Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 2

That is a pic of a claddagh ring 👆👆👆 a traditional irish ring (I have 1 myself being an irish girl 😂💚) anyway I'm sure they didn't have those rings in Celtic times but hey it seems appropriate! 😜 Enjoy  the chapter! ✌️

The bodhrans beated loudly in my ears.
The sun scorched down on my face.
The torches glowed at the top of the pathway.
The men of the clan wore cloaks that stretched along their broad shoulders.
The women stood in long, shaped dresses with twisted designs.

I walked up as people whispered and smiled at me. My eyes diverted from the people along the aisle and locked at the top, at the 'altar'. Sheena, the Druid of our clan, stood in the middle wearing all black with her silver hair in two braids that rested at her chest. On the right stood my father; Daragh, the chieftain of the Diarmada clan, wearing his green cloak and dark brown tunic on his large body. And on the left was Chulann. My breath hitched as his piercing blue eyes met mine. His dark hair hung loose around his shoulders with two thin braids on either side of his face. His tall, muscular figure stood in a brown leather tunic with a red cloak that was covered in orange spirals. His short beard slightly hid his expression as I reached the top of the aisle. Eileen retrieved into the rest of the crowd as father squeezed my hand. I looked anxiously at Chulann. He smiled at me, "Aine, my love, you look beautiful," he said, slightly bowing his head as he lightly kissed my hand. I saw out of the corner of my eye my father beaming to himself, clearly proud of the man he had chosen.
"Are you ready?" Sheena asked me, squinting her eyes.
"Yes," I murmured, regrettably.

* * * * *

After the ceremony there was a feast and a celebration.
There was roast pig and steaming meats served on large platters with chunks of bread at the side. Fried fish, nuts, foreign cheeses, fruit and wild berries was present at each table also. And of course, our goblets and cups were never empty. I was about to take a handful of berries before father stood up to say a few words.

"Welcome to my own Diarmada clan and welcome to the Mi clan that have joined us today," he announced, smiling at Chulann. "Today we have gathered for the marriage of Aine and Chulann," he paused to allow everyone to cheer. "Some of you may remember myself and my wife's wedding day, long ago that may seem." A few people smiled, sadly. "She was a great wife and a great mother to Aine and her sister Roise, for the short time that it was." I looked over at Roise. She had a mixed expression on her face, probably blaming herself again; my mother had died giving birth to Roise, we were too young to remember.
"Which is why today, Aine, I am passing this over to you. It was your mother's." In his hands lay a beautiful Celtic cross on a chain. "It's your's now," he smiled at me, fastening it around my neck.
"Thank you father," I hugged him as people cheered and started to walk out on to the floor to dance.

Chulann on my other side held out his hand as he asked me, " would you care to have our first dance as husband and wife?" My father nudged me, with no other choice I said yes.
He led me out on to the middle of the floor as the other couples spread out around us. He placed his hand on the small of my back and pulled me in a little bit closer. The music started as sounds of bodhrans and flutes filled the air. We skipped and swirled across the floor as everybody clapped. My cheeks flushed and my dress blew out as the song quickly came to a stop. We stood there, not moving from our position breathing heavily.
"You have those sapphire blue eyes, just like Muirin's" he smiled, releasing my hand.
"You knew my mother?," I asked quickly.
"Only have heard things about her my lady, like everybody else has." There was a gleam in his eyes.
"Oh, yes. Of course," I said. He returned to our table and I turned to follow him before I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, I swung around.
"My lady, would you care to dance?" Eoin stood there in a tight black tunic with green designs that matched his eyes. Eoin was father's chief protector.
"Of course," I replied. The song was slow as we swayed along the floor.
"Congratulations my lady," he said.
"Thank you, but please call me Aine," I told him.
"Aine," he smiled which was when I realised that he had a scar on his left cheek.
"Eoin how did you get that scar?" He cleared his throat, looking away from me for a second,
"Just a battle scar, that's all" he answered.
"You must be very brave and wise to be the chieftain's protector," I teased.
"Not as brave and wise as you, my lady," he said as the song stopped once more. "Aine," he grinned as he bowed and left.
I caught Chulann looking at me and I returned to the table.