“Annwyl, what are you doing here? How are you?” Kenzie gasped trying to get everything out at the same time as throwing herself into Annwyl’s arms. “Oh gosh, it’s so good to see you guys, I’ve missed you so much” she stuttered. Something wasn’t right, Annwyl didn’t look the same, but got was I glad to see her. “Annwyl what’s wrong, as glad as I am to see you, I can tell something isn’t right, is everyone okay, did something happen between you and Keirren?” As I spoke I realised how much I would go through just to make sure my family was okay, even though Meghan had left when I was little it didn’t change the fact that she was my sister, I loved her and would do anything for her just to make sure she was safe. Even though Ash and I hadn’t gotten off on the right foot, He loved Meghan and Meghan loved him. Now days I thought of him as family, we’d both had our fair share of times saving each others lives and owed each other much more than we could give. Keirren was Ash and Meghan’s son and my nephew (even though they were the same age, time in the Nevernever was different) and as moody as he was, I still loved him. Focusing back on Annwyl I listened to what she was saying. “As you two know, last year or at least it was for you two, Queen Titania banished me from the summer court and now that I’m not under her protection, I’ve started to fade. Leansidhe took me in after I became an exile and everything you guys did to help, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m fading.” Oh god this was bad, a million different thoughts started flooding into my brain. “Wait Annwyl, what exactly happens if you fade?” I asked, suddenly unsure if I wanted to know the answer. As soon as I asked the question her expression changed, it went from sadness into fear in a matter of moment. “Fading is a fate worse than death, once you have been exiled you are not allowed into any other court, people begin to forget about you, the faster this happens the quicker you fade and then after a while you become one of the forgotten.” Annwyl’s voice quietened as she spoke. Isaiah and Mackenzie both remembered the forgotten from their last trip to the Nevernever. The Forgotten were alive but only just, they survived on people’s good memories, they’d steel them and you’d be left with the bad. They were alive but lifeless. The thought of Annwyl Becoming one of them sent a shiver down my spine, I would do anything to make sure it didn’t happen.
