It's so sad that they long for each other but can't be together, and that she's going to have his child. You can just imagine what great loving parents they would make together. The way you've written this really makes the reader be able to feel their emotions and those are the best kinds of stories - where you actually care what happens in the end. Thanks and very well done

Author's Response: many many thanks for your lovely review. i have tried to let people see what they are feeling and how torn they are between what they want and what they know is right. more soon

Awwwww, that's so sweet and endearing. Methinks that Willow should correct the deficit in Saxon Tara's learning, or lack thereof, and teach her to read script, whether runic or? What about ogham? I get confused with that too. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember there were different dialects, several different versions of runic script dependent on locality?
Plus certain things isolated to one area alone or another...? The way this came about was yrs ago I had a beau (in a medieval society) and we lived about 100 miles apart, pre-net days, so corresponded by letters romantically as well as (expensive) phone calls...we got mischievious & creative sometimes & began to send letters to one another written in various cyphers or alphabets...and the game was for the other to figure out what it was written in, where from, what it pertained to, etc...before being able to decipher the letter. Sometimes we stumped one another. I wrote him in Theban Script (occult) & he wrote back in Viking Runes...which was cool the first time, but later he found diff't versions/dialects etc....and if not using the right "key", it was nonsense...He stumped me a few there...luckily I had a book w/things like this, about 100 yrs old with all sorts of odd, wierd, historical & occult stuff in it...then I too Medieval Lit in college & had to READ *IN* the language & translate, of the piece, so ie, Old English, Middle English, Western dialects (I think it was---it used "thorns"?--runic combination sounds like "th" & "ng" etc almost like our contractions..., but apparently might've been significant to a specific locale/area???) Make any sense?
Now it'd be so easy to scan it in and either run a Opt Recog. Pgm or put up two windows side by side, one scanned, one a key...Plus, hey, these missives to each other were illuminated, and sometimes calligraphed, etc, depending on type...he was an incredible graphic artist. I think I still have a portrait he did of me in pencils, and a Green Man mask he sculpted on my balcony while I was in class for nursing school & he was visiting me, He cast it and made copies; I lost mine in my house fire, but when my best girlfriend died a few yrs ago, her copy was in the goods her sister shipped to me of things she thought I might like to have. I wish I had the missives, but they are long gone.
You should link us up with some examples of things in your A.N.'s, so we can see examples of the writing, carvings, etc, god/desses, tents, longhouses, etc...Having done the re-enacting thing, I've hung out in Viking A-frame tents, with carved dragon etc heads on the wooden beams of the frame, seen carved horn (Mr. F has even done some scrimshaw, as he's into all things sailor-y & naval, and is a "chantyman", a bard, singing sea chanties from numerous centuries. He also blacksmiths, carves horn (often for hilts) & bone, & wood a bit, & can drop spindle & work an Inkle loom). We had/have an acquaintance who is actually from Denmark, and follows a family's "runic tradition"? He speaks English really well, and does cool presentations on the Norse 'verse, but occasionally there's a language barrier to wade thru...sorry for the ramble...having puter probs, seriously think it's possessed, while I'm doing this...
~~K.~~
~~fyreburned~~



Author's Response: the runes would be fulthark and my DH reads and writes them very well:) i lost a lot of precious stuff in a house fire so know how hard it is... would love to set out the bits on a site, still trying to work out if i can

Awe, good to see Buffy so happy even if she is still sad inside (can't express it better).
Tara is at a place where she belongs now. Good to see her blooming.
Sweet chapter; enjoyed the read.

Author's Response: thanks

His brothers were no better than Tara's father and his mother had to sell her house to pay the ransom. She must really love him. :) Good that Liam lost the fight and that William will be in the king's troops. I hope he won't have to fight the Norse... Good idea with the markets :) / Ariadne

Author's Response: no they're not nice people. more soon

Good to see his mom is still alive though I'm thinking sh'e becoming ill. And his two brothers wives needing to be watched.... very interesting. That burns my butt that his brothers wouldn't put up the money for his return, just evil. But it looks like life is treating him better so far and the place with the king, very interesting - it's Liam I don't trust.

Author's Response: glad you are enjoying. given how much I love your stuff its a real compliment. I am having problems with Connor's wedding night any suggestions? email me off list if you have, many thanks

Ooh, there's a twist. I'm glad William has a place away from his brothers. Could he maybe sell the Bible to buy his mother's home back? Or will he return it to the monastery? So many questions. Really enjoying the rich tapestry you've woven here.

Author's Response: there are more twists and turns to come...glad you are enjoying this

Hee, yes, life is indeed sweet. I just love Anne and I'm so happy William decided to tell her everything about Buffy. I was even happier when William was offered a post in the king's army, he's already making a name for himself and showing the stuff he's made of. I'm pretty sure that's not the last time Liam'll try to hurt William. Again, I loved the update. You're spoiling us with all these wonderful chapters, many, many thanks for that! *hugs*

Author's Response: More fun to come with Liam and Dru, glad you enjoyed...

*nods* I saw I had an email and hoped for an update. Good to see I guessed right it was this one.
Mmmh well I hope it won't come to that (that William has to fight his old friends). Because they have become that.
~ Loved William stood on his own when he was fighting with Liam. And William was as unwanted by his brothers as Tara was? That's really sad. Seems that William is better off with the king. Maybe he is on his way to earn the money now he'll need to support Buffy (his thoughts...).

Author's Response: lots more twists and turns to come.. glad you are enjoying this

OH come on , there so far away from each other, how's he going to make his way back to her . Your breaking my heart here. I hope we don't have to wait long for a reunion.

Author's Response: what reunion? evil laugh, and before the flames. I know its a Spuffy site and I don't break the rules..

A very good transitional chapter. Was awesome to see that Connor accepted Wm. as the father of his heart as well, as though of blood---and truly, it would be so, as Wm. spilled blood saving Connor injury at the Thing.
Glad to see you mention the Witan as well.
Almost funny for Giles to be in the role of the Father-Confessor.
i'm gathering, with only a teensy leap, that Wm's mother, Ldy. Anne is actually quite ill? Interesting to write in Dru, and married to ?, as well as Darla and an actual Liam. is this Liam goint to be a lazy, no good layabout, whoring/wenching, drinking, & brawling? If so, I also don't think it'll be much of a leap to gather there will be some serious brawl and fights between the new Wm & his brother Liam; and intrigue, lies & chaos out of Darla and especially Dru, of course.
Will you be taking us back to mother to be Buffy for a visit? I would say she could travel to HIM, but not pregnant (ugh---can you imagine morning sicknes on a BOAT to boot?) Perhaps after the child is born she will travel (but again, with a little one?) to find him and present his child to claim?
Anyway, sweetie, more please? *whine, whine*....
~~K.~~
~~fyreburned~~

Author's Response: many thanks for the amazing review...she's not ill but more about that to come. glad you liked the 'father' bit by Connor...visits between Saxon and Viking wouldn't have happened without reason...so they really are seperated for life so far

*Sniff...

William is a stronger person than I. I couldn't have left, I would have run screaming back! It will be interesting to see the emotional toil his seperation from Buffy will take...how long he'll last. I don't envy him his empty nights.

*Sniff, sniff

Author's Response: don't think i could have left either...more as soon as my beta plucks up courage to look at the next chapter

I'm glad William found his mother alive and relatively well, even if that meant not turning his back on everything he knew and return to Buffy's side. I'm pretty sure he's quite right about Darla and Drusilla *shudders* Thank God he knows he has to watch his back with those two vipers. I'm looking forward to more, as always. Fabulous chapter and many thanks for the fast updates! *hugs*

Author's Response: glad you enjoyed. hope you enjoy the next set of twists and turns.

Thanks for the tissue warning, sweetie. *wipes tears away* I wonder how his mother will act when she sees him, if she will see him.... I got a bad feeling that something isn't right... / Ariadne

Author's Response: more today, see reviewing works:)