Artemis Fowl: The Ardagh Chalice Chapter 7, an artemis fowl fanfic

Author's notes:

I appreciate all the positive feedback I have been getting for this past chapter. It really makes me want to write more to tell you the honest truth. So keep it up! I do read the ones with constructive critics.

Reticently, I have allowed my friend Neppyman to borrow my Artemis Fowl books. To sum it all up, he's addicted now. He decided to read my story and now he wants to write at least one sequel for me (there is a definite possibility for two). I gave him my blessing after I read the prologue and the plot summery in which he already has written. It's absolutely amazing! There is no title yet, but I am praying he'll come up with something soon! Hopefully soon I will be able to get the rest of this story out of me and you will be able to enjoy the goodies he has planned.

Don't worry. I fully plan on putting a link at the bottom of the last chapter of Ardagh Chalice so you can continue on. I wouldn't want to keep you away from the goodies!

As for this chapter, I decided to keep the rating given and not up it. I know, I had mentioned some thoughts in the past of possibly upping the chapter, but I decided against it after having a very brief conversation with Neppyman. It really just wasn't appropriate since technically Artemis is still a minor. I apologize if this disappoints anyone, but it just didn't seem appropriate at this time. Maybe book three winks. As for the proposal and the ceremony bibliography I received it from the following book:

Irish Wedding Traditions: Using Your Irish Heritage to Create the Perfect Wedding

Written by Shannon McMahon Lichte

Illustrated by Patricia Brentano

Published by Hyperion-New York.

So, thanks to that writer too and make sure to buy that book! It's an interesting read on Irish wedding traditions. I'm a good ¼ Irish, so it's definitely one among my shelves. No, money is still not being made from this story. So I do hope neither party wants to sue because I put it in a fan fiction. I don't have anything other than debt. I'm willing to share that, however. (LOL)

Enjoy!

S'Eleene Paris

PS. In Gaelic Mo Anam Cara means My Soul Friend

Chapter Seven

The Ritual

The vacant city of Tir Na Nog

Outside Haven City

Shifting through the rubble quietly was harder physical labor then what Artemis thought it would be. At least he had been able to shed his Armani suit jacket to save it from the same sad fate his suit trousers had succumbed to.

He looked over next to him where Holly was busy trying to shift a medium sized rock off the pile before them. Her face was pale and she was dripping with sweat.

Artemis' attention drifted to the canteen of water she had pulled off her belt a half an hour ago and was now sitting next to his jacket. He considered her physical condition for a moment and sat his pile of large stones down to assist her shift the rock.

"Thanks." Holly said as she futilely wiped the sweat off her brow.

"You need to rest." He offered as he guided her over to where the canteen had been placed.

"I am fine." She began to protest as she took the canteen and guzzled a drink.

Before she could protest anything he observed, "You are pale, sweating like you are in a sauna, and you're weak. Yes, that is the picture of health."

"Did you just make a joke?" Holly chucked.

"I guess I did." He chuckled nervously. He knew somehow he had to discuss the situation at hand. "Err…Holly…Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Holly noted his nervousness. She had never seen the man kneeling before her showed this type of emotion before. She chucked at him. "Are you nervous?"

"Just slightly."

"Don't be. This is me you're talking to. You can ask me anything. You held me against my will and interrogated me once before. Why should this be any different?"

"I do hope you're being sarcastic. This situation is no where near…"

Holly interrupted him. "I am."

"Good," he paused as he tried to figure out the most tactful way of asking her. He decided the best way for him to do it before he lost his courage was to just blurt it out in one breath. "What-exactly-is-involved-with-the-metamorphosis-ritual?"

"What?" Holly asked half hearing what he said. "Try that again."

"What exactly is involved with the metamorphosis ritual?" He blushed crimson.

Her hand went to her mouth in attempt to hide a bit of her own blush. "Um…" she coughed. "Well, it usually starts with a written proposal by the boy in question. Sometimes it's the parent who states the intentions. Then a contract is made up and agreed upon by both parties, they sign the contract. Once signed the deal cannot be broken by either party unless there was a clause in the contract stating otherwise."

"Apparently there was one in your contract?"

Holly gave a sad nod. "Yes."

Artemis nodded. "Then what happens?"

"Well, once the girl hits her first metamorphosis the families have a ceremony and then the consummation of the union."

"Like a wedding?"

"Similar, but there is one catch, their souls would literally be joined. It would be rather difficult to separate them once the two are joined. The only way to separate a couple once they are joined is for one of them to die."

"I take it there is not such a thing as divorce among the people then."

"No."

Artemis nodded in acknowledgement. "So, that's it?"

"Well, it's like I said. There would be a consummation of the union." Holly blushed again. "You do know what that means, right?"

"They have intercourse you mean? Of course I know what that means. How else would she conceive?" He asked as he joined her on the floor next to her. Artemis took the canteen from her and took a drink. "I saw the anatomy guide. It seems like human and fairy anatomies are pretty much the same except for the stubs on your shoulder plates where your wings use to be…"

Artemis reached up and touched the location in which he was talking about. Her reaction was not quite as he would have expected.

She gasped.

Artemis released his touch as quickly has he had touched her. "Did I hurt you?"

"No," she said quickly, "not hurt."

"Good," Artemis paused, "Why don't you get some sleep? I'll continue working on this for a little while."

Holly yawned as he helped her to lie down. "I'm not tired."

Artemis chuckled after he emptied the pockets of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. As she was protesting, she had fallen asleep. He sat there and watched her sleep for a moment. She looked almost cherubic and it stirred feelings inside him of wanting to protect her.

He stood up, put the contents from the jacket into his pants pockets, and crossed over to the other side of the rock face. He slid down and tried to sit back down on the ground. When the tip of his fountain pen cap pinched him, he took it back out of his pocket. As he pulled out the pen, his small pocket-sized notebook fell out with it.

He sighed. He knew if she didn't complete the metamorphosis ritual she would die. He knew what had to be done.

Artemis pulled off the cap and opened the notebook. He hesitated only to try to muster up the courage to put his thoughts on paper. Once he did, there was no turning back.

He placed the finished product in her left hand as she slept in hopes she would find it when she woke in the morning. Until then, he decided he too was in need of sleep.

As his eyes drifted closed his last coherent thought was of Butler being proud of him for doing the right thing instead of taking the easy way out.

Holly rolled over onto her side and her hand with the note rubbed up against her cheek. The rough, folded paper caused her to stir enough to realize there was something in her hand.

Her eyes fluttered open and she brought the paper in front of her. She unfolded it and read the contents inside.

Oh woman loved by me, mayest thou

Give me thy heart, thy soul, and thy body.

It had been terribly obvious who wrote the letter. As she sat up, she re-read the note from her companion. Did he really understand what the whole metamorphosis ritual meant for him? What it meant for them?

She fingered the note. Would it be even morally sound for her to perform this sacrosanct ritual of her people with a human? It had never been done before. Would it even work?

The more she turned it over in her mind; more questions arose with out the answers. Her gaze floated across the shaft to where Artemis lay asleep. She was torn and the only way to change this was to gain the answers she needed.

Holly shook him awake, "Artemis?"

"Yes?" he stretched and rubbed his eyes. "What's wrong?"

"We need to talk."

"About what?"

"About this," she showed him the note. "Artemis, do you even realize what you'd be getting yourself into?"

"Not entirely, no, but what choice do you have, Holly?"

"Look, Artemis, this is my problem. I am sure there is a way for me to work this out on my own. You don't need to get involved in this."

"No, Holly, there isn't. You're out of time and we…I…don't want to loose you." Artemis took her hand in his. "So, where do we begin?"

Holly took the hand he was holding and placed it over his heart. Then she guided his left hand and placed it over her heart. "Look into my eyes and repeat after me: Today I recognize you, mo anam cara, and ask that you become a part of me, in sacred kinship. With you, I will share my innermost self, my mind and my heart. With you, I have lost all fear and have found the greatest courage. I have learned to love and to let myself be loved. With you I have found a rhythm of grace and gracefulness. Love has reawakened in my life; rebirth; a new beginning. With you, mo anam cara, I am understood. I am home."

Once he repeated the words, she took the canteen and handed it to him. He drank from it and then she did. The canteen passed between them three times and while they drank, his eyes never left hers. Once she put down the canteen, Artemis asked. "Is the ceremony over?"

"Yes, we're bounded. You didn't notice that you were glowing?" She smiled as she noticed the blue glow of their shared magic floating around him.

"You are too." Artemis observed and soon his gaze was drifting too her lips. "Do I get to kiss the bride?"

Without realizing it, they had moved even closer to each other. Their lips were mere inches apart. Artemis felt the testosterone surge through his veins as he wet his lips and closed the gap between them.