15 July 2013

Wedding plans were well in gear and, half the time, Colleen felt more like a traffic control officer than the mother of the bride. She was on the phone in her private office when a flood of voices filled the library just outside it. "Right, lilacs. That's what planted months ago fer the ceremony 'n' that's what we're workin' wit'. They'll be lovely wit' the two shades in purple range what Rhi picked out." She paused to listen as several of her children quietly filed into the office. It nearly gave new meaning to the phrase wall to wall people. Colleen's brows shot up as she watched daughters, sons, and others flooding her personal sanctuary. One raised hand silenced the group so she could finish the chat. "Right 'n' cut the roses fresh in the mornin' from the main gardens. Ya got the color list, aye?" A moment passed. "Good then we're all set."

"Alrighty," Collie said as eyed the motley crew before her. She gestured as she spoke, "Weddin' business ta m' left, other business goes right, 'n' those wit' both ta the center."

The groups lined up as asked, it was easier that way. At front of the line in the center was Maggie. When her grandmother gestured to her with her hand open, she said, "I want to know who is hemming my dress."

Collie smiled. "I can do it if ya 'ave it 'ere 'r yer mother can." She tipped her head. "Anythin' else?"

"Yes, could I borrow a curry brush, please" Jingles has burrs in her tail. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagain!" Maggie held her palms out.

"O' course. Ya know where they are."

Her business ended, Maggie exited the office, took her sister by the hand, and headed for the stables. "Ok, Catie, time to blow up the popsicle stand!"

Rhiannon Harker chuckled at her daughters. "Blow the popsicle stand, Maggie, not blow it up."

Maggie waved dismissively at her mother. "Yeah, yeah. I got it." She stopped a moment. "When I get done with Jingles, can you hem my dress, please" 's up in Aunt Nikki's old room."

"Tell you what. Bath first, dress on, then hem."

"Okie dokie." Maggie and Catie went off on their way.

Rhiannon went to answer a knock at the front door. The door opened to reveal a tall, well dressed young woman. There was something familiar about her and, yet, Rhi couldn't get by the girl's defenses. The language, in which the golden eyed woman stated her business, was a formal court dialect. It caught the attention of those that had retreated to the library to await an audience with the lady of the house. "As you can see, she's quite busy today," Rhiannon said, "But you're welcome to wait if you like."

"I shall wait, Lady Harker." The golden eyes swept over the woman allowing her to enter as well as the hallway.

"Mrs. Harker not Lady."

"My apologies, but such is not the case from whence I have come."

The trail of those leaving the office began with Rachael MacLeod and Garrick Brock, they were heading off to unearth some sheet music that would be used for the ceremony. Four remained: Rhiannon and Nicole Brock, Diana Kidd, and the visitor. Colleen emerged from her office and studied those before her. "You two,' she gestured between Diana and Nicole, "will have to yield to the bride. So, go 'ave some lunch 'n' she'll come 'n' get ya when she's done." Lunch was waiting since Rhiannon Harker had hostess duties that day.

Colleen studied the young woman that was still waiting. "Rhi, give me a moment wit' our visitor, aye?"

"Sure." Rhiannon offered a cordial smile to both women before going into her mother's office and shutting the door.

Colleen leaned forward to study the woman child before her and murmured, "Ya can hide yerself in the deepest o' glamours from anyone 'ere, but me." She took a deep breath and leaned to whisper in her native tongue, "Ce chomh fada is ata liom, Seamair"

The answer came in the same language, "Níl se mar gheall ort, seanmháthair."

Some of the redhead's uneasiness had faded. "I'll be wit' ya shortly."

((Author's note: "Ce chomh fada is ata liom," = "How long do I have?" "Nil se mar gheall ort, seanmhathair" = "It's not about you, grandmother." Specialty characters removed due to formatting issues ))

Seamair, she thought as she settled into a chair, I suppose that's suitable enough.

Collie made a silent study of the young woman that sat before her. "Just how many languages do ya speak?"

"More than I'm willing to say." Golden green eyes looked back at Colleen. "A wise woman once told me not to give away all your secrets. Keep something only for yourself." An impish twinkle lit her eyes. "She also told me to give people enough rope and eventually they will hang themselves."

One of Collie's brow rose and the other lowered. It made for a somewhat comical expression, especially to those that didn't understand it. "Sage advice." She glanced out the window a moment. "Do you play chess?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then tell me, young lady, what are the most powerful pieces in potential and the most versatile pieces on the board?" Their eyes locked, the gauntlet had been dropped.

"Everything you could have asked and you make it a chess question?" Seamair smiled. "The most powerful in potential are the pawns. If you manage to get one all the way across the board, it can become any other piece including the most versatile, the queen."

"Chess questions often reveal how one thinks and if one thinks fer themself." She put the wedding planner book into the desk drawer. "Now, tell me, ya aren't traveling alone, are ya?"

"No."

"O' course, ya would bring someone ya trust. Not yer teacher, I think he might have attempted ta persuade you ta not come here. That leaves only one person, Seamair." The redhead took a slow breath and cleared her throat. "That is, unless somethin' ...'"

"No!" Her golden eyes widened. "He's fine."

"Mmmf," the noise she made was derisive. "Careful, young one. That could be used against ya."

"I suppose it could. A very sensitive empath would have sensed that reaction if I couldn't tame it."

"Quite so." She moved around to sit on the front of her desk. "Ever since ....the winter, I have felt echoes in the wind o' what happened many years ago." Collie took a drink from the glass of iced tea then set it back on the coaster. "They came from what could be not from what must be."

Nodding, she closed her eyes and murmured, "Yes, I know. Misfit." A clearing of her throat brought her words to a normal speaking level again. Seamair studied her elder. "I wasn't supposed to come here, not really. You see, I wasn't told just why I am here."

"Somethin' prompted ya to make yourself known to me. What is it, child?" When Collie looked at her, she saw the little girl that Seamair had once been. Instinct was to protect her, but the younger woman was better prepared than most for whatever she might have to face. "Who else knows you are here?"

She considered the questions before answering the easiest first. "I have guarded myself from being known to most down to disguising my scent. Some beings, however, know me better than others, and it is difficult to keep the Glamour in place as camouflage. So, I have not used it, save for coming here. There are, perhaps, seven, who know."

"Best ta keep it that way. Trust few with who ya truly are." She motioned for Seamair to continue.

"Threats to life and limb are never jokes. It matters not how much they sound like one."

As Seamair gathered her thoughts, Colleen's drifted to Neither is talk of adultery. It took a moment for the words to sink in then Collie's brows rose. "Who was threatened?"

She turned her head as she heard two voices in the library and answered with a name being written on Collie's stationary.

"Yer certain that it was 'er?"

"She wasn't outright named, no." Her chestnut braid swayed some as she shook her head. "What I saw and heard leads me to believe that caution is order."

"Man or woman?"

"Woman."

Collie lifted a finger with each of her questions. "Did ya confront her" When was this" Did ya get a name?"

"No, she does not really know me and I didn't want to call attention to myself. Sunday. And yes."

Collie held out her stationery pad. "Write down the name ....a beag ..."

"Shh....if you say that, they will know me for certain," she murmured with a quick incline of her head to the door. The requested name was written on the paper and shown to Colleen.

She muttered in an ancient form of Irish before addressing her young visitor. "So, that's how it is, eh?" Her eyes glowed green from the anger that built up in her. She handed the paper back. "Write it, write what was said." Seamair did as requested. When the words were read, Collie's brow lowered. "So, it was too loud fer ya ta hear anythin' else?"

"Yes," the answer was quiet. "Will you tell her?"

"Most likely, young one." Collie sighed. "I'm guessin' that name ya wrote is about ta come up when she gets 'er turn ta talk."

"As you know, I cannot tell her what could be. She must decide for herself." Seamair stood and leaned down to kiss Colleen's cheek.

"I'm all too aware," Colleen murmured. Suddenly, a thoughtful small appeared as Collie's brushed some stray strands of hair from the younger woman's face..."My goodness yer tall, lass."

"It's genetic." Semair grinned. "I better be on my way."

"Ya will let me know if ya need anythin'?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you ...." The word hung unspoken in the air, but Colleen seemed to hear it just the same as Semair showed herself out.