A/N: Ohai. This is my first attempt at writing my own seperate thing and I wanted to get a little feedback, so I though "what better place than FanFiction, eh?" So, yeah...well, theres nothing I can really say, besides its my first story in a while, blahblahblah...also, I would actually love it if you were harsh, rather than skirting around a problem. Anyways, have fun and I hope you enjoy.
The Legend of Siadhan
Chapter 1: Trouble and a Job
The night was dark and moonless, the kind of night that makes you hide in your house with your family, hoping that nothing happens, for, even though you do not speak of it, you all know that something is bound to happen, something that may just go beyond anything you could imagine.
The normally crowded streets of Draoidh were now empty, save for the Bogills and the Draugrs, who thrived in the night, on the fear that was produced by the dark, especially on this night of all nights, for there was something big coming, they could feel it. A storm was brewing, and they all wanted to be there to see it.
Siadhan, oblivious to all that was going on outside, was in the midst of arguing with a pirate, in a pub, aptly named The Limp Shark. The argument, having started off as just a 'friendly' (for you can't really call any conversation with a pirate 'friendly') discussion about the price of gold, had just turned into a verbal spew of insults and name calling, soon to be punches and kicks.
The pirate had just insulted Siadhan, saying that his job was worthless and stupid, though not in so many words.
"Aye, weel, ye canne really say tha' now can ye?" Siadhan said, narrowing his eyes, "Seein' as yer a pirate an' aw'."
The pub grew silent. It was only as he watched a giant fist coming towards his face that he realised his mistake. You were never to call out a pirate on his job if you valued your various body parts…or your life.
Siadhan had just enough time to duck out of the way, hurling himself to the left, and raising his fists.
"Ha ha! Ya think ya can fight me, eh?" the pirate said, cracking his knuckles. "Ya look a little too scrawny ter be challengin' someone like me, eh?"
And the pirate was right. Siadhan was short, only 5'6", and looked as though he had never eaten a thing in his life, though, as the pirate had observed, he ate like a hog. He had dark brown, almost black, hair, that just brushed his shoulders, and hazel eyes that sparkled green in the light. His face was lightly tanned, due to many days spent wandering the forests and plains of Hidse.
As an answer to the pirates lingering question, Siadhan raised his fists a little more, and charged. The pirate easily avoided the attack, side stepping Siadhan, who went tumbling to the floor.
Laughter filled the pub as the pirate placed his foot on Siadhan's throat.
"Not even a fight!" the pirate said, spitting on Sidhan's face as he pressed down harder on his neck.
Siadhan's vision blurred and turned black as he struggled for air, clawing at the foot that pinned his throat to the floor.
Suddenly, the pressure was gone. Siadhan gasped for air, rolling onto his side, clutching his neck. He looked up in time to see the pirate start to fall, drifting towards him. He rolled out of the way, smacking his back on a table leg, and started to stand up, only to be attacked by what seemed to be a stick of wood.
"You idiot! Do you even know what you're doing?" a girlish voice screamed as more blows landed on his back. "You could have DIED!" The blows stopped, and Siadhan turned around, only to come face to face with a lethal looking bow. Said bow was being wielded by one Brùidealacd, his companion and best friend. Brùi was tall for a woman, standing at 5'11", and was built better than most men. Her hair was a short blond bob, and she had freckles, seemingly thrown half-hazardly across her face. She was, by far, the manlier of the two, even though she was a woman. Most men cringed when she walked into a room, not because she was ugly, because she was far from it, but her aura repelled them. She owed this to the fact that she was part Leanhaun Shee, or Faery Mistress. They tended to repel all those who were not her mate, though she may choose to turn off her repel for certain people, like Siadhan.
They had once tried to date, but it hadn't working out, this being before Brùi knew of her descent, and finding out that Siadhan preferred the 'bedroom company', as Brùi called it, of males, rather than females.
"Ye ken, beatin' me up doe'n't really help me much." Siadhan said, his voice a little raspy and his throat hurting more with every word.
"Well, you should have known better than to challenge someone as big as him, without Aog Làmhadh!" Brùi said, waving her bow about in irritation. Aog Làmhadh was Siadhan's hatchet. Aptly named Death Hatchet, it was large, taller than Siadhan, who, at first, couldn't even pick it up. Its handle was made of strong, heavy wood, with jade embroidery of vines, starting on the bottom, working its way up, spreading out to cover the blade, the jade changing to marble vines on a dark gray, almost black, metal that has yet to be identified. The blade is stained red from past owners use.
"Weel, 'e didnae leave me much choice, now did 'e?" Siadhan said, massaging his neck and back. Brùi glared at him, replacing her bow on her back. She started towards him, intending to help out, but only succeeding in making him back away.
"Do you want me to help you, or not?" Brùi said, irritated. Siadhan relented, dropping his arms and stepping towards the large woman, who opened the bag that hung on her side and taking out a clear vial containing a strange blue liquid.
"Here, drink this; it'll help your throat, at least for a little while. The boss needs to see us."
Siadhan downed the contents of the bottle in a few short gulps, shuddering as the liquid slid down his throat, feeling it start to work immediately.
"What for?" he said, handing her back the vial and wiping his mouth.
"I don't know, he wouldn't say, but we better get going. Don't want to keep him waiting; you know what happens when we do."
They started walking, going the opposite way of the pub. The boss's place wasn't far, only a block or so. It was a rundown house that looked abandoned to the untrained eye. From the outside it looked slopped and falling apart, but from the inside, it was posh and luxurious. The main room, the only one Brùi and Siadhan were allowed to see, was filled with plush, over-stuffed chairs, a soft, shaggy black carpet, white walls covered in beautiful art that was most likely pilfered or stolen from some rich bastards who were now down a few thousand gold worth of art.
The boss himself was a rather large and intimidating man, who looked like he would rather punch you in the face than talk to you, but when you got to know him, he was really very sensitive and intelligent. He was bald and scarred, his right eye permanently shut due to the big scar running across it.
"Awrite, boss, hou ar ye?" Siadhan said as he skipped into the room ahead of Brùi, already forgetting what had happened earlier. Siadhan liked the boss; he was like a father to him, having raised him since he was 7.
"I'm pretty good, Sia, how are you?" Boss said, standing up and offering Brùi a seat.
"Weel…A been better…a'most go' keeled by a pirate." Siadhan said, flopping onto the chair that was offered to Brùi. Boss and Brùi exchanged a look, and Boss offered her another chair.
"Really? What did you do this time, eh, Sia?" Boss said, taking his seat, a grin on his face.
"Whit? Why does awbody aways blame me for these things?" Siadhan exclaimed, flapping his arms about.
"Because you always start them." Boss said, pouring some tea and offering a cup to Siadhan, who crossed his arms and pouted.
"Oh, come on, Siadhan, you know he's right." Brùi said, taking the cup that Boss offered her. Siadhan sighed and uncrossed his arms, taking the cup that Boss had set in front of him.
"Thank ye." He said, sipping on his tea. "Soooo, whit ye wan' ter see us aboot?"
"Well…I have a job for you. In the Plains of Mysya." Boss said, holding up his hand to silence Siadhan and Brùi when they tried to speak. "Now, before you say anything, the job pays well. 300 gold, in fact."
"Bu' awbody kens tha' the Plains o' Mysya are indwalled by th' Slaugh!" Siadhan said, putting down his cup.
"We'll take it." Brùi said suddenly. Siadhan looked at her, shocked. She stared right back. "It's a good job and it pays well. Besides, we can take on any Slaugh. You have Aog Làmhadh and I have my bow. We'll be ok."
Siadhan sighed and thought for a while, before nodding. "Awrite, A'll do it. Bu' it be'er be wor' it."
"Oh, it will be. Now, what I need you to do is this: find the tree of Faotainn A-Mach and take leaf from it."
"The tree of Faotainn A-Mach? Who wants it?" Brùi asked, looking sceptical.
"That's for me to know. You still want the job?" Boss asked, looking from Brùi to Siadhan and back.
"Aye, we'll taek it." Siadhan said, standing up from his chair. "A' need Aog Làmhadh."
"Absolutely, it's right over there." Boss said, pointing to the corner where the hatchet lay, waiting.
"Thank ye, Boss. We'll git back ter ye as soon as we ca'"
They walked out, Siadhan strangely silent. After a few moments of silence he finally asked:
"Ar' we walkin', er ar' we takin' Arion?" Arion was a horse, swifter than any other, and big enough to fit up to four people. He could get them there in less than an hour, when it would take 3 days to walk, non-stop.
"Let's take Arion. It'll take less time."
"Gud. A'll go git 'im ready. Canne ye go git some fud fer th' road?" Siadhan said, walking backwards down the street, towards the stables.
"Sure, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Siadhan continued on his way, waving to the stable-hand as he entered the stable, grabbing his saddle and reins. He walked down the row of horses, saying hello to the helpers he met on the way. As he reached Arion, he slowed, calling out his name and waiting for the tell-tale clicking of his hooves on the ground.
Arion whinnied when he caught sight of Siadhan, flicking his head about and nuzzling the palm that was held forward for him. It took Siadhan 5 minutes to get the saddle and reins, and by the time he was done, Brùi was back, carrying a saddle bag full of bread and dried meat.
They left soon after, Siadhan kicking Arion into full gear and steering him towards the Mysya Plains.
A/N: Soooo, what did you guys think? I may actually upload the second chapter, seeing as I have it already done...
Anyways, review please, I would love to hear what you have to say!