Things Unexpected

"Geez, Celt, did you get any sleep last night?" Andy asked the next morning; he noticed the redness and tired look in her eyes. She shook her head. "You need to rest if you're going to get better."

"I wonder what he did this time..." Frost thought out loud. He didn't realize Bane was standing just outside the open window.

"Don't... don't you dare..." Celtic said in a tone sharper than she meant. "Ahh!" A sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

"Celt?" Andy jumped to his feet as Celtic passed out again. Bane, Poke, and WK rushed inside.

"Let's see what we can do..." Poke said as he and WK made their way to Celtic.

"Whoever did this... they wanted her dead." WK said after a few minutes. "There's not much we can do anymore. This wound is too severe for us... we'll have to send for Bre."

"Alright, I'll go." Bane said; he needed to do something.

"No." Andy replied. "I'll go. Bane, she needs you here." Bane's face showed his confusion to that statement. Andy left without giving Bane a chance to protest.

"Don't hurt her..." Frost threatened.

"I would never hurt her..." Bane replied. He thought about the night before and quickly added, "not intentionally."

"Let her rest for now." WK broke the tension. Frost sent Bane a look that made sure to let the Archer know he was serious. Frost, WK, and Poke headed outside while Bane sat on the couch. He noticed when Nate arrived but didn't get up to find out why.

"Bane?" Her voice jolted him from his spot and he found himself next to her without realizing he had moved.

"I'm here." Bane took one of her hands in his. She smiled warmly at him. He noticed a tear escape and reached over to wipe it away. "Please, tell me what's on your mind... what's making you cry?" He pleaded; he wanted her to open up... to tell him the truth. "Celt..." She placed a finger on his lips to silence him.

"Stop." Celtic winced a little. "Don't blame yourself... don't apologize for anything. Please, don't beat yourself up... none of this is your fault." She winced again but looked him in the eyes. Her eyes were warm and gentle, but guarded. He nodded; knowing he'd probably continue to worry that he had done something to cause her pain. "I said stop..." She watched a smile cross his face and then he laughed a little.

"You know me too well, sometimes, Enchantress." Bane shook his head but the smile remained.

"As you know me, Archer." Celtic smiled brightly before closing her eyes. Bane turned his back to her and leaned against the side of the bed. Closing his eyes, he tried to will away thoughts of her... of her and the unexpected kiss.

"Bane?" Nate's voice was whispered. Bane looked up to see him standing in the doorway. "Do you want to talk?" Bane looked down at Celtic. Deciding that she seemed to be in a peaceful sleep, he nodded and headed outside. "How are you holding up?"

"..." Bane wasn't sure how to answer. "Well, I've been better."

"Obviously." Nate chuckled. "Are you going to tell me something I don't already know?"

"I kissed her." Bane hadn't meant to blurt it out. Nate stared, wide-eyed for what seemed like forever. "It was an accident... I didn't mean to."

"You?" Nate was still in shock. "You kissed...?"

"You what?" Andy came around the corner. Bad timing. "Is that why her eyes were red this morning?" Bane shrugged.

"I don't know for sure but I think so..."

"I warned you not to hurt her..." Frost came up behind Andy, axe in hand.

"Frost, stop." Her voice made them look at the cottage. Celtic was leaning against the side with her hand pressed against her abdomen.

"Celty, what are you doing?" Andy started to go to her but she stopped him.

"You need to stop... all of you. Just stop worrying about me!" Celtic fell to her knees but still no one moved. "Just, please, stop worrying... stop fighting... There are big... bigger things to worry about... there will b-be bigger battles to fight." Her breathing was labored. Bane took a step towards her, only to be met with an axe in his face.

"Take another step, Archer..." Threat lingered in Frost's voice.

"Gust!" Celtic's command was strained, but effective. Frost was knocked off his feet. "I said to stop..." She stood on shaking legs; blood flowing from her wound.

"Celtic..." Bane reached her and she collapsed into his arms. "You should be resting... not knocking people off their feet." Celtic smiled softly before closing her eyes.

"Well, are the troops ready?" Kululu asked Justin as he entered the room.

"Mostly." Justin replied. "They will all be ready in a day or two."

"Good." Kululu thought for a moment. "Though... we may not need all of them..."

"What do you mean?" Justin didn't like the tone of Kululu's voice.

"Nothing you need to worry about!" Kululu spat. Justin dropped it but still felt like Kululu had done something drastic while he'd been gone.

"We need to figure out who did this." Nate said. Liber and Dt had joined him and Bane on the Island of Fire and Cold once they received word that the Enchantress was injured.

"I knew I should have posted guards..." Liber stated.

"I told you not to." Celtic said. With Bre's help, she was starting to feel a lot better. She was still tired but the pain was ceasing and the wound was completely healed.

"I know, but..." Liber started again.

"I wish people would stop blaming themselves for what happens to me..." Celtic stood up and headed into the garden.

"It seems her feistiness is back..." Nate smiled a little. "That's a good sign."

"I still think it was Justin..." Frost said; trying to ignore what Nate had said.

"The poison didn't work as he intended... if he can't have her, it's safe to assume that he would make sure nobody could." Dt replied; the thought of this being the work of Justin had crossed her mind a time or two already.

"What exactly was the poison supposed to do?" Andy asked.

"It was supposed to allow Justin to control Celt." Dt thought of how best to explain it. "That poison requires that blood be added to it. The blood that is added gives that person the ability to control the person who is poisoned."

"Celty's change prevented that?" Andy was starting to understand.

"Yes... at least that was part of it..." Dt said and then looked at Bane.

"What?" Bane noticed everyone was looking at him.

"Yeah, I noticed that when she called out it was usually his name." Liber said thoughtfully... a hint of teasing in his voice as well.

"I think the connection between the two-that strong friendship bond-plus the changes prevented the control." Dt spoke, shaking her head at Liber's facial expression.

"But what about everything else?" Frost asked.

"The change brings visions... visions of things that may or may not happen." Dt said. She was talking from personal experience. "I think the poison may have altered that."

"What do you mean?" Nate asked.

"The visions might have been more..." Dt started.

"Visions? Try nightmares." Celtic said when she came back in. "If these images... these 'visions' are of things to come..." She closed her eyes. "I don't want them..."

"Celt?" Andy watched as Celtic remembered the visions she's had.

"So much death... so much destruction..." Celtic shook her head as if trying to shake away the images.

"That's what I was afraid of." Dt sighed. "You're still having them?" Celtic nodded.

"Didn't your visions stop once you fully changed?" Nate asked Dt.

"Yes." Dt thought a moment. "I wonder if the poison changed that..."

"Celtic, do you have any idea who did this to you?" Liber asked, getting back on topic.

"It wasn't Justin. I didn't recognize his voice." Celtic stood next to Bane.

"So it's safe to assume it wasn't Shadow either..." Frost said.

"I can tell you it wasn't me." Shadow stood in the doorway. Bane pulled Celtic behind him as Nate and Liber drew their weapons. "Okay, I know I probably deserve the hostility but can I say something?"

"You know the consequences for returning." Liber said, blades still drawn.

"Let him speak." Celtic said. She stepped out from behind Bane, but he stayed close and alert.

"But..." Andy started but stopped when Celtic gave him a look.

"Alright." Liber sighed.

"Kululu wants the Enchantress dead." Shadow began.

"Why should we believe you?" Frost questioned.

"Kululu thinks I'm dead. He tried killing me when I learned of his plan." Shadow continued. "I'm sure he's managed to convince Justin to work for him. Probably promised him Celtic."

"Justin's an idiot." Frost muttered.

"Something big is coming. It's only a matter of time before Kululu makes his biggest move yet." Shadow said.

"Celtic is still in no condition to fight." Andy remarked.

"He's counting on that. Celtic's his biggest threat." Nate said.

"This is more reason to protect you, Celtic!" Liber slammed his fist on the table. The air around him shifted as his anger grew.

"I'm not leaving." Bane said.

"I'll be fine..." Celtic started.

"No!" Everyone jumped. Bane had never raised his voice before.

"..." Nate didn't know what to say. "Well... that's the second time this week you've left me speechless." Bane shot him a look. "...but I'm not going there..."

"Celtic, this time I must insist that there be guards posted." Liber said.

"But..." Celtic decided that Liber was probably right. "Alright."

"I'm still staying." Bane looked at Celtic.

"That's up to her." Liber wasn't about to get involved in whatever was happening between the Enchantress and the Archer.

"Like heck you're staying!" Frost argued.

"Frost!" Celtic was stern. "Bane is always welcome here. If he wants to stay, I have no problem with it."