A Pinch of Moonlight

by A V Awenna

  ***

  Once Blackbird was settled into Aelwen’s grove, Vicky and Heledd set out for Hillside estate in search of the old farm, crossing the motorway via the footbridge. The ruined tower stood on its motte to their left. Heledd wondered aloud whether anyone had noticed the changes to the oak which used to stand beside it.

  ‘Maybe people will think it was damaged it a storm,’ Vicky said, although there was definitely something unnatural looking about the tree now. They made their way, downhill, towards a little stream which drained the boggy fields. They crossed the stream using an ugly concrete footbridge. The water was placid there, but rushing water could be heard upstream behind some shrubbery, so Vicky went to investigate.

  ‘There’s a little weir here. Wonder what it used to be,’ she said.

  ‘No idea,’ Heledd replied. ‘So much has happened here, even though it was open country 60 years ago. The Romans were here, you know, a thousand years before the castle was built.’

  ‘So Tanybryn wasn’t always so dull,’ Vicky said.

  ‘Guess not. This is interesting – well, to a folklore geek like me,’ Heledd said. ‘We’re crossing a stream on the way to the witch’s cottage, but witches aren’t supposed to be able to cross running water. Of course, there’s no proof of that. I doubt your average 21st century Wiccan would have a problem crossing a stream. Maybe there was something else associated with running water they didn’t like.’

  ‘Newt phobic? Allergic to frogs?’ Vicky wondered.

  ‘You really don’t do nature do you? Newt and frogs live in ponds, not streams,’ Heledd replied.

  ‘But they like water don’t they. They’re not like some animal that dissolves if it gets wet?’ Vicky asked.

  ‘I don’t think there’s any such animal. Not even in mythology,’ Heledd said.

  They were walking along a short lane between tall brick walls as they talked. They exited onto the main road, between two handsome Victorian houses.

  ‘Over there,’ said Heledd, ‘that’s the lane into the estate.’

  ‘There’s a nice big tree up on the right’ Vicky said. ‘Any good?’

  ‘Looks like an oak, but probably not close enough to where we need. Old, though, so we’ll keep it in mind as a possible.’

  They crossed the road and followed the lane into the estate. It was narrow, dark and unappealing, tarmac underfoot with garden walls either side. It was a forgotten place, although the piles of dogshit in the corners suggested it was frequently used.

  They emerged into suburbia. Neat, low bungalows, behind small, tame front gardens, gravelled patches with flower beds and shrubs.

  They continued into the housing estate, but there were no native trees in the front gardens, only ornamental shrubs. As they turned right at a T-junction, Vicky pointed out a large tree up ahead.

  ‘It’s a sycamore,’ said Heledd. ‘Non-native, so no good. There’s a big old oak at the back of that house – that might be useful if we can get to it.’

  They slowed as they passed the house. The tree was a long way back, behind a garage. There was a poster in the window saying ‘No to Ffynnon Ddu Development’ and a cat on the drive, watching them.

  ‘Don’t like the look of that cat. Looks like the sort that would tell tales on you just to cause trouble,’ Vicky said.

  ‘Vicky, you’re mad,’ Heledd laughed. ‘But that looks like a no-go too. Ffynon Ddu – that’s the name of the old farm. No idea what that poster means, but maybe we could ask if all else fails.’

  ‘No! You can if you want, but I’m not knocking on a stranger’s door with a ridiculous request!’ Vicky replied.

  They kept on walking until another lane appeared on the left, meandering between high hedges. They followed it to a car park – the car park of the Ffynon Ddu Inn. They looked around. The pub was an old stone building, long and low, with a collection of outbuildings in its car park. One, with a raised, bricked-in doorway, was clearly an old barn.

  ‘It’s the old farm, isn’t it? We’ve found it! And look, the big tree is over there in the corner,’ Vicky said.

  They walked over to inspect the tree – yes, its trunk was in the car park, behind some scrub.

  ‘Looks like we’ve found our tree. An ancient oak near the Dark Well.’ Heledd gazed up into the branches. The tree was huge. ‘I’m sure it’s old enough’

  ‘Great. Pint?’