Part 3 "Ireland Tales Continued"

Raven.....

All the magic Max sends at the dagger is absorbed by it. "Looks like your magic is useless Max. This fight will be steel on steel. Ive beaten you before and I will do it again. The only reason you are still alive today is because your mommy saved you. That will not happen this time." With that last word I attack.

Jon Bro.....

I look at the portal and spur my horse to a gallop as I ride over to my sister. "Kat, what is going on here? Do you need my assistance?" As I say this, I divide my attention between the portal and Raven's battle with Max, not knowing exactly where I would be the most use.

Katt.....

Telling Jon "I dinna know what's going on, I must stay. Go with Bear and find a way to get that portal closed! That connection to her castle must be broken quickly. Take care brother, Bear doesn't react like that unless there is danger."

Max.....

I smile as I think how Katt had taught me well in the ways of battle, but I also learned a few things from others. As Raven approachs, I wait until the last moment before jumping to the left and swinging wide around, intending to hit him in the back as his momentum carries him past me.

Katt.....

Watching what is happening before me, I fail to notice a shadow moving swiftly and silently towards the men. Without warning, my protective flame circle is broken through, the breaking through my magic hits me like a flying horse hoof and I tumble to the ground, winded.

As I watch in horror, Max is engulfed by the shadow creature and disappears completely. Screaming in anger, I rush to where they had just been. There is no evidence at all of Max having even been there. Turning slowly in a circle, I try to feel where Max is and get nothing. Looking towards Mom, I yell "WHERE DID HE GO?" The look of shock on her face tells me she doesn't know either.

Uneasy with this event, I look around and see the portal is still open. I yell at everyone to get through the portal now, we canna stay here. Jon, Bear and the animals race through. "Mother, come with us! Your not safe here." As she hesitates, "Raven, grab her and go!". Watching as Raven comes out of his stunned state, he quickly moves into action and grabs her and goes through.

Looking through, I whisper "I'll follow unless something happens. It must be closed from this side" and Bear screams NO as I start to close the portal completely. Knowing what I'm about to do may cause me problems, I look her in the eye and mentally tell her "Watch over those I love". The portal closes completely.

Once alone I begin my power raising chant. Everything around me goes silent and I begin to glow a deep purple. As I do this, I begin to rise into the air with the power. My chanting gets louder as wind begins to pick up. The louder my voice gets the more the light spreads and wind grows. I begin swirling in a circle, faster and faster. When I feel I can control no more energy I scream "CUIR AS" (destroy) and all the power surges from me, hurdling towards the castle. It blows up as if a bomb hit it.

As soon as I say the cuir as, I create another portal and fall through it just as the rubble hits me. Rolling on the ground at Bears castle, I quickly close it as huge chunks of stone and rubble dust follow me. Standing shakily, I stumble through the dust cloud quickly, trying to avoid the rolling boulders. Just as I clear the dust cloud, I get hit by a rock and am thrown forward, landing at Bear and Jon's feet. Everything goes black.

Bear.....

i look down at katt and call for the servents to come bring her to the castale and take her to the hot springs . then i look over where i put the shadow figure and she is not there now and i scream for ever one to find her and i mean now and for the guards to protect the kids and katt . Cook get katt some healing tea made and do it now . So if max does do something we can be ready.
i look at the guanlet on my wrist and see that it has a picture of max and i see him near the shadow figure and i see that he is threatening her life if she does not do something.i hold my wrist out and say I demand to hear what max is saying and what the woman is saying too.
all of a sudden i hear him demanding she tell him where to find his mother and Katt . she says she will never ever tell him .
i ask jon can i tell the guanlet to bring me the woman and will that work?????

Tamazine.....

ceec auntie kitkat fall down and get a biig booboo and i her moming yellings att he guards and cook and nows it is bad . so i whispers mommie and tell her me help fix auntie kitkat and runs off to get mommie stinky smellie booboo fixer.
gets mommie booboo stinky stuff and runs off to fix aunite kitkat. as i reach aunite kitkat her makes funnie sond and i tell mommie her not looks good .
i smers mommies stinky stuff all over her head and arms and giggles now me and kod not only one mommies stinky stuff works on .

JondalarGhost.....

"I dunno aunty bear, momma nevr splained them arm tingies ta me"

Caer Fand.....

I hear my Lady calling out to me and i run to see what has happen that she needs my help again . Then i see that Lady Katt is hurt and in need of some healing so i run back and fix the tea and take it to where the others have taken her. I give her a little and tell tam not so much of that stuff you want to let eveer one know where we hid her?
Then i run back to kitchen and see that my daughter is missing and i whisper My lady and say please you got to tell guards to find her she is learning my healing ways and is new to your castale i meant to have you meet her when you got back.
I give more tea to Lady Katt and she starts to coming around and i hear her say something stinky

Katt.....

As I wake to a horrid stench, I grimace. "What on earth is that smell?"

Jumping up, I look at Cook "The portal, was it completly closed? Nothing came through did it? Wheres Mother?"

JondalarGhost.....

I maked sure Momma was otay when I heared somting weird. "Jondalar, Its time for you to come back to me. Its ok, dear one, I've made sure your Mother is safe from your Father for now."
I is scared but that ladies voice be sweet n me sure me has heared it fore so me follws the lil lite that pears. Then purty lady shows n holds her hand out.
"Its ok Jondalar. I promise nothing bad will happen to you and you will be returned home very shortly."
Me grabs her hand n we is suddnly in differnt place. There is someone layin on a really nice table afore a fire. "Ohh momma would luv that table, lady, but that guy there, is him ok? Maybe we should taken him back to Auntie Bear n Momma to fix.". Her giggle is soft, I likes it.
Now tis dark, I feeling so weird. "MOMMA, help me!" as I falls.
When I waken, I feel arms lifting me and Auntie Bears castle is suddenly back. Feeling so weird I again holler but me voice sound weird "MOMMA, momma, momma."

Katt.....

Hearing Jon screams, I yell back "WHERE ARE YOU?" and begin frantically searching mentaly and physically around the castle.

A few moments later I see a woman walk in through one of the doors, carrying a body. "Artemis, My Lady", I kneel before my Goddess on 1 knee, head bowed.

"I have something for you Kaitlyn Mcleod." She glides the couple feet to me and gently lays the body down before me. As I look at his face, I stare stunned. Bewildered, I silently look him all over and shakily touch his face lightly. As I do so, his eyes open, and 2 identical sets of green eyes meet. Carefully I lean down and gather the young man into my arms and begin crying hard and look at Artemis, unable to speak.

"I have had his body in my temple, waiting. You've kept your vows completly. Other then that little mind hint you threw at Raven." She laughs as she fades away, leaving me to truely hold my grown son for the first time since his "death"

Jon Bro.....

After we are all back at the castle, I turn to my sister. "What happened? Where did Max go?" I looked around at everyone else, stopping for a second at each face as I look in turn, hoping to find an answer somewhere among them. I find a seat at a nearby table as I shake my head. "I see how dangerous this battle is, and I promise that I will help in whatever manner I am able to."

Katt.....

Standing, I help Jondalar to his feet. Surprised that now I have to look up several inches. I laugh through my tears, "Tis so strange to look up at you now when I last held you as mere boy. I thought I'd not ever see you other then as a ghost! I had no idea Artemis did what she did!"

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I help support him as he wobbily takes his "first" steps. "Momma, me feels so weird!" As he speaks, I realize that while his body grew, his mind stayed a child. He whispers to me "Momma, yous neck is all bloody agin." Looking down I realize that not once had I noticed charmy had been dripping heavily. I am relieved to see the blood flow has stopped.

Looking at Jon sitting, and the others standing around silently. "This is my son as he should be. Jondalar Mcleod Mcgregory. Come meet your nephew Jon and Bear." I laugh while more tears and snot flow.

Katt.....

Seeing the gauntlet on Bears arm, I suddenly think of something. "Bear, give me the gauntlet." While she is taking it off, I quickly find Phang and ask him for his as well.

Putting both back on my arms, I go back to Jondalar and place my forearms on his. I again draw energy into myself, which is easier this time with them on. As they glow, I humm and then loudly speak "Samhail!" (copy). A second later, an identical set are on his forarms. When I finish with him I repeat the action 1 more time and Bear and Phangs return to their arm.

Lightly tapping mine together, all 3 sets begin to glow bright purpple then go back to looking normal.

Looking at Jondalar "There, now I know your protected as well." Turning towards Jon, "Do you wish a pair as well brother? Before I cast a spell that will make it impossible for these to be samhailed again?"

JonBro.....

Smiling, I stand up from where I was sitting and walk over to my sister and Jondalar. "Nephew hmm?" I look him over and nod a little bit. "Well Jondalar, it is nice to meet you. You can call me Uncle, or Jon, whatever you feel like. I'm easy." I look over at my sister and give her a smile, followed by a hug. "I am very happy for you. I just hope we will take care of these problems, so you can really enjoy time with your son."

Katt.....

Hugging Jon back, I then look back and forth between my brother and son and smile. Looking Jon straight in the eye "There shall be no problems for a while brother dear. I've had enough of fighting for a while and should Max try anything again, I'll run him through faster then you might blink. I'm no longer bound by my vows."

Wrapping my arm around Jondalar's waist "Come, Lets go for a walk, you and I. We must talk." Guiding him outside, we walk one of the splendid gardens. I can't help but giggle at Jondalar's bazillian questions "Momma, whys ya such shorty now? Why ken me feels ya warm?" and on and on he talks, practically bouncing with excitement. Patiently I answer each question as best as I can. Needless to say it doesn't take me long to figure out that while my son has a grown mans body, his mind is as young as when he "died".

When he settles and ask me quite seriously "Momma, how I get like this?" I must tell him I am not sure. "The last I saw you, I had set your body on the burial pyre, sang the death song and lite the wood. I could not bear to watch you burn and walked away. The only thing I can think of is Artemis retrieved you before the fire got to your body."

We walk and talk for quite a while before I suggest we go back and get something to eat and rest. Entering the castle, I holler out to everyone to get ready for a feast and proceed to go help cook.