Pure

“When will the marriage ceremony be?”

Maigred smiled stiffly at the woman, trying to come up with an answer that wasn’t rude. If she had a stone for every time she had been asked that question over the last year, she could have rebuilt the wall encircling the town from scratch. The stones she would have collected from being asked that question just today, would have doubled the wall’s thickness.

“I still haven’t said yes,” Finten’s voice came from over Maigred’s shoulder. His hand rested on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

Maigred relaxed. She leaned back into his tall, sturdy body, reveling in the familiar feel of his magic twining with hers, a gentle hum vibrating between them where their bodies touched. She was grateful he had chosen that moment to find her in the crowd of celebrating people.

It had been a year since Hadeaon had been defeated. A year of rebuilding the town and rebuilding relationships. Maigred had started corresponding with other ladies in territories nearby. They had proved eager to help. Hearth maidens had come to help Maigred start a school for the girls in the territory, Finten had started a training program for the boys, no one was turned away. Every child would have a chance to connect to the gods and to their own powers. Things were going well, but people were still eagerly waiting for Maigred and Finten to get married.

“Oh,” the woman looked nonplussed. “Why haven’t you said yes yet? Caevah’s been dead for a long time, surely you’re ready to move on?”

Maigred went stiff, her right hand curled into a fist.

Finten’s hand moved down and slid around Maigred’s waist. “You know how unpredictable we tarasque are, maybe I’ll say yes tonight.” He laughed impishly and pulled Maigred away towards where other couples were dancing to live music in the square. He drew her close, his hands on her waist, and began leading her through the steps of the dance.

Maigred put her hands on his shoulders, let out a breath and rested her forehead against his chest. “If one more person asks me, I swear, Finten, I’m going to put a curse on them.”

Finten laughed quietly.

“Thank you for rescuing me, and…for taking the blame.”

The truth was, she hadn’t asked Finten to marry her yet. She could feel the grey stone, which she still carried in her pocket, thump gently against her leg as they moved to the music. She’d had it strung on a cord in preparation for a wedding ceremony months ago, but she still hadn’t asked him.

Finten kissed the top of her head. “She shouldn’t have asked you that. It’s none of her business what you decide to do.”

“It is though, Finten. We’re the lord and lady of the land. The harmony, or lack of harmony, between us is what determines the safety of their homes. It’s natural for people to worry over how our relationship is going.”

“You don’t owe them anything, Maig. They’re lucky you chose to give them your loyalty, that you chose to fight for them.”

Maigred leaned back to look up at him. He smiled warmly down at her. He was wearing the outfit she had made as a courtship gift for him. He looked good in it.

“What about you?”

“I don’t know how lucky they are to have me.” His eyes twinkled.

Maigred reached up and put her hand over his mouth. “No. Don’t say that. They are very lucky to have you.”

Finten kissed her fingers where they rested against his lips.

Maigred smiled and shook her head. She put her hand back on his shoulder. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

He grinned. “I’ve been told that a few times.”

She let out an amused breath of air. “I meant, what about you- are you impatient for me to ask you?”

“No. I’m dancing with the most beautiful woman in the territory. What else could I want right now?”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s all you want?”

His grin grew wider. “What are you offering?”

Maigred rolled her eyes. “Be serious, Finten.”

“Alright, what do you want to know?”

Maigred swallowed. “Are you impatient that I haven’t asked you to marry me?”

“No. I remember what it was like to not be ready. I would never want to pressure you into something you weren’t ready for, Maig. We don’t ever have to get married to be a good lord and lady to the people.”

Maigred looked away. “That would be like us, to never get married.”

Finten cocked his head. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve done nothing in the traditional way.”

Finten chuckled softly. “I suppose we haven’t, but it’s worked out so far.”

Maigred leaned her head against his chest again and let out a breath.

Finten’s arms wrapped around her pulling her closer. He laid his cheek on top of her head. “I love you, Maigred. I’m just happy to be here with you right now. We’ll deal with the future as it comes.”

“So if, hypothetically, I were to ask you to marry me, you wouldn’t have an answer for me tonight?”

“I would say yes.”

Maigred shut her eyes and let her feet follow Finten’s steady guidance. She swallowed. “You’re a good man, Finten.”

“I’ve been told that a few times.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

Maigred heard Cathal’s voice. She opened her eyes. Cathal and Aoibh were dancing a few steps away. They were murmuring softly to each other, eyes for no one but each other. They’d had their marriage ceremony nine months ago. Maigred had never seen her brother so happy, or Aoibh either for that matter. She knew that Cathal still had days when he struggled with dark thoughts, but they didn’t seem to have as strong a hold on him as they used to.

She shut her eyes again. Everything in her life was falling into place. She didn’t know why she still felt unsettled, why she didn’t feel ready to commit to Finten yet. A thought she’d had at the back of her mind for months pulled at her attention. Moisture began to fill her eyes. Maigred frowned and shoved the intrusive thought away.

Finten’s hand came up and stroked her hair. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly.

Finten didn’t say anything else. His feet kept time with the music, his hand caressed her hair.

Maigred made a decision. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. “I need to go out, Finten.”

“To the sacred grove?”

“Yes.”

He smiled at her mischievously. “Alright. I’ll distract everyone so you can slip away.”

Maigred looked up into his warm golden eyes. A realization hit her. I don’t want to go through life without him. Whatever happens, I want to face it with him by my side.

She took a breath, her hands tightened slightly on his shoulders. “Finten, I want to see you all the time. Not just when we’re working together. I want to go to bed with you and wake up with you. I want to eat all my meals with you, I want to do everything with you. Marry me.”

His feet stopped moving. His eyes widened with joyful surprise, his mouth followed, pulling up into the happiest smile she had ever seen on his face. “Yes.” His eyes closed, he lowered his forehead to hers. “Yes. You’ve made me the happiest man alive, Maig. Thank you for asking me. I’m yours, tonight, tomorrow, forever.”

A warm glow filled Maigred to her core. She closed her eyes and just stood there, her hands on Finten’s shoulders, feeling his power and hers, twining, spinning and twisting, vibrating softly between their two bodies, feeling his breath brush her lips softly. “Thank you for your patience, Finten. I’m afraid you’re going to need it a lot more. I’m not an easy woman to live with.”

Finten chuckled softly. “Maig, I’m the lucky one. You’ll never convince me otherwise.”

* * *

Finten’s distraction turned out to be promising to buy drinks for everyone at the inn. The square quickly emptied and Maigred was able to slip away easily. She passed through the city gate, which was being guarded by Luaren and another man, and walked quickly down the path to the sacred grove.

She picked up one stone on the way.

She finally reached the grove and went to the center, her fingers clenched around the stone in her hand. She sank to her knees in the thick grass next to the spring.

Earth sister, please, answer me.

She’d come to the sacred grove full of questions for the last year, at least once a week. The earth sister had given her many answers, but not an answer to the question that burned in Maigred’s heart brighter than any other; but Maigred had never directly asked either.

Maigred licked her lips. “Earth sister, where is my son? Please show him to me.”

She looked down at the stone in her hand for a long moment before lifting it with trembling hands to her forehead.

She was standing in Sinead’s room. It was dark and Sinead was sleeping peacefully.

Every time Maigred came to the sacred grove she had this vision. The earth sister had never revealed why.

Tears pricked Maigred’s eyes. Is my son dead?

It was something she had never allowed herself to seriously consider.

Sinead turned towards Maigred. Her eyes were still closed. She beckoned. “Come and see, mama.”

Maigred frowned. She walked over to Sinead’s bed.

Sinead pulled back the covers. “Come and see,” she repeated.

Maigred slipped into the bed next to her daughter, lay on her back, and closed her eyes.

As soon as she closed her eyes, Maigred was standing on a hill looking out over the biggest body of water she had ever seen. There was water stretching as far to the right and left as she could see, and off to where the horizon met the sky. The sky was pale grey, as if the sun was just about to come up, then suddenly like a lustrous pearl, the tip of the sun rose above the water, and the sky lit up with color. The sun’s rays reflected on the waves in bright sparkles, hurting Maigred’s eyes.

She turned away from the brightness to find the wildest looking boy she had ever seen standing next to her, he was also looking out across the water. He was a head taller than she was, he had long brown hair that fell halfway down his back. Some of it was in braids, the rest of it fluttered freely in the wind. His arms looked limber and well muscled, his skin was tanned a dark golden brown. He was wearing a loose tunic and short pants in a style she’d never seen before. A brown, shapeless bag was slung over one shoulder. He was holding an unstrung bow, taller than he was, in his hand and wore a quiver of arrows at his waist. There was a hatchet tucked into his leather belt right behind a long hunting knife in a sheath.

He turned his head to look at her. His eyes were golden. He smiled. “Hello, mother.” He reached out and ran a calloused finger softly over her cheek. “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”

Maigred blinked. “You remember me?”

“Of course I do. You sent me away to keep me safe from my father. I did what you wanted, I traveled far away; even further than Finten.”

Maigred frowned. “How do you know about Finten?”

The boy’s smile widened. “Sinead keeps me company whenever she can, mostly at night when she sleeps. She tells me what’s happening at home. She told me it was safe to come back a while ago, but…well, I had traveled far. I’m nearly home. You’re just across this sea.” He motioned at the water in front of them.

Maigred looked at the expanse of water in bewilderment. “You crossed all that water?”

“Yes.”

She looked back at her son. “Do…do you have a name?”

“My name is Lorcan.”

Tears pricked Maigred’s eyes. “It suits you.”

He smiled. “Sinead said you would like it.”

Maigred stared at her son. He was so tall and capable looking. She had always imagined him being young and helpless.

There was a sharp whistle. Maigred looked down the hill and saw that where the land sloped down to meet the water there was a group of men on the land and a large boat bobbing in the waves.

“I have to go,” Lorcan said.

A hundred conflicting feelings rose up in Maigred’s heart and clogged in her throat. There were so many things she needed to say in case she never had another chance. All she managed was a choked, “Lorcan…”

He stepped close, his hand cupping the back of her head, and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry, mother, I’ll be home soon.” He stepped back and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “Nothing will stop me from getting back to you. I promise.” Then he turned and ran down the hill towards the boat on the glittering sea.

The vision ended. Maigred lowered the stone from her forehead and clutched it to her chest. Sobs shook her shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you, gods. Thank you for watching over my son. Please, give him good tides and favorable winds, bring him safely home to me.”