Garrett could not remember ever being so uncomfortable and just generally miserable in his entire life. He was cold for one, and absolutely starving. Plus, the awkward stench coming from his damp and mouldy surroundings made him sick to his stomach.

On the upside, he had not been bothered by Angus's rambling for quite some time now. A quick look at his cellmate told him that he was fast asleep. For once, Angus had a calm and peaceful expression on his face. His chest was rising and falling with even breaths, and his arms lay limbly by his side. Garrett felt jealous Angus was able to sleep in such awful circumstances, or maybe that was just because this was nothing new to the former pickpocket.

For a quick moment the blonde knight wanted to wake him up, for he felt Angus did not deserve to sleep after getting them both in here. Just as he got hold of an empty cup that was large enough to be hurled across their cell, Angus sighed deeply and turned his head slightly toward the wall. His ravenblack hair fell back a little and the skin of his neck was now clearly visible. Garrett was shocked to see large red and blue markings that were left where Torc's armour had penetrated his skin earlier that day. They had been in this cell for hours but he hadn't noticed it before, nor heard Angus complain about it. "It must not have been that bad then", Garrett reassured himself. Nevertheless he let go of the cup and tried to focus his attention on their escape. Again.

o0o

Back in Kells castle the Beltaine feast was drawing to an end; what a night it had been!

Rohan and Ivar had returned late in the afternoon, just in time to bathe and groom themselves before the festivities commenced. Deirdre looked breathtakingly beautiful in her new gown, made of a glistening blue fabric that looked like everflowing waves from the Western Ocean. Allthough she would never admit it, she fully enjoyed the attention it got her. She was aware that all eyes were upon her as she danced, first with her father and his general, and later in turns with Rohan and prince Ivar.

It was almost morning now, and in honour of the summer fest most of the guests had decided to watch the sunrise from the castle walls. Rohan was standing next to the princess, close enough to smell the scent of rosewater in her hair. This and the wonderful view in front of him, as well as the memory of the previous night, should make him one of the happiest men on the island. And it almost did, if it wasn't for this growing feeling of uneasyness in the pit of his stomach. He had thouroughly enjoyed Beltaine, but nevertheless missed the presence of his best friend. Angus had been talking about it for weeks, and throughout the entire night Rohan kept expecting him to turn up, rubbing his hands together and his eyes all lit up at the sight of all the food. And of course, no feast or gathering of any sort was complete without Cathbad chasing the 'no good thief' around the castle for something Angus denied doing. Something must've kept him and Garrett. Maybe, or rather probably, something related to Maeve.

"I agree", a soft voice spoke.

Rohan turned around to see Ivar standing behind him. The morish prince held his hands behind his back and carried the usual air of calm around him. "Ivar! You startled me." "I'm sorry Rohan. You seemed to be deep in thought." Rohan frowned. "I guess I was.. But what do you mean you agree?"

"Well, if I'm not mistaken, you were just now thinking about Angus..", Ivar paused and added with a smile: "..and maybe Garrett, and how we should start looking for them."

Rohan clapped his fellow knight on the shoulder: "That is exactly what I thought we should do! Are you sure you're not a mindreader?"

"He's not, you're just very predictive." The princess had turned around to face the two men. "I propose we change first before we leave."

o0o

"There you are!"

Garrett and Angus looked up to see Aideen fluttering her ruby wings against the few rays of sunlight entering through the barred window. She flew down and hovered in front of the two men's faces. Aideen pretended to look disappointed, and shook her little head: "I can't say I'm surprised though.."

Garrett raised an eyebrow: "Surprised, Aideen?"

"Nót surprised," she corrected him. "The moment I gave you that hint about the Temra troops I'd seen, I knew it would get you in trouble." She continued, sudden glee filling her sparkling dark eyes. "Such a shame you should've missed Beltaine. I have never seen such splendour! And the fire.." she raised her index finger: "the one I helped build remember? It was truely magnificent.. and.."

"Aideen..", a sour faced Angus interrupted, waving his fists up at the fairy. "We really, really don't care!"

Aideen fluttered back a few metres. "What do you mean you don't care? I thought you were my friends? Don't you want to listen to what I have to say? It's always the same with you two!"

Garrett sighed and plastered on one of his most charming smiles. "Of course we are your friends, Aideen. Allthough sometimes it seems we are unworthy of your friendship, we care for you deeply and hope to repay you someday.." The handsome but sly prince paused to add dramatically: "even if that would almost be impossible, seeing all that you have done for us so far. What Angus tried, but failed to say, is that we really need your help right now."

Garrett nudged Angus. "Ouch, I mean yeah..", he added grudgingly.

Aideen crossed her arms: "Hmph.. I'm listening.."

"Will you please fly to the castle and tell the other Mystic Knights where we are held captive?"

"I guess I can.. but only for you!" Aideen said sweetly, before shooting a dirty look at Angus and flying off through the small barred window over their heads.

Angus huffed and rolled his eyes. Garrett gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder: "You see Angus, honey will get you anywhere! Whereas vinegar.."

Angus opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the clear voice of the vicious queen. Maeve was not wearing the usual red make-up over her eyes, which made her look slightly less evil. In the soft light of the morning sun she possessed a strange, dark kind of beauty. The knights would almost be enchanted by her if they didn't known any better.

"My dear knights.." she giggled. Angus could smell the cider in her breath, and assumed she was still intoxicated from the night before. "I really must apologise. I have been so busy.." Maeve illustrated this by waving her hand in front of her head, and almost lost her ballance doing so. She grabbed one of the bars and continued: "I have not even checked on my two most valuable prisoners. I trust it you're still uncomfortable?"

She tilted her head back and roared with laughter at her own comment. Garrett and Angus looked on at the disturbing sight of their enemy queen and almost felt pitty for her. Maeve suddenly straightened herself and looked at the prince with piercing black eyes. "I couldn't help but notice how your little visitor just left to get help. We should prepare a warm welcome for your friends, don't you think?" She turned to direct one of the two guards. "I want them both in the throne room. Bind and gag them." With that she turned and left.

Angus and Garrett exchanged a quick glance: if there was one chance to escape, it would be now. The guards opened the celldoor, but instead of entering they were pushed back by the knights, who were storming out head first. Allthough both men were unarmed, they quickly got the upper hand, the element of surprise working for them. Before soon both guards were lying unconscious on the floor, and Garrett had taken the sword and knife of one of them. Angus bend down to arm himself with what the other guard had on him, when a bright flash shortly lid the entire hallway in a haunting shade of green. He heard a scream and the sound of metal clanging on the stone floor. When he stood up he saw Garrett lying on his back, staring upward with an empty gaze in his eyes. His borrowed sword was launched a few metres from where he was lying, near the familiair silhouette of a tall dark woman. Maeve's staff was still glowing in a faint shade of green, which gave a little extra drama to the furious and wicked expression on her face.

Torc appeared by her side and quickly surveyed the situation. His men had made a mess of things, and he knew what he had to do: grovel. "My queen, I deeply apologise for the incompotence of.."

"Silence!", Maeve squealed angrilly. The slightly drunk impression she had made earlier, had now completely gone. "You can apologise for your OWN incompotence later."

Angus would've enjoyed this little spectacle, if only the queen wasn't standing right in front of him, her staff glowing dangerously. She stepped forward and nudged Garrett in his side with her foot. The blonde knight didn't wince, or even blink for that matter. His straight, dead gaze was unsettling and Maeve was once again impressed with the power of her staff. Angus looked down at his friend and felt his insides churn at the thought that he might not even be alive. Maeve now looked up and stared straight into Angus's frightened eyes. He scraped his throat and lifted his chin up, faking a confident pose. She raised her staff and Angus unadvertently squished his eyes close.

He waited for several long seconds before opening them again. Maeve had lowered her staff and grinned, enjoying the vulnerable position the knight now found himself in.

"Oh no little knight, you won't get away that easily." Angus flinched as Maeve extended her arm and grabbed his jaw. Her voice send shivers through his spine, as she brought her lips close to his right ear: "When I'm done with you, you'll wish you had never been born."

TBC