|
Post by celticbear on Aug 23, 2010 1:23:15 GMT -5
Ghost, You have out done your self with this update. I just hope Shannon can figure out a way to get everybody out of this mess. Update soon.
|
|
VolleyErica3
Beta
Cabin Lass
Music = my life *points* the green guys name is Fredward ^_^
Posts: 174
|
Post by VolleyErica3 on Aug 23, 2010 12:01:54 GMT -5
GAH this is almost even more intense the second time around! more soon please!
|
|
|
Post by Ghost on Aug 24, 2010 15:41:26 GMT -5
The door opened a fraction. Shannon, hands bound tightly behind her back, hair flying all about her, was shoved by a man's boot onto the floor directly into the center of the room. Keith jumped toward her, and immediately felt a sharp blade press against his side.
"Do not approach her," O'Boyle said.
Keith clenched his hands into fists and made himself straighten.
Brennan poked his head inside the chamber and addressed the knight. "I will be outside, my lord, if you need me."
"Thank you, Brennan. You have fulfilled your duties most excellently."
The guard nodded and shut the door behind him.
Shannon lay on her side, cheek pressed against the rug. Keith could see that her face, under the messy curtain of her dark hair, was stained with tears. For a long, silent moment, she lay curled on her side, her breath coming in short, gasping sobs. Her stomach, round where she was with child, trembled through the folds of her dress with each breath she took.
Keith watched as she struggled wordlessly to her knees. Shannon tossed her head to clear the deep brown locks from her dark eyes. Keith watched as she took in the scene around her. First, the look of naked fury on her face at the sight of Devon; then confusion and surprise at Lord Derry bound in his chair; finally, such a twisted mix of emotions at the sight of Keith that he feared she might immediately be sick on his feet.
Lord Derry's face paled almost to the same shade as Shannon's. He muttered, "What have you done, Devon?"
The knight noticed the woman's contorted expression as well. He chuckled, alone finding mirth in the situation. Ignoring Lord Derry, he addressed the messenger. "Look at her, Keith. Did you really think she would wait for you? Did you think nothing could tempt such a beautiful woman while you were gone?"
Shannon looked from O'Boyle to Keith. She drew air into her lungs slowly, as though every breath took great effort. Confusion glistened in her tear-dimmed eyes. And then, suddenly, she understood what the knight was saying.
"No, Keith," she choked. "I swear I—"
"Silence!" the knight interrupted.
It was a wonder that O'Boyle's flesh did not begin to boil under the blazing gazes of his three captives.
Keith pushed the sword aside, not caring if it sliced his hand open, and fell to his knees beside Shannon. His cloak billowed around them, coming to rest partially over Shannon and partially over him.
"Keith," she whispered, "Keith, I swear I never—"
"Hush." He wrapped his arms around her, whispering through her hair into her ear, "I love you. I will get you out of this. I love you."
She buried her head in his shoulder where it met his neck. Keith felt his skin grow wet with Shannon's tears, and he tightened his grip around her.
"What are you telling her, peasant?" O'Boyle said. "Assuring her that you will get her out of the castle, no doubt."
Keith kept one arm around Shannon's shoulders, allowing the other hand to slide, under his cloak, down her back toward her wrists.
"Do not attempt to untie her bonds, Harkin."
The messenger's hand froze midway down his wife's back.
"Let go of her."
Keith did nothing.
"Harkin…"
Shannon lifted her face from Keith's neck. She looked at him, blinking from the tears that filled her eyes.
"I will get you out of this," he said in a voice that even he could barely hear.
"Now, Harkin, or I will kill you both."
O'Boyle slipped the edge of his blade under Keith's jaw. The messenger tilted his head to avoid the prick of the blade, failed, and reluctantly let go his hold of his wife. Pressured by the sword, Keith slid an inch away from her. He pushed himself back to his feet and turned to face O'Boyle once more.
"What do you want from me?"
The knight indicated for Keith to move back to where he had previously stood. As Keith did so, O'Boyle said, "You are my most recent opportunity. Brennan!"
The door opened a fraction and the guard edged his way inside. He bowed to O'Boyle. "Yes, my lord?"
The knight gestured to Shannon with his sword.
Brennan nodded and moved to her. Grasping her upper arm, the guard pulled the young woman unceremoniously to her feet. His sword came free of its scabbard with a hiss and, jerking Shannon's back against his chest, Brennan pressed the edge of his blade against the softest skin of her neck.
Shannon struggled against him. "Let—go—"
The young woman's eyes widened with fear as the guard circled his free arm around her protruding waist. He pressed the sword harder against her skin.
She stopped.
"Let her go, Brennan," Keith said.
No one moved.
"Devon. Make him let her go."
The knight chuckled. "Now, now, Keith. She too has a role yet to be played in all of this."
Shannon swallowed visibly as her eyes misted with tears. She could not speak for fear.
"Devon." Lord Derry's deep voice came as a threat. "You will release her. She is a woman, and she is with child. These affairs do not concern her."
"What is this?" O'Boyle strolled up to the young lord, keeping an eye on Keith. "Does the captive threaten his captor?"
Lord Derry said nothing, but his chin was firm and his look never varied. The knight laughed, without mirth but full of disdain.
"Trust me when I say that these affairs most certainly do concern her."
Keith's mind raced. How could he save all three of them? Was there a way he could grab one of the swords…
O'Boyle swiveled back around and resumed his position by Lord Derry's desk.
"Enough delay. The parts that remain are about to be played out. Harkin."
The messenger's blood ran cold.
"You, peasant, are to be the center of our little act. You eluded your fate once before, and I assure you that it will not happen again. Your arrival is near perfection, you see. Whatever happens in this room tonight, the blame will easily be laid at your feet tomorrow morning."
O'Boyle took two long strides in order to stand again by the fire and Lord Derry. "Messenger, I regret to inform you that you cannot escape the inevitable choice you must make. It comes again before you now, with greater consequences. You see where I am leading you, do you not?"
The knight gave Keith a grim smile, and slapped his naked blade against Lord Derry's neck. A dribble of blood slid down the young lord's exposed skin into his tunic, staining the beige material crimson.
Keith's heart pounded in his ears, but his blood must surely be frozen in his veins.
"Now. Do you wish to be blamed for the death of your lord, or for the death of your wife and the child she bears?"
Keith looked from Lord Derry to Shannon and back again. The lord's face remained unchanging, no fear evident in his eyes. But Shannon's fear was naked on her face and in her rapid breathing. There was no escape this time; Keith must either choose to save his wife and unborn child, or to save the life of his lord and the fate of his county.
He looked back to O'Boyle. And there, in the treacherous knight's black eyes, Keith saw a glint of something. It caused the messenger to lose all hope of survival.
He knew, from the glint of victory in O'Boyle's eyes, that no matter what happened, Keith could not save either of them.
Because, no matter whom Keith chose, O'Boyle was going to kill them all.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2010 15:47:11 GMT -5
AHHHHHHHHH! No, no, no, no, NO! This cannot be happening! How can a man be so unjust! To quote a McGinty: "How, how, how, just HOW?!"
Update soon Ghost! I must know what happens as soon as possible! Make no delay!
|
|
|
Post by CelticLass91 on Aug 24, 2010 17:17:54 GMT -5
HOW COULD YOU LEAVE IT THERE! LOL I'm bursting at the seams to find out what shall happen in the next update!!!! please hurry!
|
|
|
Post by laurenne on Aug 24, 2010 18:36:14 GMT -5
That was the worst cliffhanger ever. Ryan or Paul or somebody has to come and save the day. Update soon, please.
|
|
|
Post by celticbear on Aug 25, 2010 1:50:35 GMT -5
I agree with Laurenne! Ghost if you know what is good for you, you will send in the calvary in the form of either Neil, Ryan,Paul or all three of them! So post that Update without Delay!Please. DOWN WITH DEVON! UP WITH KEITH,SHANNON, AND LORD DAMO!
|
|
VolleyErica3
Beta
Cabin Lass
Music = my life *points* the green guys name is Fredward ^_^
Posts: 174
|
Post by VolleyErica3 on Aug 25, 2010 9:39:31 GMT -5
DUDE. this is like beyond terrible! but the story is so good! mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore please!?!?!?!?!?!?!
|
|
|
Post by Ghost on Aug 25, 2010 23:38:34 GMT -5
Keith's mind raced. He needed time.
He could not choose to save both. Could he choose his family over his lord, his county, and his country? No. That was selfish. But could he choose duty over the family he had worked so hard to keep and protect?
What did his choice matter? The knight would kill all three of them as soon as Keith opened his mouth.
There must be a way for him to save them all. There must. If he leaped for Shannon—no, O'Boyle would surely slit Lord Derry's throat. But if he attempted to help the lord first—then what? He would have to fight O'Boyle, and he had no weapon. And besides, Brennan could end Shannon's life as Keith tried to save Lord Derry.
There must be a way out of this. There must.
"Make your choice, peasant," the knight said. "We don't have all evening."
At that precise moment, when Keith had opened his mouth to answer, the young lord took action. Pushing hard on the balls of his feet, Lord Derry pushed his chair completely off balance, knocking O'Boyle to the ground and himself falling backwards next to the fire.
A split second later, Shannon threw her head back against Brennan, her skull connecting with his nose and mouth. He stumbled into the door, dropping his sword and clutching blindly at his bleeding face.
Keith did not stop to think. He lunged forward, wresting O'Boyle's sword from the knight's hand and hitting the back of his head with the hilt of the sword. The knight fell forward, shaking his head to clear his dizziness. Keith hacked at the bonds that tied Lord Derry, snapping one of the cords.
O'Boyle recovered quickly. He twisted on the ground, kicking up at the messenger, causing him to lose his balance and collapse onto the chair across the young lord.
Shannon had darted into the corner of the chamber by the window. Her skin was bloody where the sword's blade had scraped her neck, and her hands were still tightly bound, but she was alive. Brennan, clutching his bleeding nose with one hand, bent to retrieve his sword.
"Kill her!" O'Boyle shouted. "Kill her, Brennan!"
Keith rolled off of Lord Derry, stumbling to his feet as he tried to reach Shannon before the guard did. Brennan swung; the clang of metal resounded through the chamber as Keith used O'Boyle's sword to ward off the guard's steel. Brennan grunted and twisted around.
But he did not move fast enough. Keith easily dodged the guard's wild, sweeping blow, and Brennan lost his balance. Without hesitation, the messenger thrust his sword at the recovering guard, striking his adversary squarely through the stomach.
The guard grunted, dropped his sword, gasped. Keith hastily pulled the bloody sword back toward himself, and the other man immediately stumbled backward. He fell against Lord Derry's desk, clutching at his bleeding wound, and then collapsed onto the floor. He opened his mouth, panting for breath, and his teeth were dyed crimson.
Keith watched in horror as Brennan's choppy breathing slowed, and then finally stopped. Brennan's blood had pooled on the rug beneath him.
Keith had a killed a man. He had caused a man's death.
"dang you, Harkin!"
Keith came flying back to reality as O'Boyle dug into his right boot. Hand tightening into a fist, the knight drew out a long, jagged dagger.
Keith dropped the sword in his hand and lunged full-tilt at the knight. His body connected with O'Boyle's just a moment before the knight could slit Lord Derry's throat.
The two men tumbled and rolled on the ground in a deadly contest. O'Boyle was taller and more powerful than his slim adversary. Both men threw errant punches as well as fists that hit their targets. O'Boyle attempted to stab Keith, again and again, but his dagger only tore through the messenger's clothing and sliced his arm.
Through the tangle of Keith's long cloak, the knight managed to pin the peasant, who had one arm already tangled into his cloak, against the floor. Keith struggled against O'Boyle, trying to wrest the dagger out of the knight's hand with his free arm. But O'Boyle had the advantage, and soon had Keith's free arm held to the ground. That did not stop Keith from struggling, but now his struggles were utterly in vain. He tried to kick O'Boyle from behind—his legs could not reach the knight at all. His arms could not be freed from their twisted prison. And the knight had placed his bulk across Keith in such a manner that Keith could not dodge what came next.
O'Boyle's chest heaved as he drew his arm back, preparing to make a single, deadly thrust into Keith's heart.
And suddenly, it was as though the knight had been frozen in that position. O'Boyle's breath caught in his throat, and he looked down at himself. Keith followed his gaze.
The reddened tip of a sword protruded from Devon O'Boyle's midsection.
"You will not take my county from me," Lord Derry said, and pulled the sword out of the traitor.
O'Boyle swayed. Keith squirmed, freeing his captive arms, and took the knight's dagger in both hands. O'Boyle reacted, bringing his other hand around to disentangle Keith's fingers from the dagger in the knight's hand.
But the knight was rapidly losing his strength, and his black tunic grew wet with blood. Nevertheless, Keith managed to twist the dagger with great effort. He pushed with all his strength against the knight's counter effort, and then the jagged edge of the blade embedded itself into O'Boyle's chest.
The knight gasped, lost all his strength, and collapsed onto the rug. His eyes stared unseeing at the wall behind Keith's head.
Lord Derry, having freed one arm from its bonds, sat half-twisted and still tied to his fallen chair. He panted, as though his single sword thrust had taken him great effort.
Shannon still hovered in the far corner. At the sight of Keith slowly drawing himself into a sitting position, she ran to him and fell almost into his lap. Keith automatically wrapped his arms around her, forgetting that he had to untie her wrists and free Lord Derry from his bonds.
Shannon sobbed uncontrollably into Keith's cloak. As he stroked her hair, attempting to soothe her, the messenger glanced at the lifeless, bloody form of Sir Devon O'Boyle. Even in death, the knight's expression was haughty and cold.
Keith dragged his eyes away from the dead men lying on the rug, and instead looked to Lord Derry. The youth stared at the naked, bloody sword on the floor as though seeing it for the first time. He looked up to meet Keith's gaze, and gave him a brief smile.
"Thank you, my lord."
Lord Derry sniffed, as though his actions were of no consequence. "I did not save County Derry, Keith. You did."
THE END
|
|
|
Post by Ghost on Aug 25, 2010 23:39:52 GMT -5
EPILOGUE The death of Sir Devon O'Boyle, known to many throughout the country as the spy Ireland's Bane, dealt a great blow to the English. The English lords, and their king, were shocked to find such a resilient group of people in the town of Donegal, in County Derry. And if the peasants who inhabited the end of the world could defeat a man like Devon, the people of other, more powerful counties could do the same. The English, therefore, withdrew their contacts and spies from Ireland, and postponed indefinitely their invasion of Ireland. Of course, many powerful men on either side of the affair knew that conflict would one day be inevitable. But until then, the delay would be welcome.
Lord Derry shocked the noble and common people of Ireland by his announcement, a few weeks after the death of Sir Devon O'Boyle, that he would promote the messenger Keith Harkin to knighthood. Lords Dublin and Tyrone were not surprised in the least, and praised the young lord's decision.
Trials would certainly befall County Derry again; the young Lord Derry had a mess to clean up following Devon O'Boyle's death, and the diminished English threat could always escalate again, and then there was the daily management of the county. But together with the aid of Sir Keith Harkin, and Lords Dublin and Tyrone, Lord Derry led the efforts to further the interests of the common Irish people and to preserve the Irish nation and culture. (He would always say that one never knew when an intelligent peasant could come in handy, and therefore it would be best to have as many of them around as possible.)
The minstrel Neil Byrne and his troupe of players created a play based closely on the events that had recently taken place in County Derry, and their fame quickly ascended to new heights throughout Ireland.
The messenger Keith Harkin initially protested his promotion to knighthood, as he felt was due, but he silently relished the opportunity. Not only would he be able to work more closely with his lord, but he would also be able to spend daily life in Donegal. After the ordeal in Donegal Castle and Keith's knighthood, the Harkin family moved into the castle proper.
Keith felt, as the months passed (and his hair grew back), that his acceptance of Lord Derry's offer of knighthood was the best decision he could have made. In his new position, Keith would be able to prevent what happened in Derry from ever happening again.
Patrick and Nicole Harkin enjoyed special privileges in the castle, most of which were provided at the behest of Lord Derry. One of these was that their grandfather, the peasant George Donaldson, could visit Donegal Castle whenever he chose, and would be given preferential treatment whenever he did so.
Several months after the ordeal in Donegal, Shannon Harkin bore her husband their third child, a son. He entered this world with a tuft of hair as yellow as his father's.
|
|
|
Post by CelticLass91 on Aug 25, 2010 23:52:13 GMT -5
*cries happy tears* Oh, Ghost, that was amazing! I absolutely loved it! Couldn't have asked for a better ending! Thanks for the great ferry tale ending!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2010 23:52:55 GMT -5
I love happy endings. But I don't like endings! Why did it have to end?!
|
|
|
Post by laurenne on Aug 26, 2010 0:18:07 GMT -5
I absolutely loved the ending.
|
|
VolleyErica3
Beta
Cabin Lass
Music = my life *points* the green guys name is Fredward ^_^
Posts: 174
|
Post by VolleyErica3 on Aug 26, 2010 20:48:56 GMT -5
OH GOSH! this was better the second time i read it! i still love it! and im so glad they all gt a happy ending ^_^
|
|
|
Post by celticbear on Aug 26, 2010 22:47:07 GMT -5
Ghost! Bravo! Well Done! I'm so Glad it was Damo who put the end to Devon! I love a Fairy Tale Ending! And You Gave Us The Perfect One! Again Bravo! and A Job Well Done!
|
|