Epilogue
Lia
The day after the festivities were over, Lia had called a specific group into the solar. “I needed to have a meeting with you all. I have some important words for you.”
She looked out at the group in front of her: Connor, Sela, Hagen, Brynja, Maitland, Maeve, Grant, Alasdair, John, and Dyna.
Connor said, “Lia, I need to understand something. And since it’s just this small group, I would like an explanation of what happened when I was injured on Tiree. How was I healed so quickly? I thought I was dying.”
“You were verra close. It allowed me the chance to explain to Hagen and Brynja what powers they hold. As you can guess, they are a powerful couple. Everyone can see it, but I needed them to know that I will ask them to help me in the future. It’s my job to protect the bairns, but I cannot do it alone.
I need helpers in the universe. And they, along with others in your clan, have been chosen.
“As time goes on, we’ll have more bairns to protect, but I will need you two together. Hagen and Brynja,” she turned to them, “I am binding the two of you until the end of time. Together, you will travel and help me fight the evil of the world.”
Hagen whispered, “Why us?”
“It’s not just you, but I’m starting with you. To be the most powerful, you will have to stay together as a couple. Are you willing to commit to each other? I’m pleased you are married, but you must commit to support each other when you are needed.”
The two looked at each other and both nodded. “Of course,” Brynja said, Hagen nodding next to her and kissing her cheek.
“As for the rest of you, this is why you are all here. It’s not just Hagen and Brynja.
The group will consist of John, Grant, Tora, Sylvi, Sandor, and Magni.
Dyna, you and Alasdair are the only other adults who will play a large part.
You are among the chosen ones whose job will be to help me battle evil.
Connor, I may call on your assistance too. ”
Maitland set a kiss on his beloved son’s head. “Grant is a wee bit young, Lia.”
“Maitland and Maeve, I needed to ask you here because Grant will be needed at a younger age than the others, so you will be involved. He and John have a special power with the sapphire sword. They will both have the power to use it, but not until John is an adult.”
“Why tell us now if this won’t happen for several years?” Alasdair asked.
“Because enough strange things happened here in the last year, Alasdair. There were many questions about Tora’s and Sylvi’s abilities, Sandor’s ability to speak with Uncle Jake, John’s sapphire sword, Grant’s attraction to me…”
“And his ability to touch a sharp sword and not bleed?” Maeve asked.
“Grant has many skills to build yet. He is indeed one of the special chosen ones, he and John will be called upon often. It’s hard to say exactly how this will play out, but your bairns will all build their skills, and I felt it important to let you know that you shouldn’t discourage the oddities you will see but instead encourage them.
Encourage Tora’s and Sylvi’s ability to see, and John’s skills with his sword. ”
“All right,” Maitland scratched his head, staring at the wee lad in Maeve’s arms. “That all makes sense to me, and Maeve and I will do whatever we can do to help our son meet his greatest potential.”
“That’s the reason I didn’t have the other bairns here.
I’ll ask you not to talk about this outside of this group.
And this isn’t going to happen for about ten years.
But sometime in the future I will call all of you together.
I can’t give you an exact time, but your time is coming.
I ask that you all stay close and in the same clan. ”
Dyna said, “Finally, I understand why our bairns are special. Many thanks to you, Lia.”
“You may tell Derric, Dyna.”
The group took a moment to look around at each other, taking in the information that was just given.
Then Lia said, “As I said, all will be quiet for a while. If you ever need me, I’ll be here. Magni will surely let me know. And please don’t tell Magni. He won’t be able to understand it yet. But expect quiet times for about ten years. Then I shall return.”
Alasdair asked, “Will you appear the same to us, Lia? Or will you come looking different?”
“Great question, Alasdair. I can’t answer that, but I can promise you that when you need to know it’s me, you will. Until then, many happy times to you all.”
Lia disappeared.
***
Connor and Sela stood on the shore two days later, holding hands, looking out over the water. “I hate to leave here, Sela. It’s so beautiful.”
“We’ll be back. I know you can’t leave forever. Besides, we’re just going for a visit. And we’ll bring Astra and Morgan back with us. Astra is ready, and Morgan has been begging to come. It’s time.”
Lia appeared next to them. “Greetings, Grants.”
Connor said, “Greetings, Lia. Didn’t you just leave us?”
“I did. But I wished to see you two alone.”
Sela looked up at her husband, curious, then back at the faery. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay, I just wondered if either of you recognized me.”
Connor and Sela looked at each other, Connor shrugging.
Sela said, “We always recognize you, Lia. You’re always dressed in that lovely green gown. The faery gown of the meadow. It suits you perfectly.”
Lia stepped closer. “And what if I wore something different?”
Connor said, “I will always recognize you, Lia. You saved my life. I’ll never forget you. I promise.”
“Are you sure about that?” She had that look on her face that told them something odd was about to happen.
Then she held her arms up and her image changed, her dress fading in color, going from forest green to a white gown, a billowing white skirt flowing to the ground with a blue band at her waist.
They both stared at her puzzled. Sela said, “You still look like Lia.”
Then she raised her arms and she grew in front of them, from a wee lass of six to a woman of about twenty summers. “Now do you recognize me?” Her hair turned from gold to an odd shade of red.
Sela gasped, falling back against Connor, her finger pointing. “Oh my Lord in heaven, Connor. The abbey. Lochluin Abbey the night before I left.”
Lia held her hand up. “Wait! I’m missing something.” Then she swept her hand across her neck, and a string of pearls appeared. She repeated the movement, and the pearls changed to a chain with a red heart at the end. “Does this help?”
Sela whispered, “The protector of the innocent lasses.”
Connor could barely speak. He knew her. He’d seen her several times before. Once or twice with Roddy, telling them they had to help Rose. And then when Sela finally came to him. And once with Daniel when she sent them to help Constance.
“Oh, my gosh! Sona Abbey. And then on Grant land. And the time you floated outside our window with Roddy in the middle of that wild storm.”
Lia smiled and said, “Finally, you remember. And Sela, great memory. I was the protector of the innocent lasses. Now I’ve been moved to the protector of bairns.
” Then she laughed and waved. “I’ve been assigned to the Grants for a long time.
You can tell Maitland and Maeve that I was named Callie once.
Don’t worry. I’ll be back again, but not for a while. ”
Then she waved and disappeared.
The End