2002-09-09 - 11:28 p.m.

A story, all fiction, all mine.

Sidris: A welsh or gaelic term for one who was in love with the sea. Nautical men would believe the mythologies of beautiful and strange goddess's embodied in the sea. In a famous folktale a sailor named Finn forsakes the land in an appeal to his lady, the sea:

Finn wert full sidris, aye he but landing so he could set out agin. Thats what the townspeople would say when Finn came home to port. This time however, he went straightaway to his neighbors glen, a fine woodcarver of the name of Ap-Rhys. Before his last voyage Finn had left his second most beloved thing, a grey mare named Rhian, with his neighbor, who promised to give her oats once a week. Rhian was no ordinary mare though. She wasn't a fae animal; but she knew a good bit more then a sensible mare ought to.

Ap-Rhys' wife was quite jealous of the mare because the mare would sidle up the woodcarver and whicker; just so, in hopes of getting an extra scoop of oats. She would blow her warm hay breath through his hair, bump agin his pockets to look for oats and just generally take liberties no respectable mare ought to. Ap-Rhys' wife was a woman of the land, Hirael, with red cheeks like autumn. She had been placated at the beggining by the fine cloak Finn had promised her from his voyage, for their care of Rhian. Every time Ap-Rhys came in the door from the barn with his hair touseled and a grin on his face, the image of that fine cloak just vanished out of Hirael's mind!

When Finn, that October noon, came to the door Hirael was pleased to see him, for he was always a merry sort and she could fain see the fine cloak he had promised. She already held hot cider in a mug for him, the land being barren and visitors easily seen far off. This visit however, Finn did not smile, nor did he notice the sharp sweet cider she held. He asked after her in a perfunctory manner and then went out to look for Ap-Rhys.

As he had expected, Finn found Ap-Rhys in the barn, rubbing down Rhian with a wisp of straw. Quietly, Finn told a short story to Ap-Rhys, glanced painfully at Rhian, then both men hurried into the house, where Hirael waited, impatiently. But Finn declined to speak any further yet, and the farmer and wife, the Welsh always being a quiet people, were used to a silent man.

Only after a slow and hearty supper did Hirael notice the shoulder bag Finn carried. When Finn saw her eyes on it, his famous smile slowly broke across his face. He opened his sack and drew out a snowy white cloak taller then he was. It was heavy and embroidered with silver threads. It was quite the more beautiful piece of clothing Hirael had ever owned, or seen.

Next he drew out a pair of leather boots, that laced high above the knee. They had dyed and painted runes on them, and when Ap-Rhys realized they were for him, declared them quite unfit for walking on the ground! But Finn only smiled and said nothing.

For a week he loitered on the farm, helping Ap-Rhys in the shop as often as getting into Hirael's way in the kitchen. He would take up a task readily as you please, like wood chopping, then be found an hour later, job half done, entranced, staring at the sea. He slept in the barn with Rhian, for Ap-Rhys and Hirael had but one bed, one room, and the barn was quite as cozy as it.

On the seventh morning as Hirael cleared their breakfast dishes, Finn began to speak. And this is what he said:

There is a lady. Out there. [Here Ap-Rhys interupted to ask if he meant the barn, but Hirael shushed him.] When I am at sea, she is with me. When sea salt touches my lips it is her kiss. The gifts she sent you were generous, were they not?

[ Hirael and Ap-Rhys exchanged a glance, but they were married and kept quiet.] My lady is fair. Her profile is the strongest wind, and her dress the storm clouds. I can no longer live away from her, it...pains me to walk the steady ground.

Here he paused, breathing:

My lady has offered to let me live in her keep. When I leave today, I will not return. Where I am led, I will go. I will take Rhian with me, my lady has promised she will not come to harm, though no such promise can be made for myself.

Ap-Rhys gasped at the implications, being a sensitive sort. He and Hirael looked expectantly at Finn for more explanation, but Finn was silent. The joy and humor that had for a week been absent from his face shone there now however. The thought of his lady was illuminating to him, and the husband and wife saw this, and being of stoic Welsh stock did not dissuade him from his wish.

Finn walked out to the barn and brushed the mud off Rhian. He braided a gold ribbon into her silvery mane. It glistened somewhat more then one would expect from just one brushing, but Rhian was ever shinier then a common mare ought to be. Then they walked down to the harbor, where his boat waited.

The boat's deck had been altered slightly to keep some straw bedding down, with a shed by the mast to keep Rhian dry in foul weather. Some hay and oats had been stored below deck, along with provisions for one person. Finn had not placed the orders, but he knew his lady would take care of him.

Finn looked at Rhian and sighed. He dropped her lead and walked on board. If she followed him, it would be her own choice. Rhian delicatly placed one foot on the board, testing it with her weight, for she was rather larger then a local mare seemed to be. It held and she walked aboard a boat quite as if she was braver then any horse has been since men first rode it.

Finn tossed off the rope and they drifted softly out of the harbor.

That night came a great storm. Even in their little cottage Hirael and Ap-Rhys were kept awake by the great winds and sharp rain. They wondered between themselves just what might be happening to Finn, but what they decided is between the husband, the wife and pillow.

As it happened, Finn was thinking quite the same thing- what might be happeneing to him? Rhian might be snug in her shed but he had to steer the boat, and he was fiercly wet and cold. He called out to the sea, wondering if his lady had forgotten or deceived him.

"Finn..." The winds called. Finn heard. He let got the rudder and stood with his hands on the railing, staring into the storm.

"Finn...Do you love me?"

"Yes! My lady yes!"; Finn shouted into the sea.

"Do you know your loves name?" The wind whispered past his ear in the midst of the raging gusts.

"Your name Lady? Your name... If I speak of it, what then?" Finn was not a completely love struck imbecile. He had read fairy tales in his youth.

"Then when you have spoken my name I will send lightening to split your vessel and bring you to my keep. We will live together and I will love you for as long as my name is known to men."

But Finn was not a cruel man, and he remebered that he was not alone on the ship.

"Lady! " He sang into the sea spray. "Lady, what of my mare? What of Rhian?"

"Ah Finn, my love among men, Rhian is no ordinary mare, and she will be quite all right. Water poses no threat to her, nor do any weapons made by man, nor any powers I wield. Rhian is a Yllwnicorn, and no force known to me can harm her."

Finn turned toward the shed and gaped at his own gray mare. She was standing calmly on the deck, looking back at him, as if the whole world were not being blown to pieces around them. From her forehead was a silvery grey horn. The driving rain seemed to lean away and aviod touching the horn or Rhian.

"My love I have your name." Finn spoke in a whisper now, knowing the lady he had dreamed of all his life could hear him. He could feel her listening around him, yet the storms wrath increased. Then he shouted with all his might as a great bolt of lightening struck the ship, splitting it in twain as his words echoed through the chaos.

Then next morning found the wreckage of his ship on the shore. Rhian was found cropping the flowers in Hirael's garden a few days later and Ap-Rhys surmised Finn must have let her off to swim to safety as soon he saw the storm coming. No trace of Finn has been found yet. His lady promised to love him as long as her name was known to men.

Sidris.

If you like it... let me know.

-bsg-

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