Stones Unturned

The curtain of early evening reveals a clear, moonless spring night over King Conchobar's castle and Princess Deirdre and Prince Ivar from a parapet above wavng down,"Farewell, see you two tomorrow!"As two of the mystic knights,Rohan and Angus leave the castle courtyard for their home--the other knight, Garret had been sent to the northern border to train Kell soldiers.

Ivar jumps down the castle's weather-worned stone steps several at a time, to the castle's western gate and is about to go through, when Deirdre catching up behind him says,"And where are you heading to in such a rush?" He stops, turning his head saying,"Princess?" Looking up at the sky he remarks,"Nice night for a walk along your shores. I love the smell of brine in the windy air, reminds me of sailing the open seas", smiling at her.

"Like a first mate along shipmaster?" She comments, wrapping her black velvet cloak around her, walking along smiling and he nods slowly. They head down to the craggy coastline negotiating the darkness--feeling their way over large boulders, their boots drenched by the waves of an angry high tide. A large group of boulders along a steep cliff, become a headrest. They lean back and talk as the waves crash underneath, trying to rise up to meet them.

Ivar sweeping a finger in the air remarks,"So many kingdoms to explore," as he looks at the star-sprinkled sky.

Deirdre smirks,"What, up there? Don't talk such nonsense, Ivar!"

Ivar with his left elbow on his upraised knee, looks slowly over at Deirdre, questioning her,"And just...HOW..DO YOU KNOW...what is up there? Could be princes and princesses like us looking up at their skies and wondering what destinieswill unfold for them."

Princess Deirdre thoughtfully comments, "Funny thing about destiny, it can be unpredictable...I mean of course as royalty, our lives are all planned out with glorious futures but then, out of nowhere, something comes and throws everything out of control, taking you to some unfamiliar door and you have to go through it. I want to journey and see other lands and people just as you have. Perhaps when Kells are finally at peace before I have to fulfill my duties as queen, I want to sail the high seas myself, perhaps as a Royal Fleet Commander. I hope that is my destiny!", Deirdre looking at Ivar hopefully as her windswept hair dances up to meet her crown.

Ivar stares for a moment and then snickers,"You, a sailor?" Laughingly continues, " But Deirdre, you are a princess, a girl. You think you could handle the rough seas? I simply doubt it!"Ivar shaking his head.

Deirdre arching her eyebrow with annoyance,"I'm a princess and a warrior!" I can do battle with the sea as I do on land!"Looking confidently at him.

Ivar shakes his head, leaning back and grins remarking,"I've never met a princess that is.. so unlike a princess, before."

Deirdre folds her arms,"Oh..And what's unlike..a..princess mean Ivar?"

Ivar laughingly remarks,"I'll keep silent, before I get into trouble!"

Both of them start laughing, Deirdre faking an attempt to strangle his neck, then resting her head on his chest, listening to the waves roll loudly towards them, each aware of their emotions rising along with the sound, feelings concealed behind their royal masks. But little by little, their growing closeness makes them very aware of the boundaries of race, culture and protocols of royalty that must be maintained--what shouldn't or couldn't be.

They both look out to the sea, silently wondering what will be faced together as Mystic Knights beyond the next horizon.

A bogie watching them from behind a boulder bounds off to Temra.

At the castle in Temra, Queen Maeve holding up her scepter to unveil the image of Princess Deirdre and Prince Ivar at the shore through the Bogie's consciousness states,"Well, well,...what do we have here? Hmm, Princess fancies Prince Ivar. Perhaps this is just what I need to break up the Mystic Knights. So young ... vulnerable, an uncontrolled passion could lead to a total upheaval for Kells. Yes I could stir them to passion which could lead Deirdre to wrap herself around him distracting her attentions from the Mystic Knights, perhaps even tainting the Conchobar's bloodline. He would never stand for it, despite Ivar's royal status or loyalty to Kells."

Nodding and talking to herself," Yes,I know just what to do,"as a malicious smile creeps up on her face. "Humans can never resist what is forbidden. What they know they can't have, makes way for their obsessions to possess! Youth always challenges the forbidden! They will be denied nothing!" She laughing out loud to herself.

The following morning at the castle of Kells,Cathbad's long,bony fingers are already hard at work, tracing down his scroll a long list of necessary herbs for his potion, when suddenly a vision quickly washes over him--a bright orange, oval glow of light in the sky accompanied by a screeching falcon, which appears with a cobalt-blue hood on its head and landing softly on Princess Deirdre's shoulder. In its beak--a ring, which the princess takes places it on her finger, kissing the beak of the falcon which then transforms into a human male, blind-folded, the face is concealed--blurred, in blue haze. The princess embraces passionately. The vision ends.

Cathbad analyzing talking to himself saying,"Out of the blue, blind love overtakes the princess! But who is he?" Cathbad's fingers combing through his beard.

The king, Deirdre and Ivar come into the throne room, laughing at Ivar's comment with Deirdre giggling,"Ivar, your kingdom must be at a loss, you bring such good cheer to our home!"

Ivar smiling broadly commenting, "Thank you Deirdre, I do feel quite comfortable here, Kell's warm hospitality is deeply appreciated."

Rohan and Angus appear and bow to the three royals and the king anxious to get started states,"Oh good Rohan and Angus, you're here."

All nod and prepare to sit when Ivar clears his throat and places his hand on Angus' shoulder commenting,"Okay Angus, where did you hide my medallion? It was on the chessboard last night."Ivar looking over his shoulder.

Angus swinging his hair, feigning surprise and shock remarks,"Why does it always have to be me?" A huge grin could not be concealed,"And Oh...I thought you could use your special powers to find it, hmmm?" Putting Ivar on the spot.

The king, princess, Rohan and Cathbad approaching the table, look at Ivar questioningly.

Ivar looks down at Angus states, "Oh, as you wish!" Closing his eyes a moment he then moves about the center of the throne room. Then heads towards the throne, turns right to the wall. Mounted on the wall, a row of six torch fixtures, Ivar moves his hand along the row back and forth, then stopping at the fourth one. He sticks his hand into the fixture then looking smiling at Angus, lifts out the medallion.

Cathbad eyebrows arches up at Ivar's ability and Deirdre, the king and Rohan break out into laughter and applause.

"Well done, Ivar!" King Conchobar impressed.

Cathbad also shows interest in Ivar's talent inquires, "Where did you learn your ability?"

Ivar explains,"All citizens of my homeland have been trained in psionic talents. We go to a place called THE CIRCLE, a site set in a quarry whose stones have high energy magickal qualities. It aligns true north of the main kingdom of Arinia where we meet with the High Magic Users--a sect of Energy Manifesters, similar to what you call wizards or sorcerers. These High Magic Users are keepers of the ancient wisdom of mind manifestation techniques. They train us as adolescents in psionic powers.

Cathbad's recognition of the sect and the name Arinia, now realizes Prince Ivar's true heritage, for the Druid's teachings also came from the same source. He was determined to uncover more about Ivar's homeland, but for now he is to advise the king on this meeting's agenda.

In Temra, Queen Maeve summons Midir, dark fairy to aid in activating her new plan against the Mystic Knights,"Midir, I would need to conjure an exact likeness of Ivar--not just in looks, but in mannerisms,state of mind--his emotions will be created by me--a substitute Ivar to fool the Princess and the others. I cannot use my scepter stone, the effects do not last long enough. What I need is to first get Princess and the Prince Ivar to enter into the forbidden. Next, I will switch the Ivars, place my creation with the Princess for a few days in which he will make the princess his sole mission. She will succumb. The deed done, the real Ivar will be released, and Princess thinking he is the illusion of my making, will destroy the real Ivar to keep her new love of her life what she thinks is the real Ivar safe--my creation! This cannot fail! She will be Prince Ivar's undoing, diminishing the strength of the Mystic Knights. We will also need a diversion for the other knights. Garret, my spies tell me, is at a Kell outpost in the north, we will deal with him later, leaving four of them vulnerable, then after we separate and capture Ivar during their battle, we will replace him with our Ivar, leaving only three real Mystic Knights." Maeve walking around her throne room.

Midir smiles and spins around on the table and with a flick of the wrist, manifests a realistic version of Ivar, holding a large magenta colored net of energy in his hands.

As she looks up and down, walking around the conjured Ivar she remarks, "Dear Princess, you will never know the difference, until it's too late! Hah!" Maeve proud of her scheme.

The Mystic Knights all congregate in Cathbad's quarters except for Deirdre staying behind at the request of her father who wanted her presence to meet one of his other friends, who just happens to have an eligible son close to Deirdre's age too.

Angus always touching everything on Cathbad's table, spies an unusual odd-shaped, wooden object--covered with strange symbols and colorful stones, which he immediately picks up and plays catch with it.

"Put... that... down Angus, it belongs to Ivar, it's a sacred object!" Cathbad bellows and scowls at him.

Angus squinting and trying to find the opening, throws it to Ivar,"So what's this for, a box for your mental powers to make things disappear?"

Cathbad glares with exasperation at Angus,"I wish it could make...YOU.. disappear!"

Ivar laughs and holding it in his palm, "It's my family's Puzzle Box which contains my Ring of Destined Union. The royal princess that I deem worthy for betrothal must prove herself by opening this box. Not an easy challenge. Countless of women from many kingdoms have tried but failed. The box can be opened just once.

Rohan explodes laughing and ribbing Angus and remarks,"Just think Angus, you pick the lock on this box as you do others, you could end up walking down the aisle with Ivar! Ivar, Angus would not make a good-looking wife, and you should see how he keeps house or cooks!" All the knights including Cathbad break out laughing.

Just then Deirdre and Aideen flying behind her arrive,with Aideen flying immediately over to see the box in Ivar's hand.

Angus watching the curiosity of the fairy commenting,"Sorry Aideen, you're also not eligible to fly down the aisle with Ivar!"

Aideen gives him a puzzled look asking,"What do you speak of Angus... what aisle?"

Rohan speaking to her,"It's a betrothal box Aideen, a lady destined for Ivar must first solve the puzzle box and win the treasure inside, his Ring of Destined Union."

Aideen loving surprises transforms her tiny body into pure energy and penetrates the box which momentarily glows, she reemerging exclaiming,"Oooh... how beautiful, the most beautiful stones I have ever seen. The woman for you will be so special, she has to be..to deserve this ring!"Aideen hovering excited.

"Yes Aideen, special indeed!" Ivar smiling at her.

Deirdre also curious at the written symbols takes a step closer to examine the box when Aideen flies between her and the box stating boldly,"Princess, this is for women worthy of Ivar. The ring couldn't possibly be for you, it is just too beautiful and too good for someone like yourself." Aideen guarding the box with arms folded.

The other knights look at each other cringing. Rohan and Angus whistles and rolling their eyes upward toward the ceiling commenting,"Here it comes!"

Deirdre eyes widened, putting her hands on her hips and in a loud voice, shouts,"LISTEN HERE AIDEEN... HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY! I AM ROYALTY! SO THAT MAKES ME WORTHY!!! STAND ASIDE PIXIE... IF YOU VALUE YOUR WINGS!"

Aideen miffed folding her arms flew to Rohan's side.

Angus slides over to the princess, seeing Ivar's embarrassment and takes it from Ivar quickly. "Well Deirdre, the box is too difficult for most women to open, so uh...why bother your chances are none...in opening it. Take it from someone who..uh..well you know... sort of experienced in picking locks.."

"Thieving, you mean!" Deirdre interrupting and looking annoyed at him. "So what is it doing in here Cathbad?"

Cathbad looks up and walks slowly to the princess,"I wished to see the symbols on Ivar's box to see if they were recognizable to me."Quickly grabbing it from Angus catching him off guard."Although, there are some differences some of the characters which can invoke powers can be found in some of my ancient scrolls. We Druids have been able to obtain writings from many civilizations and have traced it to a common origin. There may be some common ancestry after all Ivar!"Cathbad smiling and nodding to the Prince.

Ivar grins at him, "You never can tell."

Angus trying to reach out to grab back the box, but the old Druid moves away quickly from him smirking back at him, "Well if that true Ivar, let's see some of your powers outside team up against my warrior skills!"Boasting in front of the Princess,who rolls her eyes up at Ivar and Rohan.

"Okay Angus, I'll show you a thing or two..outside!"Ivar pointing to the door and walks out with Angus, Rohan and Aideen following behind.

Deirdre stays behind, "Cathbad, I need to talk to you about Father".Walking with arms folded and pouting.

Cathbad seeing the seriousness in the princess'eyes,"As you wish, Deirdre."

Walking to the door to the outside courtyard, Angus nudging Ivar,"Hey Ivar, why didn't you ask Deirdre to open your box? After all, she is royalty!"

Ivar stops in his tracks, turning around concealing his feelings commenting sarcastically, "What Angus? Surely you jest, you would allow ME to take YOUR place? I wouldn't dream of it. I will not challenge you for Deirdre's hand in marriage, I'll let you and Garret battle it out!"

Rohan laughing and Aideen hovering nearby Ivar remarks,"That's right Ivar, we know how you are just dying to get married.. to the Princess anyway..you're much too good for her!" Rohan gives Aideen a look of warning,"Now Aideen...Be nice!"Aideen then blurting out,"Well the Princess threatened to pluck off my wings!"

Rohan lifts his eyes in thought comments,"But you know Ivar, you should never leave a stone unturned. You never know, the one rock you didn't pick up to turn over might just be the one. You could miss your path. Allowing all princesses except for Deirdre, you're looking for trouble my friend, the universe has a way of playing games and tripping you up!"

Ivar looks at Angus with his eyebrows raised skeptically,"Do we laugh now, Angus?"

All burst out laughing including Angus who continues,"Yea Ivar, don't say he didn't warn you."Raising his eyebrows several times, looking at Rohan who remarks,"Pay him no mind Ivar, he's daft!"Rohan shaking his mane sideways.

Outside the castle, Ivar displays his battling form to Angus, this time wooden poles instead of swordplay. Ivar blindfolded, is able to capture Angus' strikes--arms stretched high, then rolling to the ground, quickly moving at lightning speed around Angus, Ivar avoiding him,coming underneath kicks Angus, jabs with his pole, Angus falls to the ground.

Ivar victorious,"I'm warmed up now, ready to go at it?"

Angus staggering to his feet breathless and walking away,"Remind me..(puff) ..to throw you..(puff)..in a dark pit, let's see you get out of that one!!!" Angus stabbing the air with his finger at Ivar, annoyed.

Onlookers including Rohan collapse with laughter.

The princess inside with Cathbad listening to her latest complaint stating, "And another thing Cathbad, I don't want to be a pawn in a political alliance. I will choose whomever I want to love. I will not be one of those princesses miserable for the rest of her life, missing out on the right person to love, NO!"As she continues, she unconsciously works her fingers on the puzzle box, pulling piece by piece, twisting and turning layer by layer being freed without her noticing little flicks of light on the puzzles surface momentarily lighting up different symbols,"I am Princess of Kells who lives a rich life of adventure and now...added purpose as a Mystic Knight. My future husband should be equally exciting , I am destined to find..." SNAP!!

The loud sound startling Cathbad, turning him around quickly from his potion-making to see the stunned expression on the face of the princess, her mouth gaped silent, eyes wide.

She tries to regain her composure, slowly pulling out the ring encrusted with jewels she has never seen before--in the center--a falcon head in gold surrounded by gems. She and Cathbad examining the ring,"Great Dagda!!Have you ever seen such stones? "Cathbad trying to identify them. "But Deirdre, you cannot be..."

The princess slowly slips the ring onto her finger and suddenly the stones come to life --glowing colors that lit up Cathbad's entire quarters, eerie lights dancing on her face exclaiming, "It's incredible!" The ring fitting snuggily on her finger,"Fit for a queen! Ivar!!!" The name now making her chest pound.

Cathbad spying three handmaidens outside his quarters, he calls to them requesting them for their presence in his room.They obeyed. Quickly he took the ring off Deirdre's finger and asked all three women to try it on, All three complied,gasping at its beauty. One after another tries it on but the stones on the ring did not react.

The princess looks on with curiosity asking,"What does this mean Cathbad?"

Cathbad thanks the women who then leave his chamber talking about the ring's beauty.Then making sure no one else is nearby, he returns the ring to the princess' finger and as before, brilliant lights appear dancing throughout the room again. Cathbad's amazed,"Great Dagda!! It's unbelievable YOU are the only one it REACTS to, but how can you be..."Cathbad tries to finish his sentence but interrupted by her.

"You will tell absolutely no one, expecially Ivar or Father. That is a Princess Command!" Deirdre looking sternly at Cathbad. Her eyes returning to the ring, she then puts it on a chain concealing it. She then closes the box, all pieces back in place, so no one is the wiser. She quickly leaves to join the others in the courtyard leaving slow-moving Cathbad trying to catch up to her to give her badly needed counsel calling out, "Deirdre!"

She heads outside to see a crowd of Kells watching Ivar from the sidelines demonstrating how to battle using other senses. She watches Ivar's every move now more closely, than ever. After all, she now has a reason.

Cathbad emerges as well, to see the blind-folded Ivar. His morning vision now has a face--the blindfolded falcon/male dressed in blue--Ivar! The vision showing a falcon on Deirdre--the falcon head on the ring. Cathbad slaps his forehead, "GREAT DAGDA.!!! It is.... IVAR!"

Ivar instructing,"Okay Rohan, do your worst! Let's see what you can do.I am not using my eyesight, but my mind is picking up information about outside surroundings--sounds bouncing off objects.Sounds must be present to see this way. This allows the mind to get another picture, on top of what your eyes would see. This picture--black and white--hazy can be seen even in complete darkness. Even magical darkness will not affect this ability. Invisible objects can be seen, illusions become transparent or half-transparent if it is shadow magic."

Rohan comes at him from different directions and still Ivar is able to elude him.

Ivar hitting Rohan's pole accurately continues,"Things that have small details--like painted patterns, writings, pictures cannot be seen. Magical silence will only allow you to see blackness so a magically silenced person will look like a black circular object in your mind. Now move in closer Rohan!", Ivar immediately leaping back farther as Rohan lunges at him with a wooden pole.

"See? Using all your senses--feel the energy presence--heat, light from the sun, wind pressure, direction, think of it like you are walking or wading your body in a lake or river feel the sensations like that--but instead of water it's energy. Listen to voice direction--judge distance. Use your danger sense like you did with the Hounds of Temra--locating your adversary or an object.

This is what real Mystic Knighthood from other lands are trained to do-- highly-skilled mental powers--including telepathy, telekinesis, remote-viewing, mind over body, deflecting and shielding against negative forces."

Suddenly from the top of a tower, a Kell guard shouts out an approaching battalion of Temran soldiers in sight. The demonstration ends--the knights and people of Kells brace themselves for another battle.

She feigns falling off a rock overhang which has a space underneath, unknown to Ivar and shrieks, hiding underneath out of sight. Ivar and Rohan had fallen behind talking hears the scream reaching Angus who acted shouting,"OH MY DAGDA! The princess had fallen over,"OH MY LUGH!" Faking shock and crying.

Ivar falls back shock, triggering one of his episodes....

Color lights flashing before his eyes--hearing the clanging of swords--the image of his fight with his older brother, Jantar. Ivar's anger so intense after he found his girlfriend Findar with Jantar together.

The fight then went outside the castle to one of the outside balconies. Both leaping down, scrambling to their feet and swords swinging. Jantar screaming,"OH COME NOW IVAR...COME NOW, SWEET LUGH! IVAR GREAT SWORDSMAN IS SHE WORTH THIS? YOU JUST ARE NOT THE MIGHTY SWORDSMAN IN HER CHAMBER.. THAT'S ALL! Jantar with a haughty laugh.

With that remark, Ivar crashes his sword on his brother's. They are now running to a bluff, Findar so frightened for both princes, decides to jump in. Climbing the rocks and rotting tree roots, she pleads with Ivar and Jantar to stop. She grabs Ivar's arm, who violently pushes her away to keep her from harm of the swords, and then she loses her footing. The final screams were so piercing, Ivar peering over the cliff to see his love dead on the rocks below. His voice screaming and sobbing uncontrollably.

Ivar's episodes trigger without warning--shortness of breath, sobbing uncontrollably,"I'M SO SORRY, LUGH! FIN..DAR! Shouting.

The others looking on bewildered, not understanding. The princess jumps out of the rock to see Ivar's episode. She runs with panic to him,"Ivar, Ivar, it's alright I'm here, I'm alright we were joking with you. There's a rock overhang underneath, a space to hide."

Angus half-laughing, stopped realizing something is terribly wrong with Ivar.

Ivar hears Deirdre's voice, looks at her, grabs her tightly and then realizing what he is doing, pushes her away, "Sorry Deirdre, I thought.." looks at everyone staring at him and then he bolts, leaving the other knights abandoned.

"What in Dagda's name was that all about?" Rohan stunned turning to the others with question in his eyes.

Princess Deirdre and Angus also looks worried.

Later on in Cathbad's quarter,"Nowhere in the Castle!" Deirdre runs in breathless joining Angus and Rohan. Angus totally mystified and annoyed, remarking,"It was just a joke! What is the matter with him, can't he take a joke?"

Rohan explains to Cathbad what Angus and the princess did to Ivar and Cathbad explodes, "You did what? Great Dagda! How could you do such a thing to him, knowing what he's been through? Do you youths have any feelings, everything to you Angus, is a joke! Don't you know that sometimes pranks could have serious consequences or could be even fatal? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO IVAR, GREAT LUGH! No wonder he left. YOU STABBED HIM IN HIS HEART AND SOUL! Deirdre! How can YOU be so HEARTLESS about his Findar!"

"Findar? What is a findar?" Deidre looks at Cathbad not understanding.

After Cathbad's explosion, he sees all their expressions, then he realizes that Ivar never told any of them. Ivar has always kept his emotions locked inside behind his royal mask--he's a prince in control, following courageously towards his royal destiny.

Cathbad sighs and starts to mix herbs and liquids into a glass cylinder-- an elixir, he explains what happened to Ivar, everything about what caused his episodes. Upon his finishing the story, Rohan, Angus and Deirdre were so upset, Angus feeling so guilty and Deirdre raises her hand to her mouth. Holding up the elixir,"I have prepared his elixir made of Druid sacred herbs--Hops for sleep and healing, Betony--a magickal herb to expel nightmares and despair. I have been preparing it since Ivar has been with us,when his episodes happen uncontrollably. I witnessing... what you've seen for the first time today. No wonder, what you did was an re-enactment how Findar died... the poor Prince."Cathbad scowling at them.

Deirdre so overcome with guilt that she runs out of the room shouts,"MUST FIND HIM! OH MY LUGH! MY LUGH! Running down the Castle's hall.

Cathbad shouts after her, "NO DEIRDRE! YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO HIM, HE IS VERY VULNERABLE!" Cathbad having a strong, foreboding feeling overtaking him. His words fall on deaf ears, the princess is nowhere in sight.

She runs to the beach, clambering over the rocks, knowing Ivar loves to be among the rocks or maybe..in the dark, concealed cavern of the grotto along the shore.

She quietly goes in and follows the water trail and then spies a piece of familiar blue fabric from his cape sticking out from behind a rock. She watches silently as Ivar pounds his fists against the rocks, quivering and trying to hold back his tears and chest heaving,"GREAT LUGH! I'm here in the land of Kells, so far away from home and yet it follows me here too! I just ...cannot get away from it. I cannot let go of it!"

He remembers his awkward teen years. Ivar--the Responsible, the Do the Right Princely Thing, the Leader always in control but socially he didn't fit in, like his popular, older brother Jantar--whose looks made his homeland women take notice and follow him everywhere. His brother always shirking the responsibility of the kingdom leaving Ivar to pick up after him. Although his brother is to ascend to the throne first, no way is he prepared to meet the commitments the kingdom required. Yet Ivar's parents always overlook his shortcomings.

Ivar has plans of his own, wanting to have an ambassadorship to other lands to influence global activities. His scholarly achievements would prepare him for that dream. He knows that he would not ascend the throne right away so this would be the opportunity to travel to learn of other cultures. Then destiny changes with Findar--homeland beauty that had been the royal family's friend's daughter. A family that had been together with his family, for generations.

Findar was popular and wanted to marry into Ivar's family. She wanted to be with him but he was always involved with the kingdom's duties. She felt neglected and so she decided Jantar would be her suitor--Jantar would be a catch for any girl but Jantar played the field, never a commitment to anyone. To him, she was a plaything, to Ivar he thought finally he would have someone to share his adventures and then settle down with her.

Then tragedy strikes. Findar's family blamed Ivar's youthful jealousy, romanticism killing many a youth, now taking away their beautiful daughter.

In Ivar's homeland, it is customary that the first-born can have liasions even if it is their own sibling's girlfriend or spouse.

Jantar was held blameless and terrible accusations were hurled at Ivar. However no charges could be levy on him since he was royalty and he insisted it was an accident, pushing her out of harm's way of the sword but the family and the outsiders didn't believe him. The gossips, rumors and stares became unbearable and Findar's family shunned Ivar's entire family, distressing his family members.

The stolen chalice from the kingdom is just another disaster for Ivar's family. The chalice, sacred object of their ancestral sky kingdom--purported to have come from the star people to an ancient homeland here and Ivar failed to stop the thief.

This was it for Ivar, the pressure became too much. He needed to redeem himself to his family and the kingdom's people. He vowed that he would not return home unless he had the chalice in hand. Underneath, Ivar knew in his heart he may never get a chance to redeem himself in his family's eyes. Too much damage has been done to the royal family's reputation.

Ivar closes his eye, hear Findar's screams exploding in his head, he weeps silently, slumping against the rock to the ground.

Princess Deirdre is just overwhelmed with emotions seeing Ivar's vulnerable side. She did this to him that stupid prank, feeling guilty. Feeling something so strong within her she moves closer to him. Before she thought it through, her legs carry her to his side startling him. He didn't want her or anyone to see him like this. Before he could move away, she grabs him and hugs him tightly, stroking his face,"I'm so sorry.We didn't know, we never would have done this to you. Cathbad told us everything, please forgive me Ivar." Ivar quivers trying to stop the tears. Then she does something that she never did before..she kisses him. It shocks her inside as it shocks him. It was just to be a kiss from a friend for comfort, but in an instant she is kissing him passionately and the prince did not resist. They embrace and all the boundaries of race, culture and royal standing fall away.

Unaware they are being watched by a silhouetted figure in a dark cloak who holds up a ram's head scepter and a glowing stone brightens steadily and the words,"Perfect!Dark forces of sorcery, through the power of this stone: "STONE OF LIGHT...
PASSIONS BRIGHT...
MAKES THESE TWO...
LOVERS TONIGHT"...

"As it brightens it will bring unbridled passion to these two, the glow of the stone intensify them to the forbidden love, youth cannot resist! There is no way they can resist this stone's power, the seed of temptation is already present and growing in both of them. They will succumb!"Maeve's smiling face illuminated by the eerie glow of the scepter. She watches as the two young royals get more passionate and fall together to the cave's floor.

Maeve reminiscing to herself what she was like at Deirdre's age,"I was just a year younger than you, when I took my first lover. A love I thought would last forever...from a rival family of mine that we frequently waged war on, every chance we could. Destiny led me to a chance meeting with a handsome young man in a field near Black Water Loch . He took my breath away, I falling so hard for him and he felt the same way about me. He never told me he was one of the younger brothers of our deadliest enemies. We made the same mistakes in momentary passion like you, Princess.Then he was gone, taken in battle by my own brother's sword, who found out he was my lover. I was severely punished and my heart ripped from my chest. I loved him so much. So I vowed to avenge him, I slew you, Dear Brother. I took King Alill mac Matach --King of Connacht for my husband, but he was never what my first love was and soon Princess, you too will know no pain like it. You will never forget your first. First your pain then intense pleasure, then the pain of loss Oh...you ..will..learn. So many young girls get in over their heads just to heal them, like you are right now. "As Maeve watches Deirdre's innocence fade away with Ivar, as did hers so many years ago. "Well, well Princess, this is a special time in your life, when you think you are immune to Life's winds of change. You're such a capable leader but so inexperienced about real life, especially what costs of womanhood you will be paying in your future. As female ruler of Temra, males will do whatever it takes to undermine your authority and try to usurp your throne through means you could never have imagine. Your heart needs to be strong and immune to passion's flame, which from the looks of things it is not doing such a good job at this moment. Passion is a raging firestorm leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Yes the tall, dark and handsome prince, the unattainable and forbidden one is just too much for you to overcome, as you do on the battlefield. Your heart fully open to heal your friend, but you are in way over your head ..Princess. So many young women fall for the trappings of passion and are left so empty. Your knight in shining mystic armor will not be with you much longer. Yes Ivar... take your bodily pleasure now with Deirdre but alas, your days are numbered... I'm afraid, and you'll soon be joining your Findar in eternity. Oh but don't worry, I will see that Princess will never forget you, I will give her your replacement and believe me, he will make you twice the man you are, in every way that matters! She laughs,"Now THIS is entertainment!"As she watches them in young love and smiles maliciously,"The deed is done and now the plan to bring Princess, Ivar and the other Mystic Knights to their knees!" She dematerializes and vanishes.

Princess Deirdre and Prince Ivar laying on top of his cape, just holding one another and each facing away from each other in shock! Listening to the sounds of the loud surf crashing against their senses and they come to the realization of what they have done. Not race or royalty mattered at the moment, just them-- Deirdre and Ivar, two young people caught and swept away in the tides of changing emotions. Neither planned to be in each other's royal destiny. The intensity of fear overwhelms both of them. This..is...not..suppose to happen--their sheltered worlds came crashing down around them and now...somehow, they have to pick up the shell-like, fragments of their royal masks, but the pieces no longer fit. They slowly turn their faces toward each other making eye contact, they say nothing just staring without masks, truly seeing and feeling each other for the first time. They know this cannot be allowed to happen again and they must take this to the grave with them. A momentary lapse of reason changes their lives in an instant, binding a life to a life, they were friends, now lovers. Their friendship no longer a safety net for them. This doesn't belong to either of their perceptions of destiny.

Later that evening, the King, Cathbad, Rohan and Angus are waiting patiently in the throne room worrying about Ivar and Deirdre, when both prince and princess enter with regained composures.

Ivar looks over at Rohan and Angus apologetically, "Please forgive me for my behavior earlier leaving you..."

Rohan interrupts lifting his hand saying, "Don't say another word Ivar, we understand completely. It is someone else's turn to say something,"Rohan looking with side glances at Angus who fidgeting looking down, clearing his throat."Yea right, I am not good at this..but..I didn't um know what you went through...WHY THE THE DEVIL DIDN'T YOU...he pauses,"I'm sorry Ivar".Angus looking sheepishly at him. Ivar nods quietly.

The princess dealing with her own secret experience from the previous hours, excuses herself retiring to her chamber, with Ivar's eyes following her.

The king shows fatherly concern and sympathy to him by saying, "I too understand Ivar, I've had to deal with loss and betrayal,"patting his shoulder, stunning Ivar, his own father concerned more about getting his royal Court lawyers to 'deal with the Ivar matter'. His father did not provide any emotional support or comfort over Ivar's loss of Findar. But King Conchobar looks at him with concern continues,"If you ever need to talk, I'm here."Making Ivar feel guiltier about what took place with his daughter in the grotto,"WHAT.. ..WERE...WE...THINKING DEIRDRE?" Silently to himself.

Deirdre in her chamber sits carefully on her bed, a discomfort ---a reminder of Ivar and the cave. She lays down curling up and tries to come to terms in understanding what led to this. Replaying the scene she did kiss him, why? "Do I not know...my own feelings? I comforted him, but I never meant for this to happen or did I? Her first lover--scenes and sensations surging through her, never could she imagine it would be him. We were safe..our friendship, an understanding because of our differences. But now...none of this matters. We went across all lines. Neither one of us tried to stop the other."Deirdre feeling the fear welling up in her. Something inside tells her that this is not over! Then she remembers, saying to herself, "Could the ring? This Ring of Destiny be the reason?" She putting it on her finger once again--the glowing stones, making her wonder.