Page 40 of A Little Highland Magic

Chapter Fourteen

The rest of the day took on a surreal quality for Aria as they all waited for the hours to pass until they could proceed with their plans. The sun was lowering in the sky when Mrs Honey announced a simple meal was ready in the great hall. After the meal, Lady Janet asked Aria, Graeme, and Gille to meet her outside in the rear courtyard.

I have some last-minute instructions for you all. Lady Janet floated before them, bearing no signs of her earlier distress. I need each of you to find a small pebble.

After they did as instructed, she continued. Take off one of your shoes and put the pebble in the toe. Then gather a pinch of the soil from Dunvegan and add that to the heel.

“What is the point of all this?” Gille asked with a frown after she slipped her half-boots back on. “The pebble is irritating. It feels much larger than it is.”

That is good. For you need that irritation to remind you of your home. Every step will keep you connected to Dunvegan and all those you left behind. She turned to Graeme. You will need to take a second pebble and a pinch of dirt in your sporran for Keiran so that he may travel here with you.

While Graeme reached for another small pebble he asked, “How will we return once we have found Keiran? Will we have to open another portal somewhere?”

Nay. Aria knows where the entrance to the fairy cave is in Fairyland. Once you arrive there, you will sense my spirit friends and me waiting to pull you back to us. Remove the dirt from your heel but be very careful to always keep the pebble with you. If you lose that small connection to your home, the fairies will trap you in Fairyland forever.

“The pebble will release Keiran and allow him to come home with us?” Aria asked.

The Grey Lady shook her head. I have suspected for some time that my son must be under some sort of spell that has made him forget all about those of us he left behind in this realm. You must break that spell, then he will be free to make the journey home if he chooses.

“And what if he wants to stay?” Gille’s brow furrowed. “Oberon has given his adopted son the best of everything.”

Lady Janet’s dark eyes filled with both sadness and hope. Keiran must make the choice for himself.

“We will help him to see the benefits of returning to the MacLeods,” Aria assured her.

Lady Janet bowed her head, then looked up at the sky. The sun was lowering further. It is almost time. We should head inside the castle and make our way to the chapel. Alastair and Gwendolyn will be there by now with the twins.

Gille followed Lady Janet inside. Graeme started forward, but Aria held him back with a touch on his arm. She needed one more moment alone with him.

As though reading her thoughts, he pulled her into his arms. His touch soothed her instantly. “I wish we could stay like this forever, yet I know that is impossible. Danger lies ahead of us. How much we cannot know. And I am unable to shake the feeling that the world is about to come crashing down around us.”

Graeme pulled back to smile down at her. “Not if we stay focused on our goal and remain united.”

“Oberon will try to divide us.”

“He will not succeed.” Graeme smiled conspiratorially.

Unable to resist the dimple that appeared in his cheek, she smiled back. Despite the dangers ahead, Graeme was determined they would succeed. That might be enough to tip the scales in their favour. She released a pent-up breath, feeling more at ease. “Shall we attend a baptism?”

As dusk settled around them, Graeme extended his hand, and Aria took it, neither wishing to break their connection to each other as they made their way to the small chapel in the older section of the castle.

The last rays of the sun shone through the stained glass window behind the altar, adding a yellow-gold tone to the candlelight in the chamber. A stone font had been moved from the side wall to the centre of the chamber. Alastair stood on one side, holding Rory. Gwendolyn stood on the other with Jarlath. Reverend Vollar stood between them. Gille had taken a position in the centre of the chamber. The only other living occupants in the chapel were Orrick and Tormod, who would serve as godparents to the two infants along with their wives.

The other occupants were a surprise. They had expected Lady Janet’s presence, but beside her floated two other spectres. One male dressed like a piper from Clan MacCrimmon, and the other a woman in a greyish-green gown.

“Mother brought guests,” Alastair acknowledged as Aria and Graeme continued to stare at the unnatural sight.

“Lady Janet mentioned her friends would help us, but I had not given her reference much thought. Of course, she meant other ghosts,” Aria reasoned. “Where did they come from?”

“Meet Lady Mary MacLeod. She is responsible for the musical sounds of the pianoforte we often hear in the drawing room,” Tormod explained. “And the other is Jamie MacCrimmon, the piper we always hear in the south tower.”

It was somehow comforting to know that Lady Janet was not alone as she lingered in the human realm, yet it was also disconcerting to know at least three ghosts haunted Dunvegan Castle. “Thank you for helping us on our journey this evening,” Aria said with a slight quaver to her voice. She wasn’t exactly afraid, but three bodies of swirling mist in the small chamber were a little unnerving.

Alastair stepped away from the font, and picked up a knapsack, handing it to Graeme. “I gathered a few items the three of you might need, and Mrs Honey prepared some food so you will not have to eat anything offered to you in Fairyland.”

“That was very kind of you.” Aria was surprised Alastair knew that food was one way the fairies trapped visitors in their realm.

Alastair nodded. “I also placed the Fairy Flag inside for you to use to barter for Keiran’s release should it become necessary.”