"I'll take them back to Tír na nÓg. The king will decide what happens next."
"Thank you, Connor. Whatever you do, don't let Gil get away," I said.
"Don't worry. That won't happen, for many reasons not the least of which is I swore an oath to King Lomán that I would bring him back. The king demands justice for the murder of his mother."
Once Connor and his men had their captives securely rounded up, the entire group flitted to the castle in Tír na nÓg.
I slumped against a tree, relief turning my body to rubber. Sophia ran to her father. He picked her up midstride as he rushed over to me.
"Tressa, are you okay?" he asked. "My god, look at your arms."
He grabbed me, kissed me, and hugged Sophia and I in one big embrace. He inspected his daughter until he seemed satisfied she wasn't hurt. Then he turned his attention to me. His concern grew as he took in the bruise on my face and the blood on my arms.
"I’ll be fine," I reassured him before he could ask. "I just need to find a catalyst. Then I'll be able to take care of it."
Henry dropped down in the clearing, carrying a branch of pinkberry leaves in his mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Henry delivered us to the king's castle, where Shamus met us at the door. He stepped back in shock at our disheveled appearance.
"You can't be seen like this," he said, horrified.
"I wasn't planning to, Shamus."
His look said he thought that was exactly what I had planned.
"Shamus, I haven't slept since I last saw you. Since then, my brother murdered my grandmother, kidnapped a child in my care and threatened my life. I think it's to be expected that I'm not at my best."
I regretted my sharp words when the color drained from his face. He lost his usual bustling manner.
"Aye, of course. I am sorry, My Lady," he said, bowing deeply. "The preparations for Órlaith's Sendoff ceremony have been made for this evening. You must be taken care of before you are presented."
Shamus shuffled the three of us to a suite on the third floor of the family wing of the castle. Word had somehow gotten to Rosheen and Keelin, who met us there. After they hugged us all and made proclamations of sympathy regarding our misfortunes, they took charge of Sophia, promising to get her washed, fed, and asleep in that order.
We were alone for the first time since entering the Otherworld. I looked up and met Alexander's eyes. He looked as exhausted as I felt.
"How did you know where to find me?" I asked. "Did Henry hear me?"
"I don't know, maybe. When Connor and the Seelie troops joined us, I led them to you. I just knew where you were."
I had anticipated this answer, but it soothed me to hear him say it.
"I will always be able to find you. I don't know how, but you never need to worry about that."
I nodded and gave him a small, tired smile. I had no doubt he spoke the truth. As soon as he said the words, my mind accepted it as a fact—like the fact that the sky is lavender, it just is.
"What happens now?" he asked.
"They will hold Mamó's Sendoff first. It’s like a funeral," I said, addressing his questioning expression. “I want to see her again before the ceremony. They will surely give me that chance, as we weren't here while she laid in state."
"And the trial?"
"That is for the King to dictate. I expect it will be soon."
The prospect of going through a trial and repeating all that had happened was distasteful. The seediness of it made me feel as dirty spiritually as I was physically.
"We have enough time to bathe and rest. The ceremony won’t be until dusk."
"A bath and then bed sounds good," he said.
The Brounies had laid out a gown for me. When I slipped into it, I recognized it as the gown Rosheen had designed for me for my parents’ Sendoff. It had been her way of doing something to help and comfort me at the time.
The choice pleased me. It reminded me of my cousin's love for me, and it might lighten her sorrow a bit to see me wearing it.
The dress was beautiful: pure white with a dropped waistline and a long A-line skirt. She had trimmed the collar and waist with a white and sapphire braid. The gown would suitably honor my beloved grandmother, Órlaith Finna Dé Danann, who also happened to be the Queen Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann of Tír na nÓg.
The Brounies found appropriate clothing for Alexander. He looked quite dashing in his tunic and laced boots. The only bit of color he wore was the bracelet I had made for him. The Brounies had even found a white scabbard for his sword.
Mamó had been laid in state in the grand ballroom. Keelin told me thousands had flocked to pay their respects. The ballroom, the largest room in the castle, still hadn't been large enough to accommodate them.
The two guards at the door readily allowed Alexander and I entrance. Our steps echoed in the large dark room as we walked to the center where Mamó lay in an intricately woven reed casket.
Candles lit the room, surrounding the platform that held the casket. There were hundreds of flowers, making the air heavy with their fragrance.
We knelt before her. Alexander bowed his head and prayed. I looked at her face, memorizing every pore, every strand of hair, not wanting to admit to myself that I would never see her again in this life.
"I wish there was something I could say or do to take your pain away," Alexander said. My chin quivered as I tried to control my emotions. I shook my head.
"There is nothing," I said. "At times like this, I’ve heard people in the Human World say 'take comfort in the fact that she is in a better place.' However I can't take that comfort. She and my parents and all of my loved ones who have passed on before me are not in that better place. They are stuck in purgatory."
I picked a lily from a bouquet and placed it into Mamó's delicate hands.
"I've been thinking a lot about her faith. She had faith that I would fulfill the prophecy. For most of my life, I have acted as if I had that faith too, but it was a lie. I realize now that I never had any. I've been playing wait-and-see, expecting the prophecy to just happen or not. And now... Well, I can't say I have absolute faith, but I have faith in her. I understand that I will never fulfill the prophecy if I don't try."
Alexander touched my arm. I looked at him and was surprised to see tears glistening unshed in his dark chocolate eyes.
"You know that I will do anything I can to help you."
I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned against him. It was remarkable how comforting it was to feel his body next to mine. We stayed like that for a few minutes, each replenishing the other's spirit.
"It's time we go," I said finally.
"Is there anything I should know? Any part of the ceremony I should be aware of?"
"No, just listen. If you behave as you would at a funeral, you will be fine."
Keelin was waiting in the corridor with Sophia. They wore matching dresses with soft, flowing skirts that swept to the floor. I thought how sweet it was of Keelin to display her bond with Sophia in that way. The dresses were obviously Rosheen's design. She must have created them as a part of her preparations for Mamó's Sendoff.
If the adorable child didn't win the people over with her charm, being favored so by the daughters of the king would raise her mightily in their esteem. Keelin's dress was white with the same braid accents as my own. Sophia's was a pale lavender that matched a soft summer morning's sky. She carried a ballerina doll I recognized as one from Keelin's childhood.
With a kiss on both cheeks, Keelin left Sophia with us and went off to take her place with the King and Queen.
Alexander, Sophia and I went to join my aunts, uncles, cousins and their children. We would all follow behind the body as it traveled to the ocean, where the ceremony would officially begin.
Six Sidhe warriors carried the open casket on their shoulders. The family followed in the birth order of Mamó's children. The king, being the first-born, went first with the queen and the twins. Unc
le Lomán had the same golden hair and tanzanite eyes as his mother. His wife, Ciara, had the same coloring as her daughters. They made a handsome family.
With Gilleagán imprisoned, I was the only remaining member of my father's family. As such, I held last place in the procession of mourners. I was grateful to have Alexander and Sophia walking with me.
The adults in the procession wore white; the children were in pastels, which is our custom. Each family carried a lantern to illuminate the way. Alexander carried ours so that I wouldn’t have to hold the flame.
Fae of all types lined the streets for a last glimpse of the great woman. They threw flowers down ahead of the procession, so we made our sad parade along a carpet of petals.
The onlookers chanted a lament that spoke of the greatness of the Queen Mother. Of the wonderful works she had done, and of how loved she had been. In the distance, nearly drowning out the sound of the lament, the Banshees of Tir na nÓg wailed.
As we brought up the rear, the chanting faltered. I realized the Sidhe were reacting to Alexander. One rarely saw a human in Faery anymore. Sophia on her own, I was sure, would raise a positive reaction. As it was, a negative atmosphere radiated from the crowd.
I moved closer to Alexander, a protective instinct, and he put his arm around me. We let the onlookers wonder as we walked the rest of the way, Alexander and I arm in arm as I held Sophia's hand.
The crowd fell in behind us and followed the family to the banks of the ocean. Everyone, even the Banshees, quieted to listen as a clergyman chanted the traditional Sidhe funeral rite. When he finished the final prayer, everyone joined voices to sing a hymn, the strength of which floated over the clouds to God.
The pallbearers placed the reed casket into the ocean. My sorrow overflowed, silent tears streaming down my face as Shamus escorted Mamó out toward the sea. When he was waist deep in water, he gave the casket a push and allowed the tide to take her the rest of the way across the water. The lanterns on the casket lit its way until a wind came up and pushed it out of sight.
Thanks for reading Tressa's Treasures. Tressa and Xander's story continues
in the second book of The King's Jewel series, Xander's Folly. Set to release in Spring 2016.
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About the Author:
Belinda M Gordon was born and raised in Pennsylvania and currently lives in Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains with her wonderfully supportive husband, her thoughtful easy-going son, and two delightful dogs. She is of Irish heritage, which is how she became interested in Celtic Mythology. She used the Celtic Mythology, specifically of Ireland, as the starting point of her Romance/Fantasy series, The King's Jewel.
To learn more about Belinda visit her website at www.belinda-gordon.com
Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) Page 25
