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Post by dobbythefreeelf on Jul 20, 2011 18:37:46 GMT -5
She didn't know what came first - the sound of horses' hooves on the dirt road, or the laughter absolutely thick with dark humor. She had hoped that the starless night would engulf her figure as she hid behind a nearby tree.
Shouts that can only belong to men soon filled the air. She couldn't quite make out the words that were being said, although she knew that they were indeed coming closer. She tightened her grip around the loose branch by the tree and waited as they rode past.
"Taistil ar, do bheadh an sráidbhaile a luaithe agus saor in aisce a ghlacadh!*" The yell had startled her. If she hadn't have kept such a tight grip on the branch, she would have fell over and given her identity away.
The voices had sounded very clear now, as if they were right in front of the tree. She dared not breathe, as if one little breath would immediately lead them to her.
"Teacht, mo dheartháireacha eile!**" The voice came again and this time she was certain they were right in front of the tree.
The yells came again, and the sound of the horses were soon gone. In seconds all that was heard was her bated breath.
After making sure that the coast was clear, she stepped out and shivered as the cold breeze went past her, making loose strands of her scarlet hair blow harshly against her cheeks.
The small clearing had looked untouched. She was certain that men had rode past not a moment ago. The clearing had to give some sign of an invasion, but there was none. Not even the marks of horses' hooves.
----
Ailis Bradley was only a young woman of twenty - five. Her surname in Gaelic was Ó Brollacháin, a very old name that had history kept rich since the founding of County Tyrone. She had felt robbed of such a history since she had only found out very recently that her name had meant something. It was just now that she decided to discover more about her history, after leaving her old home in Wales.
She didn't know where to begin. Ailis had contacted a small cottage in Tyrone who had no complaints on a month-long stay. She hoped that in the time being, she would acquire a decent house in the small town.
For now, however, she would be staying in the small cottage just in the outskirts of the town. The cottage owners had welcomed her warmly, after finding out she had belonged to the Ó Brollacháin clan.
The cottage owners were named Cliona and Clodagh Finnegan, two sisters around the age of forty that were nothing alike.
Cliona was a bit more rotund than her sister, although her face was indeed much more warmer. She had long, curly, blonde hair that looked absolutely golden in the right lighting. She would sometimes talk in limericks to entertain Ailis whenever her sister would say something out of the ordinary. Cliona would also drift off in the middle of conversations, as if finding interest in something entirely her own.
Clodagh was taller and skinnier than her sister. Unlike Cliona, Clodagh had long, straight, brown hair that was almost always kept tight in a bun atop her head. She looked strict at first glance, but she had a warm heart like her sister, although she did a good deal hiding it. In contrast to Cliona, Clodagh would help Ailis with any questions she had regarding her family history.
The most interesting piece of history Ailis had discovered would have to be the tale of the Midnight Well.
It was about a lovely woman that had been rumored to have an engagement at the Midnight Well out of the town, where the townspeople dared not go. Then a young man that was presumed to be a gypsy, had convinced her to come away with him and leave the town. That night, she was never seen again.
There were many debated topics that arose. Some, like Clodagh's thoughts, had said that it was only a myth the townspeople had come up with. The well was indeed real, but the tale hadn't proved any logical reason. Nevertheless, people had still avoided it.
Others, like Cliona, had kept true to the story and openly accepted the fact that it was real. And the lovely young maiden in the story was said to be Caoimhe Ó Brollacháin, Ailis' great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother. Cliona had then went on on how Caoimhe and her great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather had been engaged to be married. There was some heated debate between the two sisters after that.
"Cliona, Caoimhe never disappeared! It was said she had died of sickness, not kidnapped by some gypsy." Clodagh fumed. "At least give the poor girl the correct answers!"
"It's not the cough that carries you off, it's the coffin they carry you off in." Cliona phrased before continuing, "Yes, dear sister. But you did say 'it was said'. Who is to say that that had not happened?"
Clodagh rolled her eyes. "There is no proof that Caiomhe had been simply whisked away! What is the logic in that!?"
"And there is no proof that she died of sickness, either. And there need be no logic to simply state the truth." Cliona turned towards Ailis. "The Midnight Well is just by the forest down the road. It has been said that, to this day, they can still hear the black horse ride past the very same place. Only at midnight, my dear." She winked before looking out the window.
Clodagh looked apologetically at Ailis. "Do not listen to her. You may explore the well, but not at midnight." She instructed. "We want you to be careful, not lost." She grimaced at her sister before continuing to cook their breakfast.
Ailis was also lost in her thoughts. She was fond of old myths and folk-tales and to know that one lay only a few miles away from her, greatly made her anxious. She didn't want to disobey Clodagh, but the idea of checking the well at midnight was exhilarating.
---- * Taisteal le luas! Ba mhaith leis an sráidbhaile a bheith saor in aisce a ghlacadh! - Travel with speed! The village would be free to take!
** Teacht, mo dheartháireacha! - Come, my brothers!
R&R:)
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Post by GalwayGirl on Jul 20, 2011 19:53:10 GMT -5
I love the beginning!!! You are off to the start of another fantastic story!! I can't wait to read more!!! Update soon please!!
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Post by celticbear on Jul 20, 2011 20:15:13 GMT -5
Doby! I love a good Ryan story especially when his song *The Midnight Well* is the inspiration! Hey what can I say, Ryan makes one eye catching Gypsy! Ryan is my Second fav!KEITH HARKIN WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER BE MY NUMBER 1 FAV!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Jul 20, 2011 21:43:45 GMT -5
Oooooh I like this story!!!! I've been wanting to write the Midnight Well story for a while update soon!
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Post by DaughterofOphelia on Jul 20, 2011 21:51:46 GMT -5
I love it Dobby! Update soon please!!
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Post by !!DerryChick!! on Jul 21, 2011 7:51:26 GMT -5
Please update soon!
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Post by dobbythefreeelf on Jul 21, 2011 19:54:49 GMT -5
Ailis stumbled through the wood floor. Fallen branches caused her to trip several times as she walked forward to find the well. In no way was what she heard earlier a trick of her mind; she had long since accepted the fact. The only question was, where were the riders headed?
Her night gown was ripped in some parts, along with a few dirt stains scattered here and there. She didn't know how to explain her current physical state to Clodagh. Some time around when she was hidden, she had felt her face numb with shock. It was a scary, albeit fascinating, experience. What stupefied her the most was that there had been no sign of a well anywhere near the clearing. So she had decided to explore a little more.
'Come away out of the light.'
Ailis spun around and met nothing, but she would have sworn she heard a whisper. Her heart began to pound as she felt the usual sweat appear on the palms of her hands.
'Come away, come away.'
She began to walk slightly faster than usual, knowing she was headed deeper into the forest. The whisper had been clearer the second time, as if it had come from within her mind itself.
"Ride with me into the night."
It was more of a shout this time. Ailis uttered a tiny scream before beginning to run through the forest. She heard the sound of horses running behind her, as if they were chasing her. Frightened tears started to form as the harsh wind began to pick up. She was distancing herself farther and farther away from the cottage.
She stopped running once the sound of the hooves were faint, which had happened once she entered another clearing completely surrounded by tall, barren trees. Before, the sound of horses had sounded louder every step she took. Once she entered the clearing, they had stopped immediately.
In the middle of the clearing was the well. It was an ancient, stone well. The well had run down from all the years that were passed, but other than that, it had looked untouched. The sight frightened Ailis massively. In the late night it looked black, as if the night sky itself had painted it.
Each step she took closer caused her heart to almost burst out of her heaving chest. She couldn't turn back now, it held her curiosity to the highest extent.
Although in quite a daze, she had finally managed to stand by the well. She did not dare to peer inside the hole. Suddenly, the whispers had started again, this time more frantic and rushed.
"Stay away!"
"It is evil!"
"Run, while you can!"
"Things need no repeating!"
Ailis had covered her ears as the whispers grew louder and louder.
"RUN." The single warning in her head caused her to look up, although it felt as if she was already too late.
There, right by the entrance to the clearing, was a horse as black as the well. It's rider was almost as entrancing as the sight itself.
From where Ailis was, she saw that he was just as curious as she, albeit not as frightened.
"Cé go bhfuil tú chun foghail*?", he said.
She shook her head, but had never let her eyes stray away from the rider. He had a dangerous aura to him, but she still stayed rooted to the spot.
"Cé go bhfuil tú chun foghail?", he asked again.
Ailis stepped closer to the rider. "Tá mé sa bhaile, Ryan Ó Ceallaigh.**" She was shocked, for the words that came out of her mouth were not those that belonged to her. She didn't even know what language she was speaking, let alone what she had said!
The rider dismounted his horse and ran to her immediately as he put the palms of his hands on her cheek. Something had told Ailis to stay where she was.
He was definitely handsome. He wore clothes that had belonged to a different past. From far away, she thought his eyes had looked black. She had mentally slapped herself, for they were far from it. They were a rich blue. They seemed to be smiling at her, which unsettled his rough demeanor. He had black, coarse hair that she had suddenly wished she could run her fingers through. And on his ear was a golden earring, which completed his entire appearance.
It was the word he uttered that confused her and made her excited at the highest point. She had felt inexplicably happy and more frightened. Ailis was certain he could hear her heart pulsing rapidly. It had almost begun to hurt her chest.
"Caiomhe."
----
* Cé go bhfuil tú chun foghail? - Who are you to trespass?
** Tá mé sa bhaile, Ryan Ó Ceallaigh. - I am home, Ryan Ó Ceallaigh.
Thanks for reading.
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Post by celticbear on Jul 21, 2011 20:03:29 GMT -5
Oh Dobby this was a great update! I do believe our Gyspy Ryan believes Allis is his "Caiomhe" come home! I'm betting Allis is the spitting image of the originial Caiomhe! Can't wait to see what happens next!
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Post by HburgEagle44 on Jul 21, 2011 20:07:42 GMT -5
Oh that was marvelous......................... that was an amazing update!!!!!! update soon, please!!!!!
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Post by laurenne on Jul 21, 2011 21:59:40 GMT -5
I love it so far. More soon, please.
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Post by GalwayGirl on Jul 21, 2011 22:01:29 GMT -5
I loved it!!! This is a great story and you have a wonderful way of describing things!! Update soon please!!
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Post by celticthunder1510 on Jul 22, 2011 23:24:49 GMT -5
Oh my God this is awesome!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2011 0:32:52 GMT -5
Oh my gosh. I LOVE this. Love, LOVE this!!! MORE!!!!
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Post by dobbythefreeelf on Jul 23, 2011 5:21:01 GMT -5
I appreciate the reviews:) Thank you.
----
Clodagh Finnegan began to cry. It was a different concept for her - crying. The last time she remembered doing so was long ago in her childhood, when she had heard of her grandmother's death. Now it felt entirely foreign for her to feel such sadness.
She heard her sister enter the small bedroom. It was silent for a while. Not a sound was uttered but the hard pitter-patter of the rain outside. She felt it was necessary weather for the current events that had took place.
"She's gone, hasn't she?" She heard Cliona whisper.
----
Caiomhe Ó Brollacháin gently ran the small, wooden hairbrush through her flowing, scarlet locks. She cherished her hair; it reminded her of a much simpler past, although she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
She studied herself through the little mirror perched on top of the hand-made table. So many things had changed since she had run away.
Her face bore no longer the smooth complexion she so long took pride in. Instead, a small scar run horizontally across her right cheek. She was immensely proud of it, for it showed her the true meaning of true love. She gained it from her father once she had fallen in love with a gypsy. That same night she had met said gypsy by the midnight well, where she knew no one would be able to interrupt them.
Instead of sallow expression she had held due to all the years spent at the village, her face had an ethereal glow to it. It was all because of the gypsies.
Many years before, she had always thought that the gypsy life was barbaric and inhumane, something she was raised to believe. It had all changed when she fell in love with one. In her opinion, he was numerous times a better gentleman than all the men at the village.
Her gaze was interrupted when she saw the flap of the large tent open. She smiled as she saw him enter.
She was certain he was the love of her life. They were planned to get married two moons from this day, something she wished would happen already. Every day that had passed had caused her excitement to grow.
"Good morning, my love." He said before planting a kiss on her forehead. "If you brushed your hair any more, I am afraid the sun itself might have some competition."
She smiled. "Where will you be going today?"
One thing she hated about the gypsy life was their nomadic behavior. She once became furious at learning they were to move again, right after she had grown accustomed to the place.
"Riding." He said.
They didn't talk about his duties, for she knew they involved doing very dangerous tasks. So she accepted him.
Ryan.
He was very handsome; his looks had been the first to catch her eye. He had numerous battle scars on his body that some might call ugly. Caiomhe loved that most about him - for they showed her how brave and courageous her husband-to-be were.
"I will see you tonight?" She asked.
He kissed the top of her head. "I will see you, Caiomhe."
He left the tent, leaving her to watch as the tent flaps fluttered with the wind.
"Be safe." She whispered.
----
Sorry for the length - just a little back story:) A longer one will be next.
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Post by GalwayGirl on Jul 23, 2011 9:38:21 GMT -5
I loved the update!!! This story just gets better and better!! Update soon please!!
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