THE LAND BY THE SEA

Shall I tell you the story before the fire goes out, my sister?

Yes, yes...please do.

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.

Did he bring anything with him to that land by the sea?

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?

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.

A song of sadness and regret?

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.

Until one night he finally saw her?

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.

The LAND by the SEA by IDALENE

And she called to him to remember?

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.

And he remembered the one who would not let him go, even after death?

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.

Now the tale is done, my sister, and it is time for sleep. Let us pull the blankets close so we can remain warm.

Will you hold my hand until the fire goes out?

I will hold your hand until it is cold.

And we will forgive the forgotten man for leaving us?

Yes, we will.

But we will not forgive the one who drove him to do so.

No, we will never forgive our mother.

Then goodnight, dear sister.