Smoke and Ruins
The mist rose off the green hills like smoke from a chimney. Great puffs hovered, hugging the curves, providing only glimpses of the lush grandeur that was all that remained of the former glory of the home of kings. Tara was a series of rolling hillocks with a few outcroppings of ruins set here and there, nothing compelling really, at least compared to the other ruins that could be found throughout Ireland. It made a sad effort to tell the story of what was once the crowning jewel in the system of the Chieftains and their rule.
They parked and made their way toward the fog-bound site. It seemed a bit foreboding in its present state. Here and there a shaft of light broke through the clouds, illuminating the green of the fields in a way that almost made the scene look unreal, as if painted on rather than actual grass. Fiona stopped to look at the small drawing she had that laid out the basic groundwork for Tara. It reflected the various chambers, their considered uses and names. When she looked up again, Roary and Lin had been consumed by the fog. It was unnatural the way they just disappeared into the mist and it chilled her. She called out to them, but there was no answer. She briefly considered running in the direction she thought they were traveling, and then decided against it. Running in this soup was likely to send her head over heels down one of the slopes with a root tucked under the toe of a boot. She would be better off waiting for the sun to burn off the mist and looking for them in the clear of the afternoon. In the meantime, she could try to discern where in the devil a silk might be among these hillocks. It certainly did not seem that there were all that many hidden spaces here at the remains of the ancient home of the king of Ireland. She sighed. It was sad, really, that this part of the old legends was so far gone, there were so many tales that revolved around this very special place. It would have been grand to have more to visit than just your imagination when coming here. She turned her attention to the map, determined to force her attention to more useful musings.
Roary and Lin had moved through the fog and down the slope to the small component of remaining exposed ruins. The incline was surprisingly steep near the bottom and Roary had instinctually moved closer to clasp Lin's elbow and hand, steadying her progress downward. At the base, near the ruins, the cold seemed less sharp and the sun a bit stronger. It felt like this spot was being illuminated, or perhaps it was merely the fact that they felt illuminated themselves that made the small area appear to have a halo of sorts. Roary reached out to grasp her other hand, pulling her around to fully face him.
"Why don't ye say it out loud?"
"Say what?"
"Whatever it is that has itself stuck on yer tongue. Ye've been tied up in it all mornin'."
"I'm fine."
'Aye, an yer sure about that," he tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear and stared at her, daring her to hold firm.
"I . . . it's just . . . I had a rough night."
"Were ye ill?"
"Actually, yes, but that wasn't the worst part."
Roary waited for her to continue. Lin took her time, weighing her words, testing the idea of telling him, and then it just tumbled out. The first dream: its lightness, the joy and the awful carnal end; the time at the sink (though this certainly in less detail); and then the second dream, only not diluted as she had repeated it to Fiona. She moved as she spoke, not far, one or two steps, then back again to catch his eye - to seek a nod of comprehension. As she told the second dream, Roary found it hard to listen. He knew too much already. He certainly knew more than he should. He should never have read the little green notebook. It was an act that could not be undone. He felt like a thief who had stolen her privacy, only perhaps a bit worse because she didna' even know it had been stolen. By the time she came to the end of the dream she was crying softly. He did the only thing he could think of, he cradled her in his arms and waited. He waited for his guilt to pass and for her tears to slow. He felt her move to wipe the salt streaks from her cheeks. Then she tipped her face to his.
"Thank you,' she fairly whispered.
"Yer welcome," he growled as he kissed her. It wasna at all what he intended to do, but the frank, open look on her face, the fragility of it, had undone him.
Lin gasped at the touch of his rough cheek and the pressure of his lips against hers. Then she just let herself sink into the moment. She let him slide his strength around her and lift her up. She let him make her breath whole. How they found their way to the soft grass was lost in just that one source of connection. Once there, though, it was a series of fluid motions that sent the embers to flames and the flames to full conflagration. The fire burned and consumed, engulfed, declared itself unquenchable and finally burst into its zenith - all of its energy expended in reaching that brightest, hottest burning moment. Equally stunned by what they had just dared to share with such public abandon, Roary and Lin stared as if seeing each other for the first time. The moment hung in the air, transcendant. Lin broke the spell as she cracked a wicked little smile and started to laugh just a bit, rolling to start putting herself back together. Roary looked at her askance.
"Well, you have to admit that was a bit over the top even for the wildest tourist fantasy,"
"I'm no tourist, Lass, and I'd like to think that what just happened was no' bit of fancy, But, aye, I suppose we could have found a more private spot," he replied as he helped her to her feet. He kissed her soundly. "Though I wouldna take a moment o' it back, mind ye." She stayed in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder. "Definitely a memory worth having, I have to agree." Then she did the one thing he did not expect. She stood on her toes and she kissed him. Leaning back with a smile she asked, "I don't suppose you know where my mother is?"
"Och, ye don't suppose she came upon us and decided to visit again a wee bit later?"
Lin gave him a horrified look. "Surely not, I'm certain she would have let us know she was here. Wouldn't she? Oh, my, that would be embarrassing," she mumbled at last.
"I imagine she's aware yer not a virgin."
"That's different than watching, you clot!"
"I'm aware of that, but what else could ye hear that would make ye feel better? Ye've a fine arse?"
Lin punched him in the arm and they began to laugh, the tension breaking at the absurdity of the moment. It really was a good thing that they had not been seen. They would have enough explaining to do in any event.
Lin tried for a serious face, "Really, though, its been quite a while, hasn't it? Where is she?"
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