The Realm of the Sun

The Visit

            Tara awoke to a strange array of unfamiliar sensations. The air smelled of fresh bread, she could hear the sound of an infant crying, and a tiny phantom finger was repeatedly poking her in the rib. In between the worlds of dream and reality, Tara squinted as she made the transition. Rolling onto her side, she opened her eyes to find herself being stared at by Angharad. The adorable, curly-headed creature was on her knees, patiently waiting for Tara to wake up, although she was still poking her side. For a moment Tara was startled, forgetting where she had fallen asleep and who this wide-eyed little person was. Angharad smiled and giggled as she watched Tara battle the morning.

          "Hello," she finally said to her guest. Tara hit her elbow on the wooden planks of the loft as she tried to sit up. Angharad giggled again.

          "Hello," said Tara, holding her elbow tenderly in the palm of her other hand. She looked up at the ceiling not so far above her head, to find that shimmering rays of sunlight were shining through the thatch, making the roof glow like gold.

          "Mummy, she's awake!" Angharad sprung to her little feet and excitedly ran to the edge of the loft and peered over the little wooden railing to see her mother. The low attic ceiling was of no concern to her.

          "All right, but make sure to leave our new friend alone if she'd like to sleep more," Saoirse called from downstairs, in between cooing to her antsy newborn. Not even hearing her mother's advice, she turned back around to face Tara and sped across the hay-covered planks to seize her. She grabbed Tara by the arm with surprising force and pulled her with all of her might toward the narrow staircase.

          "Careful up there, dear, I can't have you falling through!" came her mother's second cautioning, which the tiny child ignored just as thoroughly as the first. Angharad's grin was ear to ear as she led Tara down the winding stairs. The feisty little girl practically slid down the steps as if they were not steep or narrow. Tara smiled, for it reminded her of when she would climb the skinniest trees just to worry Nessie on purpose.

          "There you are, girls," Saoirse said in a pleasant voice, as her baby finally stopped its unpleasant whining. A look of calm confusion came over baby Nory's face at the sight of new people.

          "Good morning," Tara yawned and rubbed her tired eyes.

          "Good morning," Saoirse replied with a smile as warm as the sun's beams. Tara smiled at the scene laid out before her. The little home was filled with the sun's morning light as the boarding had been taken off of the windows temporarily. Saoirse stood at the table breaking pieces of freshly risen bread, Nory secure in a cotton sling tied across her torso like a sash. Eamonn and Pearse were sitting on the other side of the table mashing what appeared to be brightly coloured berries in small clay dishes. Angharad took Tara by the hand once more and guided her over to the action.

          "Did you manage to sleep well?"

          "Oh, yes, thank you," replied Tara. It was true. Despite all her uneasiness, guilt, melancholy and fear, Tara had a full night's sleep in that lofted bed of hay. She had been so exhausted from the travelling and had spent so much of her energy trying to harness her emotions that her body simply demanded uninterrupted rest.

          "I'm sorry that the children woke you. We are up before the sun in this house," she said, her eyes half rolling as a tired sigh escaped through her loving smile. Tara looked at baby Nory and smiled. She hadn't noticed the baby's round cheeks the day before. She watched the small thing smile up at its mother and reach its wrinkly hands up to touch her golden locks. Angharad hurried to the chair next to her oldest brother, watching him with fascination as he mashed the red and blue berries together.