Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 12

Hey this is a pic of Muirin (Aine's mother) Further down the chapter you'll see why I stuck this up! 😜 Happy reading 💚

I stood up quickly, "why?" I asked. He stood up as well, grabbing my arm. "Aine you have to calm down, please." I snatched my arm away, "what is it you're not telling me?"
"Aine lower your voice please, listen to me," he said sternly.
"No! Why do I have to lower my voice? Where's my father?" I turned away from him, looking among the clan who were now looking in our direction. Eoin turned me back around, "Aine," he began. "Let me go," I said,walking out into the cluster of people dancing on the floor. My eyes looked around desperately but couldn't see father. Chulann in the distance came to me, "my love are you alright?" he asked putting his arm around my waist protectively. I pushed it away, "where's father?" I asked. Eoin had now caught up with me and was on my other side, "why don't you lie down?" he said, a worried expression on his face, "you look tired." Now several people of the clan had come over to see what the commotion was.
"Aine lets get you to your chambers," Eileen said, taking my arm. My head was starting to feel light.
"I'll help you," Roise said, supporting my back.
"No, no get off me," I whispered. My eyes weren't focusing and I could feel that my face was getting hot very suddenly.
"It's going to be fine," I heard someone say, my vision was blurring. They all crowded around me, everyone speaking at once.
"Please, stop. Give me space," I pleaded, trying weakly to push people away. Suddenly my knees buckled as I felt myself falling slowly to the ground.
"Aine!" several people shouted as my eyes closed shut, enveloping me in darkness.

* * * * * *

I sat outside of mummy's chambers, playing with my wooden dolls. Mummy and Eileen were inside, I could hear them talking as they folded clothes.
"Oh Lady Muirin, you're so lucky," Eileen giggled. Eileen was mummy's helper, she was older than me- eighteen. But I'll soon be grown up, I'm three.
"You'll find love again some day," mummy said, "I did."
"Did you love someone else before Lord Daragh?"

"There was a man, he was a bit younger than I. I thought it was Love at first...but it wasn't. When I told him that I wanted to call off the marriage he became a whole different person. He said I had no right. In the end I escaped with Daragh to his clan. This man threatened me that he would get revenge," mummy's voice sounded funny, as if she was about to cry. I went inside to see what was wrong, "mummy?" I asked. She turned around, her dark blue eyes were shiny. "Aine!" she smiled, coming over to pick me up.
"Mummy are are you alright?" I asked, tugging her red hair.
"Of course I am baby," she said, kissing me on the cheek. Mummy gave the best kisses in the world. "Good," I smiled, "I love you mummy." She hugged me with one hand and placed her other on her fat belly, I was going to have a brother or sister soon mummy and daddy had said.
"I love you too Aine, with all my heart."

* * * * * *

I woke up panting. My head swirling and my heart pounding hard against my chest. Had that been real, a memory? Or a dream? I looked frantically around the room and saw Chulann in the corner, sharpening his dagger. He looked up from his work with a smile, "Aine, you're awake! You were out for quite some time. After you fainted we brought you to bed." He came slowly over to the bed and sat close beside me. He kissed me hungrily on the lips, his rough beard prickling my skin, it made me tingle. "I was so scared baby," he said softly. He looked down at me under the blankets, pure lust dominating his eyes. "I helped you into your nightgown," he smirked.
"Don't call me baby," I snapped, sitting up in the bed. He smiled slyly at my quick tongue. "As you wish my love." At that moment Eileen came in and saw Chulann, "I think I'll take over from here," she said firmly.
"Very well ladies, I'll see you later." He bowed at Eileen and winked at me before retrieving his dagger and leaving. Eileen came briskly to my side and wiped a cool, wet rag on my burning forehead. "Now, you'll be fine. I'm going to get-"
"Eileen I had a, a memory. It came to me," I exclaimed, "with you...and mother. You were talking and she said these things and I didn't know if it was a dream and-"
"Aine, hold on. What are you saying?" she asked frowning.
"Eileen did mother ever tell you about her first love, not being my father?" I asked, barely able to contain my agitated and expectant demeanour. She swallowed and looked down briefly, "yes, yes she did." My mind suddenly swarmed with questions like hurried bees, "from what clan, who was he? And why does everyone hide something from me, is it about her death?" I rambled.
"Alright calm down, Aine please," she told me. I sat there, silently waiting but then Eoin came in abruptly, we both looked up at him. "Eoin!" I greeted him. I felt a warm fuzzy feeling as his forest green eyes looked into mine, they were filled with concern and it made me smile.
"Oh thank the gods you're alright," he said coming to my side. Eileen raised her eyebrows at him. Eoin noticed and cleared his throat, "hello Eileen," he smiled, kissing her hand softly in a very gentleman-like manner. Eileen couldn't help put smile back; Eoin always treated her with great respect, unlike many other people in the clan who thought she was just a servant.
"Eoin please find Daragh," Eileen said, regaining a serious composure. Eoin glanced from Eileen to me, the expression on his face dramatically changing. His lips parted as if he was about to say something but he quickly closed them, changing his mind. Instead he stood to go and get the chieftain.