A Place Beyond (18 page)

Liam had been correct in assuming we would be expected to hang around for Niamh’s crowning. I was anxious to go home but wanted to be a good friend to Niamh.

Ethan and I spent the day with Samantha and Ciarán exploring the mountain top gardens behind the Bruidhean. With no threats to worry about, it was incredible to just experience Tír na n’Óg. The flowers and trees were always in full bloom, producing the most beautiful fragrance.

When we got back to the gathering room, Niamh’s advisor Diarmuid and Eithne were speaking quietly with Liam. I felt alarm skitter down my spine. They were supposed to be in Stoneville as decoys. What was happening?

Liam caught my look, and put his hands up, palms out. “Don’t worry, Diarmuid has replacement decoys in place. He needs to be here for the ascension.”

I exhaled, a million worst-case scenarios fizzling in my brain. “Oh, good. I was about to lose it.”

Liam looked sympathetic. “No need, everything will be all right.”

“Is it almost time for the ceremony?” Samantha said, grinding the tip of her shoe into the floor.

“Very soon,” Diarmuid said in an even voice. Niamh’s gown is being prepared.”

“Would you like to see?” Eithne asked timidly.

I looked at Ethan. “Do you mind waiting here?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

She put her hand on Diarmuid’s chest and turned to lead Samantha and me out.

“Eithne? How’s my mother?” I asked.

She looked over her shoulder at me. “She’s just as you left her. Nothing will change until she and your father are reunited.”

I knew that, but I hated missing anything.

“And your family is taking very good care of your grandmother,” she said gently.

She left us in a kind of dressing room in one the upper levels of the palace. Four hand maidens were busy fussing around a pedestal in the center of the room. Niamh stood in the center of the activity, facing away from us.

Her golden waves were braided and arranged in an elaborate up-do. She wore a floor length gown in hyacinth purple. Silver embroidery wrapped around the bodice, spiraling through the skirt. Her arms were held out to the side and the belled sleeves draped down past her hips. Just looking at the fall of the silky material on her slim hips was almost enough to make me want to swear off ice cream and cookies forever.

“Thank you both for staying,” Saoirse said from the corner of the room. I shifted my gaze to the high back chair she sat in, hands folded primly in her lap.

Niamh turned her neck and met my eyes, her smile reticent.

I know you want to go home. It means a lot to have you here.

I gave her a small smile in return. I would never have thought someone like Niamh could become a friend. She was so composed and confident on the outside. I was learning she was more like me than I’d originally believed.

She laughed lightly.

We’ll blame it on overexposure to humans. It can be our little secret.

Saoirse rose and whispered something in one of the handmaiden’s ears. The girl glanced over at Samantha and me before hurrying out of the room.

“Are you nervous?” I asked Niamh.

“Yes,” she said. She paused for a moment, thinking. “I’m really glad to have Diarmuid to get me through.”

Saoirse clucked her tongue. “You will be the greatest queen our people have ever known.”

Niamh shook her head, but stayed quiet. The handmaidens stepped back, admiring the gown.

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” Saoirse said, glancing at us.

“It is,” I said as Niamh turned in a circle, the fabric billowing around her ankles.

“Where is this all happening?” Samantha asked, her fingers twisting the ends of her layered black hair.

“Just north of this palace in a grove overlooking the Aimsirean Sea. It’s only a short distance away, and Deaghlan and I will be leaving directly.”

I thought I saw a tiny hint of regret in Saoirse’s eyes as she spoke to Samantha. I was probably imagining it, since I’d never seen any real emotion pass over her face.

“Is Father ready?” Niamh asked.

“I think so, he’s with Aoife now.”

I looked down at the yoga pants I still wore, thinking I really needed something a little nicer for something like a crowning ceremony.

“My handmaidens have brought gowns to your rooms, girls, don’t worry,” Saoirse said, catching my look.

“Thank you,” I said, grateful. “I guess we’ll see you there,” I said to Niamh.

She nodded, her lips turning up just the tiniest bit.

Samantha waved shyly and we went off to get ready to watch Niamh become the next queen of Tír na n’Óg.

Ethan and I walked at the front of a long procession from the Bruidhean through the low foothills until the land smoothed out. In the distance we could see the pale aqua of the sea.

No one spoke during the journey to the seaside. Trailing behind us were Samantha and Ciarán, Liam and Aodhan. I couldn’t help feeling the Danaan kept us in front so they could watch us.

As we got closer to the tree grove, tiny pink flowers dotted the grass. Eventually a pale pink carpet lay beneath our feet.

The grove consisted of a wide circle of fruit trees in variations of white and pink blooms. The sweet scent of apple and cherry blossoms filled the air.

The Danaan filed in, creating a semi-circle around the wooden arbor at the center of the grove. The arbor was built from thin, curving branches woven with all shades of wildflowers.

Behind the arbor sat two tall chairs, possibly thrones. They were created with the same curving branches and flowers as the arbor, but with seats of green satin cushions.

The sun was rising above the tree line, its light dappling the flowers at our feet. My gown was an aqua as pale and shimmery as the sea beyond the trees.

Once the majority of the procession found a spot, three male Danaan went to stand to the right of the arbor holding musical instruments. There was a harp, a hand drum and a small mandolin. Two younger males carried a fiddle and a flute past where we were standing. I glanced behind me and they offered the instruments to Aodhan and Liam who both tried to refuse them. The boys persisted, saying the queen insisted they play for the ceremony.

I heard Aodhan mumble something about
plenty of others who could play
, but he reluctantly followed the boys to the other musicians. Liam went behind him, raking one hand through his hair.

I felt a little thrill run through me and I grabbed Ethan’s hand and squeezed.

“I’ve always wanted to see my father play. My parents met at a music festival.”

He squeezed my hand back and we watched as all five musicians tuned their instruments. I had heard music in Tír na n’Óg and it was unlike anything in the human world. Perhaps it was the speed they could move their fingers, but it was truly magical.

The whispers in the grove died down and Aodhan began a slow melody on his flute. It was so tiny in his hands, but the music he created flowed through my bones, goose bumps rising on my skin.

Nearly as one, the crowd turned as Niamh, accompanied by her parents, made her way to the arbor. Aodhan played on, his gaze never leaving Niamh’s face.

She knelt under the flowery canopy of the arbor and Saoirse and Deaghlan walked around, only to meet in front of their thrones. The trilling sound of Aodhan’s flute died away, and the king and queen took their seats.

Diarmuid went to the front of the crowd and began speaking in a beautiful language I couldn’t understand. He was animated as he stirred the crowd to a great eagerness.

He turned and approached the king and queen, bowing low before each of them. Saoirse inclined her head, her face radiating beauty. Deaghlan’s response was more serious, a grave nod.

Diarmuid straightened up and stood before the arbor where Niamh still knelt, head bent. He gestured and Eithne approached with a woven circlet of white daisies and blue delphiniums. She curtsied for the king and queen, then for Niamh before presenting the circlet to Diarmuid.

He spoke a few more words and gestured for Niamh to rise. She stood slowly and the grove was alive with anticipation.

She turned, her face as tranquil as her mother’s, and placed a hand over her heart. Repeating after Diarmuid, she recited an ancient promise to her people.

Diarmuid stepped forward and placed the flower circlet on her head and the crowd exploded in happy exclamations. The group of musicians broke into a lively reel as the Danaan lined up in front of Niamh. Liam wore a smile I’d only seen on the rarest of occasions as his bow swept across the fiddle. Each of Niamh’s subjects bowed before her, kissing her hands and smiling at her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a group of guards carrying a long, curtained litter, an ornate shoulder carriage, just outside the proceedings. As one, they gently laid the large wooden handles on the soft grass.

I tore my eyes from the carrier, which I assumed held a bed for Aoife, back to Niamh’s ascension. As I looked back, I saw a glint of moisture in Samantha’s eyes.

She caught me looking and whispered. “I always cry at this sort of thing.”

“Have you been to many crownings?” I teased, getting her to smile and poke my arm.

Once the guests had taken their turns bowing to Niamh, Saoirse and Deaghlan came to her side. In the same unfamiliar language, they addressed the crowd.

The emotional climate quickly changed from elated to solemn. Saoirse had kept the peace in Tír na n’Óg for a thousand years and she was well-loved by her people. She would be missed.

As I watched her smile at her people, I considered how I felt about Saoirse and Deaghlan leaving. Saoirse had played a long game with us, watching and waiting for the right time to bend us to her will. Still, I felt a pang of sadness at her leaving. I told myself it was the way she charmed me time after time, but I wasn’t sure I believed that. Somewhere under her laser focus, I suspected she had a peaceful soul.

Niamh was all the best parts of Saoirse, I realized with a smile. Maybe she had even inherited something good from Deaghlan—natural curiosity.

The ceremony came to an end and the crowd followed Deaghlan, Saoirse and their new queen through the trees to a white sandy beach. On the shore sat a longboat, surrounded by eight oarsmen.

Diarmuid kept the Danaan back several feet while Niamh spoke quietly with her parents. Aodhan stayed by her side as they said their goodbyes. There were no tears shed by any of them, though my eyes were a bit damp at the sight. As Niamh and Aodhan stepped back, the men carrying the litter came forward.

Deaghlan approached the litter and parted the curtains. He gathered a very frail, white haired Aoife in his arms. She was still beautiful, even with her creased face and bent frame. Without looking back, he carried his daughter onto the boat, followed by Saoirse. The oarsmen pushed the boat into the water and jumped in behind them.

And under the late morning sun, the king and queen of Tír na n’Óg floated away to Magh Mell.

After I’d changed back into my yoga pants and tank top, and Ethan back to shorts and a T-shirt, it was time for us to head home. Niamh asked us to stay for the celebration, but I couldn’t wait any longer to see my mother. Liam was even more anxious, with good reason.