Banba O'Connor wasn't your typical teenager. At seventeen, even a padded A cup bra was too big for her almost non existent tits. She stood five foot eleven. But only weighed about a hundred fifteen pounds. She had no hips and her ass was as flat as a board. Even in a two piece bikini, it was hard to tell she was a young woman unless you looked at her face.
From the neck up, she was a classic Irish beauty. She had long, flaming red hair down to the small of her back. She usually wore it in a simple pony tail or a single long braid. Her eyes were a striking emerald green with little golden specks and long thick eyelashes. She had full pouty lips and a nose that was straight and narrow.
She also had legs to die for. The rest of her body may have looked like a stick figure, but Banba's legs were long and shapely taking up almost half of her nearly six foot tall body.
Unlike other girls her age, Banba wasn't interested in boys or sex. In fact she had never even masturbated. She had two passions, her school work, and running. Her GPA was 4.89 and her best mile was run at 4.16.
Banba would turn eighteen on May twenty six and her high school graduation was on the twenty eighth of May. Two days before her birthday, she got an uncontrollable urge to visit Ireland.
That night at dinner she told her parents about it. Her father Bill, exploded. "No you're not! Don't even think about it! You're finishing high school then you're going to collage. I don't care what you do after that!"
Both Banba and Bill were standing with their hands on the table screaming in each others faces when Banba's mother Erin slammed her fist on the table shouting, "BOTH OF YOU, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!"
Instantly both sat and shut up. They were in total shock. Neither one of them had ever heard Erin raise her voice before. Erin stood looking at both of them. "Both of you sit there and keep your mouths shut. I'll be right back."
They had never heard so much anger in Erin's voice. Neither one of them dared to move or say a word. A few minutes later, Erin returned carrying a large manila envelope. She set the envelope on the table as she took her seat.
"Both of you are gonna sit and listen to what I have to say. Neither one of you will say a word until I finish what I have to say."
She looked at her husband. "I've known this day was coming since the day Banba was born. I had to make the same pilgrimage. So did my mother and her mother before her. I don't know why, but every MacCarthy woman in our line has had to make the same pilgrimage since the fifth century. She has to go Bill, her life depends on it. Twice before, sisters of those who had already gone refused to go. The day they turned eighteen, they died. I'll not risk Banba's life for your pride Bill."
Erin turned to Banba. "I felt this coming on days ago. I knew even before you spoke what you were gonna say. She took a ring with a sapphire stone in it's center out of the envelope. "Put this on your right ring finger. Your first stop will be in County Cork. You will have to visit the Blarney Castle. When you do, turn the ring so the stone faces your palm and let touch the Blarney Stone.
After that, your pilgrimage will begin. I can't tell you what it will entail. It seems to be different for each of us."
She handed Banba a small coin purse. "These are yours now. You will have to toss one in a lake as an offering. I can't tell you which lake. Again it's different for each of us. I can't even tell you who you're making the offering to. I honestly don't know. Keep the rest of the coins safe. You'll need to pass them on to your own daughter someday."
She passed the envelope to Banba. "I've been saving for this day before you were even born. There are two debit cards from two different banks. One has a VISA logo the other a Master Card. They are in your name and each has five thousand dollars on it. Your passport is in there with a thirty day visitors visa. Your plane ticket is in there too. It leaves at midnight. You'll have to be at the airport by nine to get through security. It's six o'clock now. I'll give you an hour to pack. Then we're out of here."
Banba jumped up hugging her mother. "Thanks mom! Somehow I knew you'd understand." She let out a little giggle. "My suitcase is waiting by my bedroom door. The only thing I have to pack is the stuff you gave me and all of that's going in my purse." She put every thing in her purse. "I'm good to go mom."
She looked at her father. "Daddy, please don't be mad at me. I have no choice. I have to do this. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I love you daddy."
Bill stood pulling Banba in for a hug. "I love you too sweetie. I'm not sure how much of what I just heard I believe. To me, most of it seems like superstitious nonsense. But I know you and your mother both believe it. I realize how important it is to you both."
He chuckled. "I may not be happy about it, but if it's important enough to make your mother raise her voice for the first time in twenty six years of marriage, I think I'd better just go along with it. The only thing I ask, is that you take your cell phone and check in with us every night to let us know you're safe."
"Daddy, I don't know where I'm going or what I'll be doing when I get there. All I can promise is to check in with you every chance I get. Even if I have to call collect from a pay phone. Okay?"
Bill rolled his eyes. "Okay sweetie. I guess that will have to do. I'll get your luggage for you. We don't want you missing your flight."
Banba kissed his cheek. "Thank you daddy."
It was a little after eight o'clock when they dropped Banba off at the airport. Erin said, "Bill, we have to stop at my mother's house before we head home."
"Now? Honey, by the time we get there it'll be almost ten o'clock with this traffic."
"It doesn't matter what time we get there. She knows Banba left tonight. She'll be awake. She wants talk to us."
Bill rolled his eyes thinking it was just gonna be more superstitious nonsense. But all he said was, "okay honey."
Erin's mother Gael was waiting in the doorway when Bill and Erin pulled into her driveway. "Come on in you two. I'll make us some tea and we can talk."
After making their tea, Gael said, "Bill, how much do you know about ancient Irish history?"
"Nothing really. I've never paid much mind to it."
"I'm not surprised. Most people don't. It's a difficult subject. Very little of it's actually recorded. Most of it's passed from parent to child. But both your mother and father were Irish. Didn't they tell you any of the ancient stories?"
"Sure, but that's all they were, just stories, myths, and legends. They kinda went in one ear and out the other."
Gael smiled sadly. "Such a shame. This is exactly how so much of our history gets lost. You're Banba's father. I know you're worried about her. So I'm gonna tell you a little about Irish history and the clan MacCarthy. Hopefully you'll gain some insight as to why this trip is so important to her.
This line of the clan MacCarthy can trace it's roots all the way back to the Tuatha Dé Danann, the people of the Goddess Danu. They ruled Ireland from 1897 B.C. to 1700 B.C. They landed at the Connaught coastline emerging from a great mist.
The rulers of Ireland at the time were the Fir Bolg. They were led by Eochid, son of Erc who was unhappy about the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
The Tuatha Dé Danann won the battle with the Fir Bolg. They allowed the Fir Bolg to remain in Connaught while the victors ruled the rest of Ireland.
They had four great talismans that demonstrated their power. The first was the The Lia Fáil. Better known as the Stone of Destiny which would scream when touched by a true King of Ireland. It sits on the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
The second was the the Sword of Light. It was brought to Ireland by Nuada. No one ever escaped once it was drawn against them
The third was Lugh's Spear. Lugh used it to kill his Formorian grandfather, king Balor at the Second Battle of Moytura. It was a long, fiery lance from which sparks as big as eggs flew. In order to prevent the flames of the tip from consuming the shaft and the warrior holding it, the spear head was dipped into a cauldron of mysterious liquid.
The final talisman was the 'Cauldron of Daghda' from which an endless supply of food issued.
The first leader of the Tuatha was Nuada. He lost an arm in battle. It was decreed that because he wasn't whole, he couldn't be king. Breas, a tribesman of Fomorian descent became king. His seven year rule wasn't a happy one. His people became disenchanted with hunger and dissent. Nuada was installed as King when his lost arm was replaced with one made from silver.
Breas raised an army of Fomorians. They fought against Nuada at Moytura in County Sligo.
The Tuatha won the battle. The victory had cost the Tuatha their King. Nuada died in the battle. Lugh was instated as the new King of Ireland.
The Tuatha Dé Danann dealt more subtly with the Fomorians than with the Fir Bolg, giving them the province of Connacht. There was also some marrying between the two races.
During the invasion by the Melesians, the Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated. A small group of twenty five couples escaped, traveling southeast to what is now called County Cork. They remained hidden for several years then spread out among the different villages throughout Ireland.
Although they had spread out, they always knew where every couple was. Each couple made sure that their son or daughter married within the circle of the original twenty five couples. Over time, the direct descendants of the original twenty five couples numbered in the tens of thousands. It wasn't always possible to keep the bloodline pure. Although some of us have still managed to do so.
In 428 A.D. Dearbhal, a high priestess to the goddess Banba, tried to warn high king Dathi about a danger to his kingdom. The high king became enraged drawing his sword killing Dearbhal.
Dearbhal's husband Cearul took their infant daughter Ashling and fled to Scotland. Seventeen years later Ashling was the first woman of this MacCarthy line to make the pilgrimage back to Ireland to honor her murdered mother. Almost every MacCarthy woman in her direct line has done the same ever since. The two that refused died on their eighteenth birthday.
The goddess Banba herself took revenge on high king Dathi by killing him with a lightning bolt in the Alps a couple of months after Dearbhal's murder.
Banba knows she bears the goddess's name. But we've never spoken to her about any of this. We're forbidden to do so. The decision to make the pilgrimage had to be her's alone.
You needn't worry about her. She'll be guided and protected by other direct descendants of the original twenty five couples from the Tuatha Dé Danann. She'll get to meet some fascinating people, see some amazing sights, and learn a great deal about her heritage. She'll have a wonderful time and in a few weeks be back home safe and sound."
Before Bill could say anything, the doorbell rang. Gael said, "go let your mother in in Bill. She has a few things to talk to you about too."
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