Max took Tabby’s hand and led her around the row until they stood in front of his own little plot of land. He gestured, and she looked down.
Her mouth dropped open when she saw that his square foot of earth was filled to the brim with four-leaf clovers. Hundreds of them. Thousands of them. She couldn’t have possibly counted.
“They’re all for you,” he said. “We already have the hope, faith, and love, but I wanted this to be the luckiest day of your life.”
Tabby wrapped her arms around his waist and stared up at him, her chin resting on his chest. “It already is, Max, because I’ve found you.”
Chapter 9
Friday Evening, March 17, St. Patrick’s Day
They all sat on the floor in Alex’s room. The entire family, along with Max, had convened there after school and hadn’t left except for a food run and bathroom breaks. The remnants of their indoor picnic were scattered in buckets and bags among drink cups and napkins. No one knew what would happen, or when, but they certainly weren’t going to be hungry. The music of Celtic Knights, Alex’s band, filled the room with a soft lyrical ballad.
“How will we know when she’s here?” Alex asked then popped another popcorn shrimp into his mouth.
“Could be lots of things,” Tabby said. “A tap-tap-tap noise. A flash of light. A voice out of nowhere. One thing about Rionach…she’s not a one-trick pony.”
Aiden and Emily leaned up against the bed, holding hands, their heads close together as they whispered parent secrets. Braden and Mason, who usually wouldn’t be caught dead in the same room as their parents on a Friday night, were each sprawled in a chairs, their fingers flying, playing an online video game with each another.
Tabby sat between Max’s legs, leaning back against his chest. Her feet barely reached his knees now, and they were bare because her combat boots were much too big. Her mini-skirt was now below her knees. The size change had happened around five. Whoosh. Her stomach had given a sudden lurch and her eye level just changed. Another few inches and she’d be looking up at Rionach.
Darkness hovered at the windows. The sounds of revelers could be heard outside as they headed into town for a bit of St. Pat’s fun.
“Fare eventide to thee all.”
The voice came from the closet, and a tiny green face peeked around the closet door. Everyone jerked to attention, and murmurs of “Your Majesty” echoed in the room.
“What be that beautiful sound?”
“Music,” Alex said. “Celtic Knights. It’s my band.”
“’Tis wondrous.” Rionach swayed on her feet. “So romantic and lovely. I shall remember it and take it back to sing to me subjects.”
Tabby shot to her feet, running the distance between them on short legs.
Rionach tenderly touched Tabby’s face. “Ah, me sweet princess. ’Tis like looking in a mirror. How beautiful thou have become.”
“She was always beautiful.” Emily went to her knees, clasping her hands together.
“Aye, that she was,” Rionach agreed. “A different beauty, but beauty still. Much like her lady mother. Thou hast done well with her.”
Her gaze traveled over Tabby’s family. “Oh look at thee all. Such love and loyalty in this room. I was so alone when I made me choice. My darling Tabitha, surrounded by so much love.”
Braden gestured toward Tabby. “The force is strong with this one.”
Tabby giggled, and Mason elbowed him, saying, “You’re going to get us in trouble.”
Rionach studied the twins for a moment. “I know just who to awaken from slumber come July for yon tricksters.” Her brow furrowed. “Best be prepared, me fine boyos.”
“Dude,” Mason said, “look what you’ve done.”
Rionach nodded toward Aiden and then Alex. “’Tis pleased I am to meet the Others belonging to Oryn and Cormac. They speak most highly of thee.”
Aiden and Alex both nodded, serious and solemn in the presence of the queen.
Max knelt in front of the little lady and took her hand. “I’m not sure what will happen here tonight. Tabby keeps her own counsel. Perhaps she’s not yet sure what she’ll choose.” He gave her a smile. “But I wanted to say that, wherever she goes, I will follow.”
Rionach ran her fingers through the strands of his long black hair. “’Tis not that easy. The choice be clear—service or love. Love cannot follow if service be the choice.”
“Oh,” Max said quietly.
“Then tell me what to do,” Tabby said. “How can I be selfish and stay here? Should I not be of service to all? Yet how am I to leave all that I love behind?” She clasped Max’s hand, his fingers pale against her green ones. “How can I leave Max?”
“Is thy love true?”
“My feelings are real,” Tabby said.
“So are mine,” Max said.
“Even when she appears like this?” Rionach gestured to Tabby’s small green body. “I find her lovely, but humanity may see something else.”
“I see only Tabby.”
“So love be thy choice?” Rionach asked. “If so, it will be tested. Penalties lie in falsehoods.”
“Yes, my choice is love,” Tabby said. “I cannot leave them, not even to serve others.”
“The feelings must be shared by all,” Rionach said. “Blessed by those who love and are loved.”
Braden knocked Mason’s shoulder. “This is the worst goodbye ever, like a bad remake of Wizard of Oz.”
“Shut up, Tin Man,” Mason said. “She’s going to miss me most of all.”
“Boys,” Emily shout-whispered.
Rionach giggled. “They shall be fine Others.”
Aiden tried to get back to business. “Do you mean blessings from their families?”
“Aye, the families must bless this union, show to both worlds that the love be real and accepted by all.”
“We accept Max as our own,” Aiden said. “I believe the others will agree.”
Emily nodded vigorously, and each of Tabby’s brothers nodded in turn.
“And thy family, Max?” Rionach asked.
Max pulled out his phone. “They’re nowhere near here, but I can get their blessings.”
Rionach nodded regally. “Do so.”
Max sat on the bed, and his fingers flew over the keyboard. Tabby sat next to him, peeking over his arm.
Max: Family meeting.
Daphne was the first to check in, followed quickly by Celeste then Sybil. Meri came next, followed by his parents, and finally Verity.
Verity: Sorry, I’m on a date.
Max: I need something.
Several texts read, Anything. Others said, Just name it.
Max: I’m getting engaged. I need your blessing.
Gallagher parents: Are you joking? This isn’t funny if you’re joking.
Max: Not joking.
Meri: To the little leprechaun? LOL.
Gallagher parents: Meredith Gallagher Taylor. Apologize right this instant.
Meri: Sorry.
Gallagher parents: Can we at least see a picture of her, Max? If she’s going to be our new daughter-in-law, we’d at least like to see her.
Max shot Tabby a look. “They’ll see the glamour, right?”
Tabby shrugged. “I don’t know why they wouldn’t.”
Okay. Her name is Tabby Whitlock. Max snapped a photo and sent it off.
Silence reigned across the texting universe. In the bedroom, everyone began to whisper. Rionach just stood quietly, her hands folded in front of her waist, royally patient. Finally they heard a ding.
Daphne: Max, she’s green.
Celeste: Does she have…lightning in her eyes?
Verity: Her ears look pointy.
Meri: Is she…a leprechaun?
Sybil: I owe Phil $10.
Tabby murmured, “Oh God, Max, they see the real me. This me. How did this happen?”
Max shook his head. “I’m close to you. They’re close to me. I guess they see what I see, and I see you, Tabby, beca
use I love you. Not what you look like, what you are inside. Have I ruined everything?” Max’s eyes watered.
Tabby squeezed his hand. “No, Max, you could never ruin anything.”
“’Tis the power and beauty of love, the circle complete,” Rionach said.
His phone dinged.
Gallagher parents: She’s lovely, Max. If you love her, we love her.
Verity: A sister-in-law. Yay!
Daphne: It will be nice to have something other than a witch around.
Meri: I hope she likes kids.
Sybil: Welcome to the family, Tabby.
Gallagher parents: You have our blessing. Girls?
Five ayes rolled down the screen.
Max: Thank you.
Daphne: Why did you need our blessing?
When Max glanced toward her, Tabby reveled in the warmth of his gaze as the love held her fast.
Max: Because a family’s blessing makes the love more true. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Have to go celebrate.
After Max read everything to Rionach, the queen clasped her hands together and bounced on her toes, giggling. She shivered in excitement and finally took their hands in hers and lifted them above her head. “’Tis a day of great tidings for all to hear. The choice be love. The love be true. The curse be broken!”
A huge rumble vibrated in the closet, shaking the posters on the walls and rolling and echoing throughout the room. It sounded like thousands of stomping feet, thousands of clapping hands. The roar bounced off the walls, followed by cheers and excited shouts of happiness and praise.
“Hurrah for the princess!”
“Thy love has saved us all! The females will awaken.”
“Songs will be sung in thy name. Poetry will be read in thy honor.”
“Thy love be the greatest gift.”
“Tabitha shall forever be known as the princess who awakened the females.”
“What’s going on?” Alex asked, his eyes wide.
Rionach beamed, a smile of pure delight. “Thy sister, the wee Princess Tabitha, has given us the greatest gift—a future. Our females have lain in slumber for thousands of years, a punishment for greed and selfishness when they should have had compassion and love for their fellows. Our males grow restless and unhappy, needing hearth and home and kin to steady their impulses.”
“How sad,” Emily said.
“After the decree of punishment, Mother Alastríona chose a princess of earth, once every hundred years, to make the choice—service or love. Most often the princess chose unwisely, claiming a love untrue, and that falsehood proved to the Mother the punishment should not be lifted.”
“What happened to these princesses?” Emily asked.
“The punishment for falsehood be slumber.”
“Where is the Mother now?” Aiden asked. “Why isn’t she here?”
“The Mother slumbers now, able to sleep because, once, just once, the princess of earth chose service.”
“That was you,” Tabby whispered.
“Aye, ’twas me, but service be not the answer to the prayers of a realm. Service be but a duty, a task, something I honored in me first life, but ’twas a mistake. Love be the answer. Love be the need. Love be the sacrifice, for in sacrificing thyself to the love of another, thou shares the truly important—happiness and love and a meaning to life itself. ’Tis a lesson the females in our kingdom needed to learn, and ’tis thy spirit, dear Tabitha, that shall live on when they awaken.”
“And they will live new lives?” Tabby asked. “Have new Others?”
“Aye, and with this gift comes the gift of life here in the human realm as well. Girl children will be born to the mortal families, and with those births, our females will embrace their Others, being one but still separate.”
Rionach lifted her arms. “All hail, Princess Tabitha! Awakener of females. Giver of life. May thy love blossom and grow with each day’s sunrise and may thy house be blessed with many daughters.”
“To Tabitha!” the invisible crowd roared.
“What will happen to you…now that I’ve chosen not to go?” Tabby asked.
“I remain queen.” Rionach shrugged. “I like being queen. I be a good one.” She reached into a pouch at the waist of her dress. She withdrew a small amulet on a silver chain, which she placed over Tabby’s neck. “We two have no Others. I should like to consider thee my Other, Tabitha Whitlock, princess of the realm. We will never be truly one as our subjects be, but we can be one in spirit so that each has a piece of her heart in the other’s world.”
“I’d like that very much,” Tabby said, tears forming in her eyes.
“If thy should ever have need, call upon me with that amulet. I shall come.” She laughed and glanced around the room. “And if I ever have need of thee, I know where to find thee.”
Tabby smoothed the amulet over her green dress. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And now, I must bid this royal family adieu. ’Tis a holiday in the leprechaun realm, and I have many awakened females to attend. But first…” She dipped her fingers into another bag and blew a fine silver dust into Tabby’s face. “Farewell, wee Tabby.”
Tabby sneezed as Rionach disappeared in a burst of shimmery light, and when the world came into focus, Tabby was five feet one, had auburn hair and green eyes, and looked like a regular girl.
Max lifted her high and kissed her senseless as her family pushed closer, smothering them both with hugs.
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Tabby said, “but I’m ready for some green beer and Celtic rock.”
“Your wish is our command, Your Highness,” Max whispered.
“Then here’s my wish.” When she finished whispering in his ear, Max nearly choked and then burst out laughing.
“Princess, you read my mind.”
This was the luckiest day of her life. Later, after they’d celebrated and she’d reveled in the company of those she loved, she intended to thank her new betrothed a thousandfold for all the clovers. With a thousand kisses—and more.
The End
Earth’s Sky
Laurie Keck
Chapter 1
Thursday, March 16
The day had not yet fully shown itself to the town of Blansett. It had the look of fog as the sky and sand nearly blended as one. The sea itself glistened and appeared as if a sheet of protection between the two. Only a subtle hint of peach peeked through the sky, now reflecting on the water.
As Nevlin Rowe walked the sandy beach, he looked out on the ocean. He thought of how he would miss this element, as much as any of the others. His days were coming to an end. He has had many, many more years than anyone else of whom he was aware. One thousand and four years. That was what he had been given, and now he approached his last days in this body. The last with this history and this set of memories. He hoped he had done well. Hoped he had made his father and brothers proud. One thousand and four years to walk the Earth, to watch, to learn, and see the changes in the world and humanity.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out his coin. He twirled it within his fingers. And all because of this. The coin, which while made on the day of his birth, and at the time infused with a prophecy, had not been given to him until his thirtieth birthday. Given to him by his father in the year 1043, the day his father spoke of having bestowed upon him, at the time of his birth, one thousand and four years of life. It was on that day, however, his thirtieth birthday, that Nevlin had held the coin for the first time, and in doing so, his time had been frozen. That was the day that he had been awarded the task and prophecy of keeping the teachings and stories alive. The day that his father passed.
He thought back to how his father had spoken of how, at the end of Nevlin’s life, he would be faced with a choice. One which would have to be decided no later than the magical, and lucky, day of March 17. If no choice was made, it would be made for him and would then take root by the time of the Alban Eilir, the spring equinox, the light of the earth.
Nev
lin stood in the here and now and watched as the sun began its rise against the fog on the horizon. He noticed the ghost crabs darting into their sand burrows, possibly until nightfall. The sandpipers, running to and fro in the incoming waves, reminded him of the games small children play with the surf. He took a deep breath, inhaling the salty air and soft breeze.
This trip to Blansett, North Carolina, was to be his last adventure, after lifetimes of travel to all corners of the earth and a final visit to his homeland in Ireland. He had heard so much of the magic of this town. The Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations here were to rival the ones back home. He did not return home often, as he was always on the move, traveling, exploring, aware that a man who, seemingly to others, lives forever cannot remain in one place very long. How would one explain to others that he was not affected by the passing of time? By the effects of time’s ravage? Explain that he had not found the fountain of youth.
As he continued to walk, he began to feel as if all that was about to change. He felt increasing tiredness. His limbs felt heavy and his legs shaky. As his shoulders rounded, he began to lose his balance. My body is reaching the end. I am close. He plopped his bag and jacket down before gently lowering himself to his knees. Father had said, if I do not find the true reason to stay, I will give myself to the earth—and be with the brothers. And now, I do not see how I can explore any longer.
Nevlin reached into his bag and pulled out his large jade crystal. He positioned himself in an upright position. He held the gem in his palms, wrapping his fingers to envelop it within his hold. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. What do I need to know? Within moments, a vision came.
He saw himself on a rolling plush green hill, which he knew to be his homeland. He watched as images, fleeting scenes, went past. He could practically feel the wind of the countryside on his face. He recognized the time as being just before embarking on this trip. The image of a woman appeared. It was Ciara, the woman in Ireland who clamored for more than his attention. She was aware of his prophecy and wanted him to stay in this life and be with her. He had told her on that day, as he had done often, that was neither his calling nor desire. His purpose was to be returned to Earth to be among his elders and spiritual brothers.
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