A Pinch of Moonlight

  ***

  Blackbird perched on the ledge, the warm water of the stream bubbling between him and Tefyn, gazing out over Annwn. His heart had ached for it every second of his exile, yet he’d almost forgotten just how beautiful it was. Ahead of him the milky blue of early morning silhouetted the mountains. The sun was still behind them, but the orange-pink glow of the few small clouds showed it was on its way. The town couldn’t be seen from there, but the river that ran beside it glinted in the dark valley.

  This ever-changing light was the source of Annwn’s beauty. High in the mountains, the clear, pure air and the mirrors of the snowy peaks meant the view changed from hour to hour, as the sun swooped across the sky and her shadows flew across the ground. In the light of a summer noon, elves revelled in myriad colours, whilst the fairies were dazzled and hid. By night, the clear air meant fairies could get around by starlight or just a sliver of moon. Elves chased away the dark with fires and crystal lights, whilst the fairies soaked up its subtler glories. Like Demi-Lee, Blackbird could sense the gentle touch of moonlight on his skin, the way that humans felt the heat of the sun.

  It was a wonderful spot that Tefyn had discovered, and Blackbird was touched that Tefyn had decided to share it with him, summoning him from the portal with a night moth. But they weren’t there just to look at the view, he knew that. Tefyn seemed about to speak, so Blackbird waited.