Daughter of the Waves

Changing Worlds

A few weeks passed, and despite a few people making the sign of the cross and crossing the road to avoid Aalith,  and even Brendan and Eilish, nothing terrible happened. The gift from Arsinoe to Eilish improved her healing abilities even further, even being efficacious in cases of near drowning, always inevitable in a fishing village. The seemingly miraculous healings did nothing to calm Father Kelly's diatribes, which the three friends heard second hand from their friends in the village - Brendan and Eilish having ceased going to mass. 

But most of the village was grateful, and flocked to the little cottage near the beach to have their hurts healed. But sadly, Aalith noticed that many people now treated her with a formality that had not been there before, and while they were polite when they saw her, some stopped inviting her to gatherings at their homes. It seemed that finding out her true identity had made many people feel apprehensive around Aalith. It saddened her a little, but she resolved to win them over again, just like she had when she first arrived. 

The children of the village were Aalith's one uncomplicated delight, and they flocked to her when they saw her, even some whose parents disapproved. She continued to tell them the stories of her people, perhaps unwisely, as it stirred the pot with Father Kelly and his followers even further. 

Brendan and Aalith grew closer together, much to his delight. Aalith began splitting her nights between Brendan's house and Eilish's, setting tongues wagging even further. She was always available however if someone bought a sick patient to Eilish in the middle of the night. 

Brendan did not go back to the sea, just as he had said ( Arsinoe's warning making him even more determined to succeed at his new venture, although he never told Aalith or Eilish that. ) He began playing, first for the villagers at wakes and more festive shindigs. Word soon spread and it was not long before he was being asked to play in surrounding towns and villages. Aalith and Eilish were generous in their praise, and he basked in their admiration. Soon he was earning more money than he had a fisherman, and was able to buy himself a horse, with which he was able to take jobs further away. If a few in the town grumbled at his good fortune and whispered that it was due to Aalith's magic, he did not care. 

All in all, life was good, but the question staying or going still hung over them, unspoken and unresolved. Brendan was reluctant to press her on the matter, as he could see how much returning to the sea meant to her, despite their blossoming romance. She never spoke of it, but he could see she was being pulled in two directions, and it pained him. 

Then, when not working with Eilish, Aalith took to walking along the sea shore for miles, staring out to sea. But she never went swimming. It was as if she feared that if she entered the water she would never want to leave. Almost imperceptibly she became thin and drawn, like she had when she first arrived. Whenever he tried to talk to her about it, she became angry and would not talk to him for days afterward. She stopped coming to his bed. 

One day, a few days before the next solstice was due, Brendan went to Aalith with a heavy heart. 

"My love," He began, clearly speaking reluctantly. "I have made up my mind. I do not want to lose you, but neither do I want to see you unhappy. I think you should return to the the sea and your people."

He expected her to be relieved, and to agree at once, but she did not. She did not speak for a while, and Brendan was becoming more and more perplexed. 

Finally, she spoke. 

"I do wish to return to the sea, but I also want to stay with you Brendan. I feel I am being pulled in two directions, and that is why I have been so... difficult... lately. Never doubt that I do love you Brendan. But it seems the choice has been made for me. I will stay with you."

Thrilled beyond words, Brendan kissed her and held her to him, whispering endearments in her ear. Then he thought to ask her what she meant when she said the choice had been made for her. 

She paused for a moment before smiling softly and replying "I am carrying your child."