If the Captain was ever in doubt as to Muireal’s paternity he never voiced it. In spite of the child’s impairments and odd behaviours he doted on her as did her two older brothers. There was such a wild sweetness in Muireal’s demeanour that captivated all their hearts. Of course she was never sent off to school like the boys. Fiona preferred to keep her safe at home and away from any cruel stares and ridicule.
On Sunday mornings the Captain’s family often had the church pew all to themselves during service. The village women worried that the child’s webbed hand and muteness might be contagious especially if any of them were with child, themselves. No one knew if Muireal’s afflictions had some darker aspect and so as is often the case in small communities, much whispering and speculation took place in the village. Eventually Fiona stopped taking her daughter into town. Any teaching or bible readings from then on were done at home though Muireal continued her rather unchristian like rituals of arranging shells and bones and gesturing to the wind and waves. It was at this time that Muireal’s life began to take on a new dimension.
One day when the younger boy Donal, was about to go off to school his trunk was mysteriously emptied of all his clothes and books. They were discovered scattered behind the sheep shed but by that time Donal had missed the sailing from the island to the mainland. During that particular crossing a terrible storm came up suddenly and blew the small ferry off course. It was dashed against the rocks and sank. Some passengers drowned and the island was plunged into mourning.
After that, Fiona began to look at Muireal in a different light. Everywhere and in everything concerning her daughter she sensed veiled messages whose meaning somehow eluded her. During the summer when they would take their little boat out on the loch, teams of harbour seals would suddenly gather and swim around and under the keel, their heads bobbing up and down in playful greeting. Muireal would laugh and bend over the gunwale so far it looked like she was ready to dive into their midst. Her brothers would hang onto her skirts to pull her back. Then there was the music. Whenever Muireal played her flute out on the rocks, the following day the fishing would be very good off the nearby point. Word traveled around quickly in a small community. Fiona didn’t know if the secret or circumstance of Muireal’s birth was a miracle or a curse but whatever it was it had begun to haunt both her dreams and waking hours.
One warm August evening, at twilight, on the night of the shooting stars Muireal was nowhere to be found and didn’t answer Fiona’s calls. Filled with a momentary panic and premonition Fiona searched outside and finally found her lying on an old tarp at the bottom of the garden. When Muireal saw her mother she ecstatically pulled her down to lie beside her. Leaning over and putting her webbed fingers to her lips in a wisht* motion she then cupped her mother’s ears in her small hands, all the while looking up into the unfurling curtain of the night sky. Though no word was spoken a small voice inside Fiona’s head seemed to say “listen mother! can you hear them? the stars are coming out!” In that little gesture everything came together in clarity and Fiona understood everything. She folded her daughter into her arms and holding back a sob whispered, “Where are you going my sweet child?” and where ever it was, Fiona now knew that she would not be able to go with her and protect her, and her tears fell like burning stars.
Summer eventually became autumn and one night when the boys were away at school and the Captain had gone into town to meet with friends Muireal suddenly got up from her chair by the fire and began to set an extra place at the table. Fiona removed the setting but Muireal very purposefully put it back again. Just as they sat down to eat there was a knock at the door. With great apprehension Fiona answered it and was blinded for a moment by the full moon rising up from the clouds. A man stepped out of the shadows and though years had passed she gasped in recognition. Duff had returned.
ailein duinn – dark haired Alan
Chapter Five
_______________________________
*Wisht is shhh
gunwale is the side edge of a small boat
the runes of the gatekeeper's daughter- dedicated to Nick 
The photographs and music are absolutely wonderful, Cybele, but your beautiful story is even more so. It’s a while since I read the previous chapter, so I did a quick recap, and I’m becoming increasingly captivated as I read. I’m now dying to find out why Duff has come back and in which direction Muireal’s life will head.
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I am thrilled you are enjoying the story and hope I won’t disappoint! Many thanks Millie!
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I’m so glad I’m reading it. 😀 The photo of the cottage is really mystical. Is the song in Scottish language, Moon? 🙂
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I love that cottage too! The song is Scottish Gaelic which is of course very similar to Irish Gaelic as well.
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Thanks for letting me know, Moon.:)
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yw!!!
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I can’t leave,I am magnetised by the majestic photos,they bring out your forceful thoughts,they paint them and sprinkle them with mysterious light … the “lamenter” the song plays,lends pain,your unreined imagery blends voices from your soul,high emotion,darkness ….
As your story unfolds,I trace supernatural elements and strong narratives that make it tantalisingly gripping,Cybele … All seems to revolve in the legendary Lands that have imprisoned your writing spirit …
And me,still standing outside that quaint cottage,I want to open the door,but you it’s locked,it hides all the secrets,Duff is here again;was he in the liittle ferry that sank and plunged the village into mourning … ???
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oh oh, I have you!! So pleased that the tale and atmosphere have taken you to other realms. It is all a storyteller can hope for!
Duff is a rather mysterious fellow and even I don’t know how he comes and goes! Thanks so much dear Doda!!
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My pleasure Cybele dear!I usually read your captivating story after midnight and when everybody sleeps.It’s so quiet,the only thing I can hear is an owl ululating ..”u-lu-lu or a calling tu-whit-tu ..and when the night is balmy some crickets join …
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oh that sounds like a magical time!!! 🙂
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Hope tonight I’ll come along … 🙂 xxx
I have received 2 more emails with your story,I saw them on my tab while I was sitting on the beach outside our seaside house in Peloponnese.I can’t wait 🙂
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oh thank you Doda, whenever you have time. Thank you so much for your support!
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I do it with great pleasure,dear Cybele.I am looking forward to reading the rest of your fabulous story 🙂
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This story is amazing, Cybele. It’s so full of mystery and wild beauty. I can smell the sea air behind those words of yours.
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So glad I was able to evoke all that! Thank you for reading and for another lovely comment!
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ooh! how exciting, I’ve missed reading these stories, now have got loads to catch up on, I’ll go grab a cuppa!
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I am delighted you are enjoying it Katie!
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Oh, wow. This could easily compete with a whole range of young adult fantasy fiction – and I read lots when the boys were younger – any chance you fancy writing a whole novel? I’d love to read it 🙂
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you are very kind!! thank you Six!! A whole novel seems a bit daunting lol!
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wonderful!
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thank you! Virtual images do go well with these stories it seems too.
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Where’s more? You know those stories you read and you don’t even know that you are reading them because it’s your heart that’s doing the reading? The Siren’s Bones is like that. It’s like it goes with the heartbeat. I remember I had the same feeling when reading the Nightingale and the Rose
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I can’t imagine a more wonderful compliment, seeing that Oscar is one of my favourites too!! Thank you so much Peter and there is more to come! it’s a process of putting my words and vision together in a cohesive manner- a tad harder work and I’m slow lol!! Hope to read something by you again soon!! Take care my friend and have a good weekend!!
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A great story and such fabulous imagery. You really take your readers into another, more magical world.
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thank you so much Suzanne! I’m thrilled and honoured that you like it.
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You’re spinning a wonderful tale, Cybele. I love the elements of mystery and the supernatural.
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Many thanks for reading Patti!! I hope I can keep the right combination!
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It just keeps getting better and better! 😀
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Many thanks my friend!!!
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Thank you for introducing the book. Your photos, Wow! am speechless!
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so glad you like them and thank you Amy! As for the tale- It’s only a short story with a few chapters . It’s easier for me to write them chapter by chapter, like the old cliff hanger lol!!
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Well, you know me, Cybele, I’m all for images – and these are fantastic, and especially so the 2nd and 3rd down – wonderful stuff! A 🙂
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Many thanks Adrian! Images work for me too!
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Great, I’ve already read. Thank you Cybele!
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thank you Della!!! More to come!
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I love the story and pictures. Please continue.
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thank you Sherry, I will try!!
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Loving this magical story Cybele and I absolutely adore that picture of the cottage.
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your support means so much! Thank you Andrea! and yes, I’d like to live there! 🙂
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Oh, I’m sitting on the edge of my chair wanting to turn to the next chapter to find out how this meeting goes!
Great images as always. I love the cottage with its wonderful flower boxes brimming with blossoms.
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thanks Deb for reading and for your enthusiasm!! it will all unfold- somehow! I am a bit slow these days and it seems WordPress is very slow loading for me on my PC. I’m wondering if anyone else has this problem.
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I adore your images. I found your Flickr page and I am blown away by the atmospher in your photos. I have bookmarked the story to read at another moment.
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Many thanks Christel and welcome. oh and Your travel blog is lovely!!
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‘the stars are coming out’
🙂
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you hear them too eh?! the “eh” is very Canadian btw! 😀
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yes 🙂
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PS and thanks for reading!!
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I am immensely enjoying your intriguing story, Hannah. Your images are so beautiful. You know I was always admiring the images, but now I am really into the story too :-).
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so pleased at such a great comment, it means a lot! Thank you Pam!!
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I have a feeling that the girl came from a place I once knew and loved. FABULOUS imagery Hanna! You have got the gift!
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Laura! I’ve been home sick the last few days and a wonderful comment like yours cheers me up immensely!! Thank you for reading! Hope all is well and though I’m behind again (in everything lol) will pop over to visit you too!
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I hope you feel better soon! Life is all about balance. Something doesn’t go right or we don’t feel good, it’s nice when something brightens us up! I’ve been off here too because of my twitching eye lol. I’m here a bit more now but still have to monitor my computer use. Pun intended!
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witty girl!! we have to take care of those “windows” to the soul 😀 The PC is not good that way I know, but I don’t think TV is either. Hope it rights itself soon!
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Grins. Thank you. 🙂
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I like what you said about messing around with it too much
You won’t post it
That’s exactly what I do
I did six collages one rite after the other
Yours are beautiful as usual
Words of wisdom
Great to hear
As always Sheldon
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thank you Sheldon!! Glad you understand lol!
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Dang…………..you stopped. What is Duff doing back? Great pics (as usual)
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I know, the b—er!! lol it will unfold! thanks Julz!
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Lol….cant wait
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This tale is taking us on such a wonderful journey …..every chapter opens a window on the unique and mysterious world of Muireal.
I thirst for the next chapter..but hate the thought that it will bring us closer to an ending.
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I am so happy you are enjoying the story. Thank you for taking the time to comment so encouragingly! Thank you Boudicca!!
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Always a pleasure.
B x
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Ooh, it’s taking shape, Hannah! And as ever, your photographs are mesmerising….
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oh I am so pleased. Thanks so much for your wonderful comment.
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You are most welcome! 😀
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