The Essence of Eternity - Awaken

Chapter III b - The First Contact

We walk silently back.

We reach the porch and he kisses me on my nose and leaves. I can feel he is nervous but this…this is awkward. This whole day is awkward. I am still standing on the porch thinking about our kiss. It was a nice kiss. It was my first real kiss.

Suddenly something changes in the air. I feel this shift of air, this aura. I start shivering. Someone is around, again. I scan the area but it’s really dark. It is a strong feeling, as something inside me is warning me. I am terrified and excited at the same time. Seconds before I start screaming Kellan's name, I see this man standing in front of me, the same gorgeous man.

Oh my GOD! Am I imagining this? How drunk am I?

I am frozen, so standing there staring at him. He is indeed the most handsome man I have ever seen. So beautiful, so magical, but yet intimidating; his eyes are like the deep threatening sea, his lips are red as blood and then he speaks and his voice is melodic and dark; even more dark than his eyes.

"Hello my lady, I am Dubhghall."

My lady? What century he comes from, I wonder. It all seems completely surreal. He has the strangest accent I have ever heard. Partially Irish; I cannot recognize the foreign part of it though. I am thinking that I must have heard this name before, it does not seem new or strange to me. Where do I know it from? My dad used to tell me Irish stories, about the past, myths and fairy tales and I loved them. So who was Dubhghall? I know the modern form of the name is Dugal, as is the name of one of my step-brothers. I know it means something. So many questions in my head. I try to remember and then it hits me…it means dark stranger in Gaelic! My dad used to tease my stupid brother that there is nothing dark in him, although he is indeed a stranger. I remember there were a couple of folklore stories about Dubhghall but I cannot recall their meaning. So I keep quiet. If I speak the magic maybe lost. Did he just call me HIS lady?

"You are Titania. It is very nice to finally meet you."

I feel I will faint. He knows my name! He knows me…how? But I still do not speak.

He leans forward, takes my hand and kisses it…like they used to do thousands of years before! Like a soft touch, not quite a kiss…a unique feeling. Nope, not real, this cannot be happening. I am dreaming…

He leans in and inhales deeply. It feels amazing and scary at the same time. He smells like syrup or sweet red wine or cherry juice…Kellan's presence is strong and heartwarming but this! This is something coming from another reality! I close my eyes to savor but I feel he is gone!

I open my eyes in just a second but he is nowhere around. What the f**k? Did he just disappear again? Am I imaging that?

 Also now that I think about it, people should stop kissing me and smell me without my permission. Him, Kellan; what is going on? Not that I did not enjoyed it though.

My heart is beating like crazy and I feel my blood pounding in my veins. I want to understand what is going on. Who is this guy? How does he know me? Have I seen him before? Where? I think I would remember him. I have a million questions in my head, so I head directly to Dad’s library to search his books.

My dad has a huge library. I remember he has a couple of big books that talk about the Celtic myths and Gaelic stories. There it is! I’ve found it! I start scanning the pages and but I cannot see the name Dubhghall anywhere.

I remember that I heard a story from my grand mum about him but my memories are vague; something about the dark stranger; the one that came from a different world, the warrior who fought next to great kings. I am trying really hard to remember a fairy tale my grand mum used to tell me and my brothers. All I remember are scattered sentences. He came in dark clouds with his army and landed on the mountains of Connaught and brought darkness over the sun for three days and three nights. He can walk the Otherworld. I start panicking…I know this myth; I have heard the stories so many times. It’s coming back to me. The part with the Otherworld was always my favorite part. It was my imaginary heaven.

The Otherworld was the world of immortals, the world of eternal life, heaven or hell. Situated on the islands of Ireland, hidden from mortal eyes by strong magic, in some myths it was located in a subterranean fortress called Sid, the ‘Fairy Fort’, while in others at the ‘Land of Youth’, TírnanÓg, which was also the home of Danu and her people 'The TuathaDéDanann'. It was also called the House of Dead. Gods and spirits moved to and from the Otherworld and made themselves visible to mortals only under specific situations.

According to LeborGabálaÉrenn, the book of the taking of Ireland, people of the Goddess Danu came to Ireland from four magical cities of the north: Falias, Gorias, Finias and Murias, in which four druids lived, Morfesa, Esras, Uiscias and Semias. They brought with them four magical treasures or lucky charms, the Lia Fail -the Stone of Destiny, the SleáBua -the Spear of Lugh, the ClaíomhSolais -the sword of Victory and the Cauldron of Dagda. These four treasures were offered to the people of Ireland. All these myths and fairy tales are so beautiful and imaginary; the different cities, the druids, the kings and the battles. I used to read them every time I came to visit my dad. Suddenly, I feel the urge to reread everything. I miss my grand mum so much now. She could tell me what I need to know. She was really wise and kind. I want to know more about the tradition of this place, of this country. There is a poem about the arrival of Tuatha De Danann in this book. I read it and I feel electricity penetrating my body.

It is God, who suffered them, though He restrained them, they landed with horror, with lofty deed, in their cloud of mighty combat of spectres, upon a mountain of Conmaicne of Connacht. Without distinction to discerning Ireland, without ships, a ruthless course the truth was not known beneath the sky of stars, whether they were of heaven or of earth.

They landed, in a cloud, without distinction or ships; they were from heaven or earth! This poem is so allegorical. Does it speak of people or of gods? The people of Danu were thought to be more than mortals, as they had inherited from the Goddess her wisdom, creativity, and attachment to the earth, along with several magical affinities. They were direful warriors who traveled in the form of mist. Finally, after various battles, they were led to live underground into the mounds. Was it there where the Otherworld lay? Many humans have reported seeing Immortals, even talking to them, but these were the stories, the myths. How can this actually be reality?

The time has passed and as I keep reading and my pulse is really overwhelming now; my dad is standing behind me, curious of what I am doing.

"Tita!"

"Oh s**t, Dad! You scared the hell out of me." I jump.

"What are you doing here? Are you ok sweetie?"

I bet he thinks I am drunk. I close the book instantly and turn around to face him, with what I believe to be a calm face.

"No Dad. I am fine. Just wondering about something…"

"At four a.m.? Why don’t you go to bed? Tomorrow is a big day…"

"Yeah I know…Kellan told me something and I needed to check it out, but you are right. I am going to bed now. Goodnight."

I give him a kiss and place the book back on the shelf. I head to the bathroom when I hear my dad mumbling something about strange women! If only he knew!

I put on my night gown, wash my face and get in my bed. All I can think of is his face, the dark stranger, the Otherworld, the land of the dead, the immortals, the fairies. This is the land of the elves, everything can happen here. I was never really very down to earth, so all this does not seem completely impossible, which is I guess a bit crazy.

I am exhausted and the alcohol helps me to fall asleep as soon as I lay down; in my dream he is here again. But he is not the gorgeous dark hair man I saw on the street. I see these eyes, his eyes, in all my fantastic friends. All the creatures I have ever imagined and I start seeing things more clearly. I have this feeling that I met him before, this aura, this dream. I wander around in a different place. A beautiful place and I see him somewhere in it, but I cannot reach him. It’s like I am floating on air and I feel happy and safe! I remember being here. Again, in Galway in my sleep…I remember this.

And I wake up!