“You may remove the spell of obscuration placed on Danhoul.” Aine glanced at Diadra.
The spectral woman’s face was filled with relief yet a hint of reluctance also.
She waved her hands before her and when Danhoul next glanced at Diadra and Ardal standing together, it was clear he understood the familial connection. His eyes grew wider and wider and he brushed the blonde hair from his eyes at precisely the same time his mother did the same.
“We regret we could not tell you sooner, son. It was done to protect you and to ensure you were kept safe from Odhran’s powers for he is your uncle and if he knew that, it would not bode well for any of us.” Diadra smiled lovingly at Danhoul.
“We have kept this secret for centuries, our son.” Ardal, the tall spirit-god with the waist-length hair spoke. “We had to be certain you were not within Odhran’s grasp. Although it grieved us to never be allowed to tell you we were your parents and the entire truth of it, we would do it all again to make certain you were kept from harm.”
Danhoul looked from his mother to his father and then he glanced at Alainn. “You knew about this?”
“Only recently did I make the connection although I am uncertain why it took me so long to discover the truth of it for, unlike you, I was not under a potent spell preventing me from learning the truth.”
Danhoul then looked accusingly at Killian as well.
Killian placed his hands in front of him as he spoke. “Don’t cast your eyes on me with allegations of previous knowledge. I knew nothing of any of this. It is as much a surprise to me as to you, I suspect. I don’t even pretend to understand how two spirits that both have been gone from this earth for thirteen centuries created a child who is but seven and ten yet was raised in a time five hundred years from now.”
“That does sound very complicated at that.” Diadra laughed.
“Aye, I have dwelled upon that as well. Even if Danhoul was raised in another time, he was born thirteen hundred years ago, how is it he has not aged?” Alainn queried.
“Well, he spent time here with us for many centuries,” Lugh revealed. “Time is measured differently here so when a human, especially one with magical abilities resides in the realm of the gods, they do not age.”
Alainn nodded and smiled once more at Danhoul and his parents.
“I have always felt an unusual connection to you,” Danhoul admitted as he gazed at his mother as though he were truly seeing her for the very first time. “And when you saved Alainn and myself when we nearly drowned during that damnable storm at sea, I thought I should know you, even though I didn’t recall ever having seen you,” he said as he stared at Ardal.
“Ah, yes, there have been instances in the other lives you’ve lived we have met you, sometimes we assisted you, and it was admittedly most difficult to never be able to tell you that we were your parents,” Ardal professed. “We will have time now to tell you all you wish to learn.”
“Could we perhaps return to the round tower?” Diadra suggested.
“To the round tower?” Aine asked in disbelief. “After you have been kept imprisoned there for centuries, you would desire to return to that location?”
“Aye, it is home to me in many ways, and besides, I will have my only love and my son with me this time, and truly what more could a woman or a spirit ask for in this life or any other?”
Alainn smiled at the three of them.
“We will create an exact duplicate of that round tower here in our realm where you will be safe from Odhran’s powers,” Aine suggested and she turned her eyes to look to the east.
The humans followed her gaze and were astonished to see a tall round tower appear out of nowhere and rise high in the air… surely a twin to the one in Ireland.
“You’ll come with us then, our son?” Ardal beamed as he asked Danhoul.
Although he wore an expression of uncertainty, he nodded and smiled at both of his parents. “Aye, I suspect we have a lot to discuss and I do have more than a few questions for both of you.”
“You are certain the condition has been removed? Danhoul will no longer experience pain when he is distanced from me?” Alainn needed reassurance.
“It has been removed.” Lugh nodded.
“Unless Alainn is in immediate peril, then it is certain to return,” Aine alerted them.
“Then we will be off,” Ardal said as he placed his hand on his son’s shoulder.
“We will see you back in Ireland when the time comes for us to be reunited.” Alainn smiled at them.
“Aye!” Danhoul grinned back as her as the three of them disappeared together and moments later, as Alainn looked toward the tower, Diadra waved to her from the window in the tower.
The happiness and gratitude upon her face warmed Alainn’s heart and she couldn’t have been more pleased for Danhoul and his parents in finally being reunited.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The four humans sat together at the magical celebration in the realm of the gods and simply reveled in the time they were allowed together. Alainn eventually fell into a deep sleep leaning against Killian’s chest, with his arms placed protectively around her. He sat and continued to converse and celebrate with his father and father-in-law for they were all clearly reluctant to end this time together. Teige stared down at Alainn as though he memorized every detail of her pretty face.
“She’s beautiful,” he said when Killian had seen him staring at her. “Her lovely golden hair and perfect skin, her enchanting blue eyes… but I well see her beauty is not limited to her physical appearance. I sense she is kindhearted, empathetic, and selfless, yet strong and determined. She is perfect… so amazingly beautiful,” he repeated.
“Aye, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I have loved her since we were children, and I know how fortunate I am to have her love in return, and I am blessed to have her as my wife.”
“And I as my daughter,” Teige declared. “One day we will all spend more time together, I’m certain of it.” He looked at Killian with seriousness in his eyes as he spoke in a quiet voice as he observed Alainn remained in undisturbed slumber.
“I don’t know the entire circumstances that led to my daughter carrying another man’s child, but…”
“It was done to protect a young girl who had already been brutalized and violated by other men, and to save my life, and that is the plain truth of it,” Killian interjected.
Both fathers looked at Killian and Alainn with empathetic eyes.
“But there was another child,” Teige spoke, “I have seen a clear vision of the two of you both touching her round growing belly, and ever happy to welcome the child, and another of Alainn holding a baby boy, but her eyes are filled with sorrowful tears.”
“Aye, she carried and bore our boy child, wee Cian. He only lived for but a few moments.” Killian’s voice revealed his sadness even still regarding that dismal day.
“Named for your brother?” Kieran, who had been listening intently, commented.
“Aye, named for my brother, Cian, who was tragically killed. Losing our wee babe was a devastating loss to Alainn and to me. It nearly broke our hearts and came close to tearing our marriage apart.”
“And she carried your girl child as well? Teige observed as another magical vision came to him.
“Aye, also lost, after Alainn had carried for but a few weeks.”
“You have both gone through much for being so young,” Kieran observed with compassion.
“Now that the gods are apparently intent on having Alainn travel to the future and aid them in searching for Odhran, and perhaps even more importantly, with her magical powers needed in the final battle of good and evil, it is unlikely she will carry another child… not if they deem it will hamper her willingness to leave,” Teige revealed.
“I hadn’t considered that,” Killian sadly looked upon his sweet, young wife as her steady breathing indicated she slept soundly in his arms. “We will one day have children. I sense it as surely as
if I were a seer.”
“I agree with you my son-in-law. I also feel strongly you and Alainn will have children. I would say seven children if I had to guess, and I’m known to be a capable seer with much success declared and perfect accuracy in such regards,” Teige declared with a wink and a smile.
“Seven babes?” Killian said with a broad grin, and his eyes brightened as he stared at Alainn.
“We will be grandfathers to seven children, Teige? When did we get so old as to soon be grandfathers?” Kieran jested. “It would please me well.”
“Since neither of us dared to think we might be allowed such a blessing, I will gladly admit to being an old man for children and grandchildren are simply a pleasant consideration I hadn’t thought to ever claim.” Teige, too, smiled at his friend.
“In the future, being in your early forties is really not so different than being in your twenties in this century,” Kieran added and Teige agreed.
Killian despised knowing one day Alainn would be made to go off to the future, but he found himself relieved to know that when the unwelcome day came when they must be parted that both their fathers would surely be there in the future to assist and protect Alainn.
He allowed himself to simply dwell on the bright possibility, nay, the probability if he put credence in Teige’s prophetic predictions, of him and Alainn being reunited and producing seven children together one day in their own future… which clearly indicated she would come back to him.
*
The morning sun on her face awakened, Alainn. She was regretful she’d slept away some of the time she had with her father, but each of the men offered their understanding and assured her, she had been through a trying ordeal and rest was imperative to her healing.
She and Killian were undeniably woeful in saying farewell to their fathers. They both embraced the other’s father and smiled widely, and then clung tightly to their own father, knowing they must leave when they’d had so little time together.
Alainn and Killian morosely watched Teige as he effortlessly created a magical portal. As it opened and the glow beckoned them, the two men waved affectionately and stood for some time looking at their children before they finally stepped through. Alainn detected the tears glistening in the eyes of both the courageous men as they headed somewhere into the future to search for Odhran in the attempt to thwart his evil.
Alainn and Killian held tight to one another and they simply reveled in the fact their fathers were both alive and that they had spent an entire evening and a night together at a magical celebration. No matter what happened from that day on, for that one endearing night they would be ever thankful.
They were also elated in Alainn being saved from the expected cruel fate and in being allowed more time together. They had decided to make the very best of each day given to them before Alainn, when as predicted, would be required to go to the future.
They’d said farewell to the many magical creatures, the wizard and his son, the fairies, the mermaids, Kenisha and Coventina, the hellhounds, Dardangranov, Trow, Enbarr, and lastly the four dragons, and Alainn felt some day, on one of their magical adventures, they might certainly meet again.
Aine and Lugh stood ready to return Alainn and Killian back to their world. They had offered to allow them to stay in the realm of the gods at least until they’d had a chance to sleep after the magical celebration, but after they’d parted with their fathers, it seemed important to go back to the human world.
“Fare thee well, my kin, young Alainn, and you, Killian O’Brien, as well,” Aine spoke. “Take this time together to quietly reflect on all that has happened, to learn from it, and to employ what you have learned as well.”
“I will,” Alainn replied.
“We will,” Killian added, for it was certain whatever happened between now and when Alainn would need to go to the future, they would be together.
“What location would you prefer to return to? Do you wish to be back within your chambers in your castle or would you prefer to have time away from the responsibilities as a healer and a chieftain? Perhaps to a fairy glade you might wish to journey?” Aine affectionately suggested.
“I think we must first see if we might locate Mary and Conner and ensure they are well before we return to our home,” Alainn said as she knew they were on both her and Killian’s minds.
“To the south in the land of Scotland then?” Aine questioned.
“Aye, that is where I sense them to be as well,” Alainn stated.
“Then I bid you both farewell for now. Till we meet again, be happy yet ever cautious.”
“God speed.” Killian smiled at her in an amused tone.
“The gods’ speed to be certain,” she whispered as Killian and Alainn held tight to each other’s hand and were immediately transported to the human world.
*
“We have no horses,” Killian announced as they appeared in a small village square still holding each other’s hand.
“Or no guards or clansman,” Alainn added as she glanced around.
“No, Danhoul,” Killian went on.
“Aye, ’tis just you and me, all alone.” She smiled suggestively.
“And there is an inn here before us,” Killian noted.
“Just a few steps to the doorway.” She smiled.
“They surely have beds.” He grinned.
“And perhaps a bathtub.” Her eyes widened hopefully.
They shared a hurried kiss and headed to the door without further delay.
*
Killian had gone to in search of food while she bathed in the small tub the innkeeper, with notable difficulty after being offered considerable coin, had finally managed to locate. When Killian returned with the provisions, they were undeniably hungry. They sat together and broke bread as they companionably conversed on all that had happened in the realm of the gods.
When they’d finished eating, an awkward silence began to form and they both stared at the bed.
“Even though it is somewhat small for your large frame, a warm soak in the tub might be relaxing for you, Killian,” she suggested for she noticed he had grown tense.
“Aye, sure you’re correct.”
He appeared ill at ease as he began to remove his garments and she turned away from him. She did not look in his direction until he was sitting within the tub. She added hot water from the kettle and pulled a pat of soap from the pocket of her frock and passed it to him. She attempted to avoid looking at the many wounds that covered his back and his chest. Previously, she’d seen the smaller wounds and bruises on his throat, but these were larger and surely more painful. She continued to look away from him and he remained intent on bathing, apparently not daring to look up at her lest he might discover her assessing his wounds. She was regretful there was such distinct uneasiness between them.
“Perhaps I might go fetch some ale or wine while you bathe,” she offered.
“Sure, if you’d like to do so, there’s coin in the pouch in my overcoat,” he continued to purposely avert his eyes from hers.
“Aye, I’ll return straightaway.”
As she closed the door behind her, she momentarily leaned against it and inhaled deeply trying to stem her tears. She sensed Killian’s deep hesitation in making any move toward intimacy and she further despised the eternal witch for this chasm that was forming between them. She decided then and there she would not allow this to go on, that somehow with her magical abilities or her womanly persuasion, she’d see to it she and Killian resumed the mutually desired loving relationship they’d once shared. She could not be made to go off to the future before all was mended between them.
When Alainn returned with whiskey, the only drink she could seem to locate in the tiny village, Killian was lying on the bed beneath the blankets even though the attic room felt uncomfortably warm to her with the blazing hearth fire burning. She was certain he must be asleep and given that he had remained awake throughout the previous night while she’d slept, she decided he
surely needed rest.
Placing the bottle and the goblets on the tiny table, she opened the shutters to allow a possible breeze to enter, but pulled the dusty window coverings closed in a slim attempt to keep out the late afternoon sun and allow Killian to sleep. Although not overly fond of the drink, she poured herself a goblet of the strong whiskey and took a long, hearty swig. It burned her throat, but it warmed her chest and her belly. Her hand went to her belly and she felt great relief at knowing she no longer carried the evil child within her.
After she had lost Cian and even after she’d miscarried with the girl child, whom she had only carried for a matter of weeks, she remembered the anguished aching she’d experienced at feeling empty inside. She’d missed the movements and the fact she no longer held life within her body or in her arms, but now she felt nothing but immense relief in knowing her womb was vacant.
She sat there for some time on the uncomfortable tiny wooden chair and stared at Killian as he lay upon the bed. She drank yet another glass of the potent drink and silently waited for the whiskey to calm her. She relaxed and nodded off there on the chair. She contemplated taking a blanket from the bed and lying on the floor so as not to disturb her husband, but at staring at the state of the filthy stone floor, she soon thought better of it. She touched her glistening brow, and feeling entirely too warm, she removed her garments and quietly slipped beneath just one bedsheet, ever cautious not to touch Killian lest she waken him. She was startled when he turned to face her and, by the firelight, he stared intently into her eyes. His own eyes retained a tormented quality.
“You know how much I love you, Alainn, aye?”
His tone filled her with misery but she replied with certainty. “Of course, I know you love me well, Killian; it was only yesterday you would have died with me. And I love you as well.”
“Aye, for much of my life, I have dreamed of you and me spending our future together, but now I am filled with uncertainty. In truth, I would have died with you without a doubt, but I am not so certain I can live with you. As much as I will always, always love you, Alainn, even knowing our time together is to be cut short with your impending journey to the future, I am not confident it is wise we should remain together now.”
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