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 17: Angus
Rohan began to pace once again in the room that Cathbad and Nemain had sent him too when he had bothered them earlier. His steps echoed in the barely furnished room. He roared in frustration and slammed his fists onto the table. He wanted to walk out of the castle gate and search for his best friend but he would obey his King's orders.
Rohan didn't know how long he was in the room before he sensed someone passing through the doorway. He turned around with his hand ready to grab his sword and saw that it was only Nemain. He dropped his hand to his side and looked angrily at the sorceress. "What do you want, Nemain?
"Even though there is a wall between this room and the study, I could still hear your delightful and entertaining pacing. I believe that the thief is on your mind. Or perhaps, is it the Princess and the Mystic Knight of Water going after the cauldron that is bothering you?" Nemain said as she tilted her head to the side and studied Rohan.
"I do not believe that any of this should concern you in any way, so I suggest that you return to solving the remainder of the riddle," Rohan said sourly.
"I do not take suggestions from mere boys especially ones that allow his friends to enter danger while he remains hidden away in a castle," Nemain said with a sly smile.
"Nemain, I am not hiding. I am obeying my King's orders," Rohan replied.
"Yes, I see that you are a loyal subject of King Conchobar even though your bloodline is that of Temra royalty," Nemain said slightly mockingly.
"Even if I were to rescue Angus, Temra castle will be well guarded," Rohan said with a sigh.
"Why would Anian keep that scruffy and dirty thief in the castle? That would be far too predictable. He would want to hide the boy in an unlikely place where anyone would barely tread."
Rohan bit his bottom lip as he thought about all of the places where Anian could hold Angus. He ruled out ever place that quickly entered his thoughts until one place sprung up in his mind. "The abandoned castle," Rohan said quietly as he felt that was the right place.
He walked past Nemain and to the door but he stopped before he crossed the threshold. He quietly debated within himself whether he was about to do the right thing. He quickly made a decision, which varied slightly from his original plan, and he turned right.
Nemain stepped out of the room and sighed as she watched Rohan disappear down the hall. She shook her head to clear the tendril of mist that had begun to bother her earlier that day. Once her mind was clear, she shrugged her shoulders and headed back into Cathbad's study to discover the last key of the riddle.
Ivar and Deirdre had made it to the base of the mountain just as the sun passed beneath the horizon line. Ivar built a small fire while Deirdre kept an eye out for any Temra soldiers or Macha.
The sound of someone crashing through the woods caught Deirdre's attention first. She raised her Whirlwind Crossbow toward where she had heard the sound while Ivar did the same with his Barbed Trident.
"Whoever you are, step into the light!" Deirdre commanded as she narrowed her eyes to peer into the darkness. She watched as a figure stepped from the shadows of the large trees and into the firelight.
"Garrett!" Deirdre yelled as she glared at the Mystic Knight of Forest as she brought her Whirlwind Crossbow down to her side. "Why are you here?"
"I am going to aid you in recovering the Cauldron of Heart and protecting it from Anian," Garrett said simply as he walked closer to them.
"I believe King Conchobar asked you to ready the soldiers," Ivar said as he studied Garrett, making sure that the one who stood before him was indeed his friend.
"I simply asked Duncan to carry out that task," Garrett said as he shrugged his shoulders and looked at Deirdre.
"Yes, and while you are here, Kells is nearly defenseless since there is only one Mystic Knight at the castle!" Deirdre yelled.
"I believe the mighty Draganta will be able to protect the castle," Garrett said with a slight sneer.
"By Dagda! I can not believe that you are behaving like a child." Deirdre said as she threw her hands up into the air. She brought her arms down as she stalked toward Garrett, her finger pointed right at his chest. "If anything should happen…"
"To Kells or to Rohan?" Garrett filled in as he locked eyes with her.
Ivar stepped in between them. "Enough! There has been plenty of fighting lately and we certainly do not need anymore of it!" Ivar looked from Deirdre to Garrett making certain that they knew he wasn't going to allow their fighting to progress any further.
"Very well, Ivar, Garrett and I shall not fight anymore. Garrett, you shall return to Kells and follow my father's orders," Deirdre commanded as she raised her chin in the air and looked straight at Garrett without blinking.
"No, Deirdre, I am remaining here and we all shall return to the castle in the morning, with the Cauldron of Heart," Garrett said firmly as he met the Princess' gaze.
"We all shall remain here," Ivar said and gave Deirdre a cautionary look when she was about to argue. "No one is going to be returning to Kells, especially when we do not know what lies between here and the castle at this time. We will retrieve the Cauldron of Heart in the morning and return to Kells, together. Do I make myself clear, my friends?" Ivar said as he gave Deirdre and Garrett his unwavering look.
"Fine," Deirdre said as she walked over to her bedroll and lied down with her backs to Garrett and Ivar.
Ivar looked at Garrett. "We should all get some sleep. I expect that retrieving the cauldron will not be a simple task." Ivar walked over to his bedroll.
Garrett stood for a while looking at the fiery shadows that danced across Deirdre's back before he set up his bedroll and lied down to go to sleep.
Ivar turned to lie on his back and placed his hands behind his head. He gazed up as the sky started to lose the lasting daylight tinge to proceeds before the moon and the millions of stars would appear in the sky. He hoped that Angus would be all right until they rescued him and that Kells would be safe until their return.
Rohan dashed into the throne room and stood before Conchobar and Cathbad. Cathbad looked as though he was about to scold Rohan, but the determination and fire within Rohan's eyes deterred the Druid from doing so.
"I am going to go after Angus," Rohan said quickly.
"Rohan, it is far too dangerous especially since Macha wishes to take your life," King Conchobar said as he shook his head.
"Angus is a Mystic Knight and he will be needed for the battle ahead," Rohan said hoping that he would be able to convince his King that he needed to save his friend.
"Rohan, I understand, but now…" King Conchobar said before he was interrupted by Cathbad.
"My King, I believe that it is Rohan's decision," Cathbad said quietly as he looked directly at Conchobar. "They are not only Mystic Knights but they are friends and that bond is more powerful than any evil being can comprehend."
Conchobar sighed softly as he cast a glance at Rohan filled with reluctance but also there was a sense of understanding. "Rohan, I have a new order for you and that is to do what you feel is right. If that means saving Angus, so be it."
"Thank you, my King," Rohan said as he bowed quickly to the king and gave a grateful look at Cathbad. Rohan spun around to leave but Cathbad stopped him by calling his name.
Rohan turned and looked at the Druid. "Yes, Cathbad?"
"I suggest you take a horse, it will be far quicker than walking," Cathbad said.
"I hope Rohan will be all right," Conchobar said with worry as the young knight's footsteps faded away.
"He is strong and brave, my King. He will do fine," Cathbad said with sincerity and pride. Cathbad hoped that he had done a good thing for his apprentice and had not placed the lad into great peril.
Angus watched as the hawk rose into the air and flew toward the rising moon. The moonlight streamed through the hole in the ceiling of the rocky prison. Angus could hear the waves crashing against one wall of his prison. He spun around and clasped the cold iron bars, and shook them, but they didn't even rattle.
Angus' mind returned to the day that he and Rohan had quarreled about Macha. It seemed that Rohan's prediction had come true, that if he, Angus, had become close to Macha, that she would eventually harm him. Angus wasn't certain if Rohan had meant physical harm or emotional, but he certainly felt his heart beginning to crack.
Angus tried to block Macha from his mind, but the image of a lightly tanned face, perfect nose, full red lips and shimmering silver hair floated in the center of his mind. Then he saw Macha knocking him down and looking at him with her cold eyes. He heard her sweet clover voice become stone when she admitted that she did intend to kill Rohan and harm whoever happened to get in her way.
Angus quickly looked toward the darkness beyond his cell as he heard a door squeak and footsteps walking down the stairs. His eyes narrowed as he tried to peer into the darkness. The moonlight struck golden hair and as the person stepped closer, the light revealed that it was Anian.
Angus frowned and turned away from his captor. He heard Anian chuckle as the man came closer to Angus' cell and stopped about two feet from the cell.
"So, Mystic Knight of 'Dirt', are you enjoying your view?" Anian asked with another chuckle.
"I was, until ye made your appearance," Angus remarked with coldness in his voice.
"Ah, clever. I hope your rescuer will be just as clever," Anian said with arrogance that Angus had never heard before, not even from Queen Maeve when she had insisted, several times, that she was going to rule the entire island.
"Do ye really believe that any of the Mystic Knights will fall for this trap?" Angus said as he turned to face Anian with his dark eyes blazing.
"I never said that it would be a Mystic Knight, but that would make this quite more amusing," Anian said as the pleadings of the various Knights to release Angus entered his mind. Anian shook his head to clear the images and focused on his prisoner. "I digress, but I believe it will be Macha coming to rescue you," Anian said with a sigh as he looked off to the side staring at something that only he could see.
"Ye are a fool. Macha doesn't care for me or for anyone. She is not coming," Angus said angrily.
"Ah, I am no fool Angus. It appears that you certainly are the fool especially if you have not realized that Macha cares for you," Anian said the last few words in a tone that sounded as though he had eaten a rotten potato. "But I have just remembered something and you may be right about one thing, Macha may not come for you. It would depend whether or not she survives."
"Survives what?" Angus asked his curiosity rising even though he tried not to allow Anian to play with of his emotions.
Anian smiled, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight. "I left her in the Catacombs of Temra with several unique creatures of mine. She is now fighting for her life or perhaps it has already been taken. Either way, she will not live for long," Anian said with excitement.
"I do not care," Angus growled as he turned away from Anian.
Anian laughed. "Even though Macha has promised to kill Draganta, your friend, I know that you do care for her, perhaps far more than she cares for you," Anian said and paused for a moment. "Well, I shall give you time to grieve but remember, it won't be for long."
Angus didn't respond as he heard Anian's steps walk away from his cell and back up the stairs. Once Angus heard the creak and the door slam, he slammed his fist into the rock wall of his prison. He fell to his knees ignoring the physical pain in his hand. The moonlight illuminated the dark haired Mystic Knight of Earth who could feel his heart crumbling into dust.
guardianM3: Please review. Suggestions for a better title would be greatly appreciated.