Epilogue
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand
~ Old Irish Saying ~
When Ashling finally opened her eyes, the sun was shining brightly through the window in her bedroom. A sense of peace and comfort drifted back and forth through her thoughts.
After a few minutes of enjoying the sunshine, she decided to get up and start her day. When she attempted to roll out of bed in her usual manner, pain arched through her back and side.
She couldn’t keep from crying out, which brought a rumble of footsteps rushing down the hall outside her room. Moments later, Sean pushed the door open and hurried to her bedside. “You’re awake!” he almost shouted.
While his volume hurt her ears, his warm smile and the relief in his stark, blue eyes helped her relax a little. “What… what happened?” she finally managed to ask.
“Oh, nothing much,” Sean said, grinning. “You just defeated the evil Grainne in battle and pretty much trashed her great military base over in Ireland.”
With his words, the memories flooded into her mind. The recollection returned of the great and terrible battle with Grainne and her dark forces. There had been losses on their side too, but nothing like the destruction heaped upon their long-time enemy.
“We won,” she managed to say in a dry, squeaky voice.
“Indeed, we did, although we lost our share of good warriors too,” Sean said.
“Why am I in bed?” she asked.
“Actually, you’ve been in bed for weeks,” Sean said. “We came much too close to losing you.”
Ashling felt his pain and fear in those words. When she looked into his eyes, she knew he’d feared the worst.
After a moment he smiled and said, “But you’re out of danger now and gaining back your strength and powers quickly.”
“David and Susan?” she asked fearfully.
“They’re both fine and pretty much inseparable these days. This isn’t just some puppy love going on here. They are totally gaga over each other.”
“I’m assuming that being gaga is a good thing,” Ashling said, softly.
“Oh, it is indeed. In fact, I am totally gaga over you and taking it to a whole other level.”
“Good to know,” she said, smiling. She felt the same way about Sean, but he’d never hear her describe her feelings as gaga.
“There’s my girl!” Eamon said, stepping into her room. “It does me old heart much good to see your smiling face, dear Ashling.”
He bent over the bed and gave her a gentle hug, as he softly said, “You had me worried, my dear.”
“Sorry Da, and I’m grateful that you came along when you did that night. Without your help, Sean and I might both be gone from this life.”
“Thank the Creator of us all that he chose to leave you here to finish your great work,” Eamon said in a trembling voice. He turned away to wipe at a stray tear.
Ashling knew how difficult it was for Eamon to show emotions in this way. The fact that he was showing them openly meant he’d feared greatly for her life. It sobered her to realize how close she’d come to the end of her days on earth.
“We’re just grateful that you’re still here and psycho Grainne is cleaning up black dragon pooh in outer darkness,” Sean said, trying to lighten the mood.
Ashling smiled softly but didn’t answer right away. When Eamon saw the concern on his daughter’s face, he asked. “You think she survived?”
After another long pause she finally said, “I don’t know for sure, Da’. But I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Grainne.”
“Saints preserve us,” Eamon said, with a furrowed brow. “I know those feelings of yours and that tone of voice only too well.” Sighing, he continued, “Well, if she’s not dead and gone then I hope the great Creator keeps her away from us for a good many years to come.”
Ashling nodded thoughtfully and finally said, “Amen to that, Da.’”
* * *
It was too dark here–darker than any moonless winter night. Her initial fear was that she’d died and been banished to outer darkness. In outer darkness, most of her powers would be useless. Grainne knew she had many enemies that she’d sent to outer darkness over the centuries.
While the darkness surrounding her was devoid of any light, she began to sense that it wasn’t the same as the atmosphere in outer darkness. That soul draining feeling that all hope is lost was unique to outer darkness.
On her few visits there she’d sensed terrible, lonely sorrow. The other pervading feeling in outer darkness was that you only had yourself to blame for spending eternity here. No amount of rationalizing or lying to yourself could change the truth.
Fear crept into her belly, giving rise to panic that she’d rarely experienced. Grainne knew that she had to get out of this place wherever it was. She didn’t think she could stand another moment in this black hole.
When she tried to move, the fear spiked into terror. Grainne couldn’t move at all. She was paralyzed from head to toe. She tried to scream, but she couldn’t open her mouth or get her vocal chords to react. Other than her thoughts, she felt like she was made of stone.
“It is not yet time, mighty warrior,” a soft, gravelly voice spoke from out of the darkness.
Her heartbeat escalated to a panicky, rapid pounding in her ears. The voice sounded like it came from close by. Perhaps only inches from her ear.
“Fear not, Grainne. It was my honor to rescue you from eternal confinement in the outer darkness you fear above all else. I have long admired you as you shaped this world to meet your own demands.”
His voice soothed her fears and left her feeling comforted. If only
