Sean hastily crossed himself. “Do not say such, woman. ’Tis bad luck.”
Faolan’s mouth tightened as the frightened woman continued on despite her husband’s warning. “She said that the man was a dark Scot and the woman pale as a winter morn,” Mairead told him. “She said ye were a powerful sorcerer, milord, and she a witch,” Nodding at Colleen, “and that ye were coming here to do us harm. At first I was scared when I saw ye, but I knew she lied when I saw ye look at yer lady, sir. Can’t no man look at his woman with so much love in his eyes and still do evil to honest folk,” she said, giving them both a radiant smile.
Colleen would have melted on the spot had Faolan not been holding her. She turned a shining smile of her own up to him, only to see the shadows passing over his face. “Call back yer children,” he ordered with a sigh of resignation.
Sean bellowed and within moments the four children stood by their parents, waiting expectantly. Faolan spoke again in the resonant voice, loud enough for all of them to hear.
“There were no strangers here. Ye,” He pointed to Padraig, “found the horse abandoned in the wood with coin still in the saddlebags. Hide the money well. Use it wisely. Mention it to no one.” Without another word, he lifted Colleen into the saddle and vaulted up behind her. He gave the horse his heels and they rode again toward the west, not looking back.
“They won’t remember us at all, will they,” Colleen murmured, looking back over her shoulder. None of the large family spared even a glance in their direction, going about their business as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
“’Tis safer for them that way,” Faolan answered, staring straight ahead.
* * * *
Before long Colleen began to see mounds of gray limestone peeking out of the dirt then gradually covering the open countryside. Red honeysuckle, purple orchids and the bright yellow crobh ein bloomed in the cracks between the weathered stones. As soon as they stopped to make camp, she stretched her arms over her head then walked toward the rocks. “I’m going to pick a bouquet,” she announced.
Faolan ran after her, grabbing her wrist before she could pluck the colorful blooms. “Gather no flowers here,” he warned. “’tis a sacred place.”
His face was so serious she took a step back. “A…sacred place?” she asked, looking around at the field of strange stone stretching as far as she could see.
“Aye,” he said before turning back to resume setting up camp. She gave a longing glance back to the elusive flora and followed behind him, sighing as she went. Before long, he had a fire going. After hobbling the horse to crop the grass nearby, he settled down for the evening, sprawling out on the blanket after they ate. He patted the spot next to him. “Come lie down, Blossom. I’ve a need to feel yer body against me.”
Colleen heard thunder in the distance and shivered. “Aren’t we kinda out in the open here?” she asked, curling up beside him . “Doesn’t it sound like it’s going to storm?”
“It willna rain here tonight,” he said softly before adding, “but if it did, we can seek shelter beneath yonder stones.” He gestured toward the tall dolmen nearby, several massive stones crowned by a slab overhead. “I’ll keep ye safe, beloved. Ye have naught to fear.”
“I know you will,” Colleen smiled, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. They sat in companionable silence, watching the sun set over the rocky terrain.
When the last of the sunlight faded into darkness, Faolan spoke. “These have been the happiest days I’ve had in centuries,” he said. “Being here with ye makes me think I’ve wandered into a wonderful dream.”
“A wonderful dream,” she echoed, tilting her face up kiss him on the cheek. She lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair from his eyes, but before she could lower it again, he caught it and pressed a kiss into her palm.
“Were I to ask, Colleen, would ye stay with me–here–forever?” His eyes were bright as he waited for her response but before she could speak he placed a finger over her lips. “Doona answer, Blossom. I’ll be happy thinking that ye would,” he smiled. “’Tis a hard life and after seeing how ye lived in yer world, ’twould not be fair to ask it of ye.”
He stretched out on the blanket, propping his head on one elbow thoughtfully. “Eire is fine enough, I suppose,” he began, “but if I could have one wish, I’d show ye my Highlands. I’d take ye to the tops of the mountains and show ye where the golden eagles nest. I want ye to see the sun rise and set over the moors. I want to make love to ye in the heather with the warm sun beating down on us.” His eyes widened as an idea occurred to him. “We could sail out to one of the far islands and have it all to ourselves, like Adam and Eve in our very own Eden. I’d take ye walking on the beach in the moonlight, and I wouldna have to share ye with anyone but the selkies.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’d teach ye to ride and hunt and fish, mo ruadh, and bank the fires to keep ye warm through the cold winter months.” With a blissful sigh, he pulled her tight against him and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “‘Twould be heaven for sure,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice when his lips brushed her ear, “pizza or no.”
“As long as I’m with you,” Colleen murmured, snuggling in closer, “it doesn’t matter where–or when–we are.”
Faolan cradled her face in his hands. “We have no priest here, but…” His voice wavered before he squared his shoulders and continued “…but would you marry me now, Colleen?”
“How would we do that?” she whispered.
“This is how it used to be done in the country,” he said with a shy smile. “Young lovers doona wish to be made to wait for a travelling priest, so this vow bound the union until it could be blessed proper.” Taking her hands in his, he spoke in a voice soft and full of love. “Is tu fuil ‘o mo chuislean, is tu cnaimh de mo chnaimh. Is leatsa mo bhodhaig, chum gum bi sinn ‘n ar n-aon. Is leatsa m’anam gus an criochnaich ar saoghal.”
“Blood of my blood,” she murmured, having read Outlander at least a dozen times. She repeated the vow back to him in English. “You are blood of my blood, and bone of my bone. I give you my body, that we two might be one. I give you my spirit, until our life shall be done.”
“Aye, beloved,” Faolan smiled, caressing her lips with his own. “Now yer truly mine, and I am yers, come what may.” Cradling the back of her head in his hand, he lowered her to the blanket, nothing more needing to be said.
When the full moon was high overhead, Faolan rose to his feet, pulling Colleen with him. “’Tis time,” he whispered.
“Time for what?” she asked, allowing him to pull her into his embrace and kiss her. It reminded her of the desperate kiss right before Aobhnait showed up and it put her immediately on guard.
“Whatever happens, Princess, know I love ye and that my heart goes with ye,” he said. “I’ll be needing my sgian dubh back for a moment. Ye stay here,” He pointed to the spot she now stood, “until I call ye, and for the love of all that’s holy be quiet.”
Her brows knit together and she pulled the short knife from its sheath, presenting it to him by the handle. Faolan took it with a small smile and walked to the edge of the stone field ten yards away. The wind carried his voice back to her, his strange words hushed and reverent in lyrical cadence. When he pointed the black knife to the sky, then to the earth, she watched with great interest, but when he drew the blade across his own hand and dripped the trickle of issuing blood onto the stones she let an involuntary gasp slip, and she saw his shoulders tense at the sound. Without turning to meet her eyes, he slowly lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head as if in prayer.
A minute went by, five, then ten. By then Colleen decided whatever was supposed to happen wasn’t going to and she stretched languidly. She had just taken a deep breath to call out to him when she noticed a strange mist had sprung up out of nowhere, rolling over the stone field with whispy tendrils preceding it. Within it were twinkling lights that grew larger and brighter by the minute. Colleen d
ropped to her knees and raised her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding glare.
Faolan had not moved from his kneeling position on the ground. The undulating mist lapped around his feet, covering his boots with spidery fingers of white. The air around him shimmered with magic, and with a slight pang of nausea Colleen realized for the first time they were not alone.
There were dozens, maybe a hundred–beings, for lack of a better word–standing in the stone field. She knew at once they were fae. Their unearthly beauty and preternatural grace were a dead giveaway. She bit her lower lip to keep from giggling out of rampant nervousness–one faery was bad enough, but the ground was thick with them, popping up out of the mist like supernatural whack-a-moles…she bit down harder.
Most of the host chose to ignore her; some eyed her with bored curiosity, a few with open hostility. When the most beautiful creature Colleen had ever seen walked from the center of the crowd the gasp she had tried to stifle escaped and she stood watching with her mouth agape at the spectacle.
The luminous female seemed to glide over the rocky terrain, her gossamer robe billowing around her. Long pale hair ruffling in the slight breeze framed an almost childlike face with large slanted eyes. She paused before the still kneeling Faolan. With one pale hand she caressed his hair then tilted his chin up to meet her face. “We are pleased to see you, Faolan of Alba. It has been too long since last we have had the pleasure of your company.”
The corners of his mouth twitched at her formality. “Ye honor me, Queen Aoibhell,” Faolan said gravely, bowing his head again. She took his hand and gently raised him up.
“What brings you to our court on such a fair evening?” she smiled, her voice like tiny silver bells on the wind. “Another race with my Consort? He has spoken of it often. I know he would be greatly desirous of such a match.” Her voice dropped to a confidential whisper. “I fear he feels the need to redeem himself.”
“Nay, my Queen. I come before ye to seek a boon, not for myself but for someone greatly wronged by a member of yer court,” Faolan explained. He told her the entire story of his involvement with Aobhnait and bowed his head again. “I ask no recompense for myself, Majesty, but for someone I hold dear.”
He winked at Colleen, holding out a hand in invitation for her to join him at his side. Colleen wobbled over on unsteady legs, slipping her hand into his. The Queen appraised her with mild interest then gave Faolan an expectant look.
“My Queen, may I present to ye Colleen O’Brien,” he said with a smile. “Colleen, her Majesty Queen Aoibhell, ruler of the Seelie Court of the Tuatha De Danann.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
After a moment Colleen realized what was expected and dropped into a deep curtsey. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty,” she mumbled, not daring to look up at the faery’s face.
The queen stroked Colleen’s cheek, a soft touch like a spring breeze. “A charming creature,” Aoibhell murmured with a sweet smile, “and she is yours, Faolan?”
“Aye, Majesty, she is,” he nodded. Giving Colleen’s hand a tug to rise, he added, “and I have wronged her as well. Fortunately, she has seen fit to forgive my transgressions.” He went on to tell the Queen the rest of the story of meeting Colleen and how love had Blossomed and grown between them.
The faery turned a solemn gaze to Colleen. “Does he speak true?” she asked, a heavy note of resignation in her voice.
Unable to stop herself, Colleen bobbed a reflexive curtsey. “Yes, ma’am,” she assured her with a vigorous nod. “Every last bit of it.”
Even frowning, Aoibhell was still beautiful. When she raised a delicate hand, two courtiers stood immediately by her side. “Bring me Aobhnait,” she ordered. “She has much to answer for.”
They were gone in the blink of an eye, and it was only seconds before the air shimmered next to the Queen. Flanked on either side by the two males Aobhnait appeared, her mouth bent into a cruel bow. “As a friend of our court, Faolan of Alba has recounted the most interesting tale. Is it true?” the Queen demanded.
The look on Aobhnait’s face was murderous, glaring daggers first at Faolan, then at Colleen. She nodded once with a jerky tilt of her head. “Yes, my Queen, it’s true. But–”
“Silence,” the queen snapped. “You disappoint me, Aobhnait.”
“Your Majesty,” Aobhnait insisted, “I beg you hear my side. This…human man deceived me.” She spat the words out as if they were distasteful. Turning a bitter scowl upon Faolan she continued. “He led me on with his pretty words and used me freely until he found another to replace me. “Tis he who has earned your wrath, my Queen, not I.”
Faolan shook his head. “She lies, Majesty,” he said, his voice flat. “I laid with her but once and then only because she lured me to it. I was but a man and weak for the touch of a woman.” He regarded Aobhnait with an icy coldness that almost had Colleen feeling sorry for the faery. “How did I ever think ye beautiful?” he asked, more to himself than anyone. “’Tis plain to see that faery glamour does not a real woman make.”
A gasp rippled through the observers. “I’ll not stand here and–” Aobhnait wailed in outrage.
“Enough,” Queen Aoibhell said, her voice sharp. “Aobhnait, this is not the first time you have meddled in the affairs of men. You have yet again violated the sacred compact between the Tuatha De and the humans, and my patience with you has reached its end.” Turning her back, the diminutive queen faced Colleen. “You have indeed been greatly wronged,” the Queen agreed, tapping her chin thoughtfully, “and she will be dealt with. Perhaps forbidden the Earth for a thousand years or so.”
Aobhnait’s face twisted into a mask of rage, disbelief and despair. “Your Majesty, you cannot mean to–”
The tiny monarch took no notice of her blustering. “Take her to my palace,” she instructed the courtiers, “and hold her there until I decide her fate.”
Colleen had to snap her mouth shut once again as the three fae just…weren’t there anymore. Silence fell as the Queen turned to Faolan, waiting for him to speak.
Faolan cleared his throat. “I am aware of the compact between fae and human, my Queen. I know also of the pact ye have made with the royalty of this land. Colleen is an ancestral daughter of the High King Brian Boru, and ye have sworn yer protection to all his descendents who ask it of ye.”
Aoibhell inclined her head in agreement. “This is so. What do you request?” she asked, turning her iridescent eyes to Colleen.
Colleen stared blankly back at her then gave Faolan a confused gaze. “What is she asking me?” Colleen said in a hushed whisper.
“She’s granting ye a wish, Blossom,” Faolan whispered. “Any wish ye want, so choose wisely. If ye want to go home, now would be the time to say so.”
Colleen nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought, knowing she had to get the words exactly right. Before she could speak, however, Faolan pulled her into a crushing embrace and claimed her mouth as his own. Her arms immediately flew up and encircled his neck, holding him tightly to her. “I love ye, Colleen,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her again.
“And I love you,” she said, gently disentangling herself from his embrace and taking him by the hand. “I know what I want to wish for,” she announced. “I wish for us–Faolan and me–to be just like we were before Aobhnait screwed everything up.”
“Done.”
Before she could even blink, Colleen felt herself being sucked back into the swirling black vortex, spinning out of control as she tumbled end over end. She tried to curl into a ball to minimize the abrasive wind, but her limbs felt numb and prickly, like they had been asleep. Ice pelted her face and she ducked her head to avoid the sharp fragments flying in the maelstrom around her.
She awoke lying face down on a soft surface. Without opening her eyes, she tentatively ran her hand over it then cracked one eye open to find that she was…lying on the floor in the doorway of her bedroom. It was dark out, and the living room lights were on.
&nb
sp; “It worked,” Colleen shrieked as she rose to her feet and ran for the living room. “Oh, Faolan, we’re hom…” her voice trailed off. She stood rooted to the spot, the horror robbing her of all breath.
The coffee table was back.
Part 3
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow–
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
–A Dream Within a Dream by Edgar Allen Poe
10
“No, no, no,” Colleen whispered hoarsely as she searched room after room. “No, that’s not what I meant.” The history books he checked out from the library–gone. The plush velour throw he had insisted on buying her when he felt how soft it was, last seen wrapped around them both as they watched Nigel Terry in Excalibur–gone. Tears flowed in earnest when she checked the guest bedroom–none of his clothes hanging in the closet, the rollaway shoved back into its resting place next to the pile of unpacked boxes. His big leather boots, tucked away next to the dresser–gone. Using all her strength, she yanked the cot out and snatched up the sheets, pressing them to her face. Musty.
She threw them down with a cry and ran back to the bedroom, tripping over one of the coffee table legs and falling flat. She gave it a vicious kick and scrambled to her feet, running back to the bedroom. Climbing atop the bed, she grabbed the bedspread with both hands and sniffed that too, craving Faolan’s unique spicy and masculine scent. Nothing. He was never here.
Colleen fell back on the bed, her entire body wracked with deep, heaving sobs. Her breathing was so labored she almost didn’t hear the doorbell’s nonstop ringing. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and ran to the door. Rising up on her tiptoes, she looked through the peephole. Sandy–maybe she’d remember.
Rogue on the Rollaway Page 22
