Luathara - Book Three of the Otherworld Trilogy (34 page)

Wait, Lugh . . . You told Lugh about Donn.

Cade's hand tightened on mine.

Why did you trust him and not the others?

The strange essence of a shil-sciar sigh washed across my mind.

Because he is my grandfather.

This time, my hand tightened on his.

Your grandfather?!  Lugh is your grandfather?  And the Morrigan your mother an
d Cuc
hulainn your father . . .

I turned and gave him a fierce look. 
Anything else I should know?
  I tried to keep the bitter sarcasm from my words, but I suspected
their color
reflected my emotions too well.

Cade winced, then responded,
No Meghan, you now know all my secrets.

And just like that, my irritat
ion evaporated into thin air. 
He had to use that word, secret, didn't he?  Who was I to be angry when I was the one keeping a huge secret?  Nervous, I darted my eyes in Cernunnos's direction, only to find him regarding me with curiosity.  I swallowed back my sudden fear and took a m
ental inventory of my spider. 
Yup, she was there, spinning away.

I let out a deep breath and sent to Cade,
I'm sorry I got upset.  I guess you just never really got a chance to tell me about Lugh.

I planned on introducing you two later tonight.  I'm sorry you found out this way.

He pulled my head forward and kissed my hair and I no longer felt offended.  Unfortunately, I was the only one.  The room was still abuzz with the angry, dis
tressed voices of the Tuatha De
.

Lugh lifted a ring-encrusted hand and waited for the room to
become quiet
before continuing.  “As you are all well aware, Donn and the Morrigan working together is a big problem.  If we had every single able-bodied man and woman here with us to fight, we might be able to overtake the two of them.  Unfortunately, I was only able to rally my guard and perhaps half of those living in my realm.  What say the rest of you?"

A light murmur of ascent traveled through the room, most of those present agreeing with Lugh.

"We could always send word to our people," Nuadu said.  "Perhaps we can stir them to action when they are aware of what has developed."

Danua nodded in his direction.  "And you and your men and women are all welcome to remain in
Erintara
until we receive further word of the Morrigan's plans, if you wish."

Many heads nodded in thanks.

"Thank you, Danua," Lugh said.  "But I feel we still have some time before the Morrigan acts."

"How much time?" Epona called out.

Lugh sighed, then glanced up at me.  It was a quick, brush of his gaze, nothing more, as if he was trying to assess me without my knowledge.  My stomach turned.

"I don't know for certain," he said.  "But it's as if she is waiting for something."

More troubled murmuring broke out at the great table and I felt myself shrink inward
ly
.  Right at that moment I imagined the Morrigan sitting in her own dark castle, pacing as she drew out another plan, one that had to take place before she launched herself into a war against her fellow gods and goddesses.  A plan that involved capturing me and draining me of my magic so that she could be all but invincible.  And how much more invincible she'd be when she got a hold
of
the magic Cernunnos had given me . . .

Unconsciously, I shot my eyes up and met the antlered god's gaze
once more
.

Yes Meghan, she waits for you . . .

I hissed and tore my eyes away, only to attract the attention of Cade and my mother.

"What's wrong Meghan?" Danua asked,
her question plunging the room into silence
.

Suddenly, every pair of eyes was on me.  I took a deep
,
shuddering breath and released it slowly.

"Nothing," I mumbled, "sorry."

I felt my face flush.

My mother regarded me for a few moments more, then stood and said, "Is there anything more we need to discuss for today?"

When no one spoke up, she continued, "Very well.  We will call this meeting to an end.  As I said, you are all welcome to stay here for as long as you need.  The Morrigan and Donn are preparing for a war, and so must we.  I'll have my swiftest messengers travel to your lands with missives asking for help.  Let
's hope we get some volunteers.

"For now," Danua took a deep breath, "feel free to rest.  In an hour's time I would like to welcome you properly with a formal dinner and after party.  Regardless of the dismal circumstances for which we've been called together, I would be ashamed if I didn't offer you the proper food and entertainment you all deserve."

My mother gave a small grin, her eyes flashing between blue, green and grey, and then dismissed us.

Without a second glance, I bolted for the door, dragging Cade close behind me by the hand.  His surprised grunt was drowned out by the light chatter of the Tuatha De as they followed us, but I ignored it.  I couldn't wait to get back to our room.  In one hour we would be thrown back together in the dining room, then the dance hall, and I knew every last one of them would want to meet me.  The girl who had antagonized t
he Morrigan into starting a war.

Meghan?  Are you alright?
  Cade sent as we headed up the stairs.

I just need to prepare myself is all
, I returned, hoping he didn't pick up on the panic in my thoughts.

Finally we reached our room.  When Cade excused himself to go meet with the Dagda, I shut the door securely behind him and then slid to my knees as the
tremors
took over.

-S
ix
teen-

Admission

I spent most of my free hour trying to wrangle my emotions
into some semblance of normalcy
.  Fear, anxiety and anger reared their ugly heads, but I think the guilt clawed at me the most.  A nice, long, hot shower helped get things under control, and when Cade quietly rejoined me, I was able to face him without bursting into tears.

Get a grip Meghan!  No meltdowns in front of the Celtic gods!
m
y oh-so considerate conscience told me.

Dressed once again in formal attire, Cade and I joined the Dagda and we headed towards my mother's grand dining hall.  Fortunately, we were seated next to Danua again and I wasn't forced to make small talk with any of the Tuatha De.

A hand on my arm snapped me out of my
self-loathing
funk.  I glanced up to find the Dagda's kind eyes regarding me.

"No one blames you for this Meghan.  I know you don't want to believe me, and I know you weren't convinced when I told you before, but it's
still
the truth."

For some reason, his words comforted
me
.  Maybe because when I set my fork aside and took the time to glance around the table, all I met were kind, curious eyes.  Perhaps their curiosity had nothing to do with my connection to the Morrigan but with the fact that I was the daughter of their high queen.  That thought alone helped warm me and dispel some of my fears.

Casting the Dagda a brilliant smile, I nodded my thanks then got back to my dinner.

Afterward
s, we all converged on Danua's
ballroom
floor
.  There were only about fifty of us altogether, the soldiers having remained in their own lodgings.  A small party of musicians were setting up their instruments in
on
e corner, and soon the light, airy flow of music mingled with the many voices echoing through
out
the
spacious
hall.

The young man from earlier, Bowen, wove his way through the crowd, heading in my direction.  I felt myself tense and instantly Cade's hand was in mine.

Bowen stopped a few feet away and gave a polite bow.
 
"I was wonderin
g if Meghan would like to dance.
"

I froze.  He'd called me by my name.  Not 'Princess' or 'Lady'.  And he had a very kind voice.  I studied his brown eyes and couldn't find any of the vicious humor I'd seen in the young men who frequented the Dagda's party.

Go ahead Meghan.  Bowen is honest and it will do you some good to get to know more of your peers
, Cade spoke into my mind.

Are you sure?
I returned.

Cade's answer was a light chuckle and a quick kiss on my neck before he nudged me forward.

Yes I'm sure.  I have no fear of Bowen stealing you from me.  He knows better.

Releas
ing a mental snort, I gave Bowen my full attention and said, my voice a little wobbly, "Sure, uh, Bowen.  I'd love to dance."

Bowen took my hand in a firm but not overbearing grip.  The first dance wasn't a slow one, but it wasn't too fast either.

"So, Meghan, daughter of Danua, why don't you tell me a little about yourself."

His words were
friendly
and he sounded genuinely interested, so I opened my mouth with the intention of only telling him little, insignificant things.  But once I began, the floodgate
came down
and I simply gushed stories from my childhood and high school years, as well as those from my time spent in the Otherworld.  After three songs, the band took a break and I found myself standing in front of Bowen, a bit dazed.  Had I really just spent
all that time babbling without once giving him a chance to share?

"I'm
so
sorry!" I said, pressing my hands to my cheeks.  "I just spent a good fifteen minutes talking about myself!"

I was horrified, but Bowen only laughed.  Man, he had a nice smile . . .

"Don't worry about it.  I enjoyed your stories, but I'm afraid you'll have to ask me about mine some other time."

He nodded towards something over my shoulder and I turned to find Cade approaching.  Grinning sheepishly, I thanked Bowen for the dance and rejoined Cade.  He met me with
open arms and
as we moved to the rhythm of the music, he asked me if I had enjoyed Bowen's company.

He's very nice
, and almost as cute as you
.  If you ever change your mind about me, I'm going directly to him.

Never!
  Cade returned, pulling me closer.  I bit my lip against a smile.  His
shil-sciar
words had been pure conviction. 
I would never
give you up
my love.

We danced for a little while more, and when the musicians stopped for a longer break, Cade took me around and introduced me to some of the Tuatha De.  They were so overwhelming, what with their pure, raw magic practically pouring off of them and their ancient, all-knowing eyes.  Epona and the Dagda I already knew of course, but when Cade pulled me over to Lugh, I broke out in a nervous sweat.

"Lugh," Cade said, "I would like you to meet Meghan Elam, daughter of Danua."

The magnificent god turned away from his companions to consider me, one perfect eyebrow arched over a sapphire eye.  For several endless seconds, he studied me but then his face broke into a brilliant smile.

"Why young Meghan, I've heard a lot about you, both from my grandson and his foster father."

My knees almost buckled as relief coursed through me.
 
"And I've read a lot about you," I blurted.

Lugh adopted a look of slight surprise and I felt my face flush scarlet.  Brilliant Meghan,
brilliant
. . .

But then Lugh burst out laughing.

"Oh yes," he said once he'd regained some composure, "for some reason the Celts were extremely impressed with me."

His smile was enough to light the room.

Oh, I can see why
. . . I thought as I self-consciously brushed back my hair.  When I was certain my face had regained its
normal color
, I glanced back up, taking a few moments to study the Tuatha De king before me.  Lugh.  The Master of all the Arts.  Cade's grandfather.  Although it wasn't immediately apparent, I could see the similarities between them.  They both had the same strong, straight nose and there was a familiarity in Lugh's smile I'd see so many times in Cade's.

Feeling a bit bold, I cleared my throat and said, "So, why do they call you the Master of all the Arts?"

The man who had been standing beside him, the one with the silver glove, Nuadu, rolled his eyes then tilted his
glass of mead towards the blond
Tuatha De.  "Because he is well learned in
everything there is
to know."

I looked back at Lugh
with a question on my face
.  Could someone really be the best at everything?