It was a bright cloudless morning the day King Conchobar and the five Mystic Knights forced the former Queen of Temra to the docks. The entire kingdom of Kells had slept well for the first time in a decade with Maeve safely guarded in the castle dungeons. Draganta had finally fulfilled his destiny and saved their lands from her terrors. All the knights were savoring the moment, getting in their last say before pushing the banished queen out to sea. Everyone but Draganta, that is. He was behind all the others standing next to the King. His sword was drawn as he silently watched the woman in front of him.
"Come on, you witch, walk faster!" Angus said pushing the bound Maeve towards the ships.
"Be careful, Angus!" Garrett warned, "There is no use hurting her to the point where she cannot sail out of here."
Sheepishly, Angus replied, "Sorry, just a little anxious to finally get rid of her, I guess..."
"No use apologizing, Angus," interrupted Princess Deirdre, "we all feel that way. The sooner she goes, the better!"
"My aren't we quick to get rid of me, Princess. One would think that someone of your...breeding...would have better manners." Maeve glared.
Ivar bristled. "Keep your mouth shut, woman! Or you might find that we did not pack enough supplies for your journey, if you get my meaning..."
Through all the threats and taunts from the four knights, Maeve just silently smirked. She knew she was defeated, but she also knew of the hard future facing the island. She also had the knowledge of the delicate past of one knight, her biological son...Rohan. His journey was far from over if the ancient scroll was any indication.
Make no mistake, she has no love for her heir. She abandoned him long ago when briefed of his destiny to unite the island with peace. In desperation, she left him in a small village in Kells when he was only a small boy, hoping he would believe that a woman there had no love for him and abandoned him. It was her wish that he be so full of hate, that he would despise the kingdom of Kells. And when he fulfilled his destiny, he would unite the isle in favor of Temra. He was always just a means to an end.
Maeve massaged her throbbing temple. If it weren't for that blasted druid Cathbad, her plan would have succeeded. But no, the old coot had to adopt him as his apprentice, introducing him to a somewhat stable lifestyle in the castle. There he interacted with the King and his snooty little daughter, creating relationships with her two enemies. By Dagda, the thought made her physical ill.
She glanced at Rohan, standing proudly by King Conchobar. She had to admit, even as her enemy, Draganta would have made a fine prince. Fiercely loyal, strong, brave...it really was a shame it did not work out to her favor.
"What, no parting words from you, Draganta?" she snarled.
"You don't deserve any words from me, Maeve." Rohan said stoically. Outside, he appeared the noble warrior. But inside, he was a wreck. This woman was his mother. His mother! She knew it for years, but let him suffer. She abandoned him to the unforgiving winters of homelessness, the shame of being an orphan. All the times in Kells castle when he wished he were royalty like Princess Deirdre, and he finds out he was a prince this whole time. He strived to be accepted as a warrior, to prove himself worthy of something more than a street-rat-made-druid's-apprentice.
When he finally found his place as Draganta, Warrior and Savior of Kells, she revealed his lineage. The Savior of Kells was born by this devil, and this made him the enemy of his beloved country. Maeve deserves more than exile, more than death. Yet, she was still his mother. The thought weighs heavily on him as he sees her final moment on the island. He prays that she will keep her mouth shut and not reveal this treachery in her final hours. He could not take the shame of his King or his friends knowing the truth.
Maeve stepped into the boat prepared for her and patiently stood still as Garrett cut the bonds around her wrists. Ivar and a few of the soldiers finished loading the boat with food and other supplies for her journey.
King Conchobar turned to Rohan and whispered in his ear, "The fact that Maeve is taking this so well does not sit well with me. I half expected her to fight to the very end."
"Yes, your majesty," he whispered back, "but she knows when she has been defeated. She will give us no more trouble as soon as we cast her off."
Conchobar sighed, "I still have a feeling that she is hiding some important information, something that Kells needs to know. This does not bode well, Rohan."
"Send the others back to prepare for the victory celebration as soon as she is gone, my Lord, I wish to speak to you about such things as these." he requested.
The King looked over his knight. He remembered the days when he was a little boy, skipping off from his apprentice duties and running through the castle with wooden sword in hand. He had grown into a fine leader. A leader of men. He would have made a fine son. A fine husband for his Deirdre, should she every wish it. But alas, he was still not royalty or nobility, no matter how he has proven himself. And Deirdre was still betrothed to Garrett. Perhaps he should make him an advisor. He has become wise beyond his years these past few months. He wondered what it was that changed in him. Most likely his destiny bearing down on him, he mussed. "Very well, we shall talk then."
"Any last words, Maeve, before facing the open seas?" Deirdre asked.
Ignoring the Princess, Maeve turned to her son. "Your journey to save this puny kingdom of yours doesn't stop with me, boy. I trust you know the truth when you hear it. Mark my words, your existence will end as lonely and pathetic as it began!"
The knights readied themselves to defend their friend, when Rohan ran to the boat and stared down at the woman who had been the cause of such loneliness. Staring daggers down at her, he silently unwound the rope securing it to the dock and threw it into her vessel. "It's is time for you to leave...again." He whispered acidly.
"Queen Maeve, Tyrant of Temra, I hereby banish you from this island, from both the kingdoms of Kells and Temra, forever." King Conchobar stated. He barely got it out before the other four knights fiercely pushed her boat toward the open water in disgust.
"Don't let her get to you Rohan, she's gone now." Angus said, patting him on the back.
Yes, he thought bitterly watching her disappear. She's gone, but her secrets...remain.
Author's Note: This will be a long ongoing story. Please review. I'm a new author, and could use all the insight I can get!