Keefe
Chapter 16: Dinner at Eight
matches9524

AN: Again, I do not have the patience to reply to every review I recieved, but here is that next chapter you all asked for. Also, all the translations for the Irish Gaelic are at the bottom of the page. Anything in the ritual that sounds familiar is a complete coincidence, as I made it up off the top of my head.

Raven and Keefe were reading aloud to each other in front of a fire in the library when the page (No pun intended) informed them that the expected guests had arrived.

"Tell them we'll meet them in the parlour." Raven's voice shook with her excitment. "Could you please escort them there?"

"Yes m'lady sorceress. It will be arranged," he said respectfully.

"Thank you. That's all." She turned to Keefe as the page departed to relay his mistress' message.

She straightened Keefe's collar, smoothed his pants, and turned his earring straight. He laughed quietly as she fussed over him.

"Who is it that you're trying to impress?" He grinned.

As she looked in a mirror on the end of a bookcase, she pointed at him. Then casting her gaze back upon herself, she straightened and smoothed her black skirt and untangled the magick charms. She adjusted the Fergeson crest that rested between her ample breasts.

Turning to Keefe with butterflies in her stomach, she grabbed his hand and asked in a slightly shaky voice if he was ready to go.

The couple walked through the cool, dim hallways until they reached the parlour where their guests were waiting for them.

The door was ajar and Raven peeked in.

Beast Boy was jabbing at the fire in the grate with a poker. Robin was gazing out the window with his hands clasped behind his back, observing the forest. Bumblebee and Cyborg were sitting rather close and conversing in low tones, while Starfire and Terra critiqued the paintings on the walls.

All six of them looked weary from travel and their in-flight communicator headsets had left indentations on their temples and foreheads.

Keefe stood in the doorway, and Raven went to his side. He cleared his throat and the Titans turned around.

Raven could contain herself no longer. She rushed forward with a huge grin on her face, kissed and hugged everyone and said:

"You guys, I'm so sorry about what happened last time. I don't know what came over me. I guess I was just mad."

Raven looked at each Titan, her eyes hopeful.

"I think I speak for the whole team when I say 'It's all right'. We weren't very forthright about everything that had happened." Robin said. Raven looked at him inquiringly. "But that's a story for another day," he said quickly.

"Raven darling," Keefe said, placing his hand on her shoulder, "I believe your guests are quite tired. Perhaps you could show them to their rooms." His voice was gentle, yet directing.

"Yes of course." There was a minute amount of emotional detatchment in her voice. "If you guys would just follow me please." They did as they were told.

Raven took them to the same wing as her own quarters, but their rooms were on the floor above hers.

On one side of the corridor, three bedrooms, all with adjoining doors, were set aside for the girls. It was the same on the other side for the boys.

"Dinner is at eight. I will send Gretta for you at seven fourty-five. Wear something nice, or call Gretta and she will find you something suitable. You don't mind, do you Gretta?" Her voice was kind, yet forceful and commanding.

A small mousy woman who had been standing in wait in the shadows came forward and squeaked, "No milady sorceress. I don't mind at all."

At the address to Raven, the Titans remembered how different and how much more powerful she was. How did they know that it wasn't a trap that they were in? Was Raven still mad at them? Was she planning something evil? There was an akward silence.

Finally Raven said "You guys have had a long trip. So go ahead and rest up. We'll talk after dinner over coffee and drinks. With that, she left them to Gretta's charge.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

She returned to Keefe, who had gone back to the library.

"Raven dearest. Although Chesmer and Earth have many parallels, weddings are not one of them. You might want to consider reading this." He tossed her a large, leather-covered tome. It was entitled Chesmer: Customs and Traditions. Keefe had dog-earred the page she needed to open up to.

...A sacred circle is drawn on hallowed ground, and the couple stands at opposite sides. The guests must stay outside of the circle, or risk counteracting the rite. The union ribbon, held by the priest in between the couple, is wrapped around the left wrist. At tall sun on the eve of a full moon, the couple moves in a counter-clockwise direction and sings the song of union. (See page 1097) When the moon rises to its highest point, the priest takes a consecrated athame and joins the blood...

"Please don't tell me that the song lasts twelve hours!" Raven exclaimed. The parts about the knife didn't bother her.

"Give or take a few minutes," Keefe grinned. "Read the song, you'll need to know it." He laughed and kissed the top of her head.

Raven frowned and flipped to page 1097.

(1) Raven is ainm dom agus Keefe is ainm dom. Corcra agus uaine. Anamchara. An Geihmreadh, an Samhradh, an tEarrach, an Fhomhair, bród, misneach, láidir, lag, beanhaithe, dílseacht, críohnacht, wasal. Anamchara. Bail ó Dhia ort.

"What the hell does the mean, Keefe?" She said, completly put out.

"It means, love, 'I am Raven and I am Keefe. Purple and green. Soulmates. Winter, summer, spring, autumn, pride, courage, strong, weak, blessed, faith, widom, noble. Soulmates. The blessings of God upon you.'" He laughed. "Do you think you can pronounce it?"

She tried, but when she finished reading and looked up at her fiancée, he was shaking his head.

(2) "Táim i ngrá leat, but we really need to work on your pronounciation darling."

"Um, all right."

And so they passed the time until seven thirty, when they went up to change for dinner.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

At eight o'clock, the two parites met in the dining hall.

Raven said, with some slight mispronounciations, (3) "Céad míle fáilte romhat!" and beamed. Keefe nodded in approval.

When the Titans looked at each other, confused, Keefe explained. "Raven is working on her Irish Gaelic. Would you mind terribly if pricticed on you all?"

"No, it's fine. I'm glad that she's finally decided to learn a new language," Said Robin, always the leader.

"Thank you. Shall we eat then?" Everyone sat, and dinner was served. Ironically, it was Shephard's Pie.

Raven raised her wine goblet and cried (4) "Sláinte!" It was echoed by everyone in the room, and dinner began.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

After dinner drinks were served in the larlour, and the toast was raised this time by Terra, who was quite fond of learning bits and pieces of different languages.

"Sláinte!" She called.

"Sláinte!"

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

It was close to two in the morning when Robin decided it was time for bed. He no longer thought that Chesmer was a trap. They had had some good times tonight.

"Good night guys. See you in the morning. Thanks for coming to visit. How about we meet in the library around eleven?" asked Raven.

"Sounds good," said Cyborg. "Good night, baby girl."

"Well then, (5) síochán leat."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Raven changed into her babydoll while Keefe stripped down to his boxers. They got into bed, and Raven snuggled up against Keefe's side. He kissed the top of her head and said:

"(6) Oíche mhaithe, codladk sámh darling."

"Oíche mhaithe," she replied, and when she thought he had fallen asleep she said quietly, perfectly, (2) "Táim i ngrá leat." Then she fell asleep.

Keefe smiled to himself in the darkness.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Here are the translations.

(1) is translated right below it.
(2) is "I'm in love with you."
(3) is "A hundred thousand welcomes to you."
(4) is "Cheers" or "Health".

(5) is "Peace be with you".
(6) is "Good night".
(7) is "Sleep well".

Did you like this chapter? Did you hate it? THEN REVIEW!