Aine of Diarmada

Chapter 18

Banner with a quote from this chapter, happy reading! 💚🍀

Thinking about my horse Dillion the night before, made me want to go back to that spot where I had sprained my ankle. I had visited the place a few times before, after my fall. But I only roughly knew the way there now, I hadn't been in a few years. Sadly, I didn't know why. I woke up early in the morning to get Dillion from the stables. Our stables were located a few miles away from the training field, but still close to the village if we needed them in a hurry. They were a large compound. With a promising shelter and big connecting fields for the horses to run around. I pulled the wooden door of Dillion's pen aside. His big head lifting up at the creaking noise.
"Hey boy," I whispered coming towards him. He walked over to me sniffing my hand. When he didn't find any food his muzzle reached into my cloak pocket, fishing out the red apple I had been hiding. I laughed at him, ruffling his jet-black mane. "Don't fall for that trick anymore do you?" He crunched his apple in response as I slipped my saddle over his wide back. I traced my finger over my name on the saddle. Father had given it to me; my first saddle. 'Aine' engraved in the leather with swirly letters. I stood there for a moment, remembering how mother used to ride bare-back. Despite father's warnings she would just laugh at him. He would have a hurt, concerned look on his face and she would lean down from her horse and kiss him. Then she would ride off towards the woods, her red hair blowing in the wind. Pursing my lips I decided to remove the saddle, moving my hand along Dillion's warm, shiny coat before giving a little jump and mounting on him. We rode out of the stables heading towards the woods. Dillion's hooves making soft little thumps on the grassy ground, reminding me of my own soft heartbeat. It was one of those summer days that I loved; when the sun is warm in the blue sky and a cool breeze is blowing. The grass was green and fresh. The flowers dotted around adding bountiful splats of colour in the woods. The old trees were parallel to the path, whispering stories as the wind rustled their many leaves. You could hear the melodious calling of birds and the chirping of crickets. The soil path was dry with the summer heat and easy to ride on. After circling for a short while we finally found the spot. I slipped off Dillion and let him drink at the small lake that was glistening with deep water. I smiled, remembering how when I used to come here I would swim in the there. With a sudden burst of energy I slipped off my clothes and ran into the lake, jumping in with full force. While I was under I stayed there for a moment, letting the cold water swirl around me, refresh me. Little bubbles escaped from my closed lips and I came back up for air. Dillon looked a little startled but then moped off to eat some grass. My hair pooled around my bare skin, spreading out like red flames. I just floated there enjoying the peace and quite, trying not to think about anything else. When a stray thought came into my mind, I would swat it away like an annoying fly. When I felt a chill I decided to get out of the welcoming water. I slipped on my cloak over my wet body but left the dress, letting myself dry first. I wandered around for a bit, familiarising myself with little things; a knothole in a big oak tree, a rabbit's burrow, an abandoned bird's nest, bleeding tree sap, and finally, the swing my father had helped me hang up on a large oak that over-looked the lake. I carefully sat down on the wooden plank seat, grasping my hands around the strong rope and kicked my legs. I soared higher and higher, feeling like I could fly. Sheena was right, even though I wasn't actually flying, I felt free. I suddenly laughed at myself, remembering what a good feeling it was. With the breeze in your face and the blood pumping through your veins. I looked out beyond the woods and something caught my eye, it was on a tree. A little in the distance it looked like there was something written on it. I jumped off the swing and pulled on my dress over my wet head. I walked in the direction to where I thought I had seen the tree. I spotted it and squinted my eyes to see what it read. When I came closer the carving was more clear. A coat of green moss was draped around the writing. It was deeply etched into the solid trunk, but the second word had been scraped away. All that was left was: Muirin 💚 ......... This had to have been my mother I suddenly realised. My mind reeled, if father's name had been there it wouldn't have been scraped off. Daragh would still be engraved there, standing proudly beside my mother's name, a love heart to connect both of them. But Daragh wasn't there, no name was there. This name, I knew now, had been the name of my mother's first husband. The name of my mother's killer.

* * * * *

When I had arrived back in the stables in a daze, Chulann came in. "Have a nice morning ride?" he asked, smiling. It was the first time I realised that he had a beautiful smile. "Yes," I replied, "it's nice to go once in a while." He came forward and both father's and Eoin's horse started to get skittish. Grunting and stamping their hooves. It started off the other horses beside them, kicking nervously at the door and whinnying. I glanced over at Chulann who looked a little annoyed. "They seem a bit agitated around you," I said, raising my eyebrows a little. He shrugged, "animals are unpredictable." He then brought me into a gentle hug and feeling his strange comfort, I hugged him back. He pulled away with a grin on his face, his hands still on my waist. "What?" I asked. He softly moved his hands to my belly, "our first child Aine," he murmured fondly.
"Oh, that," I couldn't help but cringe. When would I tell him? Chulann laughed out loud, startling me, "I'm going to be a father, and you- a mother!" he exclaimed delightedly. I smiled up at him weakly. "What do you reckon hmm? A strong young lad so his old man can teach him to fight? Or a beautiful little girl, with the red hair of her mother and those dancing feet of yours." He was so happy, almost giddy. "Either way, we'll still love it," I replied cautiously.
"Of course! Either way," he agreed. Just that moment father came in, "Chulann," he said in a monotone. Chulann turned around to face him, "yes Daragh?" Father's face was serious, "I need to have a word. Now." Chulann's happy mood vanished in an instant, his jaw setting tightly and his lips in a thin line. "Something wrong Daragh?" he asked. Father opened his mouth quickly to respond but when he glanced at me he held back, "I'd like to talk to you Chulann," he repeated. Chulann's eyes narrowed. It was as if the both of them knew something that I didn't and it made me uneasy. "Alright then," Chulann replied, stepping forward and straightening his shoulders a little more. Once they both stepped outside, Eoin came beside Chulann and two more of father's men joined them. A little more in the distance I could see Roise looking at the clansmen nervously, a worried expression carved into her face, it looked like it would never go. The men joined Roise and they all went silently into father's chambers. What was going on?