Title:Banshee 1/?
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
WAFF vs TAFF 2001
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
AN:This is NOT in anyway a historical story.This is merely a fictitious
story by me.Also...please don't say my grammar should be my instead of
me.I'm trying to create an accent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the olden days of Ireland,mothers told their children tales of pixies
and leprechauns.But one of the most famous Irish folk-tales is of the
Banshee.A belief that is clearly very ancient and still strong in various
parts of Ireland.The tradition goes back to the early 8th century...
Year 1040,
Ireland,O'Monaghan Keep
Serena O'Monaghan,19 years old with silver-blonde hair and blue eyes
peered around the corners of O'Monaghan Keep,looking out for any of the
adults.Being the oldest daughter in the O'Monaghan clan,her father was
determined to marry her off.
Serena didn't like it.She liked to practice swords rather than walk
around in court playing courtly love with her many suitors as her sisters
liked to do.
Serena's mouth curled is disdain at the thought of her sisters,Moira,
and Abigail.All they did was prance about looking for husbands,like men,
fishing.It was disgusting.At least her youngest had sense enough to
not act like a man-hunting wench.
*Why wasn't I born a boy like Sean and Rory??*wondered Serena as she
fingered the blade she carried with her.Her brothers were the lucky ones.
They were escorting the O'Connors here.
Serena sighed.The O'Connor clan had long been at war with the O'Monaghans.
But now,there had been a call of peace.Still...she knew the tension and
many of the clan were paranoid.
"There ye are lass!!"exclaimed a voice.
Serena froze.She was caught...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But papa!!Ye know I hate dressin' up!!"protested Serena.
"Och,I don't care.Ye are me daughter.I'll nae have the O'Connors see ye
prancin' about in those breeches.'Tis high time ye were wed.Ye already
19 years-old,child."snapped her father,marching out of her chambers.
Serena glared at her reflection in the mirror.Tugging at the dress,
Serena pulled up the material to cover more of her bosom.
"Why cannae Sean or Rory be the ones t'marry.I don't believe the
O'Connors don't have a girl to spare."frowned Serena as she tugged at her
dress.
"Och,quit ye fussin' sister.I cannae imagine why papa would want to
marry ye off t'anyone."said Moira who was sitting on the bed.
"And why is that???"
"Ye're such a foundling.Ye have no class.Ye would disgrace the clan!!Ye
with all ye daggers and swords.Acch,may the lord protect us."said Moira
getting up and walking towards the mirror.
Serena frowned at her younger sister,then turned to stare at their
reflections in the mirror.Her younger sister had bright green eyes and
wavy red-gold hair.Many of their clan had praised Moira as a beauty
uncompared.While Serena was merely the plain and tom-boyish older sister.
It was true...she,Serena O'Monaghan was a plain pale creature.Serena
stared at her face.Her face was too pale.Her nose was too snubbish.Her hair
was too stringy.She was too skinny.Her face was like a weasel's.Her only
pride was her eyes.Blue like a clear summer sky.
"Out."snapped Serena.
"But papa told me t'make sure ye were dressed for the arrival o'-"
protested Moira.
"OUT!!"barked Serena once more.
Moira scurried out of the room.Leaving her oldest sister alone.
Serena sighed.It wasn't her fault if she didn't see the good in getting
herself married off to some warrior.Learning to defend oneself was much
more useful than learning how to prance and dance.It also wasn't her
fault she was painfully shy...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15 miles from O'Monaghan Keep,
As Darien O'Connor rode his black stallion closer and closer to
O'Monaghan Keep,his aprehension grew.His clan had agreed to a peace between
their clans.But their families had been at war with each other for so
long,was it even possible to achieve this peace??
His father wasn't telling him how they were planning on achieving it.
He looked ahead towards the grey destrier mounted by his father.His father
had been awfully secretive.Even his brothers and sisters didn't know of his
father's plan.His gaze shifted to the O'Monaghan brothers.They seemed so
easy going and were laughing at jokes and talking.
Darien sighed.His father was up to something.And himself,being the eldest
son of 24 years,he was sure,his father was planning something that involved
him.
His younger brother's horse came up next to his.
"Darien,do ye really think the O'Monaghans are sincere about this??"
asked his brother,Eamon.
"I suppose they are,Eamon.I've nae seen O'Connor men look so at ease
with their foes."answered Darien."How fare our sisters??"
"Shannon is as usual thinkin' of all the parties t'come.Genny is
sleepin' like a babe."smiled his brother.
"Well,we should be arrivin' at O'Monaghan Keep soon.So,ye better go tell
Genny and Shannon."
"Aye,"agreed his brother.
Darien smiled as his brother slowed his horse and waited for the
carriage being escorted by others of the O'Connor clan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena seated herself on a hay pile and watched as her cousins and
other relatives peered at her in an odd fashion.She frowned to herself.
She knew what had triggered their shock.She,Serena O'Monaghan was usually
seen in breeches,and was usually a common sight.But she,in a skirt was
indeed rare.
"I'm nae a jester here!!!"exclaimed Serena angrily towards her relatives.
"Nae,cousin.Of course ye're nae a jester.'Tis just...ye look very
different 'tis all."commented one of her cousins.
"Papa insisted I wear a dress."sniffed Serena disdainfully.
"Come now lass,it cannae be all that bad.In fact,ye look very pretty."
smiled her uncle.
"That's because ye're nae wearin' the dress,uncle."groaned Serena.
"Now now,niece.Ye're a lass.Ye wouldn't ask one of the kitchen lads t'wear
a dress,now would ye???"laughed her uncle.
"Nae."
"There.Ye see??'Tis all fai-"
"The O'Connors are here!!The O'Connors are here!!"exclaimed a young
boy as he dashed through the courtyard.
The boy stopped in front of Serena.
"Mistress,ye father wants ye at the gates,now."informed the boy before
he dashed off once again.
Serena frowned and picked up her skirts,running towards the main gates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stopped next to her sisters who were already there and were
patting their skirts and hair.
"Serena!!Where've ye been???Papa has nae been able t'find ye."said her
third sister,Abigail.Teresa nodded."Papa was furious."
Serena glanced at her youngest sisters and noted their perfect
complexions.Abigail had blonde hair and green eyes while Teresa had
red-gold hair and blue-green eyes.She turned her eyes to her second sister,
Moira who stood there haughtily.Her red-gold head held up proudly.
She felt small hands pat at her hair.Turning to her youngest sister,
Serena hissed a question at her.
"Yuir hair is all falling down,sister.Papa will nae be pleased!!"
exclaimed Teresa in dismay as she watched her sister's silver-blonde
curls fall in disarray around her shoulders.
"Och!I don't care.All the better for me.Perhaps THEN I can go off with
nae any disturbance.Moira can charm the men all by herself."snapped Serena.
"Serena."came a deep voice.
Serena saw her father's frown and quickly took her place before Moira
and kept silent like an obedient and demure lady.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien looked around O'Monaghan Keep and saw the curious looks the
O'Monaghan clan gave him and his clan.He dismounted when his father did
and turned to look at his siblings.His brothers,Eamon,Dougal and his
sisters Genny and Shannon were looking around in interest and curiousity.
His cousins though,were a little wary.
"Welcome to O'Monaghan Keep,Cormac O'Connor.I hope ye and ye clan'll be
comfortable here."smiled Donnell O'Monaghan.
"I hope so too."smiled O'Connor.
"Aye,my sons ye have met.These are me daughters,Serena,Moira,Abigail and
Teresa."smiled O'Monaghan as he pointed to the four girls behind him.
Darien's eyes moved over each girl.The youngest daughters were staring
proudly at him.However...the eldest was staring at the ground,her silver-
blonde hair falling around her shoulders.The second girl was staring at
him,her green eyes sparkling.The third had the same green eyes.But the
youngest daughter had blue eyes with only a hint of green.He was curious
to what the eldest daughter's eye colour was.With the abundace of beautiful
shining hair,did she have green eyes or blue???
"These are me sons,Darien,Eamon and Dougal.Me daughters,Genny and
Shannon."said O'Connor.
Donnell O'Monaghan noticed his eldest daughter with her head bent.He
sighed.That daughter of his was a bloody soul's nightmare.She didn't bow
to convention or propriety.She dressed in breeches!!Played with swords
instead of dolls!!She was a regular headache.But still...he loved her
more than any of his other daughters.
"Moira.Ye'll show the O'Connors their chambers."he said,as he watched
his eldest daughter's shoulders sag with relief.He shook his head to
himself.He knew,if it wasn't because there were strangers here,she would
have thrown herself at her brothers already.
"Me,papa??"echoed Moira in amazement.
"Aye."
Moira smiled brightly and quickly stepped forward latching onto Darien's
arm.
"'Tis this way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena kept her head bent until her father,the O'Connors and her sisters
had left before looking up and throwing herself at her brothers.
"Sean!!Rory!!I've missed ye!!"laughed Serena.
"Acch..same old Serena."grinned Rory as he hugged his younger sister.
"Aye.I was wondering when ye were going t'crack.I was surprised ye
managed t'hold 'till papa finished the introductions."teased Sean.
"Ye're a beast,Sean.Ye cannae have any sympathy for ye sister!!I've nae
had any fun lately.'Tis been boring.And enough is more'n enough!!"pouted
Serena.
"Ye look different sister.Like a real lady."smiled Rory.
"'Tis the dress,Papa insisted I wear it.I dinnae like the idea."sniffed
Serena in distaste.
"Come,lady.Ye mustnae stay outside here.Who knows what beasts lurk??"
laughed Sean jokingly.
"I can still take ye,brother.Dress or no."
The three siblings burst into merry laughter.
Darien had been hiding in the shadows of the castle wall.He'd escaped
the clutches of Moira and was curious as to why the eldest daughter didn't
follow them into the castle.He watched in amusement as she swatted at her
elder brothers.He still couldn't see her face which frustrated him.But what
he head was sweet merry laughter like tinkling bells.The sweetest voice
he'd ever heard....
He watched as the three siblings trudged away towards the courtyards.He
was about to follow when somebody found him.
"What are ye doin' there brother???"came Eamon's voice.
"Aye.Moira was lookin' all over for ye."said Teresa who was hanging onto
Eamon's arm.
"Nae a thing.I was just curious as t'what ye eldest sister looked like.
She kept her head bent during the introductions."confessed Darien.
"Serena???Yuir curious as t'what she looks like???I can tell ye.She's
plain and tom-boyish.Every one o'us at O'Monaghan Keep can tell ye that."
laughed a high nasal voice.
The three turned to see Moira.
Teresa frowned at her older sister."Must ye be so hard and unflatterin'
about Serena,Moira???I think she's very pretty."whispered Teresa.
"Whatever."sniffed Moira as she waved her hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night,the O'Monaghan clan held a feast to welcome the O'Connor
clan and to celebrate the peace between their families.
Darien looked around for the enigmatic older sister.He didn't see her.
He frowned.His father and O'Monaghan had just proposed a toast.Darien
lifted his goblet,his eyes still searching the room.The he spotted a
feminine figure hiding behind the O'Monaghan sisters across the dais where
he was seated.A veil covered the figure's face.
"To peace between our kin."said O'Monaghan.
"TO PEACE."echoed the room.
After the toast was over,the figure slipped out of the room like a
ghost.Darien got up...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena entered her chambers and pulled off the gown.She hated it.The
stuffy,restricting things.The toast was over and soon the feasting and
dancing would begin.She knew the clans would drink and dance themselves
into stupors on occasions like this.
Of course,Serena hated those type of occasions while her vapid sister,
Abigail,loved it.Her vain sister,Moira,thrived on it.Teresa would sometimes
retire early because father would wish it.
But Serena never stayed a second longer than needed.
Wearing her usual jerkins and breeches,Serena pulled her boots on to
complete her ensemble.Remembering her hair,Serena snatched a cap and
stuffed her hair underneath it.
Making her way towards the stable,Serena smiled.A cloudy night.Without
the aid of light,no one could possibly see her in the dark.
Serena heard footsteps behind her.She frowned slightly before her lips
quirked into a smile.One of her brothers was following her.One of them
always did...
Breaking into a run,she hid behind a tree until she heard the person
catch up and stop...
Darien frowned.Where had she gone???She'd broke into a sprint a few
minutes before.Had she realized he was following her???He didn't have
time to think before something tripped him and landed on top of him...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena smiled in triumph.
"Got ye,brother.Ye never could sneak up on me."she laughed in victory.
Unfortunately...what she got was a surprise,as the man she had jumped,was
NOT her brother....
"Aye,ye may have caught me,lass.But I'm nae yuir brother."
Serena jumped at the sound of the voice.It was a deep velvety voice.
Unlike her brother Sean's or Rory's.So,who was this??
Clouds moved and the moon peeked through the thick dark clouds,throwing
her silver rays on them.She squinted at the face.It belonged to a stranger
with dark ebony hair and midnight blue eyes.The face was beautifully
chistled.Her mouth seemed to go dry.There was an expression of amusement
on the man's face.
She jumped off the man and stood up and watched as the man got up.
His legs and arms were long and muscled.A sign of a warrior who had trained
and fought battles before.
Serena moved back a little in aprehension.
"Who are ye??"questioned Serena,her hand moving to the sword at her
belt.
"Woman,if'n ye were lookin' straight instead o'down this morning.Ye
wouldn't have t'ask now."sighed the man.
"Yuir an O'Connor???"asked Serena.
"Aye.My name is Darien O'Connor."
Darien smiled at Serena.He wanted to laugh so badly at her expression
of anxiety and aprehension.His eyes then took note that she was wearing
pants instead of a dress!!!
"Why were ye followin' me???"demanded Serena,her face beginning to flush.
She thanked the saints it was too dark for him to see the face as it was
probably red as a tomato.
"I was curious t'where ye were heading.And also as t'what ye looked
like."answered Darien truthfully.
Serena frowned."Curious as t'what I look like??"
"Aye."
Serena snorted,trying to hold in laughter."Certainly nae as beautiful
as Moira.She's the one me clan call a beauty uncompared."said Serena."I'm
merely the plain one."
"The plain one who likes t'sneak off wearin' breeches???"asked Darien
cocking an eyebrow.
Serena glared at Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning....
Serena was careful to avoid stepping on her clan men and the O'Connor
men.Some of them had barely made it back to their chambers.
Serena winced.Reaching the great hall,she took a peek and saw men and
women sleeping on the stone floors,steps and dais's.
She shook her head in exasperation.
Reaching the kitchen,she saw the kitchen staff rushing around.
she giggled to herself as she saw Cook ranting to herself about how the
men had gotten themselves drunk and now expected her to prepare broth like
a nursemaid.
"Good morning mistress."greeted the kitchen staff.
Serena nodded and sat down as Cook spooned some porridge out for her
and placed the steaming bowl in front of her.
"Good Morning,Serena."came a voice.
Serena rolled her eyes."I'm surprised ye dinnae get yourself drunk too
after I stormed off last night."commented Serena as she blew her porridge.
Darien grinned and sat down next to her.
"Ye wound me,Mistress O'Monaghan.Ye should be happy I'm at least sober,
unlike the other poor men and women outside."
Serena sniffed disdainfully.Cook placed another bowl before Darien and
went off about her business.
"Come now,don't get angry at me."coaxed Darien.
"I'm nae angry,ye beast.Can ye nae leave me be??Is nothin' sacred t'ye??
I'm tryin' t'get some PEACE!!"snapped Serena angrily.
"Mercy,Mistress.Yuir makin' me ears bleed.Forgive the man.He's so
handsome.I cannae ken why yuir angry."said a girl.
"Och,this is nae any o'yuir business,Molly."snapped Serena,slamming her
spoon down on the table.
Darien broke into laughter as Serena marched away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena brushed her horse's mane lovingly.She frowned as her thoughts
turned to Darien O'Connor.Why was she thinking about the sodding pig's
swill???
"Come now,Serena.I'm sorry about laughing."came Darien's voice.
"How'd ye find me????!!"
"Yuir servants."grinned Darien.
Serena glared at Darien.
"Will ye ride with me,Serena O'Monaghan??"asked Darien."A truce."
Serena looked up at Darien's face.Her eyes searching his.All it held
was sincerity.He held out his hand.
"Oh...alright."sighed Serena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"'Tis wonderful!!!"laughed Serena as she rode her white mare.The wind
was blowing in her face.With a swift movement,Serena whipped of her cap,
releasing the tangle of silver-blonde curls.
Darien laughed to himself at her enthusiastic demeanor.He watched as
the silver-blonde curls tumbled along in the wind.He'd been caught off
guard earlier on at the stables.He had expected her eyes to be green.Or at
least blue with a hint of green.But her eyes were blue.Blue like a fine
summer's day.
Suddenly,Serena reared her mare to a stop.Darien in surprise did the
same to his black destrier.Her eyes were locked on something.Following
her gaze,he saw it was a swing or was it a trapeze???
"What is it??"asked Darien.
"Nothing.'Tis just...an old memory,'tis all."sighed Serena.
"Come now,Serena O'Monaghan.'Tis not fit t'be so sad in company."teased
Darien.
Serena turned to glare at him."Who says I'm sad???I'll race ye to that
tree and back to the castle."challenged Serena.
"Fine with me."agreed Darien.
"On ye mark,go!!"called Serena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they passed the forest,an arrow was shot at them,causing Darien to
rear his horse up.Serena shouted,as she tried to control her horse's
panic.
Darien fell from his horse,causing Serena to scream.She'd seen people
die from falling off horses before.And it seemed...the horror was being
repeated again.
"Nae!!Not again...Please not again."whispered Serena pleadingly as she
watched Darien fall to the ground with a thump.Quickly dismounting,she
bent to check on Darien.
"How d'ye feel??Please Darien,speak t'me!!"exclaimed Serena cradling his
head.
One eye cracked open.Then both.
"Acch..stop yuir bellowin' Serena.Me ears are ringin' and I can see
stars..."groaned Darien.
Serena breathed a sigh.He was alive."Are ye hurt???"
Darien tried to get up but winced and fell back a moment later.
"What's wrong???"
"'Tis me leg and arm..."
Serena frowned and bent to examine his arm and leg."I cannae tell if
'tis broken or nae."said Serena.
"Ye'll have t'get help."groaned Darien.
"Nae.Somebody tried t'kill us.I'll not leave ye as t'feed ye to the
wolves."protested Serena.
Darien watched in confusion as she stood up and tied a note to her
horse's bridle.With that,she stroked the horse and whispered to it before
slapping it in the direction of O'Monaghan Keep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
WAFF vs TAFF 2001
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
AN:This is NOT in anyway a historical story.This is merely a fictitious
story by me.Also...please don't say my grammar should be my instead of
me.I'm trying to create an accent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the olden days of Ireland,mothers told their children tales of pixies
and leprechauns.But one of the most famous Irish folk-tales is of the
Banshee.A belief that is clearly very ancient and still strong in various
parts of Ireland.The tradition goes back to the early 8th century...
Year 1040,
Ireland,O'Monaghan Keep
Serena O'Monaghan,19 years old with silver-blonde hair and blue eyes
peered around the corners of O'Monaghan Keep,looking out for any of the
adults.Being the oldest daughter in the O'Monaghan clan,her father was
determined to marry her off.
Serena didn't like it.She liked to practice swords rather than walk
around in court playing courtly love with her many suitors as her sisters
liked to do.
Serena's mouth curled is disdain at the thought of her sisters,Moira,
and Abigail.All they did was prance about looking for husbands,like men,
fishing.It was disgusting.At least her youngest had sense enough to
not act like a man-hunting wench.
*Why wasn't I born a boy like Sean and Rory??*wondered Serena as she
fingered the blade she carried with her.Her brothers were the lucky ones.
They were escorting the O'Connors here.
Serena sighed.The O'Connor clan had long been at war with the O'Monaghans.
But now,there had been a call of peace.Still...she knew the tension and
many of the clan were paranoid.
"There ye are lass!!"exclaimed a voice.
Serena froze.She was caught...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"But papa!!Ye know I hate dressin' up!!"protested Serena.
"Och,I don't care.Ye are me daughter.I'll nae have the O'Connors see ye
prancin' about in those breeches.'Tis high time ye were wed.Ye already
19 years-old,child."snapped her father,marching out of her chambers.
Serena glared at her reflection in the mirror.Tugging at the dress,
Serena pulled up the material to cover more of her bosom.
"Why cannae Sean or Rory be the ones t'marry.I don't believe the
O'Connors don't have a girl to spare."frowned Serena as she tugged at her
dress.
"Och,quit ye fussin' sister.I cannae imagine why papa would want to
marry ye off t'anyone."said Moira who was sitting on the bed.
"And why is that???"
"Ye're such a foundling.Ye have no class.Ye would disgrace the clan!!Ye
with all ye daggers and swords.Acch,may the lord protect us."said Moira
getting up and walking towards the mirror.
Serena frowned at her younger sister,then turned to stare at their
reflections in the mirror.Her younger sister had bright green eyes and
wavy red-gold hair.Many of their clan had praised Moira as a beauty
uncompared.While Serena was merely the plain and tom-boyish older sister.
It was true...she,Serena O'Monaghan was a plain pale creature.Serena
stared at her face.Her face was too pale.Her nose was too snubbish.Her hair
was too stringy.She was too skinny.Her face was like a weasel's.Her only
pride was her eyes.Blue like a clear summer sky.
"Out."snapped Serena.
"But papa told me t'make sure ye were dressed for the arrival o'-"
protested Moira.
"OUT!!"barked Serena once more.
Moira scurried out of the room.Leaving her oldest sister alone.
Serena sighed.It wasn't her fault if she didn't see the good in getting
herself married off to some warrior.Learning to defend oneself was much
more useful than learning how to prance and dance.It also wasn't her
fault she was painfully shy...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15 miles from O'Monaghan Keep,
As Darien O'Connor rode his black stallion closer and closer to
O'Monaghan Keep,his aprehension grew.His clan had agreed to a peace between
their clans.But their families had been at war with each other for so
long,was it even possible to achieve this peace??
His father wasn't telling him how they were planning on achieving it.
He looked ahead towards the grey destrier mounted by his father.His father
had been awfully secretive.Even his brothers and sisters didn't know of his
father's plan.His gaze shifted to the O'Monaghan brothers.They seemed so
easy going and were laughing at jokes and talking.
Darien sighed.His father was up to something.And himself,being the eldest
son of 24 years,he was sure,his father was planning something that involved
him.
His younger brother's horse came up next to his.
"Darien,do ye really think the O'Monaghans are sincere about this??"
asked his brother,Eamon.
"I suppose they are,Eamon.I've nae seen O'Connor men look so at ease
with their foes."answered Darien."How fare our sisters??"
"Shannon is as usual thinkin' of all the parties t'come.Genny is
sleepin' like a babe."smiled his brother.
"Well,we should be arrivin' at O'Monaghan Keep soon.So,ye better go tell
Genny and Shannon."
"Aye,"agreed his brother.
Darien smiled as his brother slowed his horse and waited for the
carriage being escorted by others of the O'Connor clan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena seated herself on a hay pile and watched as her cousins and
other relatives peered at her in an odd fashion.She frowned to herself.
She knew what had triggered their shock.She,Serena O'Monaghan was usually
seen in breeches,and was usually a common sight.But she,in a skirt was
indeed rare.
"I'm nae a jester here!!!"exclaimed Serena angrily towards her relatives.
"Nae,cousin.Of course ye're nae a jester.'Tis just...ye look very
different 'tis all."commented one of her cousins.
"Papa insisted I wear a dress."sniffed Serena disdainfully.
"Come now lass,it cannae be all that bad.In fact,ye look very pretty."
smiled her uncle.
"That's because ye're nae wearin' the dress,uncle."groaned Serena.
"Now now,niece.Ye're a lass.Ye wouldn't ask one of the kitchen lads t'wear
a dress,now would ye???"laughed her uncle.
"Nae."
"There.Ye see??'Tis all fai-"
"The O'Connors are here!!The O'Connors are here!!"exclaimed a young
boy as he dashed through the courtyard.
The boy stopped in front of Serena.
"Mistress,ye father wants ye at the gates,now."informed the boy before
he dashed off once again.
Serena frowned and picked up her skirts,running towards the main gates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena stopped next to her sisters who were already there and were
patting their skirts and hair.
"Serena!!Where've ye been???Papa has nae been able t'find ye."said her
third sister,Abigail.Teresa nodded."Papa was furious."
Serena glanced at her youngest sisters and noted their perfect
complexions.Abigail had blonde hair and green eyes while Teresa had
red-gold hair and blue-green eyes.She turned her eyes to her second sister,
Moira who stood there haughtily.Her red-gold head held up proudly.
She felt small hands pat at her hair.Turning to her youngest sister,
Serena hissed a question at her.
"Yuir hair is all falling down,sister.Papa will nae be pleased!!"
exclaimed Teresa in dismay as she watched her sister's silver-blonde
curls fall in disarray around her shoulders.
"Och!I don't care.All the better for me.Perhaps THEN I can go off with
nae any disturbance.Moira can charm the men all by herself."snapped Serena.
"Serena."came a deep voice.
Serena saw her father's frown and quickly took her place before Moira
and kept silent like an obedient and demure lady.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien looked around O'Monaghan Keep and saw the curious looks the
O'Monaghan clan gave him and his clan.He dismounted when his father did
and turned to look at his siblings.His brothers,Eamon,Dougal and his
sisters Genny and Shannon were looking around in interest and curiousity.
His cousins though,were a little wary.
"Welcome to O'Monaghan Keep,Cormac O'Connor.I hope ye and ye clan'll be
comfortable here."smiled Donnell O'Monaghan.
"I hope so too."smiled O'Connor.
"Aye,my sons ye have met.These are me daughters,Serena,Moira,Abigail and
Teresa."smiled O'Monaghan as he pointed to the four girls behind him.
Darien's eyes moved over each girl.The youngest daughters were staring
proudly at him.However...the eldest was staring at the ground,her silver-
blonde hair falling around her shoulders.The second girl was staring at
him,her green eyes sparkling.The third had the same green eyes.But the
youngest daughter had blue eyes with only a hint of green.He was curious
to what the eldest daughter's eye colour was.With the abundace of beautiful
shining hair,did she have green eyes or blue???
"These are me sons,Darien,Eamon and Dougal.Me daughters,Genny and
Shannon."said O'Connor.
Donnell O'Monaghan noticed his eldest daughter with her head bent.He
sighed.That daughter of his was a bloody soul's nightmare.She didn't bow
to convention or propriety.She dressed in breeches!!Played with swords
instead of dolls!!She was a regular headache.But still...he loved her
more than any of his other daughters.
"Moira.Ye'll show the O'Connors their chambers."he said,as he watched
his eldest daughter's shoulders sag with relief.He shook his head to
himself.He knew,if it wasn't because there were strangers here,she would
have thrown herself at her brothers already.
"Me,papa??"echoed Moira in amazement.
"Aye."
Moira smiled brightly and quickly stepped forward latching onto Darien's
arm.
"'Tis this way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena kept her head bent until her father,the O'Connors and her sisters
had left before looking up and throwing herself at her brothers.
"Sean!!Rory!!I've missed ye!!"laughed Serena.
"Acch..same old Serena."grinned Rory as he hugged his younger sister.
"Aye.I was wondering when ye were going t'crack.I was surprised ye
managed t'hold 'till papa finished the introductions."teased Sean.
"Ye're a beast,Sean.Ye cannae have any sympathy for ye sister!!I've nae
had any fun lately.'Tis been boring.And enough is more'n enough!!"pouted
Serena.
"Ye look different sister.Like a real lady."smiled Rory.
"'Tis the dress,Papa insisted I wear it.I dinnae like the idea."sniffed
Serena in distaste.
"Come,lady.Ye mustnae stay outside here.Who knows what beasts lurk??"
laughed Sean jokingly.
"I can still take ye,brother.Dress or no."
The three siblings burst into merry laughter.
Darien had been hiding in the shadows of the castle wall.He'd escaped
the clutches of Moira and was curious as to why the eldest daughter didn't
follow them into the castle.He watched in amusement as she swatted at her
elder brothers.He still couldn't see her face which frustrated him.But what
he head was sweet merry laughter like tinkling bells.The sweetest voice
he'd ever heard....
He watched as the three siblings trudged away towards the courtyards.He
was about to follow when somebody found him.
"What are ye doin' there brother???"came Eamon's voice.
"Aye.Moira was lookin' all over for ye."said Teresa who was hanging onto
Eamon's arm.
"Nae a thing.I was just curious as t'what ye eldest sister looked like.
She kept her head bent during the introductions."confessed Darien.
"Serena???Yuir curious as t'what she looks like???I can tell ye.She's
plain and tom-boyish.Every one o'us at O'Monaghan Keep can tell ye that."
laughed a high nasal voice.
The three turned to see Moira.
Teresa frowned at her older sister."Must ye be so hard and unflatterin'
about Serena,Moira???I think she's very pretty."whispered Teresa.
"Whatever."sniffed Moira as she waved her hand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later that night,the O'Monaghan clan held a feast to welcome the O'Connor
clan and to celebrate the peace between their families.
Darien looked around for the enigmatic older sister.He didn't see her.
He frowned.His father and O'Monaghan had just proposed a toast.Darien
lifted his goblet,his eyes still searching the room.The he spotted a
feminine figure hiding behind the O'Monaghan sisters across the dais where
he was seated.A veil covered the figure's face.
"To peace between our kin."said O'Monaghan.
"TO PEACE."echoed the room.
After the toast was over,the figure slipped out of the room like a
ghost.Darien got up...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena entered her chambers and pulled off the gown.She hated it.The
stuffy,restricting things.The toast was over and soon the feasting and
dancing would begin.She knew the clans would drink and dance themselves
into stupors on occasions like this.
Of course,Serena hated those type of occasions while her vapid sister,
Abigail,loved it.Her vain sister,Moira,thrived on it.Teresa would sometimes
retire early because father would wish it.
But Serena never stayed a second longer than needed.
Wearing her usual jerkins and breeches,Serena pulled her boots on to
complete her ensemble.Remembering her hair,Serena snatched a cap and
stuffed her hair underneath it.
Making her way towards the stable,Serena smiled.A cloudy night.Without
the aid of light,no one could possibly see her in the dark.
Serena heard footsteps behind her.She frowned slightly before her lips
quirked into a smile.One of her brothers was following her.One of them
always did...
Breaking into a run,she hid behind a tree until she heard the person
catch up and stop...
Darien frowned.Where had she gone???She'd broke into a sprint a few
minutes before.Had she realized he was following her???He didn't have
time to think before something tripped him and landed on top of him...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena smiled in triumph.
"Got ye,brother.Ye never could sneak up on me."she laughed in victory.
Unfortunately...what she got was a surprise,as the man she had jumped,was
NOT her brother....
"Aye,ye may have caught me,lass.But I'm nae yuir brother."
Serena jumped at the sound of the voice.It was a deep velvety voice.
Unlike her brother Sean's or Rory's.So,who was this??
Clouds moved and the moon peeked through the thick dark clouds,throwing
her silver rays on them.She squinted at the face.It belonged to a stranger
with dark ebony hair and midnight blue eyes.The face was beautifully
chistled.Her mouth seemed to go dry.There was an expression of amusement
on the man's face.
She jumped off the man and stood up and watched as the man got up.
His legs and arms were long and muscled.A sign of a warrior who had trained
and fought battles before.
Serena moved back a little in aprehension.
"Who are ye??"questioned Serena,her hand moving to the sword at her
belt.
"Woman,if'n ye were lookin' straight instead o'down this morning.Ye
wouldn't have t'ask now."sighed the man.
"Yuir an O'Connor???"asked Serena.
"Aye.My name is Darien O'Connor."
Darien smiled at Serena.He wanted to laugh so badly at her expression
of anxiety and aprehension.His eyes then took note that she was wearing
pants instead of a dress!!!
"Why were ye followin' me???"demanded Serena,her face beginning to flush.
She thanked the saints it was too dark for him to see the face as it was
probably red as a tomato.
"I was curious t'where ye were heading.And also as t'what ye looked
like."answered Darien truthfully.
Serena frowned."Curious as t'what I look like??"
"Aye."
Serena snorted,trying to hold in laughter."Certainly nae as beautiful
as Moira.She's the one me clan call a beauty uncompared."said Serena."I'm
merely the plain one."
"The plain one who likes t'sneak off wearin' breeches???"asked Darien
cocking an eyebrow.
Serena glared at Darien.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning....
Serena was careful to avoid stepping on her clan men and the O'Connor
men.Some of them had barely made it back to their chambers.
Serena winced.Reaching the great hall,she took a peek and saw men and
women sleeping on the stone floors,steps and dais's.
She shook her head in exasperation.
Reaching the kitchen,she saw the kitchen staff rushing around.
she giggled to herself as she saw Cook ranting to herself about how the
men had gotten themselves drunk and now expected her to prepare broth like
a nursemaid.
"Good morning mistress."greeted the kitchen staff.
Serena nodded and sat down as Cook spooned some porridge out for her
and placed the steaming bowl in front of her.
"Good Morning,Serena."came a voice.
Serena rolled her eyes."I'm surprised ye dinnae get yourself drunk too
after I stormed off last night."commented Serena as she blew her porridge.
Darien grinned and sat down next to her.
"Ye wound me,Mistress O'Monaghan.Ye should be happy I'm at least sober,
unlike the other poor men and women outside."
Serena sniffed disdainfully.Cook placed another bowl before Darien and
went off about her business.
"Come now,don't get angry at me."coaxed Darien.
"I'm nae angry,ye beast.Can ye nae leave me be??Is nothin' sacred t'ye??
I'm tryin' t'get some PEACE!!"snapped Serena angrily.
"Mercy,Mistress.Yuir makin' me ears bleed.Forgive the man.He's so
handsome.I cannae ken why yuir angry."said a girl.
"Och,this is nae any o'yuir business,Molly."snapped Serena,slamming her
spoon down on the table.
Darien broke into laughter as Serena marched away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena brushed her horse's mane lovingly.She frowned as her thoughts
turned to Darien O'Connor.Why was she thinking about the sodding pig's
swill???
"Come now,Serena.I'm sorry about laughing."came Darien's voice.
"How'd ye find me????!!"
"Yuir servants."grinned Darien.
Serena glared at Darien.
"Will ye ride with me,Serena O'Monaghan??"asked Darien."A truce."
Serena looked up at Darien's face.Her eyes searching his.All it held
was sincerity.He held out his hand.
"Oh...alright."sighed Serena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"'Tis wonderful!!!"laughed Serena as she rode her white mare.The wind
was blowing in her face.With a swift movement,Serena whipped of her cap,
releasing the tangle of silver-blonde curls.
Darien laughed to himself at her enthusiastic demeanor.He watched as
the silver-blonde curls tumbled along in the wind.He'd been caught off
guard earlier on at the stables.He had expected her eyes to be green.Or at
least blue with a hint of green.But her eyes were blue.Blue like a fine
summer's day.
Suddenly,Serena reared her mare to a stop.Darien in surprise did the
same to his black destrier.Her eyes were locked on something.Following
her gaze,he saw it was a swing or was it a trapeze???
"What is it??"asked Darien.
"Nothing.'Tis just...an old memory,'tis all."sighed Serena.
"Come now,Serena O'Monaghan.'Tis not fit t'be so sad in company."teased
Darien.
Serena turned to glare at him."Who says I'm sad???I'll race ye to that
tree and back to the castle."challenged Serena.
"Fine with me."agreed Darien.
"On ye mark,go!!"called Serena.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As they passed the forest,an arrow was shot at them,causing Darien to
rear his horse up.Serena shouted,as she tried to control her horse's
panic.
Darien fell from his horse,causing Serena to scream.She'd seen people
die from falling off horses before.And it seemed...the horror was being
repeated again.
"Nae!!Not again...Please not again."whispered Serena pleadingly as she
watched Darien fall to the ground with a thump.Quickly dismounting,she
bent to check on Darien.
"How d'ye feel??Please Darien,speak t'me!!"exclaimed Serena cradling his
head.
One eye cracked open.Then both.
"Acch..stop yuir bellowin' Serena.Me ears are ringin' and I can see
stars..."groaned Darien.
Serena breathed a sigh.He was alive."Are ye hurt???"
Darien tried to get up but winced and fell back a moment later.
"What's wrong???"
"'Tis me leg and arm..."
Serena frowned and bent to examine his arm and leg."I cannae tell if
'tis broken or nae."said Serena.
"Ye'll have t'get help."groaned Darien.
"Nae.Somebody tried t'kill us.I'll not leave ye as t'feed ye to the
wolves."protested Serena.
Darien watched in confusion as she stood up and tied a note to her
horse's bridle.With that,she stroked the horse and whispered to it before
slapping it in the direction of O'Monaghan Keep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...