“It's fine. She's their Aunty and they need to know the truth. We'll all have a proper talk over the next few days,” she cut in.
He sighed his relief and said, “Aoife just arrived. She says Carlie, another druid friend of ours, will be here shortly. And my brother has decided to impose himself upon us.”
“Dagda?” she asked.
“Hmm. Just take him with a pinch of salt. He can be a bit much, I've explained about Zander and new people.”
“It'll be fine, don't worry. If we're outside he can get away into the house if it's too much,” she said.
Aoife appeared to be in her early fifties. Her long brown hair fell in loose curls down her back, her thick brows framed soft hazel eyes that seemed familiar. “Charlotte,” she grinned, “It's lovely to meet you, Alayna has told me all about you and the children.” Her voice was deep, but gentle and reassuring.
“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Charlotte laughed through the warm hug Aoife pulled her into.
Pushing her back a step, Aoife's twinkling eyes met hers. As she maintained a firm hold on Charlotte's shoulders, she added, “your children are beautiful. You're truly blessed.”
Charlotte smiled, looking toward them. They were sitting on huge beanbags, deep in conversation with, who Charlotte assumed was Dagda.
He was huge. She'd never seen anyone so buff. His short curly hair was a shade or two deeper than Enya and Zander's. His voice was musky, but friendly. He had the same, deep blue eyes as Callan but his features were softer, his face more rounded. He excused himself from the children and approached her with a strong, purposeful gait.
Pulling her into a hug that lifted her from the floor he murmured, “At last, the source of my brother's anguish.” Charlotte opened her mouth to ask what that was supposed to mean but he added, loudly, “Welcome to the family, Charlotte!”
Unsure of how to respond to his first statement she gave him a small smile and said, “Thank you, Dagda.”
They all settled on the bean bags that were positioned around a huge fire pit. To the left there was a large table spread with stoneware jugs, a whole ham, fresh bread, various chutneys and jams, berries, and pies.
“Mead?” Aoife asked as she poured herself a large glass. “It's home brewed.”
Charlotte looked at the cloudy, amber liquid in the woman's hand and shook her head. “No, thank you. I'll just drink water.”
“Charlotte prefers red wine,” Callan chipped in. “Would you like me to bring you a bottle?”
“I think I've had enough to drink over the last week to last me the year,” she laughed, shaking her head.
“Rubbish! It's good for the heart. Get her the bottle Callan,” Aoife commanded. Callan nodded once and obeyed.
Note to self, Aoife is in charge!
Aoife grinned as she turned her attention to Charlotte once again.
“Tell me, how much has Callan actually revealed about our world? I understand Enya is gifted? How is she managing her power?”
“Umm, well he wasn't entirely sure how I would respond,” she shrugged. “I laughed in his face to be truthful,” she added in a whisper.
The older woman let out a roar of laughter, “Of course you did! That's what any rational person would do with that sort of information thrust upon them.”
She felt better knowing she hadn't been too hard on him. “I was pretty scathing to be honest,” she admitted, “it was a bit of a shock when Enya… Well I don't really know what she did. I don't really understand it all but I'm trying and with the help of everyone here I hope Enya will learn to manage her, um, gifts.”
This sounds ridiculous.
She looked for the children. They were further down the garden now, their backs to her she couldn't see what they were laughing at.
“Excuse me, I'm just going to check on them,” she said.
As she approached, Dagda lifted his head and smiled. “We're just playing with some leaves,” he explained.
She followed the children's gaze to the palm of his hand where he had a small leaf spinning.
“I can control the air element. I was showing them how, with practice, we can use our power without doing harm.” He gave Enya a playful wink. She giggled as her face coloured. “Zander enjoys the spinning,” he said warmly ruffing the boy's hair with his free hand. Zander beamed up at his uncle.
“She certainly needs to practice, perhaps you can help with that?” Callan laughed from behind her. He passed her a glass of wine and placed his hand on the small of her back. Even through the fleece jacket she was wearing she felt heat prickle and spread. Unaware of the subtle movement, she leaned into him and Dagda gave her a knowing look. “Already?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at Callan.
Callan tensed, a muscle ticking in his jaw.
“That's enough, Dagda. The little ones don't need to witness their first Fae fall out at this young age,” Alayna scolded from her place by the fire.
“Charlotte, come, sit,” Aoife called patting the beanbag beside her.
Over the next hour or so they ate, drank, and entertained the children until the light faded.
“Time for bed I think,” Charlotte announced.
Both children protested but Dagda murmured, “She looks like she means it.”
They both giggled. “Goodnight Uncle Dagda, goodnight Aunty Alayna, bye Aoife.”
Who told them?
“Won't be long,” Charlotte explained as she followed them inside.
Changed and in their beds, they both stretched out.
“Uncle Dagda is fun, Mama,” Zander yawned as he settled into bed.
“Yeah, he is, isn't he? Who told you he was your uncle?”
“Callan's our dad,” was all he offered with a shrug.
How can he just know?
“Sleep well baby boy,” she whispered as she kissed his forehead and tucked him in.
“He said he can help me use the water properly,” Enya murmured as she pulled the duvet up around her ears.
“I'm sure he can sweetheart. Sleep well, you've had a busy day,” she said, kissing her.
How is she just okay with it? This is insane.
She left their room and went into the main bathroom. Washing her hands, she checked her reflection in the huge mirror.
Dagda's… interesting.
What did he mean 'the source of my brother's anguish'? Had it been that bad?
When she returned to the garden the food had been cleared away and fresh jugs of mead, two more bottles of wine and fresh glasses had been laid out. She sat in one of the beanbags and said, “They were exhausted.”
“I'm not surprised, it's hard work holding all of that power in all day. I don't know how they're doing it. Callan was starting fires left right and centre at their age,” Dagda laughed.
“They're? It's only Enya, erm, wielding water,” she corrected him. “Callan?”
He didn't answer.
“Callan? What haven't you told me?” she snapped, not caring that they had an audience, she'd asked for the truth.
“Now let's not get upset,” Aoife interjected. “We know how you've worried about Zander all his life, for very good and obvious reasons. Callan didn't want to add to that until we knew what we were dealing with.” Her voice was steady, soft and comforting. Charlotte instantly calmed.
“Snappy. She's going to be a handful, Callan. You sure you can handle her?” Dagda smirked.
“Dagda,” Alayna warned.
Callan squared his shoulders and faced his elder brother. The muscle in his jaw was ticking again. He snarled and she caught a glimpse of his teeth. They'd changed. They were pointed, sharp and glinted in the light of the fire.
“What the fuck?” Everyone stopped and looked at her. Dagda was the first to laugh.
“Sorry, I, but, Callan your teeth!” she spluttered.
“Cal, you weren't going to show her what we look like yet. Shit,” Dagda smirked as he chided his younger brother.
Callan looked to Charlotte, unsure of
how to proceed. Before he could try to explain, Aoife was by her side, steering her toward the fire.
“Dagda do stop goading him, you're making everything worse. Charlotte, you can discuss that later. Zander is more important.” The older woman gave him a warning look and gestured for Charlotte to sit. “Now, do you remember exactly what happened the day Enya managed to shield them both from the falling cliff?”
Do I remember? No, it was so fast. I was too frightened to see or do anything.
She shuddered at the memory.
Embers flew up from the fire pit as someone threw on a fresh log. The light dimmed as the log smoked, taking time to catch. The heat from the fire did little to curb the chill that crept up her spine as she recalled the fear that gripped her at the caves.
“No. I know what I thought I saw but I was too busy…” Emotion was thick in her lowered voice.
Callan took a step towards her but Aoife held up a hand. “The tremor. Where did that come from?” Aoife pressed.
Zander was sat on the rock, he was playing with the pebbles. Then the rock shattered, the earth shook and the cliff came down.
Zander's rock shattered. The earth shook. Zander. No, it can't have been his doing.
Swallowing the lump in her throat she shook her head, and murmured “No, he didn't. He couldn't have.”
Aoife squeezed her knee. “I believe he did. We need to test it, but I believe our Prince is gifted with the power over the earth element.”
She drained her glass. Alayna filled it.
These people are driving me to alcoholism.
She stared at the flames, not able to look at any of them.
“It'll help. Honestly, just drink the wine and calm down. We can't change it, so we must nurture it. We're family and we can work together to help them,” she said softly.
She's right. It already is. It can't be changed.
Before she could respond there was a fluttering movement by the table. Her head snapped up as a beautiful Hen Harrier settled on the fence. It fluffed its feathers while clicking its beak, it's small, black eyes trained on Aoife.
Charlotte stared, mesmerized by the magnificent bird. As its plumage, tinted orange from the glow of the fire, settled she noticed it's white breast. She wanted to reach out and stroke the smooth feathers. It's small, sharp beak was black against the grey of its face. Sharp talons gripped the fence post. The lethal beauty of the bird captivated her. She'd never been so close to a bird of prey and this one had flown straight in and landed three feet from her.
Aoife smiled at the bird, “Ah! Talking of family, pleased you could join us, Carlie.”
In a flash of bright blue light the bird of prey vanished.
Charlotte cried out and leapt from her seat as a small woman, about her age and height, slim and pretty appeared by the fence.
“Yes, well, I've been busy while you started the party without me,” she said, clearly irked.
Dagda nudged her playfully. “You didn't miss much. Here, you're behind,” he laughed as he poured her a glass of mead. She took the glass and took a long drink, then said, “Another good batch, Aoife. So, where are we?”
Callan motioned for her to sit, “Zander. We were discussing Zander.” He reached for Charlotte's hand.
“Charlotte knows that both of her children are gifted. We're deciding how best to train them to control it. However, Zander seems more adept than Enya at keeping his power hidden. Personality plays a role, you see?” Aoife explained, glancing back at Charlotte. “This is Carlie. She's a druid with the gift of shape shifting. She works with us to maintain the harmony within our natural world.”
Carlie nodded to Charlotte, swallowing another mouthful of mead.
“It's great to finally meet you. I'm sorry I'm late, I got held up taking a message to the gate. Aodh is on guard tonight with Blair,” she added to Dagda. He nodded in acknowledgment.
“And you,” Charlotte replied quietly, still shocked at the transformation the girl had taken.
Aoife turned to her and said, “We managed to trace your lineage, based on the snippets of information Callan had. It turns out your mother was one of us, a druid, not fae, and her cousin was Carlie's father.” Carlie inclined her head and Aoife went on, “That has been a great help in understanding the gifts the children have. We still don't fully understand it but we surmise your druid heritage mixed with the Fae magic and your human blood has resulted in those two remarkable children.” She seemed very pleased with her research. Charlotte just nodded.
How does she know this stuff?
As if reading her mind, Aoife went on, “We keep no records. All our teachings are passed on verbally. Our genealogists can trace the lines back for thousands of years.”
Charlotte measured her response, “So, forgive me, basically the children and I have been the talk of your society for, how long?”
“Since I saw you on the harbour, with Enya,” Callan said, tightly.
She looked at Callan. “You've been busy.”
Dagda barked out a raucous laugh. Before Callan could react, Carlie punched him in the shoulder.
We don't need a fairy brawl.
Alayna cleared her throat, “Surely that's enough for one evening? Poor Charlotte has been bombarded with information for long enough. Can we switch to a lighter topic of conversation?”
Relief flooded her. She really had enough to think about for a good month after everything that'd been revealed tonight.
“Thank you,” she mouthed as Alayna rubbed her shoulder and smiled.
Everyone turned to their own topics of conversation as Charlotte wandered to the bottom of the garden. She could hear Carlie talking, Dagda laughing at whatever she was saying.
The sky was clear, the moon bright and a cool breeze drifted in from the sea. She breathed in the fresh, salty air. She studied the night sky for a few minutes, watching the still, shining stars, her mind flicking through everything she'd been told.
This is mad. It's all mad.
Callan joined her. She continued to look up at the moon.
“I've checked on the children, they're fast asleep,” he said. She nodded. “You okay?” he asked, quietly.
“I think so. It's a lot to take in. This stuff belongs in story books, not here. Meeting a long lost relative is weird,” she murmured. “Mum didn't stay in touch with her family. Wish I knew why now. Oh,” she turned to face him. “Zander made an interesting comment this evening. He said he just “knows” that you're his father and that Dagda and Alayna are his uncle and aunt.”
“And Enya?” he asked, slowly, looking concerned.
“She's just gone with it,” Charlotte answered him with a shrug. “She didn't say one way or the other what she thought. I didn't push it but it needs to be discussed.”
He nodded, opening his mouth to say something, he paused, the words evaporating. He tensed, muscles rippling beneath his tight t-shirt. His mouth set into a thin line and his eyes went dark. His face was void of expression for a second as his gaze focused on something beyond her.
What? What is it? What's wrong?
“Callan!” Dagda bellowed.
He didn't reply. He didn't say a word. She searched his face for a reason for the urgency in Dagda's call but before she could ask, he disappeared.
Alayna was at her side in an instant, “There's something wrong. I can feel it, but I don't know what it is. They'll investigate and comeback as soon as they can.”
Charlotte obviously looked worried.
“It's what they do. They're fine!” Alayna assured her. “It's just an anomaly of some sort. Probably nothing of consequence. Come and sit by the fire. I'll tell you some funny stories about Callan that you can tease him with when he gets home.”
Chapter 10
Aoife kept her glass full, Alayna kept the tales coming, Carlie kept the mood light and Charlotte managed to relax a little. Every so often she would scan the sky. She had no idea why, it wasn't like he'd grown wings and flown away. He'd just, poppe
d, disappeared.
What is that even called?
Carlie drank like a marine. She was clearly drunk as she turned to Charlotte, grasped her face in both hands and said, “Thank you for not turning him away,” and kissed her cheek.
“What?” she asked, surprised at the sudden contact.
Carlie looked down at her glass. “He wasn't himself for a long time after he met you. He. Well, he wanted to see you again and…” She shook her head.
The source of my brother's anguish.
Aoife drained her glass and checked the jugs on the table. Finding them empty she went into the house for more. Alayna sat forward and said, “He loved you from the moment he saw you. He tried to find you, and, when he couldn't find you, he threw himself into his work. We barely saw him. Every festival he returned to the place you met. Every time he came back without you we lost part of him.”
She sipped at her wine, wondering what to say.
Carlie broke the silence. “When he found you and Enya he came back frantic. He was torn with guilt that you'd had to shoulder it all alone. Somehow it was worse than not finding you. I sent him back, told him to speak to you.”
“It wasn't his fault. We just…”
Aoife flopped into her seat, placed the fresh jug of mead at her feet and said, “But here you are and you have a chance to put it all right.”
She turned to face Charlotte. “They're a funny lot, these Fae,” she laughed, eyes twinkling in the firelight. “They take some getting used to. The women are all right,” she nodded at Alayna who smiled and rose her glass. “But the men folk? Well, they're hard work sometimes.” She laughed to herself and drank deeply from her fresh glass.
“You almost had a full display earlier,” Alayna said, rolling her eyes. “Dagda winds Callan up something rotten at the best of times. Brothers,” she shrugged by way of explanation. “But where you're concerned… well, Callan will puff up his chest. He can't help it. Dagda, being Dagda, will push it.”
She laughed then. She didn't like the idea of them falling out over a silly joke or misplaced comment but the whole Alpha male thing was ridiculous.
“I'm sure I'll get used to it,” she laughed, rolling her eyes.
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