CelticLady floated past the fence, down the path and over the bridge that looked like it had just been hit by a whale in a bubble, and landed before the door of the Inn. an old batterd signe anounced the presence of food ale and friendship.. another stating all stoli belinging to Colleen is off limits on pain of parahnah's.

did that mean the parahnah's would be in pain? she shook her headwell if that was all, well heavens she wasn't all that fond of parahna's anyways. she shruged and headed into the Inn, checking her bow and sword at the weapons check booth, took her ticket for later retrieval and wandered into the Inn proper.

She was a little surprised to find people in shaddowy corners and others in the midst of what looked suspisiously like a .. cream Pie and peanut butter fight? well she cunjured a body sheild and went to the bar. she cleaned off a bar stool and motioned the bar keep for some stew and some penny ale.

okay if no one else will then...

CelticLady sipped her ale and watched the ongoing confusion with good humor. she laughed as one Person bespelled another, turning him into a HUG gummy bear, and another started throwing bubble cakes, another dumped a truck load of ice cream sunday toppings on another. all yelling and screaming in good spirits.

She and the others were jolted out of their good time by what felt very much like an earthquake. One woman swore and headed out back. Everyone...including the lurkers who stayed in the shaddows, ran after her. in the Back feild a Huge Gyser had sprung up and was soaking a large dragon who looked remarkably sheepish as he sheltered a slight young woman under one of his wings.

"Opps" was all the dragon would say

Colleen sniffed the air. "Hmmm...what's that smell?" She ran to the geyser and stuck out her tongue. "YES!!! YES!!! she exclaimed wildly. "I can't believe it...PURE STOLI AND IT'S ALL MINE!"

The others watched her in amazement as she let out an evil laugh, "MAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAA!" She started guzzling the Stoli when all of a sudden she stopped...a blank, peaceful look and wide smile appeared on her face.

"No, no! You blithering fool you!" tSionna screamed. But it was too late. tSionna grabbed a very large dead fish and ran over to smack Colleen back to her senses. "How awful she looks with that...that...that disgusting wide smile on her face."

But tSionna was not up to Colleen's level of tolerance for pure Stoli. The mist floated into her eyes and nostrils as she raised the dead fish ready to smack Colleen.

Her grip suddenly relaxed and she, too, was overcome with the pure Stoli. The dead fish fell to the ground, useless now.

Others looked on wondering what to do. Some could not resist and ran madly into the geyser where they, too, were consumed with the dreaded wide smile and look of peace as it hushed the crowd at Tir.

CelticLady looked around for Drunken Horse but he was already down for the count. Wun was beginning to wonder what to do with the two cheeky wenches who were already overtaken by the Artesian well of Stoli.

There seemed no hope...nothing anyone could do. Even the music of McGuirre soon stopped and his hands dropped from the harp he held. Caoilte stopped mid sentence as he was explaining again to pegs and tecumseh, "It is called ICE..."

That same wide smile spread on Caoilte's face. Pegs and tecumseh thought at first that they had finally convinced Caoilte of the truth about Hockey until the mist hit them in the face.

Tecumseh looked like the friendly Walmart greeter all over again. Pegs did not even remotely resemble her normal aggressive Hockey fan self. A slight breeze picked up and soon all were overtaken by the Mystic Stoli and sitting with a peaceful, wide smile on their faces.

They had forgotten the slight young woman and the large dragon who sheltered her under his wing. He was feeling so sheepish his large tail was tucked between his legs.

She stood up ever so gracefully and spread her delicate wings. She was breathtakingly beautiful and one of the favored Sprites. Her heart was full of compassion as she looked upon the lost ones.

"What can we do, Mighty Fionn?" she looked intently into the large dragon's eyes. He never was one to be able to resist a beautiful face and he blew a quick, short flame upwards in the air and thought a moment.

He leaned closely to his beautiful "White Rose" as she was called. He whispered a warm and sultry answer in her ear. She smiled at the plan then began to sing softly.

At first it was a beautiful soft melody then it rose to a piercing and clear lilting frequency that caused a massive vibration upon the air. A loud crack with a bright bolt of light and he stood before the beautiful Sprite, White Rose.

It was as Mighty Fionn had said. The only one who could overcome the spell of the Stoli was a Demi-god named Brionne. She looked at him and his great white light as it shimmered and danced off of her lacy wings like nectar jewels and her irridecent white dew drop gown.

He at first did not see her but a beautiful smell of white roses permeated the air. He looked and saw the one beautiful white rose...untouched and so pure. It was the one he had been promised. They did not need to speak. He understood what he must do.

In a matter of five minutes (He was still only a demi-god), he had capped the Stoli geyser and piped it into the tavern at Tir. Never again would Colleen have to hoarde the Stoli. There would always be a perpetual tap to draw from at Tir.

As quickly as it had overcome the regs and lurkers of Tir, the wide smiles faded and things returned to normal. For all but one, that is.

Colleen never could get that wide smile off her face. tSionna tried every insult and smacking her with the dead fish but to no avail. To this day they are still at it if one visits Tir.

And what of Brionne and White Rose? No one even noticed as a great white light enveloped both of them as they were lifted higher. He no longer was a Demi-god but was changed as the God who watches over Tir and showers great love and happiness with his beloved White Rose upon all who visit.

Now Mighty Fionn was very lonely after his White Rose was taken from his side. But he was soon welcomed inside Tir and was laughing and chatting with many others.

You will still find him there as he is a great protector and stands watch over Tir. He is very gracious and will pour a drink from the perpetual fountain of Stoli for any guest who desires it.

Now many friendships and romances are found at Tir...all under the watchful care of Brionne and his beloved White Rose. Not only is it a place where no one ages, but if one begins to become nasty, Mighty Fionn pours a Stoli and soon they forget what they were nasty about and the same wide smile Colleen wears appears magically on their face.

So beware, you nasties who might try to invade the peace at Tir. Because of the power of love the spell lives on to touch all hearts and fill them with the light of Brionne.

(glearing at mstree for floating the story off on a gyser of ... wait did she say STOLI..big wide stupid grin comes on face a few minutes later i shake myself out of it... now back to CelticLady)

She watched in amazement as one after the other the patrons sucumb to the liquid stuff. For a while she too felt her muscels relax and everything become tingly and floaty.. boy this stoli stuff was GOOOOOOOD. an untold amount of time latter there was a bright flash of white light and she found herself half naked twisted into a strange position while people pointed and laughed.. even though most of them were wearing strange animal costumes... who ever concieved tyhe chicked was .. wacked.

With a quick flip of her hand she seated herself at the bar fully dressed with a LARGE cup of Java. the bar was mysteriously sporting a brand new shinny tap with a sign announcing an endless stoli scorce. a red headed wench was trying to frown at the sign though failing for there was a HUGE grin on her face and another wench was desperately insulting the other and smacking her on the back of the head with what looked suspiciously like a large wet Mackeral. She sighed and wondered if getting a bed would be as eventful as getting a drink had been.

*smacks herself in the forehead...MUST remember not to drink anything while reading things in Tir....wipes off keyboard again*

Accasbel wandered into the Inn, looking somewhat bemused.
He remembered the time when the place was a simple inn catering for the passing trade.

Now it seems to have become a hangout for demi-gods, faithless animated flowers, addicts, trippers not-of-the-day-tripper-kind, dragons, magicians, dead fish.
"A wonder" he says, "that the plain folk have not departed in droves. They're either bewitched or just too fascinated to leave."

He wandered out back to sit by the stream.

..And it shall be written, that on the seventh day, God created Tir na nOg....all that is good will enter here, & all that is bad will be run out by the wenches!

MUSES- goddesses, sacred Nine, the tuneful Nine, Nine goddesses, the Graces, the arts, classical dieties. Names of the classical Muses include the following---Calliope, Clio, Erato, Enterpe, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, Urania.

MUSE- ponder, meditate, reflect, think.

Musings of one poor fool- Perhaps the MUSES live on at Tir? Do you know any of the classical Muses? (Not to be confused with classical Music).

Celticlady sits listening to the rambling and becomes awfully confused. what the....

*following Lost Soul's Table Manners... spits bottled water thru nostrils...laughing hysterically*

Absolutely Hilarious!

and let us not forget the Tir Babble... emmm Battle Cry...

SHEESH

Oh, no...I've passed them on! *thank goodness my mother doesn't know..*L*

Where'd the story go?

How about it LR? Where did the story go? Maybe Acc could add a/some classical muse? Or how about the lovely wenches themselves adding their side of the story? *Wondering if Acc could add midi file of music to go with the story to enhance the mood*

*smiling and floating at "lovely wenches" comment.... *


"Aaah, gee nat's thice..."

fokay... the story went that away and i think it took an over night rest... so with out firther adue.

the next morning the sun rose happily over the mountains and freflected off the river outside and celticlady opened her blurry eyes to find that she had fallen asleep on the top of the bar and she found that shee was holding a glass half full of stoli and dressed like a nubian princess with out the nubian and in a artial sari topped by a mexican dancing had... ie a sombrarro.
"good godess what happened to me?" she had some fuzzy recolections of a hansome mysterious lurker(unknowen at this point weather lurking is against the law so writers perogitive) handing her a hanky after a bout of crysing after being thwacked by a large mackeral and loosing to colleen in a stoli drinking contest... but after that it became a bit of a blur. except for a vauge memory of daring a wale in a big bubble to a swimming contest in a largish mote full of half jellyifed parrahnah's... and some where in there she remebered screaming out bad poetry after loosing a bet with the mighty fionn... or was that Acc... in a mini skirt... oh well as long as she haddn't done anything stupid she guessed things were going to be okay... she blinked and snapped her fingers... and found herself on the floor wearing a barrel of codliver oil... well her magic always was a bit rusty after she had been drinking... she snapped her fingers again and then ruffled her suddenly pink feathers as she realised she had forgotten the spell the transform into a sober young woman again... she sighed and clacked her bill. she became a hungover young woman dressed as a badly done tree for a primary school play.. she sighed and waddled over to her things and headed off to the back of the tir to change... wondering all the time who that hansome young lurker had been. she needed to give back his hanky.

*Sigh* How's the hangover Celticlady? Sheesh, I think it was a bad dream or something we drank? You mean Colleen is still going to hoarde all the stoli because there really is no pertechual, uh, perpuhc, ummm, that drinking fountain thingy that Fionn was using.*Trying tap* Ack! It's just water! *Cold water soaking Mstree in face... completely sober now* Sheesh, Celticlady! You look like...like...where did that big stupid grin come from? And why does Fionn have scales on his...no, it can't be! I'm gonna go sit beside Acc out back beside the stream...have him explain what plain folk are. Wanna come Celticlady? Nice badly done tree outfit! The handsome lurker may be hanging out at Wench lore. I noticed a white hanky around the neck of the guest who was dining on frog legs. *G*

after a long chat with mstree and a realization that thought the hanky may be washed.. the worst thing happened with it turning green.. well close to pruce realy and that any hanky given to mstree no matter how clean turns green as soon as she touches the dazzling white hanky it tends to turn greenish. and the realization that the hansome lurker may have actualy been a gummy whale. Celtic Lady wanders off to the market where she spots an old friend selling bags of wild magic to a wench celticlady vaugely remembered as tSi... celticlady was about to warn the dear lady but was distracted by a large vat of Stoli running past the back pasture. CelticLady shook her head and turned back to the market wondering if there was a decent jeweler in the neighbourhood. she sighed and wandered down the isle's.. she spent half a copper on lunch and a badly baked roll and the other half on a nice wide brimmed straw hat. it was getting to be quite hot and she realized she was in need of new boots. she made her way to a leather workers stall to find the nearist shoe store... the best he could suggest was a cobbler in the next street. at the store she chose a pair of lovely soft leather knee highs with thick soles. then she headed off back to the Tir trying to decide on wether to have the fish stew or the apple crumble with ice cream for dinner. when suddenly she tripped and fell into the river. Just as she did She felt an explosion of wild magic ripple across the fabric of the water... the fact that the water suddenly became beer was beside the point. CelticLady stood up to see a giant floating whale that looked like picaso had made it after a bad night at the local pub.
"oh my" she said as it bounced of a tree and began to rise over the local moat. shrugging CelticLady dripped into the Tir side stepping the giggling Parahna's dressed in drag and the drunk tree that was leaning in the window of the tir trying to persaid some one inside that salt was a better substitute for coffie. Inside a large hot pool had appeared full of rasberry jello and whipped cream. Two Mackerals were discussing the likelyness of feline reincarnation. and there in the middle of a flock palicans stood tSi looking a bit surprised and a little cinged about the edges a bit of cloth that CelticLady presumed to be a back fluttering in the wind of the birds wings. slowly everything started turning back to normal as the pool turned back into a table and the mackeral into two lurkers from new jersey. CelticLady closed her eyes and opened them to a perfectly normal (well sort of) Tir.
"oh Acc a hot cup of irish coffie please." CelticLady said as she wearily dripped up to the bar.

*presses nose up to monitor.... *

Hmmm... is that you Max? *Mstree*

*remembering the curiosity and the cat story*

I'll give you three guestses and the first three don't count! Hehehe...be careful how you TREE-t the subject.

*Whispering to CelticLady* Don't you dare tell anyone that the tap is not water!!! If one drinks our Perpetual Stoli they will have ALL their desires immediately gratified, will forever remain young and perfect, and will be very wise and all-knowing in sprite of flame-throwing pun antagonists. Only ACCASBEL is allowed to imbibe freely from the PS tap. Ever notice how witty and wise he becomes when he visits Tir? He brings his 'Big Gulp' refill mug each time. His doctor toad him to drink plenty of liquids and to relax once in a while with the handsome lurkers...Want this green hanky, CelticLady? I know this moved you to Tirs...*Big wide Stoli grin*

sighs.. celtic lady sits back and orders a gods blessing irish coffee. as she sipps the beverage cool, a tall dark stranger walks into the Tir, his dark mask covering most of his face and his dark green cloak swirling around his body. swiftly he walked up to celticlady and gave her a deep bow.
"my lady it is nice to see you once again in your right mind." he grinned and gently took her hand in his and kissed it. CelticLady felt her self melting.

~~~
An overwhelming sense of sadness flooded over CelticLady as she sat sipping her Irish coffee. She had a vague recollection of a handsome lurker, yet she could not remember who he was. All she had was a beautiful white hanky that he had given her as a token of his love. She longed to remember details of another time when he had promised to find her again.

The regulars at Tir busily visited and greeted one another. Her heart was lonely...a sense of incompleteness in her life. A sudden fragrance met her nostrils and she turned to see a beautiful lady sitting beside her. When had she come in? CelticLady had not noticed her entering Tir but the smell of white roses was overpowering. Something about this lady was very familiar...where had she seen her and smelled that beautiful pure fragrance before?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sweet melody that the lady was humming sweetly and quietly. It was soothing to her...a sense of peace enveloped her heart. She turned again to look at the flowerlike lady. "Have we met here before?" CelticLady asked.

The humming stopped and a radiant smile filled the room with a white light. It was as though the entire room were bathed in an iridescense of shifting pastel hues of infinite colors more beautiful than any rainbow she had ever seen. "Yes," she sweetly replied. "We have visited many times before on a higher level."

CelticLady was again puzzled. She did not understand what a higher level was. She sat transfixed as she continued to listen to the alluring lady who sat beside her. "You hold a bag of magic...I will trade one very precious gift for your one bag of magic. Is this agreed?" She could only nod her head yes.

The celestially divine lady took her bag of magic and handed her a brilliant crystalline heart pendant that was filled with the same bouncing hues of light that charged the room. In this precious heart was one pure white rose bud. CelticLady wondered why she had agreed to trade for the heart...yet it was very desireable indeed.

"You must wear this pendant over your own heart," the lady explained. "It will reveal to you what is truly in other's hearts. It will inspire your words. It will bring you great joy and fulfillment as long as your heart remains pure. You must never allow the darkness into your own heart or it will destroy the gift."

CelticLady fastened the pendant around her own neck. The beautiful light shone more brightly as the gift hung upon her own heart. "It's absolutely..." her words trailed off. The magnificent lady was gone from her side and she looked around the Inn to try to catch a glimpse of her. Everyone else appeared normal. They had never seen what she had seen. The smell of white roses lingered...

A sudden thought occurred to her. She should walk to the stream that ran behind Tir. As she walked she seemed to glide effortlessly across the beautiful lush meadow beside the stream. Why had she not noticed before how lovely and awe-inspiring Tir was. The stream reflected the soft hues of her heart as it babbled softly along.

"Why, it sounds like a melody!" she thought to herself. "Like the one the lady was humming!" She was quickly at the streams edge. She heard a very low moaning. She looked into a small side pool of water and saw a very ugly frog. He was immersed in water but his forearms grasped the hard rock.

"Hello!" she cheerfully greeted the frog. "Isn't this a magnificent place to be?" she asked.

He cried out angrily to her, "No! There is nothing good about this place...I can only sit between a rock and a hard spot all day long and long through the night. "

CelticLady felt love and compassion welling up in her heart. "What is your name?" she asked softly. She then noticed his tears that trickled into the pond. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her precious, pure white hanky. Without even thinking she wiped his eyes with it.

"My name is Michael," he replied. "I have been here so long just waiting...waiting for this terrible curse to be broken." He let out a very deep sigh then continued. "I once lived on high with my father, the King. I was known there as Priansu and found favor with many of the ladies. I had any lady my heart desired, but I only seemed to have it all. It was a very superficial existence."

Her heart was stirring...something was familiar about Michael and his story. She continued to listen as he shared his heartache with her. "I willfully did things I knew were wrong...I thought to change this one day when the right lady came along. In my mind I thought to enjoy the power of my position and instead reaped the sorest heartache I could ever endure."

The tears streamed freely now. "My attitude was actually inflicting more heartache like poisoning the water for the wounded. It was like being wounded twice." She continued to wipe the tears.

The heart she wore quivered slightly and she lifted the frog to place him in the hanky upon her lap. To her amazement she saw more than a broken heart. He had hidden a deeper issue beneath the water. As she lifted him up he cried out in pain. It was a mournful and emotional cry of pain...not a physical pain. His real shame was made known as she saw that his legs were missing.

"Oh you dear, precious frog!" she whispered. "No wonder you could go no where and have waited so long. You had no legs to take you. Whatever happened to your legs, dear Michael?" CelticLady held him lovingly upon her lap wrapped in the pure white hanky that now glowed with the warmth and light of the heart she wore.

He continued to tell his sad story. "I offended one of the many Princesses I knew. She was very beautiful and very desireable. I shunned her after I had my way with her. She was just another broken flower to me strewn along the paths that many trod. I did not want her as I looked upon one so lovely, so fair..." He broke into poetry as he remembered the one pure rose.

Oh, she was fair as a lily,
And holy as she was fair,
The Virgin Mary of Erin~~~
Brigid of green Kildare.
She came to earth when the snow drops
Were starring the rain-drenched sod,
The sweetest blossom among them,
From the far-off gardens of God.

O Brigid, so high and holy!
so strong in womanly grace,
Look down from the sills of heaven
To-day on your olden race.
'Tis over the world we're scattered,
And your land is a land of woe,
But we're holding you as a lodestar,
Whatever the roads we go.

For you are our pledge in heaven,
With Padraig and Colm Cille,
For the Faith by our foes unbroken,
And the hopes that they could not still;
For the surge of our prayers unceasing,
For the depth of our love unpriced,
For our agony in earth's garden,
And our crucifixion with Christ.

And we cry to you holy Brigid,
'Tis you have the right to pray
For us in the land of Erin,
In the hour of our need to-day.
We breathe your name as a symbol,
Like the lamp on your alter set,
That God is an unforgetting God,
And will stand for our righting yet.
Yea, He who so long has tried us
In the flame of His purging fire,
Will give to the race of Brigid
The crown of their souls' desire.
(---Teresa Brayton)

"But I could not have this pure one..." he continued. She was promised to the highest son of my father. She would one day live among men, singularly graceful and beautiful so that her fame would spread far and near. Ardent wooers, in the person of champions, chieftains, young princes in numbers, would come to woo her for wife. But she would refuse them all as she refused me as she was already promised."

He sighed deeply again. "She was so pure...she knew my weaknesses and promised me that she would share the secret of healing my heart. Her words struck me so profoundly that the truth of them pierced my very soul..."

"Priansu...dear, dear Priansu," she started. "It is better to be than to seem. Merely seeming thwarts our development. We cannot truly grow if we remain inside an illusion. But being or being real, encourages rather than stifles our relationships with others. In fact, it is better to be than to seem."

He pondered her words deeply. He knew they were true. He knew he must overcome the illusion of seeming to be. She smiled at him as she watched him drinking in the meaning. "Priansu, I will list some practical suggestions about how you might find fulfilled, romantic reality."

"First, you must be your own best self. Second, please be emotionally honest in expressing affection, because those expressions must also involve being, not just seeming. Third, be friends first. Fourth, develop the power of self-restraint. Fifth, as you search to fulfill your romantic longings, live for the presence of your conscience as your constant guide. Sixth, avoid the habit of feeling sorry for yourself, which includes worrying about seeming socially unsuccessful. Seventh, let yourself belong to the natural, real order of higher laws. Eighth, be the person you know you are."

You must look for 'the endless light'---a beacon to beckon you to know, to do, to be---to be real, to become eternal. Then she quoted the words of Henry Vaughan:
I saw Eternity the other night
Like a great ring of pure and endless light.
All calm, as it was bright.
[Silex Scintillans (1655), "The World"]

She then stated again, "It is better to be than to seem. It is a time to 'get real,' in the ultimate sense of eternal reality." She looked deeply into Priansu's eyes as she said this then handed him a beautiful, pure white hanky with the promise that this token would enable him to find his true love and they would be one for all eternity.

CelticLady looked down at the pure white hanky that she had upon her lap. She wondered at the significance of the token he had been given. "But what of your legs, dear Michael?" she asked again. "You still have not disclosed to me how you lost your legs."

He was all cried out. He looked up at her and sought for a satisfying answer. "You see, M'Lady...the one beautiful Princess I shunned, she vowed to come down and destroy me so that no one would want me. She cursed me and swore that no one would ever love me or want me. I was born into the world as was she. We both forgot our prior life and the memories there. But the heart never forgets..."

CelticLady felt a strange stirring within her own heart. What was this feeling of love that was welling up inside of her? He again spoke. "I was so beaten down by my own weakness that it totally consumed me. I had given this curse to myself but yet I chose to continue to hate, loathe, and blame this Princess. This is the worst curse one could ever heap upon themself. I could not forgive myself. I was as a cruel sorcerer, very proud and angry and the curse continued on within me."

She looked at him...she not only felt his sorrow but saw his true heart and who he truly was. No one else had seen this about him. He smiled briefly, then went on. "The only power that will break this curse is locked within myself. I have to make the choice to overcome my own weakness and to forgive those who have wronged me."

She waited patiently to hear what had happened to his legs. "I lived here and waited upon the true love that would change my heart. I begged every fair maiden who happened upon me to kiss me so I would be my real self again. I sat one day and watched the most beautiful wench walk up to where I sat upon the rock. She was repulsed at the sight of me. I pleaded with her to kiss me so I could break the curse."

"Why, you're nothing but an ugly, horrid frog!" she screamed. The anger arose in her voice. "You don't deserve to even live!" She grabbed at him so as to tear him to pieces. She did not remember why she hated this frog so much. As she grabbed for him he leaped as hard as he could. She clung to his severed lifeless legs as he dove into the water for cover.

CelticLady wept softly now, overcome with the realization of his pain. She leaned down and kissed him sweetly...

~~~
Someone was shaking CelticLady lightly. She awoke sitting where she had first seen the beautiful lady. "Excuse me," he replied. "I wanted to return your hanky."
She felt a great vibration in her heart and smelled the scent of white roses again. She remembered the crystalline heart pendant and reached for it. It was gone!

"How did you get my hanky, my gift from a handsome lurker that I scarcely remember?" she asked him. He took her hand and kissed it. She looked deeply into his clear eyes and first saw Michael, made whole again, then her heart opened the vision.

She remembered being there in another time with Priansu. She had come upon him after he had been cursed by the beautiful Princess. She had seen and known then who he truly was and had great compassion upon him. She nurtured his heart and their love grew for one another. Before going down he handed her his pure white hanky and told her he would find her again one day, that her love would break the curse upon him.

Then she remembered the beautiful lady standing there before them and reciting the poem that Michael had shared with her. The beautiful lady told them that they would come down to complete the promise of the race of Brigid. She heard the soothing melody again only this time there were words..

Have you ever heard the phrase,
"She truly is becoming!"
I ponder, then I think of you,
She truly is becoming.
Becoming as a fledgling seed
That bursts the test of earth.
Becoming as a fragile shoot
That heavenward, new birth.
Becoming, growing, enduring storms,
The tears of dew run down.
Becoming aware of her self-worth
Blooming in splendor, her new gown.
Becoming as one pure red rose
The fragrance wafting sweet.
Becoming full of love in bloom
Sharing all with those you meet.
I look upon the fledgling seed
And see the struggles coming.
But I feel and know with all my heart,
"She truly is Becoming..."

CelticLady felt complete. She was not aware of the presence of the beautiful lady who stood smiling beside her and Michael. The fragrance of white roses floated upon the air. They soon would be wed. And what of the gift she had traded the bag of magic for...the pure crystalline heart? It had become her being. The legend of CelticLady and Prince Michael lives on at Tir...
~~~

*smiles at the bartender, Ciaran*

see, you stared in a story *L*

*****PUBLIC DISCLAIMER*****

The above rendered accounts by Mstree are entirely works of fiction intended solely for entertainment purposes, not material gain. The events portrayed are not intended as doctrinal statements or beliefs but pure whimsy. The views expressed in pure whimsy are the sole responsibility of the author, Mstree.

Likewise, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's overactive imagination or are represented fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead or otherwise, or actual events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

The author may have based character representations upon the written words of all guests at the Message Board of Tir, for one can believe all that they read and read into others comments what they decide to perceive or to read into them.

The characters portrayed are nearly or somewhat human and, according to their individual agency, make choices that may or may not be wise or appropriate. For example, the author does not endorse all the decisions that CelticLady makes in the course of her story; however, as a role model for young and old readers, she recommends her for her love of others, loyalty to friends, and her desire to always use her gift to help many others, including Mstree, who has been helped immeasureably by her kindness and understanding heart.

Mstree has promised an adventure story to Ciaran and has his permission to use him as the main character in an upcoming story. This is in honor of the delightful visit she had upon meeting him at Tir.

Upon conclusion of this story, it is the intent of Mstree to do what she has always wanted to do...to die and finally leave behind the pain and suffering of mortality and to be with her loved ones again, whom she misses dearly.

It is her wish to be allowed to stay this time in a much better and higher place than Tir na nOg, free from the many attacks of misunderstanding, and not be asked to return to this earth realm. May the beloved Innkeeper find a measure of peace in her passing and knowing how much this Lady loved Tir.~~~

.... and your point??????

Sometimes, there isn't a point.

This can be rather wonderful - just let the thing meander along, going nowhere in particular.

On the other hand, it can make some people simply glaze over - a simple matter of taste.

It takes all sorts to make a world.

I heard a definition of 'Art' recently:
"The function of Art is to teach people how much they don't know."

Maybe this particular section of stories can teach people how much they don't know about other people.
This might be an insight - or it might be "all you never wanted to know, and never wanted to ask".

Relax, be happy :)

....now there's a point! 8s8

In the Land of the Tir there is a place that not many visit. One cause you have to cross a lake full of people eating fish that are larger than a row boat and @, Because the cost of a boat that would get you across is .. well shall we say a bit exorberant?

On this Place there is a small cabin, two graves and a nice young man who has just finished his mail order degree in bar-tending.

The young man had built himself a rather large and extensive raft. set up on Huge pontunes... he thanked his parents every time he moved a log into place. for they had left him two wonderfully strong plow horses and quite an assortment of macinary and a fully equiped wood shop and black smiths work room... unfortunately as the last log was placed.. the last horse died of old age. oh well. he had burried him and his mare in the two aformentioned graves. quickly he provisioned himself and his raft and launched from the island. it took him aproximately five hours to cross the lake and when he landed he found that the pontoons were horribly chewed on and looked remarkably like a nice chew toy of his last favorite chipmunk. he then proceeded to take his pack and things off the raft and headed off down the nearby track.. in the distince he could hear a water fall. when he reached it he marveled at it's beauty no matter how tiny it was and headed down stream .. as he topped a rise a sight came to him that amazed him.. a rather largish Inn and a nice looking purple dragon trying to blow on old dandylion heads without burning them to a crisp while being scolded by a tiny little fairy, who was buisy wherling about the dragons head. finaly the dragon did something like a shrug and flew off in the direction of what the young man could only assume was the mountains. while the fairy did a mid air stomp of a tiny little foot. then she flitted off into the Inn. to one side of the Inn was a moted small island with an impressive castle in the midst. to the other side was a river that seemed to meander about the feild. but the feild was big and there was a couple of nice bridges that looked like they had only slightly been trampled by a hurd of elephants being chased by friendly and over exuperant tourist whales from the mediteraniam...where ever that was.

but the place it's self looked ingood repair and he wondered if they needed a bartender. So he headed down the hill towards the Inn.

oh so wonderful!!!!
I love this room.
Good show everyone.

*Running across stage for a quick curtain call...yanking LaurelRose as she quickly curtseys to the cheering Quill* LOL...it is meant to be in fun. Enjoy!*Throwing kisses to my ardent admirer* Oh, whoops! Didn't realize that was a mirror! *Narcissic pose and LR yanking me off center stage* Can someone please turn that silly spotlight off? I can't stop emoting when I am in the spotlight at Tir-ry Theatre! *Lights go down...hush falls over the house...curtain falls...crowd falls...asleep* And if you are reading this...you fell for it too! Gobshyte!!! LOL~~~

As he entered the inn, he was surprised to find that it was infinitely larger on the inside. There were many rooms and shadowed places. And a magical box was in one corner, playing strange music. He was greeted by a friendly witch who handed him a cold guiness. She said her name was Ceribrid and that she was happy to meet him. "What was your name, again, good sir," she asked?
But he could not remember his name, in his grief he had forgotten where he had come from. "Then I shall call you Glen, for you came from the direction of the valley where the river flows." Soon others arrived that Ceri knew, Tao arrived, and Jaralytha. She explained that Glen had forgotten his name and past. "Is there naught we can do," she asked? "And he needs a place to stay and a livelihood. Who has seen Acc lately? Would he put this lad up in the inn and give him a job?"

so .... *Glen* (cause that's the name) and *dohhhh* (cause, the silly forgot the name) ..................... evolves into *Glenda* ........... now I understand *smile* .................. hmmmmmmmm Acc, can ya put them up in the Inn? .. sounds like a familiar story: donkey, people who need lodgings ........ ROTFLMAO

"What kind of spells do you do?" Glen asked the witch ignoring the cynical remarks from the shadows of the Inn.

Ceribrid chuckled to herself, "I am famous for me automatic WARTS-ON-THE-BUM spell when someone speaks unkindly of another. Methinks I hear one screaming in pain now!"

Glen looked into the witches eyes and felt a familiarity about her. "You are not who you appear to be, are you?" Ceribrid smiled and a peace enveloped the Inn. Glenn looked around and to his dismay the Inn was now empty except for TAO and Jarlytha. They were giggling at Ceribrid's last comment.

"Where did the others go? Was not this Inn full a few moments ago?"

Ceribrid looked into Glen's eyes and began to tell him a strange story. "Where are those who spoke against you? Listen...There once was a gathering of friends. One had been struck speechless and could not utter a word, only a strange wolf-like sound and mannerisms that resembled a canine. They knew not where this strange spell had come from. The speechless one could not converse fluently with others. Only those who opened their hearts would hear what he truly was saying."

Glen stood transfixed and listened trying to understand the meaning of the story. Ceribrid continued, "Those who did not understand grew impatient and said harsh words. Others soon joined in and there was a division at the gathering. Many were hurt and felt justified in their opinions."

TAO and Jarlytha smiled as though they knew the story well. "There was only one who would stand up for truth, for truth stands alone. He was attacked and spat upon by the angry onlookers. But still, he endured. He needed not say anything, only stand for the Truth."

Glen's heart warmed as he heard this story. He felt stirrings and strained to recall another time and place where he had heard these words before. He began to feel a much greater division, a great War that divided not only friend and neighbor, but entire families, brothers and sisters pitted against one another. It was there that a choice had been made.

Ceribrid waited and watched as Glen stood pondering her words and the feelings that came to his heart. She went on, "You have forgotten your past and have been given a new name that will empower you to stand as the river, majestic and powerful it flows as a witness to all Truth. Your name Glen signifies 'witness to all truth' and you will wander a sure course as the river flows on a sure course."

"But why a witness? And how does the river tie in with my feelings of a former life and time? Glen asked.

"There are many witnesses...as you are a witness of the great events to come. You have the power as a river to channel all good for the benefit of mankind. If there ever is any ill intent directed towards you, the river responds to that energy and sweeps away in the cold undercurrents of their own making those who would oppose you and the void is filled instead with peace and love."

"I am beginning to see!" Glen said. "But why are TAO and Jarlytha still here? Why did they not disappear?"

Ceribrid answered with a question. "Remember the story? What happened to the rivers energy? Why did it not simply sweep everyone away? There are those who love you and who are here to help you, Glen. They know who you are and have much to teach you about nature and the truth of all things."

Glen finally understood. "I still have a question, though," he said sheepishly. "What about your WARTS-ON-THE-BUM spell, Ceribrid?"

Ceribrid smiled mischievously as she answered, "Oh, it stays there for a SPELL and that is the END result!"

Suddenly, a commotion was heard outside. And into the room strode the Mighty Fionn, followed by a crowd of angry farmers. The curious thing about them was they all had different colored hair. Some blue, some pink, others purple, some pea green. Still more bizarre, some had wings, others had long brass feet.
"Where is lil'boy," Fionn roared!
"Have ye checked the celler," Ceribrid mused recognizing LIL'boy's handiwork? "That was where I saw him go last night!"

"Ya mean to tell me that Lil'boy colors hair?" Jarlytha was smiling innocently at Mighty Fionn as he glared at her. "Take yer hat off, Fionn. Let me see what color yer hair is."

Fionn ripped the hat off and there was a hush in the room. "I will hang Lil'boy out til he dries," said Fionn. "If he thinks he can get away with this I know some tricks of my own!"

TAO spoke up,"But Fionn...ye have the rainbow in your hair so that means ye are sitting on the pot o'gold in life now. Ye know how many people think their arse be made of gold? Well...ye can lay claim to that yerself now."

A surprised look came to Fionn then it spread into a wide grin and he laughed heartily at TAO's witty way of reminding him that anger gets in the way of working through problems.

Glen spoke up, "Excuse me Fionn, but I would like to hear the whole story. How did you and all these farmers happen to fall victim to Lil'boys handiwork? There must have been a reason for him to set so many astir with his pranks?"

Fionn breathed a deep sigh. "Okay, let's all sit around and Ceribrid, darlin, would you pour us all a round of drinks? It's just that it is so demeaning to a man to be made to look so silly in front of all his friends and neighbors."

Ceribrid strode over to the bar with TAO and Jarlytha and they poured large pitchers of ale to share amongst the gathering. "This may take a while, girls! We want to do our best to promote a calm and soothing atmosphere for the men. They are still feeling a bit agitated."

Ceribrid began to chuckle. She was seeing a very uncomfortable prankish person who could not sit down at the moment. "Me grandmother would be proud o'me witching the ole automatic 'warts-on-the-bum' spell. Fionn, let's hear your story and I am sure we will soon hear from Lil'boy himself!"

"Well, I was walking out in the fields. I like to walk me dogs there, it smell so fresh. Some of the farmers were pitching hay. Well, you know me, before I knew it, I was helping too. Coupla hours went by. We were all pretty sweaty and thirsty by then. Getting ready to take a much needed break! Well, up comes Lil'boy with a big container of what looked like stout. Now, I'd seen Lil'boy around the pub and I knew he lived in the celler. But, as I said, we were all thirsty. And that brew looked mighty good! We all lined up for a cup. Everyone politely waiting until everyone was served. 'Slainte, to all here who worked so hard to bring this crop in. And here's to the mother of us all for her bounty!' Then we all drained our cups, and lined up for another. Then another. I never noticed when Lil'boy left, but by that third drink...well you can see the rest!"
Everyone, nodded and yelled "Yeah, that's what happened! Where's that @#$%^ lad!! We Want LIL'boy!! Make our hair the way it was!! etc....

The murmuring of the farmers soon quieted and Ceribrid spoke again, "It seems ye need Lil'boy here himself to undo the spirits ye all drank. There be only one way to bring the prankster here himself. Fionn, ye know the traditional Irish way of the Inn? Well, if Lil'boy be in the cellar he will have no choice but to come running with a pitcher of the Inn's finest!"

Fionn exchanged a knowing look at Ceribrid and pounded his fist three times upon the table. Out of the back room appeared Accasbel, the beloved Innkeeper. He looked around a moment then began to smile.

Accasbel also recognized the handiwork of Lil'boy and that he had stolen fine drink from the Inn and spiked it with various spells from Accasbel's books in the back room. He turned to Fionn and asked, "Would ye like perhaps, a large pitcher o' our finest served by a certain Lil'boy?"

Fionn laughed heartily. "That would suit me fine dear friend! I would also insist that he sit with us and I would pour him the first drink, and the second, and so on until he could hold no more!"

The Inn was transformed into a very mirthful scene as Accasbel clapped his hands together and Lil'boy stood at his side bearing a large pitcher of the Inn's finest. "Ah, Lil'boy...our guests have requested that ye sit an join them in their celebration of another productive year!"

Lil'boys discomfiture was immediately noted by all, especially Ceribrid who laughed delightedly at her auto 'warts-on-the-bum'spell. Fionn reached over and poured a very large glass in honor of Lil'boy. "Here's to every shade o' the rainbow an every pot o' gold an the very arse we are blessed to sit upon!"

Lil'boy wriggled in extreme discomfort and drank the glass that Fionn offered him. Immediately Lil'boys hair turned the shades of the rainbow that had been Fionn's. Fionn sat amused as his own hair was transformed back to its natural color.

The others all had their turn toasting while Lil'boy endured every change upon himself. When the farmers were all their normal selves again they thanked Accasbel for his fine hospitality and restoring order once again.

Accasbel looked at Lil'boy. "Did ye take from the Inn me finest drink?" Lil'boy was suddenly looking very green and sick.

"Yes, Sir Accasbel! I only meant it in fun and I am truly sorry for what I caused."

Accasbel looked closely at Lil'boy and studied his eyes. "Me thinks ye are only sorry ye were caught an that if ye had the chance again, ye would still be at it."

It was then that Glen spoke up. "Lil'boy, how are you going to change yourself back?"

Lil'boy had tears in his eyes now. "I have no idea! I only know how to put me spells on others so as to entertain meself!"

Accasbel was listening and waiting for Glen to reveal his plan. The Innkeeper already knew what was needed for change in Lil'boy but he allowed Glen the opportunity to teach the mischievous one a lesson.

"Lil'boy, if you knew that everything you did came back to you, would you continue to hurt others?"

Lil'boy thought a minute then asked, "Ye mean that this will happen every time I cast me spells?"

"No, Lil'boy...you can change your intent for good and it will be the good that visits you again." answered Glen.

"Well how am I to change meself from this awful state? Do I have to remain with my own cursings forever her at Tir na nOg?" asked Lil'boy.

"No. All you simply have to do is use your spells and gifts to show even small acts of kindness to others. Find ways to help everyone you meet and it will restore you to a much better person than your former self."

Lil'boy stood up. He could no longer endure the painful warts on his bum. "Where do I start?"

Fionn had been very quiet listening and watching Glen and Lil'boy. He had observed Lil'boy listening to Glen when he would not listen to the others. He chose this time to speak up. "Have ye got it in yer heart now to truly sorrow for what ye did to me an the others?"

"Yes! Yes, I am sorry...I will never do it again!" Lil'boy felt the warts disappear and he looked at Glen. "It's true! It's true...ye spoke the truth to me, Glen!"

Glen smiled and spoke again, "You will have the opportunity to serve many as they enter the Inn here at Tir na nOg. Through your small acts of kindness you will transform many lives. There are many who come here hurting and wanting someone simply to listen or to help heal their heart."

"But what o'me magic? I would be lost if I could not do me magic!"

Ceribrid spoke this time, "Ye can use yer magic for much good, to bring joy and happiness to our friends here at Tir. Ye can work yer magic through many words...poetry and stories. Ye can use yer colourful ways to bring a bright rainbow upon this Inn an have many o'the guests leave w' hearts o'gold to pass on what ye have given em here!"

Accasbel spoke again. "Lil'boy, I think ye have learned yer lesson and I will let ye stay. Here comes a very discouraged an lonely lady o'Tir. Now be about yer business an use yer gifts to lift her spirits!"

Lil'boy looked over and saw a petite 5' 2" lady of great natural beauty. But as he looked closer he saw a broken heart. "What is yer name m'lady? An what can I do for ye?"

The lady looked back at Lil'boy, slowly smiled, then started to laugh. Her eyes lit up at his sincerity. "My name is LaurelRose and I don't know why you are so funny looking but I would love just a cold nectar of the faeries if that be possible."

Lil'boy grinned back and in a flash of light and a burst o'pixie sparkles he handed LaurelRose a frosted glass o'nectar. He was so transfixed with helping LaurelRose that he did not notice that he had changed completely back to normal and was no longer the Lil'boy he once had been.

Lmao and rolling down the aisle.!!!
Note: For those who wondered. The wart-on-the-bum spell has a small wrinkle. It will not work on those who JUSTIFIABLY are teaching others lessons nor the owner of the cafe. So didn't affect the other patrons nor Acc himself.