Vengeance

by: Melissa

She rode swiftly through the forest, thoughts racing. It had been at least seven moons since she had left her kingdom, and yet their words still raced through her head. "Its not worth it….its over…let it go.," Easy for them to say. But not as easy for her. She couldn't let her past go. Her sister had left her, left her for dead. A kind king had found her, and taken her in to his home. This kind of thing was not usually done, but the king had made an exceptation. His wife had died long ago, leaving no heir to the throne. The king had been out one day, and had come across her limp form. He took her back to his kingdom, figuring he would make up some sort of story. With the help of his druid, Camen, the king had nourished her back to health, then proceeded to make her his heir. This was all good, and it was a comfort to know that her future was secured, but before she could be truly happy, she had to punish the one who had tried to destroy her.
The sun beat down through the leaves of the trees as she continued on her way. She came out of the forest and to a worn path. She stopped for a second, looking around. This looked vaguely familiar…she nudged her horse, Fairy, and they continued on their gallop along the path. Her thoughts were still toward revenge, so she didn't see the figure come in to the road until she heard a shrill scream.
"ANGUS! LOOK OUT!"
Her head snapped up in time to see the figure, and she pulled back on Fairy's bridal with all her might. Fairy bucked, throwing her off his back. She landed with a thud, and the breath was knocked out of her. Her gold cloak floated up and she got entangled in it. She lay for a second, catching her breath. She could hear voices around her, at least five.
"Angus! Didn't you see the horse?"
Footsteps ran toward her. Another voice, female this time.
"I think you did it this time, Angus. You've probably killed him!"
Him? She thought. Her breath had returned to her lungs. She slowly sat up, cloak still tangled around her.
"Ah! See! He's not dead! He's fine. Just a stumble, that is all."
The footsteps stopped, and she felt herself surrounded.
Another voice, farther away. "I caught his horse! Is he injured?"
One of the people surrounding her called back. "Good job, Ivar. I'm not sure yet…"
The owner of the voice leaned next to her, and she could feel him trying to help her with her cloak. "Are you okay? I'm sorry..I didn't see you coming."
The cloak finally untangled, and fell from her face. She heard a soft gasp. She looked at the man leaning next to her. He looked shocked.
"Your…you're a girl!"
She raised an eyebrow. "And you, sir, are a keen stator of the obvious!"
He blushed, and his companions, which totalled four, she could now see, stifled laughter. She stood, fluffing her cloak out behind her. Oh, how she hated that cloak. She looked back at the man, still kneeling. She put her hands on her hips.
"Oh, do get up! Have you never seen a women on horseback before?"
One of his companions, the female stepped forward. "Please excuse Angus. And the rest of them, for that matter. Its just, women usually don't ride horses around here."
She glanced at the Angus's defender curiously. "Don't you ride?"
The young women looked flustered. "Well..Sometimes..but usually the carriages…What did you say your name was?"
The women now demanded, looking slightly annoyed. She almost laughed. "My name is Lissa. And yours, oh agitated one?"
The women glared. "I am Deirdre, Princess of Kells." And as an after thought..," And these men are Prince Garrett, Prince Ivar, Rohan, and Angus."
Angus had finally gotten to his feet, and now the men were staring at her with open mouths.
Lissa took her horse from Ivar. "Yes, well, Princess Deirdre. I suggest you tell your companions to close their mouths before a fairy flies in!" Tossing her hair, Lissa got back up on her horse.
The one called Rohan seemed to recover his voice. "Hey! Where are you going?"
Lissa looked down at him. "I'm going to finish my quest."
Ivar looked up, interested. "Quest? What quest?"
She looked at him defiantly. " That, sir, is nothing of concern to you!"
Deirdre stepped forward. "Now just a moment! As Princess of Kells, I demand."
Lissa laughed. "Farewell!" She nudged Fairy, and they took off.
Deirdre stared in shock a the departing figure. "Why…the nerve!"
The men were busy trying not to laugh.
"Nice show of power, princess. She was shaking in her boots." Angus commented.
Angus straightened. "My fault!"
Deirdre nodded. "Yes! If you hadn't jumped in front of her horse."
Angus glared. "I didn't jump in front of..."
Rohan sighed. "You two! Don't you think we better get back to the kingdom and report this to your father? This might have something to do with Maeve."
Ivar nodded. "Rohan's right. Your argument can wait till later."
Deirdre sighed huffily. "Fine! Lets go!," She stormed off, the others right behind her.

Continued...