Hilda kicked the ball to one of Clodagh's brothers, looking anxiously towards the kitchen window while Twig sniffed around the back garden. Last night, her Mum had come back into the room after talking with the Gatekeepers in private, her expression pale and eyes full of despair. She hadn't explained anything, just hugging Hilda and murmuring incoherently into her daughter's fringe before they went to bed. Hilda had absolutely heard her crying in the en suite, but when pressed her Mum had either dodged the question or ignored her entirely.

Now, Johanna was inside with Clodagh and her Mother, Gráinne, and was presumably relaying to them everything she'd been told. Had it not been for Alfur, Hilda would have felt she would go insane with nobody to talk to. Clodagh's brothers ranged between ten and six years old and while they played happily enough, there was a language barrier since they were yet to learn any English.

'I..I feel empty..,' Hilda murmured to Alfur as the youngest brother stared at her curiously, 'Mum..I've never seen her like that before..what could they have told her..'

'Well, I'm hardly going to sit up here and tell you it's fine,' Alfur replied, just as concerned as Hilda was, '..I'm sure Harry's alright anyway!'

'Ugh! I wasn't even thinking about that, Alfur! Now I'm worried about the both of them!' Hilda exclaimed angrily, kicking the ball a little too hard and barely missing the oldest of Clodagh's brothers. The boy's eyes went wide and Hilda tried to smile apologetically, but failed miserably. Instead her worries contorted her expression into something indescribable and the poor child hurried over to the end of the garden towards one of his siblings.

'I..don't think we're making the best first impression here..,' Alfur murmured, to which Hilda responded with a disgruntled sigh, before she turned on her heel and stalked back towards the house. Sensing her distress, Twig followed, much to the disappointment of the two younger boys who had been giving him countless pats.

'Hilda..I can't say intruding on a private conversation is the best idea!' Alfur implored.

'I want to know!,' Hilda shot back, 'I..I don't want this kept from me too!'

'This is hardly-!,' Alfur tried to say, when he was cut off by the back door swinging open. Hilda winced at the ear-splitting creak it made, as Clodagh stepped outside. She looked pale, and sat down on the back steps before she motioned for Hilda to join her. Eying the open doorway behind her, Hilda at first thought about making a break for it, but eventually relented and sat down next to their host.

'I know what you're going through,' Clodagh said after a moment, watching her brothers trying to climb a tree at the end of the garden, 'Something happens and the adults start treating it like a big secret..'

Hilda glanced at her for a moment, before she sighed and wrapped her arms around her knees, studying the stone paving beneath them.

'Mum was like that with Harry too..I hardly knew anything about him and-and I almost hated her for it,' she explained, feeling Clodagh watch her pensively, 'She only told me everything a few days ago..but it helped a lot, in the end I couldn't really-'

Hilda stopped and looked up at Clodagh, who watched in confusion as Hilda's eyes darted around in thought before she gripped her leggings apprehensively.

'They told Mum something..Something she blames herself for..'

It weighed on Clodagh heavily that she couldn't confirm nor deny Hilda's answer. When she was sixteen and her Father had become ill, her Mother had refused to tell her anything beyond the most vague details, while at the same time insisting she not disturb his rest. When Clodagh went against this and snuck up to the spare room to see him, she'd found her Father incoherent and just about able to recognise her. Gráinne had caught her, though her Father saved her from any real punishment when he momentarily became lucid.

Husband and Wife had argued in the aftermath, and Gráinne had blamed Clodagh for bringing undue stress on the family, especially since she was expecting her youngest at the time. Eventually though, she'd accepted that Clodagh had done what she did due to lack of info. While it continued to be vague, she was at least allowed to see her Father when he was able. This too became rare as his condition deteriorated, and Gráinne had always maintained that she'd kept Clodagh from him at first so she wouldn't have to see this. Naturally though, Clodagh had always and still felt bitter, even as she and her Mother had bonded over raising her three brothers.

'Yes..but it isn't my place to tell you,' Clodagh replied, detesting each word that came out of her mouth. Hilda closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before she lay back on the steps and stared up at the sky.

'That's hardly the most comfortable place in the world..!,' Clodagh chuckled tiredly, pulling her arm from one sleeve of her cloak and allowing Hilda to rest her head on it once she'd balled it up.

'I'm fine..just..is Mum ok? That's all I want to know..'

'She's fine,' Clodagh assured, 'Just..Just quite shaken up about what the Gatekeepers told her. My Mother and her are talking about it inside'

Hilda couldn't bear it. She had to see her Mum, even without any explanation to what had happened, she just wanted to be with her. She stood up, and Clodagh immediately figured out what she was about to do. She moved to stop her, but before any altercation could happen, they both heard a powerful series of knocks coming from the front door.

'What..What was..,' Hilda murmured and Clodagh swallowed before she reluctantly beckoned the girl to follow. Hilda was pointed through a side door, while Clodagh locked her brothers out in the garden. Inside, Hilda found her Mum clutching a cup of tea and it was immediately obvious that she had been crying. Before Johanna could say a word, Hilda went right up to her and threw her hands around her middle, hugging her tightly.

'I-I don't want you to tell me anything..,' she murmured as Johanna pulled her up onto her lap, 'I..I just want you t-to be ok!'

'Oh, sweetheart..,' Johanna murmured softly, stroking her hair, 'You'll learn soon enough..but right now I think I need a breather, why don't you-?'

She stopped, having looked up and gotten the fright of her life. Hilda turned and saw a burly Gatekeeper standing in the kitchen door, a whole head taller than Gráinne who stood by his side. The man had his hood up, obscuring nearly his whole face in shadow as Gráinne's eyes darted from Hilda to Clodagh as she entered. Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

'You are the two Guardian Clodagh brought yesterday?,' the Gatekeeper asked, his voice deep and sounding extremely serious, on the edge of anger even. Johanna nodded slowly and held Hilda close, while Twig sat in front of them. The Gatekeeper glanced at the Deerfox dismissively, before he snapped his fingers and a bright orange light erupted from the kitchen table. Johanna quickly scooted back, as a scene similar to the one they were shown yesterday appeared. This time, the flames came together to form what looked like a building, and people were seemingly fleeing from it in a panic.

'Last night,' the Gatekeeper explained, 'There was a serious attack on the Ceilí Hall of Con the Great in Wales. It was led by the Men of Tuireann,' he revealed, causing Clodagh to gasp and the formidable Gráinne to go obviously pale.

'I thought the assassins had been wiped out?,' she asked, but the Gatekeeper responded with a stern shake of the head as he clicked his fingers. Hilda and Johanna shot each an apprehensive glance as the scene dissolved and reformed. This time, Hilda recognised her Father, laughing maniacally at something and when she caught a glimpse of the Gatekeepers cold expression, she swallowed. She had a bad, bad feeling about where this was headed..

'Is this your partner, Lady Johanna?'

'Once..,' Johanna replied coolly.

'Once?,' the man replied, pulling out a seat and sitting down across from them, 'Or now?'

Johanna put a hand over Hilda's mouth to stop her from blurting out an angry response, while her eyes shot to Clodagh, who stepped in to provide evidence. Hilda, meanwhile, got off her Mum's lap and stood by her side, stewing angrily.

'I assure you, Gatekeeper, that neither Johanna or her daughter have any association with the Men of Tuireann,' Clodagh explained calmly, 'They came to me searching for her son, who was taken by that man you see there. My instincts told me that there was nothing to fear'

'Your instincts may be flawed, Guardian Clodagh,' the Gatekeeper replied, turning his head slightly to speak with her, 'After all, I sense there is more to Lady Johanna here than meets the eye'

'I practise magic, yes,' Johanna confirmed, retrieving her wand from her pocket and placing it on the table. Usually, Witches would summon their wand with a flick of their wrist, but Johanna lacked the reflexes to catch it from her sleeve thanks to her years of inactivity.

'A detail you thought necessary to keep from me?,' The Gatekeeper asked, his tone one of cold eeriness, 'It isn't wise to keep information from an officer of the law..'

'Do the Gatekeepers keep information from each other as well?,' Gráinne asked, 'Yesterday two of your colleagues were far more respectful to Johanna and her daughter!'

'Who are you to accuse me of disrespect?,' the man asked, sitting straight in his chair, 'The nature of this case has changed since yesterday, óstach Gráinne. We are not without casualties,' he revealed, which caused Hilda's mood to do a complete somersault. She took her Mother's hand in distress, as the thought bounced around her head relentlessly; had..had her Father killed someone?

'And yet you use those casualties as flimsy evidence to accuse me and my daughter of harbouring assassins!,' Gráinne rebutted, jabbing the end of her pipe at the Gatekeeper, 'All Johanna wants is the return of her son. For goodness sake, you failed to stop that man from chasing him in the first place!'

'So he's being chased?,' the Gatekeeper asked, 'Or transferred?'

'What-!?,' Johanna blurted out in disbelief, before she was cut off by the Gatekeeper standing up and clicking his fingers, causing the image of shift once again. The new scene caused Johanna to grip the edge of the table in horror, seeing an unconscious Harry slung over the shoulder of a stranger. Running alongside him was another child, a girl, until she stopped and they appeared to have an argument. Then, another man arrived on horseback and the group began to move somewhat calmly. They reached some boats, and the Gatekeeper ended the scene with a snap of his fingers.

'Boats to Trollberg..?' Hilda murmured, while Johanna's eyes bored into the Gatekeepers. She had finally understood what he had been poking at for the last few minutes, and to say it made her angry was an understatement.

'Are you accusing me of letting these..these assassins come to my home in exchange for my son?,' Johanna hissed, standing up and glowering at the Gatekeeper, who simply shrugged. Johanna chewed her top lip furiously as Clodagh and Gráinne glanced at each other anxiously. It was looking like they would have to restrain Johanna from strangling the man, who exhaled at the situation as if it were nothing more than a nuisance.

'It certainly seems that way, Lady Johanna, especially after seeing his supposed rescuers talking so casually with these scum-!'

'And what makes you think you're any different!?,' Johanna exclaimed angrily, 'You-You dare assume that I'd join forces with these..these MURDERERS! Last night the Gatekeepers showed me how-how Harry had been ABUSED! HIS FATHER STOLE HIM FROM ME AND BEAT HIM! TORTURED HIM! AND YOU STAND THERE AND-AND ACCUSE ME OF WORKING WITH HIM!?'

She stopped, hands flat on the table and breathing quickly, while Hilda was frozen in shock next to her. Her arms hanging limply by her side, the girl's mouth moved but no words escaped, if she could even put into words just how awful she felt. She heard Alfur gasp in horror as she tried to absorb it. Her brother..abused and tortured? It made her want to throw up..

The Gatekeeper meanwhile seemed to have been cowed, if briefly, by Johanna's outburst, drumming his fingers on the table before he reached inside his cloak and retrieved a piece of parchment. He gave it a flick and then set it on the table, whatever he had done preventing it from rolling up again. Johanna frowned as she read it, reaching out and pulling Hilda in close.

'..house arrest?'

'Effectively,' the Gatekeeper replied, 'Be thankful we see fit to keep you here instead of elsewhere. It will go on until we locate your son and eliminate the remaining assassins'

'And when will that be?,' Johanna asked pointedly, her tone sharp, 'Yesterday they told me Harry was two days away from the sea, and that they'd catch up with him?'

'Things have moved quicker than expected..but I warn you against putting any blame on us,' the Gatekeeper said slowly, tapping the parchment, 'Again, you are lucky that it is house arrest you're dealing with..'

'And how do you expect to get to Trollberg?,' Johanna pressed, ignoring the threat, 'After all, your colleagues told me that the Tuatha de Danann were banished from there-'

'-I have neither the time nor the patience to tell you our methods, Lady Johanna,' The Gatekeeper interjected fiercely, 'You will stay here until we return with your son and that is final!,' he exclaimed, pounding a fist on the table. Johanna glowered at him, before she closed her eyes and sat back down. She picked up Hilda, the girl offering little resistance as she cradled Twig in her arms. The shock had been so intense that she hadn't even heard the conversation.

'Well, I've neither the time nor the patience either,' Johanna smiled, before she grabbed her wand and tipped the chair backwards. Hilda's senses came rushing back and she screamed as they fell into a pitch black void. Johanna hugged her daughter tightly, eyes scrunched shut as she focused on their destination. For a moment, she felt the seconds start to dig in, then-!

'Oof!'

Mother and daughter landed in the little grotto they'd landed in with Clodagh the previous day. Johanna wasted no time and was on her feet the moment they landed. Hilda lay spreadeagled on the ground for a moment, blinking in confusion before Twig licked her face and brought her back to reality. As Johanna looked about frantically for an exit, Hilda ran her fingers through her fringe and to her relief was able to pick out Alfur.

'Alfur..you alright?'

'A bit queasy..,' the elf murmured, 'I admit I was trying to get lost in the paperwork there, but we'll talk more once we get out of here!'

'Harry..,' Hilda sniffed quietly as she hurried up to her Mum. There was no sign of an exit, and Johanna felt the seconds slipping away from them. Gripping her wand, she chewed her top lip in anguish as Hilda watched, her own mind racing to try and come up with some sort of solution. Then, just as Johanna turned at what she thought was voices, Hilda remembered something.

'In my opinion at least, you don't get that much people praying to something without it becoming a little bit alive…besides, you have to ask Newgrange permission to travel to the other side anyway'

'Mum! Mum!,' Hilda cried, running up to her side, 'Clodagh said Newgrange was alive, remember? We need to ask them to let us leave!'

'Of course!,' Johanna replied, slapping a hand to her forehead, 'But Clodagh spoke to them in her own language.. and after last night I can't even remember what she said..'

'I-I do! I know their name at least..,' Hilda murmured, and Johanna nodded before she stepped back to allow her daughter to stand in the middle of the grotto. Behind, she could definitely hear the sound of voices, and they didn't sound all that pleasant. Twig stood in front of her, poised for combat as Hilda looked up and called out to the monument above.

'Um..Si an brew!?,' She cried, cupping her hands to her mouth, 'If you can hear us, my Mum and I would really like to go home! It's b-been great and all but-!'

She was cut off by a loud rumble that shook the grotto, so much so that Johanna struggled to stay on her feet as she grabbed Twig and backed towards her daughter. Wand aimed towards the exit, she glanced back quickly and felt little bits of dirt tumble onto her head. The ceiling above them was opening, and soon Hilda could make out a pinprick of light above them. She took her Mother's hand in anticipation, as a crowd charged into the grotto behind them.

'Seize them!'

It was the Gatekeeper from minutes ago, and he looked more than willing to carry out the act himself as the crowd behind, some armed with pitchforks and even swords, seemed to back away. Hilda and Johanna felt themselves be lifted slowly into the air as the man rushed forward and reached out to grab Johanna's wrist, only for Newgrange to respond violently. There was a burst of air, sending Mother and daughter flying upwards and the Gatekeeper into the crowd of frightened onlookers. Up and and up they went, until they were blinded by the dawn's light and landed in a heap on the dew soaked grass. The hole in the ground disappeared almost instantly, leaving Hilda and Johanna alone.

'It worked..?,' Hilda murmured, before she sat up, 'Mum! It worked!'

'..It did!,' Johanna breathed, shielding herself from the rising sun, 'I wonder if it's because you're..no, never mind, it doesn't matter. Come on! We have to get back to Trollberg as soon as possible!,' She exclaimed, and they both sprang to their feet and hurried towards the hedgeline. Thankfully, it seemed that it was so early that Newgrange was not yet open to visitors. Casting one last look back at the monument before she forced herself through the hedge, Hilda's thoughts lingered on Clodagh and Gráinne. She hoped that the Gatekeepers wrath wouldn't fall on them instead..

The car was thankfully untouched from the previous day, but just as uncooperative. As Johanna struggled to get the door unlocked, Hilda's thoughts were dragged back to Harry. How long had their Father been hurting him? Would there be any hope of retrieving the boy he could have been, and if so, how long would it take-?

'Hilda! Come on, sweetheart, we have to move!,' Johanna called over urgently, jumping the girl from her thoughts long enough for her to swing open the door and collapse into the passenger seat. Putting on the seatbelt, Hilda was again swallowed by the cocktail of emotions swirling around inside her. Anger, guilt, disbelief..all of it combined to drown her in a tsunami of despair.

'..I didn't want you to find out like that,' Johanna said slowly, 'And I'm sorry you had to see me that way..that man, what he was accusing me of just..'

She trailed off and shook her head, navigating the car up the warren of country roads back towards the main road back to Dublin. Hilda just stared ahead, bouncing about like a rag doll as they drove along the uneven surface.

'What do we even do..'

'Well, we'll head back to the port first-'

'No! About Harry!,' Hilda exclaimed, her body returning to life as she sprang up in her chair.

'..I suppose the only thing we can do is wait for the ink to dry!,' Alfur squeaked, as Johanna was momentarily focused on getting the car onto the motorway. They travelled in the opposite direction for a moment in silence, before Johana took an exit and got them back onto the Dublin road.

'Alfur's right..,' she said finally, 'To deal with Harry we need to find him first, and I know you'll be a brilliant sister, Hilda,' Johanna soothed, taking her hand for a moment, 'I know it's eating you up inside..trust me, I was barely able to drag myself from bed this morning..but for now we've just got to push a little more! We..we're so close to him, I can feel it..'

'Yes..,' Hilda murmured, feeling the determination rise in her. She could feel it too, a light at the end of the tunnel. Her brother was in arms reach, and she wasn't about to let him down now. Joahnna turned on the radio, Hilda grabbed some snacks and they both began to ready themselves for whatever lay ahead..

AUTHORS NOTES

Another day late upload again lets gooo! Of course if you read the discord, you'll know I was actually celebrating my birthday. It's really next week, but I'm going on holiday the day after so we celebrated earlier. Don't fret about another delay, Part 16 is all ready to go and make some waves (hint hint). Thanks to everyone who did wish me a happy birthday though, I really appreciated it :)

So Part 15, and this chapter was always gonna be short. It's premise was just Hilda and Johanna escape the Otherworld, and what better way to make that happen then some dastardly cops?

I said this last week, but in this chapter we see that the Gatekeepers aren't exactly the best people in the world. Stay in the confines of the law and you're fine, but step outside it and you'll be sorry. I made Clodagh the guardian of Newgrange (An important cultural spot) for a reason and that's cause the Gatekeepers easily would have forced them to hand Hilda and Johanna over otherwise. They aren't afraid to step on some liberties if they think they're defending the Otherworld, especially after the attack on the Ceili Hall.

Johanna learning just how badly Harry had been treated was always at the end of earlier drafts, when she and Hilda were reunited with him. I felt like this would pretty much destroy the wholesomeness of any reunion though, and needlessly pad out that event with stuff like we see at the end of this Chapter. Now, it's all out of the way and we can look forward to that event coming very quickly down the tracks!

(For me anyway since I'm currently writing it, you suckers have to wait like two weeks)

For now though, that's all from me, especially since I'm still recovering from those mammoth notes at the the end of the last chapter, all that's left is your one word Irish lesson!

óstach = host (I orginally was going to use "Bean an Ti" or "Woman of the House" but that felt a bit wordy for the Gatekeeper to say) (Also Hilda is saying pronouncing the Irish name for Newgrange, Si an Bru, phonetically when she calls out to the monument)

Good luck, take care and see you all next week!