I've never really written any fanfictions before so this is considered my first one. So please be nice and don't flame me...
Dedication: This story is dedicated to my big sister who's always been there for me and has supported me through everything I've been through. I'd also like to dedicate it to my brother who's really kewl and I've always looked up to for advice and comfort. And last but not least, I'd like to dedicate it to my favorite author, P.C. Cast for writting the Goddess series 'cause I find it AWESOME. She kind of helped me open up my creative side a bit more which I'm really thankful for. Now I just gotta figure out how to express my creativity on paper. lol
All the Fomorian children have been taken to MacCallan castle and are being taken care of. Cuchulainn is now trying to bring all of the adult Fomorians to the castle so they could be brought back to full health. Elphame is pregnant with Lochlan's child and everyone was still getting used to having Fomorians in the castle. Cu's and Elphame's mother had come to see the progress of the castle and to see Elphame's wedding. Of course, a new character has shown up from a new race that no one has known about. What kind of race is it? What do they want? Why do they show themselves now? Wait a minute... what's with that little shrine in the middle of the forest? A clash of two completely different worlds...
Disclaimer: I do not own Elphame's Choice or the other part of the story (which you'll have to find out 'cause I don't want to ruin it). Though I really wish I did...
Chapter 1 - A Work in Progress
"How do you expect us to take care of a whole entire race, Elphame? It's only been a few days and yet we're starting to run out of supplies!" Brighid exclaimed as she was running back and forth trying to get the crying baby's to settle down and fall asleep.
"Well, I'm sure we can figure something out. I mean... they were suffering..." Elphame said as she tried to help her friend out as best she could.
As the two females continued working, they heard hooves clattering down the hallway. Danann slowly approched them and bowed slightly, "Sorry to disturb you two but I just got a message saying that Cuchulainn is on his way back to the castle. I've also heard that almost half of the Fomorians they're bringing are starving. What do you think we should do, Goddess?" His eyes shifted from the Goddess to Brighid and back again.
"I don't know what we should do, Danann..." she replied just above a whisper. Her eyes shifted down to the ground and she thought for a moment. She heard her friend sigh and felt them watching her. But it wasn't just them she felt, it was someone else as well. Is Lochlan watching me as well or...is there something else out there... She looked outside to see if she could see any of the other workers watching but there was no one there. She mentally shook her head and looked back at Danann. "I'll have to see if mother could send anything over to help us out..."
Danann nodded and took his leave. The two women looked at eachother and then turned around to get back to work. Danann looked over his shoulder at them and smiled when he saw Brighid look at him from the corner of her eye. He did a slight bow and then trotted out of the castle to get back to his own job. There was always something about that huntress that always caught his attention but he couldn't figure out what it was. He couldn't sleep at night anymore 'cause all he could think about at night was the huntress. Then in the morning, he can barely control himself and he takes every single chance he gets to take a glance at her.
A few weeks later
"Elphame!" shouted Epona's Beloved as she embraced her daughter tightly in her arms.
"Mama?" Elphame was shocked to see her mother there. She hugged her mom back tightly, "What're you doing here? I wasn't expecting you to come."
"Well, I heard your message and came as fast as I could to help out. I mean, the children and all.." she smiled her motherly smile. At her daughters unusual look, she just took a hold of her shoulders with the smile still on her face, "Don't worry, my daughter. I wont get into harms way and I wont cause any trouble. Besides, I love the way your castle is turning out. Very beautiful. I thought it would never be restored again." She looked around, slowly taking in the beauty of the old castle. It looked just the way it did in the books and the way people told it in the stories. It was a wonderful sight to see. All of the columns stretching up what seemed to be miles high with amazing little scripts on it. The were quite unusual looking but they were still beautiful. Etain turned back to her daughter, "Oh, I forgot to mention that I asked Parthelon if they would be so kind as to donate food for you. We all agreed and the wagons are still on their way here."
Elphame was shocked from what her mom had just told her. She'd never expected Partholon to help heal the Fomorians. They were demons. Winged creatures that are said to kill people. Hopefully they saw that there was no need to be afraid of them. They were mostly human just like them and there was no need to be afraid. Fomorians would kill no more for Elphame had taken their madness away from them and gave them freedom. She'd given them what they needed most, especially the children. She'd given them life, hope, appretiation, and mostly love and care.
"Thanks, mama... I appretiate all your help," she gave her mom another loving hug. Elphame smiled and looked at her mom with sparkling eyes, "Come, I'll show you where the children are." She grabbed her mom by the wrist and directed her on where to go for the Fomorian children. When they entered the room, it was like a mad house. Brighid was running back and forth checking on the children. Her hairs were all prickling up in frustration. Elphame smiled to herself as she saw her mom rush over to Brighid who was trying to make the kids laugh by making the weirdest faces you could ever see. Even the noise she was making to make them laugh was odd.
"No, no, no. That's not how you calm a child down," said Etain. Brighid bowed deeply to Epona's Beloved, "No need to bow. Now, how about you bring all of the crying children over here so we can entertain them all at once and not one by one. You're making it too much of a hassle to be running back and forth acting like a... well... whatever you were trying to do."
Brighid made no comment and did exactly what she was told. As she started to bring the last child into the crowd, she got scratched by its talon. She cursed silently to herself and mumbled, "This is one of the reason why I dislike children..." She turned to Elphame, "We should clip their talons later on. I don't want anyone else getting cut by those little demons..."
Elphame just nodded and watched her mother. As her mom started singing to the children, they all started to go quiet.
"Don't you cry, little child
Epona watches over you
Lose that frown and just smile
And she'll smile too."
That song sounded so familiar to Elphame that she started to think. She listened more to the lyrics and remembered. It was the lullaby that her mother always sang to her when she was a child. She'd always cry when she was really tired or hungry but she forgot about all of those things when her mother had started singing that song. It always did make Elphame smile and laugh when her mother sang it. When she turned to look at the children, they were all starting to fall asleep but with smiles on their faces. She took a look around the room and she'd seen a crowd gather around and the other kids were falling asleep as well. Elphame smiled and joined with her mother in finishing up the lullaby.
"You will never be alone
As long as you have Epona in your heart
So keep that smile and don't you frown
And you'll never be apart.
The Goddess loves you
I know you know that much
We know she wont be a fool
And think you're monsters and such
Just keep on smiling
Keep on smiling
Just keep on smiling
And you wont be alone..."
A/N: Fun fun! Ok, I know it's short but just deal with it. They, hopefully, will start getting longer and longer over time. I hope that was good so far. I think they kind of sounded out of character but...yeah. Please review and PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME!