Page 53 of A Celtic Secret
“Is that you in our last life?” he wondered but knew the hair color wasn’t right. It was too light.
“I don’t think so.” Riona clearly felt the heartbreak of the other woman. “But I knew her...know her....”
No sooner did she say it than a great white wolf lumbered out of the woodland and stood guard over the woman. Protected her as only a familiar could.
“Its Shannon,” Riona gasped. “That’s my sister in another life.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m positive.” She pointed at the wolf as it faded along with the animals and woman against the tree. “That white wolf is with her in New Hampshire as we speak.” She wiped away another tear. “Do you think she’s okay? Should I try to find a way back?”
“Whilst I feel certain Liam will protect your sisters with his life,” he said, “that can only be up to you at this point.”
As tempted as he was to keep her close by any means necessary or even remind her of her promise to their people, he knew there was one thing above all she must know. Must be made aware of. So he shared the dream of her asking him to have this tapestry woven.
Or he was about to when the distant dream unfurled in front of them, as transparent as what they had just witnessed in the tapestry. It was almost as if they watched themselves as ghosts.
“Are you there?” they heard Riona’s young voice call down the hall.
“I am here.” No older than eight winters or so, he sat up in bed with excitement. He enjoyed nothing more than when Riona visited him in his dreams. “Come in.”
“These door latches are awful,” he heard her grumble. “So dark I can barely make them out.” She peeked her head in and smiled widely, as though nothing made her happier than seeing him. “Perhaps something a bit brighter and decorative for handles so I can find you more easily?”
“Because we usually started here, didn’t we?” Riona whispered, in awe at what they witnessed. Seeing something they shouldn't because of her gift. “Then we went elsewhere. Everywhere we could be.”
He nodded. His heart warmed at the sight of her at that age. Even then, he had adored her. Truly loved her. He recalled the elation he’d felt every time she came to him. The way he felt when she smiled at him. The joy of her laughter. The genuine happiness that simply being around her afforded him.
Happiness that turned to such sadness every time she left.
“I will see to the handles straight away,” his young self vowed, laughing when she raced over and jumped on the bed. Lassies his age didn’t act like her, and he wished they would. Everything about Riona was fun and exciting. Even when she grew weird and her eyes glazed like they did now when she looked at the bare wall across the way.
The wall where the tree tapestry now hung.
“What is it?” his younger self wondered. “Is something wrong?”
“I think maybe it is.” She climbed off the bed and drifted that way. “Something’s missing here...something we need to remind us. To remind me.” She tilted her head and kept staring at the wall. “Of that day. One that will make all the difference.”
He joined her and stared at the wall-turned-tapestry as well. “What day?”
“One that was very important to us.” Riona took his hand and went into great detail about the tree woven into a tapestry. She described it so perfectly down to every last detail that there could be no doubt she had seen the tree before. Knew it well.
Her eyes grew strange again when she looked at him. “Someday, when I’m much older, I’ll see this, and we’ll start remembering.” She shook her head, quite dire. “When that day comes, you must not let me flee because you will need me. Your people will need me.” She blinked and looked at the wall again as though sensing more. “But if you lose me, remember it’s for the best. Meant to be because....”
Just like it had during the actual dream years ago, she faded before she finished her sentence.
“You never did finish telling me why it's meant to be,” he said softly, wishing he could have held on to the dream. Kept it with him always.
“No, but I have a feeling it has to do with Raghnall.” She sighed and shared the rest of the most recent dream she’d had. How this door had led to King’s Echo. How he had pulled her back from going to Raghnall. If he hadn't, her next step would have been off a cliff straight to her death.
“I seem to do that for you often,” he remarked, troubled.
“You do,” she agreed.
“Even so.” He shook his head, positive he was right. “If I know nothing else ‘tis that Raghnall does not want you dead. He wants you alive and his.”
“I know,” she murmured. “So maybe there’s nothing more to it other than an interpretation of when I first traveled back to you both, only for you to ultimately save me from him?”
“Mayhap.” He hoped it was as simple as that. “As to the dream we just witnessed, ‘twas the first of many like it over the years.”
