Max smiled as his father, Jacob, set a mug of tea before him. Whenever he felt overwhelmed or lost, he would come back to his childhood home in Greenwich. He was lucky; He got on well with both of his parents and they were his comfort whenever he needed help.

"If only Myrddin had come to us," Jacob said sadly.

"You believe it then?" Max asked him.

"I think that man has many secrets, even from you. Is he capable of murder? Ja, I think so. We all are, in certain circumstances."

"You really believe that?" Max pressed him.

"If your grandfather had not killed that German officer as a child, he would not have escaped, I would not have been born, and you would not be here."

"That's different dad. He killed a Nazi. It was war and-"

"How is it different? A life taken is still a life taken. Like your opa, Rosemonde fought for her life; and you do not yet know Myrddin's story. Do not condemn him before hearing it."

"Myrddin seems like a stranger to me now. If he was in danger why didn't he come and live with us. I will never understand that."

"Genau! That is the very reason why there is so much sadness around us. People do not share their burdens. They do not communicate and when their choices are made known, they are instantly judged even when no one knows the reasons behind those choices. Human beings are harsh, aren't they Maxwell?"

Jacob smiled sadly and Max hung his head in shame. He still didn't know what to do. He hadn't called Ursula and he felt bad about that, but he had to work out his emotions first. As if reading his thoughts Jacob said, "Ursula has called a few times to check on you. None of this is her fault son. Do not shut out a good girl who loves you-"

"And who could give you beautiful grandchildren, yeah yeah I know." Max smiled despite the ache in his heart. "You and mum have been at me about Ursula, ever since Ros' introduced us."

"Well little Rose did you a big favour. Ursula is perfect for you."

"Little Rose," Max chuckled. His parents had always called her that. "I hope she is all right."

"I'm glad you are here, talking to your mother and I about how you are feeling son, but don't shut Ursula out. If she is important to you, and I know that she is, let her in."

"I don't know how I'm feeling right now, so I don't know what to say."

"Tell her exactly that!" Jacob laughed, exasperated.

"Thank you, Doctor Lewin." Max snorted. His father was a prominent psychologist and doctor of philosophy with many published works to his name, so people did pay him a lot of money for his advice.

"At least you get the advice for free!" Max's mother Greta commented. She had entered the room and caught Max rolling his eyes at his father.

Max turned to look at his parents, really look at them. He was filled with love. "Mum, dad, thank you, for everything, really."

"What are you on about now Maxwell?" Greta looked at him quizzically.

"You're always there, loving me, unconditionally. I don't say thank you or I love you, often enough. I just have a real sense of how lucky I am right now. I don't ever want to take you for granted, so um...thanks."

"It's kind of our job, but it's nice to be appreciated." Greta smiled and enveloped her son in her arms. "Just make sure that you are all right too Max, please."

"I don't know what to do though," Max said, his voice muffled against his mother's hair.

She let her son go and looked at him seriously. "When you don't know what to do, do nothing. Actually, you are doing exactly what you need to do right now, Schatzi. You're stopping, reflecting and asking for help. That's all you can do. The answers will come, sometimes in the strangest of ways. Sometimes they come to us like a neon sign — blatantly obvious, but that's a rarity. Generally, you need to be quiet and shut out the noise around you. Sometimes the answer is a small still voice that is whispered in the wind, but if you don't slow down, you may miss it. This is an ideal place to shut up and be quiet, so take a walk with your thoughts darling. Let go and let God."

Jacob groaned, but he was also smiling.

Greta continued. She was on a roll now. "Genau! It might be a cliché but it's true. Why do we need to be in control all the time? Just hit the pause button. We live on an amazing property with a glorious garden and ocean views. Relax, soak it in and listen," Greta said sagely.

"Listen for what, mum?"

"Nothing. Everything. The answer you're looking for. You'll know when it comes to you," she said.

Max nodded. "I'll be in the garden," he said, before hugging her again and going outside.

"Well, aren't you profound today?" Jacob smiled broadly at his wife. "I think you got through to him though."

"I'm just so thankful that he can come to us, Jacob. I felt nauseous when I heard what they were saying about Rosemonde; and then there's Myrddin. God in heaven, I can only imagine how Max is feeling." She reached for her husband and he held her tightly. "I have a feeling that this will be a major challenge for him spiritually, and for many of us."

The phone rang as she finished speaking. Jacob answered. "Oh, hi Ursula! Ja, he's doing much better today thanks... Hashtag er, innocent Rose? I see... That is wonderful news, I knew our little Rose would be vindicated. Please come over tonight. You two need to be together... It will be fine Ursula, trust me, just promise me you'll come when Max asks you and believe me, he will..." Jacob ended the call and almost leapt for joy. "MAX GET IN HERE!"

Max re-entered the house to find his mother looking bemused and his father dancing around like he'd made the New York Times best seller's list for non-fiction, again.

"What's going on?" Max asked.

"Good news but to find out you'll need to ring Ursula. Once she's told you, make sure you invite her over. It's important."

"But-"

"Just call her!" Turning to Greta, Jacob said "I'll fill you in while he's doing that."

"I take it it's good news?"

"The best!"

☆☆☆☆☆

"I am so sorry I hurt you." Max held Ursula in his arms. She hadn't meant to cry but she couldn't help it.

"I was so worried about you, and when you shut me out like that, I thought that maybe you were going to break up with me."

"WHAT? NO! Oh babe, I'm so sorry. I just couldn't articulate..." Max took a deep breath and started again. "My sister Matilda is quite a few years older than I. She got married when I was still in high school and she lives in the States now. I haven't seen her since graduating from university. We were close as kids but... At school and then at university, it was always Myrddin and I. He was my other sibling, my brother from another mother; and Rosemonde, well you know how I feel about her. She's one of your best friends too. She's like a little sister. My God, I love them both so much and to hear that they might have... I'm glad that Rosemonde is innocent but what about Myrddin? Where are they both? Are they safe, are they even alive?" He lost it then, and began to weep in earnest. "I don't know what to do Ursh, I feel as though I've lost a part of myself. Tell me what to do." Ursula didn't know how to respond. All she could do was hold him as he wept.

"Let go. Trust. Go forward. Through the door."

"Did you say something?" Ursula asked him.

"I thought that was you," Max said quietly.

Ursula shook her head. "There it is again, listen."

"Let go of fear. Let go and go through the door."

"You can hear that too, right? This is freaky." Ursula gripped Max's arm as a golden door appeared in thin air before them. "No, Max you can't! Given what Myrddin may or may not be into, you can't go through that door!"

"Let go of fear. Let go and go through the door."

"Ursula, I don't know what this is, but it may provide some answers. I am going through the door. Will you come with me?"

"I uh-"

"Do not be afraid. Go through the door."

"Ursula, I have to go. I can't explain it, but it feels right."

She nodded and took his hand. "I'm not letting you go through alone. If you're determined to go, I will come with you."

Max tentatively placed a hand on the doorknob and turned it. With a sudden rush of air, they were sucked through the door and landed with a thud on a grassy surface. Sitting up, Ursula screamed when she saw that they were surrounded by tall, athletic, yet sinister figures.

What were they exactly? Living statues? Creepy stone soldiers? She wasn't sure, but one thing was certain — they were undeniably scary."

One of them spoke. He appeared to be in charge. "State your business!"

Max placed himself in front of Ursula, blocking her from view. "We're not sure how we got here. We followed the instructions and came through the door."

"Instructions? From whom?"

"It was a voice as soft as a breeze. I felt comforted, I trusted it, and so I listened to it. It brought us here; wherever here is," Max tried to explain.

The basalt black soldier nodded once and then turned to another of his kind. "Balthazar, alert the Domina! Tell her we have guests. Inform her that one of the Guardians has sent them." Balthazar's eyes widened in amazement, but he hastened to obey his Captain. The Captain spoke again, addressing Max. "Do not be afraid of us. Your woman is not in danger, and neither are you. We mean you no harm. My name is Mordecai. I am the Captain of the gargoyle guards. We protect The Twelve Doors of the citadel of Tweldor. That is where you are."