Siusan nodded with a serious expression on her face. The magical sound of his voice transported Mazey to another land.
Many yearsago a king wished to have a child of his own. His wife, though the fairest woman in all the land, could not conceive. Desperate for an heir to his kingdom, the king appealed to the faerie that lived to the islands north by sending word to them on the foot of a bird. He begged them to grant his request and promised whatever they wanted in return.
Little did he know, the faeries would hear his request and grant it. Late one evening, sleep eluded the king He dwelled on his childless existence when his wife roused with a start. She felt a bairn leap in her womb. She explained to the king she must be with child. It overjoyed the king. In his excitement, he forgot his appeal to the faerie folk. He thought perhaps it luck his wife could produce an heir.
But the Tuatha de Danann did not forget. The king offered anything for the heir. They planned to collect their reward. After the child was born, the father noticed things he could not explain. The child, although born of the mother, looked nothing like the father. His ears were pointed and teeth sharp. After a full season with the boy, the king saw his eyes change color to a violent purple. The next day, they were back to normal.
He suspected the Tuatha granted his request for an heir. He appealed to the faerie folk once again. The message he sent this time just asked the cost they demanded for the birth of his heir. He sent the message to the North Islands on the leg of a bird and waited many days, before he gave up. Perhaps the faerie folk were not involved.
Just before his son’s first birthday, the king slept a fitful night. Unable to sleep, he arose from his bed to look out the window where a frightful sight accosted him. A faerie hovered outside his window. “Ye’ll pay us now, we collect. A reward ye promised upon yer son’s neck. We’ve taken our price and happy we are, for with yer son we’ll rule from afar.”
Frightened and trembling with fear, the king ran to the room where his son slept. The cradle that held his son earlier in the evening, was empty. In his place were two small rings that glowed deep crimson. The king took the ring, careful not to touch it with his skin and put it on the mantel. Days later, his wife took her own life. Beyond despair at the loss of her only child. She left the king alone.
For many years the king halfheartedly ruled the land. One night he walked into his son’s room, just as he always did. He glanced upon the mantel at the rings. The rings glowed emerald green. Forgetting the curses fairy folk often placed on objects, the king grabbed them in his bare hands and slid them onto his finger. He heard a flapping sound, a crash and suddenly through the window a man fell onto the ground. When he stood, the king recognized his son. But where human traits should be, there were faerie. His own son was not his son at all, but a halfling. Out of fear, the king drew his sword. Before he could attack, the son took his life. He ascended the throne and ruled the land, always under influence of the faerie folk. And thus the tales of Evil King Dramoner were born.
Baile finishedhis story and stared at Mazey. “What do ye think?”
“A babe lost and all the deaths. Not a happy tale, is it?”
“Most stories told to us are not happy. They teach us lessons of humility or to be careful. Many times they are warnings. Ah don’t see how that is bad.”
“It’s not bad, but wouldn’t it be better to tell stories that are happy? Stories of love, or joy. This world is sad enough without sad stories too. Ah think stories should create beauty, not chase it away.” She was overstepping, but wanted him to see what she did. Beauty in a story transported a dreary life to something magical.
“Ah want to know the stories ye speak of.” The way his eyes crinkled told her he was teasing her.
“Ah dunno. My maither always told me stories about love and people living happily. She sang me songs that made me happy and helped me sleep. When life was sad or broken, ah told myself these stories again and ah sang the melodies. Ah plan to tell them to my child.” Mazey took a swig of water from the skin hanging from her saddle.
Siusan listened to the conversation. “Maze sings me songs. Her voice is sweet.”
Baile smiled over at Mazey. “Sing us a song then, lass.”
Mazey blanched at singing in front of a crowd. The guards in the rear and Gohrich in the group's front could hear her sing.
“Aye, Maze, please sing.” Siusan’s squeaky voice melted her resolve and Mazey sang a song from her past.
“Aye, ah’ll sing, but ye have to promise not to poke fun at me for it.”
Siusan and Baile both nodded solemnly, the same look mirrored across their faces. Mazey never thought much about her voice, but it seemed to find the right notes and had a rich melodic sound that soothed Siusan when she was sad or sleepy.
Ah never found love when ah looked,
Ah only ever found it the once.
When the light of the moon shown down,
Her beautiful eyes aglow.
Her name was more beautiful,
Than stars ah had seen in the sky.
But only the once that ah looked,
From tops of the clouds she did fly.
The moment that her eyes met mine,
Ah knew it was love at first sight.
