Chapter 6
Siobhan placed the twins in their beds and began her bedtime story in her most hypnotic tone, "Long ago, on an isle of emerald green, surrounded by a sea of azure blue, there lived a young man named Oisin. Oisin liked to explore the moors with the Fianna, who were ancient warrior-hunters.
One day, when Oisin and the Fianna were out hunting, they saw an extraordinary sight. It was a beautiful young woman with long red hair, riding on a spirited white mare. The sun glistened off the maiden's hair, casting a magical golden light.
The mare's movements were so fluid that she appeared to float across the ground. As her rider brought her to a stop before the group, the horse's hooves struck at the field stones impatiently, sending small sparks into the air.
"My name is Niamh," the woman said, in a voice that sounded like the music of a harp. "My father is the king of Tir Na Nog."
Oisin stepped forward from the group of hunters to welcome the rider. As his eyes met Niamh's, they fell in love.
"Come with me to Tir Na Nog," Niamh pleaded to her new found love. After only a moment's hesitation, Oisin swung up behind Niamh onto the white horse.
Together, they crossed the sea to Tir Na Nog.
Having grown up on the Emerald Isle, Oisin would never have believed that a more beautiful land existed. But, as he gazed upon Tir Na Nog, he was stunned by the beauty around him.
In this magical land, Niamh and Oisin built a life together. They spent each day exploring Tir Na Nog with the white mare. Niamh and Oisin's love grew deeper as Niamh shared the beauty of her enchanted homeland.
300 years passed as though it were but a single day. No one in Tir Na Nog ever grew old or fell sick. They lived in endless, youthful moments filled with happiness.
In spite of the beauty of the land and the deep love that Niamh and Oisin shared for each other, a small part of Oisin's soul knew loneliness. Such feelings were unheard of in Tir Na Nog. But in spite of her efforts, Niamh was unable to ease Oisin's loneliness.
So, when Oisin came to Niamh and told her of his desire to return to Ireland to see his family and the Fianna again, she could not hold him back.
"All right," said Niamh. "Return to Ireland on the back of the white mare. But my dear, your foot must not touch the soil of Ireland!" Immediately Oisin rode the white horse back across the sea to the land of his birth. But, as soon as the mare's hooves touched Ireland's soil, Oisin realized how much the land had changed. Oisin's family and friends had long passed away. Their grand castle was over grown with ivy.
Oisin was so caught up in his quest to find his family and his grief at their loss, that he forgot to care for the beautiful white horse. In spite of her hunger and fatigue she continued to respond to her rider. Finally, with a sad heart, Oisin turned the mare back toward the sea to return to Tir Na Nog.
Approaching the sea, he came upon a group of men working in a field. As the mare reached the group, her fatigue caused her to stumble. Her hoof hit a stone. Oisin bent down to pick up the rock, planning to take it to Tir Na Nog. He was sure that it would ease his sadness to carry a piece of Ireland back with him.
But as his hand grasped the stone, Oisin lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Within moments, Oisin aged 300 years. Without her rider, the mare reared up and rushed into the ocean, returning to Tir Na Nog and her beloved Niamh.
When the men in the field witnessed this, they were amazed. Not only had they seen a young man age before their eyes, they had also seen a tired old plow horse transformed into a beautiful silver-white mare, who raced into the sea. The men went to Oisin's aid and carried him to St. Patrick.
When Oisin met St. Patrick, he told Patrick of his family and the Fianna, who had disappeared from Ireland almost 300 years before. Then he told St. Patrick of Niamh and the magical land of Tir Na Nog.
As Oisin ended his story, a great weariness swept over him and he closed his eyes in eternal slumber. Even to this day, the fishermen and lighthouse keepers still tell of foggy nights when the moon is full, and they see a shimmering white horse dancing in the waves along the shores of Ireland. Some say that the red-haired maiden who rides the horse still searches for Oisin." Siobhan finished her story with a sigh.
She rose form her chair and looked at the twins, a smile spreading across her mouth. Alec and Jane both sound asleep in their beds; Alec seemed to be smiling in his sleep, while Jane's face was completely serene. Siobhan reluctantly left the twins to sleep and she made her way to the kitchen for a light snack before bed.
She stopped as she exited the door to the nursery; Mary had seemingly pulled up a chair outside the door and had fallen asleep. Siobhan smiled to herself, her mother had always told her she had such a mesmerizing voice, perfect for putting people to sleep with her storytelling. Siobhan placed a hand on Mary's shoulder and gently shook her awake.
"Oh! Siobhan," Mary started, "I heard you telling the twins their bedtime story and I couldn't resist listening in. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind, Mary!" Siobhan replied. "My mother always said I was blessed with the gift of storytelling and I should never deny any person wanting to expand their imagination with one of my stories. I am glad you liked that one, it is one of my favorites."
"I can believe I fell asleep," Mary said, "after the day I have had and your enchanting voice. I am surprised I lasted as long as I did. I think I must have let myself drift off right as you were finishing."
"Let's go to the kitchen, I was about to fix myself a snack before I head off to bed, I would love for you to join me," Siobhan said.
"Yes, I think I will," replied Mary, "There are a few things I need to prepare for Mr. Clifford's arrival home tomorrow."
As the women prepared their snack, Siobhan wondered out loud, "Mary, I have to ask, does Mr. Clifford often leave for such long periods of time?"
Mary was thoughtful for a moment before continuing, "Mr. Clifford is often away on business, he is a nobleman. After the death of his wife and the birth of his children, he left us for a while. Surely you will understand, he didn't attend to any of his business needs, he needed to attend to the matters of the heart first."
Siobhan blushed and with the hem of her apron wiped the tears that moistened her cheek, "Of course, Mary. I was only inquiring as to the length of his usual business trips; this one just seems a bit long."
"That is because he stayed at home for so long without attending to any business. He has many estates all over Cumbria county and he needed to visit all of them" Mary replied.
"That makes sense." Siobhan said.
The ladies finished their snack and padded off to their respective beds.
The next afternoon, every available staff member met Mr. Clifford's carriage as it made the long trek up the drive. Siobhan was just inside the house in the front room with the twins. Alec was crawling about the room while Jane toddled around the furniture.
James paused as he entered the foyer and saw his children. They had grown so much and he instantly regretted leaving them for so long. Jane turned and faced him when she heard him come in; she cocked her head to the side, a toothless grin plastered on her face. She let go of the sofa she had been clutching and took her first steps toward him. Her arms outstretched her fingers raking the air, in attempt to pull him closer. He couldn't resist any her any longer. He rushed forward and picked her up cradling her against his chest. He inhaled her soft scent, trying to commit it to memory. She touched the side of his face with her little fingers and trailed them down toward his lips, she opened her mouth and looked into his eyes, "Hi dada."
James gasped, "I didn't know they were talking already! Mary, you didn't mention anything in your letters!" He looked at Siobhan, who was shaking her head and wiping her eyes, and then to Mary, who was mimicking her.
"They weren't talking sir. They haven't said a single word until this moment sir. They were babbling like I told you before sir, but no actual words until now. I can't believe it sir," Mary exclaimed.
"They knew to wait for you," said Siobhan. "Oh, and I can't believe it, Miss Jane! She took her first steps, just now, to you sir."
James sat on the sofa seat with Jane in his lap. Alec crawled over, pulled himself up to stand at his father's knees. "It seems I have exceptionally thoughtful children" James laughed. He scooped Alec up to sit in his lap as well. He leaned in and squeezed both of his children. He spent the next couple of hours planting kisses and hugs all over them and laughing and giggling with them as they played and moved about the house.
That night he helped Siobhan put the twins down for the night; he listened intently as she told them their bedtime story and found himself drifting off to her hypnotic voice. He knew that Marion had picked a truly gifted woman for their nanny. As Siobhan finished her story, he was felt as though his spirit were whole for the first time since Marion had died.