by Pandora Pine
Fionn held Carter close, his mouth was pressed in a flat line against the base of Carter’s neck. He was holding on tighter than usual. “You will stay safe, my heart.” The look on Fionn’s face brooked no argument.
“I will be fine.” Carter smiled, his dark eyes crinkled in the morning sunshine.
“I mean it Carter. I could not bear it if…” He stopped, unable to continue and sucked in a ragged breath.
“Fionn, look at me.” Carter cupped his face. “It will be fine. This isn’t my first fight.”
He huffed out a breath. “It is with a sword and on horseback.”
“No problem. You taught me well.”
“You had one lesson. It is not enough,” Fionn whispered. He had been mentally chastising himself all morning for not having given Carter lessons when he had first asked several weeks ago.
“Fionn, I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you in the middle of the battlefield. I promise.” He kissed Fionn again. They kept their eyes open, staring deep into the other’s soul. There was nothing left to say when they broke apart.
Fionn held up his fist to signal to the warriors behind him and began issuing orders to his advance scouts, who set off to ride forward. Other scouts had reported back with more accurate numbers earlier in the ride. There were seventy five riders in total on the move toward them from Boyne Bog.
His thoughts kept drifting back to Carter. He was regretting sending his lover along with Donnall. It’s not that he didn’t trust his oldest friend, but he should have kept Carter with him where he could have watched and protected him. He could only hope that Carter was right, that the small amount of instruction Fionn had given him would be enough to keep him safe.
The sound of pounding hooves and a battle cry caught Fionn’s attention in the pale morning light and he held his fist up to signal his riders to be at the ready. The advance party rode into sight. They were coming hard and showed no signs of slowing. Fionn pulled his sword from the scabbard at Brimstone’s side and held it aloft. “FOR MOONE!” he shouted.
“FOR MOONE!” his men echoed back.
Carter could feel himself sweating. He blinked up at the bright sunlight and offered up a quick prayer for Fionn and for the other warriors of Moone. He wondered if his own God would be able to find him here. That was his last thought as the Donnall raised his sword in the air and let loose a savage battle cry. Carter raised his sword and added his voice to the chorus.
He knew what he had to do and where he needed to ride. As space was freed up in front of Cerberus he urged him forward with the click of his tongue. The sound of steel on steel and men screaming caught his attention and he had to fight hard to keep control of his rising panic. What had he been thinking, telling Fionn he was ready for this? He had never killed a man before and wasn’t sure he could do it when the time came. He tried to tell himself that they were trying to kill him, therefore justifying his actions, but that didn’t help.
The last time he was here, he was watching the battle from a distance. It had been almost like watching a movie being shot, only when the battle stopped, Fionn had not bounced back to his feet asking for another take. Galloping forward, he couldn’t help thinking it was worse this time. His love for Fionn had him terrified and hyper-aware of his surroundings. He needed to fight his way to Fionn.
A large man on an even larger black horse roared toward him. Carter raised his spear and let it fly, he missed his target and the horseman kept coming, his own spear loosed from his hands. Carter clicked at Cerberus, ordering the horse to change direction as he leaned into his neck as far forward as his body could manage. He felt rather than heard the spear soar over his head. He pulled himself back up and swung forward with his sword, catching the man across his helmet and knocking him from his horse.
Carter continued forward as the next rider bore down on his location. He swung his sword again and it clanged against that of his opponent. Carter could feel the vibration jolt through his arm so strongly that he almost dropped his sword. He didn’t remember Fionn ever striking his sword this hard. He would have words about this later with him.
The other horseman wheeled his stallion around and came back at Carter, his sword moving in a hacking motion the closer he got to Carter and Cerberus. Carter kicked out a booted foot at the horse as his blade bit into the neck of its rider, the man screamed as he slid from his saddle and hit the ground.
There was no doubt the McRoth fighter was dead. He would have plenty of time later to think about the ramifications of his killing a man, but right now, all he could bring himself to care about was Fionn. He should have insisted they fight together so Carter would have his back.
Carter had broken through to the end of the rearguard and was now out in the open. He turned Cerberus around and was shocked at the battle he saw raging around him. He was the only man still on horseback. All of the other members of Moone’s guard were now fighting on foot, sword to sword, fist to fist. The ground was littered with fallen men, some lying still in pools of their own blood, others trying to regain their feet or screaming for help. He patted Cerberus’s flank as he slid off his back. “Be back soon, stay safe.” He patted his neck and ran off to the aid of his people.
Fionn was fighting on foot, having long since slipped from Brimstone’s back. He stepped forward to meet the charge of an advancing rider and slipped in the mud. That slip saved his life as there was a man charging in from behind with a spear. It flew over Fionn’s head and stuck deep into the man who had been charging at him. He quickly got back to his feet as there were more men coming at him. His thoughts turned briefly to Carter. Where was he? Was he okay? Fionn felt panic rise up from his gut and had to shove it back down. Now wasn’t the time to panic. Right now he needed to survive in order to fight his way back to Carter, to his heart, to the man he loved.
His men had been stuck into this battle for some time. These men were strong and well trained. “My lord.” Fionn heard the voice rise over the sounds of battle and Fionn could see a lone horseman making his way through the fray toward him. It was one of his advance scouts, a boy name Gilley. Fionn began to work his way through fallen men and weapons to get to the scout.
“What news, Gilley?” Fionn was breathing heavy by the time he reached the boy.
“Your second group of forces is heavily engaged at the rear of the battle.”
“What of Carter, Gilley? Does he fight on?” Fionn felt his heart clench in his chest and felt it difficult to draw air.
“He was fighting strong and proud when I left him, sir. He is a real credit to Moone and to your ability to train men. The only person I have ever seen fight harder in battle is you, my lord.”
Amidst the carnage Fionn found a reason to rejoice and be glad. He felt pride surge through him. It’s true he had seen greatness in Carter, but having that feeling turn into reality was something far greater than Fionn could ever imagine. Their reunion this night would be the stuff of legend.
Carter’s sword arm was beginning to tire. He thought of Fionn and his ability to fight ambidextrously and wished that was something they had at least practiced a time or two so his muscles would have the memory of the motions to rely upon. Carter kept moving forward, kept swinging his sword as well as his left fist.
Carter couldn’t find Fionn and was trying to work his way toward where Fionn’s soldiers were fighting. He was so tired and could never remember being this tired in his whole life. He spotted Fionn about fifty yards away fighting three men at the same time. Carter stood watching in awe, he had never seen anyone fight like that before. He imagined that’s what the Norse Berserkers of old must have looked like in battle. Fionn looked superhuman, indestructible. Carter started working his way toward him.
He was half way there when a fallen enemy soldier reached for his foot and brought Carter down hard on top of him. The man punched Carter in the face and Carter started hitting him back again and again with his left arm, his right was practically useless. He reached out for his sword and got back
to his feet, immediately searching for Fionn. He found him about seventy five feet away fighting two men with a third about to join. “No,” he whispered, running toward Fionn.
He got to Fionn’s side just as he finished with the other two. “Fionn, thank fuck you’re safe. We’ll fight back-to-back to protect each other.”
The tender reunion was interrupted by a bellow. “FIONN!” a loud voice shouted. “My daughter will be wed or widowed this day.”
“That is Iain McRoth,” Fionn mumbled to Carter. “Are you well pleased with the result of this day, McRoth? Of this field littered with dead and dying men?”
“I will not be satisfied until your bloody corpse joins them,” McRoth bellowed, holding his bloody sword aloft.
“All of this over a wedding?” Fionn took advantage of this break in the action to catch his breath and let his tense muscles relax a bit.
“All of this over you breaking your word.” McRoth surged forward, but Fionn was ready for him.
Carter stood back and watched the two hardened warriors fight against each other. All of the other men stood to watch their lords fight each other. It was obvious Fionn had the upper hand.
He was nearly half as young as McRoth and was taller and stronger.
“This can all end here, McRoth, with no more bloodshed.” Fionn panted, tired from the exertions of fighting. “Put down your sword and this ends now. There is a battle yet to come that will require us joining forces and I would much rather have you at the head of your army.”
“What battle?” Iain asked, confused.
“The English are coming to assert their claim on our land. I need you with me to stop them and send them home.” Fionn could only hope appealing to McRoth for help in fighting a more hated enemy than himself would encourage him to put down his sword this day.
“What of Maeve?” McRoth asked thoughtfully, his sword arm drooping a bit.
“Surely there is another warrior worthy of her? A man who will love and cherish her as she so richly deserves?”
Iain lowered his sword. Fionn did the same. Carter let out a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. It was over.
42
The great hall was filled with celebratory people in a festive mood when Carter and Fionn entered it later that evening. They were both dressed in their finest clothes and had both had baths. Carter loved the way Fionn’s hair curled softly around his face and the urge to drag him back to their chamber, wrap his fist in Fionn’s hair and jerk off was so great that Carter had to walk away from his side, lest he act on that desire. Fionn quickly followed and grabbed for Carter’s hand, not wanting to be separated from him at all.
Fianna quickly made her way over to Carter and Fionn when she spotted them. “How handsome you both look this evening.” She curtsied to each of them and Fionn cupped her face kissing her cheek.
“You are enchanting, sister-mine.” Fionn’s large smile perfectly mirrored his sister’s.
Fianna moved in for a quick hug with Carter and she giggled when she saw Fionn’s face darken as she held her brother’s lover close to her heart. “I hope you enjoy this night. I have selected all of the food and drink to be served.” She smiled again and moved off to mingle with her people.
Carter took a moment to look around the room. There were bright forest green banners hanging from the high ceiling. Colorfully dressed jugglers roamed the room tossing brightly colored balls into the air, catching them behind their backs and doing all sorts of other tricks to delight the children. Carter spotted a man or two roaming the room with a musical instrument that reminded him of a mandolin, but with a longer handle, perhaps it was a lute.
Carter pulled Fionn close. “Never forget how much I love you.”
“You will remind me of that love every day for the rest of our lives.” Fionn’s eyes glowed with happiness.
Carter’s stomach twisted around itself but he managed a smile for Fionn. He did not want the last time they saw each other to be marred by his tears. He kissed Fionn with all the love in his heart, knowing he was leaving it here in Fionn’s hands. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too, my heart.”
Donnall interrupted by slapping Fionn on the back and pulling him toward the refreshment table. “Carter, join us,” Fionn called.
“Be there in a second,” he called back. Carter took one last second to study the room and the people he had come to think of as his family. James and his lover were laughing together at the head table. Jilly and her friends were twirling around to the music of the lute, while Fionn and Donnall laughed together over tankards of ale. That is how he wanted to remember his lover, laughing and happy. “Goodbye stubborn warrior,” he whispered and turned to go.
Moone lost three men in the fight with ten more injured. Islynn was busy tending to the wounded from both camps using the methods of cleanliness Carter had taught her the day before. He stood in the doorway of the war council chamber where the injured warriors were being housed and cared for.
“Islynn,” Carter said from behind her.
Squeaking in surprise, she jumped a bit and spun around. “Is it time?”
“It is.” Carter’s stomach pitched and rolled violently. He just wanted to get this over with and get back to his own century before Islynn tried to talk him out of it again or Fionn noticed he was missing and started a search.
“Did you tell Fionn you were leaving?” Her icy eyes were filled with sadness.
“No. I said goodbye in my own way.” More than anything, Carter wanted to run back into the great hall and forget he ever planned to leave in the first place, but this was for the best. Fionn was safe and that was all that mattered. At least that’s what he kept telling himself.
“Do you not think he has the right to at least say goodbye to you?” She reached for his right hand, clutching it in both of her hands.
“Islynn, this is hard enough as it is. He will only try to talk me into staying. He can’t get on with his life as the ruler of Moone Castle with me here reminding him of what we had together.”
“Carter, I-”
“No,” he interrupted. “I’m leaving, but I think you should stay here.” The healer had a pure, kind heart and Fionn needed friends like that surrounding him after Carter left.
Islynn’s eyes went wide with terror. “I have come too close to finding Breena to lose her now. You can’t go back on your word. I must see your sister. Please, Carter.”
Carter looked around the room where the wounded men had been made as comfortable as possible. The wives and mothers of the wounded men were taking turns sitting with the men and treating their various injuries. He was pleased to see they were all washing their hands frequently and burning bloodied blankets and bandages. “What will happen to these men without you?”
“They will live or die according to the reaper. My place is with Breena.” Her eyes pled with his to keep his word and take her with him.
Carter nodded his head. “Are you ready to travel?”
Islynn took a deep breath, the relief obvious in her eyes. “Yes, Janus and I are ready.”
Carter nodded and taking one last look, led her from the room.
“Are you sure this will work?” Islynn asked once they were outside the castle at the top of Fairy Hill.
“I don’t know. This is where I came back in time the first time.” The full moon was high in the sky, bathing the castle and the grounds in silver light. In the still of the night it was hard to believe only twelve hours ago a battle was being fought only a hundred yards from where he was standing. He’d done what he came here to do he’d saved Fionn’s live. If he lived to be one hundred, he would never forget the love he found in Fionn.
“How did you go back the first time?” Islynn huddled deeper into her black cloak trying to stay out of the brisk autumn wind.
“After Fionn died, I was screaming for him. I rubbed the medallion and wished I were back home. I felt dizzy and shut my eyes. When I opened them again, I was back in
my time.” It reminded him of Dorothy Gale clicking her heels together in order to get home from Oz. Dorothy’s journey was just a dream, while this was all too real.
“Try it,” she urged, cuddling Janus even closer.
Carter pulled the moonstone from under his shirt. It was cold in his hand, much colder than it should have been after being nestled against his heart. He was about to rub it when Fionn’s roar stopped him.
“MY HEART, NO!” Fionn yelled, running up the hill toward them.
“It’s the only way, Fionn. I love you!” Carter took Islynn’s hand, rubbed the medallion and vanished.