Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) (19 page)

Silent I
be, quite taken aback fer a long moment. 

Could
it really be true?  Donovan saw me years before I saw him fer the first, before
even I dreamt of him?  And he thought me cute?  When could this have been?  And
how could it be that I had not noticed him?  Had I seen that face, those eyes,
that lush hair, never could I have let it slip from me memory.
 

“So,
when was this . . . that you believe you saw me?” I finally asked, intrigued by
this new information.

“Oh, it
must have been in excess of ten years ago, when I be a lad of eleven and began
accompanying me father to town to fetch the monthly goods,” Donovan answered in
thought.  A smile crept upon his face as he reminisced.  “You were probably not
more than seven years.  And cute as a button, I do say!” he thought another
moment before adding, “You know, even then, I could distinguish that you be a
feisty little thing!” 

“I was
not!” I pushed roughly at his shoulder feigning offense. 

“Aye,
and that you still are!”  We both burst out laughing. 

“Well,
this hardly be fair now, is it?” I said sulkily, scrunching up me nose and
protruding me lower lip. 

“What
isn’t?” Donovan asked bemused. 

“Never
had I the occasion to see
you
as a young lad, so as to convey to you how
adorable you were!” 

“And
pray tell, how ‘tis that you allege that I be adorable as a lad?  Perhaps a
rascal I be,” Donovan suggested, throwing me a challenging look that made me
want to leap atop him and restrain him so that I may have me way with him. 

Hmm . .
.
 
The thought of it immediately sent craving to me insides.  I shifted in me seat,
trying to maintain me poise as a lady.

“Mmm,
sounds delightful!” I retorted playfully, placing me hand upon his leg, just
above his knee.  “If that be the case, then I
truly
be sorry that I
missed the opportunity to have been acquainted with yer younger self!  Some engaging
times we might have had!”  Ever so slowly me fingers began to trace lightly up
the inside of his thigh.  Donovan inhaled sharply, apparently at loss fer
words, so I continued on. 

“Well,
goodness, just look at you!” I said, eyeing him up and down hungrily whilst
gesturing over him with me other hand gracefully.  “How ever could you
not
have been anything less than absolutely adorable?” I communicated the hunger in
me eyes through me fingers, still migrating up his thigh.

Ignoring
me now, he rolled his eyes and snorted out a chuckle.  “Aislinn, I do not know
how ‘tis you perceive all that in me, but ’tis grand fer me that you do!”  I
saw his eyes nervously glance downward at me traveling fingers.

“And
still you are ever adorable to me, Donovan.”  I swooned, leaning in to kiss his
neck, just below his earlobe. 

“Honestly,
Aislinn, perhaps I knew we were destined fer each other the way you say you
knew.  Never did I cease thinking of you, always kept me eyes alert every time
we went back to town, hoping to glimpse you again.  And still years later,
knowing you would be older, I was anxious to see how you’d matured, if I were
to see you again.  Always did I wonder about the woman you would come to be. 
And now I have the pleasure of knowing her first hand.”  He turned his face and
beamed a spectacular smile to me.

“And
‘tis yer woman I be, Donovan,” I reminded him, snuggling in. 

“That
you are, Aislinn. 
Me
woman.”  Never had I heard him sound so possessive
before.  I loved it!

 “Well,
now I cannot resist asking yer opinion.  What say you of the outcome?” I enquired,
holding me head high and spreading me arms out to give him an unencumbered view
of me.  As his eyes grazed over me appraising, and then appreciatively, the
craving which had roused within me converted into an unbearable ache.  I found
it most difficult to remain still as I gazed back into his approving eyes.

“Mmm,
never could I have imagined that cute little thing to develop into all of
this!”  His eyes roved over me a bit less gentlemanly this time, making me
squirm with want. 

Fancy
that!  I wish he would be much less gentlemanly with me more often . . .  

With
that, Donovan pulled up the horse and turned to take me small face in his large
hands.  Fer an extended moment he gazed upon me dotingly before placing his
lips against mine and kissing them tenderly.  At present being far beyond that,
I returned his kiss, but with a great surge of passion.  Stunned by me
forthrightness, he stiffened momentarily in assessment, and then resumed our
kiss, equaling me fervor.  Elated I be at his response! 

That
fraction of hope prompted me mind to become carried away with all kinds of improper
thoughts.  When he relented, I think I must have been cross-eyed, fer Donovan
chuckled and remarked, “So adorable you are, me Aislinn!”

A
great
many hours later finally we approached the cliffs.  As soon as we did round the
bend, me eyes amplified greatly at the most impressive sight before them.  So
adoringly appreciative I felt to Donovan fer thinking to bring me to see them. 
So attentive he be!

He
drove the cart as close as allowable.  I sprang out jubilantly, scarcely able
to fathom that I actually be there!  The rest of the way we had to trek in.  Me
hair whipped all about, fer ‘twas significantly more blustrey there than ‘twas
farther below. 

We
finally mounted the plateau of rock and caught the first glimpse of the
textured face of the rock that appears as though ‘twas delicately rendered by
some ancient craftsman.  The magnificent rock scape, cliff pathways with
breathtaking views, thunderous Atlantic breakers and the unceasing fresh sea
breeze altogether infused me with a heart-thumping, hair-ruffling, soul-soaring
feeling which only be furthered by the shrewd awareness that at any moment, a
sudden severe gust wouldst surely blow me over the edge toward certain death.   Though
no fear did I hold for such things.

The
cliffs consisted of layered beds predominantly of shale and sandstone with the
oldest rocks being found at the bottom.  Rising to an elevation of over two
hundred metres, the cliff edge then abruptly falls away into the relentlessly
churning sea.  ‘Tis something that truly amazes, no matter how long one gazes
upon it.  Possible ‘tis to discern precisely where three hundred million
year-old river channels cut through the rock, forming aberrations at the base
of the cliffs.

Not
willing I be to permit the severity of the wind to dissuade me from getting as
near to the edge as I could, to perceive all there be to see from there.  Donovan,
however, be somewhat reluctant to step much closer than where we stood
presently.  Surely, in an effort to protect me.

“Donovan! 
Let us lay down right upon the edge of the cliffs!” I squealed in me
excitement.  “Then, flattened out against the wind we’ll be, and we may peer
over the edge all we like!”

From
the expression upon his face, I discerned he still be rather disinclined. 
Nevertheless, he took me hand in his, and we lowered to our knees to crawl toward
the edge.  We pressed our bodies down to the ground, our heads hanging over the
edge.  Donovan trembled just a little; though, fer his sake, I did not let on
that I had noticed. 

The
view ‘twas absolutely spectacular!

On a
clear day as this I could see nearly forever: the
Árainn
Islands stood
etched upon the peripheral waters of Galway Bay with all its curved beauty;
beyond that, the hills of Connemara to the north, and to the south, the
lunar-like loveliness of the
Boireann
.
 
Aillte
an Mothair
be home to dozens of species of birds, including puffins.  I
witnessed their homes among the craggy cliff-faces. 

Threatening
to taint this once in a lifetime experience, thoughts of me dream came rushing
upon me.  Anxious I be that the creature would show himself to me again there,
fresh out of me dream, I could not seem to shake it from me.  Although
intensely disturbing it be; moreover, I still felt strangely aroused from it,
something that sickened me. 

Oh, why
must this repulsive incongruence exist within me?!

After
what seemed much too brief a time, Donovan suggested we pick ourselves up off
the ground and move to a more suitable position to enjoy the view . . . and
each other.  Upon attempting to rise, I stumbled from the shakiness me thoughts
had muddled me with.

“Reach
out your hands.  A mere step away I be,” Donovan, ever attentive, offered to
steady me with his hand.

In
spite of the thoughts assaulting me mind, in that perfect world of the here and
now, our love ‘twas raw and young, alive and real.

Ours be
a love so strange and unreal, and yet at the same time, absolutely familiar and
comfortable.
 I belong to you, and you
belong to me, too.  Before you, ‘twas as though I be blind.  You opened up me
eyes, removed me veil.  I’ll live me life giving you the most in every way. 

 “Trust
in me and you will find a heart so true,” Donovan promised.  “All I wish is to
give the best of me to you, be the man you deserve, if you’ll allow me to be by
your side always.”

Beaming
I be, as though ‘twas the first time I had absorbed the warm rays of the sun. 
Watching the sunlight dancing upon the water, the winds blowing through our
hair . . .  Beauty as never I had imagined . . .

Those
were the moments I have remembered all me life.

I
lifted me hands from touching him to feel the wind whispering through me
fingers, leaning me head back to feel it brushing me hair back.  His eyes still
affixed upon mine, Donovan grasped the back of me head, bringing me face
forward to meet with his lips fer a deep kiss.  As always, me head set off
spinning.  Fervently I reciprocated his kiss.

Slowly,
I lifted me lips from his, allowing me eyes gaze upon his divine face, tracing
along it with me finger.  “Here in this very moment, ‘tis exactly where I be
meant to be, right here with you,” I confided to him.  Still, I felt mildly
frustrated

Will I
ever find the words to completely convey me love to him?  I feel as though no
matter what I say, the words still do not come close to truly expressing the
depth of me feelings fer him.  I know now that nothing could ever take his
place.
 
I honestly do not know how I ever lived without him.  Proper
comprehension I had not of what it truly meant to be alive, to feel.  I want to
preserve these feelings deep within me. Curious how all this sentiment now be
flourishing in me, blossoming where once not so much as a seed of something
existed in its place.  The love I feel fer him could amass the skies!  How
then, be it possible that it all fits here within me heart?

“Aislinn,
your hair ‘tis magnificent with the wind in it, your eyes as bronze jewels,
your lips a magical world, me escape.”  Donovan’s blue eyes deepened so as he
said that, ‘twas as though he presented me a glimpse all the way into his
soul!  “A goddess you be!  And I cannot believe I be lucky enough to have
you
to love me!” 

Me eyes
were liquefying under the intensity of his.

That
propelled me to find the courage to express what be in me heart, to make
certain he knew just how ‘twas I felt about him.

“I want
you infinitely within me heart, Donovan.  When I look into yer eyes, I see all
I need.  The person I aspire to be is everything you are.  I know this be all I
need.”

 
“Oh, Aislinn!  You be so much more than you know,”
he told me, whispering the words to emphasise how they mattered.

Oh,
only that you could peer into me . . .  

 “I’ll
remain beside you ‘til the last beat of me heart . . .”
Donovan
affirmed. 

Taken
aback by his words I be.  Rather than the heartfelt sentiment he intended, the
utter significance of those words gripped me as a prophecy of heartbreak.

What be
you saying?  Last beat of yer heart?  How ever can I wish fer that?  Surely to
be torn apart?!  How ever would I go on living without you?
 
Know
you not how much I need yer love
?
 
Yer love ‘tis me
religion; yer kiss, me prayer.