“She’s shaken a jig tonight, Lads,” said Timothy Sullivan.
“What a hoot! Look at those moves, Barney. You better step back, or you’ll be liable to get cuffed in the head,” cried Danny Sullivan with a broad smile.
Barney knew Sally O’Quinn was the best dancer on sea or land, so he bent into his fiddle and sped up a notch.
“Woo Hoo, I’ve not danced like this in a month of Sundays,” giggled Sally as she twirled and jumped.
Every year, when the wind blows south to east, the Pirate Queen herself comes a calling to Castlewellan Forest to dance and drink with her old pals, the Sullivan brothers.
When they were young, the four made a pact to meet and drink, where the sea met the trees until the moon turned red or the ocean boiled black.
Sally left on account of being the daughter of the pirate king who married an elven princess before such things were allowed. “I’m sorry, Lads, but there’s a curse on me for being a half-blood. I must sail but for one night a year,” she told her friends when she came of age.
Barney had fallen in love with Sally years ago but never told anyone, so to soothe his pain, he learned to play the fiddle and drown his sorrow in music.
“When ya going to tell her you love her,” said Timothy, who had suspected his brother’s love for the Pirate Queen long ago.
“When it’s right, I’ll know. Now you mind your own bee’s wax,” snapped Barney.
Tonight was notable, for it had been 400 years since they had started what they like to call the Hootenanny, a time of music, singing, and drinking.
“Danny, another mug of your stiffener for the Lass if you please,” said Timothy.
Sally grabbed the mug and sat beside Barney with a flop. “So when you gonna ask me to be your bride?” said Sally with a smile.
Barney blew grog across the clearing like a wave crashing on the breakers. “So you knew, did ya? Well, I was waiting til we got a little older, but seeing you know how about now,” said the fiddler.
Barney knelt in front of the Pirate Queen and confessed his love. “Sally, since we were wee folk, I knew no other could be in my life. If you have me, I shall pledge my heart and soul to you for now and forever,” said Barney.
“Come here, you big lug, and kiss me,” said Sally. Danny and Timothy stood frozen in shock.
“Well, boys, it looks like we’re family now. I still have to sail the seas, so you, Barney, will be coming with me on the honeymoon,” said Sally with a wry smile.
The four sang, drank, and danced until the wee hours, when husband and wife bowed and said, “Take good care of the still and keep the fire warm. We’ll be back before you know it.” Then the Pirate Queen held Barney’s hand, and the two flew up and out of sight.
“So what will we do for music now that Barney’s off for a year?” asked Danny.
“Suppose we’ll need to learn to play something or maybe just hum a little bit,” replied Timothy.
“Humming’s fine. I like humming in the morning when I feed the chickens,” remarked Danny.
The two brothers filled their mugs, sat down, and hummed, and are still humming today.
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