A/N: An idea I had. Please review!!
Prologue
Shayla awoke in a cold sweat. She could feel it. Something was not right. She looked at her husband, Yannick, sleeping soundly next to her. She left the sanctuary of her warm pallet and walked to her children's room. Fiona was asleep on her pallet as well, her flame hair thrown all over the pillow. Ronan was curled in a ball next her. Shayla sighed. Her overactive senses were causing her much stress lately. But tucked in the countryside of Effluahbn, she knew her and her family were safe on their farm. She walked back into her room and laid back down in her pallet next to Yannick.
A scream pierced the calm night air. Shayla sat up quickly. I knew something was wrong. She ran to the window. Peering outside, she saw the nearby town silhouetted against the night sky by flames. Sabhaile was under attack. She pressed her face to the window, searching for evidence as to who was responsible for the attack. Suddenly, a black flag with a red snake was raised on the town's watchtower. The flag of Deileoir, a nearby kingdom.
Shayla ran back into her bedroom and shook her husband awake. "Yannick!" she cried. "Yannick, wake up!"
Yannick sat up, his dark hair tousled. "What?" he asked, groggy.
"Sabhaile is under attack!" she said. "Deileoirion riders, burning the town!"
They sat in silence for a moment. Then, the sounds of petrified shrieks and angry yells flooded into their room. They could hear the savage whinnies of the Deileoirion horses, the slice of their swords in the night, the sound of crackling thatch being burnt.
Yannick's eyes widened. "Take Fiona and Ronan to the stable. Get them on a horse, send them to Ceannaire , to Ganphian. They'll be safe there," he said. "Shayla, you know that there is more at stake here than just them. Think. Centuries of ancestors."
"I know," said Shayla. "But Ganphian is three days ride! They're but children!"
Yannick shook his head. "She's nine, he's six," he said seriously. "They can do it."
Shayla ran into their room. She shook Fiona. "Fiona, darling, wake up. Mam has a task for you to do," she said, waking up her daughter.
Fiona opened her eyes, and sat up. "What's all that yelling?" she said, her voice small.
"Nothing," said Shayla, shaking Ronan. "Ronan, come with Mammy and Fiona. Get your cloaks- the wool ones."
She took them to the front of the house, were the flames of the town illuminated Yannick getting dressed and gathering weapons. He looked seriously at Fiona and Ronan, his eyes soft.
"Fiona, Ronan, you are going on a little trip for Mammy and I," he said seriously. "Mam will take you to the stables. You are to ride, without stopping, to Ganphian. That's in Ceannaire, do you understand?"
Fiona nodded. "Will you and Mam meet us there?" she asked.
Shayla nodded. "Yes, love," she said.
Yannick handed Fiona a quiver of arrows and a bow. "Use these only if you must," he said.
He kissed them each on the forehead. "I love you both very much," he said seriously, and walked out of the room.
Ronan began crying. "Where's Father going?" he cried.
"Shh, it's okay," said Fiona. "We'll meet him in Ganphian. Shh, don't cry."
Shayla looked at her children, both so innocent and confused. Her eyes filled with tears as she took them by the hands and ran to the stable with them. She found a young, strong stallion and threw a blanket over it, and put a simple harness around it's muzzle. She kissed Ronan on the cheek, and lifted him onto the horse. She then helped Fiona onto the horse's back, behind Ronan, and kissed her too. She handed Fiona the reins.
Shayla took both of the their hands. "Fiona, watch out for your brother. Ronan, be a good boy, you hear? Listen to your sister. Ride like the wind children. I'll love you forever," she said.
And with that, she slapped the horse and it took off. Fiona and Ronan rode in the forest, stopping only to look back to see their town of Sabhaile going up in flames.
Two days later, their horse galloped to the high stone walls of Ganphian. It was dawn, and the two soldiers on duty were surprised to see the horse pawing at the ground in front of the thick wooden doors.
"Open the doors," he called down, walking down the stairs to the ground.
His eyes widened when he saw what the horse carried. On it's back were two children, a young girl with flame red hair and a small, brown haired boy. They barely looked to be alive; they were slumped over the front of the horse, the girl clutching the little boy. He quickly ordered more soldiers to take these children to the king. The men lifted the girl and the boy off their horse and carried them carefully to the Hall of Ganphian.
One soldier spoke to the men standing at the door. They nodded and opened the doors. Light from the hall hit the children, and they began to stir. As the soldiers walked towards the king, he shooed away his advisors and stood up in outrage.
"You cannot just barge in here, men! I am having a meeting with my advisors, and was not to be disturbed!" he yelled.
The first soldier bowed deeply. "We're sorry, King Cadogan, but we thought you should see this," he said, moving to the side.
The two soldiers placed Fiona and Ronan in front of him. "Good Tiarna!" he said. "Who are these children?"
"We know not, sire," said the first soldier. "They arrived but ten minutes ago, almost dead on their horse."
The king called an attendant over, whispered to her, and she ran away. "I sent Oona for the healers," he said, walking to the girl. "Lord Tiarna above, her head seems to be on fire."
He leaned in close to look at her, but her features were almost indistinguishable, for her face, hands, and clothing was caked in dirt and sand. As if on command, Fiona suddenly gasped and sat up. Her eyes wide, she looked around, terrified, and noticed her brother laying on the ground.
"Ronan!" she cried, scurrying to him. She pulled him onto her lap. "If you pigs laid a finger on him, I will make you regret the day you were born."
She glared at them, her green eyes afire with passion. The men in the hall looked at each other and burst out laughing. The hall was filled with bellows and cries of mirth. Fiona looked around, torn between crying and attacking them.
Finally, one of them spoke up. "Milady, do you know you're in the presence of the King of Ceannaire?" he said.
Fiona bowed her head. "I am sorry, my lord," she said, not the least bit abashed.
"What is your name, little flame?" asked the king, standing up.
Fiona stood up and curtsied. "Fiona, your highness. This is my brother, Ronan," she said, gesturing to her brother lying on the ground.
Cadogan gasped. "What did you say your name was?" he said.
"Fiona," she replied.
The king's eyes grew wide. "How did you acquire that name, milady?" he asked.
Fiona laughed. "You know, your majesty, people ask me that quite often," she said absentmindedly. "My mother, Lady Shayla of Effluahbn, said that Tiarna told her in a dream to name her first daughter that."
The king nodded, shocked. Fiona? He wondered. He knew the name was uncommonly used, in fact, it was virtually forbidden. No one named their child Fiona since, well, everyone knew that story.
"And why have you come to Ganphian, young Fiona?" King Cadogan asked, trying to get the child to dispense more information.
Fiona took a deep breath. "My Mam and Father had me ride here. They didn't tell me why, but I know why I was sent here. Our town, Sabhaile, in Effluahbn, was under attack by Deileoirion riders," she said.
"I see," the king said.
"Are Mam and Da here?" she asked, her eyes wide.
The king swallowed, unsure of how to answer her question. "I'm afraid not, little flame," he said. "I…I fear they're dead."
Fiona's eyes filled with innocent tears. She walked to her brother and sat next to him, clutch his hand and stroking his hair. She swallowed and turned to the king.
"Sire, will you be sending my brother and I back to Sabhaile?" she asked simply.
The king shook his head. "No, no, of course not," he said, his eyes soft. He paused for a moment, thinking. "This is much to ask, but would anyone be interested in taking care of these children?"
The court laughed, the king stood tall. He knew what he asked was bizarre and difficult, and yet he had hoped someone would be willing to take them in.
A young knight stepped forward. "I will," he said calmy.
The king shook his head. "No, Uther, you already have five children," he said.
"Five?" said Ronan, sitting up. "Do you have any boys?"
Uther bent down next to him and nodded. "Yes," he replied. "Four."
"Four?" cried Ronan, excited. "Are any of them six, like me?"
"Ronan, stop pestering him," said Fiona.
"I don't mind, really," said Uther to Fiona.
Fiona raised her eyebrows. "You have one daughter, then?" she asked cautiously.
Uther laughed at her precociousness. "Yes," he replied. "And you're a smart girl."
Fiona beamed. "Thank you, sir," she said, curtsying.
The king smiled. "Uther, would you mind taking milady Fiona and her brother in to your home?" he said. "I shall give you something…extra, if you know what I'm saying."
Uther smiled. "Moira and I would like nothing more, your highness," he said genuinely.
He looked at Fiona nicely. She looked back at him, studying him. He had calm brown eyes, a pointy, weathered face, and dirty reddish brown hair cut just above his shoulders. He walked to her and took her by the hand, and picked up Ronan, taking them to his home.
The town was atwitter in gossip. Did you hear? They'd say. Yes! A flame-haired girl named Fiona! They spoke in whispers, wondering, thinking. Could she be? Could it be true?
A/N: What do you think? I kind of got the idea from LOTR: The Two Towers. Don't worry, I'll make it good! Please please please review! I'd love you if you did!