Raven Saga 01 - Raven

said Meredith as she kneaded the dough that would later become the most delicious homemade bread rolls.
    I was shocked and surprised that he hadn't mentioned it in the car on the way from the airport. In hindsight, though, he probably didn't tell me because he didn't want to upset me.
    “What happened to them?” I asked, thinking they can't have been very old at all.
    “They were out together one day, taking a long trek when they came across an injured mountain lion. His mother was such a softy when it came to animals and she insisted they try to help it. But it wasn't alone and its mate attacked them. It wasn't to know they were trying to help. It was so tragic. Eleanor's wounds were so severe that she died almost instantly but Jonathan carried her body all the way back to the main road where he managed to find help. He later died in hospital. Ben was 12 years old. Oliver was barely two,” she said.
    Sonya explained that Gabriel insisted on bringing the children up himself, as Jonathan had been like another son to him. They had no other family so it seemed like the natural thing to do.
    As I took everything in, I began to understand my grand-father a little more. He was clearly a loving man that cared a great deal for his family and friends, which confused me as to why my own father, his own son, had fallen out with him. Why had they not spoken for so many years? It angered me a little, knowing that I could have experienced this wonderful way of life as opposed to that miserable life I had known in England.
    Presumably this had all happened a few years before I was born. I wondered where my father was during that time. Was it around that time that he had left with my mother? Or had they left later, after I was born? I was making so many assumptions. I needed to know the truth. Someone would tell me... eventually.
    As the afternoon wore on, people started to arrive for the party. A few of them had clearly just come to get a good look at me. But they were all friendly and many offered words of reassurance and kindness.
    I still had not met Oliver. I assumed he would be the last to arrive. Like a surprise party that wasn't really a surprise.
    Ben had arrived and had sought me out before doing anything else. He wanted to apologise for butting in the day before. He'd known that I'd heard what had been said. I laughed as he said it, though, understanding that it was his way of showing that he cared... about my grand-father and about me. It was reassuring.
    “I know there is something being kept from me and I will find out what it is. Gabriel will tell me but I do understand that he will only do so when we are both ready, so don't worry Ben, I won't be in the dark for much longer,” I said, thinking of Rose's words. And as I thought of what she'd said to me, I could see her approaching the house. I hadn't realised she would be attending the party, but I was delighted she was.
    “Hello dear Lilly,” she said as she entered without knocking, “hello ladies... you're all hard at work, I see,” she smiled as she handed them a large basket. “I thought I'd better do my bit, so I made some scones with fresh cream. I know how the boys love them. And where are all the boys?” she asked looking around.
    “They'll be along in a little while, but Ben is here already... somewhere,” answered Meredith.
    He suddenly appeared, “Hi Rose,” he said as he walked over to give her a hug and a gentle kiss on her cheek. They stood together whispering quietly, casually glancing in my direction.
    Giving them some privacy, I said I needed a little time to be alone and headed to my room where I sat on the bed for a while, staring out of the window into the green foliage of the dark forest beyond.
    After a few minutes, I began to feel like it was calling out to me. I stood up and moved closer to the glass which steamed up as I breathed against it. I thought I saw something white move within the trees, but as I wiped the glass with my sleeve there was nothing there.
    I sat back on the bed again and lay down. I closed my eyes and thought of the past couple of days, of the wonderful welcome I had received and of all the lovely people I had met.
    As I lay there, I heard a gentle tapping on the window. Before I opened my eyes I imagined myself back in London with the two ravens who visited every night. It was the same tapping sound and as I let my imagination run wild, there it was again. Tap tap.
    I opened my eyes and sure enough, there