Awakening Her Soul to Destiny (30 page)

Finally finding his voice, Jared leapt to his feet and rushed to embrace his father. “Da…we all thought ye’d been lost…traveling…between the realms.”

Hugging his son to his chest, Lorrigan swallowed hard, struggling to speak through all his emotions, “Aye, lad….that’s what Ravon would have everyone ta’ think.” Grabbing Jared by the shoulders, he held him at arm's length to study the son he hadn’t seen for years. “My Gawd, laddie, ye’ve grown into a man!”

Grinning at his father’s observation of the obvious, Jared bobbed his head in agreement; “Aye, Da…I’ve grown up and I’ve also found my soulmate,” he said softly, as he extended his hand to Kaitla. Rising to stand beside him, Kaitla smiled hesitantly up into Lorrigan’s face.

“
Ye couldna’ have done any better, lad,” Lorrigan replied softly, his voice tinged with awe as he knelt before Kaitla’s feet, head bowed in submission. Reaching up to clasp her hand, Lorrigan raised his eyes to Kaitla’s face as he spoke, “I’ll be forever indebted to ye, Mistress…I canna tell ye what it means ta’ me ta’ at last be free of Ravon’s evil.”

Urging him to stand, Kaitla’s heart quickly warmed to Lorrigan. “I’m just thankful it’s all over,” she said wearily, leaning against Jared for support. A slight moan from Etain drew everyone’s attention immediately to the poor broken form on the ground. Kaitla felt a stab of guilt at neglecting poor Etain while she’d been caught up in the introduction’s to Lorrigan.

Pushing the guilt aside, she returned to sit beside Etain, eyeing the injured woman thoughtfully. Grasping the crystal of the springs hanging around her neck, Kaitla envisioned a cup full of the healing spring water in her hand. Gently lifting Etain’s head, she pressed the cup to her lips, managing to wet her mouth with a few of the precious healing drops. Etain slowly became conscious enough to manage a few sips then weakly laid back against Kaitla’s arm.

Tearing a strip of cloth from the tail of his shirt, Jared dipped the corner of the rag in the water and gently bathed Etain’s face; carefully soaking the dried blood until it could easily be wiped away. Moaning faintly and turning away from his ministrations, Etain raised a restraining hand silently begging him to stop. Jared dropped the cloth to his lap, shaking his head forlornly at Kaitla.

Kneeling at Etain’s feet, Lorrigan shook his head sadly. Etain was his grandmother as well as the woman who had safely seen his son to adulthood. He was appalled at what Ravon had done to her.

Setting her chin in determination, Kaitla placed her hand lightly upon Etain’s chest. Bowing her head and breathing deeply, she conjured the image of a healed and restored Etain in her mind. As she struggled to keep the image clear, a white aura surrounded Etain’s body. Her bruises and burned flesh slowly began to heal and take on a healthy glow. Her breathing came easier and her troubled face gradually eased into peaceful repose.

Holding the spell as long as her strength would permit, Kaitla fell to her side, sprawling alongside Etain on the ground. Gathering her into his arms, Jared anxiously searched Kaitla’s face to reassure himself she was all right.

“
Kaitla?” Etain faintly whispered, raising herself up on one elbow.

Crawling to her side, Kaitla was dismayed to see Etain was still completely blind. “Here, Etain,” she whispered softly as she touched the fragile woman. She gently cradled Etain’s head in her lap, also noticing the once graceful wrists were permanently twisted and crippled. Bowing her head to tears, Kaitla stroked the silvery hair away from the delicate face. “Oh Etain, why couldn’t I heal you completely?” her voice trembled with pain, as she sadly touched the scarred eyelids in Etain’s once beautiful face.

“
Ye’ve healed me more then ye realize, child,” Etain whispered smiling softly. “If not for yer healin’, my spirit ‘twould have left this realm by now.”

“
But your eyes…your arms…” whispered Kaitla. “Why..?”

“
Those wounds were inflicted by Ravon himself. Once he had marked me, so, he spoke his curse o’er me to ensure the effects would be lastin’.” Etain patted Kaitla’s hand reassuringly, “But ye’ve cleansed the realm of his evil and I shall live a while longer…what more could I ask?”

“
Etain…I don’t understand…Ravon’s dead. All his curses should be broken,” Kaitla argued gently.

Reaching down to gently lift her hand to his face, Lorrigan leaned closely to enable Etain to hear him, “Etain…it’s Lorrigan. Ravon’s death freed me at last.”

“
Lorrigan?” Etain’s voice was filled with awe as she gently felt Lorrigan’s face. “Is it really you, lad?”

“
Aye, Etain…’tis really me,” Lorrigan smiled. “Mistress Healer saved me from Ravon’s curse and now I can finally be reunited with m’family.” He squeezed Kaitla’s hand tightly, once again silently thanking her for delivering him from the tormented curse that had held him captive for decades.

“
If Ravon’s death finally freed my father, why has his curse over ye not been shattered as well?” Jared spoke quietly as he cradled Etain’s crippled hand in his own.

“
Ah, lad. Who’s ta’ say what breaks a curse? Perhaps someday the solution ‘twill be found…for now I’m thankful for that which I have already been given.” Squeezing his hand gently, Etain slowly sat up, holding onto Kaitla and Jared for support. “Hold tightly ta’ me, my children for ‘tis time for Kaitla to transport us all home.” Smiling bravely, Etain nodded at Kaitla as the four embraced each other tightly and slowly disappeared.

Chapter XIV

Etain took a deep breath of the clean fresh air, enjoying the warmth of the early morning sun warming her upturned face. Leaning back against the stone wall of the Keep, her bench overlooked the valley where the sun rose every morning. Breathing in the fragrance of the blooming honeysuckle, she smiled to herself, as she realized that it was about this time last year, she had finally revealed to Kaitla her true heritage. Etain could hardly believe that a little over a year had already passed since Kaitla had healed the realm and cleansed it from Ravon’s evil.

Sensing the approach of someone from the Keep, Etain listened closely to the footsteps, easily identifying the hitching gait of Lorrigan. Although Kaitla had been able to break the curse that had trapped Lorrigan in the form of a dog for years, she’d been unable to mend the crippled hips he’d developed as a result of Ravon’s repeated beatings and the uneven healing of broken bones.

Today his steps were light though, and he hugged Etain affectionately as he joined her on the sunny bench. “Enjoying the beautiful mornin’, are ye?” Lorrigan asked lightly.

Smiling warmly at her grandson, Etain nodded gently as she replied, “Aye, lad…’tis a glorious morning…full of possibilities.” Leaning closer to him, she gently patted his leg, “We have much ta’ be thankful for my lad.”

Covering her hand with his own, Lorrigan squeezed it reassuringly. “Aye, I agree…but about the possibilities…I’m none too sure. How long do these things usually take, Etain?”

Laughter tinkling like a bell, Etain slowly stood, motioning for Lorrigan to join her. “They take as long as they take, child. Do ye no’ remember?

Smiling as he joined Etain for a stroll through the gardens, Lorrigan shook his head slowly, “Etain, that was over a century ago, and at the time, I was away in another realm.” They both fell silent as they meandered through the gardens, pausing now and then to check the progress of an herb here or a flower there. They soon came upon Hobart at the far end of the garden, ferociously battling a vicious patch of threatening weeds.

At their approach, Hobart looked up expectantly, leaning wearily against the handle of his hoe. “Well? Anything yet?” he asked anxiously, as neither Lorrigan nor Etain said a word.

“
Not yet, Hobart,” Lorrigan replied with a sigh, “Etain tells me we must be patient because these things take time.”

Returning disgruntled to his attack on the weeds, Hobart mumbled under his breath, “Patient!.Hmmpf! Things take time. Hmmpf! We’ve already been waiting months…that should count for something!”

Etain and Lorrigan smiled, as they slowly turned to return to the Keep. A strong piercing wail wafting down from the upper level windows caused Etain’s smile to grow even wider. Finally! As she tilted her head to listen to the cries, she squeezed Lorrigan’s arm tightly, hurrying them to the doorway leading inside the Keep.

Laughing heartily, Lorrigan returned the squeeze, quickly guiding Etain through the doorway and up the corridor to the stairs. “Listen to that, the child is strong!” he chortled happily to Etain. “D’ye think we have a lad or a lassie?”

Quickly feeling her way up the stairs, she only paused for a moment, “Well, why don’t we just go and see?” she grinned excitedly.

Arriving at the private chambers as Mistress Frann was leaving, Lorrigan and Etain attempted to corner her for information. “Tell us, Frannie!” he whispered excitedly, as she turned from closing the door softly.

A twinkle in her eye, Mistress Frann simply shook her head firmly, “I’ll no’ be telling ye a thing!” she replied mysteriously. Opening the door with a flourish, she herded them quickly into the room. “Ye’ll have ta’ meet the wee one and make yer own introductions,” she announced with a smile as she stood with her arms crossed in satisfaction.

Laughing, Jared quickly met Lorrigan and Etain at the doorway. Hugging Etain excitedly and thumping Lorrigan on the back, Jared was bubbling with excitement as he pulled the two of them closer to the huge bed in the corner. “I have someone I’d like for ye ta’ meet!” he beamed proudly.

Kaitla wearily smiled up at them from the nest of pillows propping her up in the bed. She looked drained but happy as Jared gently picked up the tiny squirming bundle cradled at her side. Turning slowly to Etain, he placed the warm new baby carefully into her outstretched arms. “Etain…Father...” he said, with his face completely glowing with pride, “I’m proud to introduce ye to m’son.”

“
Our
son,” corrected Kaitla with a gentle laugh. She watched with amazement at the gentleness with which Jared cradled the baby boy in his arms.

Pressing her face to the velvety soft baby skin, Etain smiled as the tiny hands flailed at her face and grunts and coos gurgled in her ear. “Oh, what a fine bonny lad,” she whispered, cradling the child in her arms and holding him to her heart. As the tiny babe cooed and squirmed in his blanket, Etain thought at first the warm glow she felt was simply the joy of the newborn child she held within her arms. Then slowly, she began to realize she was beginning to detect light. She’d been engulfed in darkness ever since Ravon had burnt her eyes from the sockets but now she was positive she was seeing light.

As a brilliant pink glow engulfed Etain and their newborn son, Kaitla and Jared watched in amazement. Lorrigan quickly stepped back, amazed at the transformation taking place before his very eyes. When the baby finally crowed loudly, flailing his arms and working himself into a fuss, the pink glow disappeared leaving Etain’s sight restored and her arms as graceful and delicate as the day she was born.

Laughing, she raised the baby to her shoulder, patting his behind gently as she slowly rocked and comforted him. “The wee laddie has healed me…what a fine beautiful bairn!” she said. Tears of joy rolled down Etain’s cheeks as she gently handed the babe back to Kaitla to put him to her breast.

Hugging Etain to his side, Jared proudly watched as his son eagerly grunted and rootled at his mother’s breast, anxious to find his dinner. Bending to gently brush Kaitla’s lips with his own, he gazed lovingly into her eyes as he whispered, “The curses are finally broken and our destiny lies within your arms.”