of all the stars in the sky [aidan]

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Late March 2026

Brígh was still reeling over the revelations she'd heard from Dicky. Addy and Cheese were officially together - and they hadn't bothered to share the information with her. She who had done so much to further their romance, to open up their feelings for one another. And yet, she was still unimportant to them, or so it would seem. How had what happened over New Years not sunk in? They'd tried keeping things a secret from her then, and that hadn't worked out well. This time, Brígh was determined not to lose her head. To be the bigger person. To show Addy and Cheese that they were (once again) in the wrong. So she'd frozen them out.

Solitude was lonely, and not a good colour on the vibrant Brígh. She'd spent more time than she was used to up in the common room, making idle chatter with Simon and more often than not daydreaming about Aidan. She was slumped in an armchair during her free period before lunch, considering how to make alchemy more interesting than it was, when the idea struck her. She'd gotten information from Lily on how to get out of the castle. She'd used the passage beneath the willow before with great effect. The only person she wanted to talk to right now was on the other side of that passage in Hogsmeade. She could very well use their magic mirrors to speak to Aidan, but she craved his closeness, the safety she felt in his arms, inhaling his uniquely woody scent.

No one paid Brígh any attention as she slipped out through the portrait hole and made her way down to the grounds. She looked as if she was going for a stroll, but hastened for the whomping willow. Brígh checked around, making sure that the grounds were deserted. It was a chilly day, so most of her classmates were either indoors or in class. She prodded the knot in the trunk of the tree with a fallen branch, and clambered through the hole. Her excitement built, more and more as she crawled as quickly as she could through the passage. It felt shorter this time around, though perhaps that was because she knew what to expect, and she didn't have to worry about Simon trying to peer up her skirt.

Finally, Brígh emerged on the other side in the Shrieking Shack and peeled back a few rotting boards that lined the window, crawling gracelessly out and into the long dead shrubbery. She straightened and dusted off her robes, traipsing down the hill towards the MWRC. As she approached, excitement flooded through her, starting with a tingle at her finger tips and spreading up her arms and through her chest. She craned her neck, peering about for her favoured mop of bright red hair. She spotted Aidan almost at once, tending to the same rose bushes they had once plucked to create a balm. Any lingering resentment about the whole situation with Addy and Cheese slid away as she beamed, approaching Aidan. She reached out, tanging her fingers with his free hand. She looked up at him, his familiar face and the bright aura around him encompassing her as she did so. "Hi," she said rather breathlessly.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Late March 2026

Things had been quiet lately, but Aidan liked that. He enjoyed life most when there was an element of predictability, free from the fear of not seeing where to place his next step. The path ahead was clear enough -- he didn’t have to worry about pitfalls or wandering away. That had happened to too many good druids who spent a significant time away from Hy-Brasil: they got confused, cut off from following the clearly marked legacy laid down by the generations that came before. But none of those things troubled his mind, because he’d found a routine that made him happy. Wake up at dawn, walk to the nature reserve, and make his rounds to check on all the creatures. It wasn’t always like that, because sometimes owls would come at night, startling him out of sleep and bearing the news – the hippogriff is finally giving birth! Why mainland wizards preferred to use owls for their post instead of actual magical birds…well, Aidan would never know, but he rushed off anyway. Or sometimes he’d show up only to be told they needed the space. They liked to hold special events sometimes – riding with unicorns, how to survive training a dragon, those sorts of things. Aidan thought surely the wide-open spaces of the reserve could be big enough for everybody, but those days he spent happily rolling in the grass in his animagus form.

This day wasn’t like any of those, since Aidan was spending it giving all the murtlaps their annual physicals. “No biting,” Aidan chided the murtlap in Brasilic as it squirmed and gnawed on his hand. The murtlap gave another squeak of protest, but finally settled down as Aidan placed his ear on its belly to listen to its breathing patterns. He gave the murtlap an affectionate tickle as he raised his head and gently ran his hand through the tangle of tentacles on its back. “See, that was fun, wasn’t it? And your claws don’t look too long, have you been using that driftwood I found for you? Off you go, then, and if anyone asks I’ll say we used it.” The murtlap trotted off and Aidan wiped his wet hands on his pants. He hated using the nail clippers– made of polished metal, it felt too artificial and unnatural. On the island, the creatures took care to trim their claws themselves using trees or the sides of druid homes. They were programmed with the instinct, so Aidan didn’t see why he had to act as if they were too stupid to know.

Aidan allowed himself to watch the murtlap’s departure until it disappeared, then he shuffled to his feet and stretched. He could finish later, right? The sun was still high in the sky. He ambled along until he reached a familiar garden, which made him blush as he looked at the lavender bushes. As much as he liked his daily routine, there was something missing – and he knew why he wasn’t able to see Brígh every day, but he still missed her. She seemed at odds with the rest of Aidan’s life – untamed, unpredictable, and distinctly un-druid. But that didn’t bother him because he liked all those things about her. She showed him that there was so much more to the world than the little corner he’d grown up in, and she had an exciting take on life that made everything seem more dazzling. And, Aidan reasoned, it didn’t hurt that she was breathtakingly beautiful and made his heart do backflips whenever she was around. As if she’d wandered straight out of his thoughts, Aidan looked up sharply as a figure stumbled out of the hedges the same way she had when they’d first met. “Brígh!” Aidan exclaimed in awe, wondering if he’d somehow cast a summoning charm without realizing it. Then his face broke out into a wide grin because, she was here. As she approached and tangled their hands together, Aidan brought his free hand to tilt her chin up and give her an eager kiss, so flushed in pleasure and excitement that he could barely speak. After they finally separated, Aidan glanced down at Brígh and the finely carved features of her face. “Hi,” he echoed, a stupid grin finding its way back onto his face.

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

As much as Brígh had tried, it was more difficult than she'd expected to escape the grounds and visit Aidan. She was grateful for the two way mirrors, but there was something lacking in the fact that she couldn't feel his warm embrace or take his hand when she wanted to. Already, she'd been given detention by Professor Burke for trying to sneak about, but that hadn't stopped Brígh from continually trying. She'd become more sneaky, and figured that the more times she tried to escape, the more successful she would be. This time, when Brígh was in dire need of Aidan's actual company rather than just his comforting words, she knew she had to risk it.

When Brígh emerged from the shack and trotted down the hill towards the reserve, she looked around and almost at once found what she was searching for. Aidan would stand out in a crowd no matter what, and her heart fluttered in her chest as she approached him, the distress seeping away as if nothing had happened. She couldn't find the words for a proper greeting, so simply started out with hi. Aidan grasped her chin gently with his free hand, capturing her lips in a kiss that was sweet and demanding all at one. Even the brief moment that they were connected electrified Brígh, sending a humming sensation throughout her body. She beamed at Aidan - the mirror couldn't quite capture the twinkle in his eye or the slightly crooked tilt to his smile.

"Hi," she repeated, forgetting everything and instead focussing on imprinting the image of Aidan beaming down at her into her mind. Brígh giggled, and squeezed Aidan's hand. "I missed you," she admitted. "Has it been very busy? Is this a bad time? Only... I really needed to see you." Her lips quirked upwards in another smile and she gave into her own temptation to kiss Aidan again. Being around him made Brígh feel light as a feather, as if she was floating with nothing holding her down. Why did she need a tether to the earth when she was happier than she could ever remember?

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

In Hy-Brasil, Aidan had always heard the elders explain that emotions were not just idle ideas – they were as physical as anything else that existed in the world. He could understand that. Happiness was like being embraced, a warm and familiar sensation that enveloped you completely. Sadness was like a heavy weight, as if you were sinking downwards underwater and the grindylows had hold of your feet. And missing Brígh? Aidan felt that too, like an empty space inside him that waited with anticipation, holding its breath until he could see her again. And now that she was here, warm and solid underneath his fingertips, it was like finally exhaling after so long in suspense. He kissed her eagerly, then as they separated let his eyes drink the sight of her in.

“It never a bad time for you,” he assured her, the smile already slipping onto his face again. And look at how his English had improved! He’d gone almost two years getting by with the bare minimum, but this third year had proven all the difference. As it turns out…a beautiful girl writing to you and correcting your mistakes in the language gave him an incredible motivation to learn. He’d be a pro in no time. A thought occurred to him, and he informed her matter-of-factly, “But Eli not here today. He is looking at nifflers and what they eat.” He remembered that Brígh and Eli were friends, and that actually she had been looking for him the very first time they had met. Aidan liked the American boy a lot – he was ‘the man’ as Eli had taught him to say, and they got into all sorts of trouble together at the nature reserve. Aidan liked to tell Brígh the stories (and there really was no wild embellishment necessary), knowing that she would appreciate the accidental shenanigans they somehow stumbled into and their camaraderie, but there was something different about how she looked and that gave Aidan pause. It didn’t feel like the time for a story.

Oh, she was still as heart-poundingly beautiful as ever, but there was a tense set to her shoulders that he could feel from wrapping his arms around her, and her eyes were tight with worry. His arms had settled in a loose embrace around her waist, but he trailed them up now so he could rub slow circles into her back. “Something happen,” Aidan decided finally, eyes searching Brígh’s face for clues, although he was unfortunately not one of those wizards that could read other people’s minds. He paused a moment to decide what to do, before his face lightened again and he offered, “Walk here? Lavender is finally blooming. Not winter anymore!” Aidan separated from her only the slightest bit so he could take her hand and pull her over to the lavender bushes. He wanted to know what had happened, but he wanted the stress to fall away from her shoulders more. His curiosity could wait!

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

A breath Brígh hadn't realised she was holding escaped through her lips, and she beamed at Aidan. Her face hurt from how much she smiled around him - and it was incredible how overjoyed it made her feel. Just a few months ago, she'd been feeling lost. Like the world had been against her. That nothing was going her way. She'd done what she could to change things, and she'd achieved so much. Brígh was infinitely proud of herself, especially with the assistance of Cheese and Addy and Eggy. She'd reformed Phoenix Rising, she'd gotten detention less frequently, she'd repaired her relationship with her father, and she'd done the unthinkable.

Brígh had fallen in love.

It hadn't happened quickly - it was almost like falling asleep. One moment, she was sure that her feelings were growing stronger for Aidan, that she couldn't help the pull she felt in her belly when she thought of him. That she wanted to be around him all the time, listening to his stories, talking about everything and nothing, seeing his sweet smile and kissing his soft lips. They hadn't been able to see as much of each other as Brígh would have liked, especially with her being at school and revising for exams, but every moment apart made Brígh ache. His every observation, his careful train of thought, everything she discovered about him was new and wondrous. And then another moment, she realised it had hit her.

Aidan commented that Eli wasn't here, and Brígh remembered the first time they had met - she had been looking for Eli then. "Funnily enough, he's not who I was looking for," said Brígh cheekily. Eli had been her friend ever since they'd come across one another in London when rescuing a kitten. They'd remained friends ever since, even after Eli reamed Brígh out for not writing enough while she'd been away. The fact that Aidan and Eli got along so well was just another tick in the druids favour.

Aidan was observant, something Brígh appreciated. So often, her focus on the world was so narrow that tiny implications passed her by. But nothing escaped Aidan's notice. He commented that something was wrong, and she took a deep, calming breath. Kissing him had steadied her somewhat, but he saw through her. "You're right," she said, frowning. She nodded, following Aidan through the lavender. It smelled delightful - and did wonders to ease the tension from her shoulders. "Yeah, thank goodness. Time for more freckles," she said with a grin. Brígh's fingers gently brushed the tiny purple buds, and soon the pair were encompassed within the lavender field. Perhaps it was magically enhanced, but from this angle all Brígh could see was long stretches of lavender - and of course, Aidan.

Brígh appraised Aidan silently for a moment before opening her mouth to speak. "Addy and Cheese are together. Like, boyfriend and girlfriend together. Do druids have boyfriends and girlfriends? But that's not the issue... they didn't tell me. I found out from someone else. And they're meant to be my best mates, they aren't supposed to keep secrets. Especially not big secrets like that! Ever since I found out they fancied one another - another secret they tried to keep from me - I've been trying to push them together. And yeah, I'm happy they're together, they're so sweet but why keep it a secret?" Brígh blurted out all at once. "Sorry I know it's a lot but... well, being in a relationship is very meaningful.At least, to me," she said, glancing down to their conjoined hands.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

If there was one thing Aidan hoped to be able to carry with him through life, only one thing that could survive all the changes and growth he would no doubt pass through…it would be the ability to simply let the world stop for a moment and take it all in. Mainlanders were in such a rush all the time that they forgot to appreciate the beauty of the world they lived in. And, contrary to what Aidan had thought when first leaving Hy-Brasil three years ago…there was beauty in the mainlander world. He was entranced by the sight of snow lazily settling on the sleepy cottages of Hogsmeade, or the instruments they didn’t have on the island that could still produce sweet and contemplative tunes. And, he thought, the golden rays of the spring sun reflecting off Brígh’s hair, causing her to shine like a phoenix caught in flames…that was beautiful too. Enough to steal his breath for a moment as the world around him faded into hazy sights and sounds, with only Brígh standing in sharp focus at the center.

“Oh,” Aidan said, slightly disconcerted as Brígh said that Eli wasn’t who she was looking for. Darn it, he thought he’d gotten it right! He pursed his lips in thought, because he really didn’t know who else Brígh might have come to see, but the mischievous curve of her lips suggested he was missing something. Understanding dawned on Aidan’s face, and he felt himself smile involuntarily as he tugged Brígh just the slightest bit closer. “Oh,” he said again in a knowing tone, “Just me today, then. I hope I am enough.” He was tempted to lean in and steal another kiss (making up for lost time, you know!) and his eyes even drifted down to glance at Brígh’s soft lips. But no, even if Brígh was as teasing as ever, that didn’t mean she was fully herself. She had a sharp character, and could return a witty comment (or even a less witty one too) with one of hers as quick as a whip. But she still didn’t seem okay, like there was something that had dimmed her energy. Aidan wanted desperately to help her feel better, even if it wasn’t clear to him the best way to do that.

Thankfully, Brígh never left him guessing, and soon enough she began to talk. When they first met, Aidan had found it difficult to follow her long sentences, especially since she didn’t often stop to breathe and his English hadn’t been so good. But after months of listening, he was starting to understand how she delivered her thoughts, and even more importantly he knew it was better to wait until the end of a long one before saying anything. He had heard so much about her friends Addy and ‘Cheese’ (this had to be a nickname, because there was no way mainlanders named their children after food) that he wasn’t surprised to see something with them had agitated her. He idly wove his free hand through the lavender buds as Brígh spoke, but turned around as she apologized. “No sorry,” he corrected, curving around to weave their fingers together, “And you are right. Relationship is very meaningful. On Hy-Brasil, many families still do things in an old way. Boy and girl, they are introduced, then they are sent to walk and talk. At least three different times. Chaperone – mother, or aunt – they come, but from a distance away. This relationship, it need time to grow between them before they show it to the families. That way they know something is there, strong enough to survive." Aidan stopped to gently brush a lock of hair out of Brígh's face. "This make sense?”

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

It took a moment for the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place, but Brígh beamed as Aidan seemed to finally understand. "You're more than enough. You're all I need," she replied, brushing her lips against his cheek in a soft kiss. Aidan followed her lead and stole a kiss from her - though Brígh wanted nothing more than to lose herself in the moment with Aidan, she'd come here with a mission. The tension had eased somewhat, but she still felt rather stressed. Not to mention betrayed. Her best friends... how could they do this again? After everything? The smile slipped off her face and her brow crumpled.

The pair stepped into the field of lavender and the calming aroma of the flower and the presence of Aidan beside her loosened her tongue. As Brígh spoke, she noticed how Aidan listened attentively, even as he idly wove his fingers through the bushes of lavender as she went on. Despite their language barrier, Aidan was making a huge effort and as a result progressing greatly with his English. Abruptly, Brígh apologised for throwing this all on Aidan - he hadn't really gotten the chance to meet Addy or Cheese yet, so it must have all been very confusing. But the sentiment was there, and he corrected her apology.

As Aidan described the old ways in which druid boys and girls went out for a promenade, chaperoned by a female member of family. She sighed deeply - all in all, she wondered if Aidan agreed with this old tradition. "I understand that... but yeah, it's very dated here. I feel like the chaperone sometimes, as you say. But they don't need tests, I just wish... I wish they would just be up front with me, instead of hiding things." She turned to Aidan, taking his other hand in hers, winding their fingers together like vines on a tree. "So... is this our third walk and talk then? Even though there's been no chaperone?" asked Brígh after a long moment of silence. "I know this thing between us is strong enough to survive," she replied, lowering her voice and feeling equally as distressed as she had before, but this time for a different reason. What if Aidan disagreed? Then Addy and Cheese would get their merry happily-ever-after and she'd be left picking up the pieces.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Boudicca’s spear, he could stare at Brígh all day without ever noticing the time passing. She was beautiful, that much was obvious to anyone who would spare a glance at her. His eyes lingered on her constellation of freckles, the fire that always lit her eyes and made her come alive, and the distracting warmth of her body as she stepped closer to him and brushed her soft lips against his cheek. But that wasn’t the only thing about Brígh that he found magnetic – no, her whole aura radiated courage and certainty, and his face lit up as she assured him that he was everything she needed. Spirits, he wanted that to be true. Aidan liked being around people, liked making people smile and cheering up their days. But he’d never wanted so badly to be enough for someone, to prove himself to be capable and an equal partner. Brígh had awoken all those impulses in him, and he found himself naturally gravitating closer to her, caught in her orbit and unwilling to be pulled away.

It hurt him to see her so troubled about her friends. He knew she cared about them deeply – she spoke so fondly about Addy’s obsession with books, and Cheese’s talent for photography (not that Aidan understood very well what that meant, but he assumed it was a good thing). And he knew there was no intentional pain here, only the miscommunication of friends who’d grown apart and were now learning to come back together. Aidan lightly wound his fingers through the lavender buds before calling the magic to his fingers to encourage them to bloom. He plucked one lightly and examined the pristine petals before tucking it behind Brígh’s ear and admiring the contrast against her pale skin and fiery hair. He was listening, but hey – he had his priorities too. Brígh sighed, and the pulse of warm air near his neck was enough to give Aidan goosebumps and cause his mouth to go dry.

When he’d finally collected himself, he gave her a faint smile. “Not hiding, exactly,” he said, “They need to learn themselves. Who the other is. Hard to do when others are watching.” Granted, Aidan didn’t know Brígh’s friends, had never met them or seen how they were together. But he knew why druid couples insisted on following this tradition, especially when their families had known each other a long time. There were other druids his age that Aidan had grown up with, played together on the Dragon’s Tooth and raced each other to the water of the beaches. The idea of seeing any of them differently was so foreign to him. Maybe mainlanders felt the same way too about their long friendships. “Yes,” he found himself saying immediately without a moment’s thought as Brígh softly spoke. He knew that he valued this thing with Brígh, even if he hadn’t been able to put a name to it yet. She was so breathtaking, absolutely impossible to stay away from. Aidan didn’t know what his family would think about this, about her not being a druid or the fact that Aidan couldn’t stop thinking about her. And he knew that would be a problem, because he loved his family more than anything in the world and the idea of disrespecting them with his disobedience…it caused him pain. But in this moment, as Brígh gazed intently into his eyes, Aidan couldn’t bring himself to think much about that. Or about much of anything. He spoke on instinct, not choosing his words so much as letting them flow from inside him. “I want it to survive. To grow,” he whispered, his motions growing still as he lost himself in her eyes for a moment. “Brígh, I…I never think that anything can take my mind from Hy-Brasil. From the free Wildwood, and the quiet of my family farm.” He laughed softly as he bit his lip, winding his fingers through hers and bringing their hands up between them. “Maybe my mind still there. But my heart, it is here with you. Always with you.”

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Brígh watched Aidan carefully as he mulled over her words. She knew she should have spoken more slowly, more precisely so that he would understand. But the slight furrow to his brow was not one of misunderstanding. It was one of concentration, of consideration. Unconsciously, Brígh moved closer to Aidan as if they were bound together by some invisible string. Her eyes flickered to his limber fingers, as they wound around a bunch of lavender which bloomed at his touch. The aroma of fresh lavender calmed Brígh, in addition to Aidan’s mere presence. The tension in her shoulders melted slightly, and a soft smile grew on her lips. Aidan plucked the lavender from the bush and tucked it into Brígh’s hair. A small giggle escaped her mouth, and any remaining tensions slipped away. ”You know, there’s just something absolutely magical about you, Aidan,” said Brígh in a soft voice. She was struck by the desire to kiss him, and she didn’t resist. She brushed her thumb across Aidan’s pale cheek, before rising to press her lips to him in a tender kiss.

Predictably, Aidan got the measure of things much better than Brígh had. She’d known from their first meeting that he was much more empathetic than she. Brígh formed opinions before they even budded in others minds, and acted decisively and without second thought. Even though Aidan didn’t know Cheese or Addy, what he said made sense. They had been a trio for so long, even when Brígh had been pulled away. Their relationship had changed, and Brígh owed it to Addy and Cheese to let them understand the mechanics of their altered partnership before putting it forward to her. It was just a shame things hadn’t gone along to plan - Addy had tried to explain to her that Dicky wasn’t meant to see anything, that when they were ready they would tell everyone, starting with Brígh. Yet her temper had gotten the best of her, and she’d lashed out. While Brígh could see why she was in the wrong, a stubborn bit of her remained. When Dicky found out, why had the two not informed her? It was more a matter of second hand news than anything. But Aidan’s observations quelled the stubborn bit - for now, at least. Brígh was certain it would rear its ugly head again soon.

It was rather strange to hear Aidan describe the druid dating traditions. They were so far removed from mainlander ones, at least in this century. Half in jest, half serious, Brígh enquired what stage they were at. They’d spent time together multiple times now, not including stolen conversations over the enchanted mirrors and letters that had led up to the swell of emotion that roared through Brígh. She met his eyes with an intensity that spoke volumes as she broached the topic that had really concerned her. What were they? But why did she need an answer? Was it because Addy and Cheese were boyfriend and girlfriend? Or just for her own peace of mind. Brígh went on, saying that what she felt about Aidan, the bond they had forged in the time they’d known each other, based in conversation, electrifying kisses, they all made her whole. Like he was a piece of her she hadn’t realised she was missing.

Brígh swiped a stray tear from her cheek at Aidan’s proclamation, beaming at him. ”And my heart is yours,” she replied, truth ringing in every word. It was enough - more than enough for her. ”You took a chance, leaving Hy-Brasil. And we found one another. And I think that is the most magic of all,” she finished, squeezing Aidan’s hand. ”How is it that you always know exactly what I need to hear or feel?” she added after a long moment, wrapping her free arm around Aidan’s middle and stepping close, resting her head on his chest and listening to the steady beating of his heart. Each beat belonged to her - steady, ever present and solid.

Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn

[Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn]

Aidan had had small fights with his family over the years. It was only natural when there were so many generations of the family in one shared tree, and he would sometimes stomp off to his room or go for a walk to clear his head. But he hated fighting with his family, and hated fighting in general. The first big blowout, the one where he had screamed at his parents that he wouldn’t forgive them and gone off to cry – that had been three years ago. When they’d decided he needed to leave the island to mature. Just for a while, they’d said, so he could see what the rest of the world was like. Aidan had fought against the decision, and he’d spent the first several months of his apprenticeship in a deep depression. At least until he’d met Eli, and the other apprentices at the nature reserve that had become a bright spot in his life.

He would always count down the days until his training period would end and he could return to Hy-Brasil. The tally was always somewhere in the back of his mind, and he never made long-term plans. Never thought farther ahead than the next time he could go home. But now? That buzz in the back of his mind dimmed, and then it faded away completely. There was no countdown to anything, no impatience to return or jealousy of the druids that had stayed. There was only peace, and warmth, and Brígh. He didn’t have any names for what he felt for her, because there just wasn’t any way to compare any of the great loves in his life. His family? That love burned like the embers of a hearth fire – warming but not overwhelming, a constant spark in his chest. Magical creatures? He felt a fierce protective instinct for them, a fixed certainty that he wanted to dedicate his life to their happiness and wellbeing.

And Brígh? It was a love of contradictions. Like flashing across the sky on the back of a griffin, wind tearing through his hair, only to cross the threshold to being home and feeling safe and protected against anything that might rage against those steady walls. It was the first time he’d ever thought of ‘home’ as anywhere besides the family tree in Hy-Brasil, and the thought sent a thrill of excitement and a shot of fear through him. Contradictions. But he loved it, and wouldn’t have chosen anything else – not that he had done anything but acknowledge what had come shooting his way and open himself to it. Aidan couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he allowed Brígh to pull him closer, wrapping one arm around her waist and letting the other tangle in her brilliant hair. He didn’t know exactly what to say to her, had never quite been one to craft beautiful speeches that could move people. No, Aidan only said what he meant, and he hoped desperately it would be enough. “I not want much,” he whispered into her hair, feeling his arms tighten around her, “But I want you to be happy. To make you happy.” He’d never wanted to leave the island, couldn’t fathom the idea that there was something in the big wide world that he couldn’t find on Hy-Brasil. But by Boudicca and all the spirits, he was so grateful for it. Aidan sighed slightly, dropping a kiss into her hair. “Tell me how I can make you happy,” he said, unable to tear his eyes away from the beautiful girl in his arms.

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH]

Being with Aidan had brought such a magical quality to Brígh's life, she couldn't remember a time where she felt so wonderful without him. When she kissed him, something sparked in her chest. She felt no pressure to do anything or be anyone, simply being able to exist within time and space with him. Their time together had been somewhat short, but that didn't dampen the glow. Aidan's embrace tightened around her as he spoke. Brígh smiled at him, and gave him her simple answer.

"Love me."

END BRIGH Aidan Evander Ó Cuinn FYI