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 15: Black Sand

Angus ran down the path that had been used for centuries. His eyes focused ahead on any movement, especially if that movement involved shimmering silver hair. He paused for a moment and took a few deep breaths. He looked around before he started again, his hand on the handle of his Terra Mace so it wouldn't slam into his leg.

His heart was pounding in his chest and he felt the need to drink a bucketful of water, but he pushed that desire away and continued with the desire within his heart. He didn't know whether his heart was pounding because he was running or that it was beating due to the elation that he would see Macha again.

He went around a curve and spotted silver hair down the road. He gasped with excitement as a grin swept over his face and his heart began to pound even louder. "Macha? Macha!" Angus yelled as he increased his speed to catch up to her.

Macha stopped and turned to face Angus. Angus stopped abruptly when he saw the hard look in Macha's green eyes.

Angus cleared his throat and tried to place a serious look on his face, but he was delighted to see Macha that he couldn't resist the grin that remained on his face. "Ye won't believe what Ivar has been saying, he said that ye…"

"What Ivar told you is indeed the truth, Angus," Macha interrupted, her expression remaining the same.

Angus shook his head in disbelief. He felt the pounding lessen as he felt a shadow pass over his heart. "No! I don't believe that ye would hurt Rohan or any of us," Angus said adamantly as he looked at Macha, hoping that he had heard incorrectly or that she was indeed being controlled by Anian. His black eyes lingered on Macha's clear, yet hard green eyes, his thoughts were telling him it must be so, but he refused to believe it.

"I am sorry Angus, but it is the truth," Macha said coldly as she turned to leave.

Angus grabbed her arm, causing her to spin around and face him. "I do not believe that ye could harm Rohan. Or me," Angus said his voice becoming softer on the last two words but with strength in them.

Macha stared into Angus' eyes as her mouth opened slightly as though to speak, but she brought her lips together into a firm line instead. She brought her staff forward and swung at Angus. He didn't even flinch as Macha struck his legs, causing him to fall onto his back. Angus' eyes shone in shock as he stared up at Macha.

"You are wrong, Angus. Do not get in my way again," Macha said callously.

A bolt of lightning struck Macha sending her flying back several feet away from Angus but she was able to remain on her feet.

Ivar stepped out from behind a tree and ran over to Angus. "Angus, are you all right?" Ivar asked keeping his trident aimed at Macha.

Angus didn't respond as he continued to stare at Macha with his black eyes wide. Ivar grabbed a hold of Angus' arm and pulled the Mystic Knight of Earth onto his feet. Ivar kept his eyes on Macha, watching for any treachery or trickery.

"Perhaps, Ivar, you shall be able to convince Angus of my intentions," Macha said before she turned around and began to walk away from the two Mystic Knights.

Angus pulled his arm free from Ivar and took several uncertain steps toward Macha.

"Angus," Ivar said softly as he shook his head with disappointment and pity.

Angus stopped as he watched Macha walking further away from him. His heart felt as though several pieces of were being torn off. He barely felt the ground beneath him shift.

Ivar saw something black surround Angus' feet. "Angus!" Ivar yelled as he took a step toward his friend.

Angus tried to turn around to face Ivar but he was unable to lift either of his feet. He looked down and saw that he was sinking into a large patch of black sand. "Help me!" Angus grabbed one of his legs and tugged trying to break free of the sinking black sand.

Ivar dived forward and clasped onto Angus' hand. "Help us, Macha!" Ivar yelled as he tried to pull his friend from the sinking sand.

Macha spun around and saw that Angus was thigh deep in black sand and was sinking even further. She quickly ran toward them but about halfway there, a lightning bolt struck the ground just a foot before Macha, causing her to fall down.

Ivar's eyes darted around him, but he didn't have time to search for the source of the lightning bolt. He had to save his friend. "Angus, hold onto my hand!" Ivar yelled as he leaned back and continued to pull.

"I can not," Angus said as his hand slipped from Ivar's hands, causing the Mystic Knight of Water to fall down onto his back. Angus gulped a lungful of air before his head sank beneath the black sand.

Ivar leapt forward and was about to send his hand into the black sand, but the sand became still and turned into the dirt brown path that it had always been.

Macha sat up and blinked several times to get rid of the white haze that was hindering her eyesight. When she was finally able to see, she saw Ivar on his knees staring at the spot where Angus had last been.

"Angus!" Macha yelled as she jumped to her feet and ran to where Angus had fallen into the portal. She fell to her knees and clawed frantically at the dirt.

Fiendish laughter surrounded Macha and Ivar. Macha rose to her feet brandishing her staff before her searching for the source of the laughter that she knew belonged to Anian.

After the laughter had faded away, Ivar carefully got onto his feet. He looked at Macha with disdain.

"Angus is now in Anian's hands because of you, Macha. If any harm comes to him or to any of my friends, you shall have to answer for it," Ivar said turning away from her as he headed back to the castle at a run.

Macha watched as Ivar departed but then her gaze lingered on where Angus had disappeared into the black sand. The shock on Macha's face began to fade. Her green eyes hardened and her knuckles turned white as she clutched her staff. She began to run down the path, toward Temra.

Rohan had been in Cathbad's study watching as Nemain and the Druid worked on the remainder of the riddle. The witch and the Druid would argue about a certain word or the possible meaning that caused Rohan to try and stop the argument.

Cathbad and Nemain stopped arguing after awhile. The witch and the Druid began to become annoyed by the Mystic Knight of Fire's restlessness that they asked him to go to the room next door. Rohan complied and began to pace in the other room instead. Once he had finished his pacing, he went and stood next to the window.

Rohan watched as a dozen soldiers were learning a new fighting stance from Garrett, when he felt a rush of air go past his right ear. He turned his head and saw Aideen hovering over a table. Rohan gave Aideen a surprised look but she ignored it.

"Good evening, Rohan," Aideen said as she landed on the table next to him.

"Good evening, Aideen. You have decided to speak with me again?" Rohan asked as he directed his full attention to the fairy.

Aideen coughed and turned her head slightly away from Rohan. "That depends on one thing, Rohan. Are you willing to apologize?"

"Yes, Aideen. I'm sorry that I upset you before," Rohan said, as he looked Aideen in the eye.

Aideen nodded her head indicating that he should continue.

"I know that just because you are small in size doesn't mean that you are incapable of helping in any way," Rohan said sincerely. "But, I do not wish for you to come to any harm because of me," Rohan said pointedly and firmly.

Aideen pursed her lips and crossed her arms across her chest. She turned her head away from Rohan as she thought about what he had just said to her. She knew that the words that he had said were true and heartfelt. She uncrossed her arms and fluttered her wings. "Very well, Rohan. I forgive you."

Rohan smiled at Aideen as he held his hand out to her. Aideen cast an annoyed glance at him but she placed her tiny hand into Rohan's palm. They shook and Aideen returned his smile.

"So, where are Angus and Ivar? Why are there about a dozen soldiers outside your door?" Aideen asked.

Rohan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "That is a long story, Aideen."

Aideen rose into the air and hovered a mere inch before Rohan's nose. "Perhaps you should begin at this moment so I will be able to hear all of it." Aideen's eyes narrowed as she studied Rohan.

Rohan coughed and nodded his head. He asked Aideen to sit down so he could fill her in what had occurred since she had been gone.

guardianM3: Sorry, about this late update. I seem to be having a lot of those lately, haven't I? :) I've been busy at work so I haven't had much time to work on any of my stories. I hope that you all will review.