Disclaimer: "Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog" and its' characters are owned by Saban and whoever else was involved with the creation and production of this show. Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fanfiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off of it.
Chapter 10: A Thief, a Trickster and a Stubborn Woman
Rohan walked into the throne room, a hint of confusion was still on his face. Rohan knew that he had to speak with Garrett but now wasn't the time. He barely heard what Macha, Cathbad and Angus were talking about as he stood there, the words that Garrett had said was running through his mind.
He could see Deirdre from the corner of his eye. She had her whole attention focused on Macha, Angus and Cathbad. He also saw Garrett standing on the far side of Deirdre. Rohan could see that Garrett wasn't just looking at whoever was speaking, but he would discreetly glance at Deirdre.
A fire erupted in Rohan and it burned with intensity that he had to blink a few times. He couldn't stand to see Garrett looking at Deirdre like that, but there was another part of the fire, almost like there were two separate fires. One was fueled with anger and the other; he wasn't sure what it was except that he was certain that it had something to do with Deirdre.
True, he had always cared for Deirdre, but he knew that he could never go beyond that because even though he was now a Prince, he was a Prince of Temra and he knew he wasn't good enough.
"It is Anian who has the Crystal of Sight and I shall be the one to obtain it from him," Macha said firmly.
Rohan shook his head to clear his mind, but was unable to do the same for the fires that had erupted within him. "Macha, it is foolish for you to face Anian alone."
"I have faced him several times before," Macha replied tartly.
"Perhaps, but Rohan is right, Macha, it would be foolhardy to face him by yourself," Ivar said.
"I agree with Rohan and Ivar. This Anian sounds treacherous and I do not wish for you to place your life in danger," King Conchobar said as he looked firmly at Macha.
"Very well. I promise I will not go after Anian," Macha said.
The Mystic Knights, Conchobar and Cathbad were content with Macha's promise as they began to discuss how to acquire the Crystal of Sight from Anian. Angus shot a glance at Macha whose face was expressionless, but Angus knew that underneath the surface she was a stubborn woman and wasn't about to let anyone stop her.
Macha stood within the tree line, staring at the Castle of Temra with calculating and wary eyes. It had been simple enough to leave Kells Castle undetected. She wanted to get the Crystal of Sight from Anian. If anyone else had come with her, it would have been a distraction.
She didn't hear anyone approach, but she could sense that someone was coming up behind her. For some reason, she knew that it was Angus.
"Angus, why did you follow me here?" Macha asked as she spun around to face him with anger glowing within her eyes.
"Ye are going to need my help. This Anian is a trickster. Who better to help ye than a thief when ye need something stolen?" Angus said with a grin, but his dark eyes were serious.
"Angus, Anian isn't one who will simply allow you to pickpocket him. He is clever and treacherous."
"Yes, that is why I followed ye. He is treacherous and it is better to have two people to watch one another's backs than one who may not be able to see through his illusions and tricks."
Macha sighed softly. Her gaze lingered past Angus as she gave the situation some thought.
"Very well, but you must follow my instructions," Macha said with a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Uh, Macha, how are supposed to get into the castle?" Angus asked.
"I was working on a plan before you came, but since you are now here, the plan that I was forming will not work," Macha said with a frown as she turned to face the castle.
"The catacombs!" Angus said excitedly as he snapped his fingers.
"Let us go, then. You do know the entrance to the catacombs?" Macha asked.
"Of course, it is on the north side of the castle and I doubt that Nemain would have a soldier guarding it," Angus replied.
Angus and Macha trekked around the castle and didn't have any trouble keeping out of sight of the patrolling soldiers. They entered the Catacombs of Temra. Little light from small holes in the rock wall filtered into the massive space with a blue glow.
"This place is enormous!" Angus said in a whisper to avoid causing an echo.
"I believe we should go this way, Angus," Macha said, as she turned left at the seventh column they had passed.
"Right. I'll follow your lead, Macha," Angus said as he held tightly onto his Terra Sling Mace and walked behind Macha keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
"Here is the entrance to the castle," Macha whispered as she pointed out a dark rough walled hallway. Macha pulled out the orb that Cathbad had made and held it aloft as they entered the hallway.
It felt to Angus that time had slowed drastically as they took the curvy path that sloped upwards and downwards too many times to count. Then they came to a door and without any hesitation, Macha pushed it open. Angus had his mace ready but no one was in the room.
Angus and Macha crept quietly through the castle. Macha grabbed Angus by the arm and pulled him into an alcove. Macha held her finger to her lips. Angus heard the footsteps coming toward them and he tensed. He heard the footsteps pause and then the sound of a door opening and closing.
Angus relaxed and followed Macha who had cautiously stepped out of the alcove and continued down the hallway. He kept a wary eye and an open ear toward the door that the footsteps had gone into.
He kept track of all the turns they had made, but he had no idea how Macha knew where she was going. He didn't doubt her, since she seemed to know where she was heading when they had rescued Rohan. They entered a room that was almost as large as the throne room.
Angus paused when he felt something brush past him. "Macha…" Angus said with worry in his voice, but she didn't answer.
"Angus!" Macha yelled.
"What is it Macha?" Angus replied as he took two steps forward before Macha vanished. Angus paused as chills went up his spine.
"Angus, where are you?" Macha asked with worry in her voice.
Before Angus could respond, he felt his arms being grabbed and he was too late to fight back. Anian appeared before him with a cocky and evil grin on his face. He turned his head to look at Macha who was on her knees yelling Angus' name repeatedly as though he were in danger.
Angus watched helplessly as Macha fought a foe that he could not see. Angus didn't understand how Macha wasn't able to see through Anian's illusions now, but she was able to when they had rescued Rohan.
Angus watched as Macha stood on her feet and swung her staff at an invisible enemy. There was fear on her face and in her voice had Angus trying to break free of the soldiers that were holding him.
"Stop this Anian!" Angus yelled never taking his eyes off of Macha.
Anian turned to face Angus who was still being held by the two soldiers. "Now, now, Angus, is it? Why would I wish to cease the fun?"
Angus paused for a moment. "How do ye consider this fun, Anian? Wouldn't it be far more enjoyable to fight her yourself?"
Anian raised an eyebrow and cast a glance over to Macha who was now swinging her staff at an illusionary foe. "Yes, Angus you do make a fair point, but, you see, I am rather entertained at watching Macha struggle and fend off enemies that only she can see." Anian sighed. "Perhaps you are right, Angus, it is time for Macha and I to enjoy a little fight."
Anian snapped his fingers and walked toward Macha who was gazing in front of her with wary eyes. She heard Anian approach and turned to face him. "What have you done with Angus, Anian?"
"Ah, you mean the Mystic Knight of…what was it again…dirt? Don't worry about him Macha; it is yourself that you should watch out for," Anian said as he unsheathed his sword.
"If any harm has come to him Anian…" Macha began before Anian broke in with laughter.
"Do you care for that mangy scoundrel?" Anian asked as he raised his sword to strike at Macha. Macha didn't answer Anian's question as she blocked Anian's attack and sent several of her own.
Angus watched as Macha and Anian fought one another. He couldn't help be curious as what Macha's answer would have been, but he was mostly concerned for Macha. Angus could feel the soldiers loosen their grip as they watched Macha and Anian fight.
Angus, using some techniques that Macha had showed him and the other Mystic Knights, was able to break free from the soldiers. He was about to attack Anian using his Terra Mace but he feared that Macha might be hit in the crossfire. Angus decided that there was a better way.
Angus quietly and quickly sneaked up on Anian. He grabbed Anian and held him. "I've got Anian, Macha!" Angus yelled hoping that she could now see and hear him.
Anian broke free from Angus' grip and then used the hilt of his sword as a ram to hit Angus in the gut. Angus clutched his stomach and stumbled backwards.
Macha's staff sailed through the air and struck Anian's shoulder causing him to drop his sword. Her staff then connected with Anian's head and then she brought her staff down to his ankles, causing Anian to fall.
Soldiers rushed into the room and Macha, deciding that they were outnumbered grabbed Angus by the arm and pulled him out of the room. They could hear the clattering of armor and shouts following behind them as they ran.
Macha scolded herself for not even considering that Anian would already have control of the Temran soldiers.
"This way!" Angus yelled as he tried to pull her toward the corridor toward the right.
Macha didn't question Angus and she started to follow him. She could still hear the sounds of the soldiers searching for them. Angus and Macha turned many corners and ran down many dark corridors before Angus reached a door that led into the stables. Once he and Macha had stepped into the stable, he closed the door behind him and wedged a piece of metal so that it would create a lock.
Macha and Angus ran from the stable and headed deep into the woods. Finally, they paused to catch their breaths.
"We have failed," Macha said as she looked behind her to ensure that no one was following them.
"No, we haven't failed, because I have this," Angus said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a round white crystal with tiny symbols written in silver.
"Angus, how did you, when did you…" Macha began as she took the Crystal of Sight in her hands.
"That was far too simple," Macha said as a troubled look replaced the one of surprise.
"Simple?" Angus said with a laugh. "That was far from simple!"
"As a thief, Angus, I would have thought that you would realize when a successful thieving was too easy," Macha said as she walked past Angus and headed toward the direction of Kells.
The grin on Angus' face disappeared as he watched Macha walk away from him. He couldn't but help wonder whether she was right. What did Anian have to gain if they had the Crystal of Sight, as well as the other objects needed to repair the mirror?
Angus shook his head and ran to catch up to Macha. He knew that they were going to figure all of it out. Together.
guardianM3: I hope Angus following Macha wasn't too predictable. Ah, who am I trying to kid? Of course, Angus was the perfect one to follow Macha and that it was an obvious choice, but sometimes the obvious is what happens. Please review.