Free Valley Of Glamorgan by Julie Eads Page B

my
own. But Eleanor remained standing in front of me smiling. As I
looked at her I thought how beautiful she was, with long
strawberry-blonde hair, bright blue eyes and thin, cat like
features. Calling for the man to come closer she announced, “Liam,
our daughter is finally home!” and she looked up at him adoringly,
as tears began to fall down her porcelain colored cheeks.
    Liam stepped forward and taking my small
hand in his large rough one, he held it gently as he smiled down at
me and said, “Yes indeed dear, she is.” Then he gave me a small hug
and welcomed me home. Liam was the exact opposite of my father, or
the man I had thought was my father. This man had dark red hair,
and was large and bulky. He looked like a person who could hold his
own in a fight.
    Then Liam gestured for the woman who had run
past me into Knolls arms as we had arrived. I somehow guessed that
she was my sister, Maggie. She too was beautiful; like Eleanor, she
was slender and had blonde hair but bright green eyes like Liam.
Now I understood what Knoll had seen in her. I hated the knots I
felt forming in my stomach whilst watching him hold her in his
arms, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. After a few moments,
she turned from him and walked gracefully towards me, before
pulling me into an embrace, the same as Eleanor had.
    “Hello, Carmina! It’s so great to have you
home,” she said with a brilliant smile. I couldn’t resist smiling
back and thanking her. If she was always this nice, I would have a
hard time keeping myself from being nice to her.
    Liam and Eleanor quickly thanked Knoll for
my safe return home before we all made our way back to the village,
back to my proper home. I felt as if I had stepped out of reality
and into a fairy tale as my mother, father and sister led me to a
large, castle-like mansion. It had large, beautifully stained glass
windows that were housed in exquisitely carved, grey cobbled stone
that covered the whole building. I couldn’t help but stop and stare
in awe. It was so breath taking!
    Eleanor cleared her throat and wrapping her
arm in mine she announced, in a beautiful sing-song voice, “I know
it takes a moment to get used to its beauty; it still takes me by
surprise even after all these years.”
    Nodding my head in agreement I continued to
follow them down the stone covered path. When we reached a large
iron gate I saw three tall men standing there, each wearing black
slacks and simple white button-up shirts; they were very tall and
looked very strong. I assumed that they must be Guardians, like
Knoll and I smiled as I thought to myself, ‘If all the guardians
looked like this then I might get over Knoll a lot sooner than I
had thought.’
    The tallest of the men cut through my
thoughts as he stepped forward and bowed, saying, “Welcome home
Banphrionsa, Carmina.”
    Smiling, I felt stupid by having to ask him
what he had said. Unfortunately his thick Irish accent was too hard
for me to repeat the word he had used but I saved myself from
looking a total fool by simply asking what he had said. He smiled,
a large friendly smile, before kindly informing me, “Excuse me
Carmina, I forget that you wouldn’t remember your native tongue.
Banphrionsa simply means Princess.” Despite myself I couldn’t help
but blush a bright rose red, but let out a small laugh as I would
never get used to being called either of the names. I realized that
everyone was looking at me, so I quickly thanked him.
    Nodding he continued to lead us through the
gate when Knoll stepped in front of us and we stopped. Looking at
my parents he said, “I think it might be wise to introduce Mina to
the guards; that way she will feel familiar with her people.” Liam
agreed, telling Knoll that it was a great idea.
    As Knoll stepped aside he motioned for the
other two men to come forward where they stood in front of me; both
waiting to be introduced. Liam nodded to Knoll and then said
“Carmina, this is Eirnan. He is the son of