The Magician's Witch

The Star and the Spider

Eilis returned to Ireland with a renewed sense of optimism. She had shipped everything she had found in Erik's lair to Bakhita's house, carefully wrapping everything and accompanied by a note taped to the outside that read: Do not open anything until I get home. She had included Aria and Ronan's gifts and a really nice bottle of wine from a local Parisienne store for Bakhita and Malid.

When Eilis returned to Connemara a few days before she was to return home, Arthur informed her that her request to make her grandparent's home a vacation rental had been accepted. He was working on hiring an inspector and a decorator to assess the house and see what needed updating.

Eilis promised to stay in contact via phone and email, but told Arthur that she had every faith that he had everything well in hand. He further advised her to get an accountant when she got home, as income from foreign assets could get complicated.

Alice sent her off on the one-hour car ride to the airport with a thermos of coffee and a small basket of scones. Tom, who was still her driver had received the same.

When they reached Shannon Airport, Eilis left the fully-drained thermos and one uneaten scone with Tom, thanking him for all of his help.

"Yer welcome back anytime, lass," he told her cheerily as he handed her bag to her.

Eilis smiled widely at him, then turned for the entrance.

The flight back was agonizing. After all of the discoveries she had made, all she wanted to do was figure out how she and her children all made it to Paris in 1881. All she saw when she closed her eyes were those two pictures placed in the back of that folder: Aria and Ronan standing together in the Palais Garnier, and Erik and Eilis snuggling on the couch.

Also, now that her grandparent's estate was nearly completely settled, it was time to think seriously about Aria and Ronan's futures. Eilis had had Sasha put money into accounts for both her children that they wouldn't be allowed to touch until they turn twenty-five. She had put money into another account for school expenses, which she was guessing would be rather expensive if musical instruments were to be included. Her own savings were much more substantial now than they had ever been, with plenty left over for current living expenses and taxes.

Music would be a must for both Aria and Ronan. Eilis herself decided she might pick up lessons from where she had left them when Erik had been her teacher (he had been teaching her how to read music and play the violin while they still resided in the palace. After Eilis had escaped to the Alborz Mountains, there simply hadn't been enough time in the day for music lessons.). Aria was showing real potential with architecture, while Ronan seemed to prefer music-writing it, that is.

Eilis dozed on and off on the plane and was jolted awake as the landing gear hit the runway. She shook her head and rubbed her face, trying to wake up.

Having nothing to declare since she had sent everything back by mail, Eilis made quick work of getting through customs.

As she made her way down the escalator to the baggage claim, she recognized a cluster of faces, especially the two littlest ones. Someone-Bakhita from the looks of it-pointed Eilis out coming down the mechanical stairs, to which Aria and Ronan both shouted, "Mommy!"

Eilis couldn't help the beaming smile that stretched across her face hearing their little voices call for her, waving at her from where they were standing. She waved back enthusiastically, finally reaching the last step. She trotted over to her kids and they ran up to her as she knelt on the floor, her arms outstretched as they barreled towards her. They hit her with their full speed, throwing their arms around her laughing and giggling.

"We missed you," Aria keened, hugging her mother as hard as she could.

"I missed you, too," Eilis said in the same tone, kissing both of their heads repeatedly. She held them at arm's length, taking them both in. "I think you both grew a little while I was gone," Eilis told them, acting surprised. She pretended to measure them both, making them giggle, then she pulled them in again, hugging them both.