Prologue
There was a small seedling of apple tree by her cottage, planted at the season when Tindam build her a Briar Rose Cottage. She knew to stare at the small seedling for time with cup of cider in her hand, while sitting under veranda roof at the front of the cottage. She even knew to weed out any other plants around, put a circle of sticks and ropes to protect it from random horse or sheep. Apple seedling grew that year not more then two feet, and she dreaded the yule season of what it would bring upon the seedling.
Snow seasons brought a few feet tall snow for many weeks and months, and in spring fighting trough the layers of snow a green leaf announced the worse is gone. Just at that time she was in terrible days of her life, Tindam was missing and she chose no bed no man to sooth her anger, on world and herself.
It took months till her return to the Briar rose cottage, as the sight upon it brought her pain, bringing all the memories she shared with Tindam. Apple did not care for her broken heart, and blossomed like time tries to make amends with fate, turning three feet tall apple into a fruit bearing wonder.
To her surprise there was no end, whole garden was going well, covering scars of building at the earth, covering it with many meadow flowers, snapdragons, dandelions, dahlias, and bushes of wild briar roses hedge around the cottage garden, a thorny protection better then any fence.
Another season was passing by and Briannon was spending more time with traveling entertainers under lead of Cirywen, accompanied with Claery, Birchald, Devaki and many more. She focused on learning the skill of playing harp and lute, taking great delight at small mummery shows and just simple dancing.
But Leafall season brought many terrors to her again, death of Cirywen took a great toll on her, just as Birchald's disappearing all of sudden. All fell apart. Dark thoughts wrapped her in their iron grasp and didn't let her go till she decided that its time to visit the Pink Tree under which Cirywen got her final rest, before she cuts her own ties with world and life.
A phial of Wolfsbane poison was in her bag, together with few things on her journey with no return, with a letter of last will was written and sent to notary in Bree.
She picked last two apples from her apple tree, said farewell and went over the Bree hills toward Brandywine river, slowly enjoying the last days of her life.
But fate has planned something else for Briannon that she could not forsee ...
