Author's note: Dr. D1, thank you soooo much for your loyal reviews. If
Angus finds himself someone special? You'll soon find out! ;-) Why does
Rohan HAS to visit simrach by the way?
In this chapter I will refer to Angus's nightmare, if you've forgotten what he'd dreamt, I suggest you briefly read chapter 5 again. Merci beaucoup. (
Special hi to Hell, the young ones live!! (
Part 13
Angus sighed as he read the first sentences of Rohan's letter. It had taken two months to receive this reply, however not with the news he was hoping for.
He had spent his time in the castle mostly by himself. At the time when he had written his letter, he was very busy with all the new rules that were taught to him. Simultaneously he had to read up on the entire history of Simrach through the dozens of scrolls that were handed to him. However, when he had read all of them and learned how to behave as a proper prince, the boredom struck.
A month ago Reghed had called their beloved son back home. They were fearing an attack on the northern shores from the northlings and needed Garrett's strategic insights for battle.
Angus spend his days riding through the country on a bright white horse Samarah, appointed to him by the stablemaster. Samarah was swift and such a pleasure to ride. It would seem there'd be a lot to explore for him, though the country resembled Kells in so many ways that this too, after a short while, became a rather dull activity. He had tried to talk to Cian and create a bond with him like he had with Rohan, who was as close as a brother to him. The only moments though when he saw him, the king was at dinner. It was rare when Cian attended dinner, he was usually resting (from what Angus knew, Cian hardly ever showed himself out of his bedchamber) but when he did attend dinner there were awkward silences. Angus wasn't used to sit quitely, but whenever he tried to start a conversation Cian gave short answers and couldn't be bothered to grin at his jokes.
Hirmas, who Angus had grown to fear and hate, was always there. Not just at dinner but his men were also outside his private chambers and within sight whenever he went out riding. For as far as Angus knew, Hirmas's investigation still wasn't over yet. Why wouldn't this man just leave him alone?
The only person fit for reason was Skye. Though she could tell him little about the progress of Hirmas's investigation or Cian's health, she was there for him and understood him. She'd been married to Cian for six months now and wasn't orginally from Simrach but from the mainland. It had been hard for her too, to get used to the island. There seemed to be no privacy and no one to talk to. And most of all, her husband did not seem to love her.. their marriage was an understanding, nothing more. Cian had tried to conceive a child with her only several times, but he had been unsuccesful untill now. In fact, it was the only reason why Cian would make love to her, they even had several bedchambers..
Angus finished reading Rohan's letter. He reached for his quill to write a reply but than halted; for what could he tell? Reading that Deirdre was with child was like receiving a slap in the face. He had to swallow hard and remember himself that this was bound to happen. He couldn't help wondering though if Deirdre still held a craving towards him? How could he congratulate Rohan when he didn't mean it? And then after writing this lie, would he be writing another set of lies? How fond he is of his new home, that it doesn't matter that Rohan won't come to the island because there are so many things to do and so many people to see.. He refused to upset Rohan, but neither did he want to hide the truth. All he could do was wait for him to see reason, maybe for things to change, and write an honest letter. Who knows what might happen in another week?
He decided to go to Skye for councelling. A woman would know what to do..
'Enter?' he heard a soft voice speak after Angus had knocked on Skye's chamberdoor.
'Hello, it's me Skye, I wonder if you could..', Angus startled half way in his sentence. He caught Skye standing in a rather revealing nightgown. 'I'm so sorry, i did not realise..', he stumbled as he made for the door.
'Wait Angus!', she hurried to him and pulled him by his arm before he could touch the handle. 'You obviously needed to tell me something important, why else would you bother me this late!', she smiled. She pushed him over to his bed. 'Why don't you sit here for a moment, I'll be right back!'
Angus sat himself down rather uncomfortably as he realised how inappropriate this was. He desperately tried to forget the image of her wellformed shapes that had glued itself stuck in his head. Skye had disappeared in a nearby chamber to wash herself. After an awkard five minutes that felt like an hour, she appeared in the same gown and sat herself next to Angus.
She stared at him and Angus, who had forgotten the reason why he had come here in the first place, mumbled that he found the she smelled very nicely. She grinned and shook her head, which made her long golden curls dance alongside her head. Angus found that her pale skin shone like a morningstar in the soft candlelight.
'How silly you are, trespassing in my bedroom and now staring at me like you're looking at a price animal!' Angus, confused by what he had just experienced, tried to stand up and make for the door a second time and yet again she halted him.
'Something's obviously bothering you,' she said, her voice sounding soft and serious. 'And I startled you. Just sit here for a moment and you'll remember what it was you wanted to see me for.' So there they said for a few moments, in silence, Angus too excited to say anything, Skye waiting.
Finally Angus started to speak in an unsure voice: 'I received a letter from Rohan..' 'That's fantastic Angus! So what did he write?', Skye replied, being truely happy for her brother in law. Though after taking a quick examination of his face she knew he did not receive good word. 'Bad news then, eh?' Angus shrugged: 'He won't be coming to see me any time soon, too busy reigning his country.' 'But surely it wasn't all bad news?', Skye uttered. Quickly Angus decided not to tell her about his crush on Deirdre. 'Kells will get a new heir to the throne, I suppose that's good news!', Angus said, trying to smile, however weakly.
Skye fell for it and didn't see that this news had truely broken his heart. 'Deirdre is with child then? That's wonderful news! I should write her soon about this happy occasion.' A moment of silence fell, than Skye continued. 'Cian has planned for us to be together this week, maybe I'll have a child of my own soon.', she grinned sadly. 'I never imagined that one day I'd be married to a man who'd plan our love..'
Angus looked at her, feeling a strange swirling sensation in his stomach. Here he was, craving a woman who was married to his best friend and there she was, a young beautiful princess married to a man who only loved her for providing him with a new heir..
He put an arm around her shoulders and whispered: 'You deserve so much better Skye..' He felt guily saying this, about his own brother. He was somewhat shocked though, to hear Skye's reply: 'I deserve you!', she said in a steady voice. She straightened her back and took Angus's head into her hands. 'You know that too..' She kissed him, and he willingly let her. Their lips seemed to melt into each other, their tongues struggling. She finally stopped to gasp for breath but Angus approached her again, hungry for more.
She grinned mischievously, though Angus did not recognise it as such. She pushed him backwards on the bed and started to pull at his breeches. Before she lowered herself onto him, she groaned: 'I will carry YOUR child, prince of Simrach.'
He knew what would come next.
The woman approached him and soon she'd start washing him with the thick, warm fluid. As movement streamed back into his limps, they dressed him in the white cloak. It was the same dream, though something seemed different..
The woman held up the knife, her blonde curls dangling in the streams of light coming from the bars in the door. A shock of recognition went through him. Soon he could make out her cherry lips, her hazel eyes, the dimple in her cheek. 'Skye?', he heard himself say. She seemed deaf and cut him across his face, like she'd done faceless all his nightmares before.
The woman had her face.. What was to come next had never felt so scary before. It had meaning now, it felt more real.
He entered the wide hall and followed Skye up the marble stairway. The stone plateau was rising in front of him and Skye nodded him to lay down on it. He obayed though he knew the stone would burn his flesh.
The masked man towered above him, wearing, as he had learned, Cian's pendant. He felt his fingers move over his chest, drawing the dreaded figures that would mean his death. His body felt numb again. He heard the bowl break on the ground. It would soon be over now..
Something changed. The previous blur disappeared. The mask the man was wearing was no longer there. The harsh shapes of Hirmas's face were clearly visible. Angus no longer felt calm. His chest started to rise and fall rapidly, he felt panic entering his mind. He trembled and tried to move but inevitalbe the blade fell.
He felt how it cut through his chest and he saw the image of the knife, glittering with his blood. He was slowly choking now, with his injured longs failing. Hirmas's hands reached inside his chest, an unimaginable pain shooting through his body. His breath stopped, his eyes rolled back into his head, and the last thing he saw was his displaced in the hands of his enemy..
He woke up with the point of the sword of one of the guards in his neck. He heard the loud voice of Hirmas tremble through the room: 'Angus of Kells, you are under arrest for adultery and treason. You will be sentenced to death. Guards, bring him to the dungeon.'
In this chapter I will refer to Angus's nightmare, if you've forgotten what he'd dreamt, I suggest you briefly read chapter 5 again. Merci beaucoup. (
Special hi to Hell, the young ones live!! (
Part 13
Angus sighed as he read the first sentences of Rohan's letter. It had taken two months to receive this reply, however not with the news he was hoping for.
He had spent his time in the castle mostly by himself. At the time when he had written his letter, he was very busy with all the new rules that were taught to him. Simultaneously he had to read up on the entire history of Simrach through the dozens of scrolls that were handed to him. However, when he had read all of them and learned how to behave as a proper prince, the boredom struck.
A month ago Reghed had called their beloved son back home. They were fearing an attack on the northern shores from the northlings and needed Garrett's strategic insights for battle.
Angus spend his days riding through the country on a bright white horse Samarah, appointed to him by the stablemaster. Samarah was swift and such a pleasure to ride. It would seem there'd be a lot to explore for him, though the country resembled Kells in so many ways that this too, after a short while, became a rather dull activity. He had tried to talk to Cian and create a bond with him like he had with Rohan, who was as close as a brother to him. The only moments though when he saw him, the king was at dinner. It was rare when Cian attended dinner, he was usually resting (from what Angus knew, Cian hardly ever showed himself out of his bedchamber) but when he did attend dinner there were awkward silences. Angus wasn't used to sit quitely, but whenever he tried to start a conversation Cian gave short answers and couldn't be bothered to grin at his jokes.
Hirmas, who Angus had grown to fear and hate, was always there. Not just at dinner but his men were also outside his private chambers and within sight whenever he went out riding. For as far as Angus knew, Hirmas's investigation still wasn't over yet. Why wouldn't this man just leave him alone?
The only person fit for reason was Skye. Though she could tell him little about the progress of Hirmas's investigation or Cian's health, she was there for him and understood him. She'd been married to Cian for six months now and wasn't orginally from Simrach but from the mainland. It had been hard for her too, to get used to the island. There seemed to be no privacy and no one to talk to. And most of all, her husband did not seem to love her.. their marriage was an understanding, nothing more. Cian had tried to conceive a child with her only several times, but he had been unsuccesful untill now. In fact, it was the only reason why Cian would make love to her, they even had several bedchambers..
Angus finished reading Rohan's letter. He reached for his quill to write a reply but than halted; for what could he tell? Reading that Deirdre was with child was like receiving a slap in the face. He had to swallow hard and remember himself that this was bound to happen. He couldn't help wondering though if Deirdre still held a craving towards him? How could he congratulate Rohan when he didn't mean it? And then after writing this lie, would he be writing another set of lies? How fond he is of his new home, that it doesn't matter that Rohan won't come to the island because there are so many things to do and so many people to see.. He refused to upset Rohan, but neither did he want to hide the truth. All he could do was wait for him to see reason, maybe for things to change, and write an honest letter. Who knows what might happen in another week?
He decided to go to Skye for councelling. A woman would know what to do..
'Enter?' he heard a soft voice speak after Angus had knocked on Skye's chamberdoor.
'Hello, it's me Skye, I wonder if you could..', Angus startled half way in his sentence. He caught Skye standing in a rather revealing nightgown. 'I'm so sorry, i did not realise..', he stumbled as he made for the door.
'Wait Angus!', she hurried to him and pulled him by his arm before he could touch the handle. 'You obviously needed to tell me something important, why else would you bother me this late!', she smiled. She pushed him over to his bed. 'Why don't you sit here for a moment, I'll be right back!'
Angus sat himself down rather uncomfortably as he realised how inappropriate this was. He desperately tried to forget the image of her wellformed shapes that had glued itself stuck in his head. Skye had disappeared in a nearby chamber to wash herself. After an awkard five minutes that felt like an hour, she appeared in the same gown and sat herself next to Angus.
She stared at him and Angus, who had forgotten the reason why he had come here in the first place, mumbled that he found the she smelled very nicely. She grinned and shook her head, which made her long golden curls dance alongside her head. Angus found that her pale skin shone like a morningstar in the soft candlelight.
'How silly you are, trespassing in my bedroom and now staring at me like you're looking at a price animal!' Angus, confused by what he had just experienced, tried to stand up and make for the door a second time and yet again she halted him.
'Something's obviously bothering you,' she said, her voice sounding soft and serious. 'And I startled you. Just sit here for a moment and you'll remember what it was you wanted to see me for.' So there they said for a few moments, in silence, Angus too excited to say anything, Skye waiting.
Finally Angus started to speak in an unsure voice: 'I received a letter from Rohan..' 'That's fantastic Angus! So what did he write?', Skye replied, being truely happy for her brother in law. Though after taking a quick examination of his face she knew he did not receive good word. 'Bad news then, eh?' Angus shrugged: 'He won't be coming to see me any time soon, too busy reigning his country.' 'But surely it wasn't all bad news?', Skye uttered. Quickly Angus decided not to tell her about his crush on Deirdre. 'Kells will get a new heir to the throne, I suppose that's good news!', Angus said, trying to smile, however weakly.
Skye fell for it and didn't see that this news had truely broken his heart. 'Deirdre is with child then? That's wonderful news! I should write her soon about this happy occasion.' A moment of silence fell, than Skye continued. 'Cian has planned for us to be together this week, maybe I'll have a child of my own soon.', she grinned sadly. 'I never imagined that one day I'd be married to a man who'd plan our love..'
Angus looked at her, feeling a strange swirling sensation in his stomach. Here he was, craving a woman who was married to his best friend and there she was, a young beautiful princess married to a man who only loved her for providing him with a new heir..
He put an arm around her shoulders and whispered: 'You deserve so much better Skye..' He felt guily saying this, about his own brother. He was somewhat shocked though, to hear Skye's reply: 'I deserve you!', she said in a steady voice. She straightened her back and took Angus's head into her hands. 'You know that too..' She kissed him, and he willingly let her. Their lips seemed to melt into each other, their tongues struggling. She finally stopped to gasp for breath but Angus approached her again, hungry for more.
She grinned mischievously, though Angus did not recognise it as such. She pushed him backwards on the bed and started to pull at his breeches. Before she lowered herself onto him, she groaned: 'I will carry YOUR child, prince of Simrach.'
He knew what would come next.
The woman approached him and soon she'd start washing him with the thick, warm fluid. As movement streamed back into his limps, they dressed him in the white cloak. It was the same dream, though something seemed different..
The woman held up the knife, her blonde curls dangling in the streams of light coming from the bars in the door. A shock of recognition went through him. Soon he could make out her cherry lips, her hazel eyes, the dimple in her cheek. 'Skye?', he heard himself say. She seemed deaf and cut him across his face, like she'd done faceless all his nightmares before.
The woman had her face.. What was to come next had never felt so scary before. It had meaning now, it felt more real.
He entered the wide hall and followed Skye up the marble stairway. The stone plateau was rising in front of him and Skye nodded him to lay down on it. He obayed though he knew the stone would burn his flesh.
The masked man towered above him, wearing, as he had learned, Cian's pendant. He felt his fingers move over his chest, drawing the dreaded figures that would mean his death. His body felt numb again. He heard the bowl break on the ground. It would soon be over now..
Something changed. The previous blur disappeared. The mask the man was wearing was no longer there. The harsh shapes of Hirmas's face were clearly visible. Angus no longer felt calm. His chest started to rise and fall rapidly, he felt panic entering his mind. He trembled and tried to move but inevitalbe the blade fell.
He felt how it cut through his chest and he saw the image of the knife, glittering with his blood. He was slowly choking now, with his injured longs failing. Hirmas's hands reached inside his chest, an unimaginable pain shooting through his body. His breath stopped, his eyes rolled back into his head, and the last thing he saw was his displaced in the hands of his enemy..
He woke up with the point of the sword of one of the guards in his neck. He heard the loud voice of Hirmas tremble through the room: 'Angus of Kells, you are under arrest for adultery and treason. You will be sentenced to death. Guards, bring him to the dungeon.'