"Epona and Abel" by Victoria Bellamy

When she reached the narrow path to the beach she pulled on the reins and as the horse slowed, she began the descent. The beach she always visited was situated below steep chalk cliffs and could only be reached by a man-made path her father had built; this made the descent not so steep and the beach easily accessible. The horse panted heavily when they reached the beach and Epona stretched over and stroked the animal’s silky mane gently, after a while the panting stopped.

Epona gazed lovingly over the beach and dismounted; she tied the horse to a nearby tree and gave it some water from her wineskin. She began walking up the beach looking at the damage last night’s terrible storm had inflicted. Tree trunks were strewn all over the place and large baskets and other household items were dotted about too. It was then that she realised that there was an unusual shape at the far end of the beach; she quickened her pace to try and reach it, climbing over logs and trees as she went.

**********

Abel was lying awkwardly in the sand, the remains of the boat around him. He didn’t remember anything about last night only that his ship had been hit by a terrible wave and that all people on board were ordered to abandon ship, looking blearily around he now knew that he was the only survivor. He had swum to shore and was so exhausted he had passed out, his whole body ached and his head was screaming. From somewhere in the distance he heard the soft footfalls of someone approaching, he slowly lifted his head trying to see although every second became an even greater effort. Once he had managed to raise his head for long enough he found himself staring into a pair of frosty yet angelic, crystal blue eyes. Her skin was the colour of fresh milk and her delicate features were framed by fair hair that fell in waves past her shoulders. Abel wanted to stare into those blue eyes forever but she had already looked away.

**********

Epona stared bewildered at the man before her.His boat must have been caught in the storm last night;she thought sadly gazing around,by the looks of things the boat was destroyed along with some most of the crew aswell.She gazed at the man again, and into his deep, rich chocolate brown eyes trying to work out what to do next. She couldn’t help notice how his soft, gently curly brown hair was falling around his face and how his skin was darker than her own by several shades.He must live somewhere hot;she concluded,and spend most of his time in the sun.

Looking at the man’s state she had to get him back to Mithrell Hall soon, he had deep, long cuts all over him and large, purple bruises were appearing on his arms and legs. The problem was she only had one horse and she wouldn’t be able to heave this man all the way up the long path to the top of the cliffs on her own and she didn't really want to leave him just lying there. I needshe decided,help but from where?There was absolutely nothing here except tree trunks and battered baskets and they couldn’t help her, or could they?

**********

Abel watched bleary eyed, as the woman with the blue eyes got up and went over to the nearest log, she then proceeded to drag it haphazardly along the beach. When she had travelled roughly about fifty yards she dropped it and went to fetch another one, and another. Abel stared in admiration as the woman arranged the logs in a pile and then hurried over to one of the ruined baskets. To Abel’s surprise she began to dismantle it and after a while hurried back to the logs clutching two splinters of wood.

When she reached the pile, Abel saw her fumble in her dress for something, eventually pulling out two small pieces of flint. Abel saw her strike the two together near the two splinters, a spark flickered briefly but then died. The woman tried again and this time it worked, the wood alighted and breathing gently on them, she carried the now burning splinters over to the pile of gathered logs. Clambering up onto the top of the pile, she laid the splinters in amongst the wood and then hastily clambered down and walked towards him, slapping her hands in triumph.

**********

Epona was exceptionally pleased with her handiwork and in no time at all the wood was happily burning away, the guards on Mithrell’s walls couldn’t possibly miss or mistake that sign for help. She returned to the man, intending to help in what way she could with his injuries and when she reached him she knelt gently down beside him.

For a brief moment she considered that he might speak a different language but those thoughts were laid to rest when he mumbled something. She didn’t quite catch it however, although she thought she recognised individual words.
“Are you alright?” was all she could think to say, he slowly nodded his head in reply.
“I’ve signalled for help, my kinsmen will be here soon to help you back to our hall.” She paused for a moment and then said softly “What’s your name? Who are you?”
The man gave no response, in fact he must have fainted of exhaustion since his eyes suddenly closed and his whole body went limp. Epona sighed and kept watch over him in the cool morning air, but in her mind she was begging the help from Mithrell to come soon.

**********

The guards atop Mithrell’s heavily protected outer walls first saw the smoke around lunchtime. They knew it was a sign of help, but from whom? They had been informed that the lord’s daughter Lady Epona had gone riding before dawn and had not returned. The hunt had also left before dawn to catch the day's evening meal and they had not returned either. When they had glimpsed the smoke and realised that it was a sign of distress, they had alerted the lord at once and he had sent some of his most loyal followers on horseback to find out what was wrong and so far even they had not returned. Everyone was growing anxious, and it didn’t help that the so called Wisewoman was wailing at the top of her voice “This day is cursed. There comes a man who will ruin all our hopes and dreams, do not trust him for he will lead us to our doom!”