Louisa's Cottage and Mill

Louisa clung on for dear life...the gait of the donkey wasn't anything like a horse but she still saw the funny side. The only thing that puzzled her was why this mode of transport when they we just going to the market to pick a few things up. Giving up she concentrated on staying perched on this animals back...sitting side saddle wasn't easy and the last thing she needed was cuts and bruises from falling.

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Well today my beloved ....is no ordinary stroll to the market...today you travel in style....like royalty......."

was his reply to her question...but still he didn't bring forth an answer to what was going on. Sighing in relief as she saw the markets looming she waited t see where he was going to stop to allow her to dismount...but much to her surprise and then embarressment he contined on right into the heart of the market....and this day being the busiest, was teeming with many sellers and buyers.

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"One moment my love..."

and he disappeared leaving Louisa to sit perced on this damn animals back as the village people moved around her, sniggering behind their hands and passing knowing looks between them. Louisa was turning all shades of red by the minute and if he didn't materialize right that moment she was going to get down herself and find a nice quiet corner to hide herself in.

At last she spotted him returning but with...boxes ? "What on earth did he want them for?" she thought to herself as she then watched him place the boxes on the ground and then proceeded to climb upon them. It was then Louisa's heart stopped, jaw dropped and then she wished she was anywhere than here as he called for everyones attention. With all attention focused upon Lys ...he then addressed the crowd..

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"Please may I have you attention , good people of Claddagh....I once claimed that the good lady Louisa And I were married....that was not so ..........it was a bit of fun on my part...please except my apology for that illusion.....Today I wish to rectify matters...."

"Oh no" she thought...."Why on earth is he bringing that up again....matters? what matters needed rectifying?" Louisa's poor brain was so confused as to what he was up to...the town folk knew he was only joking...so it made no sense to stand and appologize to them. She dared not look at the people now crowded around them...its seemed every man and his dog had decided to make their way here today, her eyes fixed firmly on his... and if he could have read her mind....that man would realise how much trouble he was in for doing this all over again.

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" Louisa , my beloved....will you please put one crazy guy out of his misery, and except my proposal of marriage ? ....."

The next sentence he uttered rendered her speechless.....she looked at him as if he had grown another head, then looked down at the ring he was slipping onto her finger. Her eyes flew back to his as he gently placed her on the ground and watched...waiting for her reply. She stood...searching his eyes...and then waited...all round was hushed as they waited....and waited....so quiet a mouse would have been heard..

Just as the suspense could be delayed no longer ....Louisa arched an eyebrow at him...grinned and gave her reply.... "Well............." she stopped...playing this moment for all it was worth...this was her pay back time and the enjoyment of making him wait was so delicious. She looked once more at the ring on her finger and with an impish smile looked up into his eyes...."Yes..." was all she said bursting into laughter at the look on his face......

This was the big moment for Lys...he wanted to make it memorable for Louisa....after all, hopefully it is only once in a lfetime you are proposed to..so out of the ordinary you would never forget.

After slipping the ring on her finger, he, and the whole of claddagh market occupants, waited.....and waited....and waited...' Lys my boy she has you, she is gonna make you sweat '...then with an impish smile... " Well..." ' good grief '.. thought Lys, as Louisa looked down at the ring adorning her hand then back to his face.. with every man, woman and dog...even the donkey turning it's head to listen...held their breath..' she is savouring the moment '...then it happened....." Yes....".. Just one word..then she burst out laughing...but it was the only word Lys wanted to hear...Punching his fist into the air, he yells in delight.... " SHE SAID YES !! ".......LOUISA AS AGREED TO BE MY WIFE.." Lifting her up in excitement so all could see her ...the whole markert cheered....the dogs barked... even the donkey responded.....A huge grin spread over Lys' face has he brought her gently down onto her feet..looking her deep in the eyes for a few moments..then drawing her close to him, tenderly he kissed her, to more cheers, aww's and shouts of congratulations .

Holding her in his arms, Lys whispers softly... " Louisa my love..you will never regret this day if we live to be a hundred...I love you so much.." For him.. the Market could have been empty of people as he spoke to her..such was his moment of happiness... Then placing his arm around her shoulder, led her through the market...

Leaving the Donkey to the owner, that..unknown to Louisa had followed them at a safe distance to the Market..Lys and Louisa, still being congratulated, smiled happily as they walked the rest of the way through the Market. " Now hunni...we go for a celebration drink at the tavern......Your carriage awaits you...." Out through the Market, there waiting their arrival, was the carriage and driver Lys had arrange for the occasion...

She just couldn't help herself...the door was open and she just walked right through...many a time Lys had her biting her lip in frustration over not telling her of plans he had made...of hinting but making her wait...they all built up till Louisa had decided that her day would come and come it did. She thought the day someone proposed to her it would be him on bended knee in a romantic garden not in the middle of a market with her sitting astride a donkey and the whole of what seemed like the town inhabitants gathered round to hear his every word, and now they all waited on a word from her.

At her one word of acceptance Lys nearly scared the living daylights out of her by punching the air, yelling at the top of his voice and then lifting her up and like a ...well she didn't know what all coming together to make her jittery, deaf and slightly air sick, but all was forgiven when he lowered her back on her feet and kissed her making her forget all about the crowd that was now cheering and sending their well wishes. Pulling slightly apart her smile widening at his soft words...

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" Louisa my love..you will never regret this day if we live to be a hundred...I love you so much.."

...all she could do was nod, no speech came forth due to the lump in her throat that threatened to bring her undone, and tears was the last thing she'd wanted even if they were shed in happiness. Louisa was glad to leave her mode of transport behind at a mention of drinks in the tavern to celebrate, she thought he was joking about a carriage awaiting her, quite happy to walk the distance with him, till she took her eyes from him and let her gaze fall on the carriage that was indeed wating.

That was it...no longer able to hold the threat of tears back, she let them fall , so overwhelmed by his thinking of only her wellbeing, Louisa gazed up at the him a watery smile adorning her face as she softly uttered... "You just think of every and for that I truely do thankyou."

Poor Louisa...the day's events had come as a complete shock to her....her strong disposition completely colapsed when she saw the final surprise Lys had laid on for her. The market senario was a shock, but the carriage disarmed her utterly. Looking first at the carriage, then up into his eyes..tears flowed like a river down her cheeks....through her watery gaze of happiness Louisa whispered softly.....

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"You just think of everything... and for that I truely do thankyou."

Taking Louisa's hand gently in his, Lys escorts her to the carriage that awaited them..... " Come my beloved... we have an appointment with a couple of whisky bottles..and of course our friends..they will be so eager to hear of your future plans.." Well it won't be just her future plans....it was theirs....Reaching their carriage... Lys carefuly helped Louisa inside, then climbed in beside her.....Placing an arm around her he instructed the driver their destination.

Nestled against him.. Lys asks Louisa... " When we are married hunni.....where would you like for us to live..." Now if Lys had ever thought he had asked a stupid question before.....this had to rank as one of the highest...Louisa's dream home was the castle he had bought her........where else could she possbly want to live but in a dream.....a dream she owned ?

This was not her at all...all the surprises Lys had sprung on her today, the sight of a carriage was the one to bring her to tears. Wiping her tears, she smiled as they walked hand in hand towards the awaiting carriage. His next words brought out a grin on her face chasing the tears away.....

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" Come my beloved... we have an appointment with a couple of whisky bottles..and or course our friends..they will be so eager to hear of your future plans.."

and then

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...." When we are married hunni.....where would you like for us to live..."

As Louisa settled herself inside the carriage and waited for Lys to follow, she couldn't help but reply...."aren't you going to drink then my love...a couple of bottles would do me but we will need more if you are drinking !" trying to look serious all the while laughter showed in her eyes as she snuggled into him.

On his second question she thought a bit more...he had just bought her very own castle one that she had fell in love with as a young girl, but then he had also just brought a home of his own...one that she was helping to decorate. "Well...since we have a home between us...why not spend half our time at each of them...?" she asked..."Say Winter months in the castle...and the summer in the manor or the other way around if you like ." Looking down her eye caught sight of his ring twinkling in the light, a soft smile played on her face as imagined a gold band partnered along side....

Well....mildly shocked again....even amused at her carefully chosen answer. An answer that he for once found perfect...no banter..no leg-pull, it was a serious question met with a sensible answer....

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"Well...since we have a home between us...why not spend half our time at each of them...?........"Say Winter months in the castle...and the summer in the manor or the other way around if you like ."

Questioningly, Louisa looked up into his eyes for a reply....With a warm smile Lys decidingly answers........ " Even though hunni castles are normally cold in the winter time, yours is so cosy and warm, I believe we will be happy and contented in the castle...like bugs in a rug.." Holding her closer to him, he adds..." My dream hunni was to marry you.. that dream is to be fulfilled.....your dream was to live in that castle... what better way to start our life than to have both dreams realised on the same day ? "

Little did he realise it at the time, but the day he met her, his whole life would change. from her introduction to her cushion, right up to today, Lys had warmed to her as a friend , her carefree ways, the outrageous leg-pulls, then there was her personality. The more he spent in her company, the more he wanted to be in her company. Over time it all led to him falling in love with her. Not one moment would he ever regret.........

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" Even though hunni castles are normally cold in the winter time, yours is so cosy and warm, I believe we will be happy and contented in the castle...like bugs in a rug.."

A soft chuckle escaped as she visualised the bugs all comfy in their rug. Sighing she felt his arms tighten around her as she let her mind wander to nights spent in front of a roaring fire as the winter elements raged outside, of special moments to be shared that in time would become memories cherished in years to come when they both became old and grey with their grandkids playing around them.

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"My dream hunni was to marry you.. that dream is to be fulfilled.....your dream was to live in that castle... what better way to start our life than to have both dreams realised on the same day ? "

One moment she was safe and secure in his arms dreaming of their life together the next she sat upright with a look of complete horror on her face. "Lys our wedding!...dear Jah...where do we start?...the planning!...my dress!...the flowers!....your suit!...the wedding cake!...I don't know if I can do this!..." she rambled on getting more hysterical by the second. It seemed at that point of time Louisa had turned into a monster...one who's whole existence now was to be so focused on her wedding that nothing else mattered and if it wasn't for the fact they were in a carriage she would have been pacing the floor by now!

Turning she looked at him...a study in shock at the sudden change in her, and with deliberate cheekiness gave him a wink before she broke out into a wide grin while she settled herself back against him placing his arms once more around her as if the previous few minutes had never happened. Then burst out laughing..."Had you going for a minute there, didn't I sweetheart?" she purred content at the ruse she just pulled. All was well in her world at that moment....one thing for sure they would never have a dull moment in their marriage and that was what she was banking on.

This is where she finally belonged, in his arms, safe and secure in the knowledge that he loved her as much as she loved him and that together their future together promised to be a crazy ride of laughter, fun and most of all filled with love....

The carriage rambled on across the cobbled stones in the mild winter's sunshine. Louisa sat inside nestled contently within Lys' arms, their world, full of fun, laughter, and love cocooned with them.....then, sitting up ramrod straight..their serenity was broken, as Louisa, a look of complete shock on her face blurts out...

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"Lys our wedding!...dear Jah...where do we start?...the planning!...my dress!...the flowers!....your suit!...the wedding cake!...I don't know if I can do this!..."

Taken completely off guard, poor Lys nearly had a heart attack !! on and on she became so agitated that Lys placed both hands on her shoulders and softly spoke ...... Wait hunni.. slow down..everything will be just fine.........trust me ..".. Oh dear Jah.. he quoted one of his famous lines.... ' now she is really gonna be comforted by that ! ' Quickly he corrected it by.. " There are plenty in the village hunni that will help you ...there is Dana..and Nuala my sisters ...there is also another few ladies yoiu know ..they will all help..." His explanation seem to work as Louisa ans she sat back against the carriage seat.......then her whole demure changed as she smiled and winked at him....Nestling back against him she burst out laughing....

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..."Had you going for a minute there, didn't I sweetheart?"

The serious look on Lys's face was quickly replaced as he too burst into fits of laughter .....Wow.. they had pulled strokes on each ever since they first met ..and the fact that they were taking their life to a new level, was not going to stop the pranks....this one really tickled him ...all he could see for the future was uncertainty.....uncertain what leg-pull, she ...or him for that matter..was going come out with next ?

" Yes my dear....you had me all worried.. but we have a big problem looming up in our forth coming marriage...." The smile faded.. a serious look replaced it...how was he going to explain it to her ? Taking a few moments to digest the easiest way of breaking the revelation he felt compelled to own up to ..Lys takes a deep breath....." We will never be able to have children my beloved...." Looking with a searching gaze into her eyes..Lys seeks for her reaction to what he was trying to explain to her .. continuing, he adds.." The feat can not be accomplished with me wearing that nice Pink suit of armour !! "

Louisa thought herself clever at the prank she just pulled on him...to see another side of her in a panic tickled her funny bone no end. His serious replies on who was available to help had her in stitches. She knew that help was only a call away and that she had full intentions of using all family memebers and any that stood still too long.

To hear his laughter join with hers brought a sense of contentment...together they would grow and laugh, but his next comment had her on high alert...

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" Yes my dear....you had me all worried.. but we have a big problem looming up in our forth coming marriage...."

Her laughter began to fade as she sat up and face him...seeing his serious face, " Oh this doesn't look good" she thought, as she waited for him to go on...seeing him take a deep breath she still waited....such was his timing that if he took any longer they be old and grey.

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" We will never be able to have children my beloved...."

With those words her mouth open and shock took over her features..."What...no..no...children...none whatsoever?" she looked back at him...her bottom lip beginning to quivver.

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"The feat can not be accomplished with me wearing that nice Pink suit of armour !!"

With those final words...Louisa looks at her future husband and bursts into peals of laughter.... "Oh dear" she wailed "what a deterrant from getting with child my love, seems we will be doing our bit in keeping the population down!"

Narrating his story to her as he kept the dead-pan serious expression, Lys' insides were at the pinacle of exploding with laughter. And when Louisa's bottom lip began to quiver,with a plea of...

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..."What...no..no...children...none whatsoever?"

He had to look out of the carriage door window incase the grin that creased his face gave the game away....Regaining his serious look, he finished the last few words..... .." The feat can not be accomplished with me wearing that nice Pink suit of armour !! " With that line spoken , Louisa's disposition took on a completely new counternance...her cry of laughter must have had the poor carriage driver wondering who in the world sat in his conveyance...especially as Lys' laughter rang out as well. Not to be beaten, Louisa followed with.....

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"Oh dear"......"what a deterrent from getting with child my love, seems we will be doing our bit in keeping the population down!"

That set then off again in such a fit of laughter, tears rolled down their cheeks. There was no doubt in his mind, this lady he had fallen in love with offered so much more than being a wife, she pathed the way for a crazy ride of laughter, fun, and most of all, filled with so much love....Suddenly Lys was evoked from his ruminating, the carriage had arrived at their preplanned destination....and to Lys's thoughts...to the relief of the carriage driver, Stepping out of the carriage, Lys spun a coin up to the driver...then opening the other door, offered his hand to Louisa to help her disembark from the vehicle..With a bow, Lys offers....." M'lady, your whiskey glass beckons.."

Louisa laughed till the tears began, "Good grief" she thought "I'd forgotten all about that suit" She had no idea where they conjured that piece of armour from and one of these days she'd get to the bottom of it. Still it could take pride and place at the foot of the stairs...a shiney pink beacon a reminder of the day that he had made a childhood dream come true.

A side long glance at him had her brain engaged in wondering if she could ever get him to wear that pink armour. Once more she started to giggle as the carriage came to a halt outside the tavern.

Taking his offered hand she grinned at him "Now that would be a challenge" she thought to herself.

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" M'lady, your whiskey glass beckons.."

Her own curtsey echoed his bow all the while the thought of him in that armour took over and her cheekiness once more kicked in as she wondered just how many bottles of whiskey would be needed to get him drunk enough to attempt that feat.

Her own grin widening at the thought as she entered the tavern...