Through the Standing Stones

Chapter 12

Izzy paid no attention to how cold and numb, she was or how long she had been lying there in the snow. She wasn't even aware of the footsteps that approached her, though the snow, or the figure that crouched on the ground, by her side. A warm hand caressed her cheek and a soft low voice whispered shakily "My lady. You waited for me".

Raising her head and peering through her tears, Izzy couldn't believe her eyes. "Am I dreaming? Are you real?" she whispered.

A warm chuckle followed, with a whispered "I'm very real, Lady Isabelle".

"Simon", Izzy cried softly, as she threw her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest, sobbing in shock, disbelief and relief, all at once.

Simon wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to sit up close to him, holding her tight to his body. He gently rubbed her back and whispered into her hair "My dear Lady Isabelle, you waited for me. I have found you again".

They sat for some time as the shock and elation of the moment sunk in. Izzy trying to still her sobs as the warmth of his body filled her, looked up at him and saw that he also had tears in his eyes "I tried to come back to you, but the circle threw me out" she said softly.

Simon chuckled softly, the low rumbling sound warming her heart "I was returning to you my lady. Perhaps the circle was concerned only with my passage" he reasoned before chuckling again.

Then, his voice taking a more serious tone, he said sorrowfully. "When you were taken from me, my heart was ripped from my chest. I begged the wise mother to recite the chants again, but it was futile. I demanded she return again at the full moon, but she feared that I would be thwarted again. I had to endure your loss till this night, when we could once again call on the stones to bring me to your side".

Izzy looked into his eyes, feeling her tears start again as she heard just how much he'd missed her too, and had wanted to come to find her. "I couldn't bear it when I found I was alone and had left you behind. All I wanted was to come back and find you. I though I'd have to wait till the Summer Solstice, but when I heard they were doing the ritual tonight, I knew I had to try" she said crying softly.

Simon caressed her cheek "My lady, you were willing to return again to my time, intending only to find me?" he asked as though he was struggling to believe that she would do that for him. Izzy nodded and smiled. 

"I must confess that I feared you would have forgotten me. But still, I was willing to search this land till I found you again, my lady. However, it gladdens my heart to know my fear was unwarranted, as now I see that you did indeed wait for me" he whispered before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Simon enveloped her in his arms and whispered, "The ground is cold and damp my lady, please permit me to keep you warm". When Izzy nodded, Simon lifted her up slightly as he moved back, pulling her off the snow covered ground and onto his lap. Izzy snuggled into the crook of his neck and held onto him, as though he would vanish again if she let go. Sitting in their embrace, they savoured the warmth and allowed the relief and comfort of their reunion to sink in.

Noticing the snow was now falling heavily and that Izzy was starting to shiver, Simon gently tapped her head "My dear lady, I fear that you may succumb to the cold if we don't seek shelter soon" he said softly with concern.

Izzy shook her head against him"I don't care. Don't wanna let go" she mumbled.

Simon chuckled softly "Lady Isabelle, I fear I must cause you offence in saying that you are indeed a wilful and stubborn woman with no concern for her safety" he said with a low rumbling laugh.