Disclaimer: The Dark Horseman and his history don't belong to me, as much as I wish it did, I'd be rich. Connor D'Arcy and any person or history surrounding him belongs to Karen Robards, except Caitlyn D'Arcy she's mine.
A History of the Dark Horseman
Duncan Macleod slipped onto an almost full classroom with Richie and Methos right behind him.
"Alright class, settle down. I may not be your professor, but surely I deserve just as much respect," Ms. Caitlyn D'Arcy stated, drawing a cheer from the unruly students, mostly male. Duncan, Richie, and Methos sat down in a few seats that were not taken at the back of the class.
"Let's get started on the history of the Dark Horseman's life, shall we? Who can tell me the name of our hero?" Caitlyn questioned. One of the few girls in the class raised her hand and Caitlyn called on her.
"Connor D'Arcy, the Earl of Iveagh," the girl stated. (A/N: Not sure if I spelled that right.)
"Correct. It seems that someone read her reading assignment, unlike the male population of this class, who seem to find it more interesting to try and stare at my rear end rather than pay attention," Caitlyn said. The boys in the class got wide eyed and stayed silent. Duncan smiled, these boys were in for a treat.
"Alright then. We've got Connor D'Arcy, Earl of Iveagh by day and the Dark Horseman by night. Now, when Connor D'Arcy was young, his father had him raised in the Protestant Church so that he could inherit he lands on which Tara the Bright Castle was originally built," She started, when a student raised her hand.
"Why was he raised in the Protestant church," the girl asked. Caitlyn leaned against the desk behind her, placing her hands on it.
"When our hero wasn't even thought of, England ruled that only Protestants could inherit land. They allowed the current people to live out their life in charge of the land and when they died stole it out from under the children's feet. The nemesis of the entire D'Arcy family, Sir Edward, thought he could gain the D'Arcy's land through this little deal, unaware that the former Earl had used the loophole," Caitlyn said and stood, pacing in front of the class.
"Sir Edward lead a resistance against the Earl and killed him. You can bet that he was pretty ticked when he found out about Connor. When Connor was twenty-seven years old, he met a young hotheaded lass with raven hair and a sharp tongue, named Caitlin O'Malley, unknown that she was a female at the time. He met her when the little lass decided to try and steal his purse and offered her a job and a roof over her head, in the servant's barracks, but when he found out that she was female insisted she stay in the main house. In a couple years she grew into a beautiful young woman, drawing attention from anyone in the area who was passing by, especially the two youngest D'Arcy brothers. The two fought constantly about her until Connor solved it all by claiming her, not realizing that he would later marry her. Any questions so far?" Caitlyn said.
"No? Later, after Connor was engaged to marry Caitlin, he went out as the Dark Horseman to steal some jewels. Caitlin followed him, that's when they found out it was a setup. Dragoons chased them across the Irish countryside. Caitlin's horse received a bullet, Connor went back for her but he received a bullet too. He was bleeding and weak when Caitlin fell off the back of his horse, after receiving a mortal bullet wound to the shoulder and she wound up into hands of Sir Edward. Caitlin spent the next few years as a party favor of the knight, while Connor looked for her at first but than suffered a broken heart and stayed in the city most of the time," Caitlyn paused for breath and a boy raised his hand.
"How did she wind up with Sir Edward?"
"Sir Edward was with the group of Dragoons and he was the first to find her. He threatened Caitlin, that if she ever left he'd tell the everyone who the Dark Horseman was," Caitlyn stated, taking a drink from her water bottle. Duncan leaned forward, this was getting interesting.
"Connor finally found Caitlin and tried to get her to run away with him, she refused but during that time became pregnant with his child. Sir Edward found out Connor knew where Caitlin was during a party when he found Caitlin dancing with him and called the constables out after him. Connor was caught and Caitlin tried to kill Sir Edward and escaped. Later, after finding his brothers, Caitlin travel with the Father of the True Church to visit Connor, disguised as a Brother. There she told him of his offspring and they got married right there in the dungeon. Connor was due to hang the next day. When outside the dungeons, Caitlin was attacked and captured by Sir Edward, who'd survived the scissors Caitlin had plunged into his neck. Connor showed defiance, even when he doubted that the plans they had made the night before would work. He stood shoulders straight, head held high, and spoke to his fellow Irishmen in a language that the English had forbid them to speak in public. Anyone want to guess the language?" Caitlyn asked, as the girl from before raised her hand.
"It was the Gaelic, the Irish version of coarse," she answered, confidently.
"My God, our next historian is sitting in front of me. Girl maybe you should be lecturing instead of me," Caitlyn commented. The girl blushed, as Caitlyn smiled at her.
"Connor followed Sir Edward and finally killed him, saving his beloved wife. And then they moved to America when they found out that we'd gained our independence. And that's where the story ends, the greatest love story in my history," Caitlyn finished.
"That wasn't love," spoke a boy from the back, not realizing he'd said I loud enough for her to here.
"And if it wasn't love that drove Connor to risk his life to get this girl back, then what was it?" Caitlyn asked.
"He wanted to bone her," the boy replied, drawing snickers from the rest of the guys.
"Your telling me that Connor risked his life about five times to get back that lass just so he could bone her, when we know for a fact she was pregnant with his child?"
"Yeah!" he replied, drawing more snickers.
"Ok mister you just earned yourself homework, write me a five page essay about why Connor risked his life to get back a lass he just wanted to bone. And I'll make sure you get a grade for it, if it's a good scholarly essay," Caitlyn stated. The boy groaned.
"Class dismissed."
"So, gentlemen what did you think?" Caitlyn asked approaching Duncan, Richie, and Methos.
"Quite interesting," Duncan replied.
"Absolutely fascinating," Richie stated. Methos didn't reply he was too deep in thought.
"So, Mr. Ryan here never fully introduced us," Caitlyn said.
"I'm Duncan Macleod and the silent one is Adam Pierson," he said.
"No wonder he thought I was Scottish," Caitlyn said.
"Well, it's my last class for today and it's 3 P.M. I'm going to head home," She said.
"Want to meet at Joe's later?" Richie asked.
"Yeah sure. I'll bring a couple friends," Caitlyn said. And as they parted ways she waved.