We were sitting outside the chapel on Midsummer's Eve,
As was our tradition,
When the idea came to me and once it had arrived it was so obvious I didn't know why we hadn't thought of it before.
That's it.
I blurted out so suddenly it made my sister Rosalind jump.
I know what we have to do.
A smile played around her lips and her blue eyes crinkled in amusement.
Oh Robin,
What is it this time?
She asked,
Knowing it could be anything from telling one of the children off for paddling in the holy well to planting another hundred trees on the other side of the valley.
We looked as different as chalk and cheese,
Rosalind and I.
She fair as Midsummer and I dark as Midwinter,
But inside we were more similar than anyone realised.
Always knew and understood what the other was thinking.
Mum's book,
I replied.
We have to finish it.
But it is finished,
She began.
Then paused.
Or maybe not.
There's a lot happened since she passed away and I think it might be good to set the record straight.
Add in that final piece of the jigsaw which no one was expecting.
Rosalind nodded.
So who's going to write it?
She asked.
I smiled.
Both of us.
We'll do it together.
Just as we've always looked after the chapel and holy well together.
OK,
She replied simply.
And the decision was made.
When our mother passed away,
Then Uncle Cornelius,
And finally our father,
Only Joanne was left of the little group my mother had written so much about.
Morwenna,
Tamsin and Demelza were a big part of our lives as we grew up,
And Tamsin and Demelza had families of their own,
Although Morwenna had never married.
Now Rosalind and I have our own families,
More maidens to carry on the tradition and some boys too,
Which seems fitting for today's world.
Joanne had travelled the world,
Becoming well known as an environmentalist,
But he eventually returned,
Seeing the valley was his true home.
Then one day,
To everyone's surprise,
He and Morwenna suddenly announced that they were to be married.
Feels like the time's right,
Joanne had said.
We've kind of found each other after all these years,
Which somehow made perfect sense.
Before settling down together,
Morwenna decided to have one final clear out of her family items Before settling down together,
Morwenna decided to have one final clear out of her family items which had been in the attic for years,
Before moving into the cottage which had once belonged to Rose.
Samhain was approaching,
And the year turning once more.
Perfect time for a bonfire,
Commented Joanne.
As the flames burned bright and the smoke billowed,
I couldn't help but remember our mother's account of when Joanne had been stoking a bonfire and almost lost some important papers,
And I knew Rosalind was thinking the same.
Wouldn't it be funny,
Rosalind began,
If.
.
.
We both felt it at the same time,
That tingle,
Like something momentous was about to happen.
And just as things are found when the time is right for them to be,
Joanne rushed in,
Pushed some papers into Morwenna's arms with the words,
I think you'd better look at these.
He gave Rosalind and I a meaningful look.
All of you.
I wish she'd known,
Rosalind's eyes brimmed with tears.
She does,
I assured her,
Feeling very much the same.
If we believe any one thing,
It must be that she knows now and is at peace.
Morwenna,
Tamsin and Demelza seemed just as stunned,
And Joanne kept repeating,
Well I never,
Who'd have thought.
Read it again,
Said Rosalind.
It's a lot to take in first time round.
Yes,
The others begged.
I glanced at Joanne,
Knowing I wouldn't be able to,
And he gave a slight nod,
Took the letter from me and began.
My dearest Rowena,
How I longed to give this letter to you,
To touch you,
Talk with you and have you know who I am,
But I fear I have left things too long and now time is short.
I am writing this in the hope that when the time is right,
It will be found and that you will forgive me,
Although I only wanted what was best for you.
I was only sixteen when you were born and times were different back then.
There was no question of my keeping you and I managed to hide the fact that I was with child.
And so,
Because I wanted you to grow up in the valley,
With the chapel nearby,
Because it is truly a part of your heritage,
When you were born,
In the chapel itself,
One cold March night,
I wrapped you in a blanket and tucked you in the rowan basket I had made especially for the occasion and left you on your father's doorstep.
I knew he would take you in,
That you would be brought up in a caring and loving family,
With Cornelius as your brother,
Who was in fact your half-brother.
And I know this to be so,
As after I went away to continue my life elsewhere,
I always kept in touch with someone in the village who told me how you were progressing.
I never forgot you,
Rowena,
And I have been so very proud of all you have achieved,
But in time I married and had three beautiful daughters.
I wonder if you know what I am going to say next.
By a strange coincidence,
Or is there such a thing as coincidence,
They were found by Joan,
Lost at the side of the road one Midsummer's Eve,
And he took them straight to you.
Morwenna,
Tamzin and Demelza are your half-sisters,
So you see,
You actually have had your real family around you all along,
Without even knowing it.
I don't expect I will send this,
As I say,
Time is short,
And I trust and pray that we will meet properly on the other side and spend time together then.
Your loving mother,
Rebecca.
Joan's voice cracked at the end,
As I blinked away the tears and knew that everyone in the room was doing the same.
We looked at each other then,
Rosaline and I,
And our aunts Morwenna,
Tamzin and Demelza,
And it was as if we were encompassed in such a feeling of such warmth and peacefulness,
We all knew that,
In the end,
Everything had turned out right.
When we all returned to the chapel,
It was Samhain.
The mists were rising from the valley,
Promising a bright day to come,
The colours of autumn and her fruitfulness filling the valley.
As we entered the chapel,
We were surprised to find that flowers had already been left on the altar.
Two circlets of rowan entwined with the berries and fruits of autumn.
From us to you.
I heard the words in my mind and knew that Rosaline had too.
The final piece of the puzzle was in place,
And we were surrounded by our true family.
The circle was complete and always would be,
For there is no real end or beginning,
Only faith,
Hope and love,
Which continue for eternity.
Robin and Rosaline,
Guardians of the Well.
