Author’s note: This story takes place in early Ireland around 331 A.D. Each of the characters has original Irish names. I will not give you a pronunciation guide because it’s your choice on how to sound them out. But for some things you may not understand, I will give a short definition.
Tuatha De Danann: the Irish gods of civilization
Fomorians: the Irish gods of chaos and the earth
túath: and Irish tribal community

To know more just go onto Wikipedia, that’s where I got most of my information. If things aren’t explained than they’re not too important. Please comment and critique this story, it really helps me with works to come.

I put my hands in the cool water, closing my eyes, hoping the pain would go away. I hoped he wouldn't find me, if he did I would be in trouble. The blood and mud that covered my face mixed with the tears that streamed down my cheeks in an identical line of the blood going down my leg. This was no life that I enjoyed, but I hadn’t a choice in it. Ever since Momma and Papa died I was told to live with this man, it said so on their will and even without the will I would be entrusted to him. He was my only family. Though Uncle Gearóid, that’s what I called him, wasn’t too great with parenting.

My first day at his home was terrible. He started right away with what he did to me now. I never enjoyed it and when I wept aloud in pain he’d push harder. I wasn’t allowed out in the public; only in the deep forest behind the sorry shack he called a house. My life was nothing like how it used to be, but I had to get used to it for I doubted that I’d have the chance to live another.

Crunch, the sound of crisp leaves and twigs under a boot is what I heard behind me, not too far away, but far enough that I could find a quick hiding place. It had to be my uncle. I quickly plopped myself into the water. Fortunately it wasn’t clear enough to reveal my body underneath its blanket, or so I thought. I kept my eyes shut; not wanting to know what would happen if he saw me, his grey eyes blazing with fury. I suppose I was lucky I kept them shut, or perhaps not for I didn’t see what came up next. Something grabbed onto my hair and pulled me out of the water.

I gasped for air and wiped my eyes. I was face to face with my uncle. “Uncle Gearóid, I—I—”

A buzz of pain vibrated through my cheek. He had slapped me across the face and it hurt much more because of my wet skin. “Filthy bitch,” he spat, “What the hell were you doing? I wasn’t done with you yet.”

I was dragged back to the shack and thrown into the corner of its nearly bare floor. Uncle Gearóid hovered over me, grabbing the collar of my sorry excuse for a dress, and ripping it cleanly down the front, exposing my most precious parts that he had violated so many times.

“D-don’t…” I whimpered as I curled slowly into a ball.

“Oh, now you’re giving me orders? Open yourself, slut, let me in,” he said in his horrid voice, showing off his rotting teeth. He quickly untied his rope belt. I needn’t do as he heeded for I was forced open anyways. Tears bloomed in my eyes as his heart began to race. I could hear his breath speeding up right by my ear. I didn’t allow myself to cry aloud for the pain would be much worse. “Now…this isn’t…so…bad…right…my pretty…you like it…not—haaa—uttering a word…”

Finally his pulled himself out of me, still panting like a dog that had just run laps. He fastened his pants and stood up. “Go get some water, will you? Don’t take too long now or I’ll have to enjoy myself again, though I’m sure you like it. I’m quite good at that sport. As for me, I’m going to get us some food.” Uncle Gearóid walked out of the shack, a sharpened knife in his hand.

I slowly stood up, shaking violently, wrapping my arms around myself. I went over to the right wall and reached to the highest shelf. I pulled down another dress, it wasn’t in good condition but much better than the ripped one I wore now. I didn’t put it on right away; I had to wash myself first. I picked up the bucket and held the dress over my front and headed to the river I had washed myself in just minutes before. I jumped right in and let the cool, gentle current of the water run through my wounds and wash me. The current was very strong so I had to balance myself with the tree roots that stood out of the soil next to the river. Once clean I hopped up and dried myself with the ripped dress and put the other one on.

Picking up the bucket I dipped it into the water. A few leaves fell into the bucket and I had to pick them out. Within seconds the bucket was full. I pulled it out of the water and placed it beside me. I looked into the water, almost as if put into a trance. Oh how I wanted to leave Uncle Gearóid, almost as easily as the leaves that’d pass by left their trees and drifted in the water, not knowing where it’d lead them, perhaps a better life? Perhaps worse?

I slowly slipped into the water. I wanted to be like a leaf and drift away from all my sorrows and worries. The current seemed to grow stronger by the second, as if channelling into my thoughts and agreeing with me. I wondered what the water’s voice would sound like, probably soothing, or maybe not. The water, as the myths said, was one of the Fomhóire. The Fomhóire were known to be misshapen and ugly, I hoped that they wouldn’t hurt me, if the myths were true. I closed my eyes and let it carry me away, not really aware of what danger it could put me into. It was unfortunate I didn’t think enough, for the cleansing water did bring me harm. The current had grown much stronger and it brought me faster down the river. Before I could ask God to help me, my head collided with a rock and everything went black.

---

I gasped for air and sat up hastily. I was tucked into a soft, cushiony bed. My clothes had changed. It was very dark, though not completely thanks to the candle that burnt on the table next to the bed I lay upon. There was a woman beside me, stitching some trousers for her husband, no doubt. “Awake are we?” she asked, her eyes glinting at me. She had the same colour eyes as Uncle Gearóid but they were much kinder. Her dark curling hair was set in a plait down her back and her purple dress that covered up to her neck did well for her look. This woman looked nothing like me. My auburn hair was quite the opposite of her midnight, my green eyes were much plainer, I think, than hers and her milk white skin was unlike my olive and freckled complexion. “You must have questions, why don’t we chat a while? It’s dawn right now, I have much time.”

I nodded but didn’t utter a word for a while. “W-where am I?” I finally asked, cautiously. She may have looked kind but she could still be the same as uncle.

“You are in Emuin Macha. Tell me, girl, how far you have traveled,” the woman replied.

I was surprised that I had traveled so far, I had heard of Emuin Macha and knew it was far from where I used to be but... “I…I don’t know. May I ask how you found me?”

“I didn’t find you,” the woman concentrated on her sewing, “A few boys around here did. They might’ve meddled with you, thank God I was there to ward them off and take you here, and clean you up a bit, and let you sleep.”

“I see…” I was quite thankful to the woman. I didn’t want to be used once again. “I am Aoife.”

The woman put down her sewing, it seemed as if she had finished. “It’s a pleasure, Aoife. I am Sîle.”

There was another thing that bothered me quite a bit. “Where shall I go from here?”

Sîle looked me up and down. “You have been hurt, young one. Well, you aren’t too young, perhaps marriageable age in a few moon’s time. You may stay here as long as you need. I am not able to give children so my husband and I would be glad to take you in. My husband’s name is Cathal; he should be home by dusk. He just left a few minutes before your awakening.”

I was quite happy. Sîle seemed like a nice woman and I was sure Cathal would be too, or I at least hoped.

It wasn’t too long until Sîle got me clothed in a beautiful green gown that matched my eyes. It was a nice, but maybe a bit too exposing, gown with long sleeves and a low collar, just covering half of my reasonable sized breasts, and showed off my figure. She had tied green ribbons in my hair. Sîle insisted that I go out to meet some of the folk if I were to be living there for a while, which I intended to do when the offer was addressed.

I walked around, cautiously. That day there were many people around and as I passed everyone, I noticed their eyes would be on me for a while and then they’d continue what they had been doing. No one had come up to talk to me, and I didn’t think anyone would unless I went to talk to them. But I refused to do that. I was a shy girl anyways and I wouldn’t force myself. Uncle Gearóid never let me out in the public before, so I was sure my social skills were lacking.

I traveled to a hill that overlooked the lake and sat down, admiring the view. The gentle breeze blew through my hair, it felt good. I’d never have to return to my uncle again, that felt good too. I was deep in thought about how my life would go about now that I would live here. I doubted any man would take me for I was impure. So I’d grow old without a companion, and that’d suffice with me. I could help Sîle with everything she needed and when she and Cathal grew old I could tend to them. Maybe I would find a young girl like Sîle had found me and that girl would tend to me when I grew old?

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw something out of the corner of my right eye. I leapt to the left, it had startled me. A boy a few years older than me had settled himself in the soft grass to the right of where I sat. His hair was a dark brown and his eyes a bluish grey. He looked at me and smiled.

“Startled you, I suppose. This view’s nice, I come here often. I haven’t seen you about, are you new? Where are you from? Oh! And my name is Aengus.”

I nodded and slid a bit further away from him. The only male contact I had had was with my Uncle Gearóid and little that I remembered with my father, and I didn’t have too many good memories. “My name is Aoife. I’m from…somewhere,” I replied quietly. Aengus didn’t seem to notice my fear of him so he slid closer to me. I felt his skin brush against mine and winced.

“Sorry,” he apologized and moved back to give me some space. “Somewhere? You’re not sure? Well, how did you travel to get here? By foot or horse? Do you have family down here?”

I didn’t enjoy being questioned so much, but I replied anyways. “I don’t have any family down here. And I came by the current of a river. I just arrived today and I intend to stay.”

Aengus seemed somewhat surprised. I didn’t blame him though; I did give an awkward response. “May I ask why you intend to stay? You should go back to your family, I’m sure they miss you.”

I shook my head calmly, though I believe the expression on my face told something else, fear maybe. “What is it?” Aengus moved in front of me on his hands and knees, looking into my eyes.

“I-It’s nothing,” I stood up. “Um, I should go…it was nice to meet you, Aengus.” I curtsied as I used to when I was young and addressing a stranger.

Aengus stood up and smiled at me, “I hope to see you again soon, Aoife. You are a beautiful girl and needn’t be afraid of me; I wish to be your friend.”

A blush rose to my face as I nodded slowly to his last words and ran back to the home I now stayed at.

I opened the door to my new home. Sîle wasn’t too far from the door, talking to a man that I assumed was Cathal. She looked at me and smiled. “Cathal, this is Aoife, the one we took in last night.”

Cathal was a tall man with short black hair. He smiled at me, showing off all his white teeth. “Welcome to our home, Aoife. We shall find you a husband promptly.” Sîle grabbed onto his arm and shook her head.

“She has been hurt, Cathal. We mustn’t force her just yet. Perhaps we’ll let her have a choice, like how we did so many years ago? We could raise her as our own. She is already with that idea,” she looked at me. “I could teach you many things that you may not have learned before, like embroidery and singing and dancing. I suppose you already know those things but we could practice or something each morning for an hour.”

“I would like that, and no, I don’t know how to sew, never mind embroidery,” I looked at my feet. “I wish not to get married…after what…what…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence but I think they understood.

“Stay as long as you wish, Aoife,” Cathal smiled again, revealing his teeth, and then walked past me outside. “I’ll get some dinner. Perhaps a treat, fish tonight?” And with that he left down the path I had just come from.

The fish that night was wonderful. Sîle helped me wash again, though as she sponged my back she shook her head saying, “I can’t believe this. Awful…horrid…disgusting…” I was clothed and put into the bed I had slept in before. Sîle stayed with me again, concentrating on sewing what seemed to be a gown. A candle was lit beside me, once again. Its warm light cast eerie shadows all around the room but I knew I was safe in my new home.

I woke up alone in my room the next morning. I didn’t dream at all, thankfully. The thought of Uncle Gearóid didn’t come into my head at all, and I was glad. I got up and walked out of my room. Sîle was at the table shovelling oatmeal into her mouth, gracefully, though she did look quite hungry. “Oh! Aoife, you’re awake. Next time I’ll be waking you at dawn. Here’s some oatmeal, sit, sit, we’ll start work right after you finish up.”

I sat down and ate obediently. Apparently she had some more questions about me. “Aoife, dear, how old are you? I just assumed you were marriageable age but I don’t really know. Why were you found in the water? How did you get in there? What about your real family?”

I took another mouthful of oatmeal and then answered after swallowing. “I am in my fifteenth year, so I suppose I am of marriageable age, but I refuse to get married. And I was running away from the only family that I had, I do not intend to return to them, though it seems I am quite far, the current took me fast.”

Sîle cleaned up my bowl once I was finished and brought me outside behind her home. There was a fallen tree for sitting on. She reached into it’s hallow inside and pulled out fabrics, needles and such. “I’ll first teach you how to weave; it’s the easiest, in my opinion.”

When mid-day came, I had gotten the hang of weaving and Sîle insisted I go out once more. So I walked to the hill I had sat upon before. I didn’t sit this time. I stood and let the wind blow through my auburn locks and fall in front of my face. Not too far away was the beach and a few fishermen and women. They were quite young, perhaps my age. I recognized Aengus of these. He looked up at me and beckoned for me to come down.

He met me halfway, but kept his distance knowing I did want to be so close to him. “Aoife!” he called, “It’s nice to see you again. Are you going to come down here often?”

I nodded and looked at all the others who had seemed to turn their attention to me. “Yes, it’s nice here. It reminds me of my home before my last…” I kind of trailed off and thought of Momma and Papa but the thought was soon out of my mind. There were two girls and a boy who all looked about my age and Aengus’.

“Oh, these are my friends. This is Dónall,” he said, pointing to a boy who smiled at me and then put his head down quickly. He had black hair and a pale complexion, much like Sîle’s only with green eyes. “And these ladies are Aoibhe and Gráinne.”

The two girls smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you,” Aoibhe greeted, staring at me. She had dark gold, almost brown, hair and a clear face. I suppose I was staring as well, it was usual for a girl of Éire to have such hair. Aoibhe ran her hand through her hair. “My father’s of Britain. Inherited his hair, I did. He’s long gone though. Dead, he is. Quite tragic, died during battle. He was one of the kinsmen.”

Gráinne had hair that was a reddish brown and soaking wet. I guess she had just gone for a swim with her clothes on. The bottom trim of her gown was covered in sand. “Aengus has told us much about you. Well, as much as he could. You didn’t talk long, did you? That’s just as well, Aoibhe might get jealous.” Gráinne winked at Aoibhe who blushed fiercely.

Dónall hadn’t said a thing at all but finally spoke up. “I could show you around the túath,” he said, boldly. He seemed slightly different than the shy boy I had been introduced to. I looked over at Aengus. He shook his head.

“No, Dónall, best I show her around,” he said.

Dónall scowled. “And why is that? How come you have to make all the decisions? What if Aoife wants me to show her around,” he crossed his arms across his chest and looked back to me. “Well, Aoife?”

I frowned and looked at Aengus, hoping he’d make a decision for me. But it seemed he would let me choose. It was times like this, though it was my first, that I hated men who treated women as equal. I looked back to Dónall and shook my head, “Actually there is no need of it, but I thank you for the offer. I have already looked around myself.” It wasn’t lying, I had looked around. I hoped ‘looking around’ was the same thing as looking at the trees and homes by the path to the lake.

Dónall’s expression dropped. “Oh, I see. Well, should you like to explore—play—ah, whatever we do, with us until dusk?” Everyone seemed to be in agreement with this suggestion.

I nodded. “Yes, I’d love that, but I’m not sure what Sîle and Cathal would think...”

Gráinne’s expression lit up, “I know them, kind folk they are. I live just across the pathway, I’m sure if we asked you would be given permission.”

We approached Sîle and she let me stay out and agreed to let me do so each day after my sewing lessons. I felt something deep inside me leap in excitement. I was happy and privileged after so many years of sorrow.

Dónall, Aoibhe and Gráinne had to leave early, but not too long before dusk. Aengus and I were left. He took me on the beach, right by the tide that’d come up and go down. We both sat before it with some space between us.

“That was a fun day,” he said quietly.

I nodded in agreement and shivered as the cool water came up underneath my toes. “I like those people.” I began to doodle in the sand between us, it was nothing much really, just a bunch of squiggly lines, but in the end it looked like a leaf.

Aengus looked down at my drawing and drew another, a man that grasped the leaf. I looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back and then looked to the lake. “Do you want to look around or have you seen absolutely everything here already?”

I smirked. “I’ve barely seen anything but the pathway to here from Sîle and Cathal’s home, so yes, I should like to.”

“Why did you lie to Dónall then?” he asked, standing up and reaching out a hand. I grabbed it, forgetting my fear of male contact and he helped me up. That was the first physical contact I had with him but it made my heart lurch, slightly.

I shrugged. “I didn’t want to go around with him.”

Aengus looked at me with his blue-grey eyes shining in the last bit of sun that hung low in the sky. I quickly looked away for no reason at all. “You want to go around with me though?”

I shrugged once again and turned back to him. “Yes.”

There was a short silence. I followed Aengus as he moved up the hill. He took me through most of the túath and showed me his home which wasn’t too far from mine.

“If you ever need me after dusk, I’ll be here,” he said. I nodded and we continued on, heading to my home. When we reached home Aengus stopped me before I headed in. “Aoife,” he said. I turned around. “I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

I smiled and nodded. “Of course,” and walked back inside.

---

The months passed by and I learned to trust my new friends. For example, I’d let Aoibhe and Gráinne plait my hair for me and Aengus could sit closer to me when just him and I were alone. Dónall didn’t change at all. He kept his distance sometimes and others he was right next to me or trying to slip his hand into mine for some strange reason.

I had improved much with my sewing. Cathal wanted to teach me something so, knowing that I had been abused before, he taught me self defence. Only easy tricks, like pressure points and the point on someone’s neck that you press to make them faint.

I hadn’t really been paying attention to the seasons. When I had arrived in Emuin Macha it had been summer and it seemed that winter advanced too soon. The days grew colder; I soon had to wear a shawl over the exposing dresses Sîle wanted me to wear. Dónall had to leave earlier for about a week; his mother caught a cold that didn’t get much better. She did end up getting better though. Christmas came soon and everyone gathered for the festivities at the lake. I was surprised that there were so many that were Christian, for it hadn’t been a popular religion at all. I figured that some just joined to be there. Sîle helped me make shawls for Aoibhe and Gráinne. They both thanked me with a nice hug. Aoibhe gave me a beautifully embroidered veil and Gráinne gave me another shawl which I used instead of the one that Sîle had given me, I was pretty sure she gave me hers for she’d travel outside without one.

Dónall, Aengus, Aoibhe, Gráinne and I all sat in a small cave just off of the beach. We had a fire burning. It was late but, according to Aengus, everyone stayed up late for Christmas. I hadn’t celebrated Christmas in a while so I didn’t know.

“Does anyone have a tale?” Gráinne asked, looking around. We all shook our heads, well, all but Aoibhe. “Go on then, Aoibhe.”

“On such a night, perhaps a tale about Saint Nicholas would be appropriate but no, that is not the tale I will tell you for it is much expected of me and I should like to be rather spontaneous tonight,” Aoibhe cleared her throat and began her tale. “Úna was no ordinary daughter of a lord. She did not know the fine art of sewing and embroidery, nor did she dance. She could sing but she chose not to, we haven’t a clue why.

“Úna was to be married to the fine lord Seán, an Uí Néill. This might’ve been any girls’ dream but it wasn’t that of Úna. She admired the fish in the pond close to her home; sticking her head in the water and then plucking it back out. She loved how their scales would gleam in the sunlight that penetrated the water’s surface. Whenever she was caught in the act, face covered with her black curls and water, she’d get scolded and sent to her chambers. Seán would visit her frequently, asking her why she did the things that she did, but Úna hadn’t a reply.

“One day, while sticking her head into the cool water and looking down deep, Úna found herself watching something much different than the many fish that inhabited the pond. ‘A man?’ she thought, examining the figure closely. ‘But there are scales! Surely he can’t be…’” Aoibhe looked over to Aengus who didn’t seem to be paying attention to her story at all but writing something in the sand. She frowned a bit, but when Dónall grunted, signalling her to go on, she continued. “For the next few moons Úna would sneak out to the pond and watch the man-like fish—the merman as he swam elegantly passing the fish. He didn’t seem to notice her watching him.

“One night Úna headed out to the pond to watch her new found obsession. Little did she know, Seán followed her. She stuck her head into the water and watched the merman swim, his tail moving constantly like the beat in her chest. Úna heard something else plunge into the water. She looked to her side to come face to face with Seán, a stern expression on his face as he watched the merman.

“Bringing her head up out of the water, Úna tugged on Seán’s collar. ‘Seán… Seán…come up,’ she said in her soft voice. Seán obediently came up and looked at her, quizzically. ‘Is this what you have been watching? You watch this merman so often and do not have time for me, the one who will soon be sharing your bed?’ It seemed that jealously had gotten the better of Seán. He was in love with Úna but she did not understand.

“Out of jealous rage he took Úna’s neck in his hands and dunked her head into the water. Úna struggled to break free of his grasp. For the first time the merman looked up at her. His silver eyes drew Úna in. She did not struggle anymore but reached out to the merman. He grasped her hands and pulled her down under the water, leaving Seán alone on the land, without the woman he loved so much.

“The truth was Úna hadn’t fallen for either of these men. Her heart belonged to the water and the merman might’ve known that, though afterward he kept her as his own. They say that very late at night one can hear the sound of beautiful singing muffled by water far in the distance if you stand by the lake late at night and are absolutely quiet. Perhaps it’s Úna or perhaps another of the creatures of the water? No one knows for no one had ever heard Úna sing.”

We were all quiet for a while after Aoibhe told her tale. I decided I’d break the silence, something I rarely did. “That was a good story, Aoibhe,” I said kindly, “Perhaps not one that would be best to share on Christmas, our time of rejoicing Christ’s birth, but still wonderful. I understand the meaning of it. It’s basically saying, ‘if you’ve got talent, share it,’ or that’s at least what it tells me.”

Aoibhe nodded. “To me it said, ‘don’t take anything for granted,’ or ‘spend time with your loved ones.’” She looked over to Aengus who was staring at me. “Aengus, might I ask what you’re thinking of?”

“N-nothing…” Aengus looked down at what he wrote in the sand. Dónall sat beside him and began to read it to himself. I suppose I was the only one of my friends who didn’t know how to read or write. It was a rare skill so I was surprised that so many people in Emuin Macha could do so.

“You should read that aloud,” Dónall suggested, looking over in Aoibhe’s direction. “I’m sure she’ll like it. And, like Aoife said the story meant, ‘if you’ve got talent, share it.’ This is great, Aengus.”

Once Dónall looked at her and made a comment about ‘her’ liking it, Aoibhe’s expression lit up. “Something for me?” she asked. “I should love to hear it. Is it one of your poems?”

I hardly knew that Aengus had a talent with poetry. I, too, wanted to hear the poem. Though the thought of him writing something for Aoibhe made me feel weird and uncomfortable. Envy, maybe? No, it couldn’t be. I have never been envious in my life.

“Go on then,” Gráinne spoke up, pushing Aengus to speak. He shook his head. Dónall pushed him over and read it aloud himself. Aengus didn’t put up much of a struggle and when Dónall started, all he did was sigh and look up at me.

“The flowing breeze can pass me by,

On the beach, sand in my eye,

A bit silly, I think, this thing I feel,

Something I think of every meal,

A feeling deep within me, I cannot lie,” Dónall began the poem. Aengus looked down and I couldn’t help but notice the slight blush that covered his face. Aoibhe had her hands clenched against her chest with Gráinne resting her head on Aoibhe’s shoulder. I sat beside Gráinne with my hands on my knees and the boys at the other side of the cave. The fire was warm, we might’ve been too close to it but no one seemed to care. Everyone’s attention was on Dónall who read Aengus’ poem aloud in a gentle voice.

“Her hair like the leaves falling from autumn’s sky,

When I look at her, my smile turns wry,

I do not touch, for I may reveal,

The extreme of my radiant love.

“After a day on the beach, we say goodbye,

Her smile, so sweet, my dear soul will fly,

I’m the fish on the line she reels,

From friend to lover, I hope her feelings wheel,

To the extreme of my radiant love.”

Dónall finished the poem and we were all silent like after Aoibhe’s story. All that could be heard were Aoibhe’s footsteps toward Aengus. She pulled him in toward her breasts and laughed. “Oh Aengus,” she said softly. I couldn’t help but notice he didn’t hold her in return, though it didn’t seem to bother Aoibhe.

Gráinne grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the cave with her. Dónall followed us and we sat outside, a few feet away. “We’d best leave them alone,” she smirked and looked up at the sky. “It was almost as if they were made for each other, both with such a talent with words. I do wish Tadhg had such a way with words.” Gráinne was to be wed to Tadhg, a fisherman, soon after winter. They were both greatly in love, I could tell for whenever Gráinne would talk about him her face lit up. “Oh! Speaking of Tadhg, I should pay him a visit. I guess I got so caught up in the cave that I forgot he was here for today.” She stood up and walked away, leaving Dónall and I alone.

“That was a beautiful poem,” Dónall nodded, scooting closer to me.

I nodded in agreement. I felt a little uncomfortable with Dónall. The way he looked at me was…well it was frightening.

“I wish I could express myself in such a way,” he looked at me, his green eyes glinting in the moonlight. I smiled weakly at him, but it soon dropped. I was sad and I hadn’t a clue why. Dónall grabbed my hand and held it to his lips. “Why are you sad, Aoife? Are you upset that I could not deliver such a poem for you?”

I didn’t understand at all. Dónall liked me and he thought I returned his feelings? I stood up and looked down at him, perhaps a look of disgust on my face. “I should go wish Sîle and Cathal a Merry Christmas. Goodbye Dónall.” He stood up and held a bit of my auburn hair in his hand, not tightly though. I turned around and walked calmly to Sîle without looking back.

Sîle and Cathal had hardly been ready to go home when I went to them, so I just sipped some ale while they danced to the music of the musicians that had been provided. I noticed that Dónall left soon after I had left him, his mother on his arm and a solemn expression on his face. Aoibhe left too, passing me her expression was plain like any ordinary day. If she and Aengus had done what I thought they had done, she might’ve been smiling dumbly or something. Not that I knew what it felt to do that and feel good about it but Gráinne said that’s what happens and I believed her.

I soon grew bored of watching everyone dancing all around me and headed to the beach, first letting Cathal know, who told me that he’d fetch me when he and Sîle were ready to leave. I nodded and left. It made me stress, the thought of what Aoibhe and Aengus were doing in the cave. I had so many questions that couldn’t be answered for I didn’t want to talk to Aengus and ask him about it. Though, I never had to get up ask him any questions. He came to me.

He sat down quietly to my right, not making a sound. We both admired the lake, as we usually did when there was no one else there. Aengus moved closer to me and whispered in my ear, “That poem was for you, Aoife.”

I edged away slowly and then looked at him, wide eyed. For some reason my heart churned inside and my stomach became fizzy, that’s really the only word I can use to describe the feeling. He looked at me, almost as if he were sad, with his blue-grey eyes. I cleared my throat and spoke, “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” he responded, looking down at the ground. “I’m not sure why Dónall immediately thought the poem was for Aoibhe. I have never, and will never, express feelings of love for her. She is my friend and has been for a while. I’ve known that she holds me close to her heart for a while, but I’ve never felt the same and she knows it.”

“Well, what did you do for so long?”

Aengus chuckled a bit and then replied, “She seriously though it was for her. I didn’t want to let her down; she’s been my friend for so long, you know? But I had to tell her the truth.”

We sat quietly for a while until I stood up and began to walk back to the cave, I felt safer in there. Aengus followed without hesitation. We sat down, closer I guess, and let the water that crept into the cave lick our toes. Dawn was still far away but I felt like the whole day had gone by.

“Are you still afraid of me getting to close to you, Aoife?” he asked.

I looked up at him. It was then that I realized our height difference. He was a good head taller than me. “I’m not sure,” I replied. Aengus slipped his hand in mine and with his other brought my head to his chest. I could hear his heart beat, it wasn’t a normal speed, but it wasn’t fast. I guess I wasn’t afraid of his touch, for we stayed in that position for a while.

“Aoife?” he asked.

“Yes?”

Aengus pulled away from the embrace and cupped his hand around my chin, leaning down and brushing his lips against mine. It was a polite kiss; I craved more but did not express it. I looked up at him with a stupid look on my face and then buried my face back in his chest. There were no words between us but his presence made me comfortable.

It wasn’t long before Cathal came for me. As soon as his head popped up in the cave I practically dived away from Aengus, embarrassed I suppose. I followed him out of the cave, looking back at Aengus, smiling, until I could no longer see his face past the walls.

Cathal shared what he had seen with Sîle on our way back. I was blushing furiously the whole way and tried to ignore their teasing. “Aoife has a sweetheart!” they teased.

I slept well that night. I think perhaps because it was late or maybe because of Aengus. I dreamt of him too. At dawn I woke up refreshed and ready to work, excited to see Aengus again. I wasn’t sure what the feeling was, but I liked it.

Sîle was quick with the lesson that day. Or it seemed quick to me but it was the normal time. She had almost finished the gown she was sewing. I could see some patterns she had embroidered into the fabric already. There were a few flowers here and there and some shamrocks. She dismissed me with a kiss on the cheek and said, “Have fun today, dear one.”

I walked at a rather fast pace to the beach to meet up with my friends. But not everyone was there, in fact, I could only see Dónall. He welcomed me with a long smirk on his face. “Aoife! It’s great to see you.”

I nodded and looked around. “Where’s Aen—the others? Where are the others, I mean?”

Dónall looked at me for a second, noticing that I had almost asked about Aengus only. I thought he might not have thought much of it, or would forget it and toss it off as a mistake. “Aengus? Tell me, what do you think of him?” I couldn’t help the smile that went onto my lips once his name was mentioned.

“He’s my friend, why?” I asked. I knew Dónall liked me more than a friend, after the display from the night before, but I wondered if he thought he really had a chance. Well, I hadn’t shown any likeness for anyone else, except Aengus, but that had just been displayed to Dónall for the first time.

“Nothing,” he shook his head and walked along the beach. I followed him. He hadn’t yet answered my question and I wouldn’t let him ignore it.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Where are the others?”

Dónall shrugged. “They didn’t show up, so I thought that, Aoife, you and I could spend some time together.” I sighed quietly. I hoped he didn’t hear it. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings but at the same time it seemed that he didn’t understand that I didn’t feel comfortable around him. I thought that my abrupt departure the day before would have been a clue that I didn’t want to be around him.

We continued to walk silently. The air around us was so thick that one could slice it with a knife. Dónall was so unlike Aengus. I wondered how they met.

“Aoife?” Dónall broke the silence. I gasped, his voice had startled me.

“Yes?”

He grabbed my hand and smiled. “Come with me.” I did exactly as he bid, though I didn’t have much of a choice for he pulled me. We ran through the little pathways and past many trees until finally we reached our destination, Dónall’s home. I didn’t really want to go in but he brought me in without asking.

A woman sat at a table just in front of the door. Her skin was very pale, so thin that you could see her veins beneath it, her hair was slightly grey and her eyes large and shining, light green bulbs. “Who is this you’ve brought, young one?”

“Mother, it’s Aoife, the one I’ve talked to you about,” Dónall said enthusiastically, leading me to his mother.

His mother looked at me, as if taking me in slowly, nodding her head. “She is beautiful.”

Dónall put his arm around my waist, as if I were his. I couldn’t do anything though, but try and look pretty. I couldn’t disgrace him in front of his mother. “It’s, uh, nice to meet you,” I said in the most polite tone I could.

“Likewise,” she nodded. “Oh! Dónall, would you prepare some tea for our guest?”

Dónall nodded and got to work. I sat down at the table, for there was nothing else I could do. I tried not to look up at the woman that sat before me. I could feel her wide eyes staring at me the whole time. She, like her son, must have had a habit of breaking silences at the wrong moment.

“You can call me Mother,” she said, though her voice was awfully loud to be talking to me when I was seated in front of her. I nodded at this, my heart recovering from the shock of her sudden voice. Soon enough Dónall had the tea ready.

“Mother, Aoife and I shall drink the tea in my chamber. We’ll give you some time alone.” He didn’t wait for an answer though. He quickly grabbed my arm and brought me to his chamber. It was quite normal. I had no idea why he wanted to bring me here, but at the moment I didn’t care. The tea he had made was delicious. I sipped it cautiously, though each sip made me feel a bit more exhausted than I already was. I’m not sure what happened, I don’t remember clearly, but I must’ve fallen asleep for my memories of the time in between the tea and after aren’t existent.

I opened my eyes, awakening slowly to find myself face to face with Dónall, who had put me in his bed and sat kneeling at the bedside. I sat up slowly and then looked at him with the meanest glare I could come up with. “What are you doing?” I asked, not caring about the unpleasant tone I spoke to him in.

“Watching you sleep,” he said calmly. I felt my brows draw closer on my forehead and my mouth frown, a look of confusion.

“Why were you doing that?”

Dónall shrugged and sat down beside me, quite close—too close. He looked at me deeply. I felt as if he were searching my soul for something. “Ever since you came to Emuin Macha, I’ve wondered much about you. You just showed up one day and…and,” he reached over and held a strand of my hair. “I—my mother’s life on our world is short and I have a—a question.”

I nodded and listened. I hoped that I could go back home soon. I looked out the window, dusk was nearing. “What is it, Dónall?”

“I wish for her to meet my wife, the one whom I’m to marry and have many children with. I’ve brought you here today to ask for your hand in marriage. Aoife, you are beautiful, with your auburn hair and mesmerizing looks. If it’s anyone’s lips I wish to plant mine onto, it’s yours. Each morning I wish to wake up to your beautiful face.”

My mouth dropped open. A shiver went down my spine. I couldn’t imagine ever living with him. The very thought disgusted me. But I didn’t want to lose him as a friend, as strange as his actions were. “Give me time,” I said, hesitantly. “I can not make a decision so soon. I haven’t a very good past with…men.”

Dónall seemed to accept my decision, though I saw how his face faltered. “You should go now, to—think.”

I left Dónall’s home as soon as I could and headed straight to Gráinne’s. I knocked on the door and called her name, “Gráinne, it is Aoife! Can I speak with you?”

Soon enough the door opened and Gráinne’s face could be seen. She was quite pale and her eyes were red from crying. “Oh, Aoife,” she sniffed, “I—I am sorry but I do not wish to see anyone right now.”

“What is it, Gráinne? Maybe I could help?” I asked, now worried and unbothered by my own problems. “Please.”

Gráinne let me in. It seemed that there was no one else home. I looked around; realizing that I had only been there once and barely knew the place. She had let me in only once before when she forgot her shawl on a cold day.

Not knowing what to do, I just stood awkwardly at the door. Gráinne turned and rested her head against the jamb of the door, tears trickled down her cheeks but she made not a sound. Finally, she sniffed and turned to me. “Tadhg is—is—dead,” she said quietly and then wept aloud. “And so are Mother and Father. Last night I retired early after seeing him. He said Mother and Father could—could,” she paused, sniffing quite a bit. “C-could see his b-boat. Tadhg had just bought one off of a merchant while over seas. I had already seen it and was getting quite tired. He told me to take care of myself and made sure I got to bed safely. And then Mother and Father never came back in the morning. I soon found out they weren’t found after last night so I went to the beach, no one else was there but me, and searched inside Tadhg’s boat that was still there. Inside…there was…there was…” she coughed and shook her head. I noticed that she needed more comforting, so I wrapped my arms around her shaking shoulders. “I ran back here and haven’t been out since,” she sobbed. “Aoife, what will I do?”

Gráinne buried her head into my shoulder and started to cry uncontrollably. I stood still and let her cry, unknowing of what else to do.

“Everything’s changing…ever since…ever since,” Gráinne paused. “Ever since you came here. Your name sounds familiar…Aoife…Aoife…”

I stood still as she pondered. I knew what she was thinking for my uncle had mentioned it before. I bore a name of evil. I was surprised that she would think that I was, perhaps, the evil sorceress who had made the Children of Lir swans. She had proven herself Christian by celebrating Christmas, but did she also believe in the myths as I did, along with Christian beliefs, too? I was sure she didn’t but at the same time…

Suddenly she pulled away from me and ran to the other side of the room. “Away with you!” she hollered. “You can’t be here! A sorceress with such evil powers as yourself. You haven’t an idea of where you’re from, you must be the Aoife in the story, daughter of Bodb Derg, king of the Tuatha Dé Dannan. That’s probably why Aengus has fallen for you! You have cast a spell on him, when he really loves Aoibhe. Don’t you hurt her or you’ll regret it! Get out of here! I wish not see you again!” Tears welled in my eyes and I ran out of her cottage, across the path into mine, and I jumped onto my bed, face in the pillow. Maybe I was the daughter of Bodb Derg, the one who had turned the Children of Lir into swans? I understood the story well, Aoife got turned into an air demon forever but what if I, assuming I was the Aoife in the story, broke free of the spell, returning to a human form, but as a baby. Perhaps I was left on the door step of Momma and Papa and they took me in, like how Sîle and Cathal had taken me in? It seemed like nonsense to me, but what if it wasn’t? What if what I had imagined were true? In those days anything could be possible with such a magical force of the water and the earth.

Cathal entered my room and sat at the end of my bed. “Aoife, dear, what is the matter?” he asked in a soft voice. I did not reply. I was thinking of what to do, for if my parents died, maybe it was Lir’s curse that had put them to death? The solution soon became clear to me. I sat up and rubbed my swelling red eyes. I turned to Cathal, reading love in his expression. Indeed I had become part of the family, I loved them as I would love my parents.

“I have to go, Cathal,” I said as steadily as I could. “I bring ill-fortune to this place, and I wish no more.” I stood up and started to walk forward, but Cathal grabbed the sleeve of my gown.

“What do you mean ‘ill-fortune’?” he asked. “It is nothing but luck that we found you. My wife has been nothing but happy since you have come into our home and I too am glad you have come. We feel like we are your parents and I’m sure you feel the same. I forbid you to leave, unless married to someone who will take you away, which you have made clear is not an option.”

“You don’t understand!” I exclaimed, yanking my sleeve out of his grasp. “I am cursed! I must be for I have never been happy!”

“Never been happy?” Cathal asked, his expression showing slight anger. “You haven’t been happy with our hospitality? Aoife, you seemed happy not too long ago. I will not believe this; I am offended.”

“I mean,” I began, looking to the ground, “There is nothing but bad luck to come. My parents, if they were my parents, died, my uncle put me through some horrible things and I come to you. It seems like when I’m happy, my happiness dies and when I’m miserable everything stays the same.” I now looked back up at Cathal, who had been listening to what I had to say. I was glad that he didn’t interrupt me at all.

“This sadness has gone through most of your life, but there is no pattern, not yet. If Sîle and I suffer or die, it will be our fault, not yours, for we are not bothered if something bad may happen, as long as you’re happy. Now, child, you look tired. Sleep. I will be watching nearby until Sîle comes home, so that you do not leave.”

I realized how tired I had become. It was probably the fact that I had cried for some time. I could see through a window that it was past dusk. I could see Sîle not too far away down the path to the beach. I laid down in my bed and, almost instantly, fell into a dreamless sleep.

I awoke abruptly, not long before dusk. Sîle was asleep beside me, gown in her hands. It had almost been finished. It seemed as if she just had to add a bit of the trim and then dye it. My conversation with Cathal replayed in my head.

I forbid you to leave, unless married to someone who will take you away…

Dónall! He had asked me to marry him. I could ask him if we could run away to somewhere else to get married. I quietly got up and put on my shawl Gráinne had given to me and my veil from Aoibhe. I didn’t change into a night gown to sleep so I wore what I had worn the day before. I silently walked out of my chamber and outside, heading straight to Dónall’s home. I knocked quietly on his door. A sleepy Dónall opened it, his expression lit up when he saw me.

“Aoife! What brings you here?” he asked cheerfully.

I bit my lip, unaware of what to do. If it’s anyone’s lips I wish to plant mine onto, it’s yours. He had told me the answer of what to do, I think. I used it anyways. I took his head firmly into my hands and brought my face to his, giving him a sweet, unyielding kiss. Pulling away, I looked into his eyes, reading shock, and said, quietly, “Yes.”

Unfortunately, that’s not all that happened physically. Dónall hastily wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his face to mine. I had to go along with it to seem convincing. Though it soon was more than a kiss thanking me. His tongue soon slipped into my mouth and began to flick around. He picked me up, brought me into the cottage into his room and dumped me onto his bed, never taking his face off of mine. Dónall’s hands began to wander and in not too much time they were up my skirt, stroking gently my inner thigh. I gasped quietly, feeling something in the pit of my stomach and pushed him off of me.

“Not until we’re married,” I forced myself to say. The thought of marrying him disgusted me, but it was the only way I could keep everyone safe.

He looked at me, grinning a cute grin that I hadn’t seen on his face before. “Yes, of course, Aoife. But…it’s so hard. Even now, as I’m so tired…” He touched my cheek fondly and began to feel lower: down my neck, over my breast, until he reached my waist, and then I stopped him.

“Only, we cannot marry here, we must leave,” I looked at him. “I would like to marry far from here. I wish to leave this place behind. We will start a new beginning.”

Dónall’s expression faltered. “But…my mother…”

I leaned in and gave him another kiss. “Please?”

He gave in and we headed out, just after letting his mother know of the news. She seemed content and kissed me on the cheek just before we left. It was dawn when we left. We didn’t go close to the beach nor Sîle and Cathal’s cottage. We didn’t even go close to Aengus’. We walked the whole way, though through some parts Dónall would carry me on his back. I thought him a little perverted and regretted agreeing to marry him but I had to if I were to keep everyone safe. Whenever I was on his back, his hand would creep back and stroke my bottom. I didn’t understand why he wanted to touch me so much, it made me uncomfortable.

Sometimes, I felt as if someone were following us. I could hear sudden rustling of leaves just behind us, but when I turned there would be no one there. During the night we’d sleep, and to my distaste, beside each other with Dónall’s arms wrapped around me. When I’d wake up and open my eyes a bit I’d find him beside me smiling foolishly as he watched me sleep.

---

It had been many moons later, Dónall and I had reached a church at around mid-day. We went in and the priest was going to marry us at dusk on that day. It seemed a little sudden for me though, the journey had gone by all too quickly. We went into town and found a woman who agreed to be our witness. By the time we reached the church with the woman, it was already dusk and the priest stood waiting.

The ceremony was long and boring, I wondered if the woman had ever been to a wedding before, for if she knew how long it was I was sure she wouldn’t have agreed. We finally reached the objection part. There was no one else in the church except the woman, so I wondered why the priest even bothered to ask. But it was just as well.

“I object!” a voice came from the back of the church, by the doors. It was Aengus. My heart leapt and I yearned to run to him and hold him closely, but I couldn’t, Dónall stood in front of me, his hand grasping my gown.

“What is the meaning of this? How did you find us?” he questioned.

Aengus began to walk to the front of the church, everyone’s eyes on him, well all except the witness who had suddenly fallen asleep. “I followed you,” he replied.

Dónall scowled. “This is so like you, Aengus. You try to steal what is mine, but not this time. Aoife has agreed to marry me, we are in love. It’s not like that’s an emotion you could understand. You just want her for her good looks and precious body. I will not let you abuse her.”

I had to think fast or I would end up marrying Dónall. I had changed my mind. I didn’t want anything to do with him, at least now that Aengus was there. It had been a while since I had seen him. I remembered what Cathal had taught me. I looked at Dónall’s shoulder, trying to find the point that would make him faint. Finding it, I pressed down as hard as I could. He dropped down at my feet soon after and I jumped over him and ran to Aengus. He opened his arms to me and I leapt toward him, wrapping mine around him. I couldn’t help the tears that flooded out of my eyes. He had his face down with his lips on my hair. “Please don’t run away from me again.”

I pulled away, remembering the curse that I thought I might’ve had. “I—I can’t go back. I’ll bring bad fortune and—”

Aengus put his fingers to my lips. “Gráinne told me. I don’t believe what she said was true. I’m thankful that I left the beach just in time that morning to follow you and take you back into my arms. I’m a strong man Aoife, not much can harm me,” he smiled down, “Not much, I couldn’t have you marry him, for that would harm me. We are going home, Aoife. I promised myself and Sîle and Cathal your safe return.”

He picked me up and flung me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I, surprisingly, felt completely comfortable. He turned to the priest and waved. “Please tell the young man we have left to go back. I would take him with me, but I think I’ve got enough on my hands.”

Aengus and I returned to Emuin Macha and soon got married. Dónall returned after our marriage, just in time for his mother’s passing. After the burial he and Gráinne left together, leaving the cottage across deserted so Aengus and I moved into it. No ill came to the village after that, Gráinne’s suspicions were wrong. I soon bore a beautiful girl named Mhairi whom Aengus and I loved to bits. She was a fast learner and often adventured into the forest or to the beach. But hers is another story and mine is still being written. I will continue down my path, like a leaf in a river, forever traveling until it reaches its end.