn walked to the door and made every attempt to steady her hand before opening it. When she did, she let out an audible gasp, brought her hands to cover her mouth, and dropped to her knees. At that point, she was eye-level with a boy identical to her youngest son. Identical to her. This boy was Gannan, the twin brother just a few minutes younger than her. The twin brother she’d lost when they were 9 years old, who fell out of the cart on their way to the market and was crushed under the wheels. He looked just like he did that morning before they left their house.
Tears streaming down her face, she turned to Lu, who gave her a nod. With that, she threw her arms around Gannan and wept. She told him how much she’d missed him, how she never went a day without thinking of him, and that she was sorry. And Gannan held her, his twin who had seen twenty-four years since that day. He didn’t make a sound, but wore a tearful smile. After a few emotional minutes, Annwn’s sobs grew quiet. That gave Gannan the chance to speak at last.
“Annwn, I’ve missed you, too, but I’ve watched over you from the next world every day. You have no reason to be sorry- you could never have prevented what happened to me and that’s fine. I wish I could have been at your wedding to heckle your husband, and I wish I could have held my niece and nephews on the day they were born. But I’m happy where I am, and I feel no hunger, no pain, and no suffering. And when Lu brings you to me, you’ll be just the same. He’s brought all of us- even cranky old Grandmother Haddyn made it here and not some place of torment.”
Annwn smiled, gave what could only be described as a half chuckle, half sob, and said, “Gannan, your words make me happy. I love you so much, and seeing you again is among the greatest blessings I’ve ever been granted. But how can I know this is really you, and not some illusion? I want to trust that it’s you, but you look just the same as you did after more than twenty years, and we put you on a pyre. Please understand. Can you tell me something only Gannan would know, a secret we shared?” She longed for that confirmation, and it showed on her face.
Without hesitation, the boy leaned forward and whispered into her ear, “When we were seven, we found a bear cub in the woods. It was badly injured and barely alive, but we sheltered it and fed it. It died in the night and we buried it the next morning and prayed that it would be without pain in the next life. We never told anyone and no one ever saw us. The bear cub is with me on the other side, and we play every day.”
So quietly that only Gannan heard her, Annwn whispered, “It really is you...” Then she stood and turned to her family. “Othryn, children, this is Gannan. This is my twin brother. This is the brother you never knew, Othryn. This is the uncle our children never met. It’s really him.”
The reunion continued for another half hour. Gannan gave his approval of Othryn, what he would have done 14 years ago when he married Annwn. He told the children about the games he and his sister played all those years ago. It was a time of love and laughter, and Lu seemed to be holding back his own tears when he spoke up.
“I wish I didn’t have to bring this to a close, but Gannan needs to return to the other side. I would love nothing more than to let him stay longer, but we would risk him not being able to go back. He could end up trapped between the worlds, and as much power as I have, I cannot undo that. It’s best he returns now, and when it’s your time, I will bring you to him.”
None of them wanted to end the reunion, but with sad smiles, they exchanged their goodbyes and embraces. Gannan saved his sister for last. She knelt before him, he held her tear-stained face in his hands, and kissed her forehead.
“I don’t want to leave, sister, but I must. Trust Lu. He’s perhaps the kindest person any of us will ever meet. He will take care of Gaewyn. And he will reunite us when the time comes. I love you.” He hugged his sister for the last time before she passed on to the next world, then looked to Lu. The ferryman gave him a nod and he walked out the door. As he walked he seemed to fade, before disappearing entirely.
As everyone wiped tears from their eyes once more, Lu cleared his throat and said, “I hate that. I do. I’ve spent the entirety of human history trying to end suffering where I can, caring for those whose time has come, and I hate ripping him away from you again. I’m sorry, Annwn. I wish I could have let him stay with you.”
Annwn started to laugh, a happy laugh with salty tears. She stood and turned to Lu. “Lu, you’ve nothing to be sorry for. You gave me the chance to see my brother and give him a proper goodbye. I cannot thank you enough. I trust that you will care for my son as you’ve cared for my brother.” She turned to her husband.
Othryn crossed the room and held his wife close. He looked into her eyes and said, “If he has gained your trust, he has gained mine. There is just one thing before we let him take our son from us.” Still looking at his wife, he addressed their guest, “Will we see him again? I can’t bear the thought of not seeing my son again until we’ve both passed on.”
Lu sighed and looked down at the table. “I cannot keep you from him or him from you. Not after I’ve seen up close how much family means to you all. He has much to learn, lifetimes’ worth. I can bring him home for one day every five years, but no more. Can you accept that?”
Othryn put his forehead to his wife’s. “Gaewyn, my son. I do not want to lose you. But I do not want to keep you from the life he promises. This is not about what I want, though. This is your choice to make.”
No one spoke, but Gaewyn didn’t need to have his own eyes to know that five other sets were turned to him, awaiting his response.