I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to write reviews. I truly appreciate them! I listen, and I've gotten some great ideas, and I'm finding out what readers appreciate. So,Go raibh míle maith agat! (Thank you very much!)
Maire
~~~Ó~~~
Sarah was breathless, standing, looking at the shimmering image in the mirror behind and around her.
Eimile came from behind her and clasped her shoulders. "Congratulations, my sister," she whispered. "This owl is only born to a true Fae, and only a Royal at that. This truly says something strong and powerful about your character."
Sara felt both humbled and proud of that recognition.
"Even if you don't feel it," said Eimile, "You have expended much energy in scrying today. Otherwise, I would suggest that we try manifesting your owl. But that can be for another day. However, I know we'll all be meeting at my parents' home for dinner this evening. Would you like to make that announcement then?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes. This is so exciting!"
"It is! I cannot wait to see my brother's face when he gets the news!"
Sarah glanced at the clock."I should really shower and dress for that soon," she said.
"As should I," commented Eimile. "I'll see myself out."
When Sarah entered the Royal bed chamber, she could hear Jareth in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. He was standing shirtless, in front of the mirror when she came in.
"Mmmm," she purred, as she stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his lean, muscled chest. Her hands slid down to his pelvic muscles as she leaned her head against his back.
"That," he said, disentangling himself from her, "Is exactly what we cannot do right now. — I cannot believe I just said that," he muttered, looking up at the ceiling. "We are already going to be running late for dinner. I am going to take that as a rain check for this evening though," he added, heading for the shower. "I've started your bath for you, love," nodding toward the tub as he stepped into the shower.
She didn't think so.
Slipping out of her dress and underthings, she stepped into the shower with him. His back was to her, so he was startled as she began kissing him there.
He turned around slowly, his eyes taking in every inch of her, and he sighed, biting his lower lip.
"It seems I recall someone, I forget exactly whom, saying 'It's not fair!'quite often," he mused. "I'd say that this is quite unfair," he smiled.
She loved his smile. God, he was irresistible!
"Why don't I help you wash your hair?" he offered. He knew that she loved that.
"That would be wonderful," she said. If he thought that that would be all she wanted from him, he was greatly mistaken.
Turning her back to him, she ducked her head under the water until it was soaked. Jareth already had a handful of shampoo. Rubbing his hands together, he applied it and begin scrubbing gently at her scalp. He loved running his hands through his wife's thick dark hair, wet or dry. She arched her back, forming an S shape and pushing her bottom toward him.
She heard him quietly hiss, and knew that she had made her mark when she felt something from behind.
"I believe something is poking me in the back," she murmured seductively.
His voice was husky."It would seem I've been betrayed by my own body. I hate when that happens." She could hear the smile in his voice.
He reached around her and cupped both breasts in his hands, rolling her nipples with his thumbs while sucking at the base of her neck, where it met her shoulder.
"But aren't we going to be late?" She teased.
She gasped as he pinched her nipples. "Late for what?" He growled into her ear.
~~~Ó~~~
Well over an hour later, Sarah had finished applying her make up and doing her hair. Standing hands on hips, she looked critically into her armoire. Jareth passed behind her, already dressed. He gave her a quick nip on her earlobe.
"How about the dusty blue velvet?" He suggested.
She laughed and swatted at him. "You only like that one because it makes these ridiculous boobs of mine look even bigger! This is a family dinner, with your parents!"
She finally settled on a lavender silk, that revealed her shoulders, but swept to the ground without revealing her ever increasing curves. Jareth pouted when he saw her.
"I'll wear that dusty blue one for you later," she smiled. "Let's go. I have an announcement to make."
~~~Ó~~~
They were greeted at Jareth's parents door by Charles, an uncommonly tall Fae who served as head butler. Despite Jareth's mother's suggestions, Jareth had no butler and did not want one. He had grown up with Charles, however, and they were old friends.
"Good evening, your Majesty," said Charles, bowing deeply. He turned toward Sarah. "Good evening, your majesty."
"Seriously, Charles?" Jareth arched one fabulous brow.
Charles stood stock still, facing forward. "Regal formality and all that," he smiled slightly.
Jareth chuckled, slapped him on the back and strolled into the main foyer. Charles had followed them so that he could announce their arrival. Jareth smiled and silently waved the older man off.
They made their way to the reception room, where everyone would be having cocktails before dinner. Sarah was impressed, as always, at the warmth and elegance of Brielle's home. She made a mental note to ask her for some ideas for the castle.
As they entered, she could see Jareth's mother's back was to them. She was laughing at something that Cillian, Jareth's father, had said. As if this were something routine, Cillian reached for Brielle's glass. Before she could register this, Jareth came up from behind her, grabbing her around the waist, and swinging her around in a circle.
"Jareth!" laughed his beautiful mother. "Where is your sense of decorum?"
"Don't believe I ever had one," Jareth thought aloud. "Must've left it somewhere. Probably at the bottom of the oubliette or something." He winked at his father.
Cillian caught this and smirked. It was exactly like seeing an older version of Jareth. Sarah felt her heart swell.
"Put your mother down, Jareth, so she can finish her sherry." He looked at Sarah.
"And my beautiful daughter in law. Welcome! I believe that you become lovelier and lovelier each time that I see you. What can I get you to drink?"
She smiled as he kissed her on both cheeks. "Hello, Cillian. It's always good to see you. May I have another of those wonderful lavender tonics you make?"
He grinned, gave a mock bow, and left to make one for her. Sarah felt an arm around her waist as Brielle kissed her cheek warmly. "Sarah darling," she said. "I agree with Cillian. You are positively glowing!"
"Which is remarkable considering who she's married to," said Eimile. She had a cocktail plate of shrimp and was popping them down, one after the other in rapid succession.
"Any shrimp left for the rest of us?" drawled Jareth. "I'm impressed. I've never seen them go down that quickly since I went whale watching."
Eimile stared up at the ceiling and sighed painfully. Then she smiled brightly at her mother. "Did you see that there? Did you see me not stabbing him in the neck with the fire poker?"
Charles appeared at just that moment to announce that dinner was served. The family went into the dining room. Sarah was seated next to Eimile on her right, who grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Are you ready?"
Sarah nodded as Cillian stood up from the head of the table, glass in hand. "I'd like to give a toast to our growing family, to tell Sarah at least one more time how much we love her, and how fortunate we are to be welcoming this wee one into our family."
Everyone clinked glasses, and Sarah said, "I have some news of my own to share as well."
Everyone turned to her. She felt her cheeks grow warm. Shyly looking down at her plate, she said, "Eimile and I discovered my therianthropic animal form today. It's an owl."
But Eimile couldn't contain herself. "Tell them what kind of owl, Sarah! This is positively huge!"
Sarah felt Jareth's reassuring hand on her thigh and looked up at him. "It's a barn owl."
His eyes grew large, then he grasped her tightly in his arms. She looked around the table. All of the O'Rourkes had the barn owl as their magical animal form. This meant she was really and truly part of them.
Brielle's eyes were misted. Jareth looked thrilled. Cillian was smiling benignly at her.
"Only a Royal and a true Fae can manifest that creature," said Cillian, seriously.
"And only my formerly human wife could do that. Yet another incredible feat. To Queen Sarah!" Jareth toasted. Everyone followed suit. Sarah smiled, hoping for the hundredth time that she could live up to everyone's expectations of her.
After dinner, Brielle asked Sarah into a sitting room much like the one at the castle. She pulled down a large tome. It was an illustrated manuscript of the O'Rourke family. Lavish decorations and illustrations illuminated each page. Intricate Celtic spirals, knots and crosses joined animals, plants and humans to stunningly illustrate the family's heritage.
She set the heavy book in Sarah's lap. Leafing through it, she was amazed at the artwork, history, and records within. It would truly take her years to read this entire book. Brielle turned to a page near the beginning. It featured a gorgeous picture of a barn owl flying - looking as though it were going to fly out of the page toward the reader. It was so majestic and lifelike that it took Sarah's breath away.
Suddenly, Sarah audibly gasped. The owl was moving, wings slowly and gracefully flapping. It met her eyes. Sarah was stunned. She looked questioningly into Brielle's eyes.
Brielle nodded. "You see it, don't you?"
Sarah nodded. "That is because you are a true O'Rourke, Royalty, and magical being." She then took the book into her own lap and read the text, which was in such ancient Irish that Sarah couldn't begin to make sense of it.
Brielle began in her beautiful lilt:
"At times, in order to strengthen one sense, we need to dampen another. We are very used to approaching the world through our eyes. We often need to see something with our own eyes in order to believe. The Barn Owl reminds us that sight isn't the only way to connect. Intuition and inner knowing can't be seen with the eyes."
She continued, "On a dark moon night, Barn Owl swoops low over the fields. Her wingbeats are not only nearly silent but create a wake of quietude, a vortex of otherness. Crossing her path feels like crossing over into elsewhere. And so, Barn Owl has long been a Messenger between the worlds, bringing word from the realm of spirit. Barn Owl hunts even on the darkest of nights, her ears picking up the small chattering of mice and the soft sound of grass brushing against a rabbit hide… or maybe she simply senses their souls as they go about their nightly business. Close your eyes, Barn Owl whispers, and open your ears to the sound of spirit."
Sarah stared at Brielle. "There was a voice in my head when I saw the owl in the mirror," she said. "It told me to listen to the sound of spirit!"
Brielle nodded knowingly, the faintest trace of a smile on her lips. "Then you must listen to that message,"she said quietly.
~~~Ó~~~
Barn Owl lore from Maia Toll, The Illustrated Bestiary
According to ancient Celtic history, the barn owl is a creature who can travel freely between worlds. (Earth and the Otherworld/Underworld.) Unfortunately, because it is a nighttime creature, and primitive people did not know much about it, it was often regarded as an evil symbol of death and occasionally barn owls were nailed to a barn door in order to keep bad spirits away. This practice continued until the 1950s, when people learned more about this fascinating bird and its true meaning.