RAINBOW AT BLACK STONE

Pau and Neela turned and headed towards their car, walking away from the cheery-eyed silver haired man and woman.

“What a refreshing afternoon”, said Pau, “Your parents seem so healthy. What’s their secret?”

“They're doing tai-chi for seniors.” - said Neela, gleaming back at Pau.

“All online because of the pandemic. They wanted to keep busy since closing the bookstore”.

“I’m sorry that happened. I know they’ve been dealing with that for many years”, replied Pau in a matter-of-fact style tone.

“It was their bread and butter for as long as I’ve been alive.” - Neela scoffed - “It’s not right that they can’t sustain themselves right now and honestly, they should already be retired. It’s all my fault that they’re in this mess anyway.”

Neela turned and stared out into the gloomy, rainy day. Her mood had turned bitter and she started feeling guilty. Pau tried to soothe her but was afraid of a harsh reaction.

“Don’t think about it.” - he said dimly - “What happened was unfortunate. When we lost the twins, your parents did what any parent would do. Their contribution saved you.”

“I’m too old to need a $20,000 dollar parental bail out.” - explained Neela - “If they had known they’d lose their grandchildren and bookstore within a year, they’d have invested in something else like wool or dairy. That’s all that’s out here anyway - a bunch of sheep, and cows. I should have just stayed.”

“Fate is fate and destiny is destiny. It was meant to happen like this.” - Pau took her hand while still driving and kissed it - “It was a big loss, but we still have us. “

Neela let out a sigh of defeat and then angrily snatched her hand away - “You know I don't believe in that! My coping mechanism isn't based on destiny and fate - I need real evidence.” - she sneered.

“I didn't mean to bring it up again”, Pau said calmly - “but many people are designed to help others. They don’t feel sad or guilty they just give, without condition - happy to be of service, no matter what.”

“I’m grateful for my parent’s contribution!” - she said defensively. “I didn’t know about this rare condition I have. They paid for my tests, I almost died, and we still lost. I’m not leaving things up to fate to fix. I’ll find work again and pay them back!”

“I love your determination, just like a royal Queen. But, you can’t be exposed out there. You’re at risk” - Pau said carefully.

“I don’t care! “ - she screamed. Infuriated by his dismissal and even more by his always sunny disposition, she continued yelling, as they drove down the desolate country road.

“You might be my husband but you aren’t my keeper!!! If the universe could hear me, I swear that your death would be the only thing that brings me good fortune!”

She slumped down into her car seat and glared over at Pau, now fully embarrassed. He tried to sneer back but his eyes just seemed to smile and they instantly put an end to her apoplectic attitude. Just as the air calmed, a large black crow swooped down and crashed into their windshield, sending them off the edge of the narrow mountain road like a large rubber tire.

The second hand SUV they’d bought when they were expecting their family to expand, flipped over several times as it rolled down the steep hillside finally coming to a stop in a wooded thicket. An hour passed. The rain stopped and Neela woke to the sun tapping at her nose. She could see a rainbow far off in the distance.

Though in a lot of pain, she could still feel her body. She unbuckled an unconscious Pau then got out of the car,pushed her way through the bushes and pulled him out. She laid him next to a tree stump where she noticed that he had glass shards all through his torso. With no phone to call for help, Neela pleaded for Pau to wake up. Sobbing in between breaths, and desperate for a sign of life, she asked the universe to unhear her latest wish.

“Neela?” - Pau whispered. “Get help. I can’t feel my legs. Go to the dashboard - inside there’s a little black book”...

“You’re bleeding out and you ask to find your list of exes?.” - she exclaimed

Ignoring her he continued - “ I have to seal it. It must be validated. “

Attributing his madness to shock, she quiets down, retrieves the little black book, and gives it to him. He opens it and draws a symbol on the page with his blood, then closes it. The book then seems to seal and bind itself shut.

“There is a lot I have to tell you but for now, use the little blackbook as passage. It’s worth it’s weight in gold so don’t let anyone keep it no matter what” - Pau said, wincing at every little movement - “At the end of the rainbow, lay the book down on the closest pile of rocks then wait. Whatever happens, don’t open the seal and keep the book!”

“This is crazy!”

“Do you trust me?” - he pleaded

She nodded and scurried toward the end of the rainbow. She looked back at Pau only to see a weakened smile and limp wave.

Feeling the suffocating gloom of loss once again, Neela continued walking through the thicket until she came to a tiny cobblestoned pathway. She felt like she should follow it and did so until she found herself in a valley of unique flowers and thick foliage. She looked around and suddenly saw a small clearing to which she ran. She placed the little black book on the closest rock pile as Pau had asked then laid down into the wet grass.

“So this is how it ends then?” - she sighed - “ Our end at the end of the rainbow.”

Just as she was ready to surrender to her dismal end, she heard a rustling from the bushes. She sat up and noticed that the little black book was no longer there. Just then, a tiny, strong and confident voice called to her from the forest edge.

“Neela, is that you?” - an unfamiliar voice cautiously called - “You’ve brought the little black book belonging to your royal guard Pauraic Mac Murchadha? He’s passed then?”

Looking around, a shocked, stunned and saddened Neela questioned the invisible voice - “You mean Pau? - How do you know him? Can you help? Who are you?”

“Earnan Malloyei is the name, milady and yes, if his little black book is paying for your safe passage, then he’s ready to leave this world. We’ve sent a clan to retrieve him but don’t expect a miracle. That’s not our job”

Confused, Neela continues to ask questions - “What do you mean? Are you a medical team?”

“So, you don’t know us?” - he asked - “We are the leprechaun of this valley. Has Pauric not told you of your destiny?”

Neela to herself - “ I must be dead or in a coma” .

She sees Pau’s little black book on the ground and grabs it. The seal has been broken so she opens it to a page and begins to read aloud, - “ Society of the Spiritual Fall? What?”

“All royal guard leprechauns have to be buried with their little black book as it contains sensitive information pertaining to their watch. - “Ní thuigheann an sách an seang” - The well-fed does not understand the lean I see.” - said Earnan

“So Pau was a royal guard and a spy? Ok, I’m done here.” - Neela said in disbelief

“Pauric Mac Murchadha was a leprechaun who wanted to help humans which is forbidden. But, he risked his life to be with you after he noticed that you had the leprechaun royal marking on your arm.”

“My birthmark?” - she questioned

“Yes. It’s the mark of the royal lineage. Pauric thought you might be one of the halflings of King Sealbhach who preferred humans over leprechauns. Sealbhach wanted to live amongst them so he created a spell that gave him human features. He ventured out past the rainbow gate, met a young lady and eventually married her. Despite the rarity of leprechauns not being able to have offspring, somehow, his wife bore 10 children all bearing a blue shamrock shaped birthmark. The clans didn’t like that he went against code and sought to destroy him. He was hunted and so created the royal leprechaun guards to swear to protect him and his lineage at all times. Pauric hated the King but when he found you almost drowned in Mirror Lake, he took pity. He fell in love with you and was about to steal you away when he saw your birthmark. He then approached The Society and made a secret pledge to be your keeper.”

“Um, I think I’ll just keep the book and be on my way” - she said

“As you wish, Your Highness, but that book belongs here. All royal guard members must be buried with it. He took an oath of servitude and left everything behind to protect you”.

Neela wasn’t one to just believe whatever she was told but there was a sincerity in Earnan’s voice. It suddenly dawned on her how secretive Pauric had been all these years, always having an excuse to keep her from meeting his family or old friends. Tears came gushing down her face as she realized what he must have given up just to stay by her side, without guilt, only faith, no matter the consequences.

Just then, a general of the clan emerged from the woods and announced that Pauric had been laid at Black Stone. Stunned to see an army of knee high, freckled face , fair haired men, Neela followed along to Black Stone. When they arrived, Pau’s lifeless body was surrounded by a field of golden shamrocks, illuminated by a single ray of light.

“We must take the book for it's secrets are worth its weight in gold” - Earnan demanded

Neela started to hand over the little black book but as he reached for it she held it up high and started running. Suddenly, thousands of other leprechauns appeared out of the woods and began attacking her. She fell to the ground, hurt, exhausted, but determined to hold on. She stared up at the setting sun and noticed the brightness of the rainbow. Earnan’s voice faded into the background as he shouted...

“Neela?! Neela?!” - she heard, accompanied by a shining light in her eyes - “Nurse, can you switch out the IV, she’s waking up”.

“Dr. Grey?” - she said puzzled

“Neela, you had a horrible accident”. - he confirmed

“And Earnan?” - she asked

Dr. Grey, a short, portly little man with kind eyes and white hair seemed to be confused by her question.

“You were driving alone when your car went off the road ending with you unconscious in a ditch before someone found you. You’re lucky to be at Black Stone Hospital!

“And don’t worry about any medical bills” - he continued - “they were paid by one of our top patrons and he left this for you” - (He handed her a little black book) - “He said you’d know what to do with it? Now, take it easy and we’ll see how you fare in the morning. You’ve been in a coma for 5 days”.

“Where’s my husband?” - Neela asked, clutching Dr. Gray’s hand

“Neela, you aren’t married”. - he replied

Puzzled, Neela opened the little black book. A receipt showing a deposit of $20,000 to her bank account was pressed between the pages along with a handwritten note.

“Fate is fate - destiny is destiny. It was meant to happen like this. - There is so much to tell you. Thank you for protecting me your Highness. Keep our secrets safe.”

Sincerely - P. Mac Murchadha

As she pondered the meaning of fate and destiny, she looked out the window and saw a rainbow shining in the sky. She smiled at it as she lifted her arm to examine herself for a rare, royal blue shamrock birthmark...