Cathbad's Confusion - Episode Five

Bridie, Angus, Aideen, and Rohan waited impatiently behind the rocks, watching members of Maeve's honor-guard retire to their beds at last.
"Right," Angus said, readjusting his grip on Rohan's arm. "Now's our chance."
Suddenly Angus felt a pair of eyes studying him. He glanced upward, his gaze following the line of long legs, royal yellow clothing, and twin timber-axes; up to a face that would not be soon forgotten in Kells or Temra.
"Mind if I join you?" Asked Prince Garrett, hopping down among the rocks with them. Bridie grinned and hugged him spontaneously, noticing the shy look in Aideen's eyes as her gaze met Garrett's; and saw that Garrett also appeared to have been struck by silence and shyness. But there was no time now for such things.
"Garrett, we have to get inside the castle through the back-door; do you know where it is? You were Queen Maeve's spy once upon a time."
Garrett sighed, attaching the timber-axes to his belt.
"Don't remind me," he said, looking around, studying the castle. He pointed toward a purplish glow on one wall. "The only back-door I know of is over there. Let's hope it's what you're looking for."
The group crept along the wall to the point Garrett had shown them; Bridie removed the drageen-bone key from her pouch, fitting it slowly into the hole in the wall. The door made a soft popping and whooshing sound, dissolving immediately, opening onto an interior corridor. Angus grinned.
"A perfect fit," he murmured into Bridie's ear. Bridie smiled ruefully and led the way inside.
The passageway was reddish in hue, the soft light coming from the hundreds of sconces lining the walls. After going a little farther they saw three seperate passages opening up, each branching off the main route.
"Which one do we take?" Garrett asked, drawing his sword halfway out of its scabbard. Angus shrugged widely.
"I've never been here before," he said. Aideen placed her hand on Bridie's shoulder.
"We'll split up. It's the only way. Bridie, take Rohan. I'll go this way. Garrett, go with Angus and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
Caithness' warning came rushing back into Bridie's ears...but it was the voice of Fin Varra, her father, that uttered them this time. ('Touch nothing that is within the walls of Maeve's castle. There are mysteries there from which even your powers cannot protect. If you find the vial which contains the cure, use it on Rohan immediately and put it back; otherwise you will be cursed to remain in the castle forever, guarding its secrets.')
"Don't touch anything," Bridie said suddenly, looking especially at Angus.
"Why?" Asked Garrett.
"Something Caithness...and my father...warned me about. Just don't touch anything unless it's a vial with the cure for Rohan. If you do see anything like it, come for me. I have to give it to him myself."
The others nodded, willing to believe anything Bridie threw at them. Bridie and Angus clasped hands before parting. Bridie felt fear unlike anything she had ever known fill her body up to her throat; she wondered if maybe this was how Rohan was feeling with the foreign fear inside of him.

"It's all right, Rohan," Bridie said, taking Rohan's hand from her tunic hem, clasping it between her own. "You're safe with me now."
"Rohan shook his head, wishing he could shake off his fear. "I don't like being so frightened, Bridie. It's not natural."
"Not for you. No. But I won't let anything happen to you. Aren't you like a brother to me?" She asked, pausing long enough to brush a lock of curls from his moist forehead. "You always have been; you always will be, for as long as we live."
They smiled at one another, somewhat shakily, and continued onward. They came at last to a small room that looked strangely like Cathbad's chamber. Bridie studied the plants hanging upside down from the low ceiling and plucked down a bushel of dried loosestrife.
"I'm sure Maeve won't miss this; and I have to take home a prize for Cathbad from the evil queen. He'll be sorry he missed out on this adventure." Bridie exclaimed.
Rohan laughed, but soon a coughing attack shook him, and the tremors he had experienced at the Boyne began again; Caithness' tree-bark was wearing off. The young warrior looked up as the shaking ceased, studying a shelf and the powders and vials upon it.
"What's that; up there, on that shelf?"
Bridie walked over to stand beside him. "I don't know. I've never seen its like before."
She took down the red vial and opened it. Some of the glowing, glittering liquid inside splashed on Rohan's face and neck...and the spell that had turned him cowardly vanished into thin air. The old Rohan was back!
Rohan took Bridie's hands in his own.
"I'm myself again! Bridie! I...I feel reborn!"
Bridie smiled and kissed Rohan's cheek gently. "Let's find the others, quickly, before Angus touches anything."

"...and that's how we got Rohan back," Bridie told Cathbad and King Conchobar when the group returned to the castle.
"Yeah; and Maeve never even knew we were there," Angus said, munching on a biscuit.
"She may have known," said Cathbad. He shook his grey head. "But she may simply be waiting to use the information to her own advantage."
"Surely not without my knowing, Cathbad," Bridie said. She reached over Garrett's legs to grab a chunk of bread from Rohan's hand. Garrett gazed at Bridie as she took a bite; but looked away as soon as Angus turned to watch her as well. "I'd have seen right through any of Maeve's trickery."
Cathbad nodded. "Perhaps, Sorceress. Perhaps not. One can never be too certain when it comes to Queen Maeve."
Rohan perked up when he heard the word 'sorceress', and he turned to stare at Cathbad and Bridie.
"Ha! I knew it! Bridie is the Sorceress of Kells, isn't she?
Cathbad smiled. "Yes, Rohan. It is Bridie's destiny to save Kells from one of Maeve's most destructive plans."
"Do you know what it is, Cathbad?" Angus asked, his eyes filling with concern as he took Bridie's hand, tracing his fingers over each knuckle, each vein, every finger of that limb. The druid shook his head.
"No, Angus. But I feel that Bridie's greatest test is very near; and the mystic knights, as well as myself, shall be powerless to help her."
Bridie stood, approaching Conchobar's throne, kneeling before the king and the ancient druid.
"I am ready to face my fears and test my skills, if it means that I may serve Kells and her rulers for as long as I live. My sword and my life are yours to command, King Conchobar."
Conchobar nodded, smiling down at the young sorceress.
"Rise, Sorceress of Kells. You have already done a great service to my kingdom; and proven your worth; by saving the life of Draganta. I am honored to accept your services, and wish you all the luck of Kells on your quest to rescue us from Maeve's tyranny."
Bridie smiled and turned to gaze at Angus. It was such a look that was not missed by Deirdre, Ivar, Rohan, Garrett, or even Aideen, all of whom were happy for their friends but couldn't help wondering when and if any of them would love so deeply as all that.

To be continued...