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 20: Macha is Gone
King Fin Varra stood on the table as he waited for Ivar to bring his comrades back to the throne room. Fin Varra didn't know if his sudden appearance in the Castle of Kells was a bright idea or if it would turn out to be a foolhardy choice. All the Fairy King knew was that the darkness had already made its presence known and that time was running out.
He returned his attention to the throne room as the three Mystic Knights entered. While Ivar had gone after Deirdre and Garrett, the Fairy King had asked Cathbad to bring in the objects that they had already collected mentioned in the Scroll of Wisdom, the mirror, the Crystal of Sight, and the Cauldron of Heart. He could see in their faces that they all were weary and worried, but they still carried some hope that they would defeat any evil that threatened Kells.
The Fairy King cleared his throat when all eyes came to rest on him. "Draganta and the thief may not be here yet, but we shall begin anyway, there is much to talk about and we can not wait any longer."
Deirdre was about to ask Fin Varra how he knew that Rohan and Angus were coming to the castle, but Conchobar gave his daughter a look that commanded she remain silent.
King Fin Varra took a silent deep breath before he began telling all those before him what he knew.
"Many have searched for the dragon's black heart since the stories of a dark power surrounding the stone were well known by all people, long ago. There was a knight who had discovered a stone, known as the Stone of Spirit that could locate the dark dragon's heart that had been hidden from a dark sorcerer. The dragon's heart had been turned into stone so that the dragon's dark power could be wielded. Soon it was discovered that an ancient Druid had created obstacles to prevent the dragon's heart from being placed into the wrong hands. Besides the dragon's heart and the Stone of Spirit, few other objects were needed that would release an even greater power than from those two sources alone. Many years later, a powerful and good Druid learning of this had decided to prevent those who wanted this power from retrieving it, knowing quite well that it would cast the world into darkness. The Druid separated the objects that would be needed to bring forth this power and scattered them across the world. He maintained that if evil did try to bring all of the necessary pieces together, that he ensured that good would be able to protect it all."
"But now all of the missing pieces have been brought together on this island." Garrett said quietly.
King Fin Varra nodded his head. "Yes, but we have control over the majority of the magical objects that are needed."
"King Fin Varra, there is one piece from the Scroll of Wisdom that has not been solved and that is 'blood of legends.' What does it mean?" Deirdre asked.
King Fin Varra sighed softly. "I do not know the answer to that part of the riddle. There are several possibilities."
"Wait is the dragon's heart the stone that 'remains cold even in the summer sun?" Ivar asked.
Fin Varra nodded his head. "Yes, Ivar. They are one in the same. The dark dragon's heart is also known as the Sacred Stone by users of dark magic."
Cold laughter echoed in the throne room as Nemain appeared at the end of the room. Before anyone could speak, Nemain raised her hands in the air and motioned toward the table where the magical objects had been laid out by the Druid. The objects flew from the table and landed at Nemain's feet. The others in the room looked at Nemain with mild shock and surprise at the witch's appearance.
"Nemain?" Cathbad asked uncertainly as he began to prepare a protection spell.
"You are all fools," Nemain said her eyes glazed as she and the magical objects began to fade away with her.
"No!" Garrett yelled as he grabbed his Twin Timber Axes and leapt at the spot where Nemain and the magical objects had faded away. He stopped in his tracks and swiped at the air with his axes. As he turned around, he saw in turn that his surprise and fear was mirrored in everyone else in the room.
King Fin Varra and Cathbad were talking quietly together as the Mystic Knights and Conchobar remained silent. Each of them was processing what Fin Varra had told them. They became weary as they heard footsteps approach the room, but were relieved when familiar faces entered the room.
"Rohan!" Deirdre cried out as she rushed toward him and hugged him.
Rohan stared down at the red-haired princess in shock at her sudden affection towards him. He was certain that she would have scolded him but he was unable to think about it when everyone began to question what had happened. Angus spoke before Rohan could answer any of their questions.
"Macha…" Angus said somberly as tears sprung to his eyes.
"Macha is gone," Rohan said fiercely but soon regretted his tone as he saw that his best friend was heartbroken.
"What happened?" King Conchobar asked as he rose from his throne and stepped closer to the new arrivals.
"She sacrificed herself to save me, a mere thief," Angus said his dark eyes distant.
"Angus," Deirdre said softly as she walked over to her friend who didn't even feel her hand on his shoulder.
Ivar looked at Angus while Rohan quickly told them of what had occurred on the cliffs with Macha, Anian and the Dragon of Temra. The pain in his friend's was evident in his eyes as well as a fury that the Mystic Knight of Water knew would not be buried for long.
"Anian shall be stopped and the Sacred Stone destroyed," Angus said coldly as his eyes met with the Fairy King.
Fin Varra returned a look of deep concern and sympathy for the Mystic Knight, whom even though had irked the King quite a bit, was an ally and a friend.
"We must go to the Sacred Stone. Fin Varra, ye know where the Sacred Stone lies, don't you?" Angus asked his eyes never leaving the Fairy King's own.
King Fin Varra reluctantly nodded his head, knowing that he did not have a right to deter the Mystic Knights from this path. Destiny had grabbed onto each of them. He just certain what end that this path of destiny was going to be.
Torc searched the castle for Nemain. He had not seen her in several days nor had he heard anyone speak the sorceress' name. He knew that his command had been taken away from him and that Nemain no longer ruled Temra, but he didn't know what was to happen to Temra once Anian had accomplished what he had come to the island to do.
Torc growled softly as he passed two of his soldiers who did not acknowledge his presence. He didn't know how Anian took control of his soldiers and he hadn't heard what Anian had promised his soldiers but Torc knew that the man did not intend to give the soldiers of Temra anything.
Torc recalled the day that Anian had arrived Temra. The man was clever and . He had sensed that the man would betray his Queen, but she didn't believe that a simple man could thwart her. Somehow he did, using dark magic that was beyond Nemain's magic.
Torc stopped as he saw something move in the shadows. "Who is there?"
A figure walked toward Torc. Torc grabbed the hilt of his sword, uncertain whether he faced a friend or a foe. Perhaps, Anian had decided to be ride of him, but somehow Torc knew that Anian was going to be keeping the old warrior around, at least for a little while longer.
The figure slowly stepped out of the shadows. "Nemain?" Torc asked his eyes gone wide as he stared at the sorceress. The old warrior was relieved that his Queen was alive but he was also curious as to where she had been.
Nemain's eyes were not the dark color that Torc had come to know so well, but they had become an icy blue. As she stepped further out of the shadows, Torc saw several objects floating in the air, following her which was a mirror, with a raven and a wolf at its corners, a small cauldron, a scroll and a stone. Torc realized that Nemain had Anian's Crystal of Sight cradled in her hands and it started to glow, casting its eerie light onto Nemain's face.
"I must go, Torc," Nemain said her voice sounding as though they stood within a cavernous room even though they were within a narrow hallway.
Torc quickly moved to the side to allow Nemain and the objects to go by him. His gaze never left the sorceress knowing that she was headed to Anian's chambers and knowing that Anian was now Nemain's Master, for within the sorceress' eyes was Anian's own.
Anian was in the dark room holding onto the obsidian stone that had been formed into a hawk. He knew his master would be pleased for Nemain had arrived at the castle moments before with the rest of the pieces needed to find the Sacred Stone and open the portal.
"The so-called sorceress has brought the mirror, the Crystal of Sight, the Scroll of Wisdom, the Stone of Spirit and the Cauldron of Heart to me." Anian said once his Master had been contacted.
"The Amulet of Life is needed as well, Anian, or have you forgotten?"
"Of course not, Master. I've obtained the Amulet of Life," Anian said with pride.
"How were you able to obtain the amulet, when Macha protects it?" Anian's Master asked wondering how Anian had obtained the amulet from the girl who was a clever and strong enemy.
"I took it from her and now she is dead," Anian said as he brought forth the Amulet of Life with his free hand and turned it around in his hand.
"Macha, is dead? Are you certain, Anian?" The voice asked with skepticism.
"Yes, Master. She saved the Mystic Knight of 'Dirt' which caused her own death." Anian could barely hold on to his excitement at Macha's death, but he was able to keep his composure before his Master.
Silence filled the room causing Anian to believe that he had lost contact with his
Master, but the Master spoke once more.
"Tomorrow night as the moon turns red, you know what you need to do, Anian."
"Yes, Master." Anian watched as the obsidian stone returned to normal. He Anian held the obsidian stone in one hand and the Amulet of Life in the other imagining the power of the Sacred Stone flowing through him and only him.
guardianM3: Please review. Thanks to all of those who have been reviewing this story so far and will continue to review. Thanks to the future reviewers as well.