#Eoropaidh

[scotianostra]

Eoropaidh Beach by Davy Kelly

Tràigh Shanndaigh is the Gaelic name for this beach on Lewis, it is  is v+-ery popular with surfers, families with young children, walkers and swimmers.

[tomtenadia]

Island Dreams Chapter 2

Hi all,

my muse was active and I did manage to produce chapter 2 pretty quickly.

Hope you will like it.

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“You must be Rowan.” The man took a step toward her and gave her a wide smile and she felt butterflies in her stomach. He was wonderful and she had to restrain herself and not swoon live a lovestruck teenager. “Aye, it’s me. Sorry, I was through the back putting away an order.” He explained. He had the sexiest Scottish accent, which she thought must be a local one as it was similar to the ones she had heard around town. “I…” she muttered indicating at the window with her hand “I… love the window with Roald Dahl, by the way. I read all his book when I was younger and I still love him.” He walked to the counter and leaned against it and folded his arms at his chest. His t-shirt tightened at the movement and she noticed the muscles in his arms and the tattoo slithering from his wrist all the way under the sleeve. Why was it hot all of a sudden? “He was a great writer.” He timidly smiled at her. Aelin nodded “I am new.” She explained vaguely “I got here this morning. I was at the community centre and I asked for a bookstore and the lady there told me to come here. I am obsessed with bookshops, especially if they are small and independent." she explained, realising she was chatty all of a sudden. She saw him wince in annoyance and wondered if she had said something wrong. But the moment was gone and his smile came back pretty quickly. “Well, you are in the right place. I got a bit of everything. And if I don’t, let me know and I can order it for you.” Aelin smiled back at him and she started looking around the shop and enjoyed the view of the walls with bookcases full of books. She walked around exploring the shelves and stopped in front of the fantasy section. “Fantasy reader?” He commented when he noticed where she went. “Are you one of those snob people who thinks that Fantasy books are not real books?” Her tone was almost accusatory. She loved Fantasy books but on plenty occasions she had to defend her literary tastes to idiots. “I own a bookstore. I respect all kind of books.”

She started browsing and he followed her with his gaze. “You are not from around here, are you?” He pulled away from the counter and walked toward her. “I am….” She took a book from the shelf “I am from London.” “The capital.” His tone was flat and non interested. “Not a fan?” She turned to him and saw him shaking his head in dissent. She was about to tell him why she was on the islands but it seemed like a stupid idea. She did not know him, plus she was not in the mood to talk about her life down in London. “This one seems interesting.” Aelin picked the book and stood. Sounded like the female main character was badass and she loved badass females. “Was it Gaelic what you spoke when I came in? And what is the name of your shop?” Rowan did not answer and moved with purpose toward one shelf and picked up a book and got back to Aelin “Here.” He offered her the book “If you are interested. It can be a challenging language but it’s very beautiful.” Aelin grabbed the book and she noticed it was a course book to learn Gaelic and it was for beginners. “Thank you.” “Tapadh leat.” He told her “That’s how you say thank you in Gaelic. Your first lesson.” Aelin tried to pronounce the sentence again but it was not as lovely as how he said it. Rowan laughed and Aelin admired a nice smile blossom on his face and his green eyes seemed to shine even brighter. He was gorgeous and all she wanted to do was to run her hand through his short hair. What was wrong with her? “The name of the shop is paper dreams.” He replied to her question and again she noticed that touch of sadness in his eyes. And he did not elaborate any further. Somehow, given his reaction, she felt there was a history behind the name but she did not want to pry. “I love it.” He put the book on the counter near the till and silence fell between them. “I have a car. What do you recommend me to see in town and around?” “How long are you staying? So I have an idea.” Aelin placed the book on the counter “A while.” She was vague and for now that was all she knew. She was certain of one thing at the moment. She was not in a hurry to go back to London and her life. She searched in her bag for her purse while he was ringing the books through the till. “Did you just came off the boat this morning?” He asked, lifting his eyes to look at her. “I did.” “Breakfast.” He said and groaned at himself for not uttering a full sentence like a fully grown human being “I know a good place for breakfast. I can tell you some places to visit while you eat.” “I would love to.” She tapped her debit card at the machine and once it beeped conforming that the transaction had gone through, she put the purse away and and took the bag from him. “Come.” He came out of the counter and motioned for her to the door. He turned the sign to close and once they were out he locked the shop. “Aren’t customers going to complain that you are closed?” She joked. “Mornings are quiet.” They started walking and for a moment she thought they were going to An Lanntair but he turned again and they were on a side road and she noticed a small cafe. It had a couple of tables outside. They went in and a tall dark haired woman smiled and walked to Rowan as soon as she noticed him entering the coffee shop “Madainn mhath, mo ghràidh.” She caressed his face and he smiled brightly at the woman. “Madainn mhath.” He replied and leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. Aelin studied the interaction with interest. “Let’s sit.” He said to her and she noticed that he was a man of a few words and that very rarely smiled. They sat down at a table. The woman came to the table and started speaking in Gaelic but Aelin had no idea what she was saying. And she had a feeling the woman realised that, but Rowan came to her rescue. “Chan eil i Gàidhlig aice.” Rowan explained. “Oh, I am sorry darling.” The woman reverted to English and gave her a menu “If you are in for breakfast, this is the menu. Give me a shout when you are ready to order.” “I’ll take a coffee.” Rowan said and leaned against his chair. Aelin finally ordered her food and while she waited she took out her guide from her bag “So… I have marked down a few things. Let me know if they are worth it or not.” Rowan took the book from her hands and started looking at the pages that had been marked by post-its. “Callanish is an amazing site. Very historical. You definitely have to do it. You can get in touch with your pagan side. Then drive up to Dun Carloway which is an amazing broch. Then continue all the way to Gearrannan, the black house village. Quite a charming place. If you then walk all the way down to the beach you will have the Atlantic Ocean in front of you.” He used the map in the books and pointed at the places for her while he explained. Stay on the main road and this will take you north. Near Barvas there is a house that has a whale bone arch at the front. It’s quite impressive. After a bit of driving you arrive at the end of the road. There is a lighthouse and that is the Butt of Lewis.” Aelin giggled at the name but Rowan almost glared at her. “The views from there are quite amazing and once at the edge of the cliff you are surrounded by sea. Very near there there is a great beach called Eoropaidh and you can walk there if you follow a path.” He finished and pushed the book back to her. The coffee shop owner came back with their order and Aelin’s mouth was watering at the plate in front of her. “That sounds like a good plan for a day.” She commented while attacking her plate of food. “This is so good.” Aelin had a very satisfied look and was loving her generous portion of full Scottish breakfast. She lifted her eyes and noticed that Rowan was staring at her with a curious expression. “What?” She said before eating a piece of bacon “Hey don’t look at me like that. I just arrived. I am still a tourist and I intend to do all the silly tourist things.” A brief smile appeared on his face “Along the road that follows the river there is the tourist office. You might want to buy your fridge magnet and beat the horde of tourists that will be flocking here soon.” “Well…” she dragged and took a sip of her coffee “I might just as well do that. A nice tacky one that says Stornoway.” “It’s your money.” He added almost annoyed and his head turned outside to stare at the street. Finally he grabbed his coffee and emptied the cup. “Have to go back to the shop.” Then he stood “Have a nice day.” And he left before she had the time to blurt out a reply. What a strange man. She thought. He felt as if he was detached from the world. The only moments he noticed some emotion in him was inside the bookshop. “Don’t feel offended.” Said a voice at her side. Aelin stopped eating and noticed the coffee shop owner at her side sporting a big grin “He is like that with everyone. It takes him a while to get close to people. He wasn’t always like that.” The woman added with sadness and sat beside her on the chair that Rowan had vacated. “I am Maeve by the way. And Rowan is my nephew.” Aelin’s hand holding the fork stopped halfway on its way to her mouth. She had so many questions but she restrained herself. “I am Aelin.”she then added as soon as her brain started working again “I got here this morning. I met him at the bookshop. I went there straight away. I am obsessed with small independent bookstores.” “He has done a wonderful job with his shop,” she explained with pride in her voice “So, Aelin, do you have any adventures planned yet?” Aelin nodded eagerly. She was actually dying to get the car and follow the route Rowan had suggested “Rowan gave me some good ideas. I will finish breakfast, go to Tesco to buy some food for lunch and then that’s me off.” “Don’t be silly.” Maeve stood and went to the counter, leaving Aelin alone to finish her breakfast. The woman came back fifteen minutes later with a bag for her “I put a few sandwiches in it. They are all fresh. There is some fruit as well and a cake that we made this morning.” Aelin had no words. She went to take her bag to pay the woman but Maeve put a hand on her arms to stop her “It’s on me.” “I… thank you.” The she stopped for a second “Tapadh leat,” she added, remembering what Rowan had taught her earlier on, but she was embarrassed by her horrendous pronunciation. “Na can guth.” Maeve laughed “We’ll make a Gaelic speaker out of you in no time.” And placed a hand on her shoulder. “An open heart surgery might be much easier than me learning a language.” Maeve looked at her with a puzzled expression. “I am a cardio thoracic surgeon… I am…” she paused “I am just taking a break from life.” Maeve smiled again with a tender expression “You are in the right place for that, darling.” Aelin finally grabbed her backpack, the bag with the books and the bag with food provisions that Maeve gave her and stood. Then she did something quite unexpected. She hugged Maeve. And although the woman was a complete stranger she liked her already. “I’d better go.” “Go and drive safely.” Aelin smiled and left the coffee shop.

It was late afternoon when Aelin finally reached the Butt of Lewis. The northernmost point in the island and the place was wild. And breathtaking. She had Maeve’s amazing lunch at Callanish. She sat with her back against one of the massive standing stones and ate while taking in the beauty of the landscape around her. She did embrace her pagan side, a side she did not know she had, and also hugged the stones. She had followed Rowan’s directions and she loved every moment of it. And now she was out on the cliffs while a savage wind was ravaging the coast. It was so strong that she had struggled to get out of her car and she finished the remains of her lunch inside. But then she put on her windbreaker jacket and her beanie hat and got out, camera at the ready. She took a few photos and sent a nice selection to Lysandra and then sat down and kept staring at the waves crashing almost angrily against the cliffs. The air smelled of sea and she felt a deep peace settling in her bones. The quiet was broken a moment later by her phone. “Hi Lys.” She answered. “I am so jealous right now that you have no idea. I just finished a five hours surgery, I am starving and then you send me those amazing pictures.” “I feel at peace, Lys. For the first time in a very, very long time I feel at peace and content.” “I am glad to hear it, darling.” Aelin was silent for a moment. She heard some noises on the line and she realised Lysandra was in the cafeteria. “So, Aedion finally asked me out.” Lysandra confessed happily and Aelin squealed. “About time.” Aelin took a bite of her apple and closed her eyes and let herself feel the wind on her face. “Yes, he was quite charming. We are going out tonight. My shift should over at four.” “Lys I am so happy for you.” And she was. Her friend deserved that happiness. She did not have an easy life and hadn’t been very lucky in her previous relationships. She definitely needed a break and Aedion was a good guy, albeit a bit slow in realising that Lysandra was head over heels for him. “Found a gorgeous Scottish man yet?” Aelin was about to tell her about Rowan but she stopped and decided not to. Not yet. Lysandra would have started planning their wedding already if she had told him about him. “Not yet.” Another bite of her apple and then she decided to lay down on the grass “But I found a bookstore.” “Of course you did.” Lysandra was silent for a moment “Not to spoil your day but Chaol’s surgery went okay. He will need a couple of months of rest and then physio but he will be fine. Just so you know.” “Good for him.” It was all Aelin could muster. She was relieved his surgery went fine, she had no doubts about Lysandra’s skills, but the mention of his name had the power to sour the perfect day she had so far.” “You are mad at me.” “No Lys. I just… can we please not talk about my ex husband?” Her tone turned acid for a moment. He had the power, to make her mad. “Sorry.” Then Aelin sighed a felt bad about being an arse with Lysandra. She had been the only person who had been at her side. She offered her a place where to stay when she moved out of the house she shared with Chaol. She supported her all the way through and she did not deserve her anger “I am not mad at you, you know that?” “I know. And you know that I am not on his side. He was wrong and I am on your side. Team Aelin forever.” Aelin laughed “You are.” Then Aelin sat up again and stared at the sea. Then her back went rigid as she spotted something in the sea. It was a fin. After a while the top of the animal breached the surface of the water and Aelin screamed in delight. “Lys, there is a whale.” “What?” “A whale, there is a whale in the sea.” She stood and went as safely as possible to the edge of the cliff. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” She screamed, incapable to contain her excitement “It’s far too big to be a dolphin.” She now wished she had binoculars. She made a note to ask Rowan if there was a place in town where she could buy a pair. She put the phone of the ground and she forgot that she was on the phone with her friend. She just stood and stared and the magnificent sight in front of her. When she picked up the phone five minutes later she noticed the call was finished and she had a text from Lys saying she had to go back to work, that she loved her and that she will give her an update about her date with Aedion. Aelin texted her back and went back staring at the sea. Then she grabbed her backpack and began walking the trail leading to Eoropaidh beach. Once at the beach she was stunned. The path had wound through sand dunes and it felt like being in a desert. And now she was staring at the pristine and crystal blue water in front of her. She wanted to jump in the water, she would have done it if it wasn’t that it was ice cold. Hypothermia was not in her current plans. She removed her shoes, dropped her backpack on the sand and made her way to the water. A few steps and waves were gently caressing her ankles. The beach was on a lower level and she was a bit more sheltered from the wind. She closed her eyes and stood. immobile. She never had the time to just stand still and she relished the moment. She had been on the island for less than a day but she already felt as if that place had stolen her heart and soul. She thought that one day she might even enjoy the idea of settling down here and the realisation brought her a pang of joy. She left the water and went back to her belongings and sat down on the sand, retrieved her book and started reading. It was May and she was not aware of the fact that days, in the very north of Scotland were very long. She looked at her watch and gasped. It was 9pm and it was still day. She swore and collected her stuff quickly. She had finished the book she had bought from Rowan and now she had the excuse to go and visit him again and see if he had the following ones in the series. Reluctantly, she got back in the car and began the drive back to her place. A big grin stamped on her face.

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Gaelic “Madainn mhath, mo ghràidh: good morning, my dear Chan eil i Gàidhlig aice ; she does not speak Gaelic Na can guth: don't mention it

Fun fact: the first time i was at the Butt of Lewis the wind was savage just like in the story. I could not open the door of my car and I did stay in the car for lunch. Been there done that. :)