Chapter 3: Before the King
Filthy as they were, the O'Noclahn family was brought up out of the bowels of the castle. A brief glance out a nearby window told Ceara that it was nightfall and time for everyone to have the evening meal. They were dragged for almost half an hour before they reached the doors of the Great Hall.
Slowly, the doors opened, offering glimpses of the hall and scents of the food. Ceara's stomach growled reminding her that she had not eaten in over two days. She ignored her hunger however, the weeks of traveling accustomed her to an empty stomach. Picking up the weary Myechiyel, she continued the journey with renewed energy.
They were led inside and brought before the dais. Above them, King Edward the Longshanks glared down. "Who are these pitiful people that you bring before me? Captain?"
"These are the Irish captives that were brought in last night. We bring them here at your bidding."
"Very well, have them state who they are and we will judge them from there. Come forward."
Ceara stepped forward to speak before Diedyia had the chance to ruin their lives. "Milord, I am Ceara." She beckoned for Ebekah. "This is my younger sister, Ebekah." Ceara then motioned to her nephew in her arms. "This is our nephew Myechiyel. Finally, this is our grandmother Diedyia. We are all that remains of the O'Noclahn clan. Are you satisfied with your information?"
Ceara took the next moment to survey the king's family. She saw his dour, weak son, Edward, sitting at his right. Her eyes then passed over a more human looking member. She figured this woman to be the wife of the prince for she sat at the prince's right. Ceara felt pity for the princess only because she had to live with these people every day.
King Edward turned towards his son asking, "What do you suppose we do with them?"
Immediately, Prince Edward brought on a haughty air. "I would deal with them quickly. They are not like us, and if we keep them here they will be taking up room in our already overcrowded city. Execute them."
Ebekah began to cry silently and Diedyia gave a sigh of resignation. Myechiyel looked around, completely confused. Ceara stood there, stone faced, willing to accept her fate.
Just as the guards were about to drag them away, Princess Isabella stood up. "Wait, they don't deserve this. Milord, at least have the decency to send them to Scotland. At least there they will be with other Celts."
After a few murmured words to his councilors, King Edward agreed. "However, one question remains; who will lead them? We can't have then running back to Ireland, now can we?"
"I shall," said a middle aged Scottish lord. His hair and eyes were dark, making him a cold figure.
"Very well. You shall lead them to Edinburgh. After that, they are Robert the Bruce's problem. You leave in the morning."
"Servant," called the princess. "Bring these people a good meal; they look as though they could use it." She turned to the O'Noclahns. "Please, seat yourselves by the hearth. Let the fire warm your tired bodies."
Ceara could not tell whether the princess was being kind out of charity or just to spite her husband and father-in-law. As Ceara walked away, she briefly turned to look at Isabella's face. Looking into it, she saw a mixture of both charity and disobedience. Not that Ceara blamed the princess; Ceara had certainly been disobedient out of spite before.
As they ate, Diedyia contemplated how she could turn this situation to her advantage. She ate little, despite the urgings of her granddaughters. Ebekah once again lamented the loss of her betrothed, but kept it to herself. Ceara, on the other hand was steeling herself for another hard, long, miserable journey. She had discovered that Lord Mornay would be leading them to Edinburgh. As the talk died away, Ceara found herself lost in her own thoughts. Why is it that my vision was right? How come now, of all times, do I receive the sight? Still thinking, she did not see Lord Mornay come up.
"Just so you are aware, we will be leaving at dawn. Ready your things now so as not to cause delay."
Ebekah voiced a small grumble, but was then silent. She moved closer to her sister, worried about what was going to happen. Ceara calmed her sister's fears, while still making sure that Myechiyel ate. Diedyia was still wondering about how to change destiny. There has to be a way to change things. If Savin doesn't return, Ebekah can be easily married off. She'll comply to my wishes. Ceara on the hand, is a problem. She cares too deeply for the well being of her family. It'll take some work to douse her fire. It would be a waste of good intellect if she didn't use it. If I can't find a good Druid colony, a nunnery works just as well. She kept thinking until she was fast asleep where she sat.
"Ebekah, watch Myechiyel. I'm going to make sure that Trina stays with us." Ceara's voice was gentle so Ebekah would not worry too much. "I'm also going to see if the cook could spare us some food."
"Could you see if anyone has an old cloak they would like to give us? Myechiyel's is almost nothing."
Ceara smiled at her sister. "Of course. Just remember that it isn't quite that high on our list of priorities." With that said, Ceara went off to fulfill hat she had promised.
That night, Ceara's dream-visions were filled with despair, suffering, and death. She saw a nation being torn at its already weak seams. She tried to make sense of it all, but nothing would come.
Filthy as they were, the O'Noclahn family was brought up out of the bowels of the castle. A brief glance out a nearby window told Ceara that it was nightfall and time for everyone to have the evening meal. They were dragged for almost half an hour before they reached the doors of the Great Hall.
Slowly, the doors opened, offering glimpses of the hall and scents of the food. Ceara's stomach growled reminding her that she had not eaten in over two days. She ignored her hunger however, the weeks of traveling accustomed her to an empty stomach. Picking up the weary Myechiyel, she continued the journey with renewed energy.
They were led inside and brought before the dais. Above them, King Edward the Longshanks glared down. "Who are these pitiful people that you bring before me? Captain?"
"These are the Irish captives that were brought in last night. We bring them here at your bidding."
"Very well, have them state who they are and we will judge them from there. Come forward."
Ceara stepped forward to speak before Diedyia had the chance to ruin their lives. "Milord, I am Ceara." She beckoned for Ebekah. "This is my younger sister, Ebekah." Ceara then motioned to her nephew in her arms. "This is our nephew Myechiyel. Finally, this is our grandmother Diedyia. We are all that remains of the O'Noclahn clan. Are you satisfied with your information?"
Ceara took the next moment to survey the king's family. She saw his dour, weak son, Edward, sitting at his right. Her eyes then passed over a more human looking member. She figured this woman to be the wife of the prince for she sat at the prince's right. Ceara felt pity for the princess only because she had to live with these people every day.
King Edward turned towards his son asking, "What do you suppose we do with them?"
Immediately, Prince Edward brought on a haughty air. "I would deal with them quickly. They are not like us, and if we keep them here they will be taking up room in our already overcrowded city. Execute them."
Ebekah began to cry silently and Diedyia gave a sigh of resignation. Myechiyel looked around, completely confused. Ceara stood there, stone faced, willing to accept her fate.
Just as the guards were about to drag them away, Princess Isabella stood up. "Wait, they don't deserve this. Milord, at least have the decency to send them to Scotland. At least there they will be with other Celts."
After a few murmured words to his councilors, King Edward agreed. "However, one question remains; who will lead them? We can't have then running back to Ireland, now can we?"
"I shall," said a middle aged Scottish lord. His hair and eyes were dark, making him a cold figure.
"Very well. You shall lead them to Edinburgh. After that, they are Robert the Bruce's problem. You leave in the morning."
"Servant," called the princess. "Bring these people a good meal; they look as though they could use it." She turned to the O'Noclahns. "Please, seat yourselves by the hearth. Let the fire warm your tired bodies."
Ceara could not tell whether the princess was being kind out of charity or just to spite her husband and father-in-law. As Ceara walked away, she briefly turned to look at Isabella's face. Looking into it, she saw a mixture of both charity and disobedience. Not that Ceara blamed the princess; Ceara had certainly been disobedient out of spite before.
As they ate, Diedyia contemplated how she could turn this situation to her advantage. She ate little, despite the urgings of her granddaughters. Ebekah once again lamented the loss of her betrothed, but kept it to herself. Ceara, on the other hand was steeling herself for another hard, long, miserable journey. She had discovered that Lord Mornay would be leading them to Edinburgh. As the talk died away, Ceara found herself lost in her own thoughts. Why is it that my vision was right? How come now, of all times, do I receive the sight? Still thinking, she did not see Lord Mornay come up.
"Just so you are aware, we will be leaving at dawn. Ready your things now so as not to cause delay."
Ebekah voiced a small grumble, but was then silent. She moved closer to her sister, worried about what was going to happen. Ceara calmed her sister's fears, while still making sure that Myechiyel ate. Diedyia was still wondering about how to change destiny. There has to be a way to change things. If Savin doesn't return, Ebekah can be easily married off. She'll comply to my wishes. Ceara on the hand, is a problem. She cares too deeply for the well being of her family. It'll take some work to douse her fire. It would be a waste of good intellect if she didn't use it. If I can't find a good Druid colony, a nunnery works just as well. She kept thinking until she was fast asleep where she sat.
"Ebekah, watch Myechiyel. I'm going to make sure that Trina stays with us." Ceara's voice was gentle so Ebekah would not worry too much. "I'm also going to see if the cook could spare us some food."
"Could you see if anyone has an old cloak they would like to give us? Myechiyel's is almost nothing."
Ceara smiled at her sister. "Of course. Just remember that it isn't quite that high on our list of priorities." With that said, Ceara went off to fulfill hat she had promised.
That night, Ceara's dream-visions were filled with despair, suffering, and death. She saw a nation being torn at its already weak seams. She tried to make sense of it all, but nothing would come.