painting by Mary Baxter St. Clair

Weavings Part 2

Chapter 1

Dreamspinner grabbed her aching sides as she sat on the ground still chuckling from Eithne's treatment of the Unseelie riders. Gwydion came over to her and offered her his hand to aid her to rise. She took his hand, and rose unsteadily to her feet. Eithne turned a worried eye in her direction, but Dreamspinner waved her away smiling. Fionnuala cleared his throat, "Well, shall we continue our journey now?"

Eithne playfully groaned and flounced off to her coach in mock-sulkiness."Can't a pregnant woman have any fun around here?" she whined.

Fionnuala followed her, seeing her safely into the carriage. "You've had enough fun for the day, dear." He kissed her lightly on the lips, then turned to Jareth. "Milord, would you mind riding with my wife and keeping her...out of trouble?"

Jareth chuckled. "It would be my honor to watch over Lovebug and her young one."

"Watch it, Hangnail," Eithne sneered, sticking her tongue out at the Goblin King.

Jareth slid into the coach across from Eithne. "Warning, dearest princess. You are a fledgling and will need my guidance with your magic."

"Why? I have Dreamspinner. She's more than happy to teach me."

Jareth leaned forward closely to her ear and whispered, "But will she instruct you in the really fun stuff?" His eyes twinkled with mischief.

Eithne leaned back into the plush seat, smiling coyly. "Let's get a move on!" she shouted to Fionnuala. "The Elven King and Queen are expecting us post haste. And get those Unseelie jesters to singing again, would you, Finn? How about It's a Small Small World?"

While Eithne chuckled merrily at her choice of song, everyone else cringed. "Why such a sappy song?" Dreamspinner questioned, taking her place with Gwydion.

The hunter smiled, his handsome face shining, and said, "As I recall, someone I know was extraordinarily sappy after her wedding as well." He winked and gently poked his wife as the off-tune melodies of the prisoners began.

Dreamspinner arched an eyebrow and eyed her husband cautiously. "I have no idea of whom you are speaking," she returned curtly, turning her head away, an impish smile on her lovely face. She knew full well that she was the sappy bride to whom Gwydion was referring.

Gwydion only laughed, then pushed the caravan forward. "On to Fae Castle!" he commanded. And their traveling music continued...Much to Dreamspinner's dismay. Off-tune and definitely enough to cause the stoutest of men to feel the effects of a sour stomach. Dreamspinner turned in her seat to call out to Eithne, "Please, no more! I cannot stand it! Argh!" she growled. Eithne chuckled and silenced the Unseelies.  Finn reigned in next to Dreamspinner and whispered his thanks. He had turned a lovely shade of green...due to the effects of those horrid voices raised in song. Dreamspinner just smiled.

Gwydion's last remark got Dreamspinner to thinking about their stormy courtship. He had given chase well...she thought with a certain amount of pride. Every day after that fateful night when she had freed the Wild Hunt, Gwydion had paid her a visit. After the umpteenth night of him watching her as she worked, she began to get self-conscious... One night, she had enough.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare at me?" she asked, as she turned to face him. He was smiling- how irritating. She stomped her foot in annoyance. He imitated the gesture perfectly down to the indignant squeak she had made, his eyes bright with mischief. The challenge was plain in his eyes, and she gasped. She tried to make a break for it, but he smoothly moved to cut off her escape route. Nonplussed, she climbed out the window- and the chase began. Through moonlight and shadow, the two ran, she in the lead, he trying to keep up with her frantic pace, both of them laughing madly. Never, ever look back when someone or something is chasing you. You will inevitably stumble. And she did- landing none-too-gently onto the forest floor, Gwydion falling right on top of her and knocking the wind from her lungs. "Ouch!" She gasped indignantly as she lay stunned there in his arms, still fighting and stubbornly trying to twist out of his embrace. "Shh...you'll hurt yourself." he had gently whispered. "Let me go..." she managed to say. That startled him, and he gently brushed the wayward strands of her wild hair from her face so he could better see her expression. Somewhere along the way, she had lost the silken net of moonbeams that had bound her fiery mane, and her tresses went wild in their freedom. "Why do you fight what we both know is right?" he asked softly. She looked up at him then, her eyes sparkling with unfathomable mischief as he captured her gaze and could not answer. So he kissed her, holding her gently, and she finally calmed,resting safely in his arms. Tentatively, he reached out his awareness to touch hers. She felt the feather-light presence and embraced him- both of them were gazing deeply into the other's eyes as their bond grew even stronger. *Soulmate.* their thoughts entertwined, and he leaned in to gently kiss her, *I pledge all that I am, all that I have, and all that I can be to you, Bright-One. Please light my way, for I will be lost without you.* (well, what can one say to rival that?) He had pulled her into a sitting position and they faced each other, hands joined. *Do you accept?* he tenderly asked. She smiled as she answered him without reservation, *Yes, but I do not think you know what you are getting yourself into.* He smiled knowingly as he pulled a hand away to deftly reach inside his tunic for a small silken pouch, and he spilled its contents into her hands. Two matching rings- and she could see the glow of enchantment on them. She looked up at him in question.

"If our bond is false, they'll not fit." he said simply as he slipped the smaller of the two rings on the appropriate finger. It sized itself to fit her perfectly, and she wordlessly repeated the procedure on him, and his ring also worked its magic. "See, I told you." he said as the moonlight flashed upon the intricately engraved bands in blessing.

"Caught and bound!" Finn's voice piped from the shadows where he was leaning against a tree, totally amused with himself for keeping quiet all this time. His words echoed throughout the forest as if this were some great event, lending an air of reverent finality to the occasion. Dreamspinner spun around and Gwydion knew she was going to bolt again. He quickly reached out to grasp her hands firmly within his own. Finn laughed, "I saw that tackle, milord...a bit rough, aren't we? I mean, how dare she try and get away..." he smiled as he sauntered up to them, and plopped down next to them, "My, my." His eyes twinkled merrily, and he gently reached out to wipe a smudge of dirt off of Dreamspinner's cheek. Dreamspinner and Gwydion traded glances and Finn realized his peril. He was up and out of there before they could blink, with them in hot pursuit. "You'll thank me for this later! I promise!" he yelled as he leapt over a fallen tree. They chased him back to the Circle, where unbeknownst to them, a large gathering of Fae awaited them...Dreamspinner's shining Mother greeted her daughter with open arms.

"Come now, childling," Moira sang, "Let us go and prepare you for your wedding, as is fitting." She cast an amused glance at the now nervous groom, "Thought I'd let you get away with my daughter without the proper rituals, did you? Not very likely." she teased. Finn was beside himself, hooting with laughter as tears streamed down his face. "And you, rogue," Moira addressed him and he gulped and did his best to look innocent, "Humph. Go with your Lord and get him ready." Finn laughingly dragged a reluctant Gwydion back to the Hall. The groom kept throwing pained glances at the bride, who was doing her best not to laugh too.