Alright here is my new attempt at this story. This version takes place almost intimately after book ten and disregards the Lost Stories and Royal Ranger. To clear things up Cathal is just a few years younger then Gilan. I can easily imagine Gil being born before or during the first war against Morgrath. Cathal would be born roughly the same time just a few years behind. I also like this version better because I don't have to explain where Cathal is during the books. I also have a one shot up featuring Cathal's early life with his mother. If this version doesn't feel right then I will just abandoned the story all together because this is the only other way I can think of doing this.
I am not a guy and I don't live in Australia so please don't mistake me for John Flangan
Chapter 1
Halt and Crowley rode silently through the night. Halt had returned to Clonmel after a starling letter had reached him. Sean had been going through Ferris's things when he found letters between a woman named Ashling and Ferris concerning a child. The child's name was never mentioned however. Sean had asked around and found out that very few people even knew of him/her. Because of the way he was conceived he had been kept hidden from most people.
Princes were expected to have a certain feel about them. A child born outside of marriage indicated the king was experiencing inappropriate behavior. Particularly if that same girl was the girlfriend of the king's supposedly dead brother, Halt had fallen for the daughter of one of his guards. Ashling was a beautiful red head with clear blue eyes. Of course Halt had to fall in love with entirely the wrong person. While Ashling was beautiful she had a short fuse and a not so charming personality. Halt had needed a more charming partner so his parents hadn't approved of his relationship with her. Ferris had taken advantage of this and started trying to court her. Halt felt it was his duty to look after whatever child she had conceived. Now she was the mother of his nephew. Ferris hadn't said a word about having a son or daughter. Sean of course wanted to meet with his cousin having no idea that the two actually already knew each other.
As soon as he had returned from his trip in Nihon-Ja he found Sean's letter asking for his help. Halt hadn't wanted to return to Clonmel alone and had no desire to drag Cassandra and Horace away from possible wedding plans. Will, of course, would need to be on hand to help. Halt could have asked Gilan but Crowley was more level headed. Halt liked Gilan but in this situation he felt more comfortable having Crowley with him. Crowley was an old friend and knew Halt's ways better than most. Crowley was beyond thrilled to leave his mountain of paper work to some poor unlucky retried Ranger and come to Halt's birth country. It really was a shock to him seeing a different culture but Crowley was a quick learner.
When morning finally came Halt and Crowley were deep into the woods surrounding Clonmel. The horses, whom had been quiet for quite some time, rumbled almost silent warnings. The sun had risen and was shining bright. Halt pulled Abelard to a stop and Crowley stopped Cropper beside him. Then the red-head dismounted and pretended to check Cropper's hoof. Halt let his eyes scan the terrain. The trees and the shadows they cast made it easy for attackers to hide. Before either man could blink an arrow flew through the air hitting a massive buck a short distance away. The buck fell to its knees then flipped over on its side.
"Nice shot," Crowley breathed beside Halt. Halt nodded and slowly dismounted. He gave Crowley a signal to stay put. Hunting a buck that size in Hibernia was illegal unless someone of noble birth was doing the hunting. Halt crept towards the carcass waiting for the killer to revel himself. Halt glanced behind him and saw Crowley had an arrow nocked and pointed in his general direction. Halt turned back around and that was when he saw him.
It was a man of about 26 wearing a clock to keep the rain off. He moved silently through the woods to his kill. In his hands a massive longbow. A quiver on his back held 11 arrows a dagger was on his side. He stopped by the deer and gently worked his arrow out of the stag's side. When Halt got closer he realized that man was short like he was and wiry. Halt wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to call out or not. The man turned and let out a soft whistle. A black horse trotted forward. The man rose from his spot and approached the horse. He stroked it gently on the muzzle and talked sweetly to it.
"Hello," Halt inquired deciding he needed to say something. The man didn't whip around. His right hand dropped to the dagger on his side and he turned slowly and calmly.
"Who is there?" he asked. The thick Hibernian accent was easy to pick up.
"The name is O'Carrick," Halt said purposely not giving his first name. O'Carrick was the royal family name anyway and would be well known. Halt may have once been a prince but many people still believed him dead. It wouldn't be a good idea to spoke this guy.
"O'Carrick uh? The royal family of Clonmel," the man said. The disgust in his voice was all too obvious.
"Yes O'Carrick as in the royal family. I just want to talk to you," Halt said softly not wanting to anger the man.
"Alright then come here where I can see you," the man snarled slightly. Halt complied wondering what Crowley was thinking. The man turned to look at him as he came out. Now side by side Halt could tell they were the same height. The man had a hood up that masked his features.
"I have no wish to harm you, I only come to confirm or deny the rumors that are circulating Clonmel," Halt said softly.
"What rumors," the man asked. Halt noticed his not so well hidden curiosity.
"Rumors that you are the son of Ferris O'Carrick and the rightful heir to the throne of Clonmel," Halt said. The man visibly tensed at the name Ferris.
"Ferris isn't my father," the man snapped clearly agitated that Halt would think such a thing. Halt for his part was surprised.
"Ferris isn't your father?" he asked.
"No that coward isn't my birth father. Ferris was too cruel to love a child to cruel to give a damn about me. He never deserved the crown," the man said, the hatred for Ferris obvious in his voice.
"But I have heard from some people that you look like him," Halt said puzzled. The man nodded and threw back his cowl. That was when Halt got a good look at his features. The man showed a resemblance to him and Ferris. He had black hair which was short and at least slightly neater then Halt's. He had heavy black eyebrows and instead of brown eyes his were a startling blue. His skin was tanned from spending time out in the sun. All and all not a typical prince look.
"It is a pity," the man said bitterly.
"Well if you aren't Ferris's son then who are you?" Halt asked.
"Cathal Halt O'Carrick," the man said.
"Why is your middle name Halt?" the Ranger asked.
"My mother said she gave me my middle name to remind me who my true father is," Cathal said. Halt's eyes widened slightly at this news.
"Your father is Prince Halt?" Halt asked just to make sure that he had heard Cathal right.
"Yea that's him. Mom said he abandoned us before I was born. She told my uncle Ferris that I was his child and the moron believed it. When I turned five my mother left. I know she returned when I was fifteen pretty angry. Not that it matters I don't even call her mother anymore. When I asked her about it she said she was looking for my father and couldn't find him. She never believed he was dead. Neither did my aunt Caitlyn. She got married and had Sean. I was just sort of left on my own when I was young. Ferris could never make father of the year if he tried. The moment I was able I fled the castle to live out in the woods. It was too hard to watch Ferris mess with other women after my mom died. Besides I prefer the woods anyhow. My 'mother' wrote it all down for me before she passed," Cathal explained. Halt shook his head. He found this very hard to believe. Ash had been nothing but loving and caring when he was young. She had changed though evidently.
"Did anyone besides your mother know the truth about your parentage?" Halt asked. Cathal nodded.
"Yes, aunt Cat knew and so did her husband, who Ferris killed not too long ago, oh and the midwife. She knew when mom told her she was expecting and somehow put two and two together and got four. She was more of a mother to me then my real one," Cathal explained.
"Um Cathal….I am Halt," Halt said. Cathal took a step back startled.
"What! I am your son," Cathal cried clearly startled.
"Cathal I am so sorry. I had no idea Ash was pregnant in fact I didn't even know she was looking for me. Listen there isn't a life for you here come with me," Halt said. He held out his hand and waited for his son to get over the shock of finding out his father was alive and kicking.
"Halt…I mean dad….I….," Cathal trailed off.
"I know it is a lot to take in…where do you live?" Halt asked. Cathal gestured vaguely back behind them.
"It is a cabin in the woods," Cathal said.
"Alright then I am going to grab my friend Crowley and then we will head to your place," Halt said. Cathal nodded and field dressed the dead deer, and got him ready to come with him. Halt went back to the horses and led Crowley and the horses back over to a waiting Cathal.
"Cathal this is Crowley Mertayn one of my oldest friends and also my boss. Crowley this is Cathal…my son," Halt said. The red head turned to look at him in startled surprise.
"Cathal is your son! I thought we were looking for Ferris's son," Crowley said. Cathal growled at the name Ferris. Crowley made a soothing gesture.
"Well Cathal says he is my son and I believe him," Halt said. Crowley shook his head still puzzled but trusting Halt.
"Well nice to meet you Cathal," Crowley said grinning at him.
"You left Hibernia for Arualuen?" Cathal asked puzzled picking up on the accent.
"Yes it is complicated. In fact my life is complicated," Halt said pursing his lips. Cathal chuckled slightly at that.
"Well there is isn't a lot of room at my place but you two are welcome to come," Cathal said. Halt could still sense the slight distrust in his voice and really didn't blame him at all.
"Don't worry about it Cathal we can sleep out in the woods if you don't have room," Crowley said willing to compromise.
"I guess we will just have to wait and see," was Cathal's only reply.
Cathal led the way to his cabin in the woods. Cathal let his black stallion pick the way through the trees and Halt and Crowley contented themselves with following. Smoke curled from the chimney when they arrived at Cathal's cabin in the trees.
Cathal dismounted and tended to his horse then let him graze in the small little pasture by the cabin. Halt and Crowley did much the same and when they were done the three of them strolled into the cabin. Inside Halt spotted two women moving around. One had long red hair that was tied in a braid down her back. She turned when they opened the door and Halt saw hazel eyes. The girl was a few years younger than Cathal. The other woman walked stooped over and used a cane to get around. Her hair was white, showing her obvious old age. Halt suspected she might even be at least somewhat deaf because she didn't turn when they walked in. She might have also been somewhat blind to because she ran into the corner of the only table in the room. Cathal instantly left Halt's side and went straight to the old woman.
"Mother are you alright?" Cathal asked. The woman turned to look for the voice and Halt saw green eyes.
"Cathal are you back yet?" the woman asked.
"Yes I am back…you need to watch where you are going mother," Cathal said. The woman smiled.
"Cathal I am an old woman and I run into things," she said then coughed. Concern filled Cathal's blue eyes.
"Are you sure mother?" Cathal asked nervously.
"I think I know her," Halt whispered to Crowley. The red-head raised an eyebrow.
"What makes you think you know her?" Crowley asked.
"When I was a little boy this woman named Monica took care of me and Ferris when my parents got preoccupied. I think this might be her," Halt replied.
"Little Halt?" the woman asked waving her cane in the air. Crowley snorted on his laughter but Halt knew right then and there it was Monica. She was the only one who called him that.
New spin and new take. I added Crowley because I love reading about him and Halt in John's new book. Please review and enjoy and the next chapter will be up when I get enough reviews.