Gabrielle

She woke up.
For a moment, Gabrielle lay in her cosy bed gazing at the ceiling. She snuggled under the covers, reconstructing the fragmented memories of her dream. Smiling to herself, she swept the covers back, got up and walked over to look out of the window. It was a clear night, a full moon hovering just over the horizon. She ignored the rows of houses just across the street and stood for a moment, drinking in the pattern of starlight and clearing her mind.
Eventually, Gabrielle moved away from the window. She walked over to her wardrobe and quickly dressed in warm clothing, then bent to pull on her fur-lined leather boots. She buttoned up her sheepskin jacket then knelt to rummage under her bed for a moment. Crawling backwards, Gabrielle dragged out a sheathed broadsword which she slung across her back as she stood up. Taking a last look round, she left the room, walked down the stairs and out of the front door. Shutting the door behind her, Gabrielle walked out and waited on the front lawn.
After a few short minutes, the sound of strong wing strokes filled the air. Gabrielle turned and watched two pale shapes slowly grow until she identified Michael sat astride his great winged horse, Athelstan. Her own mount Eldred was flying beside him.
As the two horses flew down to land, Gabrielle studied Michael. He was dressed in similar apparel to her own and although a good few inches taller and broader, the familial likeness was obvious. He hadn’t changed.
‘Hello Michael’, she greeted him.
‘Hello Gabrielle. You heard the call then.’
As she mounted Eldred, Gabrielle just glared at Michael. There was no point answering the obvious.
‘I see you kept your boots’, Michael stated.
‘I know. I couldn’t bring myself to throw them away. Besides, they’re good for keeping my toes warm. As it turns out, it’s a good job I didn’t.’
‘Yes,’ agreed Michael, then, his tone turning more serious, ‘It’s happened again.’
‘So I gather. We’d best be off.’

The horses turned and leapt back into the air. Gaining height, they turned and headed north. As they passed over the city, Gabrielle glanced down and watched the street lights pass below, spread out like constellations of human life. Almost as pretty as the real thing, she thought.
Gabrielle glanced over at Michael who was also watching the ground, lost in thought. She couldn’t help smiling and over the noise of the wind whistling in her ears shouted across, ‘Fantastic! I’d forgotten what this was like!’
Michael looked up and grinned at her. ‘Yes,’ he shouted back, ‘It’s been a long time!’ He paused for a moment, then asked, ‘Do you remember?’
The smile leaving her face, Gabrielle answered ‘Yes. It’s all still there. I haven’t heard the call for a long time.’
Michael looked downcast for a moment. ‘No,’ he said, ‘We haven’t called for a while.’
As each returned to their own thoughts, the journey continued in silence.

After a time, the two horses flew over a large forest. Gabrielle looked up and spotted the clearing ahead. Loosing altitude, the horses circled and finally landed with gentle thuds on the soft turf. Dismounting, Gabrielle gave her silent thanks to Eldred and massaged her buttocks - it had been a long time. Eldred nodded at her, and with Althelstan, walked under the cover of the trees, where they would wait until they were needed again.
Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle shot a quick glance at Michael, who gave a reassuring nod of his head. Gabrielle paused for a moment, then drew her sword. Kneeling down, she placed the sword across the ground in front of her and bowed her head. As her forehead touched the sword, her jacket fell away, allowing her wings to spread wide, casting a faint silvery glow from the brilliant white of her feathers across the clearing.
With a feeling of elation and a sense of freedom at last, she stood up and glanced again at Michael, a wide smile of true happiness on her face. Michael had seen this before, but still struggled to comprehend the vision before him. In a loud, clear voice, Michael sang out, ‘It is done!’
Gabrielle looked around her with renewed clarity, her ancient memories flooding back to her. Previously hidden in the deep shadows, Gabrielle saw the souls making their way towards her, coming out as she called to them. One more time, she gathered up the souls to her, then with strong beats of her own wings she gave a mighty leap and flew up towards heaven.

Fast asleep in her cosy bed, Gabrielle smiled as she dreamt. Slowly, she turned onto her side pulling the covers around her, the sound of her movement not quite masking the faint ruffle of feathers sounding from beneath the quilt.

Journeying

I stood there on the cliff edge, watching the waves below rise up towards me, feeling the wind blowing in my face and the rain gradually soak through my hair and clothes. I waited. I was dimly aware of the beauty of my surroundings; the surface of the lake sparkling like reflected starlight, the long grass and bushes swaying in the wind and dancing as the rain hit the leaves. I was even aware of the distant thunder of the waterfall as it dropped gracefully to crash into the water. Still in my own world, I waited.
I remembered what had happened before as though it was a different life; I had started a new journey and a new beginning just a few months ago. Now it seemed my journey had ended but I still wasn’t sure why I was here. Without thinking, I reached down to my pocket, pulled out the necklace and held it up. A single star shone through a break in the clouds, illuminating the elaborate silver filigree and drop crystal pendant.
I thought of the day I bought the necklace. I had walked into the antique jewellery shop looking for a gift and was immediately drawn to the counter on my left. I walked over, looked down and saw a necklace with my name on it, literally - it had been worked into the silver filigree. Naturally curious about how such an item had been created and its history, I asked the assistant if I could look at it. ‘Of course’ was the simple reply.
As the assistant opened the glass cabinet, he explained how the necklace had been sold to them some years ago and it had sat in the cabinet ever since, an item of curiosity. Although the assistant had not worked in the shop at the time, he had been told the necklace was previously owned by a Polish refugee. The refugee had only said he no longer needed the necklace, but someone else would in time to come. The necklace was handed to me, and then it happened.
Suddenly, I was in the middle of nowhere. It was pitch black; I could see and hear nothing. It felt like I was weightless and suspended in a timeless void. Just as I was beginning to get disorientated by the sensory blackout, I noticed a faint whistling sound gradually getting louder and with a bizarre cinematic-type effect, a wave of colour came rushing towards me. With an abruptness that made me nauseous, I found myself standing in a vast forest. Through the trees I could just make out a long deep valley and high mountains on the other side. A greenish light filtered through the leaves; it was warm and very humid. I could hear birds singing, various insects chirping and other soft animal noises. I also had the feeling of being totally alone; the only human alive. I suppose I should have been terrified, but I felt safe, protected.
I blinked and found myself back in the shop; the assistant hadn’t noticed anything. As I collected my thoughts, I realised I now knew two things - I had to have the necklace and for some reason, I had to go to the Middle East; now. I bought the necklace and quietly left the shop. Within the next couple of days, I had put my affairs, such as they were, in order and planned to leave the country. The only person not surprised by my sudden decision to travel was my mother. She simply told me to travel well, live up to my name, and then she hugged me.
I decided to travel light and packed a fairly small bag, then, acting mostly on instinct, I went to London Heathrow airport and bought a ticket for the next flight to Tehran, with only a short stopover in Istanbul. Surprisingly, I had timed my arrival just right to check in, wait for a short time, then board the plane.
On landing I was able to obtain a visa before leaving the airport, and then I was driven by instinct, a feeling so strong I had to act. I remembered to obtain local currency, and then almost without thinking I caught a train that would take me further north to Tabriz. As I left the train and made my way to the exit, I kept gazing around at the stunning architecture. The light was streaming through the many windows and the lake I caught sight of outside looked inviting. I felt a thrill of anticipation.
Over the next few days I took a slow tour round the city. One memorable day I got lost in the old bazaar in the centre of the city, apparently its oldest structure. I spent a few hours searching through the stalls, studying the different schools and mosques and stuck my head in the jewellers’ bazaar, amazed by the many different precious stones. Eventually I stumbled on the way out of the bazaar and found myself looking up at the House of Constitution, an old and imposing building. I stood looking up at the building for a few minutes, admiring the pillars and balconies. It was a short time before I realised this wasn’t what I was looking for.
I took in some of the other sights during my wanderings, sampled the local food and some of the famous cookies. I spend a while staring up at the imposing archway of the Blue Mosque and wandering round the Tomb of Poets. I knew I was looking for something, but didn’t know what.
Finally, I visited the hillside garden El Goli. I stood on a hill on the eastern side, looking down across the trees to the grand hexagonal building and the lake. In the distance I could see the high mountains. Although most of the space in between was now built up, this was what I had been looking for. Here it started; here was Eden.
Almost in a trance, I reached down and took out the necklace that had travelled safely with me but I had not worn. As I held it up to the sky, the sun hit the pendant. Once again, I was standing in the forest but this time I recognised the mountains in the distance. Although moved in time, I had not moved in space. The necklace had shown me the beginning, and now I had found it. I blinked.
I had thought to find myself back in modern time El Goli. Instead I was looking out across cliff tops, the sea crashing on the rocks below. The sky was a clear blue and the trees were so green they looked more than real. I had a sense of waiting. I blinked again and now found myself back in modern El Goli. The now familiar instinct was directing me to Turkey.
Returning to my hotel, I packed my bag and got back on the train to Tehran. At the airport I planned my journey. Ironically I would be flying back to Istanbul, before transferring to Kars. Once there I would catch a bus that would take me to Iğdır. Again, my timing was impeccable as I was able to catch the first flight with little waiting time. Once in Iğdır, I found another bus and headed for the foothills of Ararat, through the fertile plain of the cotton farms. Once there, I spent a while gazing up at the mountain, noting the snow covering the top third. This journey would need a bit more care and having scouted around, I joined an expedition climbing the mountain.
And so here I was, waiting, standing lost in thought. I held up the necklace, the single star shone through the pendant and I was standing looking across the cliff tops. There was no city to help me judge, but there were still differences. Once again, I had travelled back through time but not space. I waited.
Eventually, a dove flew past me and landed some distance behind me. Looking across the now massive lake, I noticed a shape on the horizon. I stood patiently waiting, and watched the giant boat sail in. I knew this was a solemn moment, again the start of something new, but I couldn’t help grinning. My overworked instincts were telling me that on board the boat would be seven humans and hundreds of animals. They had been on a long voyage and were finally coming to land. It was a chance to start again.
I blinked again and now I saw… A new sight, another beginning, another place to travel to. But that is not for this story. For now, this is an ending.

Incidentally, you may be wondering. What was the name in the necklace, my name? My mother named me well. I am called Ladan, which is Hebrew for witness.

New World

‘The world is amazing. Have you ever wondered how it works? How it was put together? Watch the sunrise as the colours spread across the sky. Colour gradually fills the world and the mist slowly rises. As the clouds start to clear, the first sunbeam punches a hole and golden light unhurriedly spreads its warmth. But the amazing things aren’t always huge. Look down at your feet. OK, there’s probably concrete somewhere under the carpet tiles, so imagine you’re standing in a field. Look down. Closer. See the tiny blade of bright green grass. That lets you breathe. Look at the buttercup next to it. Study the details of each lustrous petal. The world is amazing.’
Aiden was still staring down at her feet when the image faded. The bright green grass vanished and was replaced by the plain matte black of the holo-lounge. Back to reality then. With the sights and sounds of the world still fresh in her mind, Aiden closed her eyes and smelt the air. Her imagination told her there was a faint, fresh hint of spring in the air. Her nose told her she was in a room that smelt of hot metal. She sighed, then squaring her shoulders, quickly left the room.
With a minute to spare, Aiden entered the bridge. She only spared a glance at the view plate, as usual showing the silver stars shooting past in the velvet blackness of space. Stunning to start with, but soon becoming monotonous.
‘Anything of interest yet Helm?’ Aiden asked as she stepped to her chair.
‘Nothing since that red dwarf a few days ago. The probe we left there has shown no sign of change as yet.’
‘Did we expect it to?’ she responded.
‘I suppose not. So why are we here?’ the pilot, Terin, asked. He had never been keen on the name ‘Helm’ and was never sure if the captain was taking the Mickey when she used it.
Aiden smiled. ‘Wait and see’ was all she said.
Looking around at the other occupants of the bridge, she checked if any of them had anything interesting to report. No, the engines were running smoothly, the passengers were doing fine, both human and animal, and there were no problems with the food supply. It had better be worth the humdrum journey, Aiden thought. She had found it difficult to suppress her boredom with the soporific routine.
‘I’ve got something!’ the xenologist suddenly shouted, staring at the screen on his work station.
‘At last!’ thought Aiden. ‘What have you got Marken?’ she asked.
‘Would you believe,’ he answered, ‘I’m picking up a nice little gem of a planet, atmosphere is 73% Nitrogen, 20% Oxygen. Sounds good to me.’
‘I’d agree. Helm, change course.’ Aiden smiled as she caught Terin’s slight wince at her use of the nickname. She couldn’t resist. Terin obviously hadn’t grown up watching the right programmes.
‘What else have you got to report on this planet Marken?’ Aiden asked. ‘No, hang on, let’s see. Normal gravity, average temperature, about a 70/30 sea/lane mix?’
Marken looked back at his screen for a short time, then he slowly turned back and looked at Aiden. ‘How did you know?’ he asked.
‘This is where we’re going, isn’t it?’ Terin asked.
Aiden smiled back at them. ‘Wait and see’ was all she said.
Finally, after weeks of voyaging, the ship approached its destination. The view plate had gradually been filled with a blue/green pearl of a planet, cloud formations visible in the atmosphere, the yellow primary behind it growing brighter by the minute. Each person on the bridge had sat in awe as they gazed at the wonders visible on the final approach to their destination. Each heavenly body they passed was different, from the small, cold and sterile outer planets, past the gas giant and the breathtaking ringed planet.
As more details of the target planet became apparent, Terin became more confused. He tapped a few keys on his station, then looked round at the captain. Aiden saw the question coming and before Terin could ask, Aiden answered. ‘Yes,’ she confirmed, ‘you should recognise it from your history lessons.
‘We were last here 1000 years ago. The planet was so badly damaged that although we were able to find a solution to put it right, we simply had to leave it be and give it time to recover. We took everything man-made with us and any living thing we feared might not survive. We gave it time, learned our lesson, and now we’re back. Welcome home, people. Welcome back to planet Earth.’