A/n: Thank you for reviewing! Here's another chapter!
Chapter One
--Eight Years Later--
"No, please! Show some mercy!" cried the woman.
The man above her smiled sickly amongst the chaos. Burning houses, screaming children, fleeing people. He raised his sword above her head.
"No!" I suddenly screamed, jolting myself from my sleep.
The dream again, I thought.
For the past few weeks after my seventeenth birthday, I'd been having strange nightmares about village massacres and refugees escaping. It made me feel uneasy; I felt as though these dreams were significant somehow. They made me think of my parents.
I glanced around the room. Colleen, my bed mate, was still asleep. Bryn was as well. I'd always shared a room with Uther and Moira's youngest children. Colleen was a curious, bouncy ten-year-old, and Bryn was a reserved, shy fourteen-year-old, just like Ronan.
I could smell bread being made, so I got out of bed and walked downstairs. Moira was in the kitchen, making breakfast. Moira was a petite woman, with pale skin and dark curly hair. She was firm but kind, and had raised all of us well.
"Good morning Fiona," she said to me as I walked in.
"Good morning Moira," I replied. "Would you like some help?"
She laughed. "From you? I'm not sure if you're more of a help or a hindrance!" she said jokingly.
"I could slice the apples," I suggested, seeing the pile of them.
She smiled. "Alright," she said, "but don't split your finger."
I began slicing the apples carefully. Moira was right; I was a bit dangerous in the kitchen. I'd once set fire to a pie, and had been close to stabbing myself with a knife when cutting a chicken.
Moira had loved when I was little, and she could take me into the kitchen and teach me to make food and clean. It wasn't that Moira was domesticated, because she was quite spunky, but she loved to cook and wanted to pass on the tradition to me. Needless to say, I was a fumble-foot and wasn't much help.
It was okay though, because I had my own talents. I was fantastic on a horse, and I was a quick learner. When I was ten, Uther took me to the Ganphianese archives, where'd I'd spend my days pouring over parchments full of philosophy, history, science, and languages.
Just then, the boys clattered downstairs. Eighteen-year-old Mickey, fifteen-year-old Donal and Trefor, and fourteen-year-old Bryn and Ronan. Colleen patted down after them, almost silent. She gave me a small smile.
"Mam!" she cried, throwing herself at Moira.
"Hello, dearie!" said Moira, looking down at Colleen. "Would you like to carry this plate into the dining room for Mam? Put in on Da's place?"
Colleen nodded. "Of course!" she said, already off.
Uther appeared at the doorway. "Good morning Uther," I said, smiling.
"Morning, flame," he said, using his nickname for me.
Moira turned around, a bowl in her hands. "Why are you home so soon?" she asked as Uther kissed her on the cheek. "Weren't you summoned to Cadogan?"
Uther nodded. "I'll explain when we eat," he said, leaving the kitchen.
Moira shrugged, and instructed me to put some stewed apples on the plates. I did that, followed by an egg and some bread. Then I picked up two plates in each hand and left the kitchen.
I felt ridiculous giving Mickey, Bryn, Ronan, and myself plates of food, for I wasn't dressed. Oh well. I sat down in my seat between Mickey and Colleen, and waited for Uther to begin grace. When Moira had brought out the rest of the food and drink in, thanks was given and we began eating.
"What's the news in court, Da?" asked Donal.
Uther looked at me. "King Cadogan requests an audience with Fiona," he said.
I raised my eyebrows. The king knew who I was, the 'little flame girl' as he called me, but had never requested an audience with me. I was confused as to why I needed to see him.
"What of?" I finally asked Uther.
"I know not," he replied. "But Mickey will be escorting you."
Mickey made a face. "Must I, Da?" he said, obviously irritated. "I was going to practice today…"
Uther shrugged. "Well, knights need to know how to conduct themselves in court," he said. "They present their wives at balls and dance and act like civilized men. So this could be practice."
I heard Mickey grumble something in audible under his breath, and I elbowed him.
"You may leave after the meal," Uther said.
As soon as I could, I excused myself from the table and flew upstairs to choose a gown. I decided on my green dress with long, draped sleeves and black trim and sash. I put on an onyx pendant I'd mysteriously received for my sixteenth birthday. Then I combed my hair, leaving it in neat red waves down my shoulders, tying part of it back with a black ribbon.
I presented myself to the group downstairs. "Oh, no," said Moira disapprovingly. "Fiona, you need to wear your corset."
She marched me back upstairs and laced me within an inch of my life. When I went back downstairs, my hourglass figure seemed much more appropriate to Uther, who was nodding approvingly.
"You look pretty," he said nicely. "Mickey!"
Mickey came tumbling down the stairs in his best tunic, sword at his side. He didn't say anything to Uther or Moira, just grabbed my hand and lead me outside. We left the small house and began walking up the dirt road to the castle. Mickey spent the entire time huffing and sighing. I was growing tired of his attitude.
Finally, I asked him, "Why are you so angry that you have to come?"
He sighed. "I hate court," he replied.
"That's a pretty poor quality for a knight to have," I said, poking fun at him.
"Shut up Fiona," he said, walking faster. "You don't know anything."
I laughed. "I know I saw you kissing Mairead yesterday," I said sneakily.
He stopped. "Were you spying on me?" he said, enraged.
"Of course not," I replied. "Moira told me to go find you for supper."
Mickey sighed nervously. "Did you tell her that I was kissing Mairead? he asked apprehensively.
"Of course not," I repeated. "You know Moira. She'd think you were marrying her."
Mickey laughed. "I guess I owe you one," he said.
"I guess you do," I replied. "Especially because I overheard Mairead saying that she enjoys you."
"Really?" said Mickey excitedly.
"Would I lie about that?" I replied.
"Yes," he said, disappointed.
I laughed. "You're right. I would," I said. "Well, I'm not lying about this."
I studied Mickey's hopeful face. He was tanned and earthy, muscular. His hair was almost black, and he had celery green eyes. He was coveted by many girls in Ganphian.
We arrived at the palace, and the guards recognized us and let us in. The hall was almost empty, except for King Cadogan and his wife, Queen Aisling. There was also a man and wife, who looked wealthy and well dressed, and three children with them. An older, bored-looking boy, and two younger girls who seemed excited to be in the hall with the king and queen. Mickey hooked his arm around mine formally and began to walk towards the thrones.
"Ah, here they are," called the king. "Mickey and Fiona, children of Uther and Moira."
"Your majesty," said Mickey, bowing.
"Your majesty," I mimicked, curtsying.
The king laughed. "It'd wonderful to see you, little flame girl," he said. "I have a proposition for you."
I stood up, puzzled. "Truly, sire?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. "Fiona, this is Lord Sholto and Lady Brighid, and their children, Tristan, Carys, and Enid."
"Pleasure to meet you," I said, curtsying.
The lord and lady nodded deeply, the two girls curtsied, but the boy rolled his eyes.
"Lord Sholto and Lady Brighid are currently seeking a tutor for their children," said Cadogan. "I thought you were just the girl."
"A tutor?" I said, surprised. Normally boys were tutors. "Me?"
"Yes, milady," said the Lord Sholto. "For Tristan, Carys, and Enid. Would you be interested?"
I nodded. "Of course," I replied. "I'd very much like to tutor them."
"Wonderful!" cried Lady Brighid. "Why don't you come to our house tomorrow? We'll send Tristan to get you, so he can show you where the house is."
"Okay," I said.
I noticed Mickey and the king talking. When they noticed our conversation has stopped, they stopped and looked over at us.
"Did we work everything out?" asked the king.
Lord Sholto nodded. "Yes, we did," he said simply.
"Good," Cadogan replied. "Mickey, little flame, you're dismissed. Thank you for your time."
"Thank you, sire," I replied.
A/n: Okay, I know, a bit boring, but I promise that the next chapter will be more interesting! Please humor me and review! Please!