Capricorn Season - Jimmy Page

Chapter 1

August 15, 1969

The four men trailed off the stage into the backroom. Sweat lined each of their faces. Adrenaline coursed through their bodies, giving them a natural high. They laughed with one another as they loaded into the car. They were going back to their hotel. "Good show, boys. Love the energy!" Their manager handed them all glasses. His smile was broad. He was filled with pride at their performance. Jimmy looked at the other guys and shared in their glee. He slunk down into his seat as the ride went on. The ride from the hotel to the venue seemed shorter.

The guys dispersed into their rooms, wanting to wind down before the party. Jimmy striped his sweaty clothes off, he had been wearing red jeans and they were sticking to his legs now. He pulled his shirt off and threw it onto the floor in front of him. Now he was striped, still sticky with a sheen of sweat. He dug through his luggage to find something suitable to wear. He put on his new outfit and walked into Roberts room.

"How about you knock?" The blond man said. Jimmy only rolled his eyes. "You're fuckin' annoying sometimes." Robert laughed and threw his balled up and sweaty clothes at him. Jimmy shuddered at the wet feeling on his arm. He watched as the clothing fell to the ground with a soft thump. "I think tonight will be better than last night. If we're lucky" Robert said. Jimmy nodded his head and smiled, "I hope so. I hope I find another girl like the one from last night." The two shared a laugh at this.

He could see that Robert was speaking but could not hear him. He was zoning out, thinking of what he often did. It had been many years since his first encounter with the lovely green-eyed Gwen. He still dreamt of her most nights. Sometimes he saw the same thing: the field or the birthday song. He was happy just to see her. She had been a constant for him. Something solid yet mysterious.

"Jimmy?" He asked, looking at his friend. He was looking past him, his eyes set on the curtains. This was an expression Jimmy wore often. He was a thoughtful man, full of deep feelings he dwelled on. Robert appreciated this about him because he saw the same thing in himself. They'd shared in the solace of their tender hearts. It was inner-workings, the walls of their bodies that were delicate. They were sensitive to the critical eyes of others and the tormenting thoughts in their own heads.

"Yeah? Sorry." He gave a breathy laugh, seemingly embarrassed by his trance. Robert continued his story from where he left off.

Music and smoke flooded the third floor. The sound of the four men laughing could be heard by almost everyone. Robert was surrounded by a gaggle of women. They were all laughing with him and playing in his hair. John and Jimmy were sitting together at a table with their manager and roadies. Bonzo was in the middle of a smoke circle with some other band members.

As the night went on, people filtered out into certain bedrooms. Some were doing various drugs or having sex, while some were enjoying their time by playing music. But Jimmy was still in the lobby, surrounded by women. Robert hadn't taken them all this time. He joked with a tall woman with blonde hair. She had been telling him what she thought about their newest album. While he did enjoy being told he was an amazing guitarist, something else caught his eye.

It was a woman with long auburn hair and green eyes. Not the same shade entirely, but there was something undeniable about her. He quickly ended his conversation with the tall blonde. He pushed through the crowd of people. He tried his best to follow her. She was making strides to the hallway. There weren't many people in the hall, but there were many rooms for her to escape into. He walked faster and faster, hoping his feet could catch up. He moved forward without thought. Logic was pushed to the side and he was pulled toward this woman. He had entered a magnetic field that he was powerless to. He had lost her when she rounded the corner. Nowhere to be seen.

He opened the door to the first room he saw. He slammed the door shut when he realized what he was looking for was not in there. He furrowed his brows and sighed.

Where had she gone? Who even was she? He thought. By the time he made his way back to the lobby, the woman he was talking had left. He rolled his eyes and found a spot next to John once again. "Strike out?" He asked. They laughed and Jimmy punched his arm.

Gentle humming rang through Jimmy's ears. He smiled, feeling warm lips bush against his cheek. He opened his eyes to see a field of rich green. The familiar face was like sun shining against him. The happiness quickly drained from her face as she looked at him. She opened her mouth and a slew of anger came tumbling out. She was upset with him. Tears brimmed in her eyes. He was overcome with the feeling of guilt and his own anger. Flames erupted around him, coating the walls and ceiling. "You can't keep doing this!" She called after him. "Gwen, please-"

He lifted his head from the pillow. His heart was racing and his chest was heaving. "Are you alright?" He turned to see a woman. He didn't know her name. "Uh-yeah. Just a bad dream." He suddenly stood from the bed and went into the bathroom. He turned the faucet on, splashing some cold water onto his face. He looked into the mirror. He looked tired, thin. The stress from this tour was a lot on him. He didn't like to think about it because this has been his dream for years. But he was so tired. He wanted a break from playing shows and partying every night. He missed the comfort of home.

When he returned to the room, the woman was gone. He couldn't remember last night. Didn't remember meeting her or taking her back to his room. He just remembers seeing Gwen. He must really be losing it.

As he laid on his back, he thought of the last two years. Were they the best of his whole life? Of course. But he couldn't help but think of every way he's fucked up. He hadn't called or wrote his parents in months. There was always something he was doing instead. As these thoughts ran through his mind, he couldn't help but think of her. The woman from his dreams. It had been years of dreaming of her constantly. He wondered if he would ever meet her. Or if she was even real.

He pondered on how to find her. Over the years, he's kept a lookout for her. With every passing city, his determination grew. In every shop window, every crowd, he's looked for her. The aching in his chest to find her never stopped. When he traveled abroad with The Yardbirds, and now with Zeppelin, he became discouraged. He still hadn't found her. I've been everywhere. And yet, she still eludes me. I've been looking for years. I need to gather some materials. It's time for a spell.

"Ready for sound check?" A knock at the door broke Jimmy from his thoughts. "Uh-yeah. Just give me a moment to get ready." He pulled a shirt over his body and slide his feet into a pair of shoes. He followed the other guys down the hall into the elevator. "This show is gonna be great! This is the biggest audience we've played!" Bonzo was excited. His eyes were lit up. "Yeah, it's gonna be real great! And then after tonight we have a few days off." John added. Jimmy smiled to himself, now remembering that he could have some time to himself.