Disclaimer: I do not own the Mystic Knights, Saban does. I do not have the rights to the characters, settings, past plots, or any of it. The only things I have are my own characters, settings and plots in this story, as well as a love for Irish mythology. Please don't sue me!

Chapter 20: Return to Tir Na Nog

The weeks of peace in Kells was short-lived, as the castle found itself under attack early the next morning. The grinning Usmev and his cronies were present again, but this time were accompanied by a battalion of soldiers, wielding longswords. The Mystic Knights had sprung to the defense of the castle, aided by the Kells army and some of the more confident women who had attended training. The battle was grueling. Despite the vast improvement in the Kells forces, these green-uniformed foes were skilled fighters, though their forces began to dwindle.

"Hold your ground," Rohan shouted at his fellow Kellsmen, his Mystic Weapon clashing against the steel sword of a soldier. He swung his sword hard, disarming his opponent and pushing him out of the way as he quickly moved on to another adversary. "We've nearly got them!"

"Maybe you have," Eabha countered fiercely, struggling to fight off three men at once. "I could use a hand though."

"Got it!" Angus shouted and swung his mace, knocking two of Eabha's attackers to the ground.

"Thanks," Eabha said, kicking her remaining attacker in the chest and he tripped backwards over the two hit by the Commander. The three soldiers scrambled to standing and ran back.

"Yeah, you'd better run!" Angus called after them, elbowing another soldier in the face as he approached from the side.

Recognising their defeat, Usmev called for his troops to retreat, and they ran from the castle grounds into the forest.

The win for Kells was hard fought, but a price had been paid. The battle had left many injured as well as a few casualties. Deirdre thanked the people of Kells for their bravery and sent them home to be with their families, knowing that this fight would certainly not be the last in the days to come.

In the training grounds where the brunt of the attack had been taken, the Mystic Knights stood with Eabha and Eilidh, discussing the encounter. Garrett was supporting Eilidh, who was avoiding putting weight on her ankle, which had been hurt in the battle. The others looked slightly worse for the wear, but had suffered no extensive injuries.

"How did they get into Kells?" Deirdre asked, brushing her red hair out of her face. "We've had guards stationed all over the border and no ships arrived in the harbour."

"It could've been magic," Garrett suggested.

Deirdre looked unsure. "You'd need a lot of magic for an entire battalion to appear out of nowhere."

"They could have already been in Kells in one of the villages," Ivar said thoughtfully. "Biding their time."

"Surely that many soldiers would have been noticed though," Rohan said. "And as we've seen before, the pale-faced men have dark magic."

"Why have they attacked Kells though?" Deirdre asked of nobody in particular.

"I fear it is because of me," Eilidh said sadly. "I know those uniforms. Those were Marosian troops; they invaded Nayau shortly before I left to seek help from Kells. I'm so sorry that I've brought these awful troubles to your Kingdom, my Queen."

Deirdre smiled at the Princess kindly. "You do not need to apologise to me, my friend. We have offered our help and you shall have it."

"The Marosians are fierce," Garrett said wiping sweat from his brow. "We need to be prepared for another attack. They could strike at any time."

"We still don't know how they got in," Angus pointed out.

"I think it's time to pay a visit to our fairy friend in the land of the little people," Rohan said.

Angus groaned. "Do we have to?"

"I haven't missed it either," Rohan sighed, "but we can't risk not finding their entry into Kells."

"Rohan's right," Deirdre agreed. "Eabha, take Eilidh to Cathbad's chamber. He'll be able to fix her ankle." Eabha nodded and slipped the Princess' free arm around her shoulder and helped her into the castle. "The rest of us are off to Tir Na Nog!"

…

The five Mystic Knights stood around the portal and looked at each other wearily. One at a time, they held their hands over the stone. With a final sigh from Angus, they were transported into the realm of Tir Na Nog.

As always, the realm was buzzing with dancing and fairy chatter. Fin Varra peered at the five knights who had entered his throne room. He did not look happy to be disturbed. "I was wondering when the fun in Tir Na Nog would be spoiled by Draganta and the Mystic Knights."

Rohan folded his arms, irritated already. "We don't mean to spoil the fun." The fairies and sprites giggled.

"We need your guidance, Fin Varra," Deirdre said earnestly. "We have been invaded and attacked by Marosian soldiers, but we cannot find the source of their invasion. How could they have entered Kells without us knowing?"

"Questions, always questions from you humans!" Fin Varra grumbled loudly.

"Well yeah. If we knew the answers, we wouldn't come," Angus muttered under his breath.

"Don't take that tone with me, young man," Fin Varra warned. "I don't care how long it's been, I still have no qualms turning you into a spriggan!"

"We're not here to argue," Deirdre said hastily, as Angus rolled his eyes. "Kells has been invaded by a full battalion of soldiers, who managed to enter the kingdom completely undetected. We had soldiers stationed at every border and there were no ships in sight. There was nowhere left unguarded."

"Ah, so you believe they entered by magic, do you?" Fin Varra pondered.

Deirdre nodded. "It's the only explanation we have. There have also been several appearances of dark-cloaked men with what we think is dark magic."

"And why do you think these men have dark magic?" the fairy King asked, unconvinced of Deirdre's reasoning.

"Their magic was different," Rohan explained. "How did you describe it, Angus?"

"Sharp. It cut, like a blade" Angus said.

"Hmm," the King wondered aloud, finally sounding interested. "It sounds as though the warlocks are up to their tricks again."

"Warlocks?" said Ivar in surprise.

"Again?" Garrett asked.

"Yes," Fin Varra said. "Years ago, it was rumoured that that there had been an invasion onto this isle, which resulted in the creation of a portal. As there were no reported attacks, I cannot imagine it was investigated further."

Rohan unfolded his arms. "Where is this portal?"

The fairy King wandered to the corner of the room to a liquid-filled basin and said "Come, come," beckoning the Mystic Knights to have a look. They approached. "It was said that the portal exists here, on the northern border of the village Sruthán." Inside the basin, the liquid slowly formed into an image of a dilapidated cottage. The knights all looked at the cottage curiously, except Angus who paled. It was his childhood home, the cottage from his dream the night before. The dark-haired knight swallowed, but said nothing.

Rohan began to ask another question. "How do we-"

"Enough questions!" Fin Varra said irritably. "I have given you the location of the portal, now leave me be. Can't you see I am busy?" The little people, who had resumed their dance, giggled again.

"It's fine," Deirdre said to Rohan, who appeared to be growing more agitated at the fairy King. "Cathbad might know more about this." She turned her attention to Fin Varra. "Thank you for your help-"

"Yes, yes," Fin Varra said dismissively. "Now go away!"

…

On their journey back from Tir Na Nog, most of the knights had been chatting animatedly about the prospect of a portal in the battered cottage. Angus had strayed behind slightly, lost in his own thoughts. Fortunately for him, the excitement of a new adventure in Kells had allowed his unusual quietness to slip by unnoticed. Upon their arrival at the castle, the Mystic Knights hurried through the halls of Kells castle to Cathbad's chamber, hoping to find further answers from the druid.

Rohan arrived at the chamber first and pushed open the door. Cathbad had finished tending to Princess Eilidh's ankle and was telling an old tale to the Princess and Eabha while he put his supplies on shelves.

"Cathbad," Rohan said warmly, the remaining Mystic Knights entering the room behind him. "We come with news from Tir Na Nog."

"Has King Fin Varra provided you with a riddle?" Cathbad asked.

"Not quite," Deirdre said, taking a seat on the lower bunk with Eilidh and Eabha. "But he did leave us with many unanswered questions."

Finding somewhere to stand in Cathbad's tiny chamber proved to be a challenge. Rohan rested his forearms on the wooden table in the centre of the room, joined by Ivar, while Garrett stood against the heavy door. With very little room left in the chamber, Angus resigned himself to sit on the floor by the lower bunk, leaning against Eabha's legs.

"Questions that you wish for me to answer, I presume," Cathbad said, carrying a pile of scrolls from the shelves back to the table. He seemed mildly irritated that his chamber was overcrowded, and tutted as he stepped over Angus' knees to return to the long wooden table.

Deirdre nodded. "We had hoped that you might be able to tell us about portals."

"There are many varieties of portal, my Queen," Cathbad said. "Each with their own specific magical properties."

"Then how about those specifically created by warlocks?" Rohan asked. "Fin Varra spoke of warlocks creating a portal in the village of Sruthán, but no attacks were reported."

"Warlocks?" Cathbad repeated. The old druid furrowed his brow and shuffled through the scrolls on the table. He selected one and rolled it open in front of him, squinting slightly to read the inscription. "Ah, yes, here we are," he muttered to himself after a quick scan of the parchment, and rolled it back up. "A portal made by a warlock is created by dark magic with what is called 'tine glas'. To the human eye, tine glas would turn fire to a brilliant green flame. The flame burns at such an intensity that a portal is created. The portal would allow for anyone to pass between the place of its creation and the forest that its creator calls home."

"That must be how the invaders have been entering Kells," Ivar said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Then we must close the portal," Deirdre declared urgently.

Cathbad shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately if what Fin Varra speaks of is true and a warlock has created a portal in Kells, this is of no use to us."

"Why not?" Rohan queried.

"A portal made by tine glas can only be closed by its creator," Cathbad explained. "There is no way of telling which warlock made the portal unless its creation was witnessed."

Eabha and Princess Eilidh shared worried glances, while the Mystic Knights looked discouraged.

A quiet voice spoke. "It was."

All the eyes in the room focused on the former thief, who was biting his nail anxiously and had turned noticeably pale.

"I was there," Angus revealed, his eyes downcast.

Rohan's brow furrowed in concern. "What are you talking about?"

"The cottage that Fin Varra showed… years ago… the flame turned green, it's exactly as Cathbad described," Angus said.

Standing by the door, Garrett didn't look convinced. "You've never mentioned it before."

Angus narrowed his eyes and glared at the Prince. "There are a lot of things I haven't mentioned."

"Really?" Garrett jabbed, "because you never seem to stop talking." Angus took the bait and began to stand.

"That's enough, Prince Garrett," Cathbad scolded. Garrett folded his arms belligerently, as Angus sat back down, triumphant. Cathbad turned to him and spoke with urgency. "Do you have a clear memory of it?"

He nodded, while the others looked at each other, confused. Cathbad stepped over Angus' knees again and hurried towards the wall of shelves.

Angus looked open-mouthed at the druid, who was rummaging through the contents of the shelves, pulling out potions and powders. "What are you-"

Cathbad shushed him. He found a small vial with cloudy grey liquid inside. He uncorked the vial and handed it to Angus. "Drink this and focus on the memory."

He sniffed the liquid. "What does it-"

"For once in your life, do as I tell you!" Cathbad demanded, exasperated. Disconcerted, Angus tipped the liquid into his mouth like a shot of hard liquor and swallowed. It tasted bitter, and he made a face. "Now concentrate," Cathbad said.

Angus closed his eyes. After a brief pause, a glittering silver haze drifted from the Mystic Knight's face to the centre of the room above the table. A translucent vision took the form of the dream Angus had the previous night, beginning with the young boy sitting on the stone half-wall watching his father chop wood. The vision continued as the family enters the then intact cottage from Fin Varra's image, and grew more sinister as the boy was pulled from his cot by a green uniformed soldier and the grinning warlock, Usmev, set fire to the roof of the cottage.

As they watched the roof cave in and crush the soldier, everyone jumped slightly, Eilidh letting out an audible gasp. Eabha looked away from the vision, feeling disconcerted watching the young version of Angus screaming and separated from his family, being told to run by his father. She forced herself to look back as he ran from the cottage, hiding behind a tree. Cathbad and the Mystic Knights stared at the vision as the flames turned from a natural glow to a brilliant green, culminating in a loud bang and the fire extinguishing completely, leaving no trace of life at the now dilapidated cottage. The silver haze then evaporated, taking any trace of the vision with it.

With the exception of Cathbad, who returned to rummaging through his shelves, Angus, visibly shaken, opened his eyes to everyone in the room gaping at him. He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "so… it was the grinning man, the one who attacked before, who created the portal."

Rohan took a long exhale and ran his fingers through his hair. "When did this…"

"17 years ago," Angus said, avoiding his gaze.

He nodded slowly. "Before we met."

"Yeah."

"You never said anything."

"No."

"And that… that was your family."

"Yeah."

Rohan nodded again, lost for words.

From across the room, Cathbad brought a tumbler of liquid towards Angus and handed it to him.

Angus folded his arms. "Not a chance am I drinking whatever that is."

"It will help with the nausea," the druid replied kindly, coaxing it into Angus' hand.

He took the tumbler reluctantly and took a sip of whatever it was. It wasn't nearly as awful as the cloudy liquid from earlier and tasted sweet. "Thank you," he said softly.

The room was silent for a while, every so often the royal-blooded Mystic Knights exchanging glances. Angus noticed this and rolled his eyes. "So how do we close this portal then?" he asked loudly, the other knights shifting uncomfortably.

"If it can only be closed by the warlock who opened it," Ivar said thoughtfully, "then we must find the warlock."

"We could use the portal itself," Garrett suggested. "Cathbad said that the portal would lead between its origin and the forest in which the warlock resides."

Deirdre nodded. "It could work."

"Then we'll capture the warlock and bring him here to destroy the portal," said Garrett.

"But we know nothing of Marosia," Rohan warned. "Based on the battle we fought today, I'd wager that it's dangerous."

"It's a risk we'll have to take," Deirdre said standing up. "We'll leave now."

Cathbad held up a hand. "Patience, my Queen. Bringing a warlock into Kells is complicated. I will need to make preparations to stop him from using any magic."

"How long will that take?" Deirdre asked impatiently. "Kells hasn't got much time."

"These things can't be rushed," Cathbad said, rifling through the scrolls on the table. "Now out, all of you. I cannot think when this chamber is so full."

"We'll reconvene tomorrow then," the Queen decided. "Princess Eilidh, you know of Marosia, yes?"

Eilidh nodded. "Yes, my Queen."

"Good. I'd like you to tell me everything you can about their tactics."

"Of course." Eilidh stood up and smoothed her dress, ready to leave for the throne room.

"I have also dealt with Marosian invasions in my kingdom," Ivar said. "I'll join you."

"As will I," Garrett added.

Deirdre and the Princess strode from the chamber with Garrett and Ivar.

"Cathbad, I'll remain here, if you don't mind," Rohan said. "I'd like to learn more of these portals before we make our journey to Marosia."

The druid nodded. "That would be wise, my King."

Angus stood up and headed to the door, followed closely by Eabha.

"You never told me about your family," Rohan said quietly, stopping Angus in his tracks. Eabha took that moment to slip out the chamber door.

Angus turned around. "You never asked."

Rohan paused. "You're right," he admitted, surprised at himself. He recalled all of the times Angus had asked about Rohan's upbringing and listened to stories of his life in the orphanage. He suddenly felt ashamed of his own ignorance."I should've," he said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Angus gave a small smile. "If I had wanted to talk about it, I would've."

Rohan nodded. "I don't doubt that."

"Get as much as you can from those scrolls," Angus advised, heading out the door. "I have a feeling we'll be needing all the help we can get." He closed the door behind him and turned to see Eabha waiting for him in the corridor.

"You okay?" she asked, taking his hand.

Angus took a deep breath. "Yeah."

They walked down the corridor together in silence and stepped out into the empty training grounds. As they neared the village, Angus hesitated. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

"Don't be silly," Eabha smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. "You don't need to tell me anything."

Before Angus knew it, he was talking a mile a minute, the words coming out of his mouth before he knew what he was saying. "You deserve to know all of the crap that's happened in the past, even the stuff that I don't want to talk about. I mean, there are so many things that I never told anybody, and you're the only person I want to tell them to. When you love someone, it's just what you're supposed to-"

"Wait, what?" Eabha interrupted, blinking. "When you love someone?"

Angus froze. "Yeah."

Eabha looked into his dark hazel eyes and put her hand on his shoulder, suddenly feeling weak. "Say it properly," she said softly.

He licked his lips, his mouth feeling very dry. "I love you, Eabha."

Instinctively, she pulled him in until their lips met. "I love you too," she whispered as they kissed.