Lost and Found: A Tale of the Tylwyth Teg

Chapter 32 - Different Flowers in the Same Field

It's Christmas time in Cambria, and while we might be lacking in snowmen and reindeer, we've more than our fair share of elves, magic and good cheer. Notice that I've used the royal 'we' there. Annie and I love our new home and our new friends. As Glenda Maddox said, we're 'different flowers in the same field.'

There's a Christmas Fair next weekend, and the Teg Colony has been given their own space. How is that going to work, you ask? Well, only those who are already friends and the 'humans who feel right' will be able to see them on the side street. Items for sale will include beautiful hand-made clothing and jewelry, bite-size delicacies, Teg breads and sausages, small kegs of quite powerful beer, and toys made with a touch of magic. What kind of magic? You'll have to find out!

Annie's almost finished with her new children's book that will hit the shelves on the week before the big holiday. And just because we writers and booklovers stick together, it's available online or for purchase only at "Charmed I'm Sure" with some of the proceeds going to Cambria Animal Control & Protection services. She also now has an 'Annie's Sweet Special' at Linn's Restaurant (after some prodding from the Tambinis) that features one of her original recipes.

We now have a Gwyddbwyll League, thanks in part to the elder Tambini calling it 'The Game that Saved the Town!' They play it the correct way, however. Sometimes when you think you're losing, you're actually winning. That's an odd way of looking at it, but hey - "Iachyd Da!"

Most of Cambria's battle scars have been cleaned up and repaired. Nettle and Mrs. Tambini have started a 'protection service' of their own, where our Coven Draconis sets Wards, plants Teg favorable flowers and herbs, and finds guardians for each. Often, these 'guardians' are peaceful creatures that lost their safe havens to the war and are very grateful to be of service.

My new article in the Atlantic is an exploration of similar myths and legends from around the world that are carried by immigrants to America and are either reborn as new ones or integrated into already existing myths. Of course, I focused on Cambria and Wales. I now have a standing invitation from Conwy to come visit!

Kirin, our House dragon, is still around. He enjoys conversing with Emily and Alwyn, who've taken up residence with us (and put on a few pounds in the process.) For when Ryo visits – he teaches a class twice a month at the Adult Ed in Cambria High – we have several sets of fireproof sheets. And an extinguisher in every room, just to be safe. The Callicantzaroi moved into our basement and are a never-ending source of amusement and annoyance. Annie adores them and has promised to write a book featuring them.

Abe is still our bwbach. It's amazing how he, and all the Teg, have fit themselves into our day-to-day lives.

Berthe Draconis is set to marry Bran on New Year's Eve. She and Bran are now aging at a normal rate. She's promised to write the final chapter of her diary and will donate all proceeds to the Cambria Public Library. She sometime visits the House and sits staring at the Teacup. Probably waiting against hope that somehow, Gwyn would pop out and hug her. I can't imagine her losing her son after struggling for him to live for so many years. And Gwyneth, turned to stone.

Funny thing, though. Bran was whisked away to Draconis House as soon as he was mentioned by the Old God Mabon. And when he took Bertha to see what remained of her and the Fairy King's daughter, there was nothing there. It's unlikely that she'd recover from being petrified without cockatrice tears. Or that the tide could somehow wash away 200+ pounds of stone.

It's much more likely that she's in some UCSB, UCLA or UCSF college student's dorm room or frat house. Queen Mab – who stops by whenever her hair needs styling – assures me that there's nothing to worry about. The possibility that Gwyneth might be out there somewhere plotting revenge should keep me awake at night.

But it doesn't. I've got the whole Tylwyth Teg population, the ancient Welsh Goddess Arianrhod, and a Chinese dragon watching my back; not to mention, the sexiest, smartest half-Teg human woman in both worlds as my wife. Bring it on!