Confession & Attack

"Where's Celtic?" Bane asked when he noticed that she wasn't in the cottage. It had been a few days and Celtic was feeling a lot stronger.

"Outside; she wanted some fresh air." Andy answered. He'd watched Celtic struggle with some stuff the past few days and knew she just wanted to be alone to think.

"Oh." Bane hesitated but then went to look for her.

"Leave her be." Dt said when she noticed Bane come out of the cottage. He looked at her but still proceeded to search for Celtic.

"I know, Liber." Celtic had been thinking about the things she had seen when Liber approached her. "We'll deal with it when in comes. I trust you and the others to be there when needed but I'm fine now. Send them all home."

"At least let me..." Liber started.

"I'll be fine. There's no reason why anyone should have to put their lives on hold for me anymore." Celtic interrupted; Liber nodded.

"Celtic?" Bane approached her after Liber left. "Sorry..." He said when he saw her jump a little.

"Didn't hear you approach again." She smiled at him but it didn't reach her eyes. "I guess I was lost in thought again."

"It happens." He smiled but it faded when he noticed the expression on her face. "Anything you want to share?"

"Just wondering why..." She looked up at the sky.

"Why what?" Bane asked after a minute.

"Why me... why was I chosen for this..." There was so much more on her mind but she wasn't sure how to word it.

"Only time will tell, I guess." Bane looked at her. "Is that all?" She shook her head. "I'm not going to push you; only share as much or as little as you want."

"I'm confused." Celtic struggled to find the words. "..." She turned her back to him when the tears broke free.

"Celtic..." Bane sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He walked over to her and wiped the tears away. "You can tell me the truth..."

"Bane, I... I just don't want to ruin anything." Celtic fought back the tears and held her head up. Looking him in the eyes, she knew this was a hard decision. Andy had encouraged it, but she had said there was no point. She knew opening her heart meant the risk of getting hurt, but the visions she'd seen had shaken her. "..." She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, "...not sure I realized how hard this would be..."

"You don't have to say anything." Bane wasn't sure what she was going to say but it was obvious she was struggling.

"Yes I do... after everything I've seen and been through... we both deserve the truth." Taking one last deep breath, Celtic mustered the courage she'd been lacking. She looked him in the eyes and knew it was now or never. "Bane, I think... I know my feelings for you have changed." She held up a hand to stop him from interrupting. "I'm not sure when they changed, I just know they have. I don't want to ruin our friendship, but you deserve the truth from me... I'm starting to see you as more than a friend." She took in a shaky breath and let that part sink in.

"Celtic..." Bane wasn't sure what to say, but before he got the chance, she kissed him on the cheek. She stepped away from him and smiled weakly.

"It won't work, I know. You just deserved to know the truth." With that, Bane watched Celtic walk away.

"Did you tell him?" Andy asked when Celtic walked into the cottage. She nodded. "And?"

"And what?" Celtic looked at the Fire General. Her silver eyes were guarded.

"Alright, everyone's heading home. If you need anything, send for it." Liber looked at the Enchantress. "Rest. I'm afraid the worst isn't over yet."

"You too, Liber." Celtic nodded.

"Take care not to over do it, Celt." Dt said before she left. Everyone had left except for Bane.

"Celtic, please be careful." Bane approached the Enchantress as she was standing with Claddagh. "We'd be lost if anything happened to you."

"I know... I'd rather not have this pressure-and ultimately the target that comes with it-but, it is what it is. Something or someone thinks I'm strong enough to handle the responsibility of being 'Enchantress of the Elements'." Celtic look at him and smiled. "I'll be fine, Archer."

"Yeah." Bane smiled and then watched her walk away for the second time that day. "Friends?" He called after her.

"Always!" Celtic smiled brightly and watch as he headed home.

"She's alone." Justin reported. He did not like being the messenger and he did not trust Kululu.

"Good." Kululu turned to face "The One" and smiled. "I need you to gather all the troops and dragons that you can. It won't be long before battle rages."

"As you wish." Justin paused. "Celtic will be unharmed, right?" He asked, unsure if Kululu would tell him the truth.

"Of course." Kululu said; Justin knew it wasn't the truth, but he couldn't do anything about it now. "Now go!" Justin nodded and then left.

-A few weeks later-

Celtic stepped outside and filled her lungs with the cool night air. It was yet one more night in a series of many that she found herself unable to sleep. She blamed the nightmares; the vivid nightmares that seemed so real.

"Celtic?" She looked in the direction the voice had come from. A man stood a few feet from her.

"Who's there?" Something in her told her to run, but fear froze her to the ground.

"I've been waiting for you..." His voice trailed; it was unfamiliar.

"Who...?" Celtic took a step back. He countered; grabbing her arms forcefully.

"No need to fight me." He traced the scar around her eye. He rested a hand on her waist and pulled her close. She tensed; leaning away from him. "No need to fight me." Celtic tried to pull free, but his grip was too strong.

"Let go!" Celtic shouted. The ground shook as Claddagh came running around the side of the cottage. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain rip through her side. Instinctively, she reached down and could feel the blood soaking her clothes. Before she could think, the man was gone and she found herself on the ground. Everything was getting hazy. She heard Claddagh's loud roar before succumbing to the darkness.

Bane wasn't sure why he was awake. He'd been up early and had been working hard in the farms all day. He should have given into exhaustion hours ago. As he stepped outside, Arbor came rushing over to him. The Seasonal dragon seemed very anxious. "What is it Arbor?" The dragon motioned for him to climb onto his back. As soon as he was on, Arbor took to the sky. The closer they got to the Island of Fire and Cold, the more dragons they seemed to hear. Bane had flown this area at night before, but it had never been this noisy. There was one dragon's roar that was heard above all others... Claddagh.

"..." Shallow breathing got Bane's attention when he landed near Celtic's cottage. As he turned the corner, he was greeted with a snarl from Claddagh.

"Claddagh, it's only me." Bane reached out and patted the dragon on the nose. "What's happened?" Claddagh moved aside and Bane froze.

"..." Celtic sucked in a breath as the pain seemed to spread.

"Celtic?" Bane knelt down by her side. He could tell that she was covered in some sort of liquid but wasn't sure what.

"Bane?" Her voice was weak and she could barely open her eyes. "Some... someone..." She gasped as another wave of pain shot through her. "Blood..." It was the last thing she said before succumbing to the darkness once more.

"Claddagh, get the Generals and Healers!" The Celtic dragon reluctantly obeyed. Bane gently carried Celtic inside. He lit some lamps and that's when he noticed the amount of blood. "Hold on, Celtic..." He cleaned her up as best he could.

"What's going on in here?" Frost entered the cottage.

"Bane?" Andy looked at Bane, then at Celtic, and then at all of the material that had been used to clean up the blood.

"She's been stabbed." Bane answered; he looked at Celtic and wondered if he had been too late.

"Let us take a look." Poke and WK entered the a cottage a few minutes later.

"How bad is it?" Andy asked. He hadn't missed the amount of blood.

"I want to know who did this." Frost's voice was laced with anger.

"..." Celtic started to come to. She sucked in a breath and placed a hand on the wound. "Some... someone..." She tried to say something.

"Don't speak." Bane hushed her. He watched as Celtic tensed from pain as Poke and WK tried something.

"I wonder who could have done this." Andy's voice was calm but worry was still there.

"Justin?" Frost posed.

"Ahh!" Celtic's scream echoed in the cottage as the pain became too much.

"Whoever did this made sure it would be hard to heal." Poke said. "It would be better if she passed out again."

The men had to hold her still while Poke and WK tried their best to heal her. "..." WK sighed. "We may need to knock her out. This movement is only complicating things."

"Never mind." Poke said when he noticed Celtic stilled and her breathing evened out some. Bane, Andy, and Frost stepped away and gave the Healers more room to work.

"Done... for now." WK said about thirty minutes later. "I don't think her body would be able to withstand much more right now. If we continue, our healing could kill her." The Healers stepped away from Celtic and then headed outside.

"What was she trying to say?" Andy asked. There was silence for a moment.

"'Someone'." Bane thought out loud. "But who?"

"Justin." Frost said it with certainty. "It has to be... He wants her for himself but if he can't have her..."

"Why try to kill her? Why not kidnap her?" Bane asked. He didn't like either option.

"She'd fight if he tried to kidnap her. Besides, he's no match against her powers." Andy replied. He and Frost headed outside.

"Bane..." Celtic's whispered voice caused him to turn around. "..." She sucked in a breath when she tried to move.

"Don't move." Bane went to her side and gently held her down. "You need to rest."

"Yeah..." She said; not having the strength or the energy to fight. She closed her eyes and turned her head to the side. Bane traced the scar around her eye as the memory of that day hit him like a tidal wave. The day had changed her in more ways than anyone knew. Thinking she was asleep, he bent down to kiss her cheek; something she had done to him only weeks ago. When he felt her lips touch his, he froze.

"Celtic, I'm so sorry." He stood up quickly and took a step back. He hadn't meant to do that.

"Bane, please don't..." Celtic's soft pleading made him look at her. She smiled softly but it didn't reach her silver eyes; eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Don't apologize... you've done nothing worth an apology." Her smiled faded and she turned her head away from him... but not before he saw a tear escape.

Why is she crying? Bane thought to himself. Muffled sobs echoed in the small room. "Celtic..." He approached cautiously. He gently placed a finger under her chin and turned her face to look at him. "Tell me, what's wrong, please." She closed her eyes tightly as more tears flowed down her cheeks. "Celt..." He sighed knowing he wasn't going to get anything out of her now. She was closing herself off again.