Curse of the Goddess - Blood of the Moon

Chapter 2 - The Past

That night, Aileen found herself tossing and turning, haunted by memories from the past. As she lay awake, she shivered in the crisp autumn air and peered over to the indoor fireplace. The final logs had burnt down to their last red-hot ember. Careful not to wake her sleeping husband, Aileen pulled herself out of bed and threw a fox fur over her shoulders, covering her beige-coloured night tunic.

As she placed her feet on the ground, the coldness of the wooden floors startled her. She glanced around the room, listening to the deep breathing of her three children and the soft snoring from her husband before wandering over to the fireplace. She carefully places a few smaller chips of wood that Faolán had cut that evening into the hot embers, hoping to keep the fire alight.

Aileen sat down on the rocker between the fireplace and window, staring into the fire and lost in thought. In the corner of her eye, she caught Faolán rolling over; she wondered whether he was awake but decided it would be best to leave him be. Aileen recalled how, earlier in the night, Eoghan told him the truth about how and where they found him. Aileen remembered how calmly Faolan had listened to Eoghan's every word, almost as if they were not surprising to him. Had he already known the truth? Surely not, she thought to herself, but perhaps he suspected something.

Faolán had always been different from the other children. Even as a baby, he watched and observed everything and everyone around him. As a child, he could always distinguish between a fabricated tale and the truth. And he had a memory like no other; Aileen recalled how, as a toddler, he could recall so much detail about the night she gave birth to the twins. She had never known a toddler to remember that much in detail, let alone comprehend what the adults were concerned about. Though a little aloof, Aileen never underestimated him and his dedication to the family.

As Aileen sat, rocking herself back and forth, a cool, crisp breeze crept through the window, sending shivers down her spine. At that moment, it brought back a deeply buried memory flashing before her eyes.

*****

Aileen is pulled back into a memory of her making her way through the dense underbrush of the forest, following the sound of rushing water. She maneuvered around large rocks and fallen trees, pulling away some overhanging branches to reveal her secluded haven. Surrounded by tall trees that filtered through the sunlight, she paused in awe, appreciating the crystal-clear water that glistened like diamonds. She had stumbled upon this place as a child, one day following the vibrant chorus of birds that echoed through the trees.

After removing her clothes, Aileen felt the crisp air cling to her bare skin, sending shivers down her spine. With each step, the cold water embraced her, taking her breath away as she ventured to the centre of the waterfall. Standing still, she let the water flow through her waist-length black hair and down her body. She felt a gentle touch on her back, turning around to see Eoghan's, his grey eyes filled with love. She closed her eyes, enjoying his warm touch as he gently caressed her body. Eoghan knelt down and pressed his head against her swollen belly as if trying to connect with the life growing inside her.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Aileen ran her hands through his curly brown hair and pulled him up so their lips could meet. Their bodies entwined, and they clung to each other, hearts racing and breaths coming in gasps, blissfully unaware of the time that had passed. The air was thick with the scent of their passion, as though the world had faded around them. After a while, Eoghan stretched before pulling himself up, looking up towards the sky. He dropped his head, shaking it with a sigh, "Aileen, my love, we should go."

Aileen continued to listen to the gentle rustling of leaves overhead and the breeze whispering through the branches with a symphony of chirps and tweets all around her. She wished they could stay in her favourite place with the man she loved forever. Frustrated, she sighed before opening her bright blue eyes to see Eoghan's hand stretched out to her. She grabbed his hand, and he helped her to her feet. She glanced up at the sky, noticing the warm golden glow that stretched across it. Looking back at her husband, she met his gaze once again. He lifted his hand and caressed her face, pulling her into one last embrace.

As the couple hurried through the forest, they remained on high alert, ready to draw their swords as the sense of urgency grew to reach their village before nightfall. Eoghan led the way, remaining vigilant of the path in front of them, while Aileen kept turning around, watching for anything that might attempt to sneak up from behind. They stumbled out of the forest and into a clearing surrounding their village, strategically placed to spot any approaching enemies before reaching the heavily fortified barriers. Countless spears were dug into the ground, facing from all angles, in the hope of impaling the attacker before it reached the village.

The setting sun brightened the couple's faces, with their long extended shadows following close behind them. The guard stationed at the entrance had approached the couple; he stood taller than Eoghan, with solid and broad shoulders wielding a two-handed battle axe. His face was initially stern but relaxed upon seeing the couple's faces, exchanging nods to allow them entry. The couple maneuvered through the crowded entrance where the warriors had started to gather, readjusting their iron armour and sharpening their swords.

An older woman waited behind the warriors, her worried face relaxing when she saw the couple. She hurries over, scrunching up her long beige-coloured tunics as she walks. When she reaches the couple, her face screws back up as she scolds them: "The sun is almost down. Do you have a death wish? I've been worried sick!"

She grabbed Aileen's hands to stretch them out wide, looking over her from head to toe. Her worried expression relaxed again, and her mouth widened into a smile. "Not even a scratch, and you're looking as radiant as ever," she said before leaning down to kiss Aileen's swollen belly.

Then, she turned her attention to Eoghan, crossing her arms and glaring at him with her dull green eyes. "You!" she accused.

Embarrassed, Eoghan's cheeks flushed red, and he lifted an arm to scratch the back of his head uncomfortably. "Hello, Mother," he said.

Eoghan's mother sternly pointed her finger at her son, raising her voice. "Don't you 'Hello Mother' me! You know of the dangers out there! Putting my daughter-in-law in danger is one thing, but my grandchild!" She raised her arms in frustration. "I've been worried sick about you all!"

Eoghan pulled his mother into a hug, her stern demeanour melting away and bursting into tears as Eoghan wrapped his muscular arms around her, "We are home and safe," he said while stroking her salt-and-pepper curly hair.

Eoghan's mother, Siobhan, had been withdrawn and distant ever since the death of Eoghan's father six Full-Moons ago. The announcement of her grandchild was enough to pull her away from the darkness lurking in her mind, but she had become overbearing, especially concerning Aileen and the unborn baby. Not that Aileen minded; she had lost her mother when she was young and appreciated the motherly gestures.

The two stood there momentarily holding each other before Siobhan, Eoghan's mother, pulled away, wiping the tears away from her face. "Come on now; it's the Full Moon tonight. We must be prepared."



As the three hurried off together, the warriors started pulling and heaving in unison with a heavy thud that shook the ground as the large door had been lifted and secured shut. The villagers began scowling away into their homes, where the windows had already been boarded shut. The warriors took one final sweep around the perimeter, ensuring everything was in position before they retreated to their homes, mentally preparing for the long night ahead.