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[muppets123]

OMG the pic of Katherine and all those suitcases reminds me of everytime my mom goes to pack to go on a trip

[Henk]

Katherine was glad to be in the train from Holyhead to London.
The sea had been rather rough.
All the packing, and sending their belongings to Canada and to Paris had taken a lot of time.
A short dinner with Emmeline and David was the last thing she did in Ireland before leaving.
"See you in Paris soon, Emmeline and David !"
"By, Mom !", Emmeline waved when they left.

Anne and Gilbert had taken a hotel near the Euston station, to meet Katherine and Morgan on arrival.
They wandered on Euston road, between Euston and King's Cross station, passing St Pancras station.
"That is a beautiful building, Anne",  Gilbert said, admiring the architecture of the station.



"It is, Gilbert", Anne agreed.
"And there is something very interesting to discover behind all this" .
Gilbert followed Anne, who seemed to know the way here.
"I have studied a little bit yesterday, Gilbert, when you were lost in your book "



The sound of the busy city around them disappeared, when they walked through the fence of the Old St. Pancras church.



"This building is not that old, Gilbert. There have been older ones. But its altar-stone dates back to the 6th century.
Most likely, the first Christians had their first church of England here on this site, which makes it the oldest church of England, and probably the first of all Christian churches."
 
"Look at that, Anne. All those tombstones around the tree, very bizarre, Anne"



Together they watched the circle around the "Hardy"-tree for a while.

( Taken from London Walks: In Old St Pancras burial ground close by you will find  the ‘Hardy Tree’, which  was planted by Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) when, prior to becoming a novelist, he was studying architecture in London. Hardy was given the task of clearing the graves from Old St Pancras Churchyard during the construction of the Midland Railway in the 1860s.
This ash tree that he planted on a domed mound of tombstones has now grown to maturity, and memorials cluster around its trunk or protrude from its roots – a bizarre, though curious sight. )



"Oh, we have to run now !", Anne said, when she looked on Gilbert's watch.
They walked back to Euston Station, just in time to see Katherine and Morgan leaving the train.

"There she is, I am so glad to see her back. So many things we have to tell each other".



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes.
There is a lot of personal history in this area for me.
Euston serves the West of UK up to Scotland, King's Cross the East, also up to Scotland.
St Pancras served the Midlands for many years.
King's Cross and St. Pancras are one station now, and is the busiest of Europe.
The Eurostar to France leaves from here, and so does the Hogwart Express from King's Cross platform 9 3/4.

[Henk]

Katherine and Anne had both expressed their desire for a fresh sea breeze.
" I am getting tired of travelling, Katherine, I miss my children. This was a very pleasant journey, and Gilbert really needed it. He was so tired before we came, it has done him well. We have seen many wonderfull things, but I think I am ready to go home"

Katherine looked at Anne with a fearful look in her eyes. "Not now, I hope ?"
"No, not now, Katherine. I came here for a special occasion too !"

katherine was a little bit nervous the last few days.
Ofcourse she wanted to have a sober wedding.
But when she counted the friends she had made in France and Ireland, the list of people she wanted to invite had grown longer than she thought.
"I need to be in Paris on time, to arrange all " she insisted.
Morgan and Gilbert needed a few more days in London.

"I like the big cities, Anne, but for now I would not mind to be away for a few days. Morgan and Gilbert are both busy still with their meetings at the Royal Acadamy. They won't miss us. Let's get away for a few days."


"Oh, to be at the sea again. Yes Katherine, let's go  ", Anne agreed.

Katherine did not hesitate, and grabbed the telephone.
 The operator connected her with The White Rock hotel in Hastings.
"Yes, please. A room for two nights with sea-view if possible. You do ? Oh, how nice. No we don't need assistance or a wheelchair"



It was quiet in the center of Hastings, when they arrived.
After a short look at the shops, they walked further to the beach and the pier.
It was dry weather with a mild breeze coming from the sea.
There were many people around.
At the end of the pier, they bought a hot chocolate.
"Don't go too far, lassies ! This weather is not going to last much longer. Look at the clouds over there !"
Indeed there were a lot of dark clouds building up. The white tops of the waves were a clear sign for  Katherine and Anne to start walking back to the hotel.



Not much later, nobody could be at the seafront anymore without taking the risk of being swept away.



The two women sat down in the lounge, talking about their adventures.

"I have something to show you, Katherine. I thought I had forgotten to put in the trunk, but it was packed between one of the shirts of Gilbert, I discovered. "

 

Katherine looked at the old newspaper for a while.
"Yes, Anne. That is where it started. When you opened the cage I had build for myself, and the cage Emmeline was put in by her family. Emmeline and I have both a lot to thank you for. Our lives changed so much ".
"It was a very important time for me as well, Katherine. We all learned a lot ".

Outside, the storm was still sweeping the streets. Inside, two women lay down in their bed, talking till both their eyes would not stay open anymore.

[Henk]

Anne noticed a glimpse in Katherine's eye, when they travelled back to London.
The fresh breeze they hoped for at the coast .appeared to be a real storm.
They feared for casualties at sea, and prayed all men and women at sea would arrive safe in harbor.
There were no reports the two days after about ships being lost, which made them feel good after all, in good conscience.
"All the dust is out of my head, Anne", Katherine said.
Nervous as she had been, she was very much at ease now, looking out of the train-window with a serene look.

Morgan and Gilbert were waiting for them in the Ritz-lobby, as appointed.
Gilbert's kisses reminded her of the time she had been away for a few days, to the meeting in the White Sands Hotel.
Not that she ever had complaints, but the slight difference made her feel warm and loved.
Looking at Katherine she knew Katherine felt the same.

"Are we eating "at home" ?" , Morgan inquired, pointing in the direction of the resraurant.
"No", Katherine said, surprising the others.

"I guess we can wait one more hour ? I am going to take you to another place. It is my party !"
Morgan smiled, but did not know what she meant.
Neither did her friends.

"I am away from Prince Edward Island for exact one year today. And although I should say I am away from home for one year, I will not say that. Because all that time I had good  and loving friends around me, who made me feel at home, where ever I was . That is what I want to celebrate with you today".

After being congratulated with many kisses, and remarks like "that long ?", they grabbed their coats .
They went outside, to the nearest stairs down to the Underground.
Mixing with the crowds, three people wondering where they were going.


 

[Henk]

"I am glad to be back in Paris, Anne", Katherine said.
"This is the city where I was able to close my old life and start a new one.
And now I am back, it will happen again. Closing my life as an independent Katherine Brooke and  continue as Mrs. K. Harris, the wife of Morgan Harris ".

Anne laughed at that.
"The wife of Morgan Harris indeed, Katherine. But lose your independence, you ? No way.
I am Anne Blythe, but I am still Anne of Green Gables and I will always be, and you will always be Katherine Brooke" .

Anne told her about the visit to Paris a few weeks earlier.
The weather was still warm at that time.
When they visited Versailles, Gilbert repeated his excuse again, which he had made to Anne once.
Anne repeated her answer too...

"I don't want sunbursts and marble halls. I just want YOU "


 
Katherine smiled.
She was confident all the arrangements were done, Anne had helped her with it.
Helene and Mr Batiment had arrived, Emmeline and David, the Boncourts, Colette, Henri and all the other friends she had made in the year in Paris.
There was nothing left now, except giving her word to Morgan the next day.
And that is what she did, full heartedly with no reservations or doubts.



And while the guests were still dancing, two newly weds were boarding a train, that was ready to leave for a far away destination.

 

Four people were waving till the train had left the station and was out of sight.

"It is time to go home, Emmeline", Anne said, when she and Gilbert said Goodbye to Emmeline and David".

Only a few days later, people that had shared precious moments of their life together were separated by oceans and deserts.

Sometimes, Katherine was overwhelmed by all the new impressions.
But once in a while she would look in the distance, and whisper "We will meet again".

------------------------------------------- The End ---------------------------------------------

[Henk]

I have finished this story.

First of all: Thank you, Muppets !

I could not imagine this would run longer than a year, and it would not have without Muppet's additions.
I have watched Anne again very recently, and I could not help thinking of this story, when I saw Morgan addressing poor Katherine.
I wanted to keep this story light, but I have learned a lot through this year. Checking things out,specially on the mythology-side.
I know more now of Unicorns and the Swan symbols. By no means pretending to be an expert now, but interesting it was.

From my personal point of view, the Emmeline and David-romance was the most inspiring part in a way.
When that was ready, there was no real clue left.
And a few people were getting impatient.
They wanted to go home or start on their long journey.
That is exact what they did in the end.

[felicity18]

I have finished this story.

First of all: Thank you, Muppets !

I could not imagine this would run longer than a year, and it would not have without Muppet's additions.
I have watched Anne again very recently, and I could not help thinking of this story, when I saw Morgan addressing poor Katherine.
I wanted to keep this story light, but I have learned a lot through this year. Checking things out,specially on the mythology-side.
I know more now of Unicorns and the Swan symbols. By no means pretending to be an expert now, but interesting it was.

From my personal point of view, the Emmeline and David-romance was the most inspiring part in a way.
When that was ready, there was no real clue left.
And a few people were getting impatient.
They wanted to go home or start on their long journey.
That is exact what they did in the end.

Thank you Henk and Muppets for sharing with us this wonderful story! I will miss reading the new updates for the story. Henk you did a great job by yourself without Muppets, my hats off to you. Henk, Muppets you both make a great team and I hope that you will work together on another story. I have faithfully saved each update as they were posted and the total of pages for this story was 482. I still think that you guys should think about publishing the story, although I know it wont happen; its nice to dream about it.

Congratulations on finishing the story Henk!

felicity18   

[Henk]

Thank you, Felicity18

[muppets123]

Bravo and well done, Henk.   Thank you for letting me be a part of the crazy creativity  and a part of yours and Katherine's imagination.  Thank you Bets for your contributions .

 Henk, since you gave birth to this baby, it was only proper to let you be the one to see it thru to its  conclusion.  But  thanks again for letting me put my 2 cents in  to help raise this kid.

Who knows, maybe in a few years we can collaborate on a sequel with K & M coming back from exotic places w/ a  whole load of  children; whom Rachel and Mrs Biggins might describe as being heathens raised in the jungle with tigers for pets.

[felicity18]

Who knows, maybe in a few years we can collaborate on a sequel with K & M coming back from exotic places w/ a  whole load of  children; whom Rachel and Mrs Biggins might describe as being heathens raised in the jungle with tigers for pets.

I like that idea Muppets! lol! That would be a site to see!

felicity18

[Henk]

I am starting to miss Katherine.
Wondering what she and Morgan are up to...

[felicity18]

I am starting to miss Katherine.
Wondering what she and Morgan are up to...

Thats understandable.

felicity18

[muppets123]

I am sure K & M are having the time of their lives and while I miss them too, like David, I need to learn  when its time to let  go.

[Henk]

Communication with Mr. and Mrs. Harris has been very slow till now.
Most of the time, they are far from modern ways of communicating like we are used to, like a telegraph or a phone-boot.

But Katherine has been able to write in her diary almost every day.
On the back of a camel, in a quiet corner of a Turkish bazaar and other exotic places they have been visiting.
Writer of this has received a copy from a letter written by Katherine, from a contact on Prince Edward Island, who was given permission by Katherine and Morgan to send it to me for using it in a topic that I started to miss more and more.

Morgan was surprised at first, and wanted to know who that person was that had been writing about their adventures in Europe.
Katherine kindly explained to him, there not being any harm in doing that, as long as too private details will be omitted.
"After all, I am still writing myself in the Petit Parisien", she said.

Katherine's letter to Anne.

"Dear Anne, I am writing this letter to you from a most unusual place. About 10 meters high, on the branch of a tree !
Morgan and I have been invited by a very friendly family. Surprisingly, they speak very good English, because he is English from origine and she is American. John Clayton and Jane Porter.
They are living in perfect harmony with all the flora and fauna around them.
Often they are visited by their beastly friends. Sometimes monkeys, but also birds that come to twitter their  messages in John's ears.
He really has a gift for languages.



I doubt if their lifestyle could be imitated on Prince Edward Island.
But you could ask Gilbert to try this:

 

We have been trying to move through the forest the same way they do.
We could not, but maybe we need a little bit more exercise.

I never imagined me sitting in a tree like we do now. Not even a cherry-tree.
But we are  used to it now, it gives you such a nice view on things.



I hope this letter will reach you in good state,I will try to send more later .

Will you please give our greetings  to Marilla and Rachel ?

Your's,
with Love,
Katherine and Morgan."

[Henk]

Morgan was invited to have a taste of real coffee by a few men.



With his dictionary, he was able to say a few words, repeat them a few times, and going by their expression, the friendly men knew what he was saying.
They would say something to him, and after using the same dictionary plus both hands and feet, he was able to understand their meanings.



Katherine was invited by a few women, to join them in a exercise , that she recognized as a dance popular in the Arab world, according to a book she had read in the library in her old school.
That book was allowed to be read only by the last year girls back home.

She did not recognize it as an English waltz, like she had seen once in Charlottetown.
But the music that accompanied the dance was stimulating, so was the clapping of the hands of her audience.
"Another door is opening in my life" ,she thought. And liked it.



Meanwhile, not far away, in the same town, a man was sitting outside, dozing off in a dream where he saw a feminine figure approaching him.
She did not look like any of the women he had seen before...

[Henk]

Katherine and Morgan were enjoying a cup of coffee, brewed in Turkish style.

"This makes you fit again within a minute ", Katherine said, while sipping from the small cup.
With interest they had watched how the coffe was brewed.
Several times, the ibrik, containing the water and the very fine grinded coffee, was removed from the fire just before boiling, and put back again.
"Letting it boil will destroy the aromatic flavours", the man who made the coffee explained.

To avoid too curious looks from the people in the streets and in the bazaar, they had decided to dress like the locals did.
Nobody would notice them being foreigners, unless they would have to speak.
The bazaar was full of nice smells, colour, people talking and dealing.



On the way back to the hotel, they passed a school, where Katherine took an interest in.
They were allowed to look inside.



What a difference from her school back in Canada.
But remembering Anne talking about the school she attended in Avonlea, she saw the similarities.



"Did you like what you did today ?", Morgan asked.
"Yes, I did love it very much. I loved how we had to negotiate in the bazaar, to obtain the little souvenirs we wanted to buy. I think we had a deal with the ibrik, the coffee-grinder, the lamp and those small cups we are using now "
"You had the deal, my Love", Morgan replied.
"You were the bargainer, not me", he smiled.
"Even when not knowing the language, you and the man who was selling it were able to negotiate. I though you were really walking out of it".
Katherine smiled, looking at her empty coffeecup.
"Sometimes I am still the old Katherine, am I not ?"
"Old or new Katherine, I only know one Katherine, the one I love", Morgan said.

"I only have one wish", Katherine said after a while.
"That is ?"
"It can not be fulfilled, it is an impossible wish", she sighed.
"Please tell me", Morgan asked.

"I was sitting opposite a girl, when we sat down for a rest, when you were having a look at the water-pipes.
A beautiful girl, with that dreamy Oriental look in her eyes".



"Mmm", Morgan said." I did not see her "
Katherine laughed. "I bet you did not see her !", she said, trying to sound reproachful.
"She said a few words to me, but I could not understand her. I was so willing to be able to talk with her in the same language . Ask her questions about her life. If I could be one of them for only 24 hours, I would be so happy ".

Morgan nodded, understanding her wish.
"Maybe there are girls like her working in the hotel, that speak a little English ", he said after a pause.
It did not convince her.

They were really tired, and the choice of having another coffee or going to have a rest was easy, and done.

[Henk]

If people are still reading this:

The forum,after some renovation, was moved to another link in Spring 2010.

I have only added one more episode after that, because I thought nobody was reading it anymore, not aware of this "ghost-forum" still being here.

The recent link of this story :

http://www.anneofgreengables.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4485&start=360