by Mary Morgan
“Only my sister and wife would say such words,” he uttered softly. Grasping her hand, he held it against his cheek. “Forgive me for not keeping your secret.”
Meggie could hear the anguish in his voice. “There were too many secrets, and ye deemed ye were doing the right thing by telling your laird—our brother. I should not have let ye carry the burden of holding my secrets. Ye are and always have been a great Dragon Knight.”
On a heavy sigh, Alastair took Meggie into his arms as the rest of her brothers surrounded them. For the next several moments, she cried, joked, teased, and continued to embrace all of them. It was a joyous reunion.
Wiping away the tears, she glanced at Adam still standing by the window. Reaching a hand out toward him, she said, “I believe my brothers have yet to make amends to ye.”
Adam shook his head, but came forward to take her hand. “There is no need.”
“Humph!” She linked her arm around his waist. Looking at each of her brothers, she waited.
Angus clamped a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “We beg forgiveness, Dragon Knight.”
“Aye,” stated Duncan, Stephen, and Alastair in unison.
He raised an eyebrow. “If only my brothers could hear ye say such.”
“Would that be a problem?” demanded Alex MacFhearguis, leaning against the entrance door.
“Alex?” Adam’s tone was one of surprise.
His brother nodded his head to the side. “And Patrick.”
Patrick came forward. “Did ye think I would let our laird travel without me?”
Adam roared with laughter and went to embrace both his brothers. “’Tis good to see ye both. I feared never to see ye again and beg your forgiveness at my harsh words before leaving.”
“Ye had to find your journey—let go of your grief,” stated Alex. “We prayed ye would return in time after ye healed.”
“Although, ye traveled farther than we deemed possible,” added Patrick. He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “’Tis a strange place ye have come to, Adam. Lights on the wall without flame?”
“Aye,” agreed Alex.
Everyone starting muttering the same, pointing out something they had witnessed. Meggie peered over Patrick’s shoulder and saw a group of women and children standing back along the walls in the entryway.
“Sweet Mother Danu!” She turned to her brothers. “Ye brought your wives and children? And why are they standing huddled out in the entryway?”
Angus stepped forward. “We did not want to overwhelm ye.”
“By the hounds,” she protested moving past him and making her way to the women.
Meggie grasped the hands of one of the women standing in front of the group. “I am honored that ye have traveled here.” She felt Angus’s hand on her shoulder.
“Meggie, may I present my wife, Deirdre.”
“Ye are a warrior, my lady, to stand by the side of my laird.”
Deirdre smiled. “I’m so happy to finally meet you and to know you lived.”
“We’re all filled with joy to see you. I’m Brigid, the wife of Duncan.” She gestured to a lad and lass. “These are our children, Nell and Finn.”
“And I’m Fiona, Alastair’s wife.” She lifted the wee bairn from her arms for Meggie to look at. “This is our son, Hugh.”
When the other woman moved forward, Meggie let out a gasp. “You’re Fae.”
The woman rolled her eyes, though she gave Meggie a dazzling smile. “I’m Aileen, wife to Stephen, and if you must know, my father was a Fenian warrior.”
Glancing at the babe in her arms and the one clinging to her leg, Meggie laughed. “And these are?”
“Aidan and Margaret.”
“Ye named your lass after me?” Meggie reached out and touched the girl’s head. “And ye were blessed with twins.”
Aileen nodded. “We wanted to honor you.”
So filled with emotion, Meggie took a step back. “Ye are all so beautiful and to be married to my brothers. Oh my…” The tears started to fall again.
“Meggie,” Brigid sighed. “I can say without a doubt that all of us here are completely in love with your brothers. Though at times, stubborn and pig-headed.”
Meggie wrapped her arms around Brigid. “Ye ken them well.” Soon, the other women crowded around them. Laughter and tears flowed, until Hugh woke and started wailing.
“He must be hungry,” groaned Fiona.
“Where are my manners? Please come into the Great Hall.” Meggie led the group past her smiling brothers, but halted just inside the doors.
Standing in the center of the long table was Jamie.
“Are these more Dragon Knights like me and my da?” he demanded, waving his sword at them.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“As the knight prepared for the battle, he made a plea for peace.”
The Great Hall became eerily silent, all eyes gaping at the lad standing on the table. His eyes flashed in brilliant amber, and Adam wandered over to his son. Taking Jamie into his arms, he turned around and extended his hand toward Meggie. She quickly walked to his side. “I would like to present our son, James William MacFhearguis. And Jamie, these are your uncles.”
Adam waited for the first harsh word. Yet, the hall remained quiet.
“Why do they not speak?” whispered Jamie.
“They’re in shock,” replied Meggie. She squeezed his hand.
“How can this be?” demanded Angus.
Ahh…so the leader speaks. Adam smirked. “Would ye care to explain, Meggie?”
“Certainly.” She waved her hand about. “Please, everyone sit down.” Turning to Fiona, she said, “Would ye like some privacy to feed the howling Hugh?”
Fiona laughed. “Absolutely not. I want to hear everything. If someone would be so kind to turn one of the chairs toward the hearth, I’ll nurse him under a blanket.”
Alastair came up beside her. “Let me help ye.”
As everyone settled around the long table, Jamie sat on Adam’s lap, staring at the group gathered. For once, he praised his son inwardly for his silence. Adam nodded for Meggie to begin. He could see her hands fidgeting, and he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. He knew how difficult this was going to be for her. For if her brothers tormented over her death, what would they think when their son had also died?
She took a deep breath in and out. “I was with child the night I died.” When Angus started to say something, Meggie held up her hand to halt his words. “I will answer all your questions after I am done. As I was saying, I was carrying Adam’s child. We both died on that night. Although, we were both healed in this time by the Guardian. I dinnae ken the reason we could not have been saved in the past, nor do I wish to ask the Fae. We died and were re-born, and I am grateful.”
Adam could see the agonized looks on each of her brothers’ faces. He placed an arm around Meggie. “And to answer one question, I did not ken she was with child.”
Angus heaved a sigh as he placed his hands on the table. “I ken I speak not only for me, but for all your brothers when I say how sorry I am, Meggie. It grieves me even more to ken ye were carrying a bairn.”
Meggie reached across the table and placed her hands over his. “Enough of sorrows. We live.”
“I hear your words, but how did we not see your condition?” asked Duncan. “The lad seems to be older than only a few seasons.”
“I tend to agree with Duncan, considering I have wisdom of the months it takes for a babe to grow,” interjected Alastair.
“As usual, ye all have your own thoughts, instead of believing mine,” snapped Meggie.
Stephen coughed loudly into his fist.
“What? Ye have something to add?” complained Meggie.
“Aye. James has more Fae blood in him than anyone else in the hall. Did not Conn say the bloodline divided? I gather it is a new order for the Dragon Knights.”
“Ye can sense this?” asked Adam.
“’Tis the power of his mother and
father. Combined, it only makes sense that he has more of the Fae in him. My own children were born this year.”
“And yet, they seem much older,” interrupted Meggie. She glanced down at her son. “I’ve only recently had my memories return, so I did not make the connection with the Fae.”
“The Fire Dragon is strong in him,” stated Angus.
Jamie giggled. “I can see yours, Uncle Angus.”
“Hmm…” Angus’s mouth twitched.
When Skye let out a bark, they all stopped talking. The dog ambled over to Nell. The girl reached out her hand in a sweeping gesture before touching the animal’s head. “Ye are bonny, Skye.”
“She is a beauty,” agreed Brigid as she petted the animal, too.
“Oh my stars. She can speak with the animals?” asked Meggie.
Brigid nodded. “Yes.”
“’Tis a rare gift for another to have, Nell. I am honored to meet another,” replied Meggie.
“She sings to soothe them, too,” stated Duncan.
Adam smiled. “Just as ye do, Meggie.”
Meggie stood and walked over to Nell. Bending, she ruffled Skye’s fur. “The Fae have blessed ye, lass.”
Nell burst out laughing when Skye licked her face. “She agrees, Aunt Meggie.”
“Aye, the Fae have definitely blessed this young lass,” proclaimed Archie as he entered the hall and made his way to Brigid.
“Hells bells,” muttered Brigid. “Professor? Archie? Is it really you?”
All eyes were on Brigid as she stood slowly, her face drained of color.
“Welcome to Castle Aonach, Lady Brigid,” greeted Archie, and then embraced her. “My apologies for concealing my association with the Fae and Dragon Knights those years at the University.”
“I don’t believe this. You’re really here, my friend,” she sobbed. After a few moments, she stepped back and dabbed at her eyes. “Wait! This is Castle Aonach? The one where Conn brought me to return Duncan’s sword to Mistress MacKay?”
“Yes,” answered Conn.
Adam turned at the sound of Conn’s voice, seeing Liam and Rory following behind him.
Brigid gasped and turned around. “Did you lie to me that day, Conn? Did you want to send me through the stones?”
Adam watched as Duncan’s brow furrowed and then the man stood, placing an arm around his wife.
“Yes to the first, no to the second. As you recall, you were angry finding the mistress gone and fled through the trees to the stones,” replied Conn.
“Ye came here?” asked a shocked Meggie. “Ye do ken that there is nae true mistress at Castle Aonach.”
Brigid glared at Conn. “That was a horrible day. I thought the sword should be returned to the Clan MacKay here. But I can see I was duped.”
Conn arched a brow. “A day that led you to Duncan.”
“One that I am forever grateful for,” murmured Duncan against her cheek.
She sighed and leaned against him. “True, but it was still a staggering shock going through the stones.”
Meggie stood and looked at the women. “Ye must be tired and hungry from your journey. Would ye like to rest until I can prepare some food?”
Adam grasped her hand. “Ye do realize that this is the start of Samhain.”
Bending, she kissed his lips. “Aye. However, I will spend the little time we have left enjoying the company of my brothers and their families. Do we really ken what is going to happen? What we must do to stop this druid? And where is he?”
“Thank you, Meggie for asking what has been on all of our minds. Will someone please explain exactly what will happen if Lachlan succeeds? Before I can even think of closing my eyes, I’d like to know,” demanded Deirdre.
Archie’s tone was bitter when he replied, “The Dragon Knights will perish—cease to exist. You and the other women will return to your own time at the exact moment you left. No knowledge will you have of your time here. The world you thought you knew will be thrown into darkness and chaos. The Dark One will enter your world.”
Deirdre covered her abdomen with her hands. “Our children?”
“If you return, they will not have been born.”
“Cease to exist,” corrected Deirdre.
Adam heard Meggie’s gasp. Turning, he could see her eyes wide with fear. Setting Jamie next to Alastair, he was at her side in two strides. “We shall fight and win. I will not lose ye or my son again.” He grasped her hands, but she shook herself free from his grasp.
“Nae!” she yelled. “Ye don’t understand. None of ye do!” Clutching her chest, she continued to shake her head.
“Meggie,” pleaded Adam. “Tell me what’s wrong?”
“He’s here,” she stated in a shocked voice.
A chill crept through Adam, slithering down his body. “The druid?”
“Aye! Oh my Goddess. What have I done?”
Chairs went crashing as her brothers rushed to her side. Each crowded around them, all demanding answers.
“Stop!” roared Adam. “Let Meggie speak.” Taking her into his arms, she shook in obvious fear.
“I did not fathom… How could I? He seemed so…lost.” She sighed heavily against his chest.
“Begin when ye are ready, leannan,” soothed Adam, rubbing her arms.
Lifting her head, she glanced at each of them. “I met him in the woods weeks ago. He had the look of a gypsy—traveler. He seemed lost but grateful for the protection of the trees. At first, I encouraged him to come and stay here. However, he refused, so I told him about the gamekeeper’s cottage, and that’s where he’s been dwelling. I’ve taken him food and supplies on many occasions. Even tended to his headaches and shared tea.” Meggie swallowed.
“Lugh’s balls,” hissed Angus. “Why did he not do ye harm?”
Meggie shrugged. “I cannae say. Although, on several occasions his rage would surface during our conversations.”
“Did ye not fear him at first?” asked Angus.
“Why would I?”
“He is badly disfigured. One side of his face, scarred. We also ken that he lost one of his eyes in the last battle.”
Meggie shook her head. “Then we are speaking of two different men. This one is older, but there are nae blemishes on the man. The only malady he suffers is headaches.”
“’Tis what we feared,” grumbled Conn. “The druid has used the magic of the Dark One to disguise his features.”
“Then can ye tell us why he did not harm Meggie?” demanded Angus.
Conn’s smile was sinister as he turned to the other Fenian warriors. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“We can only hope,” commented Liam.
Adam led Meggie to a chair but kept his hand upon her shoulder. “Would ye care to share with the rest of us, Conn?”
“The druid cannot shed blood in this time, though he can during the parting of the veil. He is preparing for another. His purpose is no longer one to obtain the relics, but to search for something else.”
Angus placed his hand over his sword. “I say we go to this cottage and end his life.”
“Aye!” shouted the other men.
Yet, Adam remained silent. Seeing the looks that passed from Conn to Liam and Rory, he believed there was more.
“There can be no blood spilled in this realm. He can attempt to harm another, but not kill. His magic is not permitted in this world, yet. Once the Dark One enters, Lachlan’s vengeance will have no ending. He will cleave the world in two with his fury. It has already begun. He is most likely drawing magic from the Dark One,” added Conn.
“How can the evil enter?” asked Meggie in a quiet voice.
Conn looked around at the others. “Through Lachlan. They will become one force. The veil is thinning. By dusk tonight. I believe he was sent here to search for the key to power of the Fae.”
“The Great Dragon,” stated Meggie, standing. “But she is only one of the keys. There is another.”
Conn came forward. “Then you know what you m
ust do.”
“What does he mean, Meggie?” growled Adam. “How do ye ken of another key?”
“It all makes sense now, Adam. Why I’m the only one that can read the Book of Awakening. Why there is more than one key.”
Fear twisted Adam’s gut. “Nae. Dinnae tell me ye are the key.”
“Aye,” her voice barely a whisper. “The Fae told me this: Across time and space, your destiny awaits. To right a wrong between two lost souls. Beneath the gate you shall wait, until the test of fate is complete. Two shall hold the key to mend the broken circle. Then and only then will you find your peace.”
Placing his hands on her shoulder, he stared into her eyes. “Ye are not doing this alone.”
Her nervous laughter bubbled forth. “Nor would I dream of confronting the monster. I require the strength of all the Dragon Knights, including ye.”
His mind battled his emotions, and for a brief moment, Adam closed his eyes to force the shadows back within. He opened them slowly. “What happens now?”
“First, I ken this may sound foolish, but I believe we all need to eat and drink something—anything—”
“Do you know what needs to be done, Meggie?” interrupted Conn.
She arched a brow at the warrior. “And second, we use our combined magic to lure him back to the standing stones. This is the gate to all realms.”
“Ahh…did someone mention the word magic?” asked the man entering the hall in a booming voice. Behind him trailed five robed men, and Adam realized these were druids.
“By the hounds,” uttered Angus. “’Tis good to see ye. Adam and Meggie, this is Ronan—a Fenian warrior. I suspect he has brought more magic, as well.” Clamping a hand on one of the men, he said, “This is the druid, Cathal. The others are Kevan, Payton, Boyd, and Kinnon.”
Meggie gasped. “Cathal? Sweet Mother Danu! I remember ye from my much younger days.”
Smiling, Cathal moved toward her. “It warms my heart to see ye here, alive. Never did I fathom. The Fae have deemed ye worthy, Lady Margaret.”
Meggie embraced the man. “With all this good magic on our side, how can we not win?”
