Okay, so I'm going to be keeping the voyage and Ireland trip short and such because I really want to get back to the video game missions. Chapter is rated M for sexual and mature content.

Chapter 25: Darach Ar an gCnoc

Lilly and Arthur maintained eye contact. Arthur was still not breathing. Lilly wanted to laugh so much over his reaction, but she licked her lips instead and leisurely made her way to him with her hips swaying seductively. Lilly went and grabbed her glass, drinking it slowly and moaning in delight.

"Mmm, that's good champagne, mo chuisle. Ya got good taste." Arthur wasn't saying anything. He was simply staring at her in disbelief. Lilly giggled and trailed a finger upwards from his chest to his chin. "Speak."

Arthur swallowed hard and he tugged on his collar. "Lillian," he said, sounding out of breath. He cleared his throat. "Lillian. This is the weddin' present you was on about, I take it?"

"Yes," she cooed at him. "Part of it." Lilly put a hand on her hip and turned around gradually, stopping when her back was to Arthur. She was almost certain her rump would make him turn daft. She spread her legs a little and looked back at him. "Do you like my outfit, Mr. Morgan?"

Lilly smirked when Arthur took a very shaky breath, tilted his head slightly, and wrinkled his forehead in surprise. "Ooooh, I like it very, very much," he cleared his throat again.

She narrowed her eyes suggestively. "Good." She brushed a finger along his lips. "I was hopin' you wouldn't be disappointed."

"Jesus Christ, Lilly," he wheezed out with a chuckle. "You ain't disappointin' no one with this getup."

Lilly made an 'o' with her lips, lifted her eyebrows, and the side of her mouth twitched up. "Ooooh, no one? I didn't know you wanted to share me. Should we go show me off to other people? I bet Patrick would-"

Arthur yanked Lilly against him and grabbed her wrist. "Don't you be jokin' like that, woman! You ain't goin' nowhere!" he laughed.

Lilly flashed her teeth at him. "Yeah, about that..." she shoved Arthur over to the wall and pinned his wrists against it. She got close to his face. Lilly's eyes were bright and somewhat squinted and the corners of her lips were raised. This really brought out the fullness of her lips. "You're the one who ain't goin' nowhere, Mr. Morgan." Arthur seemed to lose his breath again. He looked almost frightened. She chuckled deeply. "You look absolutely terrified, Mr. Morgan."

"I ain't terrified," he said weakly. Yeah, right.

Lilly inclined her head to the side. "Well..." she loosened his bow tie, slipped it off his collar aggressively, and let it drop to the floor. "You should be."

Arthur went slack-jawed once more, gazing at Lilly with eyes bigger than the moon. Lilly wanted to giggle with happiness. She knew Arthur was definitely terrified, obviously speechless, and perhaps even dumbfounded. And when she pressed her body up against him, she could tell he was very much aroused.

"Because," she loosened one button on his vest, then another, then the last one. "Your little minx?" she questioned.

Arthur scrunched up between his eyebrows. "Yes?" looking confused.

Lilly pulled his arms back down, surprised that Arthur had kept them up. She grabbed the shoulders of his tuxedo jacket, pulled him from the door slightly, and yanked it down to his elbows.

"She changed." Lilly looked down, slipped the jacket off his arms, and tossed it behind her. Lilly made eye contact with him again before putting her lips to his ear, placed her palms on the wall, and spoke softly into his ear. "Into an erotic and predacious tiger. And she has a very, very," Lilly sucked on his earlobe then bit it, causing him to flinch. "veeeery hungry pussy."

Arthur's body went limp but he caught himself quickly before he could fall to the floor. He was making this so easy. Easy, fun, and intoxicating. "I need a drink."

Lilly laughed in a sinister sort of way. Lilly pulled Arthur by his vest and directed him towards the bedroom, making him walk backwards and never breaking eye contact. And she took her time with walking, but she grabbed both the glasses and took them with her. "Alright," she said. "But drinkin' ain't gonna make much difference. One way or another, I will have my way with you, Mr. Morgan, and if you don't like it," she stopped him just before the edge of the bed and licked his lips in an upward motion. "I'm gonna make you like it."

She pushed him softly and he plopped down on the bed. She took her drink and handed Arthur the other. She clinked with him, although he just stared up at her with amazed lust in his light blue eyes. Lilly downed the drink then tossed the glass on the bed. With narrowed eyes, an arched lip, and a bending at the waist with her arms crossed behind her back. she spoke with a purr. "There, my handsome play thing. Is that better?"

"I don't know," he answered weakly. "I wasn't expectin'...uh..."

Lilly settled herself onto his legs to straddle him. Once again never breaking eye contact. "Wasn't expectin' what?"

"Well, this..."

"Aww," she pouted at him, pursing her lips out a little. "Don't you like it, Mr. Morgan?"

"Darlin', I am lovin' this, you have no idea," he chuckled.

"I have an inklin'," she giggled. "Now..." Lilly took his glass, drank all the liquid, and threw the glass on the covers. "I could fuck yer brains out but it seems like ya lost 'em, so if ya start talkin' dirty tah me, I'll oblige yer cock and ride ya all the way intah the morn."

"Jesus," he laughed nervously. "You really are a tiger, ain't ya?"

Lilly pushed him over and hovered above him. "Rrrrawwwr," she purred into his ear.

"Hahaa! Such a naughty tiger, Mrs. Morgan," Arthur said before kissing her. "You beautiful, naughty tiger."

Lilly giggled and planted soft kisses all over his neck. "Do ya wantah unwrap yer present now or do ya want me tah have me way while I'm in it?"

"How can you have your way with me if you're in it?"

Lilly sat up and grabbed his hands, guiding them to her womanhood. "Ya can unwrap part of it."

Arthur felt around and smiled. "Seriously?"

Lilly nodded with a giggle and a gasp. "Uh huh."

Arthur pulled the strings and the bottom area loosened around her hips. He put a finger in her, making Lilly moan quietly. Lilly took his other hand and put it to her bosom. He undid one button, then another, then one more and he folded the fabric down to reveal her breasts. "You are one hell of a present."

"Hmm, hehehe. What position would ya prefer?"

Arthur reached for her bosom and held her breasts. "What do you think?" Lilly undressed the rest of him and pulled his pants down before settling over him and directing his tip into her. As she lowered down, Arthur shut his eyes, releasing a chuckle from his throat. He thrust up into her and she gasped, then she began to move her hips to, fro, side to side, up, and down, repeating the motions in whatever way she wanted. Pressing her hands to his chest, she lowered her upper body down and kissed him passionately. Arthur's hands grazed her back and he pushed in and out of her. Lilly increased her speed and Arthur grunted. "Slow, slow...you got me so riled up, Lilly, I'm gonna come...oh shit...oh, the hell with it."

Arthur pushed her up and Lilly bounced up and down on him. It wasn't long until Arthur groaned out loudly and shot up inside her. He growled at her, pulled her down, and kissed her deeply. "If you think I'm done with my present tonight, I'm not."

The wedding night went on until the early morning. Lilly and Arthur were exhausted from all their love making and slept well past noon. The rest of the voyage went similar. Parties with first class during the day which Lilly enjoyed because Maura and her became fast friends, drinking with third class at night, then retiring to their room and having lots of sex. Lilly visited Doc and Liath every day between events to check on them, as did Arthur and Sean for Rose and Ennis. Lilly loved Liath very much as he was a gift from Arthur. He was a brave but gentle giant. However, Doc was truly a force to be reckoned with and Lilly wondered if she loved Doc more. They had a kindred spirit and Doc was very sweet on her and her wolves. Everyone else he was a real bastard to.

But the day finally arrived where Lilly could catch a glimpse of her homeland. It was late afternoon. Her and Sean were very excited about seeing their beloved Ireland for the first time in seventeen years. As Galway showed up in the distance, Lilly felt butterflies in her stomach. She was really here and in the seventeen years since her voyage to America, much had changed. Bigger buildings, the port was new, and the crowds practically called to her. The smell of Ireland hit her and she almost cried. As the ship landed to port, Lilly and Sean were practically the first two off along with Brian and James. Lilly, in her summer gunslinger outfit, held on to her bulldogger hat and jumped and twirled with Sean when they set foot on the docks.

"We're really here!" Lilly gasped happily! "We're here, we're here, we're feckin' here!!!"

"I know!" Sean giggled. "I don't think I've ever seen ya this giddy, lass. Yer like a buckin' horse!"

"I'm overjoyed, shut up!" she said with a laugh.

Brian and James jumped around them both. They got all their luggage on a couple carriages and Lilly remembered the Blacks and Patrick were coming so she made arrangements for their transportation. Before they set off, however, Lilly and Arthur wrote the gang a letter about everything, including the possibility of keeping the estate and moving everyone out to Ireland. They also mentioned the marriage but insisted they were enjoying it so far. Wedding night and all. They gave the letter to the post clerk and put it on fast delivery for one Tacitus Kilgore, the pseudo name for the gang's mail. But now they were on the way in the carriages and Lilly could hardly contain herself.

In the two hours it would take to reach Darach ar an gCnoc, Lilly went between feeling excited, anxious, nervous, and then excited again. As the sky got darker, Lilly kept fidgeting with her fingers throughout the ride and Arthur at one point put a hand on hers.

"You need to relax, Lilly. I know you're nervous, but everythin' will be fine," Arthur said with comfort in his baritone voice.

Lilly nodded with a shy grin. "I know, but I haven't seen it in seventeen years. I'm afraid I can't recall what it even..." Lilly looked out the window and her eyes went wide. "Looks like..."

There it was. Off in the distance, she could see her estate as they passed by a hill. Lilly smiled warmly. Arthur took a peek and laughed.

"Well I'll be damned. That is a huge house," he said in shock.

"Manor."

"What?"

Lilly looked at Arthur. "It's a manor."

Arthur gaped at her. "Jesus, Lilly."

"What did you expect from an Earl? A cottage?"

"No, but...a manor?!"

"Yep." Lilly looked out the window again and smiled.

The manor was shaped more like a small castle than anything else, that much she remembered. The windows were rectangular and narrow, surrounded by red trimming, but there were more windows than she could count. There were two towers with railings at top. The towers sat at the east and west wings of the manor, and three triangular attics were in the middle of the roof. The roof was made up of gray shingles and the bricks the manor had in its walls were shades of white and eggshell. There was a white brick wall surrounding three parts of the house, making a small enclosure with sandstone gravel littering the ground but there was a paved road for horses and carriages to travel on. It circled a fountain of an Aine goddess statue in the middle. There were roses and lillies planted in the landscape of the outer walls. Lilly remembered wanting them planted long ago, so her father did as she wished. All the lillies were white of course, but the roses were various shades of white and red. The giant doors were made of mahogany stained oak, and the upper windows had balcanies with flower pots of daisies and forget-me-nots. Lilly shut her eyes. It was a little different than she remembered but it was still her home and her memories couldn't do the real thing justice. The carriages came up the road and to the front doors. Memories of her childhood came rushing to her.

4-year-old Lilly, in a pink frilly dress, was playing in the maze gardens with her 2-year-old sister Janet who was also in a pink frilly dress. Her mother called out to them for supper.

"Come on, Jenny. Time for supper." Lilly grabbed Janet's little hand and walked with her out of the maze.

Arthur stood beside her with some luggage in hand. He was speechless, as were Karen and Sean. Patrick, however, only laughed.

"Is it like ya remember, Lilly?" Patrick asked.

"Mostly. I don't remember the fountain."

"Oh, that's new. Hey, ya remember the maze? Please tell me ya remember the maze."

"I do, but...Patrick, my oak tree. Mr. Pierce told me it died. Is that true?" Lilly asked sadly.

Patrick's smile faded. "I'm afraid so, love. Ya don't want tah see what's left of it, trust me."

"I think I do." Lilly turned on her heel and went to mount Doc when Arthur stopped her.

"Lilly, we can see the tree tomorrow if you'd like, but I'd like to get some uh...some sleep?" Arthur winked at her.

Lilly smiled at him. "You're terrible, Arthur Morgan. Just terrible," she teased in a whisper.

"You know you love it," he smiled, a finger grazing her chin as he said it.

Lilly grabbed his hand and looked at the doors. "Alright, well, we should go inside, I-"

The door opened and a slim, tall blonde woman came out. "Sir Patrick! I didn't know you'd be back so soon. And who are these people?" she asked suspiciously.

"Oh, this is Sean and Karen," he pointed. "This is Joseph and Maura Black," he pointed again. "And this is Arthur, Lilly, and their pups Brian and James." Patrick took a step forward. "Lilly is the uh, well, she's the countess, Breena."

Breena curtsied to each one but when Patrick mentioned the countess, she went to her knees and bowed. "Oh my! Forgive my impertinence, My Lady!"

Lilly shifted uncomfortably. "That's um...the formality isn't necessary, really. You...you can stand, Miss Harington."

The woman looked at Lilly, smiled shyly, then stood. "You're Lady O'Callaghan. You are the rightful heir. I..." Breena stopped at frowned at Patrick. "Are you two...married now?"

Lilly laughed. "No, we're uh, we're over that business. Arthur here is actually my husband, so it's Mrs. Morgan now."

Breena smiled at Patrick before looking at Arthur. "Oh! So...you're the Earl of Moycullen!"

Breena was about to go down again but Arthur stopped her with an embarassed chuckle. "Really, Miss Harington, it ain't necessary. We're uh, not that sort of folk who is used to that sorta thing."

Breena paused and eyed Patrick. "He's American, Sir Patrick."

Lilly snorted. "Yes, my husband is American. I hope that's not an issue?" Lilly tried not to laugh.

"N-No, m'lady! Of course! I meant no offense, m'lord!"

Lilly walked over to Breena and hugged her. "Thank you for watchin' over Darach ar an gCnoc, Miss Harington. It really is more beautiful than I remember."

Breena hesitantly hugged back. "It...It's my pleasure, m'lady. Um...shall I have the staff show you to your quarters?"

Lilly pulled back and smiled. "Actually, yes. I don't know about everyone else, but Arthur and I would like to retire for the night."

"Will you require supper?"

"Arthur, you want supper?"

"Nope." Arthur walked up to them both. "Simply too tired for any sustenance right now. Just let everyone know they don't have to get on their knees when we come in, please. As clean as I'm sure the floor is, I'd much rather not have people breakin' their knees on our account."

Breena looked flustered and shy. "Of course, m'lord! Everyone, please come in. I will have your belongings..." Breena stared at the wolves.

Lilly looked at Brian and James. "Oh, um, they're pretty docile and won't cause trouble, but if you prefer them to stay outside, that's okay."

"Oh no, it's not that at all, m'lady. They're just, well, they're humongous!"

Brian was a good four feet, two inches at the shoulder now. James was only four feet at the shoulder, both eight feet in length, and pretty much completely white now. Huh. "Yes, they are...just when I think they're done growin'," Lilly sighed.

Arthur ahemed. "Don't you think them boys should have a run of the land first? They been cooped up so long on that ship, Lilly."

"Good point. Alright boys, go play." The boys barked and went running. "And don't eat everythin' in sight, ya rascals!"

It was too dark to see in the house to get a good look at everything, but once Arthur had Lilly alone in the main bedroom of her parents, he pounced on her and they had sex straight away. And afterward, Arthur held her close as she slept in his arms. In such a short amount of time, he'd gone from being a single man pining after a woman he loved to having her, handfasting her, losing her to the grave and to amnesia, leaving the country, having Lilly once again, legally marrying her, and becoming an Earl of an estate in Ireland. He was an Earl and a husband and it was the strangest occurrence in his life but he was happy. Arthur snuggled closer to his naked wife under the blankets and thought about what happened after she died.

Arthur stared at his new wife's corpse and gulped. Lilly was dead. He was supposed to protect her as his charge and he failed because she went to go see about Colm O'Driscoll. Kieran Duffy. He was the one who told her where Colm was. If it hadn't been for him...Arthur's fists clenched tightly as he got up and stormed out of the tent.

"Arthur! Don't do anythin' rash!" someone from the tent shouted.

Arthur didn't care who said it. He spotted the man tied to the tree, marched over, and punched him repeatedly in the face. Kieran sunk to the ground, trying to keep away but Arthur grabbed him by the collar and hit him a few more times before he was pulled back by Charles, Dutch, Javier and Bill.

"Hey hey hey! Take it easy! What happened?" Bill asked.

Arthur shook everyone off him and had a fist raised. His nostrils flared, his eyes were wide open, and his mouth was tight. He wasn't sad or depressed. He was just extremely angry and that was the only kind of grief he knew how to handle at that point.

"Arthur..." Hosea said, his palms raised as he approached. "She did say it wasn't Colm. It's not the boy's fault."

Arthur wanted to believe that but he was not seeing logic or reason. He was only seeing red. And he did not speak. He had to find out who did this. Revenge was a luxury they couldn't afford, but to hell with that code. This was Lilly and she was murdered.

"What's not my fault?" Kieran sputtered out. "What happened to Miss O'Callaghan? Is she okay?"

"No." Arthur said plainly. "She's dead, O'Driscoll."

People gasped and started asking questions. It became a big uproar that Arthur was currently not capable of handling at that moment. Dutch was barely consolable, Hosea was on the verge of breaking down, Miss Grimshaw was on her knees crying, as was Karen, Tilly, and Mary-Beth. Everyone was grieving in their own way. Arthur had to be the strong one or everything would fall apart. Lilly would've hated that.

"We don't know who did it or why," Arthur continued. "She was tortured and poisoned. She's in the tent now but DO NOT go in there. I find our anyone went in there without my pernission, you'll be dealing with me or her wolves. Brian, James, go guard Lilly," Arthur said, pointing in the direction of the tent. The boys did as they were told. "Reverend, please go find a spot to bury my wife," he said, almost choking on the word 'wife'. "Somewhere by a big oak tree would be best. She loved her some oak trees." Reverend Swanson sadly obliged him and left to go look for a burial plot.

"Wife?" Javier asked. "When did that happen?"

"She wanted to be handfasted before she passed. So yes, she is...was my wife." More sobs came over the crowd. "Charles, maybe you could go with him and carve her headstone into a tree? She woulda loved that idea."

Charles nodded, put a hand on Arthur's shoulder, and ran after Swanson. "Arthur," Grimshaw said. "What clothes should she be buried in?"

"She's got a white and blue vest suit for special occasions. Come on, I'll show you," Arthur said as he walked toward the tent. "Better bring somethin' to clean all the...blood off."

"Is there anything else we can do for you, Arthur?" Javier asked.

"I don't know. I'll let you know."

Arthur had been heartbroken over the death of his son, for sure. And Eliza, too. But Lilly? They'd both been in the gang for a long time. In fact, she was the second one to join in on the rag tag family. John was the third, while the rest came in at random times but Lilly had always been there. His thoughts drifted to when they got Sean. God, telling Sean was the worst thing he had to do...besides burying Lilly, of course.

"Someone get me down already!" Sean yelled. He was hanging upside down from a tree. Arthur shot the last bounty hunter in the head then shot the rope that was holding Sean. The Irish man hit the ground. Arthur walked to Sean and cut his binds with a knife. "Ya know, yer a lot less ugly from that other angle, Arthur!" Sean joked.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Come on," Arthur mumbled as he helped Sean up.

"Do I get a hug, Arthur?" Sean asked as Arthur turned to walk away. "A warm embrace for a lost brother, now found?"

"Haha!" Arthur clasped a hand on Sean's shoulder. "You know, nothin' means more to me than this gang. The bond we share, it's the most real thing to me. I would kill for it, I would happily die for it, but in spite of all that, I would have easily left you here to rot if Charles hadn't stopped me." This comment made Charles laugh.

"I don't believe a word of that, Arthur!" Sean said.

"Get him outta here!" Arthur said, shoving Sean towards Javier.

Sean looked around. "Wait, where's Lilly? What was more important than savin' her deartháir?"

Arthur's face went tense. Charles and Javier coughed and couldn't look Sean on the eye. "Well, um..." Javier said.

Sean looked at them, then at Arthur. "Where is Lilly, Arthur?"

Arthur took a deep breath and looked at Sean sadly. "I'm sorry, Sean. She's dead."

Sean backed up with a look of disbelief. "What? How..." Sean leaned his hand against a tree. "What happened, Arthur?"

"I'll tell you on the way. Come on, let's go before we get spotted." Arthur and Sean went to Rose. "You know the rules, fellas. Separate ways, don't get followed." Sean got behind Arthur and they trotted off.

"When did she die?" Sean asked.

"Three days ago. She got kidnapped, tortured, and poisoned."

"By who?!"

"We don't know. We thought maybe the O'Driscolls but Lilly confirmed that they didn't do it. She mentioned Papa and his goons, somethin' about them still bein' after her, but..."

"No, Papa wouldn't have done this."

Arthur stopped. "And you know this how?" he asked suspiciously.

"Why would he have her killed now after all these years?"

Arthur sighed. "Right. Of course." Arthur resumed the horse's trot.

"What else did I miss?" Sean asked.

"Well, she and I got handfasted right before she died."

"Wait, what? You two got married?! Last thing I knew, you wasn't speakin' to one another!"

Arthur made a soft, bittersweet smile. "We made up. A lot."

Sean giggled. "You dog. Tell me everythin', Arthur! About her and you!"

Arthur kept watching his young wife sleep and smiled into her hair, taking a deep breath in. Apples. She always smelled like apples. Lilly mumbled something in her sleep and he brushed his lips across her forehead.

"What's that, darlin'?" he asked.

Lilly shifted and began to rub her eyes. She was awake now. "I wanna go see my tree now."

Arthur wasn't sure about Lilly going to see it yet. "Now? Why?"

Lilly looked at him with one eye open. "Mmm, because I wannaaaa..." she whined.

Arthur chortled at her childish reaction. "C'mere, ya big baby." He kissed her deeply and breathed through his nose.

"I'm not a big baby, you're a big baby," she said, her lips pouted.

"Oh shut up, woman," he rolled on top of her and kissed her again. "I think my rooster takes precedence right now."

Lilly giggled. "Your rooster?"

"Yeah, my rooster. I just made it up. And my rooster needs to," he said while placing soft pecks on her mouth," needs, mmm, to cock-a-doodle-do into your, mmmmm, henhouse."

Lilly laughed loudly and Arthur felt her legs spread open for him. "Well, cock-a-doodle away, Lord Rooster."

Arthur laughed into her mouth, wrapped his arms around her, and just when he was about to push into her, Lilly stopped him. "Wait, Arthur...do ya hear that?"

Arthur stopped. Brian and James were outside barking. Just then there was a knock on their bedroom door. "Lilly! Arthur! It's Patrick! Open the door!" he urged. "We hafta hide ya, Lilly!"

Arthur got up immediately, put on pants, and grabbed his guns. "Get dressed," he told his wife. Lilly got up and started dressing in a nightgown and robe when Arthur opened the door a crack. "What's goin' on?"

"There's people here fer Lilly!" Patrick said, holding a lit candle and looking panicked.

"What people?" Arthur snapped. "What do they want?"

"It's Mr. Pierce and Brutus!" Lilly snapped. Arthur turned and saw her at the window. Lilly ran to the bedroom door and opened it. "Brian and James, I need to bring them inside!"

Arthur hushed her. "I'll get 'em." Arthur moved past Patrick and took his candle. Once his eyes adjusted, Arthur ran down the hall, down the stairs, and to the front door. He opened it and saw a bunch of men standing outside, one of them being Mr. Pierce. Brian and James were circling them like the efficient predators they were born to be.

"Brian, James!" Arthur shouted. "Inside!"

The pups did as they were told, both snarling at Brutus and Mr. Pierce before padding inside.

"Ah, Mr. Morgan, a pleasure to see you again, and those boys have gotten so much bigger. Seems odd, the size of them."

"They're Canadian Timberwolves," Arthur said, setting the candle down and cocking his rifle. "What the hell do you want?"

"Just making a social call. I want to know why you're here. Your betrothed is dead."

Arthur stared at Pierce coldly. So they weren't here for Lilly after all. "My wife, you mean."

"Sorry?"

"My wife. We handfasted before she died from bein' tortured and poisoned. Somethin' I'm sure you knew about."

"Yes, I heard. How unfortunate. My deepest condolences. Is that why you have her wolves?"

Arthur took a step forward. "Why I got her wolves ain't your concern."

"Hmm." Pierce took a step forward as well. "Why are you here?"

"Sir Patrick extended an invitation. Wanted me to see my wife's childhood home."

"I see. Is he here?"

"Mr. Pierce!" Patrick shouted. "What are you-"

Arthur turned to Patrick. "Does he speak Irish?" Arthur asked quietly.

"No."

"Coinnigh socair é. Níl a fhios aige go bhfuil mo bhean beo," Arthur said in a cool tone. [Keep it calm. He does not know that my wife is alive.]

"Oh. Mr. Pierce! What are you doing calling so late?"

"I wanted to make sure Mr. Morgan was here by your will. Now that I know, shall I return to Achrann Castle to await your arrival?"

"Yes. Please see that you do." Patrick turned to go inside then stopped. "Oh, and Mr. Pierce? It seems Lilly's watch was not found on her person. I don't suppose you could track it down?"

"I will do my best to acquire it, sir. Good night, Sir Patrick. Mr. Morgan."

The men left and Arthur released the tension in his trigger finger. Patrick grabbed the candle and they both went inside. Arthur sighed in relief. "Jesus Christ."

"I'm sorry, Arthur," Patrick said. "I assumed they were here for Lilly, and I...well..."

Arthur clapped Patrick's shoulder. "It's alright, Patrick. You made the right call," Arthur assured him.

"What about the watch?"

"Well, we'll have to get it back. Is Lilly okay?"

"Yes. She's in the bedroom waiting for you."

Arthur was led by Patrick upstairs to the main bedroom. When they got there, however, Lilly wasn't in the room. "Huh. Where'd she go?" Arthur asked himself. "Oh. I bet she went to the tree."

"Oh God!" Patrick went running. "We gotta get to the stables! She can't go near that thing!"

Arthur chased after him. "Why?"

"I'll explain on the way!"

Lilly climbed off Doc at the base of the hill and started walking up. It was dark but Lilly could tell her giant, ancient oak tree had not fared well in her absence. She got to the top, stepping over the sandstone bricks that circled the area. Lilly got close to the tree and frowned. "Oh, my poor Darach. You poor, poor thing."

There were no leaves. There was no sign of life on the tree. There were blackened and ashen blotches all over the trunk. It had certainly withered, but not in size, at least. Only in life. Lilly got to her knees and wept. The grief she felt was more than substantial; it overwhelmed her. As Lilly stared at her tree, she noticed the spots were moving. Vibrating. Throbbing. "Strange," she said to herself. She got up and took a step closer.

"Lillian!" Arthur shouted behind her. "Get away from it!"

Lilly turned around. "Why?" she asked.

Arthur and Patrick were just outside the circle. "Lilly, don't touch it, just come back over here please."

Lilly scowled and went walking back when she heard a voice behind her. "Lllllliiiiiiiilllllllllyyyyyyy..." it called to her.

Lilly stopped just before the circle ended and jerked around. "Did you hear that?"

"Darlin', come on," Arthur said. "Come over here. Please."

Lilly walked back to the tree. "It said my name."

"Lilly, honey, you're hearin' things! Get away from the god damn tree!"

"Lilly," she heard the voice say again. "Lig dom saor in aisce." [Let me free.]

Lilly touched the tree. It burned and she yelped, stepping away from the tree. "That hurt!" she yelled, staring at her palm. It didn't looked damaged. "What the hell?"

"Lillian! Get back here now!" Arthur shouted.

"Patrick, what happened to my tree?!"

"I will tell ya, but only if ya get away from it," Patrick pleaded. "Come on, little light."

"Ya havena called me that in years."

"I know. But please, Lilly, ya canna touch it. I'll explain everything. Just step out of the circle."

Lilly looked at them both with a confused expression. "Why can't you guys come into the circle?"

"It's a fairy hill, Lilly. Only you were allowed in it," Patrick explained. "Don't ya remember?"

"I...I don't."

"I thought ya said she had all her memories back?"

"I never remembered much before The Emerald Star. I don't quite remember why we left in the-"

"Lig dom saor in aisce, Lilly," the tree urged. "Lig dom saor in aisce agus beimid ar cheann." [Let me free, Lilly. Let me free and we will be one.]

Lilly touched the tree again and this time she kept it there. The blotches rumbled along the trunk and touched her hand. Lilly got to her knees and cried out. "It hurts!"

"Tá brón orm. Dódh tú roimhe seo. Caithfidh tú sruthán arís chun na constaicí amach anseo a shárú." [I'm sorry. You burned before. You must burn again to overcome the future obstacles.]

"Lilly!" Arthur shouted. "Come back here now!"

"I can't!" Lilly shouted back. "My tree needs to be free!" Black and ashy fire crawled along Lilly's arm and enveloped her whole body. It burned so much that Lilly cried out from the pain. "It burns!"

"Ah, yes, Lilly," the tree spoke in English. "I see your past. We shall avenge all who have wronged you. I vow this, my vessel."

"Vessel?" Lilly sobbed. "I don't understand!"

"You will in time. I am freed within you. Carry me as you once did, my vessel. Carry me and spill the blood of your enemies. The ones you seek now, your murderers! Go to them now and stain the ground with their blood!"

Lilly backed up, staring at herself as the fire extinguished. Her tree suddenly began to come back to life. Leaves grew on it once more and a healthy glow appeared around its form. Lilly smiled and laughed. "Mo chrann darach! [My oak tree!] You live!"

The voice was louder now. "Yes. I was merely bound, as you were once. Your deaths released most of the magic that binds you, but you must perish once more to be free. Now go, my vessel."

The tree's glow floated to Lilly and she shut her eyes. Wind flowed and whooshed around her body as the glow became part of her being. Lilly felt herself changing, growing stronger than before. The glow dissipated and Lilly looked at her husband who looked almost frightened. "Do ya still love me, mo fhear álainn?" [my beautiful man?]

"Of course I do. I always will," Arthur said in a puzzled way. "Why would you ask me that?"

"I know why me shout and singin' don't affect ya."

"Why?"

Lilly saw Brian, James and Doc trot up the hill and she left the circle, moving past the men. "I hafta get tah Achrann Castle."

"Why, Lilly?" Patrick asked.

As Lilly mounted on her horse, she looked at them with an evil smile. "I have two full grown men tah murder."