Disclaimer: "Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog" and its' characters are owned by Saban and whoever else was involved with the creation and production of this show. Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fanfiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off of it.
guardianM3: I'm sorry about the late update! I've been very busy and I've been having writers block (not only for this story but also for all of them!) But sometimes my brain needs a break. Hope you all will enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 7: Great Perils
Macha and Cathbad began to read through every scroll within Kells castle to try and determine how to repair the broken mirror. Angus had suggested getting the Kells blacksmith, who was well known to be able to repair any object. Cathbad had pointed out that it was a magical mirror and to repair it would most likely be done by magical means.
While Macha and Cathbad were researching, the Mystic Knights were sitting at a table in the meeting room with King Conchobar. The Mystic Knights were voicing their concerns and thoughts about the broken mirror and the Scroll of Wisdom.
"If Cathbad and Macha discover a way to repair the mirror, is it a good idea to do so? Besides, how did the mirror become cracked? But, I am even more curious as to why and who had done it," Garrett said as he looked around at his friends.
Deirdre was biting her bottom lip. Ivar was thinking about the ramifications of repairing the mirror. Rohan was nodding his head in agreement and Angus was unusually quiet and was looking down at the table as though he were studying the grain of the wood.
Ivar turned to face King Conchobar who was sitting at the head of the table. "Your Majesty, Garrett has raised some important questions and I share his questions and concerns. It is unknown by even King Fin Varra what power the Scroll of Wisdom will lead to but he did caution that the power will be destructive in the wrong hands."
"That is an excellent point, Ivar, but you must remember that it would be far better if we were to repair the mirror and obtain the Scroll of Wisdom, than allow Nemain to achieve this," King Conchobar replied.
"But what if Nemain has decided to let Kells do all of the work on repairing the mirror and then come to steal the scroll?" Rohan said as nods of agreement came from the other Mystic Knights, except Angus who was still studying the table.
"Then, we shall not allow her to steal the scroll. I understand your worries, Mystic Knights, I share them with you, but this is something we must do to protect the future generations of Kells." King Conchobar then dismissed the Mystic Knights and they stood up and left the King alone in the room.
"Look, Rohan. I apologize about before," Angus said once Deirdre and Ivar had walked ahead a little ways and had taken a right around the corner.
"I am sorry, too, my friend. I have no doubts in my trust in you or the trust you place in others," Rohan said as he clapped his friend on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Rohan," Angus said as he gave his friend a smile but at a lesser magnitude than his usual grins.
"You were strangely quiet during the meeting, Angus. What is troubling you?" Rohan asked as he carefully watched his friend's expressions.
"There are several answers to that question, Rohan, but I can not answer them now." Angus' smile had dimmed and his dark eyebrows had furrowed as he thought deeply. "I have to go. I'll talk with you later."
Angus left Rohan standing in the hallway wondering and worried about what was on Angus' mind that seemed to be bothering him so. Rohan shook his head and began to walk down the hallway when Deirdre appeared before him.
"Rohan, come with me please. There is something that you must see," Deirdre said with a desperate and pleading voice.
"All right, Princess," Rohan replied as he followed Deirdre.
"This scroll does not have any information about repairing magical mirrors, but has an interesting part of using a mirror to capture a ghost," Macha said as she placed the scroll in the pile that she and the Druid had already gone through. Macha grabbed the next scroll and began to read.
Cathbad didn't comment as he read through spells and incantations that were not even related to repairing the mirror in any way. He was worried that he would fail his king and the people of Kells but he had hope that the answer would be discovered.
Macha placed that scroll into the pile and went to grab when she pause. "Perhaps Nemain has the information in the Temra castle and she is scheming to find a way to steal the mirror."
Cathbad stopped reading and turned to look at Macha. "We must not allow that witch to get her hands on the mirror or the Scroll of Wisdom. As you have told us, Kells and the world are in peril by some unknown force."
"Yes, Cathbad. I did not mean to cause you any trouble but I must voice the possibilities of what may occur." Macha shook her head and bite her bottom lip. "I am worried about the Mystic Knights. I know they are capable warriors but this Scroll of Wisdom to something ancient and powerful that I am not certain that they are up to that responsibility. "
"The Mystic Knights have courage and each is unique. That is all you need to fight this evil," Cathbad said as he patted Macha on the shoulder. "Now, let us return to our work." Cathbad grabbed the next scroll, read several lines and placed it in the overflowing pile of useless scrolls.
Rohan had followed Deirdre out of the castle, through several fields and finally into a patch of woods. Rohan had asked Deirdre where they were going and what she wanted him to see, but she would reply that he would know soon.
A heavy mist gathered steadily around Rohan as he followed Deirdre into the woods. "Princess, where are we going?"
"It is only a little further, Rohan," Deirdre said as she continued at her quick pace past some dark trees and was soon out of Rohan's sight.
Rohan ran to catch up to her and he heard her shout his name. He came quickly yet cautiously closer. He stopped before he stepped into a large hole of black mud.
"Rohan, please help me!" Deirdre cried as she began to sink into the mud.
"Hang on, Princess," Rohan exclaimed as he looked around to try and find something that was long enough to meet the distance from the end of the hole to Deirdre.
Rohan grabbed a tree branch that had been broken from a large oak tree in a storm but the limb was strong enough. He kneeled down and sent one end of the branch out to Deirdre.
"Grab onto the branch, Princess!" Rohan yelled. As her hand reached out to grasp the branch the mud rose and took Deirdre down into its fathoms.
"Deirdre!" Rohan yelled frantically as he thrust the branch into the mud hoping that she was still trying to grab the branch. The mud rose and headed toward Rohan like a wave in the ocean during a terrible storm.
Rohan find himself standing in his village before the hut he shared with Angus. Before he could even think of how he got here and what had happened to Deirdre, he saw a blazing fire that had engulfed the hut and was emitting black smoke.
"Rohan! Save me!" A voice cried from inside the hut, a voice that Rohan knew belonged to Angus.
Rohan looked around and saw a bucket filled with rainwater. He grabbed it and threw it onto the flames but the flames began to grow higher.
"Help me," Angus cried as dark smoke crossed over Angus' terrified face through the small window.
"Hold on, Angus." Rohan ran to the door, opened it and entered the hut.
Rohan clawed desperately at the smoke searching for his friend and coughing as the smoke began to fill and burn his lungs. As Rohan searched for Angus, it seemed as though the hut had become the size of a castle.
Rohan heard Angus scream in pain. Rohan continued to scream his friend's name as the smoke began to dissipate.
Rohan shook his head trying to clear his mind that felt as though dark smoke was blocking his thoughts.
Rohan discovered that he was no longer in the smoke and that he stood on the coast. He was standing on some rocks about two feet above a whirlpool where his friend Ivar could barely keep his head above the black water.
"My friend…" Water rushed into Ivar's mouth but he spat it out. "Save me."
"Something isn't right," Rohan muttered to himself as he shook his head trying to clear his mind.
The scene changed as Rohan found himself in a forest that Rohan instantly recognized as the Dark Forest. Garrett was trapped in an enormous black web about ten feet off of the ground.
"Rohan cut me down, quickly!" Garrett said as he looked frantically about.
Rohan went to grab his sword, but it wasn't in its sheath. Rohan began to feel panic seep into him but he was able to calm himself as he rushed forward. Then, Garrett and the web began to spin before him, causing Rohan's vision to become blurry. He started to feel dizzy as he placed his head into his hands.
He began to the images of his friends, pleading for his help and screaming. The visions began to blur together so that the screams of each friend became one loud scream. Rohan screamed to try and keep from hearing the horrific sounds, but to no avail. The screams of his friends seemed to pass through his own like a raging fire through dry wood.
Rohan screamed again in frustration as the images of his friends' lives in peril continued to spin before his eyes. He placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes, pleading for all of it to end.
When the screaming had stopped, he tried to stand up but he quickly realized that he was already on his feet. He also discovered that he had been trapped in a sticky web of a spider. His sword lay at his feet.
"Quite the little trick, isn't it, Rohan?" Anian laughed cruelly as Rohan struggled within the web.
"Who are you?" Rohan yelled angrily.
"I am Anian." Anian gave Rohan a slight bow. "I am someone who is far beyond you in many ways, Knight."
"You are a coward!" Rohan spat as he tried to pull himself free from the web but it was useless.
"No, Rohan. I just used my cleverness to capture you. But if you wish to fight me." Anian snapped his fingers as the webs holding Rohan disappeared and he dropped to the ground. "A fight we shall have!" Anian unsheathed his sword. The blade was black and absorbed the light around it, giving Rohan an ominous felling about the weapon. He picked his sword up, being very careful to keep an eye on the trickster.
Rohan dodged and parried but the trickster was quicker than he had anticipated. Rohan's strength began to be depleted as his efforts to strike against the man were being knocked away with a quick flick of the black sword.
"Are you tiring Rohan? I thought that a Knight like you would have stamina that would last through dozens of battles," Anian mocked as his blade came slicing through the air aimed for Rohan's sword hand but the Mystic Knight was able to move his hand down and out of harms way. He was able to bring his sword in an upward arc as he tried to disarm his opponent.
Anian went to parry the blow but did not notice Rohan's other hand that had shot out and grasped the trickster's wrist. Rohan squeezed hard enough that Anian dropped his sword. Rohan sent a kick to the man's stomach but Anian recovered quickly enough to grab Rohan's ankle.
"So, Macha has been teaching you some of her fighting skills," Anian said as he pushed Rohan away from him.
Rohan was able to retain his balance as his eyes narrowed when he looked at Anian. "How do you know Macha?"
Anian smiled wickedly. "We are in constant conflict with one another."
Anian grabbed his sword and used it like a club as he smashed it onto Rohan's head. Rohan fell to the ground unmoving.
Anian cocked his head to the side as he studied the unconscious knight. "That was easier than I thought. I am going to bring you to, Nemain but you have no idea how important you are to my plan. Even that petty so-called sorceress has no inclination of what is to happen." Anian's eyes darkened with glee as he grabbed the knight and threw him over his shoulder. He began to walk toward Temra with a cold and triumphant smile on his face.
guardianM3: Please review. I hope the fight scene was ok.