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Tam O'Sham Part 3 - Tam's 120th Celebration. |
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Tam loves to pass the time, mainly by the banks of The Rainbow Stream. It is a favorite place for many in the village, and is filled with all sorts of animal and plant life. Some of the oldest trees stand along the banks to provide shelter from the hot sun and multi-cloloued flowers grow wild everywhere you look. The aromatic scent of these flowers fill the air, and if you close your eyes, it smells like you are in a great garden. This is the Leprechaun's garden, that nature made for them. There's brightly coloured fish that swim along with you, and many other unusual life-forms that live beneath the clear blue surface. Floating lily pads provide wonderful resting places for many of the smaller creatures, and driftwood often finds it's way to these banks.
From here, it was just a short trip back to the celebration. Tam was looking forward to visiting with the neighboring Troll that had shown up for a visit. He had always been amazed by the Trolls. They were solitary creatures and no-one in the village seemed to know much about them. It was common knowledge, that they kept to themselves. They were very strong, and very protective of their mountain home, but not much else had ever been spoken about them. It was very unusual, that one of them would come down from the mountain, to help him celebrate this special event. There had never been a Troll at a Leprechaun celebration. This was Tam's 120th celebration, and he would be able to spend lots of time finding out while he visited with his guests.
"Drewey", asked Tam, "did ye get a good look at the old Troll?" "A bit of a look Tam, and that's enough for my eyes" replied Drewey, "they certainly don't seem like friendly folk. Ye should be weary round them. Ye do have a fair bit o' gold hidden in The Forest of Dreams, and Troll or not, everyone wants the Leprechaun gold." "But Drewey, Trolls would have no use for Leprechaun gold", replied Tam giving this a wee bit of thought. "All folk have use for Leprechaun gold, even the Trolls." Said Drewey in a mysterious voice, that made Tam wonder if his friend was just trying to scare him.
Entering the village from their favorite trail, Tam and Drewey were soon set upon by the Leprechaun Elders. "Come Tam," yelled Elder Paddy McDonald, "your feast awaits, and we have an important visitor." The village square had been decorated like Tam had never seen before. There were Leprechauns everywhere. It seemed like everyone in the village had come to Tam's celebration. There was a huge table set with high-backed chairs and food was piled so high at every plate, that Tam could barely see the tops. Even the finest wine from last season's harvest had been brought out from the wine storage.
Tam took his place at the table. Mam and Pap were seated on each side of him, with Drewey and his guardians next to Mam. Drewey's guardians are thankful for Tam's friendship with Drewey. After all, their wee lad is a commoner and Tam is special. The special Leprechauns have certain privileges, and it is helpful to Drewey and his guardians, to be called friends of Tam. The elders were all seated in their places at the head table. The old Troll had been seated immediately to the right of Elder McDonald. This was very surprising to Tam. He had been to other celebrations and this spot was always left empty in honor of the Leprechaun Forefathers. They had been the ones that had first come to this land and made a home of it, for all the Leprechauns.
Tam had been told that tale many a time. All the Leprechauns are, from a very early age, taught the history of their land. The struggles with harsh winters and hostile neighbors. And of course, the war that almost wiped out the Leprechauns. That was a bad time indeed, Tam thought, as he sat remembering the stories he had been told. It all seemed so unreal to Tam. He could not imagine the violence of the war. Ever since they had come to the Forest of Dreams many, many staughs ago, life had been peaceful.
The wee folks had come to this region after being driven from their homeland by drought. Their crops had all failed, and the very little food that did grow, was not enough for the entire village. It had been a long search for just the right place to build their new homes. Many gleedoms of searching endlessly, and many miles of tiredless walking, had broght them here. They were at first, welcomed by the Fairies further down the river. Even the mighty Dwarf nation had welcomed the Leprechauns, but the Trolls were not so warm to having new neighbors. Tam had never seen anyone sit at this spot and now it was being taken by a Troll. Of all beings, a Troll.
As Tam patiently awaited permission to start his meal, he glanced over at the old Troll. "Trolls dinna like music and dance", thought Tam. "Why would he come to my celebration and not to any other one?" He was a funny looking creature and resembled a big, old, worn tree. Tam wondered, just why this old Troll had come on this gleedom. His belly began to rumble, quietly at first, but his Mam noticed and glanced over at him. He was so hungry and there was so much food. He wondered why they couldn't just start eating, and do everything else after the feast. Tam's belly began to crowl louder and his Mam became more upset with him. It was not his fault that he was hungry. Sitting here, looking at all this food, anyone else would be starving too.
Elder McDonald rose from the table,and called for silence by raising his hand to the sky. As he spoke, it was in a loud, crisp, and clear voice which is surprising for one his age. "This Gleedom, we have gathered together to celebrate the birth of a Special Leprechaun" and turned towards Tam. "On this gleedom, 120 staughs ago, our village was blessed with this wee lad, and his gift will soon be known throughout the lands." He motioned for Tam to stand and join him at his side. "As is customary for specials, I present ye with these two gold coins", he continued, as he handed the coins to Tam to add to his crock. "Please lift yer steins and join me in wishing Tam O'Sham, a very merry celebration and a long life indeed."
As everyone toasted Tam, he was busy hoping that Elder McDonald was right. Afterall, most of the other special Leprechauns knew, by this celebration, which gift they had recieved. He had no idea what his gift will be and when he thought about it, it made his head hurt, and it made him sad. Tam decided that this gleedom, would be one of happiness, and he would think about his gift more the next gleedom. Every Leprechaun raised their steins and drank to wish Tam a long and happy life.
As Tam and Elder McDonald sat back in their seats, Elder McDonald gave permission for the meal to begin. Tam, and a lot of the others, noticed that not a single word had been said to explain the old Troll or why he had been seated at the head table. Not even a single hint, as to why he come this gleedom either. Elder McDoanld is the Head Elder for Tam's village and made all the decisions for the leprechauns. He would also be the one to decide the seating arrangements that put the old Troll at the head table. "This is very strange indeed" Tam thought to himself. "Why dinna he tell us about him". At this point, Tam decided, he was just too hungry to care.
After the feast was over, and everyone was stuffed to their pointed little ears, with the wonderful assortment of foods that had been prepered just for this gleedom, the tables were cleared off and moved to the side. Just the head table remained so the Elders would be able to remain sitting. I believe the youngest Elder was around 832 staughs old, and they can't stand for very long. The music came next and, along with it, came leprechauns dancing everywhere for as far as the eye can see. Music and dance are very important to the Leprechauns, and they really know how to throw a festive celebration. No expense was spared for this one, just as Elder McDonlad had requested.
Tam handed his gold coins to his mam as he and Drewey ran past the table. This gleedom, he was just a normal lad out dancing and playing amongst the other wee folk. That is until, Elder McDonald and the old Troll approached. Many of the Leprechauns were weary of the old Troll and parted to let them through. "Will ye come with me wee Tam?", asked Elder McDoanld, but it didn't sound like a question to him. It sounded more like an order. Tam wondered if he had done something to be in trouble for. "what can they possible want of me", he thought to himself. "Can I bring me mate Drewey?" asked Tam cautiously as he stared up at the Elder. He was really hoping that Drewey would be allowed to come along aswell. "Nay laddie, we've business needing attending, and ye shall come alone", came the reply from Elder McDonald.
"Business?, I am not old enough for business", thought Tam. He did not like the idea of leaving behind his friend. Drewey was the brave one and Tam felt he needed him there at his side. Elder McDonald had turned towards the forest and was waiting for Tam to follow. As He started to walk, he noticed that the old Troll was following behind. "This has something to do with him. Maybe I will finally be told why the old Troll had come", thought Tam. As he walked along behind Elder McDonald, his thoughts started to get carried away, and he began to feel very much afraid. "Surely an Elder would not put me in any danger. Maybe I did do something wrong." Tam really had no idea what this was all about but, he was going to find out very soon.
 greenshamrock · Sat Oct 15, 2005 @ 11:42pm · 0 Comments |
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