A Witch's Quest

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “Dear child, ’tis good to see you, my lovely girl,” Mara said in an uncommonly motherly fashion.

  Alainn did not respond, and did not move from the comforting closeness of her mother. The physician, Thomas O’Donaugh, smiled at the rare sight of the two women in an affectionate embrace and left them alone in the chamber.

  “So you know of Margaret’s condition?” Mara stated as the long embrace was finally ended and Alainn moved from her. “That is what brings your maudlin tears this day, Alainn?”

  “Aye, it causes great sadness to know Margaret will not live much longer. Did you tell her of her certain fate, or did she come upon the information through her own instinct?”

  “She told me she suspected her time was short, Thomas and I simply confirmed her suspicions.”

  “Does Cook know, or her older sons or Molly?”

  “No, Margaret has been most insistent they not be told of her condition though surely they suspect she isn’t of sound health.”

  “But perhaps it would be best if they were told so they might better prepare. I know it will affect Molly’s decision regarding her and Pierce moving north. I already see how it wears at her knowing she will be leaving Margaret when her time to deliver is near and most especially when she has been unwell. If she knew her mother will perhaps not survive the child’s birth or live long after, she would never willfully choose to make the journey that will separate them.”

  Alainn toyed with the ribbon in her hair as she spoke on.

  “Molly is the only female in the family who is of an age to offer any assistance. Perhaps the older two boys and their wives might help some with the younger children, but Molly has been a doting second mother to her younger siblings.”

  “I know Margaret is well important to you, and I am grateful to her for how she mothered you through the years. I can see you have attempted to magically heal her. Because of our magical healing abilities, it is often even more difficult to accept when we are unable to cure someone we care for. But we must abide Margaret’s wishes. Clearly it is not our place to alert her family if she wishes to keep her condition concealed.”

  Alainn nodded and her blue eyes remained brimming with tears.

  “’Twas not simply to speak on Margaret’s condition that I have come to see you, Mother,” she whispered. “It was to tell you I forgive you. I forgive you for leaving me to be raised by the farrier and his wife when I was a newborn and for not keeping me with you. I was undeniably hurt and bewildered when I learned the truth. I was angry with you for some time regarding that decision. I know it could not have been easy for you, and I need you to know...now, I do understand. Now that I have carried and birthed a child and experienced the love a mother feels for her child, I truly understand the sacrifice you made in seeing to it I did not live the desolate life you were made to live. I am appreciative that you did not seal my fate with yours and I am regretful for being unduly unreasonable this past year.”

  The woman’s own eyes filled with tears at her daughter’s acceptance.

  “Well you were made to deal with much, Alainn, and to learn your entire identify was a falsehood, that cannot have been an easy adjustment. I do not flay you for being displeased with me. You are a passionate sort, so very, very much like your father. Your husband tells me he believes you intend to go search for your father. What an incredible feat that would be to discover if Teige still lives or if not, to learn what fate befell him. It would ease my heart to finally know the truth of it, once and for all.”

  “Aye, I hope to discover my father one day, for although I cannot accurately sense by way of my powers if it is truth, I believe in my heart he does still live.”

  The two women stared at each other and their eyes held hope.

  Tell me Mother, have you come to a decision regarding Thomas’s proposal of marriage?”

  Mara’s eyes clouded somewhat at the complexity of the situation.

  “No, I have not made that decision, and I am grateful he has not pressed me on it.”

  “But you share a romantic relationship even without the nuptials?”

  “Aye, well I am not entirely certain it could be considered romantic, but I do share his bed,” she admitted without reservation.

  “Well I can hardly blame you for that. It has been over eight and ten years since you’ve seen my father, and you are still a young woman with natural desires. I do not fault you for wanting a man in your bed.”

  “Whether I am young is also much debatable I suppose. Some days I feel older than my six and thirty years, but I admit I take pleasure in having Thomas in my bed.”

  They were distracted from their conversation when they heard Killian’s voice outside the chamber.

  “Alainn, are you well? You disappeared without word of your intended path.”

  As he peered within the chamber, Alainn remembered the many times through the years when they were younger and he would peek within the chamber to make certain Morag, the old healer, wasn’t there before he came to speak with her or spend time together.

  “I assure you, I am well. I simply needed to speak with my mother for a time.” She smiled and he warmly returned the grin as he stepped inside.

  “You must come to the banquet with us, Mara. Cook has told me to invite whomever I care to. So come now if you would desire to attend.”

  “I thank you Killian, for your kind invitation, but the chieftain’s brother Sean’s wife, Iona is laboring with her first child even now, and the midwife has asked that I make a remedy of herbs to help manage the pain. Apparently Iona is making it clearly well known throughout every room in the entire castle that her time has most certainly arrived.”

  Alainn smiled somewhat deviously at that, well aware of the dramatic and self-centered nature of Iona O’Brien. “Sure Rory should hide Brigid away to shelter her from her sister’s wails for her time to birth her child is only weeks away as well. She’ll terrify her if she believes that is to be her cruel fate soon enough.”

  “Aye, the castle is humming with the word of the birthing. I’ve heard Siobhan comforts her daughter-in-law Brigid even now, and she has assured her not all women behave in such wretched fretfulness or create such deafening din when birthing their children.”

  “I am certain Aunt Siobhan is a great comfort to Brigid.”

  “Shall we return to the wedding feast, Alainn?” Killian wished to distract Alainn from any sorrowful memories of the day she had labored and given birth to Cian.

  “Aye.”

  “Thank-you, Alainn for your kind words and for coming to me this day. It meant much to me,” Mara admitted.

  After sharing another fond embrace with her mother, Alainn took Killian’s hand and they set off to finally aptly celebrate a wedding.

  Alainn and Killian stood seriously discussing the dismal matter with Pierce and MacKenzie MacArthur. Although Mara had said she believed the family shouldn’t be alerted to Margaret’s failing health by her own wishes, Alainn feared Molly’s leaving would possibly advance Margaret’s condition. Besides, if she should die immediately after Molly left to begin her new life with Pierce, she felt certain Molly might be ever-consumed with guilt in having left her during her time of need. Molly and Pierce may never know happiness if their marriage began in such a sorrowful manner.

  “I believe your place is here, Pierce. I feel that you and Molly must remain here at Castle O’Brien.”

  “But I’ve a respectable position in your army at Castle O’Donnel,” he said to Killian and the confusion in his voice was clear.

  “Sure you’d be given a position in my uncle’s army as well, Pierce. He’s much aware your father has passed on his many soldiering skills and taught you well.”

  “You’re certain Margaret’s condition is of such a serious nature?”

  “You’ve surely noticed for yourself, Pierce? Margaret is much changed, and her health is fractured.”

  The young man’s eyes filled with concern and his father spoke.

  “A
ye, I’ve known Cook and Margaret these past twenty years. I consider them both to be my friends. I think I know them well, and though Margaret attempts to keep it hidden, it is certain she is in great pain. I dinna ken how she is managing to care for all the wee bairns and carrying yet another when it’s clear she’s in much agony!”

  “It must be you who makes the decision, Pierce. Molly cannot think that it is only her concern for her mother that lends to your decision to remain here. She is of the opinion, as your wife, she must abide by your wishes and your decisions. If it is you who decides, she will see it as a great kindness to her in being allowed to spend this precious time with her mother, to assist her where she’s able, and to be here with her when her time comes.”

  “Her time to birth the baby?” Pierce questioned in a less than hopeful tone.

  “Aye, and her time to go to the beyond,” Alainn sadly admitted.

  “Shite, you believe the outcome will truly be that bleak?” Pierce questioned. “Och it will tear at Molly’s heart so to lose her dear mother for they share a rare close kinship.”

  “Aye,” both Killian and Mac revealed the painful truth in that statement in knowing how deeply it wounds a soul to lose the woman who gave them life.

  “I’ll speak to the chieftain on your behalf, lad,” Mac declared.

  Alainn knew that would not be an easy task for Mac to go to Hugh O’Brien when they barely spoke after their disagreement had caused them to part ways months earlier.

  “I can put in a good word for you with my uncle, as well,” Killian offered.

  “What will I tell Molly? If she isn’t to know of Margaret’s condition what reason might I give to explain my change of heart in why I wish to stay here at Castle O’Brien?”

  “Tell her you know well how important her parents and her family are to her and that you’d like to remain here for you have come to realize how much you enjoy being part of the large Kilkenny family,” Alainn suggested.

  “Aye, well sure I do at that!” Pierce attempted a smile.

  “What of you, Mac? Do you desire to be relieved of your duties as captain of my guard to remain here near your son, then?”

  “Och no, Killian. I’m not wanting to be back here with Hugh O’Brien as my chieftain, but I do feel it is the best arrangement for my son and his new bride. I’m not an aged old man who canna make the journey back to visit my lad on several occasions, and I’ll happily return to see the many bairns he and young Molly will one day produce. It’s not as though I will never see my son again,” Mac declared in his typically gruff voice with a broad smile on his ruggedly weathered face.

  Something in that seemingly benign statement took Alainn’s breath away and at that moment, she truly despised being a seer.

  They’d had the opportunity to briefly spend time with Rory and Brigid before they left Castle O’Brien, as well as their aunt Siobhan.

  They had all wanted Alainn to perceptively declare the gender of their expected babies for she had accurately told them Iona would give birth to a baby boy and the precise time it would happen, and it had proven to be so the night before they left. Alainn had briefly attempted to dissuade Rory and Aunt Siobhan from wanting to learn the gender, insisting the surprise was surely half the joy at the time of the birth, but they both firmly insisted. Rory was well-pleased to know he would be the father of a daughter, and when Siobhan learned she would bear a daughter and be blessed with a granddaughter living within the castle as well, she was completely elated.

  Molly and Alainn shared a tearful good-bye at the small cottage next door to Cook and Margaret’s own cottage. Killian, in truth, had much over-compensated the tinker and his wife in purchasing their lovely cottage and then given it to Molly and Pierce as a wedding gift from him and Alainn. That kind and generous gesture on Killian’s part had yet again warmed Alainn’s heart.

  Molly had been well pleased that she and Pierce would remain at Castle O’Brien and equally happy they would live beside her parents in a cottage of their very own. Hugh O’Brien had gladly given Pierce a good respectable and high position in his army and Alainn was certain that may well have been under Killian’s advisement as well.

  Alainn knew well of Cookson’s intention to propose to Lily, but she had nudged him in a hasty proposal before they left on their return journey to Castle O’Donnel. He had followed Alainn’s advice and Margaret had smiled a most contended smile at her eldest son in knowing he had found a young woman who would be kind and gentle in loving her sweet firstborn son, Cookson.

  Although Margaret had not wanted it known, Alainn had decided she must alert Cookson to his mother’s most grave and worrisome condition, so that he might make the choice to stay back as well.

  He informed Alainn afterward of what had transpired. During a private moment with only him and his mother present, he had made that suggestion to Margaret, that he stay behind and that perhaps he and Lily should start their married life here at Castle O’Brien. Cookson revealed, his mother, had put a swift end to that discussion. She’d adamantly told him she was proud of him and the life he had made for himself as head cook at Castle O’Donnel, and in the choice of young Lily for his bride. She would hear no more of him staying behind or changing his life’s purpose simply to remain with his parents and family. She told him to go and begin a family of his own one day.

  Alainn had made herself scarce when Margaret and Cookson shared what was likely to be their last time seeing one another, their last farewell, and although Margaret had encouraged Cookson to leave, as an empath Alainn knew how Margaret’s heart ached at seeing him go, and that she was much relieved Molly had not been in that wagon with her brother as she watched him drive away.

  Alainn was equally saddened when Pierce and Mac embraced as they parted. Although she could not foresee the actual reason, she knew somehow it was sure to be their last time together, also.

  Alainn had tenderly embraced Margaret upon leaving her, and she felt a sob catch in her throat.

  “Perhaps I might stay awhile longer at least to see your baby born and to assist if it is necessary?” Alainn questioned with tear filled eyes.

  Margaret had whispered a response so that Molly, who was nearby, wouldn’t hear the entire exchange.

  “You’ve had more than your share of deep grief and sadness in recent months, Alainn. I want you to leave now with your young husband for I tell you dear girl seeing the two of you so happy together, truly gladdens my heart for you know you are and always have been like a daughter to me. Go back to your home now and maybe see about making another wee babe of your own, for I know one day you’ll be the best of mothers, sweet Alainn.”

  Alainn did not inform Margaret that it was uncertain whether she would ever carry a child. She simply replied in a manner that would give the woman peace in her limited time.

  “Aye, well if that is truth, it is because I learned from the best of mothers, dear Margaret. You have always been like a mother to me, also, and you will forever be the loving mother I will aspire to be one day.”

  “Then my time on this earth has been well spent if that is how people will see and remember me,” she whispered once again and she gently kissed Alainn on the top of her head as she’d done the very first day she remembered meeting her.

  Mac and Danhoul rode ahead with Cookson and Lily following in the wagon. Killian rode beside Alainn as they took up the rear. She realized his heart was empathetically heavy for her in the sadness she felt for Margaret. As they rode on in silence, she simply allowed the tears to stream down her cheeks as they left Castle O’Brien far behind them.

  “We did not enjoy our desired time in the fairy glade,” Killian finally spoke pulling her from her thoughts and breaking the long quietude after they had been riding for some time.

  “Aye, well perhaps we might soon visit the fairy glade near our castle.”

  “Or we might simply make our own magic within our chambers.” He smiled as he lifted his eyebrow suggestively in the manner she adored, in at
tempt to dispel her profound sadness.

  “Must we wait till we are back in our chambers?” she seductively purred.

  He stared at her as if to determine whether she was jesting, but she had already slowed her horse and seemed to be assessing where they might make love.

  Killian looked ahead to see that the others were fading far from sight and he stopped his steed as well. He dismounted and lifted Alainn from her horse.

  Her eagerness was clear for she immediately pulled his head down to hers and they shared a passionate kiss. Alainn’s hands tugged at his tunic and he hurriedly helped her pull it over his head. She placed hot kisses down his neck and chest as he unfastened the lacings on her gown with urgency. His hands found her hardened peaks and she moaned in pleasure feeling his warm strong hands upon her. When he leaned down and placed his mouth upon her breast and his tongue teased her nipple, she pulled her fingers through his thick dark brown hair and held his head tight to her and she moaned in pleasure.

  He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the shade of a large oak tree where he laid her down upon the soft grass. As he lay down beside her, Alainn slipped her hand beneath his trews and he groaned as she caressed him. When she slid the trews down over his hips and his manhood was released, she delighted in hearing his aroused voice as he spoke to her.

  “You set me afire, Lainna. Your touch, your kisses, everything about you.”

  As he found the hem of her skirts he lifted the many layers of fabric, the light breeze and Killian’s touch on her skin made her tingle. She quivered as his hand grazed the inside of her thigh and upward. When he found her most intimate area, she writhed in pleasure as he masterfully touched her. She called out in ragged gasps as he capably readied her for their joining. She felt her cheeks glowing with heat and her entire body responded to his intimate caresses.