... I'm taken aback at Brandubh's response. 'Tis the last I'd expected. Wit' a childhood o' misery m'self b'hind me, I kin relate t'his pain, though. An' the tiny Queen o' the Faeries did little t'enlighten me. I turn from his pain t'look past th'circle o' oaks, out o'er th'lough t'give meself a few moments t'compose m'self.

In th' shadows along the edges, I kin barely make out th' outlines of a corracle ... much like th' one that carried me an' Arwen s'long ago. 'Tis then that tears stream down me face. Not fer the loss o' family never known, but for one who was belov'd o' me. I cradle me face in me hands, an' cry unshed tears ... for all me losses.

In time, though, the miracle of what is found comes back t'me, an' I turn t'the brother I dinna know I had, an' reach out ta him.

"B .... br ... brother, 'tis loss we've had aplenty. You, your Da an' Mam t' wanderlust both physical an' spiritual, an' me to a wanton Faery an' wanderin soul, who left me fer the hoards of invaders t'raise."

I take a deep breath, an' make an entreaty to this stranger who is blood o' my blood, "Who is t'tell us why these things came t' pass? But, now it seems we've been brought t'gether. Why only now, I canna say. An' I'm s'sorry I canna tell ya more o' yer Da than what I know - which is all that I've told ye. Brother," I reach out t'touch his sleeve, "dear, Bran. We've found each other now, haven't we?" His eyes, brimming w'tears are unreadable, as is the set o' his mouth.

Briefly, I see a shadow cross his face, as tho he be listenin' ... could it be he's hearin' the voices o' Arwen an' the others who've passed? Or was it just me imagination an' hope?

I wait patiently fer me new-found kin to respond, hearin' the sounds of the water lap th' edges of the lough.