Waking up in the early morning glow with a light heart was something new to Niam. Was it this world or was it his new friends. Both, he decided.

  He quickly bathed, dressed and ran to get his breakfast through the forest paths, feeling energetic and light on his feet.

  He arrived first and felt disappointed at the lack of company.

  Celeste appeared at the door. “You didn’t wait for me this morning?” she inquired, smiling.

  “I couldn’t wait,” said Niam. “I am hungry.”

  “For food or company?” laughed Celeste.

  “Both,” said Niam, “Everything actually,” he added. “I like everything here; it is so easy and worry free.”

  “I am glad,” said Celeste. But I warn you to not get complacent. You will go through some hard tests that you will not like. They are to prepare you for what lies ahead. Do not worry about them, they are trials you will be able to bear, stay happy and positive, but just keep that in mind so you are prepared for when they come.”

  Gwen and Tegan arrived chatting happily. Tegan looked at him and smiled. She skipped over to him and sat down, her arm close to his.

  Niam’s mind spun like a top. He felt heady and dizzy.

  When Morrigan arrived, he saw them and looked annoyed, but the food looked too good, and he sat and ate. Soon, joining in the conversation.

  They ate and chatted loudly.

  When they had finished Celeste arrived and told them they all needed to go to their lessons quickly.

  “Not you Niam,” she said, reaching out and holding him by the shoulder.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  When they had left, Celeste smiled.

  “I have good news,” she said. “You have a visitor. Follow me.”

  Niam’s mind ran over all the possibilities of who it might be. He was not feeling confident about someone visiting from home and his newfound confidence faltered. He felt the old feelings of self-doubt coming back.

  They walked toward the mountain this time and then up a hill to a clearing. It was where he had first arrived. He recognised it from when he had looked back as they were leaving.

  The rock before them was like the one he had found before he travelled.

  The initial sparks were beginning, and it grew into the spinning portal he had seen once before. As soon as it peaked, a form appeared and stepped through. It was a woman, familiar to Niam, a face he had not seen for a long time.

  He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her neck.

  “Welcome, Celthair, daughter of Tuatha De-Daanan Findabair.”

  Celthair cried out in joy to see her son once more. She could not speak out of wonder and overwhelming emotions. She hugged Niam so hard he grunted, and she cried long and hard and her legs collapsed, and Niam tried to hold her up, but she kneeled and kept crying, looking into his eyes and crying some more. Niam kept wiping her eyes and could not help but smile.

  When she finished and found the strength to stand. Only then did she look around in wonder. “The Realm of Life,” she breathed. “It’s beautiful. Your grandfather saw this place you know,” she said to Niam, looking at him again. “He saw Emain, who gave him the scabbard. He was bought here by the beings of light,” Celthair looked at Celeste, bowing her head.

  “You are right, in fact,” replied Celeste, “Niam has been sleeping on the very bed and in the room that Emain resided when he was with us. Not long ago, he left to go back to Riangbra to give the scabbard to Tuatha. It was for that purpose that we kept him here. It began all the events that led up to now.” Celeste said.

  “What do you mean, not long ago? My grandfather was a boy and now he is an old man,” said Niam.

  Celeste smiled, “I am sorry, I forget how time is for us. For you and age is but a moment for us.”

  Celthair smiled at Niam, the relief in her eyes to see Niam so happy and confident was visible.

  “We must go, Niam needs his rest. We have bought you here Celthair, to give Niam the wisdom a mother can give and to care for him. He still needs guidance, but you are not here to do everything for him. He must learn to be self-sufficient. You are here to only help him in word. To give him the love he will need to get through the difficult days ahead.”

  Hand in hand, Niam and his mother walked back to his temporary home in the village.