Title:Banshee 1/? Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com Standard Disclaimer Apply * denotes thought WAFF vs TAFF 2001 "Woman was created from the ribs of man Not from his head to top him Nor from his feet to be walked upon She was made from his side to be his equal From beneath his arms to be protected From very near his heart to be loved." --Anonymous-- AN:This is NOT in anyway a historical story.This is merely a fictitious story by me.Also...please don't say my grammar should be my instead of me.I'm trying to create an accent. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the olden days of Ireland,mothers told their children tales of pixies and leprechauns.But one of the most famous Irish folk-tales is of the Banshee.A belief that is clearly very ancient and still strong in various parts of Ireland.The tradition goes back to the early 8th century... Year 1040, Ireland,O'Monaghan Keep Serena O'Monaghan,19 years old with silver-blonde hair and blue eyes peered around the corners of O'Monaghan Keep,looking out for any of the adults.Being the oldest daughter in the O'Monaghan clan,her father was determined to marry her off. Serena didn't like it.She liked to practice swords rather than walk around in court playing courtly love with her many suitors as her sisters liked to do. Serena's mouth curled is disdain at the thought of her sisters,Moira, and Abigail.All they did was prance about looking for husbands,like men, fishing.It was disgusting.At least her youngest had sense enough to not act like a man-hunting wench. *Why wasn't I born a boy like Sean and Rory??*wondered Serena as she fingered the blade she carried with her.Her brothers were the lucky ones. They were escorting the O'Connors here. Serena sighed.The O'Connor clan had long been at war with the O'Monaghans. But now,there had been a call of peace.Still...she knew the tension and many of the clan were paranoid. "There ye are lass!!"exclaimed a voice. Serena froze.She was caught... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "But papa!!Ye know I hate dressin' up!!"protested Serena. "Och,I don't care.Ye are me daughter.I'll nae have the O'Connors see ye prancin' about in those breeches.'Tis high time ye were wed.Ye already 19 years-old,child."snapped her father,marching out of her chambers. Serena glared at her reflection in the mirror.Tugging at the dress, Serena pulled up the material to cover more of her bosom. "Why cannae Sean or Rory be the ones t'marry.I don't believe the O'Connors don't have a girl to spare."frowned Serena as she tugged at her dress. "Och,quit ye fussin' sister.I cannae imagine why papa would want to marry ye off t'anyone."said Moira who was sitting on the bed. "And why is that???" "Ye're such a foundling.Ye have no class.Ye would disgrace the clan!!Ye with all ye daggers and swords.Acch,may the lord protect us."said Moira getting up and walking towards the mirror. Serena frowned at her younger sister,then turned to stare at their reflections in the mirror.Her younger sister had bright green eyes and wavy red-gold hair.Many of their clan had praised Moira as a beauty uncompared.While Serena was merely the plain and tom-boyish older sister. It was true...she,Serena O'Monaghan was a plain pale creature.Serena stared at her face.Her face was too pale.Her nose was too snubbish.Her hair was too stringy.She was too skinny.Her face was like a weasel's.Her only pride was her eyes.Blue like a clear summer sky. "Out."snapped Serena. "But papa told me t'make sure ye were dressed for the arrival o'-" protested Moira. "OUT!!"barked Serena once more. Moira scurried out of the room.Leaving her oldest sister alone. Serena sighed.It wasn't her fault if she didn't see the good in getting herself married off to some warrior.Learning to defend oneself was much more useful than learning how to prance and dance.It also wasn't her fault she was painfully shy... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 15 miles from O'Monaghan Keep, As Darien O'Connor rode his black stallion closer and closer to O'Monaghan Keep,his aprehension grew.His clan had agreed to a peace between their clans.But their families had been at war with each other for so long,was it even possible to achieve this peace?? His father wasn't telling him how they were planning on achieving it. He looked ahead towards the grey destrier mounted by his father.His father had been awfully secretive.Even his brothers and sisters didn't know of his father's plan.His gaze shifted to the O'Monaghan brothers.They seemed so easy going and were laughing at jokes and talking. Darien sighed.His father was up to something.And himself,being the eldest son of 24 years,he was sure,his father was planning something that involved him. His younger brother's horse came up next to his. "Darien,do ye really think the O'Monaghans are sincere about this??" asked his brother,Eamon. "I suppose they are,Eamon.I've nae seen O'Connor men look so at ease with their foes."answered Darien."How fare our sisters??" "Shannon is as usual thinkin' of all the parties t'come.Genny is sleepin' like a babe."smiled his brother. "Well,we should be arrivin' at O'Monaghan Keep soon.So,ye better go tell Genny and Shannon." "Aye,"agreed his brother. Darien smiled as his brother slowed his horse and waited for the carriage being escorted by others of the O'Connor clan. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena seated herself on a hay pile and watched as her cousins and other relatives peered at her in an odd fashion.She frowned to herself. She knew what had triggered their shock.She,Serena O'Monaghan was usually seen in breeches,and was usually a common sight.But she,in a skirt was indeed rare. "I'm nae a jester here!!!"exclaimed Serena angrily towards her relatives. "Nae,cousin.Of course ye're nae a jester.'Tis just...ye look very different 'tis all."commented one of her cousins. "Papa insisted I wear a dress."sniffed Serena disdainfully. "Come now lass,it cannae be all that bad.In fact,ye look very pretty." smiled her uncle. "That's because ye're nae wearin' the dress,uncle."groaned Serena. "Now now,niece.Ye're a lass.Ye wouldn't ask one of the kitchen lads t'wear a dress,now would ye???"laughed her uncle. "Nae." "There.Ye see??'Tis all fai-" "The O'Connors are here!!The O'Connors are here!!"exclaimed a young boy as he dashed through the courtyard. The boy stopped in front of Serena. "Mistress,ye father wants ye at the gates,now."informed the boy before he dashed off once again. Serena frowned and picked up her skirts,running towards the main gates. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena stopped next to her sisters who were already there and were patting their skirts and hair. "Serena!!Where've ye been???Papa has nae been able t'find ye."said her third sister,Abigail.Teresa nodded."Papa was furious." Serena glanced at her youngest sisters and noted their perfect complexions.Abigail had blonde hair and green eyes while Teresa had red-gold hair and blue-green eyes.She turned her eyes to her second sister, Moira who stood there haughtily.Her red-gold head held up proudly. She felt small hands pat at her hair.Turning to her youngest sister, Serena hissed a question at her. "Yuir hair is all falling down,sister.Papa will nae be pleased!!" exclaimed Teresa in dismay as she watched her sister's silver-blonde curls fall in disarray around her shoulders. "Och!I don't care.All the better for me.Perhaps THEN I can go off with nae any disturbance.Moira can charm the men all by herself."snapped Serena. "Serena."came a deep voice. Serena saw her father's frown and quickly took her place before Moira and kept silent like an obedient and demure lady. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien looked around O'Monaghan Keep and saw the curious looks the O'Monaghan clan gave him and his clan.He dismounted when his father did and turned to look at his siblings.His brothers,Eamon,Dougal and his sisters Genny and Shannon were looking around in interest and curiousity. His cousins though,were a little wary. "Welcome to O'Monaghan Keep,Cormac O'Connor.I hope ye and ye clan'll be comfortable here."smiled Donnell O'Monaghan. "I hope so too."smiled O'Connor. "Aye,my sons ye have met.These are me daughters,Serena,Moira,Abigail and Teresa."smiled O'Monaghan as he pointed to the four girls behind him. Darien's eyes moved over each girl.The youngest daughters were staring proudly at him.However...the eldest was staring at the ground,her silver- blonde hair falling around her shoulders.The second girl was staring at him,her green eyes sparkling.The third had the same green eyes.But the youngest daughter had blue eyes with only a hint of green.He was curious to what the eldest daughter's eye colour was.With the abundace of beautiful shining hair,did she have green eyes or blue??? "These are me sons,Darien,Eamon and Dougal.Me daughters,Genny and Shannon."said O'Connor. Donnell O'Monaghan noticed his eldest daughter with her head bent.He sighed.That daughter of his was a bloody soul's nightmare.She didn't bow to convention or propriety.She dressed in breeches!!Played with swords instead of dolls!!She was a regular headache.But still...he loved her more than any of his other daughters. "Moira.Ye'll show the O'Connors their chambers."he said,as he watched his eldest daughter's shoulders sag with relief.He shook his head to himself.He knew,if it wasn't because there were strangers here,she would have thrown herself at her brothers already. "Me,papa??"echoed Moira in amazement. "Aye." Moira smiled brightly and quickly stepped forward latching onto Darien's arm. "'Tis this way." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena kept her head bent until her father,the O'Connors and her sisters had left before looking up and throwing herself at her brothers. "Sean!!Rory!!I've missed ye!!"laughed Serena. "Acch..same old Serena."grinned Rory as he hugged his younger sister. "Aye.I was wondering when ye were going t'crack.I was surprised ye managed t'hold 'till papa finished the introductions."teased Sean. "Ye're a beast,Sean.Ye cannae have any sympathy for ye sister!!I've nae had any fun lately.'Tis been boring.And enough is more'n enough!!"pouted Serena. "Ye look different sister.Like a real lady."smiled Rory. "'Tis the dress,Papa insisted I wear it.I dinnae like the idea."sniffed Serena in distaste. "Come,lady.Ye mustnae stay outside here.Who knows what beasts lurk??" laughed Sean jokingly. "I can still take ye,brother.Dress or no." The three siblings burst into merry laughter. Darien had been hiding in the shadows of the castle wall.He'd escaped the clutches of Moira and was curious as to why the eldest daughter didn't follow them into the castle.He watched in amusement as she swatted at her elder brothers.He still couldn't see her face which frustrated him.But what he head was sweet merry laughter like tinkling bells.The sweetest voice he'd ever heard.... He watched as the three siblings trudged away towards the courtyards.He was about to follow when somebody found him. "What are ye doin' there brother???"came Eamon's voice. "Aye.Moira was lookin' all over for ye."said Teresa who was hanging onto Eamon's arm. "Nae a thing.I was just curious as t'what ye eldest sister looked like. She kept her head bent during the introductions."confessed Darien. "Serena???Yuir curious as t'what she looks like???I can tell ye.She's plain and tom-boyish.Every one o'us at O'Monaghan Keep can tell ye that." laughed a high nasal voice. The three turned to see Moira. Teresa frowned at her older sister."Must ye be so hard and unflatterin' about Serena,Moira???I think she's very pretty."whispered Teresa. "Whatever."sniffed Moira as she waved her hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that night,the O'Monaghan clan held a feast to welcome the O'Connor clan and to celebrate the peace between their families. Darien looked around for the enigmatic older sister.He didn't see her. He frowned.His father and O'Monaghan had just proposed a toast.Darien lifted his goblet,his eyes still searching the room.The he spotted a feminine figure hiding behind the O'Monaghan sisters across the dais where he was seated.A veil covered the figure's face. "To peace between our kin."said O'Monaghan. "TO PEACE."echoed the room. After the toast was over,the figure slipped out of the room like a ghost.Darien got up... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena entered her chambers and pulled off the gown.She hated it.The stuffy,restricting things.The toast was over and soon the feasting and dancing would begin.She knew the clans would drink and dance themselves into stupors on occasions like this. Of course,Serena hated those type of occasions while her vapid sister, Abigail,loved it.Her vain sister,Moira,thrived on it.Teresa would sometimes retire early because father would wish it. But Serena never stayed a second longer than needed. Wearing her usual jerkins and breeches,Serena pulled her boots on to complete her ensemble.Remembering her hair,Serena snatched a cap and stuffed her hair underneath it. Making her way towards the stable,Serena smiled.A cloudy night.Without the aid of light,no one could possibly see her in the dark. Serena heard footsteps behind her.She frowned slightly before her lips quirked into a smile.One of her brothers was following her.One of them always did... Breaking into a run,she hid behind a tree until she heard the person catch up and stop... Darien frowned.Where had she gone???She'd broke into a sprint a few minutes before.Had she realized he was following her???He didn't have time to think before something tripped him and landed on top of him... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena smiled in triumph. "Got ye,brother.Ye never could sneak up on me."she laughed in victory. Unfortunately...what she got was a surprise,as the man she had jumped,was NOT her brother.... "Aye,ye may have caught me,lass.But I'm nae yuir brother." Serena jumped at the sound of the voice.It was a deep velvety voice. Unlike her brother Sean's or Rory's.So,who was this?? Clouds moved and the moon peeked through the thick dark clouds,throwing her silver rays on them.She squinted at the face.It belonged to a stranger with dark ebony hair and midnight blue eyes.The face was beautifully chistled.Her mouth seemed to go dry.There was an expression of amusement on the man's face. She jumped off the man and stood up and watched as the man got up. His legs and arms were long and muscled.A sign of a warrior who had trained and fought battles before. Serena moved back a little in aprehension. "Who are ye??"questioned Serena,her hand moving to the sword at her belt. "Woman,if'n ye were lookin' straight instead o'down this morning.Ye wouldn't have t'ask now."sighed the man. "Yuir an O'Connor???"asked Serena. "Aye.My name is Darien O'Connor." Darien smiled at Serena.He wanted to laugh so badly at her expression of anxiety and aprehension.His eyes then took note that she was wearing pants instead of a dress!!! "Why were ye followin' me???"demanded Serena,her face beginning to flush. She thanked the saints it was too dark for him to see the face as it was probably red as a tomato. "I was curious t'where ye were heading.And also as t'what ye looked like."answered Darien truthfully. Serena frowned."Curious as t'what I look like??" "Aye." Serena snorted,trying to hold in laughter."Certainly nae as beautiful as Moira.She's the one me clan call a beauty uncompared."said Serena."I'm merely the plain one." "The plain one who likes t'sneak off wearin' breeches???"asked Darien cocking an eyebrow. Serena glared at Darien. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning.... Serena was careful to avoid stepping on her clan men and the O'Connor men.Some of them had barely made it back to their chambers. Serena winced.Reaching the great hall,she took a peek and saw men and women sleeping on the stone floors,steps and dais's. She shook her head in exasperation. Reaching the kitchen,she saw the kitchen staff rushing around. she giggled to herself as she saw Cook ranting to herself about how the men had gotten themselves drunk and now expected her to prepare broth like a nursemaid. "Good morning mistress."greeted the kitchen staff. Serena nodded and sat down as Cook spooned some porridge out for her and placed the steaming bowl in front of her. "Good Morning,Serena."came a voice. Serena rolled her eyes."I'm surprised ye dinnae get yourself drunk too after I stormed off last night."commented Serena as she blew her porridge. Darien grinned and sat down next to her. "Ye wound me,Mistress O'Monaghan.Ye should be happy I'm at least sober, unlike the other poor men and women outside." Serena sniffed disdainfully.Cook placed another bowl before Darien and went off about her business. "Come now,don't get angry at me."coaxed Darien. "I'm nae angry,ye beast.Can ye nae leave me be??Is nothin' sacred t'ye?? I'm tryin' t'get some PEACE!!"snapped Serena angrily. "Mercy,Mistress.Yuir makin' me ears bleed.Forgive the man.He's so handsome.I cannae ken why yuir angry."said a girl. "Och,this is nae any o'yuir business,Molly."snapped Serena,slamming her spoon down on the table. Darien broke into laughter as Serena marched away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena brushed her horse's mane lovingly.She frowned as her thoughts turned to Darien O'Connor.Why was she thinking about the sodding pig's swill??? "Come now,Serena.I'm sorry about laughing."came Darien's voice. "How'd ye find me????!!" "Yuir servants."grinned Darien. Serena glared at Darien. "Will ye ride with me,Serena O'Monaghan??"asked Darien."A truce." Serena looked up at Darien's face.Her eyes searching his.All it held was sincerity.He held out his hand. "Oh...alright."sighed Serena. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "'Tis wonderful!!!"laughed Serena as she rode her white mare.The wind was blowing in her face.With a swift movement,Serena whipped of her cap, releasing the tangle of silver-blonde curls. Darien laughed to himself at her enthusiastic demeanor.He watched as the silver-blonde curls tumbled along in the wind.He'd been caught off guard earlier on at the stables.He had expected her eyes to be green.Or at least blue with a hint of green.But her eyes were blue.Blue like a fine summer's day. Suddenly,Serena reared her mare to a stop.Darien in surprise did the same to his black destrier.Her eyes were locked on something.Following her gaze,he saw it was a swing or was it a trapeze??? "What is it??"asked Darien. "Nothing.'Tis just...an old memory,'tis all."sighed Serena. "Come now,Serena O'Monaghan.'Tis not fit t'be so sad in company."teased Darien. Serena turned to glare at him."Who says I'm sad???I'll race ye to that tree and back to the castle."challenged Serena. "Fine with me."agreed Darien. "On ye mark,go!!"called Serena. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As they passed the forest,an arrow was shot at them,causing Darien to rear his horse up.Serena shouted,as she tried to control her horse's panic. Darien fell from his horse,causing Serena to scream.She'd seen people die from falling off horses before.And it seemed...the horror was being repeated again. "Nae!!Not again...Please not again."whispered Serena pleadingly as she watched Darien fall to the ground with a thump.Quickly dismounting,she bent to check on Darien. "How d'ye feel??Please Darien,speak t'me!!"exclaimed Serena cradling his head. One eye cracked open.Then both. "Acch..stop yuir bellowin' Serena.Me ears are ringin' and I can see stars..."groaned Darien. Serena breathed a sigh.He was alive."Are ye hurt???" Darien tried to get up but winced and fell back a moment later. "What's wrong???" "'Tis me leg and arm..." Serena frowned and bent to examine his arm and leg."I cannae tell if 'tis broken or nae."said Serena. "Ye'll have t'get help."groaned Darien. "Nae.Somebody tried t'kill us.I'll not leave ye as t'feed ye to the wolves."protested Serena. Darien watched in confusion as she stood up and tied a note to her horse's bridle.With that,she stroked the horse and whispered to it before slapping it in the direction of O'Monaghan Keep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued...