The Peacekeeper

  “I told you, in due time he will come to you. Now back to work.” The God of Light disappeared.

  “Ken what I like aboot that guy?” asked Finn, not expecting an answer. “He’s a man of soooo many words, always beating around the bush, and never saying anythin’ straight forward, you ken hangin’ around and liking tae drink the mead and party.” They all laughed at his sarcastic comments.

  ****

  Three days later

  It was the morning of the equinox and Edina felt restless. She always did during the equinox. It always had a strange pull on her. She was grouchy and didn’t feel like being led around today by Angus. Why did that man crawl under her skin so? She wasn’t attracted to him, we’ll maybe just a little, all right she admitted to herself, maybe a lot. His eyes always drew her in, his body sculpted better than any statue she’d seen, and she’d seen many.

  Perfection, the man was perfection, and when he was close? She shuddered. He could make her feel things no one else ever had. But he also brought out her worst. No, you bring out your worst, she chided herself, he makes you feel, and it scares the heck out of you. She rubbed her arms and continued her walk along the beach.

  “Mornin’!” came a shout and she looked up to see him walking toward her. Her heartbeat raced, gods he was gorgeous. He was in his kilt, chest bare, bronzed by the sun, his muscles glistened, and his black hair free in the wind blew across his square jaw. “Angus,” she said.

  “It’s a bonnie day, is it not?” he asked, strolling toward her. She was at a loss for words. Was he bewitching her? She certainly had feelings she never knew existed coursing through her veins, and it immediately scared her. “What are you doing out and about, Angus McGregor. Can’t a person walk quietly on the beach anymore?”

  Angus laughed. It seemed every time she tried to cut him down, or stop him, or really try and stop her feelings for him, he laughed at her. “What do you find so funny?” she asked.

  “You, you are a very funny woman, you hide your feelin’s behind your armor better than any soldier I ken. But nae, you doona fool me. I can see how you look at me. I can feel the intense emotions coming from you,” he said coming closer. She instantly felt her mouth go dry. She gulped as she saw his sparkling gaze sweep her body. She shuddered at the scorching look he gave her and suddenly felt completely naked in front of him.

  For the life of her she couldn’t put two words together, sarcastic or otherwise. When he got so close she could feel the heat of his body, she lifted her eyes and gazed into his. He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her closer. She lost the ability to breathe. Her body instantly betrayed her mind. Her blood suddenly ran hot and pooled in her midsection, without thinking, she wanted this man, this infuriating, boisterous, self-assured, handsome man. She leaned in for the kiss wanting it more than she had ever wanted anything.

  Their lips touched and a trembling Angus groaned, he teased her lips to open with his tongue, when she sighed he entered her mouth. At first, she was dumbstruck by the action, but she liked it, so she teased his tongue with hers. Warmth invaded them, then became something altogether different, explosive. She had never felt such a thing in her life.

  Suddenly rainbow colors surrounded them, and they were lifted up in the air and slowly spun, colors swirling around them, she heard voices around them, somehow joining them. Light shot from within her into him and from him into her. She suddenly knew his entire life and he hers. Breaking away they landed in a pile of sparkling dust. She opened her eyes to him and he to her.

  “You sparkle!” They said in unison.

  “Of course, you sparkle!” came the loud voice of the God of Light standing next to them. “Now you’ve gone and done it Angus McGregor.”

  “Done what!?” he said confused. “Kissed a beautiful woman?”

  “Yes, you two have bonded you are now mates. You, Angus, just kissed a fairy on the equinox, and not just any fairy, but the queen of fairies, and she kissed you back, making you king. The voices you heard, are the voices of your people recognizing you’ve taken a mate, and that you are indeed alive.”

  “You are now mated for life and you Angus have made a change by bonding with the queen. You are now fae, vampire, and fairy.

  “Edina, you were sold at birth by a nefarious fairy to the one whom you’ve called your father, but was not your true father, then he later sold you to King Rulm so he could use you on this very day for your powers. After meeting Athdar, they joined forces. They were both going to use you. Which thankfully they did not accomplish. Today in your kingdom you would come of age and fully gain your powers and if all was as it should be you would have also chosen your mate.

  “You have done that unbeknownst to you. You accepted Angus. You will be mated for life. Now you will give your fairy dust to your brothers for the sword and then go to Lanenia, Land of the Fairies where you will rule together and learn your powers.

  You will fight the fairy who killed your parents and sold you. Lanenia has needed you for a very long time, there’s a lot of strife and a lot of work to be done. Your bonding and your light shone bright in fairyland. They now know you exist and that hope will bring them here if you do not return.

  “I will take you two there and I’ll make a stationary portal from Pendragon, Angus, because you will need the help of your brothers in this…”

  “Now wait a god’s minute!’ shouted Angus. Are you saying I doona have a say in this? Over a kiss?”

  “You made your decision, Angus, and you did it with the Queen of the Fairies. So, no, you don’t and can’t change your mind. Search your heart, you’ll find your answer. Now we go to your brothers, they need the dust for the sword. Oh, and the portal to Lanenia, even though it will be invisible to all fairies save you and Edina, be careful. If they find it, it could be trouble.

  Edina, your true name is Eladrin, the mortal world could not use it, because to use it would also call upon the Fairies. Get used to that name, it is the first of many names you will carry, and things you will find out when you get there. Now let’s go.” The God of Light touched them and they were transported to Merlin’s library.

  “I’ve brought your fairy dust!” bellowed the God of Light.

  The men all stopped and looked up. “You’re glittering, Angus,” said Finn trying to hide a smirk. “You too, Edina. You two downright sparkle, just like a fairy.”

  Angus groaned. “Shut up, and doona ask.”

  “I will tell them,” the God of Light said, with humor, and he did. When finished all the men laughed. Finn snorted. “All is as it should be,” said the God of Light. “Now they must go.” And they disappeared leaving a pile of fairy dust behind.

  Chapter 36

  McGregor Castle

  It was near the end for Moira. All the boys were home, Merlin even went through the new portal to Lanenia to retrieve Angus. Now they all stood by Moira’s bedside. The girls crying in the corner.

  The twin bairns asleep in their cradles, with Bradana watching over them in their room. Merlin had told Ian everything going on in Wesladus. He could barely refrain anymore from going back.

  He was a mess, no sleep, barely eating, he couldn’t think straight. Standing here now looking at his dying mother he did some soul searching. He should have protected his father and brother. Damn, it was his responsibility. His responsibility? “Remember who you are,” came the voice stronger than before.

  “Who am I really?” he asked himself. “Do you really want to know?” came the voice from within. “It will interrupt your peace.” “Please,” begged Ian. “I need to, I can no longer live like this. I need to know who I am.” He glanced at his mother again, and at the ones he loved sobbing, even Merlin had tears. “Please,” he thought. “I need tae make this right somehow, it’s just all wrong. It shouldn’t be this way.”

  Suddenly the God of light appeared. Ian stood up from kneeling at his mother’s bedside. “You heard my thoughts.”

  “Yes, Ian I did. You have made a decision to kno
w, what you do with it will be up to you. I will grant you your memories, all of them, then you choose.”

  The God of Light touched him. Suddenly his lives came back to him. In each one he was a warrior. In each one he had a family. He had Elspeth and he was happy, but most of all he had purpose and he knew what that purpose was.

  Maybe he didn’t always live in peace, but he tried hard to keep the peace. He protected his family, he didn’t sit back and wait for someone else to do it. He relived those lives and knew he had been genuinely happy.

  Then he saw the beginning, where he first broke off from the One Great God. He was called The Peacekeeper by his Father and was sent forth to protect those he could. He understood who he was. He had to maintain peace, he had to go back. He had to be himself. The light died away.

  “Do you understand now Ian? What is your choice, Peacekeeper?”

  “Peacekeeper?” asked Merlin.

  A hush went around the room. The brothers in shock all asked, “Peacekeeper, Ian?”

  “Och!” said Cameron. “Our brother…is The Peacekeeper? The one we have been looking for? Theee Peacekeeper? The one to wield the Godslayer?”

  “Yes,” said The God of Light. “The only Peacekeeper. Now you understand why I could not tell you. Ian wanted peace for his family and he deserved to have what he wanted. It was granted. He just forgot he was the one providing it for them. Now he remembers and he’s made the right decision.”

  “I have made a promise tae my Mither and wife, but I canna do what I have promised them. I am a warrior. It’s who I am. I have tae go back to being the leader of my troops. I have tae fight Juppar Heiwynn. I canna let evil go free, but my promise, my word tae my family?”

  Elspeth ran into his arms surprising him. “I’m so happy we are going back. Finally, Ian, I’ve watched you mope for months. I ken you needed tae go, but you needed tae ken it too. I can also be the healer I ken I am. Life has no guarantees but together we can fight tae keep our family safe. I love you Ian. The man I ken you tae be. I’m so happy.”

  “My promise tae Mither. Who will take care of the castle, and the girls?”

  “We knew this time would come Ian, your mother and father don’t remember, but before their life they set up this sacrifice so you would remember when the time came. Their suffering was to complete this one goal. Everyone in your family, before this life, knew they would all make this sacrifice for you.”

  “What? I doona deserve that. Why them. This should have never happened.”

  “You were getting tired of the fight, Ian. Even before this fight. You were forgetting who you are. They all banded together to help you in this life, return you to the roots of who you are. So, for your parents? I think something can be arranged,” said the God of Light. He pointed toward the wall where a bright light appeared and an opening from a beautiful place came in to view. Then Lachlan appeared. “Come ahead Lachlan,” said the God of Light. “You couldn’t come with Eoghan because this needed to happen for Ian to find himself. He needed to remember his way. Now you may return.” Lachlan stepped through and everyone shouted and ran to hug him.

  He looked to the God of Light. “Mither?”

  The God of Light looked lovingly at Moira. “She suffered the most.” He touched her forehead, and Moira was once again young. She opened her eyes and looked around, when she saw Lachlan she screamed his name and they embraced. Then she embraced all her children, sobbing tears of happiness.

  He looked at the God of Light. “Thank you,” he said.

  The God of Light shrugged his shoulders. “Someone has to take care of these girls. Moira couldn’t bear leaving them and she fought the law of death between mates, when one dies, the other shall go. A remarkable woman, your mother. All is as it should be.” And he disappeared.

  He didn’t have time to register all the God of Light told him about his family, when Bradana came running in. “The bairns!” she screamed. “They’re gone! The devil took them. I couldn’t stop him. He froze me. Ian, the bairns!”

  His heart dropped. “What do you mean, Bradana, the bairns?”

  “They’re gone! A man with flames in his eyes. He froze me. I couldn’t move. I watched him grab the bairns and he didn’t even use a portal. He just disappeared with them.”

  “To Wesladus!” shouted Merlin. “Ian grab the bairns clothes. I’ll do a locator spell. Boys we must go. Ian, you need the sword. First your blood. Let’s let the love birds reunite, and the girls see their mother and father. Come we have a job to do. Bullocks!”

  ****

  Wesladus, Pendragon Castle

  “My bairns!” shouted Ian, pacing with his hands on his head. “I’ll kill him with my bare hands!”

  “Stop, Ian I have to concentrate on the locator spell,” said Merlin.

  The room became quiet and they waited.

  Finally, Merlin stopped. “I can’t locate them. He has them hidden and hidden well. I could breach a cloaking spell, but this is something more. I think…”

  A light appeared in the room and they all startled. A holographic image of Juppar Heiwynn appeared. He immediately attacked it, falling through, Juppar laughed. “Peacekeeper! I have your babies. They are cute, but when they started crying, well I had to put a sleep spell on them. Had to shut the rats up.”

  He saw red. “If you’ve harmed them, I’ll tear oot your intestines and feed them tae you. Let me see them! Awake.”

  “As you wish.” The vision melded to the two infants. Juppar snapped his fingers and they awoke, crying. He snapped his fingers again, and they went back to sleep.

  “You bastard! You will not live when I get my hands on you!”

  “You, Ian McGregor, Peacekeeper, will come to me. Alone. This is between us and will be handled by us alone. No men. You will come to Wardhurst Castle in the Stygian Mountains. The faster you come the more alive the infants will be. Tally and they will fade, until dead.” The vision faded.

  He was breathing hard, his eyes wild, he smashed his fist through the wall. “Where is this place? Merlin, can you open a portal?”

  Merlin frowned, “This isn’t good. It’s located in the Cimmerian Veil.”

  “I’ve read about it,” said Cameron. “It’s Hell’s Veil. You’ll die going through that veil, Ian. It’s treacherous, dangerous, and all sorts of hell’s demons live there.”

  Elspeth sat sobbing, then cried out. “Ian, I can’t lose you, or the bairns. You must take your army! Merlin, go with him! Please for goddesses’ sake, help him! Bring back our bairns!”

  He went and put his arms around her. “It’s me he wants. I willna take a chance with our bairns life. I will take the Godslayer with me.”

  With unabashed determination, he picked up the lightly glowing forged sword, not thinking about holding it with bare hands. He merely picked it up like any sword and sliced his hand open, putting his blood to the blade. It instantly drank in his blood then the sword melted like a flowing frosting up and over his hand and traveled up his arm, infusing itself with him, when it spread over his body as far as it could go, causing him to radiate a white glow, it then retracted back to a sword, then left his hands and rose up in the air, hovering in front of him glowing white.

  It spun in front of him, emitted a cloud of sparks, spun again, then stopped in midair, the white glow dissipating, it landed at his feet emitting a pure golden glow. He picked it up and felt a warm tingle travel from it through his body. It changed, reshaping itself and weight to fit his hand.

  He stood with a light glow about him, leaned over and picked up his scabbard and attached it around himself and sheathed the sword. Then he heard Ator’s voice, as the glow dissipated.

  “I’m taking you, Ian. No arguments. I heard all and I came as quick as I could. I’m outside Pendragon waiting for you. Come now, we must hurry.”

  “You canna, Ator, I willna let you. You could die. I have tae go alone.”

  “I will follow you. I will not take no for an answer. He did not say no dragons, just me
n. I’m taking you. That’s final.”

  He thought about it. “Okay, Ator. Merlin, can you get us inside Wardhurst Castle?”

  “No, too well warded. I can get you through Cimmerian Veil and possibly on the Stygian Mountains, but that’s as close as I can get. It will take an invocation. There are no portals for obvious reasons. We must get started. I’ll meet you down with Ator.”

  He held the sobbing Elspeth, stroking her hair. “I’ll get them back, if it’s the last thing I do. I will kill the bastard. I promise. Brothers, please take care of my wife while I’m gone. Take her tae Mither.”

  “Nae Ian!” she said, hysterically. “I’m waiting right here until I hear from you. I will not leave. Just bring our bairns home alive.”

  He looked at his brothers, and with silent understanding they all nodded. They would watch over Elspeth. Then he turned back to her, “I will, Els. Now I must go.”

  He met Ator at the meadow behind the castle. “Ator are you sure about this?”

  “More than. We can do this Ian.”

  “Yes, you can,” said Merlin, walking up to them. “Ator and Ian, I need some blood to make this work. You will feel a tremendous pulling sensation while you traverse through the veil. It will cease after a few seconds of reaching your destination.

  “You will feel disoriented, get used to that as it won’t go away. It’s hot there, a lot of fire and lava, be careful the tubes. The demons there are devils. You will have to fight. Ator try and keep him in the air. You will get winded, so you must land at intervals to rest, the heat can hurt even a dragon.”

  “It sounds like you’ve been there, Merlin.”

  “Unfortunately, a few times. You will become acclimated, but it will take willpower. Hallucinations can happen, be strong and realize what they are. You ready?”

  “Yes, get on with it.” He settled on Ator’s back, and they waited while Merlin said the incantation. Then a cloud surrounded them and they were pulled through the void.

  He felt as if his face was being pulled off and Ator was flung dizzily around in circles. When they landed, it was on the mountain, on a path. The air was hot and heavy and everything had a red tinge to it. Ian fell off Ator and threw up.