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 13: Betrayal

Nemain had not left the room since Anian had ordered her to find any information about a cauldron. She had servants enter with fresh candles and they would take away the ones that had burned down to the end of the wick.

She searched through the large collection of scrolls, hoping to find any information on a cauldron. When her eyes began to blur she would close her eyes for a moment to clear them and then she would continue.

After several hours of searching and not leaving the room or taking time to stretch, she had picked up a scroll. She scanned the scroll's contents and she discovered that it mentioned a cauldron.

A sense of relief flowed through Nemain but only for a moment, because she wasn't certain what task Anian would have her do after she had brought this scroll to him. Of course, before she could do so, she had to make sure that this would reveal the location of a cauldron that Anian was seeking.

She read the scroll carefully but she had to read it again to ensure that she had read it correctly the first time. Her face, which was already ashen, became an almost transparent white, as though she had become a ghost.

She took several deep breaths as she tried to control the fear that was going through her. Nemain now knew Anian's purpose on the island and it was something that she never would have risked, not even for immortality.

Nemain rolled the scroll up and placed it into its container. She rose from her seat with the scroll in her hand not taking her eyes from it. It felt as though the simple scroll within her hand would erupt into flames and consume her.

She tried to move her feet and bring the scroll to Anian, but it felt as though something was holding her there. She looked carefully around the room trying to determine what she was going to do with the information she had discovered.

Nemain let go of a breath that she had been holding and made a decision. She took a step toward the door hoping that the decision that she had was the right one.

Ivar ran through the castle, asking everyone he saw where Rohan had gone. The words that had heard Macha speak wouldn't leave his mind. He feared that he would be late to save his friend.

He came upon one soldier had told him that he had last seen the knight fighting with Garrett and that Cathbad had intervened.

"Where is Rohan, now?" Ivar asked quickly breaking the soldier's retelling of the fight between the two Mystic Knights.

The soldier shrugged. "Perhaps the Druid has turned him into a mouse."

Ivar ignored the comment and continued on his search for the Mystic Knight of Fire. He could feel the blood pumping into his legs as he ran. He tried to fight off the fear that was beginning to seep through his defenses. The words that Macha had spoken seemed to taunt him as he searched for his friend.

Ivar went around a corner and would have knocked Garrett down, except the the Mystic Knight of Forest was already wary from his fight with Rohan and that his reflexes had moved him out of harm's way.

"Ivar, what is wrong?" Garrett asked as he ran after his friend.

Ivar paused and faced his friend. "I overheard Macha saying that she was going to kill Rohan. I must warn him."

Shock and surprise rendered Garrett speechless for a moment before he studied Ivar. He could see the worry and urgency within the Mystic Knight of Water, but Garrett had learned that it was safer to be cautious.

"We must go and warn Rohan before it is too late," Ivar said urgently not even noticing the strange look that Garrett was giving him.

Garrett nodded accepting that it was indeed Ivar standing before him and not some trick or illusion. "He was looking for Deirdre," Garrett replied as he took off toward where he had left Deirdre.

Ivar followed Garrett at a run wondering if either of his friends was going to be harmed by Macha.

Garrett ran, fearful that Deidre would be harmed either by Macha or if Rohan did meet his end. Either way, he was determined to stop Macha from killing Rohan.

Rohan found Deirdre in the library gazing out of the window. With her back to the door, Rohan didn't have any inclination of what the Mystic Knight of Air had on her mind.

Rohan cleared his throat to announce his presence but Deirdre didn't give a sign that she had heard him.

"Deirdre, I've been looking for you," Rohan said quietly as he gauged Deidre's posture. He was certain that Deirdre was listening but he didn't understand why she didn't respond with a word or a movement.

Neither spoke for several moments as they both thought about the other and began to feel something profound rising between them. Neither of them knew what to do with these feelings, as their thoughts became obstacles to their own hearts.

Rohan took a deep breath as his face became serious. "Deirdre, I…" Rohan paused as the words that he had practiced in his mind had faded away once he had looked at Deirdre.

"Yes, Rohan?" Deirdre asked with her voice strong and clear without allowing any emotion to come into her words.

Before Rohan could continue, King Conchobar entered the room. "There you are, Deirdre." King Conchobar gazed at Rohan. "Ah, Rohan. This may interest you as well. I wish for you both to join me at inspecting the castle's new defenses."

"Of course, father," Deirdre said as she walked past Rohan and stood before her father.

"Will you be joining us, Rohan?" King Conchobar asked noting the bruises on his face, but he had already heard from Duncan how the knight had received those injuries. He had also heard that Cathbad had given Rohan and Garrett quite a reprimand and decided not to discuss the fight at that moment.

"Yes, my King," Rohan said giving King Conchobar a bow.

King Conchobar nodded and led the two Mystic Knights out of the room as they headed toward the castle gate. They stopped once they had reached their destination.

A soldier came up to them and bowed to King Conchobar. "My King, the new defenses are ready for you to inspect."

Macha came up to them. "Good afternoon, your Majesty," Macha said as she bowed to King Conchobar.

"Macha, have you and Cathbad answered the riddle?" Conchobar asked.

"No, the answer has yet to come to us," Macha replied sorrowfully as her gaze lingered discreetly on Rohan.

Before King Conchobar could ask why Macha was not working on the riddle, Garrett and Ivar came running up to them as they both surrounded Rohan with their Mystical weapons aimed at Macha.

"Rohan, get Deirdre and King Conchobar away from here!" Garrett yelled as he stepped in between Macha and Rohan.

"Garrett!" Rohan yelled as anger rushed through him not allowing the situation before him to be fully understood. He was about to throw a punch at the Mystic Knight of Forest when Ivar grabbed his arm.

"No, Rohan. Macha wants to kill you," Ivar said his eyes remaining steady on Macha.

"This is ridiculous. Ivar, why would Macha want to kill Rohan?" Deirdre said as she looked from Ivar to Garrett angrily.

"I overheard her speaking to one called Fedelma by using magic. Macha told the woman that Rohan was Draganta and the woman said to Macha that she knew what must be done. Macha replied that Rohan must be killed," Ivar replied his eyes never leaving Macha.

"Is what Ivar speaks of the truth, Macha?" King Conchobar asked his eyes remained focused on her as his hand landed on the hilt of his sheathed sword.

Macha looked from Ivar and into King Conchobar's eyes. "Yes, every word that Ivar has spoken is indeed the truth," her reply was said calmly and without guilt that Rohan, Deidre and Conchobar looked surprised.

Macha looked directly into Rohan's eyes and held his gaze. "Do not worry, Rohan. Your life is your own, for a little while," Macha said as she turned away from them and headed toward the gate.

"Macha, you have threatened Rohan's life. I'm afraid that you shall have to be imprisoned for his protection," King Conchobar said as he signaled to his soldiers to surround the young woman.

"No, your Majesty, I shall not," Macha said calmly as she faded into the air as the soldiers had been approaching her with their weapons in their hands.

The soldiers had looks of shocks on all of their faces. "Your Majesty," said one knight with a shaking voice, "she vanished!"

"Warn Angus and Cathbad and search the entire castle. Leave ten soldiers to watch over Rohan," King Conchobar ordered his voice grave as he stared at the spot where Macha had disappeared.

Deirdre's face had become white and her hands were shaking. She had convinced the other knights that Macha was a friend and if the woman had had her chance, she would have killed Rohan. Guilt filled her as she felt as though she would never have a different emotion ever again.

Garrett brought his Twin Timber Axes down and turned around to look at Deirdre. He wanted to cross that distance between them but he knew that it wasn't the time or the place to do so.

Ivar released Rohan's arm and looked at his friend. Rohan's face was in shock but within his eyes was fear that was not for him, but for his best friend, who was in more danger than he would ever be.

guardianM3: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review. By the way, I am now accepting anonymous reviews.