Shall I tell you the story before the fire goes out, my sister?
The LAND by the
SEA
by IDALENE
Yes, yes...please do.
And she called to him to remember?
Then I will begin. The land by the sea was wild and forlorn, and there was once a forgotten man who made it his home.
Yes, my sister. She held out her hand, and he finally remembered fully the loss that caused him to live by the sea in a land that was wild and forlorn.
Did he bring anything with him to that land by the sea?
And he remembered the one who would not let him go, even after death?
Yes, my sister. He brought the two things he still held precious in the world to the land by the sea, and he forgot for a time, that his heart had been lost. But he could not forget completely, could he?
Yes, my sister. He remembered and followed the gray lady until they both moved ceaselessly on the waves... until both their souls were lost. And that was his end.
No, my sister, for something had followed him and was there in the darkness of night in that land by the sea, singing a song that called to his soul.
Now the tale is done, my sister, and it is time for sleep. Let us pull the blankets close so we can remain warm.
A song of sadness and regret?
Will you hold my hand until the fire goes out?
Yes, my sister, a song that drove him mad for he was the only one who heard it, and every night, he tried in vain to find the one who sang by searching the rocks and shore in that land by the sea.
I will hold your hand until it is cold.
Until one night he finally saw her?
But we will not forgive the one who drove him to do so.
Yes, my sister. He found her in the moonlight by the water's edge... A gray lady whose hair was unbound and moved ceaselessly in the wind. The forgotten man saw her and was drawn to her beyond reason.
And we will forgive the forgotten man for leaving us? Yes, we will.
No, we will never forgive our mother. Then goodnight, dear sister. Goodnight.
