Banshee Song
Book Two

Chapter Twenty-One

"Ye wanted to see me, Father?"

Father Thomas looked up at the young man. He seemed somewhat uncomfortable inside the church.

"Sheamus, thank ye for agreeing to meet me." The two men chose a polished pew and sat down.

"What's this about, Father?"

"It's about Rhianna. Ye know of her engagement, I presume?"

Sheamus's face darkened. "Aye, I've heard."

"She cannot marry that man, Sheamus. He's evil. Trust me, I know a thing or two about it. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it; my hands are tied. Rhianna vowed to marry him, she has to go through with it if she wants to remain in the church."

Sheamus stared at the priest, fresh anger surging through him. "So what does this have to do with me?"

"I can't do anything to help her, but ye can."

"Me? What can I do?"

"Tell me, Sheamus, how do ye feel about Rhianna?"

"Well, uh, she's my employer."

Father Thomas smiled. "Somehow I don't think that's the extent of your feelings for her."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Father."

"The two of ye were made for each other. You're just as stubborn as she is. Unfortunately, we don't have the time for the two of ye to catch a clue and realize what the rest of us already know."

"And what's that?"

"Ye love her. I had my doubts about ye, still do, in fact. But the Ladies think very highly of ye. What I'm about to do goes against everything I believe, but Rhianna's future, her life is at stake."

Sheamus looked at the priest gravely. "What can I do?"

The father inhaled deeply. "As I said, the church takes betrothal very seriously. However, there are instances where the church would annul such an arrangement. If, for example, Rhianna had done something that would require her to marry someone else, then her engagement with Dimera would be broken in favor of the other union."

Sheamus frowned in confusion. "I'm not quite following ye, Father."

"Rhianna is.pure, innocent. Should that change, then Rhianna would have to marry the man she had.given her innocence to."

Understanding dawned on Sheamus. "Ye want me to.seduce her?" he asked incredulously.

"If I thought that ye would have to resort to seduction then we wouldn't be having this conversation. We're here because I truly believe despite your thick skulls, that the two of ye love each other. All I'm suggesting is for ye to find a way to bring that love to fruition. Then she would have no choice but to marry ye. Assuming of course, that ye wouldn't mind having to marry a young, beautiful, noblewoman with a business in her possession."

Sheamus couldn't believe his ears. This was the answer he'd been looking for. He could save Rhianna from having to marry Dimera. {And get the factory,} he reminded himself quickly. {That's why you're doing it, remember. It's not as if ye love her.}

Sheamus smiled at the priest. This had to be so hard for him. "So ye actually want us to.commit fornication. Isn't that a sin?"

Father Thomas grimaced. "Tis better than seeing that girl give herself to the devil. And let me make something clear. I'm doing this because I know that she loves ye and, despite your protestations, ye love her too. But if I'm wrong about ye and ye hurt her, well, let's just say I have friends in very high places."

Sheamus swallowed. For a moment he looked as if he was expecting a lightning bolt to strike him. "I understand, Father."

"Good. I'm glad we had this little chat. So, I can expect to be seeing more of ye here on Sundays?"

"Aye, Father."

Night fell upon Banshee Forest. Here, among the hooting owls and singing crickets, ageless spirits wandered. They walked, unseen by human eyes. They sang, unheard by human ears. Their mournful dirge filled the night air as it had for centuries past while people nearby simply shrugged, saying "Tis just the wind."

The banshee were unusually restless that evening. Their song was filled with a dread sense of foreboding. An evil was coming; had already set foot on their land. And one of their own was in pain.

Her song carried on the night breeze. Rhianna stood on the balcony, hands clasping the railing, eyes closed, head lifted high. It was an old song, born before memory. She didn't know why she chose that particular song. She just had to sing it.

*Green, in the wizard arms Of the foam-bearded Atlantic, An isle of old enchantment, A melancholy isle, Enchanted and dreaming lies; And there, by Shannon's flowing, In the moonlight, spectre-thin, The spectre Erin sits.

An aged desolation, She sits by old Shannon's flowing, A mother of many children, Of children exiled and dead, In her home, with bent head, homeless, Clasping her knees she sits, Keening, keening!

And the Fianna hear, and the ghosts of her cloudy hovering heroes; And the swan, Fianoula, wails o'er the waters of Inisfail, Chanting her song of destiny, The rune of the weaving Fates. And the nations hear in the void and quaking time of night, Sad unto dawning, dirges, Solemn dirges, And snatches of bardic song; Their souls quake in the void and quaking time of night, And they dream of the weird of kings, And tyrannies moulting sick In the dreadful wind of change.

Wail no more, lonely one, mother of exiles, wail no more, Banshee of the world - no more! Thy sorrows are the world's, thou art no more alone; Thy wrongs, the world's.*

As the notes fell from her lips she felt a strange stirring within. Like she was on the verge of remembering some forgotten part of herself. Like tapping into some hidden power deep within. She stood there long after the song ended, reveling in the strange sensation. Something momentous was getting ready to happen.

"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Her brother's voice rang out behind her.

And the moment was gone. She pasted a smile on her face and turned to greet him. "Aye, that it is."

Sean stood beside her looking out over the moonlit estate. "So, are ye going to tell me what's wrong?"

Rhianna shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Right, and ye were singing the ballad of the Banshee just for fun? Come on, ye only sing when you're upset. What's wrong, Ree?"

"I've just accepted my fate, that's all. It just finally hit me that I'm going to have to marry Dimera."

{Not if I can help it,} Sean thought with a grim determination.

Rhianna turned to her brother. "I understand we'll be having a house guest in a few days," she said to change the subject.

"Aye. Her name is Miriam Lockeheart. I had met her once a few years ago. I've been thinking about her a great deal lately. I think she would make a good wife for me."

"Wife? This is certainly sudden. What about Elizabeth?"

Sean kept his eyes carefully averted. "What about her?"

"I thought ye cared for her."

He shrugged. "She's a nice enough girl and I certainly enjoy her company but a romance between us? She's a servant, it would never work."

"She's a good deal more than just a servant," Rhianna pointed out.

"I know that but there's still worlds of difference between us. Miss Lockeheart and I have similar backgrounds. She's a better match for me and will make a good Lady of the castle."

"Okay," Rhianna acquiesced. "I just want to be sure that you're marrying her for the right reasons: because she's a good mate and someone you could love."

Sean laughed nervously. "What other reasons are there?"

Sean made his way through the halls of the castle. He was relieved that the conversation was over and that Rhianna seemed to have believed him. She could never learn his real reason for marrying Miss Lockeheart. She would never allow him to sacrifice his happiness for hers.

But Sean would do anything to save her, even if it meant entering into a loveless marriage. And loveless it would be, for he knew that he could never love another woman the way he loved Elizabeth.

He stopped and leaned against the cold stone wall. His heart twisted just picturing her lovely face, her brilliant smile. He wasn't sure when it had happened; he only knew that he had fallen in love with her despite himself.

He banged his head against the wall. {Come on, Sean, ye haven't even known her that long.} Although it had felt like all his life. {How well do ye really know her?} He knew all he needed to know. He knew his heart raced every time she was near. He knew his fingers itched to run along her smooth skin, that his lips burned to press down on hers. And even when he was able to get his mind and body under control, he knew that she would be a wonderful companion and mother to his future children. He knew that she was the only girl he wanted to spend his life with.

Sean closed his eyes and sighed. But he also knew that he could not let Rhianna marry that monster. None of the rest mattered. He straightened back up and burying his feelings deep inside him continued his walk through the castle.

He paused when he came to an open door. Inside the room he saw Elizabeth on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor. His heart twisted at the sight. Here she was slaving away, so late at night.

"Ye know, Elizabeth, when we offered ye a place here, it didn't mean ye had to work around the clock. Ye are permitted to eat, and sleep," Sean said with a grin. "Ye can even take a day off, every now and then."

The girl looked up from her labors. A dirty hand brushed the hair out of her red, sweaty face. "I just wanted to be sure everything's ready on time for Miss Lockeheart," she said breathlessly.

"I'm sorry. I hadn't realized that preparing this room would be such a huge undertaking."

"Well, this room hasn't been used in many years. There was dirt and mildew buildup. A lot of the furnishings had to be repaired and I had to replace the curtains and linens; they were completely threadbare. There's still a bit to be done, but it will be ready for her arrival," Elizabeth promised as she got back to her scrubbing.

Sean noticed that her fingers were raw from abuse. He hated the thought of such a lovely creature having to work so hard. He rolled up his sleeves and before he knew what he was doing, he was down on the floor beside her.

"Why don't ye take a break and I'll take over?" he offered.

Elizabeth bowed her head. "No, it's okay. I like to work; it keeps my mind off of things."

He reached out and tilted her chin so he could see her face. He saw her eyes, red and wet from crying. "What's wrong, Beth?" he asked, his pet name for her slipping out.

Elizabeth smiled and wiped her tears. "I'm just sad, I guess."

"Ye miss your mum."

"Aye."

"Is that all?" he asked. His fingers caressed her cheek, seemingly with a will all their own.

She turned away from him. It just hurt so much to be near him, to hear his soothing words, to feel his gentle touch, and know that he was planning to marry someone else. "I just feel like.everyone's leaving me. Da, Mum, Sheamus."

"Your brother isn't gone," Sean soothed.

"Well, he isn't here, is he? No, he's on the other side of the estate because Heaven forbid Sheamus Brady should ever take charity from someone."

Sean frowned. He had never seen this side of Elizabeth before. "Beth, what's wrong?" He reached out for her.

She stood to her feet. "I'm lonely, okay? I moved into this giant castle and I might as well be the only person living in it for all that I see ye or Rhianna." Tears slipped from her eyes. "I'm tired of losing everyone I love. My parents, Sheamus." She stared him directly in his eyes. ".you."

There was a lengthy silence in the room as the occupants realized the import of Elizabeth's statement. She gasped and covered her mouth when she realized what she had said. "You're right," she said finally to recover her dignity. "It's getting late. Good night."

Sean sadly watched as she left the room.

* This excerpt taken from The Banshee by John Todhunter (1839-1916)