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 11: Doorway, Keys and a Cauldron
Angus and Macha had made it to Kells Castle without any trouble. When they got to Kells Castle, they were in trouble with Conchobar, the rest of the Mystic Knights and Cathbad. Macha and Angus had quickly told the Mystic Knights, King Conchobar and Cathbad about how they came to possess the Crystal of Sight.
"You promised not to go after Anian!" Rohan said to Macha with fury in his eyes.
"Yes, I did promise not to go after Anian, but I never promised that I wouldn't go after the Crystal of Sight," Macha replied.
Rohan sputtered and then he shot a glare at Angus. "I can't believe you went along with her."
"Oh come on Rohan, we needed the Crystal of Sight to get the Scroll of Wisdom. Anian probably wasn't expecting us to go into the castle again so soon after we rescued ye."
"It appears to me that he was expecting you," King Conchobar said as he looked at Macha then at Angus.
"Anian has always been well prepared for anything," Macha said and then she paused for a moment. "I believe that if Angus had not been there, things would have turned out quite differently."
Angus' face beamed with pride as though he had just found a cavern filled with treasure.
"That could be true but it could have gone far worse," King Conchobar said warningly.
The smile on Angus' face faded at the thought that Macha may have been severely hurt and he would have been unable to save her. He shivered but covered up the fear by shuffling his feet.
"Since we have the objects that are needed to repair the mirror, I suggest that we repair the mirror at this moment," Cathbad said after there was a moment of silence.
"Very well, Cathbad," King Conchobar said as he rose from his throne and led the Mystic Knights, Cathbad and Macha to the room where the mirror stood.
Rohan, Macha and Cathbad stood in the room that housed the broken mirror. King Conchobar and the other Mystic Knights watched from the doorway, since Cathbad didn't know what would happen as they tried to repair the mirror he wanted the others to be out of harms way.
Rohan held the Sword of Kells in his hands and pointed it at the mirror. Macha held the Amulet of Life while Cathbad held the Crystal of Sight. The three objects began to glow and joined to form a beam of light that went straight into the mirror.
As the light began to crawl up the crack, the mirror began to shimmer and they watched as a scroll appeared within the mirror and passed through the wavy glass and into Macha's hands. The glass in the mirror returned to normal and the glow faded.
Macha smiled as she held the scroll before her. "We have the Scroll of Wisdom."
"That was simple," Angus commented sending a look at Macha.
"It rarely is that simple, Angus," Macha said as she looked at the scroll in her hands.
"Let us return to the throne room," Cathbad said and indicated that Macha should go ahead of him.
The group returned to the throne room. Macha handed the scroll to Cathbad to read.
"Solve this riddle and the doorway and the keys shall be revealed."
"Blood of legends,
Strength of an acorn
Sight of the world.
Seek what those have sought
Cold as winter even in summer's sun
Blacker than night, center of all
See beyond the reflection of stone,
Where a wolf prowls and a raven flies
With a stone of spirit and cauldron of heart
Together opens a passage to the dark world."
"That is a difficult riddle," Ivar said as he studied the scroll over Cathbad's shoulder.
"Another riddle? Why is it always riddles?" Angus complained.
"Whoever hid this scroll seems to not want wherever or to what it leads to be found easily," Garrett said with a frown.
"Yes, that means that it is even more important that we protect whatever it is from Anian," Macha said.
"I'm not certain if this doorway should be discovered at all," Rohan said.
"Well, Rohan, what else can we do? Macha is right. We cannot allow Anian or even Nemain to discover this doorway and discover the power inside. It would mean the destruction of Kells," Deirdre said.
"What if opening the doorway would mean the destruction of Kells? I'm sorry, Deirdre but I don't think we can take that chance," Rohan said as he shook his head.
"It does not say that opening the doorway will destroy Kells," Deirdre said with her voice rising.
"I just find this very disturbing. This seems to be all some sort of game. Perhaps it has all been put together for someone's entertainment," Rohan shot back, fury filling him.
"Rohan!" Deirdre exclaimed with frustration.
"Deirdre. Rohan. Enough of this," King Conchobar said loudly as he gave both of them a look of disapproval. "I understand your concerns, Rohan but I believe we should continue and solve the riddle," King Conchobar said with a final tone.
"All right," Rohan said even though he felt that finding whatever the riddle led them too was dangerous and all of these riddles were set up for a reason.
"Well, it appears that Macha and Cathbad need to work on that riddle," King Conchobar said as he nodded in their direction dismissing them.
"Of course, my King," Cathbad said as he bowed.
Macha bowed and followed Cathbad out of the room.
"I shall take my leave, father," Deirdre said as she turned and left the room.
"I have a few things that I need to take care of so I too shall take my leave," Garrett said as he followed Deirdre.
King Conchobar gave the remaining Mystic Knights a look that meant he wanted to be alone.
"I have nothing to do, your Majesty. We could always play that game. That game with the little men and I think there is a horse. I believe the board has two differently colored squares," Angus said his face scrunched up in thought.
Rohan grabbed Angus' arm, bowed to King Conchobar and pulled his friend to the door. "Angus and I need to train a bit." Angus bowed quickly just before Rohan pulled him out into the hallway.
Ivar bowed. "I will also train," he said and left the room.
King Conchobar sighed and stood up from the throne. He walked over to the windows and gazed out over his kingdom. He hoped that he was making the right decision.
Garrett followed Deirdre into the library. He could hear her muttering but he couldn't hear what she was saying, but he knew the source of her mutterings.
"You are still angry with Rohan about the sparring and you just wanted another opportunity to argue with him," Garrett said as he leaned against the opening and watched as Deirdre slammed her crossbow down onto the table.
"I am not angry with Rohan and I most certainly wasn't looking for a reason to argue with him. I am actually angry with Macha. And with you!" Deirdre said as she spun around to face him.
"You are still angry with Rohan and you are just using me and Macha as stand-ins to Rohan," Garrett said calmly as he watched Deirdre's face become flustered.
"I am not angry with Rohan! He…just…just gets beneath the skin once in awhile," Deirdre said as she placed her hand on her crossbow.
Garrett sighed softly and knew that Deirdre wasn't going to be happy and peaceful until she made up with Rohan. This did cause a streak of anger and jealousy within him but he pushed that aside for Deirdre's happiness.
"Deirdre, you both had good points about this power…doorway that the scroll has been leading us too. But, we all need to work together to keep this power from getting into the wrong hands."
"Yes I know, Garrett. It's just ever since…ever since…" Deirdre said before she turned away from him.
"Leave me, Garrett," Deirdre said pleadingly as tears sprung to her eyes.
"Ever since Rohan had been captured and hurt, you've been acting differently." Garrett paused for a moment as he studied Deirdre knowing that she was holding back tears.
"I said, leave me Garrett," Deirdre said fiercely but Garrett ignored the command, walked over to her and held her in his arms.
Angus, Ivar and Rohan were in the courtyard, taking turns sparring against one another.
Aideen flew to a seated Rohan who was watching as Ivar tripped Angus, but Angus was able to disarm Ivar before he hit the ground.
"Hello, Rohan. I'm glad that you are all right," Aideen said softly as she stayed suspended in the air to Rohan's right.
"Good day to you Aideen. I've been meaning to thank you for discovering that I had been captured and telling the others," Rohan said with an appreciative nod of his head.
"I'm glad that they were able to rescue you quickly," Aideen said but Rohan could see the hint of guilt in her eyes.
"Aideen, Anian would have harmed you if you had tried to interfere," Rohan said gently.
"Oh, so because I am small it means that I can not face a human?" Aideen said as anger flashed in her eyes. "Well, Rohan it is good to know how you see me."
"Aideen…" Rohan said but the fairy flew off.
Rohan sighed and realized that he didn't hear the sounds of fighting. He looked up to see Angus and Ivar watching him.
"Ye tend to have all of the females become angry with ye. How do ye manage that?" Angus said trying to cheer up his friend with the small joke, but was unsuccessful.
"You should try to speak to Aideen as well as Deirdre," Ivar suggested as he leaned on his quarterstaff.
"You are right. I believe that Deirdre has had enough time to cool her anger," Rohan said as he stood up. He gave Angus and Ivar a small smile as he turned and headed back into the castle.
Angus turned his head slightly toward Ivar once Rohan was out of hearing distance. "There is not enough time in this world to cool Deirdre's anger."
Ivar nodded his head in agreement. He couldn't help but feel that things were going to become more intense.
"So, shall we get back to sparring, then?" Angus said as he adjusted the quarterstaff in his hands.
"Very well, Angus, but this time, I shall be watching for your tricks," Ivar said as he went into an attack stance.
Angus smirked. "Oh, come on, Ivar. I'm just a skilled and clever warrior. There are no tricks to it."
Ivar narrowed his eyes and looked at Angus with suspicion. "Let us begin, Angus, so I may teach you a lesson."
Angus got in his fighting stance and signaled to Ivar that he was ready. Ivar said to begin and they began to fight one another.
"Mider, come forth," Nemain whispered as her eyes darted around as she checked to make sure Anian wasn't around.
A green flame erupted within the Silver Chalice and landed on the table, revealing Mider. "I was unable to discover any information regarding that power," Mider said and then he looked at Nemain a little more closely. "Why are you so nervous, Nemain?"
"I need you to find out all you can about a man that has…" Nemain paused as she tried to explain to Mider but she didn't know quite how Anian had accomplished taking over the castle and the soldiers.
Nemain hadn't heard the footsteps approach and when she heard Anian speak, her eyes widened and she couldn't move.
"Mider, is it? I would like you to keep an eye on King Conchobar, the Druid, and the Mystic Knights, as well as Macha. I'm sure you have some others like you to assist in this mission. Am I right?" Anian said as his blue eyes stared into Mider's black ones.
"Of course, my Lord, of course. As you wish. I shall leave your exalted presence at this moment and send out your orders," Mider said with a deep bow before he vanished.
"Ah, Nemain," Anian said as though he hadn't seen her standing there with a mixture of shock and fear on her face. "I have a mission for you as well."
"Y…yes?" Nemain said as she looked past Anian, so she wouldn't have to look into Anian's eyes that made it seem as though she was being submerged into ice-cold water and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water at the same time.
"I want you to search those dusty scrolls of yours for information regarding a cauldron on this island."
Nemain was curious as to why Anian wanted to find a cauldron but she just bowed and said that she would begin at that moment. She was also wondering why Mider had instantly taken orders from Anian.
She scurried out of the room and headed to her library. Her curiosity began to fade away as she walked. She didn't want to know what Anian had planned. She began to shiver and the cold chills lasted for several hours as she read through the scrolls.
guardianM3: Thanks to all of those who reviewed! Please review again for this chapter and let me know how it was. I always appreciate suggestions, thoughts, comments, etc. So please don't hesitate to click that button on the bottom left and write something!