PROLOGUE
She remembers Deralia.
She remembers running through the tall brown grasses that sway in the evening breeze. She remembers how they are tall enough to cover her head, even when she stands on her toes. She remembers someone is chasing her, but she is not afraid. Even though she is not afraid she is pushing her body faster and faster and faster until she is flying across the ground, the grass whipping her face and the angry calls of whil- birds chorusing around her. She screams, a primal cry ripped from her chest, but it's not of fear, or terror, or pain, but rather pure and unadulterated joy.
Suddenly she is lifted off the ground, and she screams again, giggling uncontrollably as she is gathered up into the arms of the giant who has been chasing her all this time. He holds her close to him, trapping her in his great, hairy arms before tossing her in the air. She shrieks with laughter, and when the giant catches her in his arms, he is laughing to.
She imagines that he's all laughter and warmth and hugs as she stares into his big brown eyes that seem to shine with happiness. She nestles against his chest, her ear to his heart, still giggling and she squirms to get into a more comfortable position. His beard scratches against her cheek as he leans down to kiss her.
"Mo nion, mo leanbh." He whispers the words against her cheek. She stops squirming, mesmerized by the ancient tongue.
"Athair." She giggles again and reaches for his face.
"I love you, daddy."
He smiled down at her, reaching down to brush a few wayward curls out of her eyes;
"I love you too Nion. Always."
And then she wakes up.