Hiraeth

By Morgan Sheppard

Ellis Clarke has never felt at home anywhere, always feeling a sense of nostalgia for somewhere that she doesn’t know. When she goes to Beddgelert on vacation, she is overwhelmed by the feeling of belonging. Of course, the handsome Luke may have something to do with that.

Luke Maddox is a Guardian of Wales, a red Dragon who patrols the skies with the rest of his Weyr. When he meets Ellis and she is welcomed home by Merlin, he knows he has found the other half of him... but only if Ellis acknowledges him.

How will she claim him when she has no knowledge of being either a Guardian or a Dragon? Will Ellis find and accept her lost responsibility or will Luke fade away before she figures it out?

'Hiraeth is a Welsh word for homesickness or nostalgia, an earnest longing or desire, or a sense of regret.'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Morgan Sheppard
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005947422

Morgan Sheppard

Originally from the United Kingdom, Morgan Sheppard now resides in Germany, although she freely admits to having left part of her heart in Wales. Whilst a writer mainly in the fantasy genre, Morgan is more than happy to share her love of reading amongst the many different genres out there, and can always be found with a book close by.As well as reading and writing, Morgan spends her time looking after her family and trying to learn German. Unfortunately, a natural aptitude for languages doesn’t appear to be one of her strong points. However, stubbornness is, so she continues to persevere. So far, Morgan is confident enough to order a beer and a pretzel.You can also sign up for her newsletter to receive a #FREE copy of Disjointed Lives, a short story about friendship and a toxic relationship - https://morgan-sheppard-author.ck.page/ae0a9dbdf1Linktree: https://linktr.ee/morgansheppard

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Copyright 2021 by Morgan Sheppard

Published by Elemental Publishing at Smashwords 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Morgan Sheppard asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Morgan Sheppard has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer.

Thank you for your support.

Dedication

For all those who feel hiraeth in their souls. May you find your dragon!

To my Lady of the Moon and Tides - Thank You.

Dream your dream, and work hard to make it happen.

Acknowledgements

As always, there are people to thank. Writing may be solitary, but publishing certainly isn’t.

The first person I need to thank is S.H. PRATT for helping me with my book cover. She brought my vision to life, and I can’t thank her enough.

The WRITER’S CO-OP has been fantastic, a real source of inspiration as a group of authors help each other out with plot twists, marketing ideas, support, and even just a place to be, rather than keeping others down.

You wouldn’t be reading this if it weren’t for my amazing critique partner and betas. Those magnificent people who took what I had written in its worst form and helped me shape it into what you hold in your hands now. So my thanks go to FRANK and GINA for giving me much-needed clarification and insight.

Finally, my thanks go to you, dear reader. For taking a chance on this book and me as an author. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

This book is written in British/Welsh English, not American English

Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 - Ellis

Chapter 2 - Luke

Chapter 3 - Ellis

Chapter 4 - Luke

Chapter 5 - Ellis

Chapter 6 - Luke

Chapter 7 - Ellis

Chapter 8 - Luke

Chapter 9 - Ellis

Chapter 10 - Luke

Chapter 11 - Ellis

Chapter 12 - Luke

Chapter 13 - Ellis

Chapter 14 - Luke

Chapter 15 - Ellis

Chapter 16 - Luke

Chapter 17 - Ellis

Chapter 18 - Luke

Chapter 19 - Ellis

Chapter 20 - Luke

Chapter 21 - Ellis

Chapter 22 - Luke

Chapter 23 - Ellis

Chapter 24 - Luke

Chapter 25 - Ellis

Chapter 26 - Luke

Chapter 27 - Ellis

Chapter 28 - Luke

Chapter 29 - Ellis

Chapter 30 - Luke

Chapter 31 - Ellis

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by Morgan

1 ~ Ellis

See you soon! called Ellis to her friend, Bethan, as she left the coffee shop she worked in, situated at the very heart of Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay. She slipped on a pair of sunglasses and left the air-conditioned interior. Thank goodness I’ll be home soon and can have a shower, she thought, as her slim body slipped through clusters of tourists who meandered about, their movements slow in the heat and humidity.

Ellis gave a small shiver as a rivulet of sweat ran down her sticky back. Her hair stuck to her forehead, and her café uniform of black t-shirt and trousers absorbed the heat. Within a couple of hours, the Bay would be busy with people moving from one pub to another, sampling all the delights of a Friday night in Cardiff.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived at her small, one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment. She unlocked her front door and entered the hallway where she kicked off her shoes before she placed them neatly on the shoe rack, and put her bag on the floor next to them.

The laminate flooring was cool beneath her feet as she headed to the bathroom for a lukewarm shower, eager to wash off the odour of coffee and food. When the temperature finally dropped below her comfort level, she got out, and dressed in a soft pair of shorts and a comfortable t-shirt, but left her bobbed brunette hair to dry naturally.

Her stomach grumbled as she headed to the kitchen. Ellis poured herself a cold glass of beer as she unwrapped the chicken salad she had brought from work. After putting the food and drink on a tray, she headed to the small table near the large windows in her living room. She placed the tray down and sat, enjoying her view across the water, and the slight breeze that came through the open window.

Ellis smiled as she relaxed in her chair, and watched the world pass her by. This is the life, she thought to herself. Who needs glamour when you’ve got complete control of the remote, dinner, a drink, and peace and quiet?

As the sun started to set, Ellis tidied up the table before she closed the window, keeping away the little biters that always seemed to come out once the sun set. She went to the fridge and grabbed herself another beer before she flopped down onto the couch. She watched as the condensation slowly slid down the bottle onto the coaster below.

What to do? What to do? she mumbled. Ellis had two weeks off work but had yet to figure out where to go for her summer holiday. Funds were tight, and there were so many places she wanted to see. She grabbed her laptop, placed it on the coffee table in front of her, and powered it up. She perused the various tourist sites and clicked on anything that caught her attention.

Now, this looks lovely, she said, as she clicked on a link that took her to Beddgelert, a small village set in Snowdonia National Park area of Gwynedd, North Wales. She clicked through the photos of mountain lakes and wooded vales that surrounded the village and was charmed by the picturesque village itself. She looked for cheap places to stay and found the perfect bed-and-breakfast that also offered half-board. Going a bit further into the website, Ellis entered the dates she wanted to stay to see if they were possible. Once she saw they had availability, she clicked on another tab to see how to get there.

Her options were either by train or bus, but neither showed a direct journey. The train journey was quicker by a couple of hours, so she clicked to find out about the price. Ellis winced slightly at the amount, and then clicked on the bus to see if that was any cheaper.

Ouch, she said before she shrugged her shoulders, and went back to the train to reserve a ticket for Monday morning, with the return journey bringing her back on Friday of the second week. She then returned to the tab that held the information for the bed-and-breakfast and booked her eleven-night stay.

Ellis closed her laptop and sat back in satisfaction. A hefty chunk of her savings had disappeared, but she was looking forward to seeing the sights of Gwynedd. Ellis stretched her arms above her head as a yawn escaped her mouth. Urgh, she said aloud. I think it’s time for bed.

After checking the doors were locked, Ellis trudged through to her bedroom. She took off her clothes and dropped them onto her small, retro wing-backed chair. She crawled between the sheets, the crisp coolness of cotton on her hot skin a blessing. Perspiration dotted her forehead as the temperature rose due to the doors and windows being closed. She switched on her ceiling fan and felt the slight breeze raise goosebumps on her skin as it circulated the air. Ellis punched her pillow a couple of times until it was the perfect shape and relaxed as the low hum of the fan filled the room. A smile curved her lips as she slipped away to the land of dreams.

The next morning, Ellis awoke early, eager to get the day started. After she had finished breakfast, she grabbed her traveller rucksack out of the cupboard and threw it onto her bed. She stood in front of her open wardrobe with one hand on her hip, while the other rubbed her chin, as she considered what clothing to take. The weather was incredibly balmy right now, but it could all change, and become monsoon season in a day.

After packing an acceptable mixture of clothing, plus some added extras in case the weather did change, Ellis grabbed her bag, and put on a pair of sandals before she headed out to the local supermarket.

She wandered through the aisles and revelled in the air-conditioning as it dried the dampness from her skin. She paid for her items and set off back home with enough food to last her until she left, plus some snacks for the journey.

Ellis lifted her face to the sun, enjoying the heat. She would be back before it became too warm, and Ellis planned on going nowhere once the clock hit eleven, so she could avoid the hottest part of the day. Ellis relaxed until Bethan came round in the early evening.

Have you booked anywhere yet? asked Bethan, as she sat on the couch.

I have. Ellis smiled at her best friend. It’s a small village called Beddgelert in North Wales. It looks gorgeous.

Chink, chink, said Bethan, as they clinked wine glasses. Good on you. I want lots of photos. She smirked at Ellis. And don’t forget to get yourself a nice little hottie too. Nothing like a holiday romance to make somewhere look charming.

Bethan! said Ellis. I don’t do holiday romances, you know that.

Humph, you don’t do much, if you ask me. Bethan looked disgruntled. In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve only ever gone out for drinks with someone before you put them firmly in the friend zone. You need a man in your life, woman.

Oh no, I don’t, said Ellis, as she grinned. Men are nothing but trouble. I need to figure out my life first.

Yeah, like that ever happens. You can’t plan everything, you know. Sometimes, you just need to go with the flow.

They spent the evening chatting and drinking in harmony before Bethan made her way home after wishing Ellis a fantastic holiday.

As it got closer to Sunday evening, Ellis packed her rucksack, ensuring her snacks, water bottle, and Kindle would be at hand. She filled two spare refillable water bottles and put them in the freezer. They would defrost slowly throughout the day, giving her cool water to drink during her nine-hour train journey.

At last, it was time for bed. Ellis double-checked everything before she set her alarm. Her train would leave Cardiff Central train station at eight-twenty for the first part of her journey, and Ellis wanted to be sure she was there in plenty of time. Closing her eyes, she wished the night away, eager for the morning to come.

Ellis caught the train Monday morning, unsurprised by the number of people who boarded with her. She grabbed her allocated seat and made herself comfortable with her Kindle close at hand. The journey to Shrewsbury station only took a couple of hours, and the train quickly emptied of commuters as it went along. From there, she boarded a new train to Machynlleth, followed by one to Porthmadog. The last part of her journey was from Porthmadog to Beddgelert, and she was lucky enough to have a seat next to the window. She stared at the scenery as it went by, her eyes wide as she tried to take it all in.

She arrived at a small train station with its name proudly written in large white letters on a blue background. She glanced around in delight before she hefted her rucksack into a more comfortable position, and set off to find her bed-and-breakfast.

As she strolled the quiet, sunlit streets of Beddgelert, Ellis could feel her body relaxing, and she breathed deeply of the fragranced air.

Now that she had arrived, Ellis looked forward to seeing the sights of this part of Snowdonia. She quickly found the Gorffwys y Ddraig Bed-and-Breakfast and fell in love with it on sight. The website only had one photo of the outside, and it didn’t do it justice.

Gorffwys y Ddraig stood a little way back from the main road, built with the dark Welsh bricks she had seen on her way there. The double-fronted house was a welcoming sight, with the covered entrance porch in the middle.

She opened the front door and waited at the desk for someone to come out. Be there in a moment, called a melodious voice from somewhere at the back. Ah, you must be Ellis, said a middle-aged woman as she stepped to the desk. Her eyes twinkled merrily. How was your journey, my dear? I hope it wasn’t too long.

Ellis smiled at the warmth received from the lady in front of her. Yes, I’m Ellis, she said. It’s good to meet you. She held her hand out and the two women shook hands. The journey wasn’t too bad, but it was a bit long. About twice as long as it would have taken if I had a car.

The woman nodded, sagely. Yes, that’s too often the case these days, she agreed. Still, I love travelling by train. I love seeing the countryside whoosh by.

The bits I’ve seen today are magnificent, said Ellis. I can’t wait to go exploring.

Well, let’s get you checked in. I’m Gwen, by the way. Just give me a shout if I can help with anything.

Thanks, Gwen, I will, promised Ellis, smiling widely. To be honest, tonight I think I just want to collapse. I can start exploring tomorrow.

Gwen smiled at her as she handed her the key to her room. It’s just up the stairs and to the right, Ellis. You’ve got a view over the woods, and the river that runs along the back of the property, I hope that’s okay.

I’m sure it will be perfect, thank you, said Ellis. Picking up her rucksack, she followed Gwen to the wide, well-lit stairs.

Just up there, said Gwen. Now, officially the kitchen is closed as we don’t serve dinner until seven, but seeing as you’ve been travelling all day, is there anything I can get you to eat? Even just a sandwich?

I’m fine, but thank you, said Ellis. I’ve been snacking all day. I can wait until later. What time is breakfast though?

Breakfast is from six-thirty until eight-thirty, Gwen said. She smiled at the look of surprise on Ellis’ face. We start early because most of those who stay here want an early start. There’re so many places to visit. Let me know if you want any ideas.

I will do, thank you, said Ellis, setting her foot on the bottom-most stair. See you later.

Have a pleasant stay, Ellis, replied Gwen, before she turned and strode away.

Ellis slowly climbed the stairs, looking at the local photos that lined the walls as she did so. When she reached the top, she unlocked the door and entered, smiling in delight at what she saw.

The furniture was all light wood that glowed in the early evening sunlight. From the doorway, Ellis could see a television, a hairdryer, and a hospitality tray with tea, coffee, and biscuits. She peeked through a side door that led to the en-suite facilities and liked how clean and fresh everything looked. The cover on the bed was a delightful bright turquoise and matched the towels in the bathroom.

Oh, yes, she said. This is gorgeous. She plopped down on the bed and enjoyed the slight bounce back. It’s going to be perfect.

Ellis stood back up and grabbed her rucksack to empty it onto the bed. She made quick work of sorting through everything and put it away in the various drawers and cupboards in the room. Ellis drank the last of her water and left the bottles draining in the bathroom.

Done, she said, with her hands on her hips as she looked around the room with satisfaction. She checked the time on her watch and was surprised when she saw it was only six-thirty p.m. And still time for a tour after all.

Ellis locked the door behind her and skipped down the stairs, waving to Gwen who was pointing something out on a map to a couple of hikers as she left. She breathed in deeply as she left the bed-and-breakfast, and looked around.

Up or down? she wondered. A small chuckle escaped her as she started to wander up the road. Like it makes any difference right now.

Ellis meandered through the village, soaking in the sights as she did so. It was only a small place, but the inhabitants seemed extremely friendly and waved to her as she passed them by. With a couple of restaurants, traditional Welsh pubs, shops, and even an ice-cream shop, Ellis was convinced she would be quite content here for the next week or so.

Ellis paused as she crossed the beautiful double-arched stone bridge that crossed the River Colwyn and took in a breath. Her mind emptied of all her worries and stress, and she could feel herself relaxing as she listened to the rush of the water beneath her.

Good evening, said a voice from beside her. Ellis opened her eyes and turned toward the lilting sound.

Hello, she said, as she looked up at the stranger. He was taller than she was, with a slim, muscular frame. He had a sharp jaw, chin, and cheekbones. On either side of his straight nose, he had eyes of deep ocean-blue with silvery flecks. All of it framed by tousled dark chocolate-brown hair.

You must be Ellis, he grinned. I’m Luke. My aunt runs the B&B you’re staying in.

What? How did you know? asked Ellis in astonishment.

Luke leaned on the bridge, his gaze on the water below. Well, there aren’t that many willowy young brunettes with natural red streaks in their hair wandering around Beddgelert on a Monday evening. He smiled up at her. That was Aunt Gwen’s description of you, by the way.

Ellis chuckled and put out her hand. In that case, hello, Luke. I’m Ellis.

Luke placed his hand in hers and shook it gently, his hand lingering in hers. Very pleased to meet you, Ellis.

Not that I’m unhappy to meet you, but why are you here? Ellis asked as she took her hand back, trying to hide the shiver that ran through her at his touch. I didn’t realise I was doing anything wrong.

Luke smirked, his eyes twinkling in the evening light. Don’t worry, you haven’t. My aunt is a bit of a worry-wart, and she has decided to take you under her wing. You won’t get a minute’s peace whilst you’re here.

Ellis rolled her eyes but gave a small chuckle. I’m more than capable of looking after myself, she insisted.

Yes, but you’re only a slip o’er a thing, quoted Luke. Aunt Gwen is concerned you won’t eat properly. She mentioned you’d only had celery to eat all day. Luke’s eyes drifted over Ellis’ body. Although, I have to say, if that’s the case, then you make a celery diet look pretty tempting.

A slight flush painted Ellis’ cheeks, and she gave him a light slap on the arm. Enough of that, she said. I’m not about to fall for your Welsh charm. I’m sure you say stuff like that to all the girls.

She straightened up and crossed her arms. I’ve eaten more than celery today, even if it was part of what I ate. I’m not a big fan of eating meals as such when I travel. I prefer to graze. She sniffed and turned away, facing the water once more.

Hey, look. I’m sorry, apologised Luke, his face serious. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was only teasing. Just tell me to shut up and leave you alone, and I promise I will. For now though, please come back to Gorffwys y Ddraig, otherwise, Aunt Gwen will kill me.

Ellis huffed but moved away from where she stood. Come on then, I don’t want murder on my hands. She marched back the way she had come and heard Luke’s footsteps catch up behind her.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Ellis couldn’t stand it any longer. So, what do you do? she asked, blowing out a puff of air.

I work with my uncle, said Luke. I did a carpentry apprenticeship with him, and I’m now working on my journeyman exams. I’m going to Germany in October to study with a professional over there who Uncle Rhys knows.

Oh, said Ellis, her face creased in thought. I didn’t realise you still had to travel these days. I thought journeyman was just a title.

It is, said Luke, his eyes sparkling. It’s just something I wanted to do. The woodsmanship you see over there is amazing. I want to be able to do that. So, luckily for me, my uncle pulled some strings, and there we go.

Will you become a Master Carpenter? asked Ellis, as they neared Gorffwys y Ddraig.

Luke nodded firmly. Absolutely. I want to learn as much as I can before I come back here. It’s not easy, but I think it will be worth it. I want to know all the tricks of the trade; how to bring the wood to life, how to make it intricate, but strong.

You have a real passion for it, said Ellis. I’m impressed. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing, but I’m not sure working in a café is it.

You’ll figure it out, I’m sure, said Luke, nudging her with his shoulder. He grabbed her hand as she stumbled. Sorry.

Ellis just sniggered as she regained her balance. You have more strength than you realise, methinks.

Luke stopped in the middle of the path and posed like a superhero, a huge grin on his face. Ah, what you see isn’t what you get, my lady.

Ellis shook her head. You’re quite mad, aren’t you?

Absolutely. Only way to be. Now, let’s get inside, so Aunt Gwen can call off the search party.

What search party? It was only you.

Only me? said Luke, grabbing at his heart as he pushed open the front door. Oh, how your words wound me. Farewell, my love, my time is nigh.

Get inside, you fool, and stop your blathering. I’ll not have you bothering my guests now, you hear?

Ellis burst into laughter at the look of consternation on Luke’s face upon hearing his aunt’s words. That told you.

She tells me all the time, he grumbled. This is your fault.

Ellis shrugged her shoulders happily. Oh, well. I can live with that. She turned to see Gwen watching them with a smile on her face.

Thank you for sending Luke out, said Ellis. I was absolutely fine though, I promise.

I’m sure you were, said Gwen. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to eat though. I didn’t want you missing out, not when you’ve been travelling all day, so I made you a sandwich. I wasn’t sure if you’d be up for a meal. It’s nothing much, just cheese and tomato, but with local smoked cheese, so it’s tastes delicious.

Luke groaned and rubbed his stomach. I bet you haven’t got one for me, have you, Aunt Gwen? You know, being as I’ve been out searching for this one for hours.

You drama queen, scolded Gwen, a grin breaking free. I’ll have you know, I have made you one, just because I know how much of a fuss you’d make if I didn’t. She turned away from them toward the kitchen and gave them instructions over her shoulder. Go and sit yourselves down. I’ll bring it right through.

Ellis watched her go and looked around, unsure of where to go.

Through here, said Luke, as he showed her the way. He led her through to a small but cosy dining room, with oak tables and chairs laid out. He chose a small table and they both sat down.

Gwen bustled through with a plate in each hand. Here you go, she said. Let me know if there’s anything else you want. Gwen left as efficiently as she had arrived, leaving the two of them alone.

Ellis raised her eyes from her