"Hmm?" Emera yawned and gazed sleepily upon Eithne. "Morning already?"
The redheaded faerie nodded. "I thought I'd take you and your friends on a tour of the island today after breakfast."
Emera inhaled deeply, and the delicious aroma of Roc's cooking completely woke her. "That would be delightful. I shall wake Coyote and Shawn."
"Shawn's already up," Eithne laughed. She pointed to the little kitchen area of the hut. Shawn was lapping up scraps Roc was tossing on the floor.
Emera giggled. "Then I'll get Coyote. You keep Shawn from overeating or he'll never make the tour today!"
The breakfast was good and filling. Roc and prepared a dazzling array of foods, all native to Shee ah Rea. Eithne, Emera, Coyote and Shawn all helped Roc clean up Shawn chose to clean the leftovers off the floor then left the hut's master to tour the marvelous island.
Eithne led Emera and her friends around the circumference of the island, pointing out all things interesting. They took particular interest in rummaging through the rubble of a once magnificent stone castle in the island's center. Emera found a diamond and emerald necklace that had been buried under a pile of rock and soot for no telling how long.
"None of us have ever really sifted through this mess," Eithne began, "because those things are of no interest to us anymore. Jewels and wealth hold not value at all here in the Shee ah Rea."
Emera smiled. "That's exactly what I wanted to hear." She dug a hole deep into the soft earth and reburied the necklace.
The quartet continued on their tour. They spent a the better part of the afternoon at a crystal clear pond at one end of the island gathering fruits and flowers and playing in the cool water. Shawn decided to take a nap and the others followed suit. They awoke early evening and began their journey again. Soon Eithne led them into a sandy opening, a small alcove of powder white sand set brightly against the bright blue sea.
"This is where I was found," Eithne informed. "Roc found me here."
"Tell us your story," Emera pleaded. "Tell us how to came to be here."
Eithne smiled at sat cross-legged in the soft sand. The others joined her. "Many years ago, how many I cannot say for time is also of no importance here, Roc found me as a babe, swaddled in a wicker basket. There was a letter in my little ship from my parents. Roc still has it, and I read it very often. So often that I have it memorized."
Emera, Coyote and Shawn's eyes lit up. They urged Eithne to continue.
"Here's what it says:
'Dear blessed stranger to happen upon this faerie babe,
You are our hope and salvation, dear stranger, for you have come upon our beautiful daughter Eithne. She is but a wee child of only a few weeks, and we are surely sad that we must part with her, but our land is no longer a place for children. Adults either, for that matter. We fear for her life so we have set her afloat on the sea with only the Goddess to keep her. Could we go with her we would, but that would certainly cause our enemies to follow and threaten another land as well. For the good of the world and our Eithne, she must go alone.
She is a blessed child and you, her finder, shall be blessed triple-fold for taking care of her. No doubt you already feel attached to the little girl already. Her bright aqua-blue eyes, as deep as the sea she has traveled upon. Her flaming red hair, as radiant as the sun itself. But soon you will experience what is to be her greatest gift--her voice. The Goddess has granted Eithne with song and the most beautiful voice to sing it. Surely she will bring you great comfort with her music and with her abundant heart.
Treasure this wee child, for she will do great things some day. For you. For herself. For the world even. We distress to send her away but for the greater good of all. The Goddess has seen to her welfare thus far and has now indebted you with her care until she is old enough to fend for herself. Take her, love her as your own, and your shall be rewarded.
Blessings abound you,
Eithne's parents
Kylia and Tragund'
Is that not wonderful?" Eithne asked, her eyes alive with pride.
Emera nodded. "Roc is very lucky to have found you, Eithne. Tis true what your parents said of your voice."
Eithne agreed. "I know. And I enjoy singing and dancing and playing instruments too! But what troubles me is that Roc says my destiny is to be a great heroine. He felt it from the letter."
Coyote wrinkled his brow. "A great heroine? Here? I should hope you would never need to be in this peaceful isle."
"Yes. That's what worries me," she replied. "I wish to bring no ill here, not to the Shee ah Rea."
"Poppycock!" Emera interrupted, breaking the glooming mood. "This place is enchanted and well-protected. You have nothing to fear."
Although Eithne smiled, rising to lead her new friends back to Roc's hut, she wasn't at all assured of Emera's words.