Chapter 22 #3
Death-pale lips curled in a shadow of the smile she loved so much. "Pray there may be one. When you look in his eyes, remember how... much I loved you, Lily Fair. But the cup. Conn gave me... poison."
Sick horror jolted through her. "Nay! Nay, Niall, it cannot be true! Help him!" she screamed, clutching him tight. "Someone help him!"
The bard slipped forward, his face grief-stricken. How much had this wise man heard? "There is nothing to be done if he was poisoned. No magic that can bring him back"
Caitlin shook Niall, desperate. "You promised not to leave me alone!"
"Wish we had forever. Tell Fiona she was... right about Father. Conn... told me the truth. The treachery was his. Father was innocent. Tell her. Nothing... girl likes more than proving me wrong. And Mother—tell her—how sorry—for pain I... caused her."
"She loves you, Niall. She always has."
Niall's hand curled in the waves of Caitlin's hair, his eyes suddenly fierce, pleading. "Take me back to Father. Bury me beside him. He sacrificed everything for us. M-Mother, Fiona, and—and me. Beg... his forgiveness."
"There is nothing to forgive! Oh, Niall! He knew—he always knew you were too fine a man to be corrupted by Conn. He trusted you would find the truth someday, know he had always loved you."
"Love... I forgot what it was until you. Think my—my father sent you to remind me?"
"Aye! Just as my father sent you to love me, protect me! You have to get well! Conn is dead. You know the truth about your father. No one can hurt you anymore."
Niall reached up, cupping her cheek in one trembling hand. "All my life, I wanted bards to sing... of battles fought. Honor won. Live... forever. Now, I only wish to live in your heart."
"You will." Tears coursed down Caitlin's cheeks. "Until the end of time."
Niall's hand fell away.
She cradled him in the terrible silence, stroking his dark hair, marking each rise and fall of his chest. Death—it seemed impossible that its dark night could fall upon this man, rob him of his strength, his honor, all the laughter and love that might have been.
She wanted to rage, wanted to scream, wanted to lie down across his chest and let her own life force ebb away, traveling with her love to whatever land awaited heroes when they fell—fairy-kissed Tir naN Og, the Land of the Ever Young, with its magic and its merry wars, or heaven, with its soul-deep serenity.
She would travel any distance, through any danger, if only she could still hold him close.
"If you will not stay, take me with you, Niall," she pleaded. "Do not leave me all alone."
She felt something brush her back, glanced behind her to see a frail hand upon her shoulder. She looked up into a face older than the sea, druid robes flowing around a body brittle as old bones. "Why do you weep, child? You, above anyone, should know a legend never dies."
"Wh-what good is a legend?" She clung to Niall, bitter. "All your words could never give me my father's hand to hold. Can it bring Niall back into my arms?"
"Your father's love carried that spear into Conn's black heart. But you will have to breathe life back into this man you love with magic of your own."
"Magic? Is that not what has destroyed us? Your prophecies of doom, when I do not care if Glenfluirse sinks into the sea? Leave us in peace! I have heard enough tales of enchanted quests and Tir naN Og to choke me! I want Niall alive! I want him in my arms, in my bed!"
The druid chuckled with astonishing tenderness.
"You may have your mother's face, but Fintan's fire burns within you, a fire beyond the powers of heaven and earth to extinguish. Tell me, Caitlin of the Lilies, do you deserve happiness just as Fintan did so long ago? The glory of a love so great it will live until the mountains turn to ash?"
"I do not know if I deserve it, but Niall does! He has suffered so much, been so strong and noble and brave and good. I would take the poison from him if I could. Drink of it myself. But it does not matter. It is too late."
"Are you so certain of that?"
"Wh-what?"
"Magnus spilled the cup. I saw him do so. Watched him refill it. We cannot know how much of the poison remained, or how much it would take to kill a man the like of Niall—a warrior stronger than any other in body with a love strong in his heart."
"Then there might be hope! If only I could ask Reverend Mother what to do! She healed people when it seemed impossible." But it was five days' ride to the abbey, five days' ride back. By then, it would be too late.
She would have to trust in herself. Had she watched the nun closely enough? Listened and learned anything that might help Niall? She had to try. "But where can I begin? I know nothing about the land surrounding this fortress, where to gather things I might need."
The druid tucked his frail hands deep into his sleeves and nodded.
"There are herbs aplenty in a clochán hut I once dwelt in, beside a standing stone.
Take what you need from that place. Tend your beloved one, Fintan's daughter.
He has suffered much. He deserves the future I see shining in your eyes. "
Laying Niall gently on the dais, she rose, stood before the white-faced crowd. "I am Fintan's daughter, Caitlin of the Lilies!"
A ripple of wonderment and awe cascaded through the stricken crowd as they stared up at her.
"Take your new chieftain to his bed," she commanded. "Declan will guard him until I return."
"Return?" Declan pushed forward, his scarred face puckered with grief at Niall's desperate state, yet also with worry, the crushing responsibility for his friend's vulnerable lady. "Where are you going?"
"A clochán hut where the druid keeps herbs that might save Niall. I must find this place if Niall is to have any hope."
"Niall would want me to go with you!" Declan protested.
"You must stay with him," Caitlin objected. "You are the only one I can trust to watch over him."
"I am the only one you can trust to guide you to the place you seek" Declan flushed. "I know the way well, rode it often even in darkness. It was there, in the shadow of that standing stone, your father put you in my arms. From that clochán hut I carried you to the abbey."
"You?"
"Aye. And mine are the hands that brought the lily to you each year, your father's token, a symbol of Fintan's love for you."
"Declan..."
The bard stepped forward, his power seeming to awe them all. "There is no time to speak of this now. You must hasten. I will guard Niall. No one would dare harm him in my care. Go, Caitlin of the Lilies. Only you can give this hero tale a joyous ending."
She knelt, crushing Niall to her one last time. Rising, she reached out, clasped Declan's hand. Together, they rode into the night.