Escape From Pain

Fires burnt and the silencing of voices rang out in the midst of a cool night and the little village, sitting at the precipice of a cliffside near the sea, cried out in agony. Monsters had come out of the night’s shadows. Horribly twisted axes lodged themselves in the bodies of villagers, the growls of vicious maws and gnashing of teeth instilling a fear unlike any other. In a confused chaos, the villagers ran aimlessly. Bodies were strewn across the tall grass, and fires consumed both all the same. There in that same tall grass, hid the last survivor of the village: a young girl of sixteen years. 

This girl’s name was Niamh. The village knew her as a timid girl, spending her time either helping her mothers with chores or taking care of her younger brother. She silently wept at the thought of her brother's fate. The monsters had shown no remorse to any of the villagers, not even the children.

With the piles of bodies growing concerningly near, Niamh shook with terror. The merchant, fishermen, and children burnt all the same. Age, gender, status, none of it mattered to the monster’s fire. 

Now convinced the village was cleared out, the monsters laughed and celebrated. Their bearded faces and devil horns only instilled more fear in Niamh, and as they drank the volume of their laughter only grew. They spoke a language she didn’t know. Their devilish tongues forcing out strange grunts and clicks. One let out a particularly loud grunt, indignant in nature and catching the attention of the others. There was a quick agreement and the tone seemed to somber, if only for a moment. Niamh didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt as though it would be safer to be in the burn pile. 

Knowing she couldn’t stay here forever, she tried to make her move. The tall grass was loud and shouted with each small movement she tried. What’s more, her feet felt glued to the ground. She couldn’t work up the courage to move. The grass shifted to her side and a figure stumbled not three feet away from her. There was an exchange of stunned stares. The monster was skinnier, his belly bloodied and the horns on his head smaller than the others. His hands were at his waist, gripped firmly tight onto his pants. Most likely he had come to relieve himself, but now that the initial shock wore off her smiled deviously. 

Niamh’s eyes widened and she scrambled upwards. She didn’t think and ran straight forward as the monster chased her from behind, shouting. As she broke through the tall grass and into their encampment, there was an echo of laughter. Apparently they found their beta’s struggle to be amusing. Niamh danced around campfire’s and monsters, none of which seemed too worried about her. She would have been relieved, if not for the fact she was surrounded. 

On all sides, a wall of flesh sat and stood. Forming a horseshoe that pointed at the cliffside. Niamh scrambled past houses and debris, burning her feet while running through freshly burnt wood. Tears ran down her face, pain and fear overwhelming her. The monster chasing her was drunk and stumbled his way in pursuit, but it would only be a matter of time. She had only two options: Be captured and suffer, or take the cliff… 

It was a steep drop, one Niamh had been told to avoid as a child. But now she saw no other choice but to trust the sea. It’s raging tides had often brought misfortune upon her village, and those same tides were what most likely brought the monsters there… But it had also given many a calm day of fishing, and was the beauty Niamh often stared at with an intense feeling of longing. The sea was a dangerous maiden, yes, but it offered a better chance than the blood-stained Fomorians before her. 

So, full of hesitation and fear, Niamh didn’t slow her sprint as she reached the cliffside. Rocks crumbled under her feet as she jumped, and she cleared enough to hopefully survive. The demon behind her wasn’t as lucky, he slowed too late and slipped on the falling rocks. Niamh could hear his screams as she hit the water. Terrible, terrified. The same scream that had been let out by her family and friends. 

The water slammed itself against Niamh and her entire body stung with pain. Crashing and raging, the sea pulled her violently away from any semblance of land. Through painful attempts to reach the surface, Niamh could see the sea dragons used by the monsters to reach the village. Giant, brown creatures that waited patiently for their masters' return. The current pulled her ever more out to sea, but seemed to suddenly calm. The night sky now was a memory, as the early glows of a piercing sun broke through the sky. Niamh had no strength left, and was forced to let the ocean carry her away. Her eyes closed and her heart steadied. Any beast in these waters is sure to be more merciful than those I’ve escaped. She thought as her mind drifted to sleep. 

The next thing Niamh would see is an aureate waterfall of gleaming hair. Niamh didn’t move due to shock, and took in her surroundings. The sea lapped at her feet and she could feel the beach touching her back. Standing directly above her was the most beautiful woman she’s ever seen. No, not quite a woman. Much like Niamh, she too had some features of an adult but was still young. Her eyes were a mixture of stunningly clear blue circled by a murky and dark version of the same color. Her hair was the aureate waterfall, and her face was beauty incarnate. 

“You’re awake.” The girl noted in an angelic voice. Her captivating eyes were all Niamh could focus on, and she didn’t answer. 

“My name is Cliodna. Who are you?” The girl started. 

“Niamh… where am I?” Niamh 

The girl moved from above Niamh and allowed her to pick herself up. “An island.” 

Niamh got up. “I see.” She replied. 

Even from where she was standing, she could tell the island wasn’t very big. Tall trees and relatively large boulders formed a strange environment she hadn’t seen before. Rocks hung from the tops of the trees, that of which had no branches. The earth was a yellow color and flung with each step she took. Three beautiful birds flew around with an energetic passion, the colors of their wings dazzling and stunning. Niamh wanted to explore further, but she became aware of an increasingly painful jolt in her leg. 

“Are you hurt?” Cliodna asked in her sweet song voice. 

Niamh nodded, clutching her leg. “It must have been when I…” She trailed off. 

The memories of what had happened the previous night terrified and shocked her. She fell to her knees despite the pain in her leg. Niamh couldn’t speak. The shock off last night had worn off and now she had been hit with the realization of what had happened. Her eyes watered and Niamh cried in pain. Not for herself but for the loss of her family, of everything she had ever known. 

“Shh.” Cliodna took Niamh and held her. “It’s okay.” 

Niamh couldn’t open her eyes. She didn’t want to. She was afraid that if she did, then the sight she would see is that of the monsters that burnt her village down. Niamh grasped Cliodna’s arms, making sure that the beautiful girl was really there. 

“I-” Niamh couldn’t speak, her heart felt as though it would break. 

“You’re safe.” Cliodna responded, seemingly understanding what was wrong. 

A loud chirping of the birds caused Niamh to open her watery eyes. They had gathered around Cliodna, one cocking its head as if thinking. Cliodna made a gesture and the birds started to sing. The song started off sad, but slowly worked into a joyful tune. Niamh didn’t know how, but she knew it was a song about rebirth. Her tears slowly dried, and the pain in Niamh’s leg faded. 

“Thank you.” Cliodna whispered in her sweet voice. The birds chirped in response and left, three in total. 

Niamh was at a loss for words. The sadness she had felt wasn’t gone, but it hurt much less. “What…” 

Cliodna smiled. “They're a very helpful bunch.” 

“How did they do that?” 

“Music is one of the greatest forms of beauty.” Cliodna responded, standing up and offering her hand to Niamh. “True beauty can ease the suffering of others.” 

Niamh took her hand. “Who are you really?” 

Cliodna frowned and then giggled. “I told you, my name is Cliodna.” 

“You share a namesake with the faery queen?” Niamh asked. 

Cliodna shook her head. “I am no faery nor do I live in the mound… But the woman you speak of is me.” 

It took Niamh a moment to process this. Cliodna was known by different titles. Some thought her to be the faery queen, living in the mounds with her supposed kin. Others noted her to be a goddess, with traits of extreme beauty and domain over the sea. Niamh didn’t doubt for a second that this otherworldly beauty was the true Cliodna, and suspected that the latter story had the most truth. 

“You’re a goddess?” Niamh asked in awe. 

Cliodna shook her head. “Even I don’t know what we are, but I know it is not that.” 

Her beautiful hair blew in the wind and she began to lead Niamh somewhere. The two walked past the strange trees and found themselves in a real forest. Moss overgrown rocks laid next to a small stream. The forest was so large and graceful that the canopy covered any trace of the sun. Despite this, a soft light filled the forest. Cliodna hummed as they walked and Niamh couldn’t help but smile. The tune was happy and majestic, meant to soothe the heart of stress. 

Suddenly Cliodna stopped humming and walking all together. “You can live here as long as you like.” She spoke in a sad tone. “The wind provides a cool breeze on hot summer days, and the trees guard against any storm.” 

“Isn’t this your home?” Niamh asked. 

Cliodna shook her head. “My home is elsewhere.” 

“Do you miss it?” Niamh asked, hearing the sadness in Cliodna’s tone. 

“Greatly.” Cliodna turned to Niamh. “But I cannot return without what I lost.” 

Niamh clasped Cliodna’s hand in her own. “I will help you recover what you have lost.” 

Cliodna shook her head. “It’s not something you can do.” 

“I will try. Otherwise, I have no way to repay your kindness.” Niamh responded, surprised by her conviction. 

Cliodna studied Niamh, her stunning eyes searching for something. “If that is your wish, I cannot stop you. What I lost was not something of great value, but rather importance: The feather’s of my birds.” 

“Their feathers?” Niamh asked. 

“Yes.” Cliodna nodded. ‘Each of my three birds lost a feather while flying to the top of the tallest tree on this island. They cannot fly to where I am going without the feathers.” 

Niamh steeled her resolve. “Tell me where this tree is and I will go.” 

Cliodna looked concerned, but Niamh could tell a part of her wanted to leave. “It is at the end of the forest, gnarled roots stuck in the surf.” She pointed deeper into the forest. 

Niamh nodded and began running, not waiting for Cliodna to say more. If she could ease someone else’s sadness maybe it would cure her of her own. However, upon reaching the tree in question, Niamh froze in her tracks. It was a gigantic beast that seemed to be a mixture of Rowan, Oak, and Juniper, with side winding branches and no apparent foothold. Niamh was already exhausted and doubted she would have the strength to climb the tree without any aid. 

Niamh searched for the feathers in question, hoping they might be easily accessible. There. She spotted a bright yellow feather amidst the stern branch of the Oak portion of the tree. It was stuck firmly in place in an apparent nest, and despite the strong wind the feather held strong. Aside from the yellow feather, Niamh saw nothing else. They must be further up. She thought with anxiety. Niamh shifted uneasily on the beach. She had been so ready to promise Cliodna anything, but now that she was here the reality of her task was bearing down on her. 

A high pitched screech broke Niamh from her thoughts. Three colorful birds descended on her, flying high, but no higher than the first branch of the tree. They were three colors: a bright yellow shining like the sun, a warm yet cold blue akin to the ocean, and a blood red that, despite it’s friendly appearance, Niamh avoided looking at. The birds chirped and nestled up to Niamh who lamented. 

“I’m sorry little thing, I do not know how to reach your feather.” She told the yellow bird, voice strung with guilt. 

In response, the yellow bird took hold of Niamh dress in its beak and started to lead her along the beach. Confused and upset, Niamh followed willingly. It was not long before they had reached their destination and the yellow bird stopped. It chirped excitingly at the sight of a piece of broken driftwood. Niamh was surprised to see it so intelligently dig through the debris, it’s little beak took hold of something. The yellow bird, that of which resembled a Starling, tugged a wet and soggy rope away from the wreckage and Niamh exclaimed. 

“That’s wondrous!” She praised the tiny avian, gently stroking it. “Thank you.” 

Niamh pulled the rope back towards the tree, and with a great deal of effort, tied it around herself and the tree. From there she placed her arms on both sides of the rope, and her legs on the tree. The rope tightly held her in place, and would allow her to climb the tree with confidence. Niamh smiled in glee, the yellow Starling had given a great gift. 

But still, Niamh thought, I don’t know if my strength will last long enough to get all three feathers. A strong wind pushed away her doubts, and Niamh began to climb. It was hard and rigorous work. A single mistake could send her downward, but Niamh persisted and it wasn’t long before she reached the first feather. Taking rest on the strong oak branch, Niamh pulled the yellow feather free. She looked below, the Starling waited patiently and Niamh took this as a sign to drop the feather. 

The tiny yellow strand fell downward and the Starling caught it perfectly, the feather molding back into its wing. The Starling chirped out in happiness and flew up to Niamh, cooing softly. Niamh smiled, she wanted to stay and pet the bird but she didn’t know how much longer her strength would last. So, with a sigh, she began to climb once more. The Oak wood slowly turned to Rowan, and the sheer steepness of the tree forced fear down Niamh’s throat. She didn’t look down, only forward. 

Finally, her eyes caught a familiar red feather. Niamh stopped for a moment, frozen, and almost lost her footing. The color of the feather reminded her of the blood she had seen the night before, and Niamh felt tears break through her eyes. Her arms pushed forward, but with more strain than before. Her legs continued to hold her upright, but the weight she carried was now greater. The feather was lodged between a piece of tree bark, and Niamh cut her hand trying to free it. 

With a shout of pain, Niamh dropped the feather instinctively as her hand was cut. The feather fell downward and a squawk told Niamh it had been received by the owner. But she wasn’t focused on that. Her hand hurt, but there was something more. The pain she had felt last night was ever more fresh. She tore a bit of her dress off and wrapped her hand, the fabric a mixture of wet and dry as well as stinging the wound. Almost there. She thought. 

From below it seemed that a song had started up. The two birds that had been reunited with their feathers chirped with excitement and energy. Niamh didn’t know why, but she longed to see what the third bird’s song was. Before she knew it, she had reached the climax of the juniper tree. Niamh struggled back and forth with the wind and environment. Her hand reached out for the final feather. It was caught in another nest, yet there were eggs in the nest and Niamh tried her best to be gentle. 

Niamh grasped the feather and it flew downward, but simultaneously she lost her grip and fell. Niamh didn’t scream or cry as she did the fall the night before, she simply smiled. If the beautiful Cliodna was happy, so was she. The surf hit hard, and Niamh wondered why she felt fine. Beautiful, pale fingers smoothed her cheek. 

“Thank you.” Cliodna sweetly sang. She began to fade. 

“Take me with you.” Niamh whispered. 

A tear ran down Cliodna’s face. “I cannot, I can only take a spouse-” 

Niamh leaned upward and kissed the goddess. Thus the end of her life in our world came to an end, and she finally found true happiness in the dawn of a terrible night. Her heart had yearned for the embrace of the goddess from first sight, and the trial of happiness, pain, and the sea had rewarded her such.