I thought this poem screamed Nikola thoughts about Helen when I read this. I have always loved it but now because of Sanctuary and Teslen I see it in a whole new light!
A big thank you to Tashah2109 for her amazing beta work and comments!
"Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh."
A Drinking Song by W B Yeats
In their final moments on the beach, Helen happened to look skyward and caught a glimpse of a flock of swans on their V shaped travails almost floating across the surface of the moon, their wings glinting in the moonlight. The majestic sight reminded Helen of a legend she had once heard from her father's travels to Ireland many years previously. As far as she could remember her father had said the story had been regaled to him by W B Yeats over some 'friendly' drinks. Those 'friendly' drinks had resulted in her father's worst hangover. Helen smiled remembering his pained expression. Gregory Magnus had been laid low by some good old Irish whiskey! Helen also made a mental note to tell this legend to Nikola whilst on their way back to Dublin the next morning, for morning it surely would be now that Nikola had got it into his head to 'interview' the locals on his theory of the existence of Irish immortals and their possible descendants.
As Helen and Nikola approached the local public house lively music wafted out to greet them. Nikola turned and grinned at Helen.
"Sounds to me like the locals are in fine form tonight, Helen."
Helen rolled her eyes at him and said, "of course they are Nikola, the Irish are known to know how to have a good time and to be very welcoming to newcomers."
"I wonder if they'll be as forthright with their answers or will they close ranks and protect their own as is their want?"
"There's only one way to find out." Helen couldn't resist winking at Nikola. She could see his nerves were beginning to show themselves though if you didn't know Nikola you'd never know he was nervous. Helen, on the other hand, knew him better than anyone and could pick up on the nuances of his character like no other.
Squaring his shoulders ever so slightly Nikola entered into the pub. What hit him would only be described as an electrifying atmosphere. Over in one corner sat the old timers reminiscing about the rare oul' times, in the other sat the new generation of pub goers rolling their eyes at the old 'fogies' and finally just left of the bar sat a group of musicians enthral in their own music. Nikola of course did not recognise the tune but found it pleasant nonetheless. He made a note to himself to find out the origin of the piece and to learn how to sing it. It would make a nice surprise for Helen; she'd never see it coming!
Helen observed the thought flit across Nikola's face and knew he was up to something. She knew that look; she had seen it countless times before. She would know that look anywhere. She smiled to herself she would know what he was thinking soon enough. Nikola could never wait too long to share a new thought with her. She just had to wait it out; Nikola would reveal all when ready.
Nikola in his best attempt at nonchalance strode up to the bar and demanded they be given the best the barkeep could offer. Liam sized up the newcomers and made his decision. He leaned over the bar ever so slightly and beckoned Nikola in a conspiratorial whisper, "you look like a man after me own heart. This just arrived today and is a special brew; the best in three counties." This statement was said with a pride Nikola found hard to place but one look at Helen told him she was amused and as ever curious. So when Liam put a tumbler of clear liquid in front of them both, Nikola felt it was rude not to taste. In one quickfire movement Nikola had swallowed the concoction thinking he'd abhor it and the sooner it was gone the better. He was unprepared for the feeling the mixture elicited in him. A sudden warmth spread through his veins setting fire to every inch of him. His eyes grew wide as he recognised the feeling. Nikola was feeling tipsy!
"What is it?" Nikola asked of Liam with a reverence Helen rarely heard in his voice.
"That, a chara, is locally distilled Poitín. Be quiet about it now as it is a little illegal and we have members of An Garda Siochana in our midst. We wouldn't want me put out of business now, would we?" Liam gave Nikola a hearty wink; laughing at his stunned expression.
Nikola grabbed Helen in a tight hug surprising her, "Helen, I've found the cure to my inability to get drunk!"
"Oh dear Lord. God help us all. Liam, what have you unleashed?!" Helen laughed wholeheartedly. She was in trouble now and she knew it of old. Before 'the Five', Nikola was unable to handle his drink and if that was anything to go by tonight was going to be eventful to say the least.
"Helen, thhhhhis is verrrry nice!" From his tone and slurring of his words Helen knew Nikola was well on his way to being very drunk. He'd only had three glasses though. Maybe she should corner Liam and find out exactly what was in this Poitínand more to the point exactly how much alcohol was in the drink.
"Nikola, should you not ask the questions to came to find the answers to? Helen gently prodded.
"Ahh yes, quite! Thank you, Helen."
ooOoo
"….and so you see that's how my uncle Michael learned of our family's 'history' shall we say!" Joseph informed Nikola with an attempt at humour, a poor one but an attempt nonetheless.
Helen fought valiantly to keep the smirk threatening to break out on her face from showing but she failed miserably. Nikola's eyes were beginning to glaze over with certain boredom but he had invited Joseph to speak and so felt obliged to listen to the longwinded story that he was certain could have been told in a succinct paragraph or two. Helen felt sure that Nikola knew nothing of the famous Irish ability to spin a story.
Helen leaned in to rescue Nikola after she felt he had suffered enough. "That was such an interesting tale, Joseph. Thank you for regaling us with it."
"Anytime, young miss and if you're interested in hearing more, you know where to find me! There may even be a cup of tea and some biscuits in it for ye."
Nikola, while he was relieved Helen felt the need to 'save' him from Joseph, grinned at the 'young miss' comment causing him to earn a death glare from Helen which increased his enjoyment tenfold.
As Joseph shuffled away from them with his walking stick dragging on the wooden floor, music erupted once again from the corner of the bar. The lead musician caught Nikola's eye with a wink and cued the next song with an introduction. "Tonight we'll sing a crowd favourite and one ye can all join in on as I'm sure ye know it. I want ye to sing up if ye do!"
Nikola, his eyes shining, turned to Helen with his hand outstretched and asked her to dance. "May I have the honour of the next dance, Miss Magnus?" Nikola smiled almost shyly at Helen, almost.
Helen was a little startled at first but quickly caught on and quipped, "why certainly, Mr Tesla, I'd be delighted."
Pulling Helen into his arms, Nikola swung her around in time to the music. Helen wasn't sure what dance Nikola was attempting with her but she was amused to say the least. The song didn't lend itself to a waltz and it wasn't fast enough to be a jive so they settled for a happy medium. Suddenly Helen thought she heard singing in her ear so engrossed was she in their dance it didn't register for a second or two. Oh dear Lord, Nikola was singing to her and very well indeed! As she listened to the words of the chorus she felt a blush creep slowing up her neck and into her cheeks.
"Her eyes, they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair thrown over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band."
"I always did tell you, your eyes sparkled, my dear, right from the moment I met you." Nikola whispered in her ear gently pecking her on the cheek.
ooOoo
Helen had Nikola linked companionably by the arm walking down the narrow cobblestoned street to their hotel for the night. Nikola, as far as Helen could see, was sobering up a little and she thanked the heavens he could still stand upright. She had felt it better for them to walk back to their lodging rather being in a car; Nikola needed the fresh air and would thank her in the morning.
"What did I tell you? I knew these Irish had Abnornal stories waiting to be told!" Nikola said in an excited whisper to Helen he failed to keep below stage level.
"Hush, Nikola! We do not want undue attention now, do we?"
Nikola snorted replying, "My dear Helen we always attract undue attention, it's in our very nature."
"Oh dear Lord, Nikola. Enough of the melodrama if you please! I really think that Poitín
has gone to your head."
A/N: The song used is called 'The Black Velvet Band' and (Wikipedia says) is a traditionalEnglishandIrishfolk songdescribing transportationto Australia, a common punishment in 19th centuryBritainand Ireland. The song tells the story of a tradesman who meets a young woman who has stolen an item and passed it on to him (the lyrics of the song vary from place to place). The man then appears in court the next day, charged with stealing the item and is sent toVan Diemen's Landfor doing so. I used it because I thought the chorus would strike a chord with Nikola and so he sings it to Helen and I also thought my British and Aussie readers might appreciate it! The version I like listening to is from Luke Kelly and the Dubliners or The High Kings.
A/N 2: I used some Irish words so here are their explanations:
Poitín: Pronounced Potcheen is a Traditional Irish distilled alcoholic drink (60%-95%) Poitín was traditionally distilled in a smallpot stilland the term is a diminutive[2]of theIrish wordpota, meaning "pot". Traditionally distilled frommalted barley grain orpotatoes, it is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in the world, and for centuries was illegal in Ireland (Still illegal in Northern Ireland) but for the purposes of my story it is still frowned upon!
A chara: Irish word for friend.
An Garda Síochána: Irish police force. Literally means Guard of the Peace.
A/N 3: Sorry for the long A/N's but I felt explanations were in order! I'm going now I promise!