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Iolena opened the courtyard door of their suite and smiled as she looked at the work that had been completed since the majority of the family and friends had arrived. She was the one who had set the goal, with Berian, of having the renovations completed and the castle fully decorated by the time Fiona returned from Ireland, as part of her Christmas present to her daughter and new granddaughter.
Kitlaen, who was staying in the smaller room in Connor and Iolena’s suite until Richard arrived and their rooms could be completed, quietly came up and laid her hand on Iolena’s shoulder. Iolena hugged her best friend.
“What do you think, Kitty?” She asked.
“I think it’s beautiful, Yena. I think your little girl is going to be so surprised when she comes home to all of this.” Kitlaen smiled warmly. “You and Berian are quite the team.”
Iolena nodded. “He is an amazing young man, isn’t he?” Kitlaen nodded in agreement. “And when Tanner gets here, as our Christmas present to him and Fiona, we’re giving him his freedom.”
“I heard you saying something to Maeryn about that. What do you mean?”
“I know Berian Brice loves being a Horsemaster, and he is extremely good at what he does,” Iolena smiled while she was thinking, “but he is even better as a husband and father, both to Lona, even though he’s also her big brother, but especially now to Abilynn. Tanner and I are going to release him from his full-time responsibilities of horsemaster at Forest Castle so he can spend more time here with Fiona and Abilynn.”
“And Lona?” The Pastora asked.
“And Lona, when she’s here. It’s a conversation that Kailee and Fiona haven’t had yet, but Kailee wants to take a more active role in raising and preparing her heir,” Iolena told her friend. “I know she’s already told Fi that she is taking Lona down to Aerielands Castle for the winter. After that, it will probably be more like fifty percent of the time here and the other fifty with Menta Kai.”
“I’m glad that she will continue to spend half her time at Caer Aerie,” Kitt responded. “She and Abilynn have a beautiful friendship as sisters, very similar to Fiona and Alistronia, or Kailee and Arianna.”
“Or you and me.” Iolena smiled.
“Or you and me,” Kitlaen agreed.
Maeryn came out into the courtyard from Menta Kai’s suite and smiled at her two friends. “Rumor has it that we better get down to the dining room, or the child everyone refers to as ‘Fireball’ is going to polish off everything that Debra, Tarbitha, and Gwynlyn have prepared for breakfast.”
“She’s up already?” Iolena asked.
“Oh yes,” Maeryn replied. “She’s been awake since daybreak when Grandpa and Uncle Joe knocked on the door to get Kailee when they were going hunting. I’ve been entertaining her ever since.”
“Oh, you should’ve sent her over to me,” Iolena told her friend. “I’ve been up since Connor got up as well. I could’ve taken care of her.”
“It wasn’t a problem, Yena. Besides, I know you, Sister. You were meditating and praying like you do every morning.”
“Well, what do you say we go get some breakfast ourselves, and then see if we can round up a pot of tea and some cups,” Kitlaen suggested, “and do some prayer and meditation together?”
“And girl talk,” Iolena added with a smile. “Never forget the girl talk!” The three women headed off to the dining hall in search of breakfast and Lona.
“What do you mean High Bishop?” Fiona almost fell from the sky, she was so startled by Fillian’s announcement. “I’ve never even heard of that title before, and if anyone should be High Bishop of Ireland, it should be Padraigh.”
“The full title is High Bishop Reverend Mother of Ireland. Fi, forgive me, Love, but that’s all I’m going to tell you,” Fillian replied. “And you have to promise me that you won’t go digging into the history books at Trinity. There are things in there that both you and your younger self cannot know yet.” The leprechaun paused. “Tell me that you haven’t noticed that it gets more difficult to erase your younger self’s memories every time you do it?” Fiona had to agree, and she told Fillian so. “That’s because, as the two of you get closer in age, you run the risk of eliminating your own memories. I honestly don’t know what the future holds, Fiona, but my prayer is that this is the last interaction you have with Bridget. I wouldn’t even have encouraged this if I had thought there was any alternative in order to convince Ian not to go after Michael Collins.”
“I understand that, Fil, and as much as I love helping and interacting with my younger self, I do agree with you.” Fiona started to descend toward Dublin. “Right now, my biggest concern is what is it going to take to convince Ian to do the right thing.”
“My guess, Fiona Bridget, is a little bit of magic,” the leprechaun answered, “and a whole lot of faith.”
“Mistress,” Zed mind-spoke to Fiona, “where do you want Zedra and me to wait?”
Fiona mind-spoke to her younger self. “Are we going to the old house or John Kavanagh’s pub?”
“Likely, the pub. Ian and Mum are kind of on the outs right now,” young Fiona replied.
“Zed,” Fiona instructed, “the pub that we are going to is on the edge of a large cemetery and the Botanical Gardens. You should be able to find a spot there to watch yet not be seen. In fact, we are going to land in the Gardens and shift there.” As she said that, the white owls, kestrel, and Snowy owl split off from the eagles, circled the National Botanical Gardens and shifted back into elf and human form in a secluded spot.
“Fi,” Alistronia cautioned, “I hate to be a nag, but we’re not exactly wearing twentieth century Dubliner clothes. We’re going to stick out in that place like a sore thumb.”
“Aye,” Fillian agreed. “Not that four six foot tall, gorgeous women walking into any pub in Ireland isn’t going to draw anybody’s attention.”
“I’m not that tall!” Abilynn objected. “I’m at least two inches shorter than Mum and three inches shorter than Tia Ali.”
“Yet,” Fillian retorted, “Your birth mother was even taller than Blondie here. Trust me, child, you’re going to be another skyscraper in my leprechaun world.” She grinned at Abilynn from Fiona’s back.
“Okay, you two can dicker all you want when we get done,” Fiona admonished her daughter and her friend. “I have an idea.” She positioned herself alongside the younger Fiona. “Other than my clothing, how closely do we look like each other?”
“You’re an elf, Fiona. You don’t age,” Ali told her. “I mean, we could set your mother in between the two of you, and nobody would know that there is almost 3000 years difference between each of you. Now that Bridget is an adult, the two of you are identical.”
“Thank you, Ali. You made my point.” She turned and looked at her younger self. “I am going to meet with Ian. Give me your coat, and take my cloak. I will mind-speak to you when and if I need you to come in.” She scooted Fillian off her back. “The other three of you, head over to Trinity College. Filley knows what we’re looking for, and you should have a good start on it by the time we catch up with you.” She mind-spoke to the eagles. “Zed, you stay near me. Zedra, there is a park directly across from Trinity library. You go with Alistronia and Abilynn, and wait for them there.”
“I can get there magically, Fiona,” Fillian told her. “The Kestrel doesn’t have to carry me.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Alistronia mind-spoke to Fiona. “We both know how this ends for Ian.” Fiona closed her eyes and nodded.
“Like Amil would say, it is what it is, Ali. Pray for me, Love.” Fiona answered.
“All the time, girlfriend. All the time. Love you, be safe.”
“You too. Love you, and take good care of my little girl,” Fiona replied, still mind-speaking. “And our little green bundle of joy.” Alistronia grinned at the last comment. Fiona hugged Abilynn, and then the two of them took flight and Fillian disappeared.
The two Fionas exchanged outer garments, and they both flipped the hoods up. “Are you ready to do this?”
The younger Fiona put her hand on the arm of her older self. “I don’t think you realize, Fi, that we have one mind. I’ve heard everything you mind-spoke, to Fillian, and Alistronia. It’s all in my head too, because we’re the same person. I also know that I’m not going to see you again after tonight until I am you. I just want to thank you for always being here for me. I know it’s been confusing, but you have really helped me become the woman I see before me. This may sound really strange, but I love you and even if you erase my memory of it, now you know.” She paused. “Let’s do this.”
Richard Skystormer had arrived at Caer Aerie shortly before noon, and after an enthusiastic greeting by his wife Kitlaen, he sought out Connor, who had become his best friend every bit as much as his wife was with Iolena.
“Tlannatar will be here later today or early tomorrow,” he reported to Connor. He smiled, “I think he is going to pop the question to Maeryn on Rising Day. He had Berian craft a really nice engagement ring before Berian went off to Aerielands Castle.”
“Well, Alistronia’s big brother,” Connor grinned at Richard, “I think that will probably make two. Caldar has been asking me when I thought you would arrive, and could I introduce him to you. I think he plans to ask for permission to marry your sister.”
“Really? What is he like? Do you like him? If he wanted to marry one of your girls, would you bless him?
Connor smiled a tight smile and nodded. “I would, but three of my four daughters are of the Aerielands, like Caldar. It means that, except to visit, your sister will be staying here for the rest of her natural life, which will get considerably longer when she marries Caldar.”
“Connor, that is one thing Kitt, and I have already accepted. Even if she didn’t marry an elf, Alistronia and your daughter are almost inseparable. We totally expect her to live out her life in Fiona’s household.”
“And you’re okay with that?” Connor asked.
“We are,” Richard replied. “You probably noticed that the atmosphere around Skystormer Castle is totally different since she’s been living in the Aerielands. I know my brother David won’t approve of her marrying a ‘pointy ears,’ but that’s his problem. Your daughters, and Fiona in particular, completely changed my little sister. Ali used to be so hard, severe and driven. I would bring men for her to meet that I thought she would like, or at least find interesting, and on a couple of occasions, she actually ended up physically fighting with them. But since she’s been with Fiona as her best friend, all that is changed.” He paused, thinking. “The only way I can explain it is that before she met Fiona and Kailee, she was living for what was expected of her, and I don’t believe she was happy with it. When she met your girls, it was like she realized that women of her age and position don’t need to isolate themselves. They can lead normal, happy, and even adventurous lives. And then, she learned how to fly,” he paused, “in more ways than one.”
“I know exactly what you mean, Richard,” Connor smiled. “I can compare Ali to my own blonde daughter. Menta Kai was the same way when we first met her, and Arianna, after some pretty brutal interaction, broke through that shell, just like Fiona did with Alistronia, and you can see the result. Fiona, on the other hand, is just like her mother in more ways than you can imagine. Fi has her mother’s compassionate heart, unequivocal faith, gentle spirit and total devotion to family, friends, and God.”
“Not to mention,” Richard opined, “her mother’s incomparable physical beauty, and I say that as a man married to an extremely beautiful woman, myself.”
“Thank you for the compliment,” Connor agreed. “And Fiona’s beauty, like Iolena’s, is much more than skin deep.” Richard nodded. “But enough of this standing around, musing about beautiful women whom we both love and care for. Just so you know, I will be introducing Caldar to you sometime today or tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to it, with a touch of melancholy at having Ali move on,” Richard replied with a smile.
“As a father, I know what you mean,” Connor was still smiling. “I hope Tanner gets here today so the two of you can join Joe, Kailee, Anyon and myself hunting for the turkey, pheasant, and venison we’re going to need for the banquet on Christmas Day.”
“What about elk?” Richard asked.
“Elk? That would be great if we happen to come across any while we hunt,” Connor replied.
“Baltac had to fly low through the mountains coming up here, because of the heavy clouds, and I saw a huge herd of mountain elk southeast of here, somewhat east of the road to Woods End. It was a healthy looking herd, too.”
“I actually enjoy elk more than venison,” Connor acknowledged. “I don’t know why, but it seems to have a less gamey flavor. We’ll talk with the others at dinner and see what the group wants to do, but if we decide to go after them, you get to be the guide, Richard.”
Kavanagh’s smelled of a pleasant combination of pipe smoke, beer and old wood as Fiona walked in, her eyes scanning the pub not just for Ian, but any possible threats. She spotted her adoptive brother sitting alone on a booth in the rear of the establishment, a pint of Guinness in front of him and another waiting for her, or more correctly her younger self, on the opposite side of the table. She approached the table and flipped her hood back, having already made sure that her long hair would cover the pointed tips of her ears.
“Thank you for the beer, Ian,” Fiona told him. She almost added, “it’s been a long time,” but then remembered that this was where she and Ian often ate together when they were in Dublin. Her brother grunted in acknowledgment.
“Where have you been, Fiona? I’ve been waiting here for a half an hour.”
“That would be hard to explain, Ian,” Fiona replied.
Ian shook his head. “Cavorting with the fairies again, down in Slane no doubt.” Before Fiona could answer, Ian continued, “Have you made up your mind yet about this assignment?”
Fiona smiled inwardly. Ian had never been one to beat around the bush. “I have, brother. We cannot do this. This is someone that we respect, and the one person who reached out to us after Fionnula was killed. We support the IRB, and the Brotherhood has been good to Mum as well. I know you and she are on the outs right now, but you should know that the Big Fella made sure she was taken care of after Da, well, you know.”
Ian nodded and answered her last statement. “But Fiona, if we don’t do this one the Master could off us. We would never see it comin’.”
Fiona rocked back in her seat. She desperately wanted to say that there was no way that the Rahs Master would stand a chance against the magic of the High Queen of the Aerielands, but she held her tongue on that. “I know that, Ian. That’s why we have to go to him first and ask for a different assignment, anywhere, America, the Continent, somewhere far away. Tell him we will go anywhere, off anyone he wants, just not this man.”
Ian’s eyes got as big as saucers, which reminded Fiona of Lona, and a voice came from behind her as a hand set on her shoulder, “I appreciate what you’re sayin’, Fiona of Kildare.” She turned to see who had put his hand on her shoulder and found herself looking up at the Big Fella himself, Michael Collins. “May I join you?” Collins asked, indicating the seat next to Fiona. She nodded mutely and slid over, mind-speaking at the same time, “Bridget, get in here now!”
Ian recovered enough to ask, “What do you mean, Fiona of Kildare?”
By this point the younger Fiona had approached the table, and flipping her hood back, she replied for Collins and Fiona. “What he means is, this is what happens when I cavort with fairies, as you call it, Ian.” She shoved her brother aside, sat down and took a healthy swig from his Guinness, as the older Fiona did the same with her own. Michael Collins flagged down the server and ordered another round of the dark beer for the table.
Ian had visibly backed into the corner of the booth, not sure who to stare at first, his sister, Michael Collins, or his “other” sister. “What the bloody hell is going on here?”
“Look at it this way, Ian McDonagh, these two ladies who are, incidentally, both your sister Fiona, are here to convince you not to assassinate me. Here I sit, across the table from you. I know you’re armed, so if you want to do the job, now is your perfect chance. I would caution you, however, there are probably quite a few IRB members and sympathizers in this pub right now, and even if Fiona is able to magically protect you, and you do get out of the place alive, you’d be a marked man for the rest of your days. Your very short days.”
“What do you mean ‘magically protect me?’” Ian asked in astonishment.
“It means you’re not paying enough attention to the fact that you have two identical women sitting with you, and the only difference is the points on the ears of one of them.” Collins swept back Fionas raven hair to reveal her pointed ear on his side. Ian’s eyes widened again.
“Cormac, I wish you hadn’t done that,” Fiona told the man sitting next to her. She reached up and recovered her ear before it attracted the attention of anyone else in the pub.
“Ah, good, you remember. I presume now you’re going to have to Confess both of them, Fiona.” Michael Collins confirmed what Fiona was already thinking, in addition to the fact that he was Cormac Mac Art, returned to protect Ireland.
“We’ll get to that later. Let’s deal with the issue at hand before anyone else realizes that there are two of me here.” Fiona’s Elven senses were on edge. She knew there was a threat, or threats, present, but she hadn’t singled it out yet.
Ian McDonagh had his hand raised like he wanted to ward off whatever was going on at his table. Either that or he needed to go to the bathroom which was also a distinct possibility. He looked at the Fiona seated next to him, his sister, “Okay Fi, what do you want me to do? Obviously, you have the upper hand in this. I don’t know how you got him,” he pointed at Collins, “to come here, but he’s right. I can’t off him here, and since the secret is lost, we can’t take the assignment at all. We’ve been compromised.”
All of a sudden it was evident to Fiona that the solution to the issue was sitting right next to her. “Ian, there are a lot of people in this pub that are seeing you sit here with the Commander. Obviously, you can’t kill him now, and just as obviously too many people have seen the assassin, Ian McDonagh, sitting with the Big Fella. You are compromised, and so am I. You have to ask the Rahs for a new assignment, somewhere far away. Far, far away.”
“Just who are you?” Ian asked, looking from the Fiona at his left, to the Fiona across the table.
“As the Big Fella said, I am Fiona of Kildare.” Without warning, she reached across the table, set her fingers on Ian’s forehead and briefly closed her eyes. Ian went rigid and then slumped back in his seat, unconscious.
“He’s going to be okay, isn’t he?” The younger Fiona asked.
“He’ll be fine, Bridget. I just Confessed him so that he won’t remember anything that happened here concerning me. He will remember having a beer with you and Cormac as the Big Fella. That being said,” she picked up her own Guinness and downed it in a couple of swallows, “I wish I’d had time to enjoy that. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.” She looked at Bridget, and with a lump in her throat, she told her younger self, “It’s time for me to go, for us to part company. Let’s go outside.” The two women and Collins rose and went outside of the pub. Bridget stopped briefly and told their server she would be right back and would take care of her brother.
Outside, Cormac relaxed his appearance so the two Fionas could see him as they knew him. “Do you know why they have started calling you Fiona of Kildare?” He asked her.
She shook her head. “All Fillian would tell me is that when I defeat Achtan, I will change the course of Irish history back to what it was supposed to be.”
Cormac smiled. “Fiona Bridget Yaleria-Brice, I am not the only one who will come back to save Ireland. Your destiny, as we have discussed before, is with one foot in the Aerielands and the other on the green sod of Ireland...with An Anotais in your hand.” He placed his hand on Fiona’s shoulder again. “How is my little girl doing? I know she’s here with you and your beautiful blonde friend.”
“She’s my little girl now,” Fiona asserted. “I don’t mean to be rude, but in order for Berian and I to raise her, you have given her up to us. She is well, she loves her new home and her new father and her little sister. You know that she is in the best possible place she can be with us. We love her dearly. Someday, Cormac, I may relax that rule, but it is not this day.” She smiled up at the tall Wolf King. “And just so you know, Alistronia has a boyfriend now, and unless I miss my guess, she’s not going to be a single woman much longer.”
“Indeed? Well, he is a very blessed man,” Cormac said with a smile. “And Fiona, Abilynn loves her new father, her little sister, Lona,” he said with his big smile, “and she dearly loves her new mother. You continue to take good care of her, Fiona. Merry Christmas, Fiona Bridget of Kildare.”
“Merry Christmas, Cormac Mac Art. May the road rise up to meet you and the wind always be at your back.” With that, Cormac shifted back into Michael Collins, raised his hand in salute, and walked down the darkened streets of Dublin and into history.
Fiona looked at Bridget, and they both had tears in their eyes. “I can’t Confess you like I did Ian because I would do that to myself as well.”
“But I can do that for you,” a voice came from behind her. Padraigh stepped up next to her. “Say your goodbyes, and I will do what needs to be done. Then I have to hurry back to Caer Aerie. I knew you were going to need some help with this, Fiona.”
She looked at her younger self. “You were wrong about one thing, Bridget, that you won’t see me again. Anytime you need to see me, just look in the mirror. I’ll be there.” The two women hugged and held on to each other for a few moments. Fiona whispered in her younger self’s ear, “The amazing adventure of our life awaits you, Fiona of Kildare, Merry Christmas.” She stepped back and slowly released Bridget’s hands, took two running steps and leapt into the sky. Zed joined the White Owl, and the eagle and the owl flew south to Trinity College.
Bridget turned to Padraigh and smiled sadly. “You will remember the things that she wants you to remember, including the embedded memories she gave you at Slane,” Padraigh told her. “Yes, I know about those. But we have to clear the rest of it out, so you’re prepared for the next step in this journey. Close your eyes, and when you open them, I’ll be gone. Merry Christmas, Fiona.”
“Merry Christmas, Bishop.” Fiona closed her eyes,
Fiona shifted back into elf form across from the great library at Trinity College. She was surprised to see Alistronia and Abilynn crossing the street toward her. Ali handed her an envelope.
“We found it, it’s all in here. That sword was given to Yalerius the First for safekeeping until a new High Queen should rise. Fillian was able to dictate the translation of the Ogham to me. I wrote it all down. It’s really interesting, but it’ll keep.”
“Where is Fillian?” Fiona asked
“I’m right here,” the leprechaun appeared on Alistronia’s shoulders. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t going to try and go in there and look up something you don’t need to know yet. I assume by the fact that you’re alone that your other meeting went as you hoped?”
“It did. The next time I see Bridget will be the next time I look in the mirror and the same for her.” She looked at her daughter. “Oh, and Abilynn, Cormac wanted to know how you are doing.”
“I hope you told him that I am doing fine, and I am your daughter now. My family is Fiona, Berian, and Lona.” She glanced at the tall blonde shapeshifter next to her. “And Alistronia.” Ali smiled back at Abilynn.
“That’s exactly what I told him, Melin er,” her mother replied.
“Don’t forget, you have a leprechaun for an even littler sister,” Fillian advised her.
Abilynn grinned. “Yes, I do, and let’s get that leprechaun and all of us back to Slane so we can all be home for Christmas.”