A one shot going along with the Cathal stories. This one features Cathal and his mother and a look into his past.

Disclaimer: Only Ash, Cathal, and Monica belong to me all other characters came from the great mind of John Flanagan

Mothers

Five year old Cathal was sitting in a carpeted room playing with some toys left for him. Cathal glanced up at his caretaker Monica. Monica was an older woman with a dry wit and caring nature. Currently Monica was preparing a plate of snacks for Cathal. The black haired boy heard a commotion outside and rose from his spot. Cathal walked over to the window. When he realized he was too short to see out the window he sighed. He pushed his toy box over under the window and climbed up onto the lid and started out into Dun Kitty's castle yard. Cathal recognized his mother moving quickly towards the stable.

"Where is mommy going?" Cathal asked.

"Cathal get down from there!" Monica cried at him. She moved over to him and took him off the toy box. "Cathal you could break your neck or something," Monica scolded.

"I am sorry I just was trying to see what mommy was doing," Cathal said softly. Monica smiled then looked out the window.

"Looks like your mother is leaving Cathal," Monica said and Cathal got the feeling she was irritated.

"I want to go see mommy please," Cathal begged.

"Cathal King Ferris does not want you wondering the castle grounds," Monica reminded the boy. It never escaped Cathal's notice that neither his mother nor Monica called Ferris his father. In a conversation they wouldn't say: 'your father' they would say 'King Ferris' or simply 'Ferris'. While Cathal found this very odd he had no idea what it actually meant.

The truth was only a few people actually knew about Cathal. Cathal knew he was a prince simply because he had heard 'King Ferris' so much he assumed that meant he was a prince. Cathal's situation was very confusing. His mother had given birth in secret at the castle. Cathal's grandmother had been there to help deliver him. However Ferris and Ashling had not been married when he was conceived. Because of this and Ashling's desire for him to grow up as a normal child without the prince title only a select few people knew about Cahtal's real identity. No one called him Prince Cathal nor did anyone use his last name.

"But daddy doesn't have to know. I want to see mommy," Cathal begged. Monica sighed.

"Alright Cathal," she said. Cathal grinned and ran down the stairs. Monica hobbled after him. Even for an older woman she still moved with amazing speed.

Ashling was tacking up an elegant bay stallion when Cathal arrived at the stables. Monica arrived shortly afterwards. The boy tilted his head to one side watching his mother curiously.

"Mommy?" Cathal asked curiously. Ash cursed under her breath and turned to the boy. Cathal looked almost exactly like Halt and Ferris. He was shorter than average for his age and had black hair (which was currently combed nice and neat). Unlike Ferris, who was on the chubby side, Cathal had a lean wiry body much like Halt. He also had heavy black eyebrows another trait from Halt. The only physical trait he had gotten from his mother where her clear blue eyes.

"Yes Cathal?" Ashling asked.

"Where are you going?" Cathal asked.

"Mommy is leaving for a while," Ashling answered.

"How long is a while?" Cahtal asked curiously.

"You will not see me again till you are fifteen," Ashling answered impatiently. Monica frowned.

"Ashling you can hardly leave the boy without his mother for ten years!" she cried outraged.

"I can't stand it Monica. I am leaving the castle. Ferris doesn't need me," Ashling said.

"Then at least take the boy with you," Monica said.

"No he isn't coming with me," Ashling said stubbornly.

"But I want to come mommy," Cathal begged, his blue eyes had a pleading look in them.

"No Cathal you are not coming with me," Ashling snapped at him.

"But mommy-" Cathal began.

"No buts Cathal," Ashling snapped.

"You shouldn't snap at the boy Ashling. He needs you," Monica said sternly.

"I never intended to raise this child by myself Monica. He doesn't need me anyway. He has you Caitlyn and Ferris," Ashling replied her tone icy. Cathal was watching his mother wide eyed.

"A child needs his mother Ashling. You can't simply just leave him here like this. It is irresponsible," Monica snapped her tone icy as well.

"I don't care Monica. Ferris will likely marry someone else anyway and that poor woman would be Cathal's mother. Cathal was a mistake Monica and you know it. I will not be tied to Ferris for the rest of my life because of Cathal. Had he not been born I could have left with you know who and not be forced to be by Ferris's side," Ashling said angrily her temper getting the better of her. She had completely forgotten about her son who had been listening the whole time. The boy hadn't said anything after his mother had snapped at him for the second time. Now he started to cry and tears streamed from his blue eyes and ran down his cheeks.

"You don't love me mommy," Cathal sobbed through tears.

"Oh Cathal of course she does. Your mother is just angry people say hurtful things in their anger," Monica said gently hopping to keep the boy from getting hurt anymore. She did glare at Ashling though as she tried to sooth the heartbroken child.

"We are done here," Ashling said coldly. She mounted her horse and left the stables leaving Cathal and Monica behind.

"Don't expect a warm welcome when you get back," Monica snapped angrily at Ashling's retreating figure. She then turned to the sobbing boy. Cathal had fallen to the ground and was crying hard. His arms were wrapped around his legs and his head was buried in between them.

"It's ok Cathal let's go back to our game," Monica said gently. She helped the sobbing boy back to his room.

"Monica what happened?" Caitlyn asked when she entered the room.

"His mother broke his heart," Monica answered. She had sat down on Cathal's bed and was trying to get the grief stricken boy to eat something.

"Aunt Cat?" Cathal asked though tears and sniffing a little. 'Cat' had been Halt's childhood nickname for his sister and Monica used it often.

"Yes Cathal?" Caitlyn asked sitting beside him.

"Does daddy love me?" Cathal asked. Caitlyn thought very quickly about how to answer that. Cathal's 'daddy' most certainly didn't love him. Ferris could care less about Cathal…then again he didn't care much about anyone in his family. Cathal's real father probably would love him with all his heart did he know Cathal even existed.

"Yes…I suspect your father loves you very much," Caitlyn answered slowly. Caitlyn got a weird image of her brother twisting the truth just like she had done so Cathal wouldn't hurt anymore.

"Your mother will come back Cathal," Monica said gently whipping the tears from the boy's checks.

"Mommies don't hurt their children," Cathal sniffed. "Can you be my new mommy?" Cathal asked Monica.

"If you want me to be," Monica answered.

"I do," Cathal answered.

Ashling isn't a very good mother is she? Please review