A Sister's Gift

Skye sat at the desk, a look of disbelief on her face, she shook her head, her red-gold hair shifting about her shoulders, a lock falling into her face. She impatiently pushed it back and snapped at the younger woman standing there, "Aidan... what mean ye, 'urgent family business'? I cannae, there is a holiday party here this eve. I am the hostess and ye expect me not to go?"

Aidan St. James simply shrugged as she replied in a voice very closely mirroring her sister's, "Skye, ye've known this day would come and now it has. Wi' Da gone, the druid is calling for ye, 'tis my coming of age day." Skye sighed and looked at her sister's face intently, reading the anguish in her leaf-green eyes. She looked at the stack of returned invitations and again felt torn. Finally she stood, resignation on her face. "Aye Aidan, I knew this day would come and I will nae leave ye to it alone. Ian will hae to handle this party". Skye led the younger woman into her bedchamber and prepared a pack of clothing to take on the journey, all the while hoping her husband would understand.

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Skye smiled warmly, viewing the lovely girl who was given to her as a sister, her luminous green eyes also taking in the druid princess standing next to her. The druid stepped forward and extended a hand, "Skye, I presume? Ye look exactly as Aidan described ye. Ye've done a wonderful job bringing her to womanhood."

"Nay, Your Highness, I had naught as much as ye believe to do wi' it. Aidan hae always had a mind of her own, as do all we O'Malleys. 'Tis Aidan and Ma who are to be feted this day."

"Nonetheless" the druid smiled, "She names ye as the recipient of her gifts. Skye, ye know she be not completely human, but half druid. 'Tis why she is St. James and the rest of ye O'Malley. And 'tis why, upon the day of her birth she was betrothed to a druid prince, to carry on the line. She has known of this all along and is in agreement. Be ye?" At this, the elder O'Malley nodded. "Also as half druid, she has gifts... gifts which ye hae already seen evidence of, and gifts that upon this day, she can transfer to one she chooses. Aidan hae chosen ye."

"Me? Gifted? Nay, I am but a simple human lady. I hae the knowledge given my by Da and Ma and that be all I need." The beautiful druid laughed and then replied, "Aye, 'tis well and fine, but what of that elven ranger ye married? Would not gifts aid ye in yer marriage? And in raising the bairns ye'll hae together?" At this, the ice blue eyes of the princess locked onto Skye's and posed the question. "Ye can choose to nae accept them, of course, but ye'll nae e'er hae this chance again."

Skye stopped, considering. She had secretly always wanted to at least possess some sort of gift, some magic she could use to aid those around her. Wordlessly she stepped forward, nodded, and lowered her head in supplication. The princess placed a hand on Skye's head, her skin very white against the gleam of copper, and recited an ancient incantation almost as old as time itself. Skye felt warmed with a pure heat and light she had never experienced before, and the sound of rushing blood filled her ears. Just as she felt close to fainting away, the hand was removed, and the druid stepped back.

"I have given you your sister's gift. From this moment forward ye hae the power of Mindspeak. Whenever another gifted one is near, merely form the sentence in your mind, without speaking it aloud, and they shall hear you. Aidan is so gifted, and your link wi' her will be the strongest of all."

Skye chuckled, realizing how surprised her husband would be... if only he could hear her. As that thought formed in her mind, the druid smiled and nodded. "Aye, Ian is so gifted... as is his brother, the dragon. Quite the family ye've married into. Ye'll now be able to speak wi' them both, wi'out ever saying a word aloud. Be careful though, for sometimes, you may nae wish your thoughts heard aloud."

As Skye prepared to leave, thinking the gift over, the princess continued, "You hae also been given the gift of Second Sight. In showing you pictures of future events, it should aid you greatly in a search you will be undertaking soon, and should also keep your family safer than without. But Skye, this gift comes with a condition..." At this the druid stopped, making sure the Irish woman's full attention was upon her.

"Condition?" Skye asked, now quite skeptical.

"Second Sight cannot be used to cause a death, Skye. If that were allowed, all of those Second Sighted would cause chaos, becoming assassins and such. Imagine how easy their distasteful task would be, if they could predict where a target would be, before they themselves even knew. So, the gift is conditioned against such." The druid again paused, looking at Skye intently, more serious than she had been at anytime before on this eventful day. "Should ye use the gift and cause death, not only will ye lose your Second Sight, but your primary sight as well, forever living a life in darkness."

Skye gasped, her mind whirling. The thought flashed through her mind to ask the druid to take these gifts back, but another thought intercepted it, and Skye knew it was too late. She took a deep breath and nodded once. "I hear and understand ye, Your Highness. I will guard my sister's gifts well." The druid smiled gently and placed a hand on Skye's shoulder "I believe ye will, Skye. If anyone can, 'tis ye."