On Fallen Wings by Jamie McHenry Page A

and blew warm air into his hair, by his ear. I moved close and inhaled deep, allowing my body to expand into his.
    “Yes,” he said, quivering. He motioned to Cael. “I think we should go, now. I have an early start in the morning.” While I held him, sharing my warmth as a blessing, he turned to Father. “Thank you, Neal. Thank you for the drink.” he paused. “And everything.” He pulled me with him and walked to Father, who set down his goblet.
    I stepped away, allowing them to hug. The air from Sean’s lungs squeezed out, leaving him gasping when Father released him. Then he turned to Mother with his arms open wide.
    “Thank you, Sean,” she said, accepting the hug. She kissed him on the cheek.
    Leila rushed to Sean, as soon as Mother released her grip, and jumped into his arms. “Good fortune, Sean,” she said, squeezing him tight. “We’ll miss you.”
    “I’ll return soon,” he gently lowered Leila until her feet were back on the floor. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close.
    I closed my eyed and accepted all of his warmth.
    While Cael distracted my family with handshakes and hugs, Sean pulled me around the corner of the hall and kissed me warmly. “I have a white horse to find,” he whispered. “When I return, I will marry you.”
    “You’re handsome when you’re being noble,” I said.
    Sean held me tight. “You make me so. I love you.”
    I squeezed him, ignoring the familiar giggles from Leila and Ethan behind us. When I dared, I released him. “Good fortune,” I whispered. “I love you.”
    A final round of farewells, and promises to return with tales of adventure, and Sean and Cael left our home. We stood in the doorway watching while the night swallowed them.
    “Well,” said Father, slapping his hands and rubbing them together. “That’s that. May good fortune bring him home.” He stepped back inside and disappeared.
    Leila and I lingered in the doorway, watching the steam from our breath fade to the night. We sniffled and cried until Mother nudged us inside.
    Leila closed the door behind her, allowing it to shake the walls. “What did the note say, Rhiannon?” she said, turning to confront me. Her cheeks were red.
    “Yes, dear,” added Mother, “What did you write for Abigail?”
    Expecting the question, I latched the brass lock on the door and dried my eyes with the sleeve of my gown. “I asked her to come to the house in the morning,” I said. “Tomorrow, we’ll search for Sean’s armor.”
     

 
    Into the Darkness
     
    I didn’t sleep much that night, if at all. I sobbed until my head hurt, and when I finally closed my eyes, my memory flashed images of Sean walking into the darkness. He had been noble and was honoring the challenge that I had given him, but I wasn’t ready for him to leave. The loneliness hurt already. I still lay in bed, watching sun as it arched through the morning clouds, when the knocker on our front door pounded. No one answered it, forcing me to leave the sanctuary of my room and wander downstairs.
    “Nia, Abigail, come inside, where it’s warm.” I held the door wide and my shivering friends, bundled in thick wool, swept past me toward the kitchen and dining room.
    “Rhiannon, you’re crazy to go out in this weather,” said Abigail. She grabbed a blanket from the corner of the dining room and huddled close to the fireplace. “We could freeze out there.”
    Nia chose a spot behind my mother in the kitchen, and watched her with interest.
    “What do you think, Nia?” I teased. “Should we abandon our adventure? We could cancel my wedding when I don’t have Sean’s gift.”
    Abigail turned. “I’m sorry, Rhiannon,” she said. Her face was red. “I didn’t mean to sound rude. It’s just an awful cold day to go exploring. I am here, though. That means I want to help you.”
    Kneeling beside my friend, I hugged her around the waist. “Thank you for coming,” I whispered. “And thank you for telling Nia. It’s going to be a