Title:Banshee 2/?
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:PG13
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
WAFF vs TAFF 2001
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: about = aboot (accent)
Brian O'Monaghan and Eamon O'Connor were dueling when Serena's mare
rode up towards them.
"What in devil's name???" breathed Brian as he jumped back in shock.
Teresa gave a cry. "'Tis Serena's horse!!" she exclaimed.
Brian caught hold of Snow's bridle to stop and calm the horse. Teresa
pushed a hand to her mouth.
"What if Serena's hurt or-"
"Dinnae frighten yeself, cousin. Perhaps Snow just got loose??" suggested
Teresa's cousin, Rahne O'Monaghan.
"Yuir cousin is right, Teresa.Besides, Darien is with ye sister.My
brother is an excellent warrior." comforted Eamon.
Shannon and Genny nodded in agreement.
Teresa raised teary wide eyes to Eamon, then turned to look at her
cousins. Her cousins doing the same before the three O'Monaghans burst
into laughter.
Eamon, Genny and Shannon stared at the three laughing O'Monaghans in
bewilderment.
Brian wiped tears from his eyes, as he chuckled.
"'Tis not the danger of warriors we're worried about. If ye knew Serena
as we did, ye'd know she is as handy with a sword as the next O'Monaghan
man." chortled Brian.
Rahne pressed a hankerchief into her eyes and giggled. Teresa could not
help but laugh even with her fears for her sister's safety.
"There is a note." called Genny.
The laughter stopped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donell O'Monaghan read the short note that was sent...
Dear Papa,
I know when Snow appears before ye all, I know ye will worry, Fear nae,
papa....I am fine. Darien though is injured from falling off his horse
due to an unexpected arrow. Somebody tried t'kill us. We are but few
miles, north from O'Monaghan Keep. Please send someone t'fetch us. I
dinnae want t'be leaving Darien here alone in case somebody tried to
kill him. I await yuir help.
Serena,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sean, Rory...I want ye to fetch ye sister." said O'Monaghan.
"Lord O'Monaghan, father, I wish to go as well, so I may assess my
brother's injuries."said Eamon.
Cormac O'Connor nodded his permission and turned to O'Monaghan.
O'Monaghan nodded as well.
"Where is ye brother, Dougal??" asked O'Connor, looking around.
"I've nae seen him today." answered Shannon.
O'Connor made a exasperated noise. "That Dougal...always running off
t'who knows where. Brosnan, ye will accompany ye cousin t'fetch Darien."
sighed O'Connor.
Brosnan O'Connor nodded.
It was then Dougal O'Connor deemed to burst into the hall, his breath
ragged.
"Where've ye been???" asked Genny staring at her brother. "Darien's been
injured and Eamon and Brosnan are goin' t'fetch 'im."
"What happened??" asked Dougal.
"Fell off his horse 'e did." sniffed Shannon.
"Dougal, since ye're back. Ye can accompany ye brother and cousin
t'fetch Darien." ordered O'Connor.
"Aye, father."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sighed. She watched as Darien tried to tie a sling over his
shoulder in vain.
In exasperation, Serena snatched the cloth from him and snapped for him
to turn around and hold still. Darien raised an eyebrow at her.
"Dinnae get yeself all puffed up and bloated, Darien. I'm only doin' this
because if'n ye dinnae stop, ye're likely t'worsen it." snapped Serena her
eyes flashing him a warning.
"Why Serena, I dinnae know ye cared." grinned Darien.
"I don't. So dinnae go around thinkin' I do. I'll have ye head if ye did.
Plus, your da might nae want his eldest son headless."
"Whatever ye say, Serena. But do ye have any inklin' on how t'make a
sling???" questioned Darien as he arched his dark eyebrows.
"Ye arrogant, stuck-up, pig-headed, arrogant.."
"Ye already said arrogant."
"Shut up. I should have left ye here." hissed Serena.
"Ye cannae mean that now, can ye??" teased Darien as he watched her
begin to efficiently construct a sling out of the cloth he had kept in his
horse's saddlebag.
"Finished." stated Serena.
Darien stared at his arm, comfortably cradled in the sling. Surprise
clearly written on his face. "Thank ye..."
"'Twas nothing. Ye are after all an invalid now." grinned Serena
mischieviously.
"I'm nae an invalid. I doona need t'be coddled like some defenseless
babe by ye, for Gods sake!! Do ye hear m-"
The galloping hooves cut Darien's rant off and at least a dozen horses
galloped into view. Serena muttered a prayer in silence to her patron saint
for sending help so soon and also not needing to hear another moment of
Darien O'Connor's rantings. She heard him shouting at his family about her.
"She called me an invalid!! ME!!! She thought me as frail as a new born
babe!!" bellowed Darien in anger.
Serena covered her mouth with her hand to stop a giggle as she saw his
brothers and cousin roll their eyes.
"Ye seem t'have really stirred a hornet's nest, sister." chuckled Rory.
Serena snorted.
"I'll take a switch t'her backside!!" growled Darien as his brothers
carefully placed him in a wagon, careful not to jar his injuries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena lay in her bed with a sigh, her youngest sister beside her. Teresa
frowned and lay her chin on her sister's bed.
"Who would want t'kill ye and Darien??" questioned Teresa in utter
confusion.
"I know not, Teresa." sighed Serena.
"Ye should rest. Papa would skin me alive if'n he knew ye're still awake
instead o'sleepin' after a day like this." advised Teresa.
"Mama would be so proud of you, you know." whispered Serena as she stared
at Teresa's retreating back.
Teresa stiffened and turned to stare at her sister.
"Nae...mama was always proudest o'ye, Sean and Rory, sister. I saw...she
dinnae have that same overwhelming adoration and pride with Moira, Abby and
me as she did with ye and our brothers."
"That's nae true...and ye know it, Teresa. Mama loved us all." protested
Serena.
"Pride and love, are two seperate things, Serena." sighed Teresa before
exiting the chamber, leaving Serena to stare after her 16-year-old sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a week after their experience with the arrow. Darien was already
up and about. He was still sore about the remark about him being an invalid.
Serena had relished in serving him his meals in bed, teasing him.Having
to feed him as his arm was sprained. He had protested, saying he had a
perfectly good arm. But Serena had been indignant.
Serena wrinkled her nose at the gown she was once more forced to wear.
She pulled the matching shawl around her shoulders to hide more
of her exposed chest.
"Dinnae be pullin' yuir gown like that, Serena. 'Tis so unladylike and
makes ye gown go crooked." said Moira haughtily as she stared down at her
older sister's lack of elegance and grace.
"And look at that hair.All limp and hanging." came Abigail's voice.
Serena turned to face her third sister, whose milky blonde hair was held
up by a string of gleaming white pearls. Her green eyes eyed her sister
with the vapidness that reminded her of the witless women who lounged
about her father's castle.
She often wished her sisters weren't bestowed with such limited
intelligence that made her look like any of the silly girls that attended
her father's court.
Walking up the dais towards her place beside her father, Serena stopped
when the hall doors opened and the O'Connors marched in, Darien was in the
front and was leading the rest of his kin in.
Serena watched as he noticed her, his mouth curling into a smirk. He
stopped before her sisters and kissed their hands with gallantry.
Serena snorted. The gallantry was obviously faked. Her sisters were a
pair of bigger fools than she obviously thought, if they fell for that
phoney.
She smiled when she saw Teresa's face brighten as she saw Eamon heading
towards her. Those two were definately besotted with each other.
"What are ye smilin' at???" came a voice.
She turned to see Dougal O'Connor beside her.
Serena held out her hand to him,still staring at Teresa.
"Oh, nothin' o'importance. Eamon is 22-years this year is he not??"
asked Serena.
"One and twenty." corrected Dougal.
"That would make ye 20-years."
"Aye. Why d'ye ask??" asked Dougal curiously.
"I just wanted to know if Eamon would be too old for, Teresa." grinned
Serena as she pointed to the couple still smiling and seemingly stuck to
each other.
Dougal's face brightened.
"Aye. Eamon needs a little love and distraction in his life. Ye wouldnae
believe how serious he is about some things. A wife would surely make
him more sociable." sighed Dougal.
"What is so interesting that keeps the two of you stuck on the steps of
the dais???" came a deep velvet voice.
Serena turned and glared at Darien. "Like ye would understand." sniffed
Serena turning to resume her way up the dais with a flounce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien frowned at Serena's back as he watched that waterfall of silver-
blonde hair sway around her shoulders and hips. He watched her seat herself
beside her father.
That girl was absolutely the most infuriating, exasperating, arrogant
little wench he'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. The girl was so
arrogant, she would talk to his brother but NOT to him!!!!
His face set in a frown, he took a place next to Serena, just for the
sake of spiting her.
Serena shot a glare at Darien.
"What d'ye think ye're doin'???" hissed Serena.
"Sittin' down." drawled Darien insolently.
"Yuir doin' this t'exasperate me." snapped Serena.
"Ye can bet ye pretty head on it." grinned Darien wolfishly.
Serena gave one last look of contempt and turned her attention away,
holding her head proudly high.
Darien smiled in amusement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During the middle of dinner, O'Monaghan and O'Connor got up and raised
their goblets.
"A toast, t'peace."smiled O'Monaghan.
Serena and Darien raised their goblets as well as the rest of the hall.
Darien drank a gulp of ale while Serena was lifting the goblet to her
lips when O'Connor spoke.
"T'harmony between our family. May Darien and Mistress Serena have a
happy married life."
Darien sent a golden spray of ale out of his mouth while Serena dropped
her goblet to the stone floor with a clang.
"WHAT??!!!" demanded both of them in unison.
O'Monaghan glanced at his daughter. Then to her future husband.
"Ye dinnae tell her??"asked O'Connor.
"I did. I just dinnae tell her who or when. She would 'ave pitched a
fit. I can see ye dinnae inform ye son either." grinned O'Monaghan.
O'Connor grinned sheepishly. "Nae, Darien would have protested too."
"And I still do!!"exclaimed Darien jumping to his feet.
"PAPA!!!How can ye do this t'me?? I doona want t'be wed to-t'him!!!"
gagged Serena as she pointed at him.
"Da!! Why dinnae ye tell me!!"exclaimed Darien shouting at his father
as Serena shouted at hers.
O'Connor and O'Monaghan pressed together and sighed as their children
ranted and raved at them.
Eamon chuckled at his father.
"At least he dinnae spit, da." laughed Eamon.
Darien glared at his brother.
"Doona tell me. The whole clan knew but me?????" asked Darien.
"Is that true, Teresa??" asked Serena.
Eamon grinned in glee while Teresa nodded ruefully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I cannae believe this, da!! The least ye could have done was tell me!!"
exclaimed Darien as he paced back and forth.
"Ye're four and twenty already lad, ye need a wife. We need t'keep this
alliance secure. I doona see anything wrong with her. She's beautiful and
spirited. She'll keep ye on yuir toes."
Darien growled in frustration. "I'm not a lad."
"Yuir me son. I'll call ye lad if I want to."
"I still doona see why I must be the one t'marry. Eamon or Dougal or
any o' the O'Connors could have done that. Why me???"
"Ye'll be the next chief of the O'Connors, lad. And NO son o'mine will
become chief and not take a wife t'produce heirs!!" snapped O'Connor.
Darien snorted.
"Papa!! Why dinnae ye tell me??!!" screeched Serena, glaring at the
father.
"I DID tell ye. I told ye it was high time ye were wed."
"I thought ye were only suggesting it!!!"
O'Monaghan rubbed his head wearily and eyed his disgruntled daughter.
"Lass, ye're 19-years already. Most girls yuir age are already married and
having babes of their own." sighed O'Monaghan.
"Well, what of Moira, Abby and Teresa???" argued Serena.
"Ye're the eldest. I will deal with ye, first." said her father
pointedly. "End o'discussion."
With that, O'Monaghan left an angry Serena behind in the library, glaring
daggers at his back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sat glumly on the swings in the courtyard. She stared up at the
blue sky and puffy white clouds. Her father had confiscated her breeches
leaving only the hated dresses behind.
"Ach, maybe I could run away with some gypsies or become a nun." sighed
Serena.
"You?? Become a nun??" came a voice.
"Oh, tis you."mumbed Serena.
"Ye're much too playful and stubborn t'become a holy sister,
Mistress O'Monaghan." continued Darien.
"Well, I won't marry ye."sniffed Serena disdainfully.
"As far as I can see, we doona have much choice." reminded Darien.
"Well, I dinnae choose the decision. Ye're arrogant, ye're loud, vain,
viril-um...vile, egoistical and-and...bawdy!!!" exclaimed Serena, glaring
at him.
Darien stifled an amused chuckle.
"Is that what I am???" drawled Darien lazily.
"Aye!" snapped Serena jumping up from the swing.
"Would ye like t'test and see HOW bawdy I can be??" grinned Darien
wolfishly.
Serena backed slightly. "I doona need to. I can get it from very reliable
sources." muttered Serena.
Darien advanced slowly like a graceful predatory cat stalking it's prey.
"Wouldnae ye like to experience it firsthand 'stead o' hearing it from
yuir 'reliable sources'???" mused Darien. He saw her blush and frantic
scramble to get away from him. It was so cute and he really did like
teasing the girl.
Serena felt her face heat up. She was sure it was turning even redder
than possible. Moving backwards, she tripped and fell.
Darien let out a rich husky chuckle.
Serena let out a frustrated scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena beat at the folds of her dress, dirt and dust flying from her
gown.
"Really, Serena, why is it ye cannae wear anything without gettin' it
dirty!? Look at the gown ye're wearing!! 'Tis filthy!!" exclaimed Moira
as she glared at her sister's appearence with disdain and disapproval.
"One cannae help it if she's clumsy and lacking in sweet disposition,
sister." commented Abigail.
Teresa glared at her older sisters.
Abigail and Moira nodded their heads. "Yes, yes... I believe 'tis her
complexion. All pale and sallow she is." said Abigail circling her older
sister like a vulture.
"Nae, I think it's her hair. It lacks luster." objected Moira frowning.
Serena wanted to scream at her sisters. They sounded like twits.
Simple-minded twits.
"What think you, O'Connor??" asked Moira sweetly as she smiled at
Darien and Dougal, who had just entered.
"I think Mistress O'Monaghan is ravishing the way she is." replied Dougal
chivalrously.
Serena smiled kindly at him.
"What about you, Lord Darien??" questioned Abigail.
Darien was busy glaring at his brother who seemed to get on so easily
with Serena O'Monaghan.
"I beg your pardon?"
"What think you of Serena's appearence??" repeated Abigail sweetly.
"I think she's lovely." answered Darien as he watched his brother kiss
her hand.
Moira and Abigail sniffed in distaste.
"A game of chess, Mistress O'Monaghan??" smiled Dougal.
"Of course."
Darien felt heat rage up his head until he felt like breaking something.
Preferably his brother's bones. Something snapped. And it wasn't till later
that Darien realized he'd broken his riding strap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena woke early the next morning. The sun had yet to make it's
appearence to the skys.
Slipping out of bed, she dressed quickly in a light blue woolen frock.
The day were getting colder and soon, it would be winter. She longed for
the cold wintery days when she felt warm inside with the crackling of
burning wood and the feathery touch of snowflakes.
She wandered outside onto the grounds. Nobody would be up at this hour.
Except for the serfs and servants.
*The spring would be a nice place t'visit now.* thought Serena to herself
as she felt her cheek.
Darien yawned and stretched. It looked like he was the first one up
today, not counting the servants.
He rubbed his eyes and walked around the courtyard towards the gardens.
He'd seen some beautiful flowering bushes there that would soon wilt with
the coming autumn.
He was about to enter the gazebo when something else caught his eye.
There was a figure in blue in the distance. She was humming to herself
and was bent over something. He crept closer for a better look.
It was Serena!!
She was bent over a small stream. Probably from some underground spring.
She was humming a soft tune to herself. Her eyes were closed so he couldn't
see her blue eyes that sparkled and flamed to life like iridescent blue
fire when she was angry. He smiled slightly. She never looked more angelic
than now.
Her cheeks were flushed a slight pink, her eyelashes were long and
golden. Her lips were a rosy pink which seemed to beg a man to kiss them.
Her skin looked so smooth like translucent ivory. An ageless beauty. He
could almost believe she was an immortal druid priestess. He couldn't
imagine how her sisters had thought her pale and sallow.
The sun rose then, the first rays bounced off her hair, turning it to
molten gold.
His breath caught in his throat. Her hair lacking in luster??? Never.
Her eyes opened then, and even from his spot, he could see them sparkling
brightly like brilliant blue sapphires of the finest quality.
She saw him then and she froze.
He watched as she stared at him for a very long time. Finally, she nodded
slightly and smiled.
Something in him seemed to bloom and grow. But as abruptly as it came,
when she turned away, something seemed to be missing. Gone. Leaving only
an empty void.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I dinnae think anyone would be up so early. Except for the servants."
"Neither did I. I was surprised t'see ye at the spring." smiled Darien.
"Ach, I guess I just couldnae sleep. I've been a wee bit edgy lately."
sighed Serena as she twirled a strand of hair on her finger.
Darien chuckled. "I thought maybe ye went huntin' for leprechauns and
pixies."
Serena rolled her eyes. "I doona have that much time on me hands
t'spare."
"Really?? Ye doona look busy. In fact ye look very free."
Serena eyed him cautiously. "Darien, I doona have time for silly talk.
I know ye enjoy huntin' anything with two legs wearing a skirt. So go
hunt. I'm getting tired of this conversation."
"Is THAT how it goes now??? Well, ye're wearin' a skirt. Does that mean
I'm suppose t'hunt ye now??"asked Darien sweetly.
"Begone ye arrogant, vain, stubborn, degenerate, vile, knave, rogue.."
"Och, lass!! Where in saints name did you pick up such a vile, sharp
tongue???"asked Darien amused.
"Would ye like t'hear more?? I know plenty." hissed Serena. "Scoundrel,
blackguard, arsehole, filthy debauch-"
That was the end of her words as Darien O'Connor swiftly caught her and
pressed a kiss to her lips.
Serena's eyes widened, then she struggled.
When he released her from the kiss, she could only glare at him. Her
mouth had gone dry and she was sure she wouldn't be able to form a
coherent sentence.
"Wh-Wha-??" breathed Serena.
Darien's mouth twisted in a wry grin.
"I wanted to see if your mouth would be as foul and bitter as the Gaelic
flowing from your lips." smirked Darien.
Serena stared at him with a chilling gaze, her eyes turing to ice.
"But they are in fact, very sweet." laughed Darien.
Serena pushed at him and he released her. "Ye're exactly as I said ye
were!! Virile-" Serena quickly cleared her throat "-vile debaucher. That's
what ye are."
Darien merely flashed her a wolfish grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sat down to breakfast and murmured a greeting to her father,
cousins, sisters and brothers. She avoided Darien's gaze by turning her
nose up at him.
"Papa, would ye mind if I went riding today with Sersi??" Sersi being
her puppy, all 220 pounds of Irish Wolfhound.
"If ye take an escort, lass." muttered O'Monaghan.
"An escort!! But papa-"
"An escort, or ye're nae riding."
"I doona need an escort. If ye make me take one, I'll get Sersi t'eat
him."
"Even if it were yuir own brother??" asked her father.
Serena nodded.
Her father eyed her with a bored look.
"Darien can escort ye." said O'Connor.
"Da!!" growled Darien.
"Ye doona frighten me with ye young pup's growl, lad. I'm yuir da, and
I command it."
Darien gave his father a murderous glare.
"Good idea, O'Connor." laughed O'Monaghan.
"I would like t'ride today too, papa."came Teresa's voice.
Serena's head swivelled to stare at her sister.
"Yuir cousins, Brian and Ronin can escort the both o'ye too." nodded
O'Monaghan satisfied.
"I too, will go along." smiled Eamon.
Serena stared at her sister as she saw a heated flush rise up to her
youngest sister's face.
O'Connor nodded his approval.
Serena turned her attention back to her father and frowned.
"Doona think I won't get Sersi to eat him if he's coming." muttered
Serena as she saw Darien from the corner of her eye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I thought uncle got rid o'all ye breeches!" exclaimed Brian as he
circled his cousin.
Ronin O'Monaghan chuckled at his brother's astonishment.
Serena did a mock bow. "He did. I pinched these from somebody." laughed
Serena. "Though, they ARE a wee too big."
The Irish Wolfhound at her feet sat obediently as it watched it's
mistress laugh and twirl about, showing her breeches to her cousins and
sister.
"Oh, Serena...ye really WILL get into trouble. 'Tis just not proper for
a lady t'be wearin' breeches."
"Och, Teresa, dinnae worry about me. Ye're much too stuck on propriety.
If'n I wore a skirt, how would I be able to ride straddle properly???"
laughed Serena teasingly.
Teresa stared at her sister in horror.
"Straddle??? Nae!!Nae!! 'Tis not proper!! Have ye lost ye wits!!" gasped
Teresa as she stared wide-eyed at her sister.
Ronin and Brian laughed.
Ever since a child, Serena O'Monaghan had always wanted to do what the
lads did. She didn't want to play with dolls and tea parties, but wanted
to play with swords and mudfights. She didn't like skirts and dainty shoes,
she liked boots and breechs. She didn't like dancing. She liked
swordfighting.
Serena laughed at her sister's horrified expression. Her sister seemed
to go pale and looked like she was about to faint.
"Ye dinnae expect me t'ride side-saddle did ye??" asked Serena.
"YE'RE THE ONE WHO PINCHED MY BREECHES!!!" came a dark and angry voice.
The O'Monaghans jumped at the loud and furious voice. All except Serena
who had been expecting it. Sersi let out a loud snarl.
Serena turned to face the furious owner of the breeches with a smile.
Darien glared at the blonde in front of him. Her smile caught him off
guard. He'd been angry when he found one of his breeches gone. He was now,
furious to find out it had been the infuriating and bold little blonde
girl-woman who actually had the sweetest lips he'd ever tasted. He caught
himself from the memory and fixed his eyes on her face.
"Would you like them back??" asked Serena sweetly.
Darien was now confused. She didn't actually mean to undress right there
if he said yes, did she???
"Ye-"
"I'd be happy to return them to ye now."
Teresa fanned herself while Brian and Ronin went red in the face. Eamon
turned to stare at his brother, then back at Serena.
"Now???"
"Aye,"
"Ye cannae be serious lass," gaped Eamon.
"Serena!! Ye doona mean to undress..." swallowed Teresa as she left her
sentence to trail off.
Serena shrugged.
"Darien-"
"Keep them."
Serena flashed a brilliant smile which caught Darien of guard.
The dog was still growling.
"Down Sersi."
"Women." mumbled Darien as he turned his back and marched off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Okay, I know so far there has been nothing to show a hint of a banshee
even appearing in the story. Wait for it. :)
In the mean time... send me comments!!!
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating:PG13
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
WAFF vs TAFF 2001
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: about = aboot (accent)
Brian O'Monaghan and Eamon O'Connor were dueling when Serena's mare
rode up towards them.
"What in devil's name???" breathed Brian as he jumped back in shock.
Teresa gave a cry. "'Tis Serena's horse!!" she exclaimed.
Brian caught hold of Snow's bridle to stop and calm the horse. Teresa
pushed a hand to her mouth.
"What if Serena's hurt or-"
"Dinnae frighten yeself, cousin. Perhaps Snow just got loose??" suggested
Teresa's cousin, Rahne O'Monaghan.
"Yuir cousin is right, Teresa.Besides, Darien is with ye sister.My
brother is an excellent warrior." comforted Eamon.
Shannon and Genny nodded in agreement.
Teresa raised teary wide eyes to Eamon, then turned to look at her
cousins. Her cousins doing the same before the three O'Monaghans burst
into laughter.
Eamon, Genny and Shannon stared at the three laughing O'Monaghans in
bewilderment.
Brian wiped tears from his eyes, as he chuckled.
"'Tis not the danger of warriors we're worried about. If ye knew Serena
as we did, ye'd know she is as handy with a sword as the next O'Monaghan
man." chortled Brian.
Rahne pressed a hankerchief into her eyes and giggled. Teresa could not
help but laugh even with her fears for her sister's safety.
"There is a note." called Genny.
The laughter stopped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donell O'Monaghan read the short note that was sent...
Dear Papa,
I know when Snow appears before ye all, I know ye will worry, Fear nae,
papa....I am fine. Darien though is injured from falling off his horse
due to an unexpected arrow. Somebody tried t'kill us. We are but few
miles, north from O'Monaghan Keep. Please send someone t'fetch us. I
dinnae want t'be leaving Darien here alone in case somebody tried to
kill him. I await yuir help.
Serena,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sean, Rory...I want ye to fetch ye sister." said O'Monaghan.
"Lord O'Monaghan, father, I wish to go as well, so I may assess my
brother's injuries."said Eamon.
Cormac O'Connor nodded his permission and turned to O'Monaghan.
O'Monaghan nodded as well.
"Where is ye brother, Dougal??" asked O'Connor, looking around.
"I've nae seen him today." answered Shannon.
O'Connor made a exasperated noise. "That Dougal...always running off
t'who knows where. Brosnan, ye will accompany ye cousin t'fetch Darien."
sighed O'Connor.
Brosnan O'Connor nodded.
It was then Dougal O'Connor deemed to burst into the hall, his breath
ragged.
"Where've ye been???" asked Genny staring at her brother. "Darien's been
injured and Eamon and Brosnan are goin' t'fetch 'im."
"What happened??" asked Dougal.
"Fell off his horse 'e did." sniffed Shannon.
"Dougal, since ye're back. Ye can accompany ye brother and cousin
t'fetch Darien." ordered O'Connor.
"Aye, father."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sighed. She watched as Darien tried to tie a sling over his
shoulder in vain.
In exasperation, Serena snatched the cloth from him and snapped for him
to turn around and hold still. Darien raised an eyebrow at her.
"Dinnae get yeself all puffed up and bloated, Darien. I'm only doin' this
because if'n ye dinnae stop, ye're likely t'worsen it." snapped Serena her
eyes flashing him a warning.
"Why Serena, I dinnae know ye cared." grinned Darien.
"I don't. So dinnae go around thinkin' I do. I'll have ye head if ye did.
Plus, your da might nae want his eldest son headless."
"Whatever ye say, Serena. But do ye have any inklin' on how t'make a
sling???" questioned Darien as he arched his dark eyebrows.
"Ye arrogant, stuck-up, pig-headed, arrogant.."
"Ye already said arrogant."
"Shut up. I should have left ye here." hissed Serena.
"Ye cannae mean that now, can ye??" teased Darien as he watched her
begin to efficiently construct a sling out of the cloth he had kept in his
horse's saddlebag.
"Finished." stated Serena.
Darien stared at his arm, comfortably cradled in the sling. Surprise
clearly written on his face. "Thank ye..."
"'Twas nothing. Ye are after all an invalid now." grinned Serena
mischieviously.
"I'm nae an invalid. I doona need t'be coddled like some defenseless
babe by ye, for Gods sake!! Do ye hear m-"
The galloping hooves cut Darien's rant off and at least a dozen horses
galloped into view. Serena muttered a prayer in silence to her patron saint
for sending help so soon and also not needing to hear another moment of
Darien O'Connor's rantings. She heard him shouting at his family about her.
"She called me an invalid!! ME!!! She thought me as frail as a new born
babe!!" bellowed Darien in anger.
Serena covered her mouth with her hand to stop a giggle as she saw his
brothers and cousin roll their eyes.
"Ye seem t'have really stirred a hornet's nest, sister." chuckled Rory.
Serena snorted.
"I'll take a switch t'her backside!!" growled Darien as his brothers
carefully placed him in a wagon, careful not to jar his injuries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena lay in her bed with a sigh, her youngest sister beside her. Teresa
frowned and lay her chin on her sister's bed.
"Who would want t'kill ye and Darien??" questioned Teresa in utter
confusion.
"I know not, Teresa." sighed Serena.
"Ye should rest. Papa would skin me alive if'n he knew ye're still awake
instead o'sleepin' after a day like this." advised Teresa.
"Mama would be so proud of you, you know." whispered Serena as she stared
at Teresa's retreating back.
Teresa stiffened and turned to stare at her sister.
"Nae...mama was always proudest o'ye, Sean and Rory, sister. I saw...she
dinnae have that same overwhelming adoration and pride with Moira, Abby and
me as she did with ye and our brothers."
"That's nae true...and ye know it, Teresa. Mama loved us all." protested
Serena.
"Pride and love, are two seperate things, Serena." sighed Teresa before
exiting the chamber, leaving Serena to stare after her 16-year-old sister.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was a week after their experience with the arrow. Darien was already
up and about. He was still sore about the remark about him being an invalid.
Serena had relished in serving him his meals in bed, teasing him.Having
to feed him as his arm was sprained. He had protested, saying he had a
perfectly good arm. But Serena had been indignant.
Serena wrinkled her nose at the gown she was once more forced to wear.
She pulled the matching shawl around her shoulders to hide more
of her exposed chest.
"Dinnae be pullin' yuir gown like that, Serena. 'Tis so unladylike and
makes ye gown go crooked." said Moira haughtily as she stared down at her
older sister's lack of elegance and grace.
"And look at that hair.All limp and hanging." came Abigail's voice.
Serena turned to face her third sister, whose milky blonde hair was held
up by a string of gleaming white pearls. Her green eyes eyed her sister
with the vapidness that reminded her of the witless women who lounged
about her father's castle.
She often wished her sisters weren't bestowed with such limited
intelligence that made her look like any of the silly girls that attended
her father's court.
Walking up the dais towards her place beside her father, Serena stopped
when the hall doors opened and the O'Connors marched in, Darien was in the
front and was leading the rest of his kin in.
Serena watched as he noticed her, his mouth curling into a smirk. He
stopped before her sisters and kissed their hands with gallantry.
Serena snorted. The gallantry was obviously faked. Her sisters were a
pair of bigger fools than she obviously thought, if they fell for that
phoney.
She smiled when she saw Teresa's face brighten as she saw Eamon heading
towards her. Those two were definately besotted with each other.
"What are ye smilin' at???" came a voice.
She turned to see Dougal O'Connor beside her.
Serena held out her hand to him,still staring at Teresa.
"Oh, nothin' o'importance. Eamon is 22-years this year is he not??"
asked Serena.
"One and twenty." corrected Dougal.
"That would make ye 20-years."
"Aye. Why d'ye ask??" asked Dougal curiously.
"I just wanted to know if Eamon would be too old for, Teresa." grinned
Serena as she pointed to the couple still smiling and seemingly stuck to
each other.
Dougal's face brightened.
"Aye. Eamon needs a little love and distraction in his life. Ye wouldnae
believe how serious he is about some things. A wife would surely make
him more sociable." sighed Dougal.
"What is so interesting that keeps the two of you stuck on the steps of
the dais???" came a deep velvet voice.
Serena turned and glared at Darien. "Like ye would understand." sniffed
Serena turning to resume her way up the dais with a flounce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien frowned at Serena's back as he watched that waterfall of silver-
blonde hair sway around her shoulders and hips. He watched her seat herself
beside her father.
That girl was absolutely the most infuriating, exasperating, arrogant
little wench he'd ever had the displeasure of meeting. The girl was so
arrogant, she would talk to his brother but NOT to him!!!!
His face set in a frown, he took a place next to Serena, just for the
sake of spiting her.
Serena shot a glare at Darien.
"What d'ye think ye're doin'???" hissed Serena.
"Sittin' down." drawled Darien insolently.
"Yuir doin' this t'exasperate me." snapped Serena.
"Ye can bet ye pretty head on it." grinned Darien wolfishly.
Serena gave one last look of contempt and turned her attention away,
holding her head proudly high.
Darien smiled in amusement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
During the middle of dinner, O'Monaghan and O'Connor got up and raised
their goblets.
"A toast, t'peace."smiled O'Monaghan.
Serena and Darien raised their goblets as well as the rest of the hall.
Darien drank a gulp of ale while Serena was lifting the goblet to her
lips when O'Connor spoke.
"T'harmony between our family. May Darien and Mistress Serena have a
happy married life."
Darien sent a golden spray of ale out of his mouth while Serena dropped
her goblet to the stone floor with a clang.
"WHAT??!!!" demanded both of them in unison.
O'Monaghan glanced at his daughter. Then to her future husband.
"Ye dinnae tell her??"asked O'Connor.
"I did. I just dinnae tell her who or when. She would 'ave pitched a
fit. I can see ye dinnae inform ye son either." grinned O'Monaghan.
O'Connor grinned sheepishly. "Nae, Darien would have protested too."
"And I still do!!"exclaimed Darien jumping to his feet.
"PAPA!!!How can ye do this t'me?? I doona want t'be wed to-t'him!!!"
gagged Serena as she pointed at him.
"Da!! Why dinnae ye tell me!!"exclaimed Darien shouting at his father
as Serena shouted at hers.
O'Connor and O'Monaghan pressed together and sighed as their children
ranted and raved at them.
Eamon chuckled at his father.
"At least he dinnae spit, da." laughed Eamon.
Darien glared at his brother.
"Doona tell me. The whole clan knew but me?????" asked Darien.
"Is that true, Teresa??" asked Serena.
Eamon grinned in glee while Teresa nodded ruefully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I cannae believe this, da!! The least ye could have done was tell me!!"
exclaimed Darien as he paced back and forth.
"Ye're four and twenty already lad, ye need a wife. We need t'keep this
alliance secure. I doona see anything wrong with her. She's beautiful and
spirited. She'll keep ye on yuir toes."
Darien growled in frustration. "I'm not a lad."
"Yuir me son. I'll call ye lad if I want to."
"I still doona see why I must be the one t'marry. Eamon or Dougal or
any o' the O'Connors could have done that. Why me???"
"Ye'll be the next chief of the O'Connors, lad. And NO son o'mine will
become chief and not take a wife t'produce heirs!!" snapped O'Connor.
Darien snorted.
"Papa!! Why dinnae ye tell me??!!" screeched Serena, glaring at the
father.
"I DID tell ye. I told ye it was high time ye were wed."
"I thought ye were only suggesting it!!!"
O'Monaghan rubbed his head wearily and eyed his disgruntled daughter.
"Lass, ye're 19-years already. Most girls yuir age are already married and
having babes of their own." sighed O'Monaghan.
"Well, what of Moira, Abby and Teresa???" argued Serena.
"Ye're the eldest. I will deal with ye, first." said her father
pointedly. "End o'discussion."
With that, O'Monaghan left an angry Serena behind in the library, glaring
daggers at his back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sat glumly on the swings in the courtyard. She stared up at the
blue sky and puffy white clouds. Her father had confiscated her breeches
leaving only the hated dresses behind.
"Ach, maybe I could run away with some gypsies or become a nun." sighed
Serena.
"You?? Become a nun??" came a voice.
"Oh, tis you."mumbed Serena.
"Ye're much too playful and stubborn t'become a holy sister,
Mistress O'Monaghan." continued Darien.
"Well, I won't marry ye."sniffed Serena disdainfully.
"As far as I can see, we doona have much choice." reminded Darien.
"Well, I dinnae choose the decision. Ye're arrogant, ye're loud, vain,
viril-um...vile, egoistical and-and...bawdy!!!" exclaimed Serena, glaring
at him.
Darien stifled an amused chuckle.
"Is that what I am???" drawled Darien lazily.
"Aye!" snapped Serena jumping up from the swing.
"Would ye like t'test and see HOW bawdy I can be??" grinned Darien
wolfishly.
Serena backed slightly. "I doona need to. I can get it from very reliable
sources." muttered Serena.
Darien advanced slowly like a graceful predatory cat stalking it's prey.
"Wouldnae ye like to experience it firsthand 'stead o' hearing it from
yuir 'reliable sources'???" mused Darien. He saw her blush and frantic
scramble to get away from him. It was so cute and he really did like
teasing the girl.
Serena felt her face heat up. She was sure it was turning even redder
than possible. Moving backwards, she tripped and fell.
Darien let out a rich husky chuckle.
Serena let out a frustrated scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena beat at the folds of her dress, dirt and dust flying from her
gown.
"Really, Serena, why is it ye cannae wear anything without gettin' it
dirty!? Look at the gown ye're wearing!! 'Tis filthy!!" exclaimed Moira
as she glared at her sister's appearence with disdain and disapproval.
"One cannae help it if she's clumsy and lacking in sweet disposition,
sister." commented Abigail.
Teresa glared at her older sisters.
Abigail and Moira nodded their heads. "Yes, yes... I believe 'tis her
complexion. All pale and sallow she is." said Abigail circling her older
sister like a vulture.
"Nae, I think it's her hair. It lacks luster." objected Moira frowning.
Serena wanted to scream at her sisters. They sounded like twits.
Simple-minded twits.
"What think you, O'Connor??" asked Moira sweetly as she smiled at
Darien and Dougal, who had just entered.
"I think Mistress O'Monaghan is ravishing the way she is." replied Dougal
chivalrously.
Serena smiled kindly at him.
"What about you, Lord Darien??" questioned Abigail.
Darien was busy glaring at his brother who seemed to get on so easily
with Serena O'Monaghan.
"I beg your pardon?"
"What think you of Serena's appearence??" repeated Abigail sweetly.
"I think she's lovely." answered Darien as he watched his brother kiss
her hand.
Moira and Abigail sniffed in distaste.
"A game of chess, Mistress O'Monaghan??" smiled Dougal.
"Of course."
Darien felt heat rage up his head until he felt like breaking something.
Preferably his brother's bones. Something snapped. And it wasn't till later
that Darien realized he'd broken his riding strap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena woke early the next morning. The sun had yet to make it's
appearence to the skys.
Slipping out of bed, she dressed quickly in a light blue woolen frock.
The day were getting colder and soon, it would be winter. She longed for
the cold wintery days when she felt warm inside with the crackling of
burning wood and the feathery touch of snowflakes.
She wandered outside onto the grounds. Nobody would be up at this hour.
Except for the serfs and servants.
*The spring would be a nice place t'visit now.* thought Serena to herself
as she felt her cheek.
Darien yawned and stretched. It looked like he was the first one up
today, not counting the servants.
He rubbed his eyes and walked around the courtyard towards the gardens.
He'd seen some beautiful flowering bushes there that would soon wilt with
the coming autumn.
He was about to enter the gazebo when something else caught his eye.
There was a figure in blue in the distance. She was humming to herself
and was bent over something. He crept closer for a better look.
It was Serena!!
She was bent over a small stream. Probably from some underground spring.
She was humming a soft tune to herself. Her eyes were closed so he couldn't
see her blue eyes that sparkled and flamed to life like iridescent blue
fire when she was angry. He smiled slightly. She never looked more angelic
than now.
Her cheeks were flushed a slight pink, her eyelashes were long and
golden. Her lips were a rosy pink which seemed to beg a man to kiss them.
Her skin looked so smooth like translucent ivory. An ageless beauty. He
could almost believe she was an immortal druid priestess. He couldn't
imagine how her sisters had thought her pale and sallow.
The sun rose then, the first rays bounced off her hair, turning it to
molten gold.
His breath caught in his throat. Her hair lacking in luster??? Never.
Her eyes opened then, and even from his spot, he could see them sparkling
brightly like brilliant blue sapphires of the finest quality.
She saw him then and she froze.
He watched as she stared at him for a very long time. Finally, she nodded
slightly and smiled.
Something in him seemed to bloom and grow. But as abruptly as it came,
when she turned away, something seemed to be missing. Gone. Leaving only
an empty void.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I dinnae think anyone would be up so early. Except for the servants."
"Neither did I. I was surprised t'see ye at the spring." smiled Darien.
"Ach, I guess I just couldnae sleep. I've been a wee bit edgy lately."
sighed Serena as she twirled a strand of hair on her finger.
Darien chuckled. "I thought maybe ye went huntin' for leprechauns and
pixies."
Serena rolled her eyes. "I doona have that much time on me hands
t'spare."
"Really?? Ye doona look busy. In fact ye look very free."
Serena eyed him cautiously. "Darien, I doona have time for silly talk.
I know ye enjoy huntin' anything with two legs wearing a skirt. So go
hunt. I'm getting tired of this conversation."
"Is THAT how it goes now??? Well, ye're wearin' a skirt. Does that mean
I'm suppose t'hunt ye now??"asked Darien sweetly.
"Begone ye arrogant, vain, stubborn, degenerate, vile, knave, rogue.."
"Och, lass!! Where in saints name did you pick up such a vile, sharp
tongue???"asked Darien amused.
"Would ye like t'hear more?? I know plenty." hissed Serena. "Scoundrel,
blackguard, arsehole, filthy debauch-"
That was the end of her words as Darien O'Connor swiftly caught her and
pressed a kiss to her lips.
Serena's eyes widened, then she struggled.
When he released her from the kiss, she could only glare at him. Her
mouth had gone dry and she was sure she wouldn't be able to form a
coherent sentence.
"Wh-Wha-??" breathed Serena.
Darien's mouth twisted in a wry grin.
"I wanted to see if your mouth would be as foul and bitter as the Gaelic
flowing from your lips." smirked Darien.
Serena stared at him with a chilling gaze, her eyes turing to ice.
"But they are in fact, very sweet." laughed Darien.
Serena pushed at him and he released her. "Ye're exactly as I said ye
were!! Virile-" Serena quickly cleared her throat "-vile debaucher. That's
what ye are."
Darien merely flashed her a wolfish grin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena sat down to breakfast and murmured a greeting to her father,
cousins, sisters and brothers. She avoided Darien's gaze by turning her
nose up at him.
"Papa, would ye mind if I went riding today with Sersi??" Sersi being
her puppy, all 220 pounds of Irish Wolfhound.
"If ye take an escort, lass." muttered O'Monaghan.
"An escort!! But papa-"
"An escort, or ye're nae riding."
"I doona need an escort. If ye make me take one, I'll get Sersi t'eat
him."
"Even if it were yuir own brother??" asked her father.
Serena nodded.
Her father eyed her with a bored look.
"Darien can escort ye." said O'Connor.
"Da!!" growled Darien.
"Ye doona frighten me with ye young pup's growl, lad. I'm yuir da, and
I command it."
Darien gave his father a murderous glare.
"Good idea, O'Connor." laughed O'Monaghan.
"I would like t'ride today too, papa."came Teresa's voice.
Serena's head swivelled to stare at her sister.
"Yuir cousins, Brian and Ronin can escort the both o'ye too." nodded
O'Monaghan satisfied.
"I too, will go along." smiled Eamon.
Serena stared at her sister as she saw a heated flush rise up to her
youngest sister's face.
O'Connor nodded his approval.
Serena turned her attention back to her father and frowned.
"Doona think I won't get Sersi to eat him if he's coming." muttered
Serena as she saw Darien from the corner of her eye.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I thought uncle got rid o'all ye breeches!" exclaimed Brian as he
circled his cousin.
Ronin O'Monaghan chuckled at his brother's astonishment.
Serena did a mock bow. "He did. I pinched these from somebody." laughed
Serena. "Though, they ARE a wee too big."
The Irish Wolfhound at her feet sat obediently as it watched it's
mistress laugh and twirl about, showing her breeches to her cousins and
sister.
"Oh, Serena...ye really WILL get into trouble. 'Tis just not proper for
a lady t'be wearin' breeches."
"Och, Teresa, dinnae worry about me. Ye're much too stuck on propriety.
If'n I wore a skirt, how would I be able to ride straddle properly???"
laughed Serena teasingly.
Teresa stared at her sister in horror.
"Straddle??? Nae!!Nae!! 'Tis not proper!! Have ye lost ye wits!!" gasped
Teresa as she stared wide-eyed at her sister.
Ronin and Brian laughed.
Ever since a child, Serena O'Monaghan had always wanted to do what the
lads did. She didn't want to play with dolls and tea parties, but wanted
to play with swords and mudfights. She didn't like skirts and dainty shoes,
she liked boots and breechs. She didn't like dancing. She liked
swordfighting.
Serena laughed at her sister's horrified expression. Her sister seemed
to go pale and looked like she was about to faint.
"Ye dinnae expect me t'ride side-saddle did ye??" asked Serena.
"YE'RE THE ONE WHO PINCHED MY BREECHES!!!" came a dark and angry voice.
The O'Monaghans jumped at the loud and furious voice. All except Serena
who had been expecting it. Sersi let out a loud snarl.
Serena turned to face the furious owner of the breeches with a smile.
Darien glared at the blonde in front of him. Her smile caught him off
guard. He'd been angry when he found one of his breeches gone. He was now,
furious to find out it had been the infuriating and bold little blonde
girl-woman who actually had the sweetest lips he'd ever tasted. He caught
himself from the memory and fixed his eyes on her face.
"Would you like them back??" asked Serena sweetly.
Darien was now confused. She didn't actually mean to undress right there
if he said yes, did she???
"Ye-"
"I'd be happy to return them to ye now."
Teresa fanned herself while Brian and Ronin went red in the face. Eamon
turned to stare at his brother, then back at Serena.
"Now???"
"Aye,"
"Ye cannae be serious lass," gaped Eamon.
"Serena!! Ye doona mean to undress..." swallowed Teresa as she left her
sentence to trail off.
Serena shrugged.
"Darien-"
"Keep them."
Serena flashed a brilliant smile which caught Darien of guard.
The dog was still growling.
"Down Sersi."
"Women." mumbled Darien as he turned his back and marched off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Okay, I know so far there has been nothing to show a hint of a banshee
even appearing in the story. Wait for it. :)
In the mean time... send me comments!!!