Thursday, March 17, 2011

SPD @ the QoP!! Blogfest entry...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!!  A day of luck, luck, and a little - oh, yes - luck!  (So, does this mean if I send my query out today, I'll get lucky?  Hmmm....)  Actually, I'm typically the girl that this saying applies to... "If it weren't for BAD luck, I'd have NO luck at all!"  Yep, that's me. 

But, today's no day for pity partying.  It's to celebrate with two awesome bloggers, Colene Murphy of The Journey and Alexia Chamberlynn of The Life and Literary Pursuits of Alexia Chamberlynn, as they host their 1st EVER blogfest!!  There's still time to get in on it - so follow this linky link HERE.  Bloggers were asked to post a 200-ish word flash fiction or favorite memory piece involving St. Patty's day.  So here's mine:



If I squinted at the sun, the Dunluce castle ruins on the Antrim Coast were whole again. I saw the flower garlands strewn from all four towers, strings of harebells, meadowsweet, yarrows and primrose. The courtyard was cluttered with bright dancers, torchlight glinting off their wings. Flute music mixed sweetly with the crashing waves on the cliff side below.  I'd been here before, a long time ago, I was sure of it.  But, not like this.  Not in this human form.

I drew my sunglasses down and the scene changed - gray rubble amidst the green scrub and rocks.

"Do you want to go down to the cave, Ehva?"

Roark's hand, warm on my back, made me waver.  I rubbed the cool weathered coin between my thumb and forefinger.  I was in Ireland on March 17th on my seventeenth birthday.  If the letters were true, today was it. 

"Yeah, babe.  Race you?" 

Roark took racing seriously.  It was hard to watch him running before me, laughing, his white smile and warm brown eyes twinkling at me.  As if in competition, the coin in my hand winked even brighter, the gold forcing through the aged patina.  I couldn't stay here.  Could I?

The cave, damp and smelling of fishy seaweed, made this place in my life easy to say goodbye to.  Roark cooing and taunting me in the dark made it harder.  I had two choices here - a kiss with the human I loved, hoping his embrace would hold me here forever.  Or I could toss this coin into the sea and buy my way back to the past, to the realm of Fae.  I turned my cheek to Roark's kiss and flipped the coin into the dark water.


So - there you have it!  I'll dance a jig, drink a green beer (or lightly sip, because - ewww!), wish on a rainbow and chow some corned beef and cabbage for you all today!  Best of LUCK!!  Tell me, how will you spend SPD?

31 comments:

Tracy said...

Oooh, a beautiful picture, a teenage protagonist AND the fae. Me likey!!

Happy St. Patty's Day, Donea!

megan said...

I loved this especially because I live in Northern Ireland and I've visited Dunluce Castle a couple times! It's so lovely to read a different perspective from the sad ruin, all salt-watery and green grass.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Oooo, I like this. Will you take it further?

N. R. Williams said...

What a touching story. I think you called it right. The "Fae," could never be held by human love.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium, Special .99 through April 30

Hart Johnson said...

Oh, I loved this! I love those old legends, so very nice use! Fun piece!

Southpaw said...

Great piece, but I want more...

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Stopping by from SPD blog fest. What a beautifully painted picture. SInce I am Irish or course corn beef and cabbage, but it's also my grandson's 7th birthday...
Happy Saint Patty's Day!

Colene Murphy said...

Oh no!! What ever does she do!? Well, I'll assume the coin because you could have an awesome adventure! Beautiful entry! Thanks so much for participating! I loved it!

Angela said...

Happy St. Patrick's day!

Jess said...

Oooo, I love your piece! It sounds like a novel excerpt...from a novel I'd drool over! I've got a thing for Ireland :)

Michael Di Gesu said...

Like the others, I want more.

You set up a beautiful scene here. Well written and descriptive...

You do have more than bad luck, lass, you have a gift to write....

Michael

Bish Denham said...

Very nice, very nice indeed. Lovely imagery, I was there.

Alexandra said...

Happy St. Pat's! I plan to consume at least one Snakebite (Harp Lager and Hard Cider) in honor of the holiday and the Green Beer is a must! Now if I could just con one of my friends into making us Corned Beef and Cabbage....

I'm a follower, I like your blog!

http://mytaleoftriumphandsurvival.blogspot.com/

Family Blog said...

Lovely little flash!

Golden Eagle said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)

I love your blogfest entry!

M Pax said...

Very creative and imaginative. Loved the ending.

Mara Nash said...

I am especially partial to fae, so I loved this entry. And the fact she has to choose... *sigh* ...such a tough choice.

Erin Kane Spock said...

Ah, love at 17 is so intense. I imagine her heart leaping at the thought of the adventures to come with Roark.
I love the visual of the ruins looking whole again.

Unknown said...

What a lovely little snippet of an image. I can smell the sea :D

Susan Kane said...

If only the tumbled rocks could be made into the castle again, sigh. Loved the imagery, the dilemma. I wonder what the fae will decide to do with her?
I'm going to follow you!

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
I plan to celebrate with corned beef and cabbage.

I signed up for the A-Z Blogging Challenge (number 472) and saw your name on the list so I just stopped by to check out your blog and say "Hi". I look forward to reading your "alphabet" posts in April.

Jennie Bailey said...

Awe, she chose to go back home over staying with the cute boy.
I spent SPD teaching Humane Education at a local school. Oh, there were sooo many cute kids in their sparly SPDs shirts.

Abby Minard said...

Ooh, that gave me chills! Very pretty!

alexia said...

Great story! I love your descriptions, and what an intriguing end!

Thanks for participating!

PK HREZO said...

Aww.. very nice! I enjoyed that. :)

Meredith said...

Poor Roark! I love the descriptions in this!

Samantha Sotto said...

"I turned my cheek to Roark's kiss and flipped the coin into the dark water." Beautiful. (Haunting pic too!) :D

Anonymous said...

This was a wonderful story! Very nice descriptions. Left me wanting more. Always a good thing. :)

Arcita said...

a blogfest :O well that sounds interesting. i'm not sure if it's still going on.

anyway i read around your profile and a few of your posts. i definitely like your style. i'm an aspiring writer myself even though i'm sure this post would suggest otherwise heh. following. looking forward to more posts.

Anonymous said...

Great picture. Enjoyed the story too :O)

Donea Lee said...

Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate you all stopping by and all the wonderful, encouraging comments ~ :)

This was such a fun blogfest. I found that picture and was inspired. Don't you love it when that happens?

A few of you asked if I'd continue this story - and I think I just might. If it involves more research into the realm of Faeries and Ireland, I'm totally down with that! :)

Thanks, again. So glad you enjoyed it!