Solstice - The Goddess Awakens
Chapter 40

There was a loud round of applause and shouts of support for Darragh’s appeal but some of those gathered around the fire started to shift and murmur. They looked quite uneasy, as though they were not really convinced that this was true. Lola wasn’t one of them; she had heard both Celeste and Markus say the same thing at Arthur’s cremation.

As a journalism student, she was well aware of the conflict around the world, so much of it didn’t sit well with her. She had always questioned the ‘truth’ as told by various media outlets. Everyone had an agenda, and in recent years the right-wing press seemed to be winning that battle. In the light of what she had heard and experienced over the past few months, Darragh’s insight seemed to make perfect sense to her now – the jigsaw puzzle began to fit together. She listened intently as he continued.

’Already, we’re beginning to see evidence of a mass awakening. There are signs that the revolution by dissolution has begun. All over the world people are trying to take that power back. They are taking to the streets as the old institutions begin to crumble. This is no more evident than here in Erin. But while this rages around us, we too have our part to play. It is a crucial one that will have far-reaching implications.

’At this very moment we are gathered together at one of the most important spiritual and sacred sites in all of Ireland. Not just here at Teamhair, but the entire Boyne Valley which lies on the same lay line as the Tor in Glastonbury and the Pyramids at Giza. Just over the Valley is the home of the Dé Danann, who left many esoteric texts, which few have seen. Legend has it that it prophesises the return of the Goddess Brigid and her tribe. The very old rhyme, that my very own grandmother used to recite to me, tells of her return. It says:

When the Goddess with the emerald eyes returns, so too will her fiery light; Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Her healing and radiant sun will extinguish even the blackest of knights.

What lies within will reflect without, leaving all in her wake with little doubt.

Hanging her mantle upon the sun, she’ll bring Danu’s light to each and everyone.

‘The fire that burns inside her will ignite a spark in even the darkest of souls. Legend has it that only her spirit can usher in a new day, that only a true descendant of the Tuatha Dé Danann can ignite the truth, and only she can protect Metatron’s Cube from those that covet it.’

At that moment Lola and Aibgrene caught each other’s eyes. So much understanding flowed between them in those few seconds, it was almost as if they were talking to each other, yet no words were spoken. There was no need for language. Was Lola a descendant of the Tuatha Dé Danann? Had Arthur known this from the first time they met? Did she believe it?

As Darragh finished, the music started and the sound of bodhrans, drums and tin whistles rang out over the Boyne Valley once again. Lola wrapped the warm blanket around her body as she gazed into the flames. She wasn’t afraid anymore, in fact, the burning embers seemed to make her passion, strength and pride swell. Was she once a great warrior goddess? It seemed ridiculous, but something in her had stirred. Aibgrene was right when she had told her to open her mind; all the things that she had been experiencing were signs.

Deep in her soul Lola now acknowledged this truth, but she was still only a girl, living in a world that was dictated by the senses. There was that seed of doubt that had always been at the back of her mind, that self-doubt. She wasn’t important enough or good enough, how could she be? Lola Paige, a working-class girl from Ballyvalley. How could she be anything other than what she appeared to be? It was a beautiful thought, that she could be governed by her gut, by her instincts, but still there was something extremely far-fetched about the suggestion that she had lived as Brigid over three thousand years ago. Deep in thought Lola hadn’t noticed that she was shivering.

‘Are ye feeling the cold, Lola?’ said Sean looking down at her with a playful smile on his face. ‘Come on get up and give me a dance, that’ll soon warm you up.’

Lola didn’t even have time to reply, as Sean lifted her up off the seat and swung her about in his arms. Her feet eventually touched the ground and she followed his lead as he whirled her around and around to the sound of a fast Irish reel. As the reel played by the musicians accelerated, Sean continued to spin her until she almost lost her balance, but once again he was there to catch her when she fell.

‘I think I need to sit down,’ said Lola, not noticing that they had moved away from the rest of the revellers, dancing around the fire.

‘Is this how you get your girls, Sean?’ asked Lola. ‘You disorientate them and then lure them to a secluded spot?’ she laughed, as she sat down under the hawthorn tree she had been admiring earlier. It took a few moments for her to realise what she had said. Embarrassed she tried to back-track. ‘I mean. I don’t mean me. I’m not saying you are trying to, you know …me!’

Sean sat beside her enjoying her discomfort, letting her ramble on until she fell quiet.

‘Well has it worked, Lola? Has my bold plan to get you on your own worked?’ said Sean softly, as he began to move closer to her. Lola could feel the heat from his body next to hers and she quite liked it.

‘Well, I suppose it has. We’re here and they are over there,’ smiled Lola.

‘Good.’

Without another word Sean gently kissed her lips, breaking off momentarily to make sure that she was okay with it. Without a word, Lola reciprocated, not really thinking about what she was doing. It felt right. Lifting her on to his knee as though she weighed nothing, Sean pulled her closer to him, as Lola continued to kiss him.

It felt normal. It felt good, and despite his stature he was so gentle, his lips caressing hers as his hands found her waist. But there was something missing. It was that light feeling in her stomach, that tantalising wave of electricity that she felt when she was with Alex. She was really attracted to Sean, but he wasn’t Alex. ‘I’m so sorry Sean. I... I can’t do this,’ Lola broke off abruptly. ‘I’m sort of with someone at the moment. You’re such a great lad... But I shouldn’t be doing this.’ Sitting back down on the grass, Lola felt terrible. What had she been thinking? It must have been all that twirling and dancing. Her head wasn’t straight. She was the worst liar, and there was no way that Alex wouldn’t know. Not that he would care. Or would he? What was it they had anyway? He was Alex Stein after all and for all she knew he could be with a different girl every night. So why did she feel like she’d betrayed him, for a second time that day? ‘I think it’s time I called it a night,’ said Lola awkwardly.

‘Come on, I’ll walk you to your cabin,’ said Sean gently. ‘I’m sorry if I was a bit forward – you’re very hard to resist, Lola.’

‘I wasn’t exactly beating you off with big stick, Sean. I’m sorry too. You’re a great kisser though,’ smiled Lola. ‘Friends?’ she offered, extending her hand.

‘Well if that’s all there is at the moment, I’ll take that,’ said Sean as he reluctantly shook her hand. He and Lola walked across Tara to their campsite in silence, guided by the bright harvest moon. Most of the revellers had returned to the site after what had been a very long day. They passed the small earthen cottage and headed to the back of the garden, where the Romany caravan sat. Feeling quite awkward Lola stood up on the first step.

‘Well, that’s me home safe and sound,’ said Lola, and reaching over, she embraced Sean, planting a kiss on his cheek. ‘Thank you, Sean. I really mean that, thank you for everything.’ Standing so close to him, Lola felt the urge to kiss him again, but it would be wrong to give him mixed signals.

‘You’re very welcome, Lola, you’re a very beautiful person and whoever this fella is – he’s a very lucky man. I just hope he’s worthy of you.’

Not sure what to say, Lola didn’t offer a reply, afraid that she might change her mind. Sean seemed like the perfect man for her, Aibgrene would certainly approve. He was funny, gentle, and aware of what she was going through at the moment, not to mention gorgeous – what was she thinking? But he wasn’t Alex; Lola couldn’t explain what she felt when she was with him. It was like she had no control over her emotions. She was inexplicably drawn to him, as to why, she couldn’t say.

‘Night, night, Mr O’Neill,’ said Lola.

‘Night, Miss Paige.’

Closing the cabin door behind her, Lola undressed and climbed into bed, exhausted. Lying there in the dark she could feel the power and energy of the ring around her neck beginning to awaken again. It felt as though it was connected to her now. It felt as though it was a part of her soul, and now that she had awoken, so too had it. She could feel the comfort of its warm embryonic protection and for the first time believed that she could become the young woman that Arthur thought she could.

Lola now understood that this was why Aibgrene had insisted on her coming to Tara. This was a test to see how she would react – to prove that her suspicions were correct. A fire had been ignited inside Lola, and like the Triple Goddess of the Celtic pantheon, she too would use that to fulfil her destiny. But that was not all she had gained from this trip – she had discovered her Anum Carra, Aibgrene was her soul friend too.

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