The week passed with nothing interesting occurring, just the usual and incredibly dull activities. That morning was the same as always. Eibhleann would awake and prepare breakfast before going outside to do work for the morning. This included tending to the large gardens that she kept, picking fruits and vegetables, gathering firewood, washing clothes and anything that she needed to do. The better part of her afternoon was often spent in the forest, picking berries and mushrooms and simply enjoying the wild and yet beautiful outdoors.
Most would call her unwise and foolish to venture into the forest alone, especially as a young woman! But she had her hound with her and it was not as though she was untrained. No, she brought along a dagger that she could use skillfully should she need it, and could easily hide in the case of danger.
She was unlike any other, with the ability to hunt and handle weapons, that she lived mostly alone outside of town and had the bravery to travel into the forest. And as useful as those skills may be, they made her rather undesirable as a future wife and repelled suitors. A woman was supposed to stay at home and clean, sew, cook etc. The hunting, weapons and other activities as such, should in a man's and society's opinions, be left to a man alone.
But that didn't hold her back. She was in the independent mindset that she should not need to rely on a man and that a woman could do just as much and more. And while her strength might be applauded by a very small minority of people, she was the only woman in this mindset, and she was found to be a bit strange to say the least.
But the opinions of others held no value to her. So long as she was alone she could do whatever she pleased and did not need to bend to the expectations of society.
***********
That particular morning, she had finished her tasks by the time noon approached and thought it best to go into the forest earlier, so that she might stop at the stream that would through it to do some washing. One of the local landlords had invited her to a ball that evening and she needed to prepare and wash her gown. Of course the "ball" in question would be on a significantly smaller scale than the ones held by royalty and higher members in society, but all the same, it was bound to be enjoyable and a chance to mingle with some townsfolk.
She brushed a hand lightly to her neck and realized what was missing. Eibhleann reached into the pocket she had sown into her dress and pulled out an emerald ribbon with a single silver bell hanging from it. Fastening the makeshift necklace around her neck, she held a hand to it momentarily, listening to the faint sound it made. She had worn it constantly since she received it and found the music that came from it calming, especially when she was under stress.
And yet, no matter how hard she racked her mind, she still could not place the song.
Shaking her head and moving her thoughts away from the unknown tune, she called for her hound and strode off into the forest.
It was difficult to put into words the feeling of the forest but the closest description would be.. Magical.
The trees and the entire aura that surrounded the forest radiated a sort of mystical feeling. The towering oaks and spruce trees swayed in the breeze, creaking from age and filling the air with their sounds. If one were to use their imagination, you could believe that they were talking to one another.
The animals, while not a rare sight, were heard more than they were seen, squeaking and chattering with one another and creating a welcoming sound for the beings wandering the forest.
The ground was soft from the recent rain and covered in dried leaves and twigs, wild flowers peeking through here and there. Warm sunlight shone through the canopies of the trees, but only a minimal amount of light, giving a glowing appearance.
The stream itself, which Eibhleann was headed towards, was shallow and reached up to her knees and her chest at the deepest point. The water today was calm, flowing smoothly and peacefully over small stones that coated the bottom of the stream. The water was clear and the bottom could be seen without difficulty. In the middle of the stream, logs had been laid from one end to the other, forming a makeshift bridge to give an easier crossing.
Eibhleann sat on the edge of the water, taking off her shoes and dipping her feet in the water. She sighed in relief as the cool water hit her skin. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, taking in the moment. Peace was so rare, and it was only in the forest that she found it.
After a few minutes, she unfolded the dress in her hands and held it in the stream, attaching the neck to a raised rock.
Deciding to go off and preoccupy herself while she waited, she stood up and walked across the bridge barefooted, not caring or wanting shoes.
She walked past endless trees and came to a halt at a circle of rocks. Eibhleann perched on one of them and hummed the unknown tune, still trying to place it. She hummed the first few notes but quickly fell silent as she heard a noise. She looked to her right side, staring off into the trees. She could have sworn she had heard something...
Shrugging it off, she resumed her humming, words forming on her tongue as some part of her mind remembered the lyrics as though she had known them before.
// súile álainn Shine geal mar an ghealach. buillí do chroí dom mar beats mianach ar do shon. teacht amach agus beo go deo. //
(Translation: beautiful eyes shine bright as the moon, your heart beats for me as mine beats for you. Come forth and live forever. )
She trailed off, smiling gently to herself, but her smile turned to confusion, fear and fascination at what came next.
A voice of what Eibhleann believed could have been an angel, echoed in the forest. It was deep and masculine, but crystal clear. seemingly coming from the trees surrounding her on all sides. The same tune as she had just sang, but with a new set of lyrics:
//ach anois mo ghrá do chuid súl atá caillte. Táim ag feitheamh leat. teacht amach agus beo go deo.//
(But now, my love, your eyes are lost. I await you. Come forth and live forever. )
The voice faded and Eibhleann jumped up from the rock, slightly scared. She clutched her dagger in her hand and spun around. "Who is there? Reveal yourself!" She said, trying to sound unafraid. She was met only with silence.
"I'm warning you." She threatened. "How do you know that song?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Still, no answer.
A blur of navy blue caught the corner of her eye, and she turned the other way, eyes darting around for the mystery man.
"I'm waiting for you, love." A deep voice whispered in her ear, hot breath on her neck. Eibhleann shivered and spun to face the voice, but saw no one. Swallowing hard, Eibhleann left the place, her mind swimming.
She couldn't have imagined all that. She knew it. But who could it have been? The voice seemed familiar.. but how in the world did they know that song? And the question that still haunted her: Where had she heard that song before?
*******
AN: (July 24/2015)
So this hadn't been updated in two years. (That's awful, I know.)
I have done a little bit of writing for it but haven't managed to piece anything together. I hope to get an update in soon and continue on track to finish this story. If anyone has been following this at all, I apologize for the lack of updates. Again, I will try to get back to work on this.
Thanks for your patience. I will be trying to wrote on wattpad more in general, so do feel free to keep an eye on my works on case of any updates.
Much love,
Alyssa
