Chapter Two: Death and Discovery

"Forgive me Pádraig."

"Forgive what?"

"This."

A soft kiss. "There is nothing to forgive, Daniel."

"But…"

A sigh. "Perhaps I was not meant for the priesthood."

"Yes you are. It is what your path is meant to be, just as mine lies with paint and brush." Brown eyes reflect worry and acceptance. Pádraig pulls Daniel down for another kiss, both to offer comfort and to reassure him. They are both just past sixteen, exploring, curious, trusting. It is a good memory though some part of Pádraig knows it is only that.

He needs to let Daniel go, but he is unable to remember why. Instead, he holds Daniel closer.

"I would stop you from entering the priesthood if I did not believe that was what you were meant to do, Pádraig," Daniel murmurs against his throat. "The danger it will put you in though…"

"Have faith Daniel. God will watch over me. He watches over fools and saints, remember." He can feel Daniel smile against his cheek, his breath warm and steady, and strong.

"I remember."

Daniel places a hand over Pádraig's heart and pushes himself up onto an elbow. The summer sun is dazzling and Pádraig squints against the light as Daniel sweeps the palm of his hand over Pádraig's chest and down his side. Pádraig closes his eyes and smiles. He knows he should feel guilt for lying down with another man, but all he feels is contentment and peace.

"Pádraig?"

"Yes?"

"Take care of Súiche."

"What?" He doesn't remember Daniel saying this, and now he doesn't want to remember any more.

"Daniel?"

Pádraig opens his eyes and finds himself standing beside Daniel as he works on an official document, the sweeping lines of calligraphy flowing effortlessly from Daniel's brush. Súiche climbs onto the table and leans over the parchment, whiskers curled forward in curiosity as he tries to get a closer look at what Daniel is doing. Daniel lifts Súiche up off the table with his free hand and Pádraig begins to relax at the sight of the familiar routine; but then finds it difficult to breathe when he realizes the document is Daniel's will.

Pádraig squeezes his eyes close then opens them again to find Daniel sitting calmly on a large bay. Daniel leans down and hands Súiche to him. Pádraig takes the softly mewing creature and cradles him in his arms.

"Farewell, Pádraig. May God be with you." Daniel pulls the bay around and sends it into a canter.

Pádraig wants to call him back, wants to stop time and roll it back to that lazy summer day when everything felt right with the world. Instead, all he does is fall to his knees as a banshee begins to wail her tune of approaching loss.

Pádraig started awake, his heart pounding loudly in the thick silence weighing down the room. Straightening in his chair, he looked around and found that the light was low, the fire down to red embers, and that Anne was no longer at Daniel's side. Pádraig had a vague memory of suggesting that she go get some sleep and that he would wake her if anything happened; but he had not expected her to actually leave the room. Glancing at the bed, he found that Daniel himself was sleeping peacefully. Rubbing his eyes, Pádraig stood and walked over to the fireplace to build the fire back up.

He leaned against the mantle a moment, pushing randomly at the glowing logs and watching the sparks flash and bounce off the flagstones. The dream had left him with an odd mix of acceptance and worry. He had never regretted what had happened between himself and Daniel; he had confessed to Father Tomlinson what they had done the next day, and had done penance for it, but he realized now that, because he had never regretted what he had done, his service to God might be flawed in some way. He looked over at Daniel and hoped that flaw did not curse Daniel to eternal damnation.

Turning back to the fire, he added another log before returned to Daniel's side. He pulled out his cross and began to pray silently. The desire to do more made it difficult at first for Pádraig to concentrate properly on the pray-- because Daniel was a Protestant, there was little more Pádraig could offer than his prayers-- but as his mouth moved to form the familiar words, he felt a comforting peace ease his pain and confusion.

When Daniel's breathing hitched, then broke into ragged harsh pants, Pádraig found himself ready. His grief had receded; he knew it would shatter him later, but for now he would be able to offer Daniel comfort and strength as he left this world. He stepped over to the sheet covering the entrance to the sitting room and pulled it aside to call out to one of the servants-- but there was no answer to his call. Frowning, Pádraig called out again-- Anne and Daniel's parents should be at Daniel's side, but his call failed to carry far into the quiet household.

Pádraig started to step into the hallway, there should have been at least one servant waiting in the hall in case Daniel needed anything, but a startled yip from Súiche and the sharp rising wail of the banshee outside forced Pádraig back into the room.

He quickly moved to the side of the bed, his hand holding the little cross tightly enough to hurt. Something was wrong, the house should not be as quiet as it was, but he knew from Daniel's struggle for breath that he would not last long enough for Pádraig to bring Daniel's parents to him.

He would not let Daniel die alone.

"I'm here Daniel," he said softly. He rested his hand on Daniel's shoulder then snatched it back in surprise at the icy feel of Daniel's skin. Súiche whimpered and pressed his head against Daniel's cheek as Pádraig leaned down to look closer at his friend, setting the cross down on the bed next to Súiche. Daniel was sweating heavily, but Pádraig could see the sweat was beginning to freeze at the tips of Daniel's hair, Daniel began to shake as his breathing became short and sharp.

"So cold," Daniel gasped. Pádraig held Daniel's head between his hands, biting his lip as the chill radiating out from Daniel's skin numbed his hands. Súiche keened in distress. Pádraig sat down on the edge of the bed and carefully gathered Daniel up in his arms in an attempt to warm him. The dying man gripped his arm and groaned in pain.

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt..." He started to loosen his hold, not wanting to cause Daniel more pain, but Daniel's grip only increased.

"Don't let go. Oh God, Pádraig, don't let go!"

Pádraig held him close. Lord, please, help him! Not knowing what else to do, he closed his eyes and murmured a prayer into Daniel's icy hair. Daniel's breath chilled the skin of his throat.

As he cried out for help, he felt a gentle warmth fill him, a warmth that spread out into the man cradled in his arms. A shudder ran through Daniel, then suddenly he relaxed with a sigh. Pádraig looked down and found Daniel staring up at him in wonder.

"Daniel?"

"The sun is shining," the man answered with a smile. His eye drifted close and he rested his head against Pádraig's shoulder. Pádraig ran his fingers through Daniel's hair, brushing the stiff hair away from Daniel's face, the ice melting into a warm trickle of water along the back of his hand.

Daniel turn his face into the fabric of Pádraig's shirt and whispered, "I'm afraid, Pádraig."

Pádraig cupped Daniel's face with one hand and pressed his lips against Daniel's forehead in a chaste kiss, tears choking his throat. "I know," he breathed.

He looked down at Daniel and didn't resist when Daniel reached up and pulled him close. With a sigh, Daniel kissed him. There was a scuffling noise and he felt Súiche's fur brushing against his skin as the creature let out a wail and leaped off the bed. There was a warning shout in the back of Pádraig's mind, someone else was in the room, but he was too lost in the kiss to respond.

The kiss was as warm and sweet as that summer day so long ago; but it only lasted a moment. Daniel's hand slipped away and his head fell back against Pádraig's arm; each breath further and further apart-- until there were none left for Daniel to take.

Pádraig squeezed his eyes shut and buried his face against Daniel's still body before gently laying Daniel back down on to the bed. He moved the pillow aside and closed his friend's sightless gaze, then placed Daniel's hands across his chest before turning to face whoever had stepped into the room.

He found Anne standing a few steps behind him. Anne stared at him in agonizing astonishment as tears streamed down her face. Pádraig took a step towards her, to do what he wasn't sure, but she stepped back and her look of betrayal froze him in place.

"Anne?" he asked, his throat closing tight in anguish as he watched her take another step back.

"You kissed him," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "You…" Her chest heaved as she struggled to breath around her emotions, then she turned and ran from the room.

Pádraig stared at the curtain of fabric that separated the room from the hall as it fluttered back into place. A sound drew his gaze away from the doorway and back into the room. He found Isabella in the room with him; her attention focused on Daniel's unprotected corpse. Pádraig put himself between Isabella and Daniel before he could think about what he was doing. Her gaze flicked up to his and he felt as if shards of ice were slicing through him. A yowl of fury pierced the air and Isabella's gaze shifted away for a second; she whispered something and Pádraig heard Súiche let out a sharp cry of pain and fear.

Isabella turned her gaze back to Pádraig and swept a hand out in a dismissive gesture. Pádraig staggered back as if punched; bumping into the bed before dropping to his knees. He struggled to regain his feet, tears of desperation leaking out of the corners of his eyes; but the icy shards were draining him of strength. He looked up and found Isabella staring down at him with a satisfied smile.

"He's not for you," Pádraig gasped, though he did not know why.

Her smile grew. "Yes, I see that. You've already claimed him, haven't you?" She loomed over him as she whispered into his ear, "And probably condemned him to hell as you did too, young Pádraig." She smiled. "Truthfully, he was nothing more to me than a way to damage you, nephew." Straightening, she started to step around him then paused, cocking her head as if listening to something. A scowl crossed her features and she snapped her fingers as she stepped back towards the entrance to the room.

Ice stabbed Pádraig's heart. He dropped to the floor, curling up in a tight ball as agony ripped through him.

He heard someone enter the room and tried to warn them, but he could force no sound through the pain. He knew they would not be able to see him on the floor and would be unprepared and vulnerable to whatever magic Isabella had used on him.

Instead of hearing a struggle though, Pádraig heard Isabella exclaim desperately, "Colm! Where's Anne? What has happened to her?"

The footsteps stopped and Pádraig heard the bard speak in a low dangerous voice. "You need to leave this place, Isabella."

"What?" There were footsteps, then Isabella gasped then hissed, "How?"

Colm's voice was eerily calm as he answered her. "It doesn't matter. Leave now. Daniel is no longer a pawn for you to use against Pádraig."

There was a moment of silence, and then Isabella said calmly, "There are others." Someone walked away, and then there was silence. Pádraig tried to move again but was held tight by the pain.

A warm hand rested against his forehead and he heard Colm whisper something in Gaelic. Heat spread through him, and he struggled to sit up.

Colm looked closely at him, holding his head still a moment. "Can you move, Pádraig?" he asked.

Pádraig nodded and let Colm pull him to his feet. He swayed unsteadily, leaning heavily against the bard as the room spun. He bent over, drawing in several deep breaths. When he straightened, Colm gripped his arm and began to steer him out of the room.

Pádraig tried to pull out of the bard's grip, but Colm only tightened his grip and shook his head sadly. "We need to get you out of here Pádraig."

"But Daniel--"

"I will make sure he is safe. I need to protect you first."

Unable to fight against the hold the bard had on him, Pádraig stumbled into the hall. He expected Colm to drag him towards the front entrance, and staggered when Colm turned towards the back of the house instead.

They moved swiftly through the servant's section of the house, passing by several sleeping forms before stepping out into the kitchen garden at the rear of the house. A large horse, fully saddled, stood waiting patiently for them. Colm pushed Pádraig towards the horse then gestured for Pádraig to mount up. Not knowing what else to do, Pádraig swung up into the saddle then stared down at Colm.

"He will take you where you need to go," Colm said. "Tell the bishop when you see him everything that has happened, Pádraig, everything that has happened here, and everything that happened between you and Daniel that summer day seven years ago."

Pádraig stared at Colm, astonished, as the bard stepped back. "Do everything he says, Pádraig."

Questions crowded Pádraig's mind, but one thought suddenly leapt forward. "Súiche."

"Súiche will be fine. You need to go now, Pádraig." Colm slapped the horse's flank and shouted, "Go!"

The horse leaped forward and it was all Pádraig could do to hold on.