Title:Banshee 3/?
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:Ard Righ/Ard Ri is a title for High King. Ireland was split into two
when Conn of the 100 battles proclaimed himself Ard Righ of Ireland in
about 200 AD.
Teresa sat demurely in her saddle as Serena's mare galloped ahead with
her Irish wolfhound, Sersi at her heels barking.
Teresa fisted her hands and looked at her eldest sister with a twinge of
envy and awe. All her life, Serena had always dared to do what no woman
had ever dared done. She smiled to herself as she remembered Serena at the
age of 12. She herself had only been 8, but she remembered their father's
consternation when he'd found out Serena had been climbing trees and
shooting at the Ard Righ's men with a slingshot.
Teresa sighed. There were times, she wished she herself could cast off her
timidness and propriety and be bold and witty like her sister.
Looking up, she turned to see Eamon staring at her with avid curiosity.
A flaming blush rushed to her cheeks turning them a fiery red. Quickly
averting her eyes, Teresa kicked her mare forward in a faster pace.
Peeking behind her, she saw Eamon flash a knowing grin which she was
sure had made her turn as red as a tomato.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The group had stopped in a forest to rest. Brian and Ronin were chatting
with Darien and Eamon on sword fighting techniques while Teresa was sitting
close by bored out of her wits. Serena had taken the chance to sneak off
with her dog.
Serena sighed and stopped at a stream to wash the dirt, dust and grime
off her face.
Sersi gave a bark then.
"What is it Sersi??" asked Serena as she patted the silvery-grey coloured
dog on the head.
Sersi merely wagged its tail.
A snap of a twig made Serena tense, ready to leap if needed be. She
surveyed the forest around her. Searching for any movement in the bushes
or trees.
Suddenly, the sharp twang of a bow made Serena jump and dodge.An arrow
speared her garment to the ground. She pulled at it trying to free her
clothes. She tugged at the arrow. She was sure if she didn't get loose
soon, she'd be a sitting duck.
"Ach Dhia..this is nae my day." groaned Serena as she pulled the arrow
from the ground.
Serena jumped to her feet and ran towards the direction of her group.
Sersi was barking. Another twang of a bow.
White hot pain lanced through her side as she toppled to the ground.
Her hand clamped on her side.
At that moment, Darien and the others burst into the clearing at Sersi's
noisy barkings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien spotted Serena lying on the ground, that blasted dog of hers
barking and jumping. That wolfhound was likely to raise hell or the dead
with it's noise.
"Serena??"
Darien bent down to lift her to a sitting position. He cursed when she
Serena gasped, a grimace on her face when he touched her at the waist.
Supporting her back with one hand, Darien peered at the other. It was
covered in a red sticky liquid. Blood.
"Saints, ye've been bow shot!!!" exclaimed Darien in an angry voice.
"Nice of ye t'notice after touchin' the injury, O'Connor." muttered
Serena as she tried to glare up at Darien.
"Oh!! Serena!!" gasped Teresa.
Darien ignored her and his head shot up to scan around the woods. Not a
single tree branch or bush moved. The others were also looking around.
However, the only sounds wre of birds chirping merrily away.
Serena struggled to sit up, trying to push Darien's hands away from her
waist.
Darien turned back to look at the struggling indignant bundle that he
held. He tightened his arm slightly.
"Be still!! I dinnae want t'be hurtin' ye anymore than I already have."
snapped Darien harshly.
Serena stilled in shock at the anger in his voice. She peered up at him
and saw his features were calm but a whirlwind of emotions showing in his
eyes. Anger, guilt, worry and fear. His hands had trapped her to him with
infinite gentleness.
Uncomfortable with what she saw, Serena bent her head slightly and
tugged at his arm. "I'm fine. 'Tis just a flesh wound. 'Tis nae serious."
protested Serena.
"No." pronounced Darien firmly.
"For Heaven's sake O'Connor!! I'm fine!! Ye cannae take my word for it??"
hissed Serena.
"I'll believe it when I hear it from a physician's own lips." snapped
Darien as he swept an arm beneath her knees and back.
His steady gait lulled her into a sleepy trance. She was suddenly tired.
Much more tired than she'd ever been in her life. Her eyelids felt heavy.
Slowly she felt the insistent tapping of the sandman at her consciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teresa watched as Darien strode into O'Monaghan Keep, his arms cradling
her sister. It almost seemed as if he was carrying the most precious object
in the world to him. Her two elder sisters followed Darien and father to
Serena's chamber. Usually being underfoot.
Teresa winced as Moira and Abigail shuffled around cooing and whimpering.
Darien shot them an irritated glance as he deposited his precious burden
carefully onto the bed as if she were made of glass.
Moira and Abigail moaned and groaned about Serena's predicament. Doing
nothing but pace and shuffle about, much to Darien's disgust and
consternation.
Teresa peered outside the chamber. The physician had still yet to arrive.
"God's Blood!! Can the two o' ye do nothin' but pace, moan and simper??"
snapped Darien.
Teresa's head snapped to stare at Darien's rigid frame.
Moira sniffed in disapproval while Abigail looked like she was about to
burst out weeping at Darien's harsh tone.
"Ye dinnae need t'bellow in me ear, Darien!! 'Tis nae my fault if Serena
cannnae keep out o'trouble for less than-"
"Get out." ordered Darien in a dark tone. The floors seemed to shake
with his controlled fury.
"Ye cannae just kick me out if it pleases ye, Darien O'Connor!!
Serena's me sister and this is MY home!!"hissed Moira.
Abigail was silent as she stepped back and watched the scene with
vapid blue-green eyes.
"A sister????" sneered Darien as he stared her down. "Ach, forgive me
Mistress Moira if I beg t'differ."
Moira began to open her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.
"What kind o' sister paces about spewing terrible things aboot their
kin??" laughed Darien sarcastically.
"I cannae be blamed for it!! 'Tis merely the truth!! Serena is-"
"ENOUGH!!" shouted Donell O'Monaghan angrily as he glared at both his
daughter and Darien O'Connor.
"Moira, Abigail and Darien. I suggest the three o' ye leave immediately.
I doubt ye'll be much help when th' physician arrives. Judgin' by ye
current states. Ye three cannae do anythin' except bicker like wee laddies
and lassies." snapped O'Monaghan reproachfully.
Darien sighed and stared at the cold stone floor ashamed.
"The two o' ye are t'go to ye rooms." glared O'Monaghan, speaking to
his two daughters.
"Yes papa, " echoed the two sisters with defeat in their tones.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena blinked as blinding light hit her eyes. She stared at the ceiling.
She was back!! She was home. She tried to get up and winced. Her head
felt like a scrambled egg and her ribs seemed to be bound tight by
something. Feeling her side, she felt strips of linen on her wound.
She flopped back down onto her back. she tried to remember what had
happened. Sersi, a bolt and Darien.
"Yuir awake!!" exclaimed a voice.
"Teresa." Serena watched as her sister stuck her red-golden head out
her door and shouted.
"Papa!! Papa!! Serena's awaken!!"
Footsteps fell on the stone floors and her room door was pushed open.
"Serena!!" exclaimed her father. Darien was right behind him and he was
smiling.
"Papa.."
"Ach Dhia, ye gave me a fright when Darien brought ye home." sighed her
father as he sat down on the bed and brushed her blonde curls back.
"'Twas only a flesh wound, Papa. I was nae in any danger." protested
Serena as she tried to glare at Darien from over her father's shoulder.
"Darien, ye dinnae have to make such a fuss aboot it. Dinnae pay attention
t'him. He overreacted."
Darien merely chuckled silently.
"Daughter, Darien saved ye. Ye shouldnae be ungrateful." he chastised.
"But-"
"'Tis nae a way t'treat ye future husband. Och, yuir mama would skin me
alive if she saw what a pestilence ye turned out t'be." laughed her father.
"Papaaa..." pouted Serena. "I want t'get up."
"The physician said yuir nae gettin' up for a few days." came Darien's
deep drawl.
"God's teeth!! I'm fine!! My injury is nae serious!!" protested Serena.
"All the same, I think we should follow the physician's advice. Wouldnae
want me future bride t'faint dead on her feet now, would I??" smiled Darien
devilishly.
"Aye. Me and ye da, have t'be at court t'day. Darien, I leave me
pig-headed lass in yuir capable hands. After all, ye'll have to take care
of her sooner or later." grinned her father.
Teresa covered her mouth in a giggle.
"PAPAAA!!!"
"I'll be seeing ye, when I return."
"I'll take good care of the lass."
"Doesnae anyone want t'know what I think aboot this???"
"I know ye'll take good care o' her O'Connor."
"I doona want him t'take care o' me!!! I can take care o' meself!!"
"Godspeed, O'Monaghan."
"Good luck to ye, lad."
"PAPAAAAA!!!"
With that, Donell O'Monaghan left his daughter's room, with a furious
blue-eyed blonde in it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teresa covered a small smile and coughed slightly.
"Och, I think I'll be headin' off t'the um-...kitchen." choked Teresa
trying not to laugh. "I'm thirsty. I'll tell somebody t'bring ye some food."
"Teresa!!" exclaimed Serena as her sister ducked out of the room.
With her sister gone, Serena turned to the only defense she knew of....
maidenly virtue.
"'Tis nae proper!!! 'Tis just nae proper!!!" screeched Serena.
Darien chuckled and sat down on the bed, his weight making it sink.
He brushed a curl away from her cheek.
"Lass, ye've nae struck me as the propriety type. 'Tis a contridiction.
Ye walk around wearing breeches and shirts, ye wear yuir hair down or
sometimes hidden under a cap. Ye like swordfighting instead o' sewing and
now yuir talking aboot propriety???"
"Ye shouldnae be here!! Not alone with me. We're nae married. 'Tis
scandalous!"
"That's a very good impression o' Moira." grinned Darien.
"I doona want ye here!!!" snapped Serena.
"Yuir papa entrusted me with ye. And here I'll stay until ye can get out
o' bed."
"'Tis for revenge the time I forced ye t'let me spoon feed ye, isn't it??"
"Why Serena, lass, whatever are ye talking aboot??" grinned Darien
innocently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the next few days, Serena complained and complained at Darien's
constant presence. Thank goodness the doctor had said she was ready to get
out of bed.
Serena was changing into a dress when suddenly, her door opened and Darien
breezed right in.
He froze when he entered while Serena shrieked her fury.
"DARIEN!!!"
"Oops.."
Serena hugged the dress to herself. If it had been anybody else, it would
probably have been funny. But it wasn't funny. Here she was, face to face
with her boorish fiancé and herself, practically naked except for her shift.
"Blackguard!! Arrogant boor!! Whoreson!! Get out!! Get out!!" screamed
Serena as she threw things at him with one hand while the other still
clutching the dress to herself.
"I dinnae know ye were dressing, Serena!!" protested Darien shielding
himself with his arms.
"And that's an excuse??? Have ye nae heard o' privacy??!! Ye cannae just
walk into a lady's chamber without knocking or being invited!!"
"Oh, now ye're the expert in proper behaviour???" asked Darien
sarcastically. "Ye dinnae have t'worry aboot me, I've had plenty of
invitations to enter ladies chambers."
"Ye bawdy, filthy, rude, degenerate, vile, roguish debaucher!!" hissed
Serena as she threw a book at him.
The book bounced off his shoulder as he laughed.
"Sometimes I almost wonder if ye are one of those saintly little virtuous
maidens or a little spitfire." chuckled Darien as he plunked his hands on
his hips.
Serena glared at him, a flush staining her cheeks.
Darien grinned as his gaze raked her appearence carefully from head to
toe.
Her face was flushed while her lips were sweetly parted. Her eyes were
burning with that flaming glow he loved while her hair was sleep-ruffled.
Her toes peeked out from her filmy white shift. All in all, she looked
delectably adorable.
"Stop looking at me like that." snapped Serena heatedly.
"Like what??" asked Darien innocently.
"Like I'm a meal or something."
Darien moved closer, his mouth quirking as Serena raised her hairbrush
threatheningly.
"Stop where ye are. I'm warning ye. I've got a hairbrush and I'm nae
afraid t'use it."
Darien laughed as he stopped in arms length of her.
His arms reached out and pulled her closer. Serena clutched the dress
to herself even tighter.
Darien leaned down and kissed her gently, leaving her breathless.
As he was walking towards the door, he stopped and turned his head.
"Oh, Serena, I came up t'tell you breakfast is served."
With that, he was gone and she was alone with her door closed.
Serena stumbled backwards and sat down onto her bed staring at the closed
door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh Rena, Rena why are ye in such a black mood t'day??" smiled Teresa
brightly accompanied by their cousin, Rahne.
"Because of the O'Connor boor." snapped Serena as she tugged at a flower
and began to viciously tear it's petals off.
"I hear that the maids are simply twittering over that O'Connor boor's
legs." came a sultry reply.
Serena turned to see her younger sisters, Moira and the birdwit Abigail
who usually followed Moira's lead.
"Like they would know anything." snapped Serena.
"Jealous, sister??" asked Moira snidely.
"Hardly." spat Serena.
"I heard the maids say he's got an absolutely manly chest." said Abigail.
"The two o'ye can have him. I cannae ken why all the silly maids fawn
over him so." said Serena.
"He's handsome, will be the next laird o'the O'Connor clan, his clan has
fat coffers and 'tis said he is a legendary lover." answered Moira. "But,
since ye spend yuir time in the mud, ye wouldnae know all this gossip, now
would ye???" asked Moira waspishly.
"Moira, ye and Abby deserve each other." snapped Serena.
"Lady Serena!!!" called a voice.
Serena turned and saw Dougal, Brian, Sean, Rory, Eamon and Darien on
horses.
"Where are all of you going, Rory??" asked Serena staring at them.
"Hunting." smiled Dougal as he bowed.
Serena laughed. "Careful. We doona want ye fallin' off ye horse now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien's face was as black as thunder when he saw how easily
Serena O'Monaghan smiled for his brother. At that moment he'd actually
wished his brother would fall and wipe that smile off his face.
His fingers clenched onto his pommel.
"Shall we go, men??" asked Darien calmly.
"Will any o'ye lassies be joinin' us??" asked Brian, his eyes twinkling
at his cousin's.
Serena met his eyes and smirked.
"Nae." sighed Serena.
"But I thought ye liked hunting, Serena??" asked Teresa confused.
"T'would nae be proper." said Serena.
"Aye. All ye men and only one woman." agreed Rahne.
Darien wore a relaxed smile. He was pleased Serena wouldn't be able to
join them. That would put a dampen on his brother's little interest in his
fiancée. *Darien O'Connor, what madness has gotten into ye?? Ye're acting
like a love-sick jealous lad.*
Darien shook his head. He wasn't jealous. He just didn't like sharing what
belonged to him and Serena O'Monaghan was definately HIS fiancée.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien picked up his kill off the ground. A puny pathetic pigeon. He
sighed. The hunting was hardly good today.
"We've got only pigeons and a few squirrels. I think we should head back."
sighed Eamon as he tossed a squirrel into his knapsack.
Darien frowned at his brother. "Well, at least ye got squirrels. I got
pigeons. What good do they bring?? At least with squirrels, ye've got fur."
"What d' ye think Dougal and th' others got?" asked Eamon as he packed up
his belongings.
Brian and Rory came stomping out of the bushes, holding up pheasants and
a small piglet.
"How'd ye get those?" asked Eamon. "All we got were pigeons and rodents."
Rory grinned. "We know this terrain better than ye."
"Where's Dougal and Sean?" questioned Darien.
"Ye dinnae see them??" asked Rory scratching his head.
"Nae...havenae seen them since we split up. Dinnae they go with ye?"
"Nae, we split up." answered Brian.
A snap caught their attention....
The group turned towards the sound expecting Dougal and Sean to appear
any moment...
Suddenly, a twang of an arrow was heard and before anybody knew what had
happened, the arrow had found it's way next to Darien's booted feet.
"Wha-?"
Another bolt was shot, this time embedding itself into Darien's shoulder.
"Darien!!" exclaimed Eamon as he crouched down next to his brother.
The O'Monaghans had already discarded their bows and drew their swords.
Crashing of movement through the trees could be heard as somebody ran away.
Brian and Rory gave chase.
Moments later...
"We lost him...the bastard got away of a horse." growled Brian.
"How is he??" asked Rory as he bent down to inspect the wound on Darien's
shoulder.
"Nae too bad. It's deep though." mused Eamon as he tugged the arrow out of
his brother's shoulder.
Darien winced, clenching his fist.
Eamon bound it tightly with cloth. "We can look at it better at O'Monaghan
Keep."
"There ye are." came a cheery voice. "I got some great kill."
Everybody turned to witness the arrival of Sean who was holding up two
piglets and one fox in his hand.
Finally noticing a red stain on Darien's shoulder, his gaze narrowed.
"What happened??"
"Some bastard shot him." snapped Brian.
"Finally, I found ye!" came a frustrated voice.
"Dougal...where have ye been??" asked Sean as he spotted the young man.
"I got lost. I got pigeons though." he chuckled holding them up. His eyes
landed on Darien's shoulder. Dropping the birds with a thump, he rushed
towards his brother.
"Ach Dhia, what happened t'ye??" exclaimed Dougal as he fretted over his
brother's wound.
"Nothing fatal, Dougal." grunted Darien.
"Och, da's not going t'like this." said Dougal.
"'Tis nothing. I've had worst than this before. Ye dinnae need t' bother
our da aboot this." growled Darien.
"Enough talking. We should be getting back t' the Keep." said Rory.
"Aye. We can examine Darien's wound there." agreed Sean.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena was hacking at a wooden dummy when the sounds of horses reached her
ears. She was wearing her men's breeches and white shirt.
Running up to meet her brothers, cousin and guests, Serena smiled brightly
and waved at them.
As they got closer, she let out a gasp. One of Darien's shoulders was
beginning to turn red with blood. His face was ashen and his eyes looked
dull without their usual teasing glint and mischievious light.
When the group pulled to a stop, Serena helped Eamon lift Darien out of
the saddle. Up close, she could see beads of sweat running down his face.
"God's teeth, what happened t'him??" asked Serena as she took one arm and
slung it over her shoulders.
"Bolt shot." answered Brian grimly.
"Careful, he's lost a lot o' blood." reminded Dougal.
Serena helped Eamon place Darien into bed. "I shall send one of the maids
for an apothecary." said Serena.
"Serena!!" called Rory before she left the room.
"Aye, Rory?"
"Did anyone leave on horseback after we left?" asked Rory.
Serena frowned. "Well...I think Abby went for a ride, oh, and also a few
of our kinsmen. I cannae be sure who. Ye would have t'ask the stable hands."
she answered.
"Aye, thank ye."
With that, Serena shrugged and rushed off to call for an apothecary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few people stood round the bed as the apothecary examined him.
"Aye, 'tis nae bad. A lot o' bed 'est is needed though. Is 'umors 're
nae balanced. Give this t' one o' the goodwifes nearby. She can get th'
'erbs ye need. Be sure t'change 'is poultice once in two days. And careful
t'bind the wound tightly. Dinnae wash it either. We dinnae want 'is wound
t' poison." spoke the apothecary as he placed a list in Sean's hands.
"Aye."
Serena sat by his bed and washed his forehead. Was this how he felt when
she'd been wounded. A strange twinge pulled at her heart. He looked so
vulnerable, so handsome yet lonely and sad.
Her hand without conscious thought reached up to stroke his bangs out of
his eyes. She smiled slightly.
The next day, Darien opened his eyes and blinked up at her when she was
washing his forehead.
"Serena??"
"You're awake." smiled Serena.
"What are you doing here??"
"What you did for me when I was injured."
Darien smiled. "Thank ye.."
"How do ye feel?" asked Serena as she removed the basin.
"Nae too bad actually." grinned Darien.
"Ye're an idiot ye know that??"
"Huh?"
"Ye gave everybody a fright returning with a bleeding arm. If I wasn't
glad ye were okay, I'd beat ye. I mean, who'd I fight with??" asked Serena
indignantly, her face turning red.
Darien chuckled. Then his face turned serious.
"Someone in this Keep is trying t'kill us, ye know." said Darien somberly.
"Aye. I know."
"First ye, but got me. Then ye again. Now me."
"I know...I know.. 'tis nae just random pickings." admitted Serena with a
sob. "I just cannae believe somebody, one o' MY kin would do somthin' like
this."
"'Tis hard, I know. But for all we know, it could be one o' mine. But
bottom line, there's a murderer here and he or she wants us dead."
Serena sighed and sat down on the bed.
"Our little feud has t'end, Darien."
"I agree."
"Then...we have a truce?" asked Serena.
"Aye...we already have a betrothal."
"Darien..'tis a serious matter." snapped Serena.
"And I am serious too." grinned Darien as he caught her head and pulled
her forward for a kiss.
"Darien-" protested Serena before warm lips came down upon her own,
silencing whatever protests she would have made.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued...
Ouch!! I finally finished this chapter. Ugh... it's 3.45am here where I'm
staying, 10th Sept, Monday. Good thing it's a holiday for me. :p
Hope you like this chappter guys. Email me with your comments and
suggestions please, I really need them. I've got major writers block. All
my stories I've published are currently on hold for a new one. *sigh*
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:Ard Righ/Ard Ri is a title for High King. Ireland was split into two
when Conn of the 100 battles proclaimed himself Ard Righ of Ireland in
about 200 AD.
Teresa sat demurely in her saddle as Serena's mare galloped ahead with
her Irish wolfhound, Sersi at her heels barking.
Teresa fisted her hands and looked at her eldest sister with a twinge of
envy and awe. All her life, Serena had always dared to do what no woman
had ever dared done. She smiled to herself as she remembered Serena at the
age of 12. She herself had only been 8, but she remembered their father's
consternation when he'd found out Serena had been climbing trees and
shooting at the Ard Righ's men with a slingshot.
Teresa sighed. There were times, she wished she herself could cast off her
timidness and propriety and be bold and witty like her sister.
Looking up, she turned to see Eamon staring at her with avid curiosity.
A flaming blush rushed to her cheeks turning them a fiery red. Quickly
averting her eyes, Teresa kicked her mare forward in a faster pace.
Peeking behind her, she saw Eamon flash a knowing grin which she was
sure had made her turn as red as a tomato.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The group had stopped in a forest to rest. Brian and Ronin were chatting
with Darien and Eamon on sword fighting techniques while Teresa was sitting
close by bored out of her wits. Serena had taken the chance to sneak off
with her dog.
Serena sighed and stopped at a stream to wash the dirt, dust and grime
off her face.
Sersi gave a bark then.
"What is it Sersi??" asked Serena as she patted the silvery-grey coloured
dog on the head.
Sersi merely wagged its tail.
A snap of a twig made Serena tense, ready to leap if needed be. She
surveyed the forest around her. Searching for any movement in the bushes
or trees.
Suddenly, the sharp twang of a bow made Serena jump and dodge.An arrow
speared her garment to the ground. She pulled at it trying to free her
clothes. She tugged at the arrow. She was sure if she didn't get loose
soon, she'd be a sitting duck.
"Ach Dhia..this is nae my day." groaned Serena as she pulled the arrow
from the ground.
Serena jumped to her feet and ran towards the direction of her group.
Sersi was barking. Another twang of a bow.
White hot pain lanced through her side as she toppled to the ground.
Her hand clamped on her side.
At that moment, Darien and the others burst into the clearing at Sersi's
noisy barkings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien spotted Serena lying on the ground, that blasted dog of hers
barking and jumping. That wolfhound was likely to raise hell or the dead
with it's noise.
"Serena??"
Darien bent down to lift her to a sitting position. He cursed when she
Serena gasped, a grimace on her face when he touched her at the waist.
Supporting her back with one hand, Darien peered at the other. It was
covered in a red sticky liquid. Blood.
"Saints, ye've been bow shot!!!" exclaimed Darien in an angry voice.
"Nice of ye t'notice after touchin' the injury, O'Connor." muttered
Serena as she tried to glare up at Darien.
"Oh!! Serena!!" gasped Teresa.
Darien ignored her and his head shot up to scan around the woods. Not a
single tree branch or bush moved. The others were also looking around.
However, the only sounds wre of birds chirping merrily away.
Serena struggled to sit up, trying to push Darien's hands away from her
waist.
Darien turned back to look at the struggling indignant bundle that he
held. He tightened his arm slightly.
"Be still!! I dinnae want t'be hurtin' ye anymore than I already have."
snapped Darien harshly.
Serena stilled in shock at the anger in his voice. She peered up at him
and saw his features were calm but a whirlwind of emotions showing in his
eyes. Anger, guilt, worry and fear. His hands had trapped her to him with
infinite gentleness.
Uncomfortable with what she saw, Serena bent her head slightly and
tugged at his arm. "I'm fine. 'Tis just a flesh wound. 'Tis nae serious."
protested Serena.
"No." pronounced Darien firmly.
"For Heaven's sake O'Connor!! I'm fine!! Ye cannae take my word for it??"
hissed Serena.
"I'll believe it when I hear it from a physician's own lips." snapped
Darien as he swept an arm beneath her knees and back.
His steady gait lulled her into a sleepy trance. She was suddenly tired.
Much more tired than she'd ever been in her life. Her eyelids felt heavy.
Slowly she felt the insistent tapping of the sandman at her consciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teresa watched as Darien strode into O'Monaghan Keep, his arms cradling
her sister. It almost seemed as if he was carrying the most precious object
in the world to him. Her two elder sisters followed Darien and father to
Serena's chamber. Usually being underfoot.
Teresa winced as Moira and Abigail shuffled around cooing and whimpering.
Darien shot them an irritated glance as he deposited his precious burden
carefully onto the bed as if she were made of glass.
Moira and Abigail moaned and groaned about Serena's predicament. Doing
nothing but pace and shuffle about, much to Darien's disgust and
consternation.
Teresa peered outside the chamber. The physician had still yet to arrive.
"God's Blood!! Can the two o' ye do nothin' but pace, moan and simper??"
snapped Darien.
Teresa's head snapped to stare at Darien's rigid frame.
Moira sniffed in disapproval while Abigail looked like she was about to
burst out weeping at Darien's harsh tone.
"Ye dinnae need t'bellow in me ear, Darien!! 'Tis nae my fault if Serena
cannnae keep out o'trouble for less than-"
"Get out." ordered Darien in a dark tone. The floors seemed to shake
with his controlled fury.
"Ye cannae just kick me out if it pleases ye, Darien O'Connor!!
Serena's me sister and this is MY home!!"hissed Moira.
Abigail was silent as she stepped back and watched the scene with
vapid blue-green eyes.
"A sister????" sneered Darien as he stared her down. "Ach, forgive me
Mistress Moira if I beg t'differ."
Moira began to open her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.
"What kind o' sister paces about spewing terrible things aboot their
kin??" laughed Darien sarcastically.
"I cannae be blamed for it!! 'Tis merely the truth!! Serena is-"
"ENOUGH!!" shouted Donell O'Monaghan angrily as he glared at both his
daughter and Darien O'Connor.
"Moira, Abigail and Darien. I suggest the three o' ye leave immediately.
I doubt ye'll be much help when th' physician arrives. Judgin' by ye
current states. Ye three cannae do anythin' except bicker like wee laddies
and lassies." snapped O'Monaghan reproachfully.
Darien sighed and stared at the cold stone floor ashamed.
"The two o' ye are t'go to ye rooms." glared O'Monaghan, speaking to
his two daughters.
"Yes papa, " echoed the two sisters with defeat in their tones.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena blinked as blinding light hit her eyes. She stared at the ceiling.
She was back!! She was home. She tried to get up and winced. Her head
felt like a scrambled egg and her ribs seemed to be bound tight by
something. Feeling her side, she felt strips of linen on her wound.
She flopped back down onto her back. she tried to remember what had
happened. Sersi, a bolt and Darien.
"Yuir awake!!" exclaimed a voice.
"Teresa." Serena watched as her sister stuck her red-golden head out
her door and shouted.
"Papa!! Papa!! Serena's awaken!!"
Footsteps fell on the stone floors and her room door was pushed open.
"Serena!!" exclaimed her father. Darien was right behind him and he was
smiling.
"Papa.."
"Ach Dhia, ye gave me a fright when Darien brought ye home." sighed her
father as he sat down on the bed and brushed her blonde curls back.
"'Twas only a flesh wound, Papa. I was nae in any danger." protested
Serena as she tried to glare at Darien from over her father's shoulder.
"Darien, ye dinnae have to make such a fuss aboot it. Dinnae pay attention
t'him. He overreacted."
Darien merely chuckled silently.
"Daughter, Darien saved ye. Ye shouldnae be ungrateful." he chastised.
"But-"
"'Tis nae a way t'treat ye future husband. Och, yuir mama would skin me
alive if she saw what a pestilence ye turned out t'be." laughed her father.
"Papaaa..." pouted Serena. "I want t'get up."
"The physician said yuir nae gettin' up for a few days." came Darien's
deep drawl.
"God's teeth!! I'm fine!! My injury is nae serious!!" protested Serena.
"All the same, I think we should follow the physician's advice. Wouldnae
want me future bride t'faint dead on her feet now, would I??" smiled Darien
devilishly.
"Aye. Me and ye da, have t'be at court t'day. Darien, I leave me
pig-headed lass in yuir capable hands. After all, ye'll have to take care
of her sooner or later." grinned her father.
Teresa covered her mouth in a giggle.
"PAPAAA!!!"
"I'll be seeing ye, when I return."
"I'll take good care of the lass."
"Doesnae anyone want t'know what I think aboot this???"
"I know ye'll take good care o' her O'Connor."
"I doona want him t'take care o' me!!! I can take care o' meself!!"
"Godspeed, O'Monaghan."
"Good luck to ye, lad."
"PAPAAAAA!!!"
With that, Donell O'Monaghan left his daughter's room, with a furious
blue-eyed blonde in it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Teresa covered a small smile and coughed slightly.
"Och, I think I'll be headin' off t'the um-...kitchen." choked Teresa
trying not to laugh. "I'm thirsty. I'll tell somebody t'bring ye some food."
"Teresa!!" exclaimed Serena as her sister ducked out of the room.
With her sister gone, Serena turned to the only defense she knew of....
maidenly virtue.
"'Tis nae proper!!! 'Tis just nae proper!!!" screeched Serena.
Darien chuckled and sat down on the bed, his weight making it sink.
He brushed a curl away from her cheek.
"Lass, ye've nae struck me as the propriety type. 'Tis a contridiction.
Ye walk around wearing breeches and shirts, ye wear yuir hair down or
sometimes hidden under a cap. Ye like swordfighting instead o' sewing and
now yuir talking aboot propriety???"
"Ye shouldnae be here!! Not alone with me. We're nae married. 'Tis
scandalous!"
"That's a very good impression o' Moira." grinned Darien.
"I doona want ye here!!!" snapped Serena.
"Yuir papa entrusted me with ye. And here I'll stay until ye can get out
o' bed."
"'Tis for revenge the time I forced ye t'let me spoon feed ye, isn't it??"
"Why Serena, lass, whatever are ye talking aboot??" grinned Darien
innocently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the next few days, Serena complained and complained at Darien's
constant presence. Thank goodness the doctor had said she was ready to get
out of bed.
Serena was changing into a dress when suddenly, her door opened and Darien
breezed right in.
He froze when he entered while Serena shrieked her fury.
"DARIEN!!!"
"Oops.."
Serena hugged the dress to herself. If it had been anybody else, it would
probably have been funny. But it wasn't funny. Here she was, face to face
with her boorish fiancé and herself, practically naked except for her shift.
"Blackguard!! Arrogant boor!! Whoreson!! Get out!! Get out!!" screamed
Serena as she threw things at him with one hand while the other still
clutching the dress to herself.
"I dinnae know ye were dressing, Serena!!" protested Darien shielding
himself with his arms.
"And that's an excuse??? Have ye nae heard o' privacy??!! Ye cannae just
walk into a lady's chamber without knocking or being invited!!"
"Oh, now ye're the expert in proper behaviour???" asked Darien
sarcastically. "Ye dinnae have t'worry aboot me, I've had plenty of
invitations to enter ladies chambers."
"Ye bawdy, filthy, rude, degenerate, vile, roguish debaucher!!" hissed
Serena as she threw a book at him.
The book bounced off his shoulder as he laughed.
"Sometimes I almost wonder if ye are one of those saintly little virtuous
maidens or a little spitfire." chuckled Darien as he plunked his hands on
his hips.
Serena glared at him, a flush staining her cheeks.
Darien grinned as his gaze raked her appearence carefully from head to
toe.
Her face was flushed while her lips were sweetly parted. Her eyes were
burning with that flaming glow he loved while her hair was sleep-ruffled.
Her toes peeked out from her filmy white shift. All in all, she looked
delectably adorable.
"Stop looking at me like that." snapped Serena heatedly.
"Like what??" asked Darien innocently.
"Like I'm a meal or something."
Darien moved closer, his mouth quirking as Serena raised her hairbrush
threatheningly.
"Stop where ye are. I'm warning ye. I've got a hairbrush and I'm nae
afraid t'use it."
Darien laughed as he stopped in arms length of her.
His arms reached out and pulled her closer. Serena clutched the dress
to herself even tighter.
Darien leaned down and kissed her gently, leaving her breathless.
As he was walking towards the door, he stopped and turned his head.
"Oh, Serena, I came up t'tell you breakfast is served."
With that, he was gone and she was alone with her door closed.
Serena stumbled backwards and sat down onto her bed staring at the closed
door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh Rena, Rena why are ye in such a black mood t'day??" smiled Teresa
brightly accompanied by their cousin, Rahne.
"Because of the O'Connor boor." snapped Serena as she tugged at a flower
and began to viciously tear it's petals off.
"I hear that the maids are simply twittering over that O'Connor boor's
legs." came a sultry reply.
Serena turned to see her younger sisters, Moira and the birdwit Abigail
who usually followed Moira's lead.
"Like they would know anything." snapped Serena.
"Jealous, sister??" asked Moira snidely.
"Hardly." spat Serena.
"I heard the maids say he's got an absolutely manly chest." said Abigail.
"The two o'ye can have him. I cannae ken why all the silly maids fawn
over him so." said Serena.
"He's handsome, will be the next laird o'the O'Connor clan, his clan has
fat coffers and 'tis said he is a legendary lover." answered Moira. "But,
since ye spend yuir time in the mud, ye wouldnae know all this gossip, now
would ye???" asked Moira waspishly.
"Moira, ye and Abby deserve each other." snapped Serena.
"Lady Serena!!!" called a voice.
Serena turned and saw Dougal, Brian, Sean, Rory, Eamon and Darien on
horses.
"Where are all of you going, Rory??" asked Serena staring at them.
"Hunting." smiled Dougal as he bowed.
Serena laughed. "Careful. We doona want ye fallin' off ye horse now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien's face was as black as thunder when he saw how easily
Serena O'Monaghan smiled for his brother. At that moment he'd actually
wished his brother would fall and wipe that smile off his face.
His fingers clenched onto his pommel.
"Shall we go, men??" asked Darien calmly.
"Will any o'ye lassies be joinin' us??" asked Brian, his eyes twinkling
at his cousin's.
Serena met his eyes and smirked.
"Nae." sighed Serena.
"But I thought ye liked hunting, Serena??" asked Teresa confused.
"T'would nae be proper." said Serena.
"Aye. All ye men and only one woman." agreed Rahne.
Darien wore a relaxed smile. He was pleased Serena wouldn't be able to
join them. That would put a dampen on his brother's little interest in his
fiancée. *Darien O'Connor, what madness has gotten into ye?? Ye're acting
like a love-sick jealous lad.*
Darien shook his head. He wasn't jealous. He just didn't like sharing what
belonged to him and Serena O'Monaghan was definately HIS fiancée.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darien picked up his kill off the ground. A puny pathetic pigeon. He
sighed. The hunting was hardly good today.
"We've got only pigeons and a few squirrels. I think we should head back."
sighed Eamon as he tossed a squirrel into his knapsack.
Darien frowned at his brother. "Well, at least ye got squirrels. I got
pigeons. What good do they bring?? At least with squirrels, ye've got fur."
"What d' ye think Dougal and th' others got?" asked Eamon as he packed up
his belongings.
Brian and Rory came stomping out of the bushes, holding up pheasants and
a small piglet.
"How'd ye get those?" asked Eamon. "All we got were pigeons and rodents."
Rory grinned. "We know this terrain better than ye."
"Where's Dougal and Sean?" questioned Darien.
"Ye dinnae see them??" asked Rory scratching his head.
"Nae...havenae seen them since we split up. Dinnae they go with ye?"
"Nae, we split up." answered Brian.
A snap caught their attention....
The group turned towards the sound expecting Dougal and Sean to appear
any moment...
Suddenly, a twang of an arrow was heard and before anybody knew what had
happened, the arrow had found it's way next to Darien's booted feet.
"Wha-?"
Another bolt was shot, this time embedding itself into Darien's shoulder.
"Darien!!" exclaimed Eamon as he crouched down next to his brother.
The O'Monaghans had already discarded their bows and drew their swords.
Crashing of movement through the trees could be heard as somebody ran away.
Brian and Rory gave chase.
Moments later...
"We lost him...the bastard got away of a horse." growled Brian.
"How is he??" asked Rory as he bent down to inspect the wound on Darien's
shoulder.
"Nae too bad. It's deep though." mused Eamon as he tugged the arrow out of
his brother's shoulder.
Darien winced, clenching his fist.
Eamon bound it tightly with cloth. "We can look at it better at O'Monaghan
Keep."
"There ye are." came a cheery voice. "I got some great kill."
Everybody turned to witness the arrival of Sean who was holding up two
piglets and one fox in his hand.
Finally noticing a red stain on Darien's shoulder, his gaze narrowed.
"What happened??"
"Some bastard shot him." snapped Brian.
"Finally, I found ye!" came a frustrated voice.
"Dougal...where have ye been??" asked Sean as he spotted the young man.
"I got lost. I got pigeons though." he chuckled holding them up. His eyes
landed on Darien's shoulder. Dropping the birds with a thump, he rushed
towards his brother.
"Ach Dhia, what happened t'ye??" exclaimed Dougal as he fretted over his
brother's wound.
"Nothing fatal, Dougal." grunted Darien.
"Och, da's not going t'like this." said Dougal.
"'Tis nothing. I've had worst than this before. Ye dinnae need t' bother
our da aboot this." growled Darien.
"Enough talking. We should be getting back t' the Keep." said Rory.
"Aye. We can examine Darien's wound there." agreed Sean.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena was hacking at a wooden dummy when the sounds of horses reached her
ears. She was wearing her men's breeches and white shirt.
Running up to meet her brothers, cousin and guests, Serena smiled brightly
and waved at them.
As they got closer, she let out a gasp. One of Darien's shoulders was
beginning to turn red with blood. His face was ashen and his eyes looked
dull without their usual teasing glint and mischievious light.
When the group pulled to a stop, Serena helped Eamon lift Darien out of
the saddle. Up close, she could see beads of sweat running down his face.
"God's teeth, what happened t'him??" asked Serena as she took one arm and
slung it over her shoulders.
"Bolt shot." answered Brian grimly.
"Careful, he's lost a lot o' blood." reminded Dougal.
Serena helped Eamon place Darien into bed. "I shall send one of the maids
for an apothecary." said Serena.
"Serena!!" called Rory before she left the room.
"Aye, Rory?"
"Did anyone leave on horseback after we left?" asked Rory.
Serena frowned. "Well...I think Abby went for a ride, oh, and also a few
of our kinsmen. I cannae be sure who. Ye would have t'ask the stable hands."
she answered.
"Aye, thank ye."
With that, Serena shrugged and rushed off to call for an apothecary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Few people stood round the bed as the apothecary examined him.
"Aye, 'tis nae bad. A lot o' bed 'est is needed though. Is 'umors 're
nae balanced. Give this t' one o' the goodwifes nearby. She can get th'
'erbs ye need. Be sure t'change 'is poultice once in two days. And careful
t'bind the wound tightly. Dinnae wash it either. We dinnae want 'is wound
t' poison." spoke the apothecary as he placed a list in Sean's hands.
"Aye."
Serena sat by his bed and washed his forehead. Was this how he felt when
she'd been wounded. A strange twinge pulled at her heart. He looked so
vulnerable, so handsome yet lonely and sad.
Her hand without conscious thought reached up to stroke his bangs out of
his eyes. She smiled slightly.
The next day, Darien opened his eyes and blinked up at her when she was
washing his forehead.
"Serena??"
"You're awake." smiled Serena.
"What are you doing here??"
"What you did for me when I was injured."
Darien smiled. "Thank ye.."
"How do ye feel?" asked Serena as she removed the basin.
"Nae too bad actually." grinned Darien.
"Ye're an idiot ye know that??"
"Huh?"
"Ye gave everybody a fright returning with a bleeding arm. If I wasn't
glad ye were okay, I'd beat ye. I mean, who'd I fight with??" asked Serena
indignantly, her face turning red.
Darien chuckled. Then his face turned serious.
"Someone in this Keep is trying t'kill us, ye know." said Darien somberly.
"Aye. I know."
"First ye, but got me. Then ye again. Now me."
"I know...I know.. 'tis nae just random pickings." admitted Serena with a
sob. "I just cannae believe somebody, one o' MY kin would do somthin' like
this."
"'Tis hard, I know. But for all we know, it could be one o' mine. But
bottom line, there's a murderer here and he or she wants us dead."
Serena sighed and sat down on the bed.
"Our little feud has t'end, Darien."
"I agree."
"Then...we have a truce?" asked Serena.
"Aye...we already have a betrothal."
"Darien..'tis a serious matter." snapped Serena.
"And I am serious too." grinned Darien as he caught her head and pulled
her forward for a kiss.
"Darien-" protested Serena before warm lips came down upon her own,
silencing whatever protests she would have made.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued...
Ouch!! I finally finished this chapter. Ugh... it's 3.45am here where I'm
staying, 10th Sept, Monday. Good thing it's a holiday for me. :p
Hope you like this chappter guys. Email me with your comments and
suggestions please, I really need them. I've got major writers block. All
my stories I've published are currently on hold for a new one. *sigh*