All Hallow's Eve 2: Memories

Chapter 4

Copyright ©️ 2022 All rights reserved. This book is only available on Wattpad.

I grabbed Niamh by both arms and pulled her close. As I leaned in to kiss her lips I noticed a dark figure emerging from the lake. Water dripped from each scale on its long neck. Spittal sprayed out from its clenched razor-sharp teeth as it hissed at us. I swung Niamh around to one side and she fell on her arse.

Quickly I took out my long sword and swung it at the beast. It moved and evaded the weapon. Then it lunged forward snapping at my head. I instinctively raised my sword and it bit down on my blade. So I punched its nose with my free hand and extracted my sword. I sliced at it again and lopped off its head.

It was a dragon, thankfully it was just an Oillipéist. Hmm, let me think, in hindsight, it could have been an *Augh-iska! How and ever, I bent down to recover the head as my victory trophy and was knocked into the water. When I looked up, Niamh was standing over me with rage in her eyes.

"Never do that again!" She fumed, "I can handle my-"
She suddenly tumbled towards her basket and withdrew a short sword from beneath the laundry. As she held it aloft, I grabbed my shield and she came at me. Putting a foot on my shield she pushed it horizontally and propelled herself into the air. I heard a gurgled roar and a bloody head and claw fell into the water beside me. When I looked up Niamh was wiping the blood off her sword.

"As I was saying, I can handle myself!" She said while stretching out her arm to help me up. I took her hand and couldn't help but think I liked her even more now. When I regained my footing she pulled me close twisting my arm behind my back and kissed me.
"Now, let me finish my washing in peace!" Niamh frowned. She then smiled, "I'll see ya tomorrow."

I said my goodbyes and couldn't stop thinking about that kiss.
And if you were wondering how I punched a dragon, the dragons in Ireland's past were about the size of a cow. Only longer, and slimmer.
I went home and practised my fighting skills some more.

I would meet her almost every day. We talked, we laughed, we fought side by side, we loved, and we...., anyway kids, enough with the details, this went on for a long time. And believe me, we were inseparable. Until that is, fate dealt us a remorseless hand. I say fate, but call it destiny, karma, or justice. Whatever way you look at it, life can be a cruel bitch, with a twisted sense of humour.

*****

Mac got up from his chair and left the room.
"What the hell?" Jamie asked.
"When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!" Joked Sean.
"Maybe it's just bad memories." Sandra surmised.
They all just stared into the fire.
"What do ya think? Do you believe there really were dragons or has this guy lost it?" Sean inquired.
"Yeah, and who is this Niamh woman? Jamie smiled.
"Obviously someone very special to him!" Empathised Sandra. "Now shush, he's coming back."

The old man returned carrying a tray with four cups, a pot of tea, and a plate filled with sliced brack.
"Who wants tea and something nice?" Asked Mac.
"Yes please." They all said in unison.
"Good." He said as he placed the tray on a small table carried it all and positioned it in front of the kids.
"Shite, I forgot the milk and sugar," Mac said and he left the room again.

"And you still think this is the same long-haired magical fella from last year?" Jamie projects his scepticism toward Sean.
"Feckin' sure he is!"
"Now, who wants milk and sugar?" Mac inquired as he re-entered the room.
"Me." Sean and Jamie said simultaneously.
"Yes please," Sandra replied, with a little more etiquette. Everyone sorted their beverage and settled down to indulge in the rest of the old man's story.

*****

On one fateful evening, after a hard day of dragon slaying, I came home to find my house empty. The son of my neighbour crashed through my door panting and coughing. He tried to tell me something but couldn't manage to mouth the words for lack of breath. Grabbing his shoulders I said, "Calm down young fella, take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong."

"T-t-they took him, h-her! And h-he went after her!" The boy finally splurted out after regaining his breath.
"Who took who?" I said with a smile, thinking he was probably talking about his dog.
"Y-your father, your mother...., DRAGONS!"
"What? What did you just say?" I yelled as things became more serious.

The boy leaned forward putting his hands on his thighs then straightened up and composed himself.
"Dragons came and took your mother. Your father chased after them!"
"Where did they take her?"
"To the old ruins...., and-"
"And what? Ya don't mean, The Forth?"
"Aye, into The Forth, they brought her."
"And my Father?"
"He followed them, all the way."

I quickly gathered all the equipment I needed and finished it off with my Dragon Shield. I figured I'd finally get a chance to use it.
"Now, you run home and lock yourself in. And by the by, thank you." I said and put my hand on the boy's shoulder.

When the young lad left I followed suit, but in the opposite direction. Needing all the help I could get I was on my way to my comrade in arms: Niamh. There was no one else I could trust my life with. When I divulged what had happened she heartily agreed to help. We were endeavouring on an expedition to save my parents.

The old ruins were not that far and it didn't take that long to reach. But it had become dark by the time we arrived. They were on a hilltop and the moon had just appeared behind them. When we reached the top a cold wind cut around every broken wall, around every residue of a past life. I held Niamh close and said this will be our biggest challenge yet. Then I kissed her long and hard as the very wind itself tried to pull us apart.

She looked deep into my eyes and said she had something to tell me.
"Now's not the time, we have to go," I said, as I noticed flashes of light coming from the trees behind Niamh. I looked down into her eyes, smiled, and said, "Tell me later."

She reluctantly agreed and turned to see what had caught my attention.
"I've actually, never seen this place at night. Does it always light up like that?" She inquired.
"No, and that's what scares me! I know it's an evil place, full of dark power. I'm sure it's connected to *Sídh."

"*Danu protect us. And we have to go in there?" Niamh wondered what the hell we were doing.
"Come on, we've no time to waste." I grabbed her arm and led the way.

We reached the trees and passed between them. They were an outer ring protecting the fourth. Inside there was a depression around an inner ring of trees, like a moat around a castle. But this moat was devoid of water. We took out our swords and crossed to the other side. The inner ring was dense with bushes, briers, and all manner of wild growth. Standing outside the inner circular stronghold of doom we stopped.

"Just in case we don't make it, what did ya want to tell me?" I said with a reassuring smile.
Niamh looked up at me and grinned;

"I am with child!"

*Augh-iska - Water Dragon / (Water Horse)

*Sídh - Celtic Underworld

*Danu - Celtic Goddess of the Earth