To Understand Living Statues

[Creative Consortium]

The Wrath of Defeat

Aislin Creed- For a half hour after Aislin had been with her, Sorcha had not stopped in her cries. Aislin had rubbed ointment all over her skin, hoping the smell of mint and cool, tingling feeling would help, but it did nothing to ease her baby's hot body or stop the screams that came from her little mouth. Tears seemed plentiful and poured from Sorcha's face, making Aislin use everything within her to hold her own back as her baby inhaled and screamed out again while clinging to her. Her body was still red, making Aislin believe that soon her blood would start coming from her body if she did not calmed down. What was worse is that Sorcha cried every single time she was awake and it was non stopped until she fell asleep from exhaustion. That meant Sorcha had not breast fed in nearly a day and a half and each time it was offered, Sorcha refused and turned her head away, trying to throw back her head but still being unable to have full control of her neck. This was what made babies die, that and being given the wrong thing to help them. Aislin had to be careful with everything she tried because she could not afford a mistake with her child. As far as Aislin knew, Eamonn and Bess were still hallways away, arguing and breaking each other down in their own way. The maids had been sent away leaving Aislin to deal with Sorcha alone in the room her, Eamonn and Sorcha shared. Cries were finally starting to turn into sniffles as her baby wore herself out once more while in Aislin's arms. She rocked her gently and "ssshh" her, trying to make the soothing sound and hoping it would work. With Sorcha in her arms, one hand holding behind her head and the other holding her clothed rump, she moved to the bed and laid down with Sorcha placed by her side so she could keep her in her arms but have the support of the bed to help. Time passed and the tears stopped as Sorcha fell asleep, still looking bright red and flushed from the events in her own body with eyes swollen and full of water from her salty tears. Moving with care in the bed, she went to place Sorcha in the crib and had her nearly there before she stirred and started to cry, though not screaming as she had been before due to still being tired. Aislin sighed and pulled her back to her clothed chest as she sat on the bed still fully dressed even with her boots on, having had no time to remove them from her feet. Dileas tried to help ease Sorcha once more and for a moment Sorcha touched the animal and sniffled, only to start up again, parting her mouth and showing her gums and that little tongue as she wiggled about when she was braced on Aislin's upper thighs. "Ah do nay know how to help ye little one...ah be sorry. Ah am trying to be a good Ma, but ah can nay help ye. Ah be trying...." Aislin could feel the tears moving into her eyes as she started at her beautiful and in pain daughter." Ah be trying.." she repeated, feeling weaker by each moment that passed and Sorcha still cried out. Aislin was so wrapped up in Sorcha that she did not hear the foot steps of her husband coming down the hall. She did not know that Sorcha could be heard through the hallway their room's door rested within and that many of the maids were wondering why they did not take the child elsewhere or why the head physician could not seem to cure the babe's illness.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Already the effects of the alcohol were swimming in his blood as he sat outside of the castle in the courtyard, his back pressed against the stone wall. Why was all this happening. For a day there had been happiness and peace. Bess had once been happy...Adam had once been sane....and once his daughter could smile. Now, it consisted of tears and sadness. The lingering thought of his daughter was killing him at this point. It devoured him, and not even the alcohol could numb it. That feeling of failure was gnawing upon his shoulder. He was failing as a father to aid in some way his daughter. There had been a time he could make her tears cease to flow, and a smile appear on her little lips. Now, all he heard was the wailing of his little girl, and there was nothing he could to sooth her. Nothing....nothing. Eamonn lowered his head and sat the bottle aside on the cold ground. His face was buried in his hands as he cried silently. Hazel eyes had bore witness to the destruction of his sister and brother-in-law, and there was no remedy it seemed for such. They were both slowly withering away, and Eamonn could not save them. It was a horrible feeling, a feeling that a man like him could never bear. His armour felt...heavy as he sat hunched over, hiding his face from the world that seemed to smile at the cruelties it inflicted upon the inhabitants. It was unclear just how long he had been outside, but a servant called to him, not daring to touch the distraught General. Inhaling deeply, Eamonn waved them off after they had delivered their message. Sorcha was awake...and crying. He was a bad father or so that was the thought that passed through his mind. Eventually he sat up, wiping his face roughly with the back of his gloved hand. His eyes were red where white had once been. They were puffy from the hot tears he shed, and the sleepless nights and restless thoughts were visibly upon his face, the alcohol glazing orbs over in a misty film. Inhaling deeply, he grabbed the bottle and slowly stood, stumbling a bit, but catching himself. His walk was slow ...labored, as if he had chains and weights shackled to his ankles. Eamonn dragged himself to the room that he shared with his wife and daughter. The door was opened, and in he slipped, closing the door behind him silently

Aislin Creed- Many women had confessed to the feelings they had when their child cried non stop. A few had told Aislin they wanted to throw their child from the window or leave them outside by themselves to get peace. Aislin, did not feel that way, in fact, all she wanted to do was hold Sorcha closer and keep her as warm and cool as possible. Aislin could say without hesitation that this was the worst feeling she had ever known next to the feeling of thinking Eamonn would leave her. She had no control over this and had to let it run it's course. It was so hard to wait though and the night had turned out worse then she had thought it would. The sound of the door's latching moving up a few times, then finally un catching had ocean eyes go to it, same with Dileas who rose from his spot by the bed and looked to Eamonn with those golden eyes for a moment before laying back down slowly, as if he were unsure of the smells on the man. Aislin pulled the crying Sorcha closer to her chest and looked from Eamonn's face, seeing the raw emotion on it, making her heart break all over for a different reason before she lowered her eyes and looked to see the bottle. Sorcha was finally starting to drift back to sleep now in Aislin's arms, not even having seen her father due to her tears and eyes being closed. Leaning over once more, she carefully placed Sorcha into the crib and waited a moment to make sure she would not wake again before she rolled back over and placed booted feet to the ground. Aislin, was feeling the slight bit of anger, fine like a piece of thread within her body, trying hard not to let it break. "Eamonn..perhaps ye have had enough for the night." she said firmly and walked towards him, reaching one hand out for the bottle that he held in his hand. Slender fingers reached around the neck of the bottle and was ready to take it from him. He had done worse with his mouth tonight then she had ever seen him do and if she could prevent him from saying such things to her as well, she would by taking away the source of his loose tongue.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn believed in the laws of soberness. Rare was it to find him so intoxicated where he literally listen sensibility of composure. With so much alcohol swimming in his veins like poison, Eamonn lacked prowess to sensor himself. What he said had not been a lie, but it came as it was thought, there was no conditioning of the words or feelings he experienced. Raw. They were raw thoughts, raw emotions, and raw wounds that lay exposed. Hazel eyes did not turn to Dileas, at this moment not caring about the wolf. His mind, his attention, was to his suffering child, a babe so innocent. He knew not what to do, no one seemed to know what to do, and that angered him...frustrated him....worried him. Hazel eyes drifted to Sorcha in Aislin's arms, staring sadly as his little girl who was now sleeping. Eamonn had no idea that the girl had colic, a sickness that some children died from. It was better that he did no at this point, for already he was in pain, the normally hardened warrior had been broken, beaten down by the feelings of which he felt. Glazed eyes turned to his wife as she placed their daughter in the crib to let the girl sleep, and then venture toward him. Her words caused a frown to appear upon his features, and as she reached out to take the liquor from him, he snatched it away from her. "I know when I have had enough. Do not moderate me." Eamonn snapped back, glaring down at Aislin as he raised the bottle to his lips and swallowed another large gulp of whiskey. Stepping away from her, Eamonn walked over to the large chair in their room by the fire, his steps labored from the intense potency of alcohol in his system. He felt like crying, but he had not more tears. He felt like screaming, but he had no more voice. He felt cold, but could not draw in heat. The moment he got to the chair, Eamonn dropped down into it, not bothering to remove his armour, boots, or anything. Instead, as his gaze traveled to the flames dancing in the hearth, another long, deep drink was taken.

Aislin Creed- When the bottle was snatched from her reach, Aislin made sure not to frown at his actions, but she wanted to. If he knew when he had enough, why did he keep drinking after the altercation with his sister and brother in law? Aislin did not agree with his logic at the moment and it was a hard thing for even her to confess to herself that her husband was not stable as he normally was. She watched as her husband moved around her, stumbling in his steps, making his tall and broad frame sway slightly before he settled himself into the chair by the fire. Ocean eyes moved towards him as her body shifted around to face him and she walked slowly towards him. "Eamonn..." she paused as she stood by him, looming over him with her tall form. "Ah wanted ye to relax...nay get three sheets to the wind. This be no way to be when so many things are happening Eamonn. It is time to stop..." she said, once more with a firm voice as she reached for the bottle again, pressing a hand to the back of his chair and leaning down to grab it from him. She loved her husband dearly and was trying to keep composure because she knew he was hurting because of his daughter. Aislin was hurting as well.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- His world was falling apart. Everything around him was in disarray, and the hard part for him was the fact that there was nothing to be done about it. He was forced to sit idly and watch the scenes transpire. If he could take on the pain of his daughter, sister, and brother-in-law, he would. To spare them, he would carry the burden. However, it could not be done. Eamonn knew not what he could do, save to numb the feelings and emotions washing over him, and the whiskey was a friend to aid him in such a quest. Soon enough, he would pass out, the only way for his mind to find some peace amidst the chaos. Aislin moved closer still, and he glanced sideways to her, catching her hips and waist and not daring to look up into her eyes. He couldn't. Eamonn loved his wife, and those closest to him, but emotions like this...he was grounded. Ruined. Beaten. Eamonn knew not how to cope, and death was not something that sat well with him. Aislin's words were doing little to help him, and were only making him more angry, that ball of merged emotions was surging up again, and his patience was hanging by a thin thread just waiting to snap. "Spare me your lecture and chastisements, I have no use for it." He growled out, and once more she tried to take the battle from him, and growling deeply, he yanked it away from her. "Leave me to my thoughts! Let me be, I...I am in no mood or sound mind to tolerate your judgements of me.." Eamonn replied bitterly, his voice slightly slurred from the liquor.

Aislin Creed- Aislin moved back slightly, leaning on the heels of her boots at his words. Spare him? Spare him? Did he not know the damage done tonight? Did he not see his sister's face when he spoke the "truth" to her? No...he did not. He did not even notice she had gone or he would have been swiftly on her heels. Had he not been shaking and hammering the "truth" into his sister, he would have heard the maid as she spoke of Sorcha being awake. He did not, however and that was the problem. No use for it? Aislin stood up straight and glared for the second time in their life together, at her husband. Sorcha began to sniffle again, making it known that she was going to cry out at any moment. It had nothing to do with the noise and everything to do with her stomach, having no food within it making her restless and sleep for moments at a time. Finally, she started to cry and Aislin had it. "Leave ye to yer thoughts? Leave ye to thoughts? Yer thoughts will nay help here Eamonn. Nay in this stage" this time, Aislin moved around behind him as if going for Sorcha only to grab the bottle and yank it from his hands. Before he could react, she throw the bottle into the fire place, making the flames rise high and reach out like claws of death for a fast moment before they settled and the broken glass lay mixed with the wood and soot. Aislin winced at the appearance of the flames before she looked to Eamonn. the sound of the flames did nothing for Sorcha, save make her open her mouth and inhale the air deeply within her little lungs before she screamed out loud and kicked within her crib."Do ye hear her husband? Her screams...ah think ah have found out what it be, but it nay be good. Can ye spare time from yer...'thoughts' to hear what be wrong with our daughter?" Aislin's voice, despite being calm, was firm and lower then normal.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn did not see, for he did not wish to see. He saw the expressions of his sister, but it did not register or seep in just yet because of the cloud formed by alcohol loomed over him. He wanted to be left alone to his grief. To dwell in the haze of whiskey until it carried him away from consciousness. He wanted to be anywhere but here, as if somehow he could quest for the very thing that would solve all the problems those he loved faced. Sorcha began to cry again, and it pierced his ears like a loud siren, and inwardly he groaned. Aislin was making things worse upon herself and him the moment she snatched the bottle still half filled with vital whiskey, and cast it into the fire. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" He shouted. Eamonn had it. Any shred of composure was gone, and too quickly the emotions were weighing down upon him. Eamonn shot to his feet, though regretting it as his head spun and he stumbled somewhat, a gloved hand reaching out to the chair to steady himself. Green eyes blazed as they peered down to Aislin, glaring at her through narrowed eyes. " COURSE I HEAR HER! I HEAR HER EVERY DAMN SECOND, MY MIND HEARS NOTHING BUT HER WAILS AND I CANNOT SOOTH THEM! IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS WRONG THEN FIX IT! MAKE HER WELL AGAIN!" He roared, the screams and cries of Sorcha only playing upon his heart and ripping it apart more.

Aislin Creed- Not knowing what else to do, that seemed like a good step to get the poison from him, to get him to start sobering up or stepping towards that direction. His shout was confronted with a deep frown on those wide lips as she stared upwards at his own, tilting her head just slightly to look up at the few inches he had on her. Aislin stood her ground, not backing up as he stumbled and then grabbed the chair to gain his composure. When his voice rose, Sorcha's cries were drowned out for a brief moment as that booming and husky tone filled the air and sent chills down Aislin's spine. She felt that bridge crumbling down, the emotions she shut down and moved from her starting to rise. Slender fingers rose up to grab the sides of her hair as her daughter grew louder, trying to drown out Eamonn it seemed before she found herself growling loudly and speaking through gritted teeth. "It.be.colic. Ah, can nay fix it. Not. yet. Stop....shouting Eamonn... "

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- When he passed out, that would be the start of sobering up, and stepping toward that direction. Eamonn was not an alcoholic by any means, but now, it needed something to find a bit of peace from it all. However, people did not seem to understand the concept that he dealt with things differently, and right now, talking it out was the least effective thing for a man such as him. Each wail from his daughter was like a stab in the chest, leaving him bleeding from every wound. For a moment, his husky voice lorded over Sorcha's, winning the silent competition of who's voice would dominate the air about them. Colic? What was colic? Eamonn did not understand, and it showed on his face. However, Aislin said she could not fix it, and that was hard to accept. She had always been able to fix things and make them better. She stopped him from dying, she fixed him so many times, but now she could not help their daughter. "WHAT THE HELL IS COLIC?! I AM NOT A DOCTOR!" Eamonn frowned deeply, stepping closer to her

Aislin Creed- Aislin saw the confusion on his face and she felt that dread within her, knowing she was going to have to explain it to him. She did not evne understand the illness. Sorcha should have had the illness long before now and it was rare for a babe her age to have it, but that did not mean it could not happen. He had not stopped in his yelling either. It was not helping Aislin. "MY HEARING IS JUST FINE EAMONN." she finally shouted back at him, loosing it. He was meant to be her rock and he was not able to do it now when she needed it the most. Aislin wanted to be his own as well, but she could not. Not when she was feeling racked with guilt. Taking two deep breaths to make her small chest rise and fall, she spoke through gritted teeth again as their daughter continued to scream. "Colic....is unknown. There is no cure yet. Ah do nay think it can kill Sorcha...but if she does nay stop ...she will nay feed. Do ye understand...or are ye to drunk to understand what ah be saying? Perhaps if ah be more blunt with ye aye?" she took a step forward, stepping closer to her husband without fear. "IF...sorcha does nay feed from my body...we may loose her...ah need ye to be my rock now Eamonn. Ye are nay being strong for me... AH FEEL ALONE RIGHT NOW.!"

[Creative Consortium]

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Kill? Aislin said kill, and that was Eamonn heard. Eamonn did not care about her shouting at him, or her hearing. He was losing his temper and patience with her. She expected him to know what colic was, something that was found in infants, not adults. When it came to diseases, Eamonn's knowledge was basic. If it could not happen on the field of war, he knew not about it. Like her, Eamonn was human, and emotions crippled him. He tried to be strong, and had he not been overwhelmed with emotion, he would have. His face paled then and there. Die? His daughter die? No...no that could not happen. For a moment he stared at her, the alcohol hindering the mask that would have hid the wave of fear that passed over his features. Nostrils flared, and the room began to spun faster and faster. He swallowed hard. "Stop it.." He choked out. He understood what it meant, even in his drunken stupor. "Stop saying that..." He growled, growing angrier that Aislin was hammering the fact that they could lose their daughter into his already unstable mind. Blow after blow, it killed his heart over and over. He had been her rock...he was trying to be...but she bluntly told him that he was failing at being a husband to her...another failure. Eamonn closed his eyes to keep the room from cycling. Then, when her voice rose, Eamonn snapped. "STOP IT!" And before he could stop himself, Eamonn reacted. SMACK. He backhanded her across the face hard. In good sense he would have never struck his wife, no matter what, but he poison in his veins...it clouded better judgement. "YOU THINK YOU ARE MAKING IT BETTER?! YOU'RE NOT! THAT CHILD IS EVERYTHING TO ME! MY WORLD! WE MADE HER! NOW YOU SLAY ME WITH TALK OF HER DEATH! STOP IT AISLIN! STOP IT!" He shouted, tears stinging his eyes and streaming down his face as he frowned deeply, and brought a hand to his face. He could not be strong with such talk, it was hard for a man to think soberly of the possibility of another death so close to him. His father died. His mother died. His best friend died. His niece died. Now Sorcha could die. "...Gods help me..." He whispered hoarsely as he realized, even through the fog of alcohol, that he had just struck his wife...the woman he loved so dearly, even now. Shaking his head, he stumbled around to the chair again, and sunk into it, leaning forward and burying his face in his hands. Tears tapped the reserve and came freely as he hid his face in shame along with tangled emotions, blonde hair hanging upon either side in slight tousle

Aislin Creed- Aislin's body felt uncomfortable, as if she were hot and sweating all over and yet not. Her heart was pounding in her chest and ears felt as if they would bleed from her daughter's cries soon. They seemed to pierce into her ears and made the world seem horrid. Eyes watched him closely, so how did she miss the hand coming up and moving quickly towards her. It was unexpected and when he shouted at her, her eyes were on his face completely so that when that large hand moved to come at Aislin, she did not duck. Strong and rough knuckles pressed against soft flesh, making her head turn to the side and hair fling itself around her shoulder as her head remained turned away from the impact of the hit and her upper body swayed just slightly. Her legs being locked were the only thing that helped her not stumble. Her breath was lost, leaving her to gasp softly as her face stayed turned away from him, the area he had smacked sounding good and feeling heat build up from the contact. Her breath came out shaky as she stared at the wall and ground while she tried to get over the shock of her husband hitting her without warning. Flash backs of the brother's training came to mind, how they had hit her with nothing being held back and told her to never go to the ground, never take the hit and leave it be. Slowly, her head turned around on her neck, looking to see Eamonn's form, she saw him sitting in the chair once more with his hands in his face and leaning forward. Dileas moved to stand and went right in front of Sorcha's crib, growling softly at the action going on, wanting to protect the child first. " Ye..."she did not even finish that as she turned and headed straight for Sorcha's crib, reaching in past Dileas to grab Sorcha up as she screamed and clung to anything she could which was Aislin's hair. Moving to turn around, grabbing a few clothes along the way, she headed for the door with Dileas quickly trotting on her heels. Tap tap tap of the claws marked out their path while Aislin was more silent and Sorcha's red face looked over her shoulder to her father as she screamed, almost as if crying for him, but it was simply the way she was turned. Reaching for the door, Aislin moved to open it, determinded to sleep elsewhere tonight least she try to strangle her husband

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn regretted ever hitting her. He was above that...or so he thought. Even in his drunken stupor, he felt wretched for striking his wife. He did not want to, but she pushed him over the edge, and Eamonn snapped. The blonde General was sinking lower and lower. Over and over that scene continued to play, her head snapping to the side and hair flying into her face. He would never forget that moment, it would forever haunt him. He did not even look up as he heard movement. Finally, he did however, and wiping his eyes with the back of his gloved hands, he turned his head and eyes to see Aislin leaving with their child, Dileas in tow. Now she was leaving him? His heart shattered then and there. He saw the look on his daughter's face, and his frown deepened. "AISLIN DO NOT TAKE OUR DAUGHTER FROM ME! DON'T LEAVE!" He shouted, and he moved to stand, but his body could not handle such swift movements. Dizzy, he fell back into the chair, and groaned, rubbing his face roughly. She had struck him, but Eamonn did not leave her...but now that Aislin had been struck, she was leaving. Would she come back? Eamonn did not know..but he thought the worse

Aislin Creed- Aislin froze as she hard his shouting over Sorcha's screams. Tears moved down her face, stinging her high cheek bones and rolling down to her narrow chin in a fast escape. Dileas turned around and looked to Eamonn, growling softly as the general moved too fast for his liking, ready to protect the women of their lives with his own should the need come to it. Dileas would always be Aislin's companion first and the animal knew when things were not well. Anger. It was not a new feeling, but one she felt now on her own without the babe in her womb to blame. It made her uncomfortable and she felt as if her chest were tight. Too tight. Turning her upper body slightly to the side, she became something she had never been before in her life, cruel. Bluntness seemed to work well on her husband and Aislin felt he was a hypocrite. "Ye...can dish out bluntness and cruelty without a second thought of how others will take it......but to take it yerself......is foreign to ye. Ah love ye husband...ah always will..." she left out many things...cruel things..truth. "We leave ye with yer thoughts..." she said before she turned back around and moved out the door, waiting for Dileas to follow in tow before she closed it behind her.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn would not have cared if Dileas attacked him or not. He was too drunk to care about physical pain. He would take it for what he deserved was such for ever striking his wife. Eamonn was a blunt man, there was no doubting that. But to hear it from his own wife...that shocked even him. In the morning, when the alcohol had worn off, her words would come back to haunt him. Had he been in his right mind, he would not have said those things to Bess or Adam, he would not have hit his wife. But because he could not cope with his emotions, he looked to alcohol to drown it. Eamonn blinked at her words, and inwardly sighed. Aislin had cut him deeply, far deeper than he would know at current. Everyone had been dealt a heavy blow, Bess...Aislin...and now Eamonn. That night, Eamonn downed more whiskey, not caring, until he passed out, slouched in the chair with his armour still on, a bottle of whiskey on the floor, empty, beside him, and for a moment, the only moment he would get, darkness consumed him and he was not haunted by words and situations that had come to pass.

~~~END THREAD~~~

[Creative Consortium]

The Darkness

Eamonn of Severnwaters- Eamonn had gone mad and was fighting like a madman, striking hard, acutely, and without mercy. He kept his back to Aislin, preventing people from attacking her from behind as husband and wife, for the first time, wheeled around in a constantly moving circle, protecting the other as their blades gleamed and glistened brightly in the light. Blood splashed and splayed about across his face as he spun around, whipping that sword across another man's throat and sending more crimson liquid into the air. Death was his fortune, and Eamonn prayed that it was not his wife's. Glancing over his shoulder, to look at her, he turned to see another pike man rushing toward her in hopes to skewer her. Snarling savagely, he threw himself for the pike man, crashing into him and sending long pole arm flying to only clatter to the ground. Over and over he stabbed the man in the chest, making sure he was good and dead before wiping the blade of his sword clean and sheathing it. the pike was picked up, his new choice of weapon. Spinning the arm in his hands, the pike twirled in the motion of a pinwheel, before hands still it and the point was thrusted into the stomach of a soldier. Yanking it out, Eamonn quickly stepped to the side and smacked another across the face hard. "AISLIN! GET ON FINBAR. NOW!" He commanded, whacking another in the face. The moment his wife did as she was told, he sent a swift kick to get the men away from the horse and his wife. "GET BACK TO THE CAMP! NOW!" He commanded, and before she could argue, he send Finbar off with a smack to the rear. Eamonn would follow behind on foot, cutting down ANYONE who dared to face the Lord Marshal

Aislin Creed- Eamonn's sounds moved over the sky and only fueled her own as they fought on ward. She could hear men crying out, but could not spare a glance behind her to see her husband. No swords or spears came at her back side, so he had to be good. Men never stopped coming. A dagger went into the side of a solider's neck as he got too close and left himself open while others bumped into one another to get to the healer and her husband. how many more would come! Eamonn's shouted words were heard. What?! No!? He left little choice in the matter, for Finbar,. listening to his master, moved close and bumped against Aislin. Growling, she moved to get up onto Finbar...thinking her husband would come as well. When he smacked Finbar and sent him on, Aislin grabbed the reins and yanked hard, stalling Finbar, confusing him for a moment as he tried to fight her. She shifted, ready to jump off and he stopped, not wanting her to fall and hurt herself. From Finbar's back she went, running towards Eamonn with her daggers out. She had come this far...she was not leaving him without his horse! Echo came out from the side, ramming her larger body into a man that was charging from the side towards Eamonn. the man went flying and Echo slowed down by the Marshal's side before cutting off and heading towards Finbar. Aislin paused in her run and caught a man looking to Eamonn with his arrow ready to soar into the air towards the marshal. the dagger was pushed into the back of his neck, between helmet and armor, sending him gurgling to the ground. Aislin stumbled to one knee and tried to catch her breath before she looked up Eamonn taking out the last of the men that were alive and near them. The battle shifted...leaving them behind as men moved down the hill and away from them. Aislin's head was pounding and she could feel the blood drying on he side of it from where she got hit. The slice on the back of her arm was still bleeding..she had no idea how bad it was. Rising to her feet with care she stared her husband down. Emotion was void..she simple looked. Blood covered her from head to toe..the ground was covered with bodies and everything that makes them. Armor was left behind..as were weapons and worldly possessions while the others moved on. Eamonn. It had been too long since they last held each other. made love..kisses..were even in each other's presence for longer then a moment. No...this time she was not walking, running..riding or anything else away from her husband. A soft whimper left her lips as her face slowly crumbled."Eamonn.." her husband..her love..her everything. Her chest tightened and tears burned hot in her eyes making the world blurry. She blinked fast, not wanting anything to block her view of her husband so full of power, strength and she hoped love. Love for her. One step was taken towards him..waiting to see his response..should he move towards her..she would move towards him. Slowly at first...then faster...faster...faster until she was running towards him. When she was right there near him, she dropped her weapons, for they were too heavy for her and she wanted to wrap her arms around him. Clashing her chest into his armor..she lost her breath as she held onto him tightly. One hand held on to the back of his head...grasping his hair. She was so upset at him for doing that...sending her away! "DO NAY SEND ME AWAY...NAY WHEN AH FINALLY COME TO YE...YE STUPID MAN...YE STUPID WARMONGER..!!" she cried...the tears could not be stopped.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- The madness of the battle was everywhere, though as the war progressed, it began to shift somewhat, but finding his wife here was among the soldiers, fear for her safety and life came before anger for her leaving without word and leaving him to worry. How long had she been here? In this mess of things? He did not know, but that would have to be pondered later. He slapped Finbar's rear, sending his most trusted friend to take his wife away from the horrors of war, horrors that she need not see. He was not trying to shelter her, or doubt her, but war truly was the province of men, and while woman had valor in battle, it was not accepted. It was not a woman's place to be on the battle field in open war. Aislin had snuck off, without word, and avoided him, or else he would have found her earlier. Grabbing up his fallen brother's dirk, he wiped it clean, and sheathed it, only to duck a blow to the head, and as he went down, slash at the man's leg, the steel biting deep into flesh and cloth. The man screamed, but Eamonn did not care. Slowly, but surely, he followed in the path of Finbar, his stallion, carrying the most precious person in the world to him. His wife, his foolish, silly, and perfect wife. As the battle shifted onward, he paused in his steps, leaning on his sword of a moment as he wince, and felt his side, felt the blood cascading down the broken links of chain and staining them. That halberd. He could not tell had deep it had gotten him, and as the war calmed, and the rush of adrenaline ran its course, he was more away of the pain his body was expressing. Lifting his eyes, he stared ahead. Just a bit beyond...a few feet more...was his wife. Covered in blood, but his guardian angel. His perfect, loving wife. Keen eyes watched her as he felt his heart clench in his chest, and his brows furrowed. He could not do this...he could not stand to be away from her anymore. He nearly lost her...if she had fallen, here, now, he might have never known, and it was because of him she was even out here. Straightening, he dropped the sword, letting it clatter to the ground as gloved fingers unbuckled the helm from his head. She took a step. He took a step forward. A walk became a trot, and a trot became a run. The helm was cast aside and sent to roll wherever, before she crashed into his and he into her. His arms wrapped around her as he held her to his blood covered armoured body, not caring about the arrow still in his upper shoulder, or the hole in his side. It did not matter. Tears filled his eyes and spilt down his dirt and bloodied cheeks freely, Eamonn making no move to hide them, stop them, quell them. "DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN! EVER!...YOU SCARED ME! I THOUGHT YOU WERE TAKEN!...YOU FOOLISH WOMAN!..." But she was his foolish woman, and he would love her. "I FEARED YOU WERE DEAD....GONE...." His voice broke. He broke down. Arms held her tightly to him as he hugged her fiercely, never wanting to let go of her again. "Aislin forgive me!...Forgive me!...I did not mean to strike you!....don't leave me!...please DON'T LEAVE ME...." He cried, his knees shaking before he crumbled to his knees, bring her with him, but never letting go.

Aislin Creed- How tightly could she cling to him before they crushed each other? She felt every bit of his armor pressing into her body. It hurt..but she dared not let go. She felt as if she was never going to let go again. Both fought their pain to be in each other's arms. Months.....months had passed by since they held each other and this time it was not because of war. It was because they were angry with one another...pride...stupid pride got in the way, but here...there was no pride. Eyes shifted to those loving blues as she stared down into her husband's fading green eyes while he held her tightly to him. Tears. They were such a small thing to others...meaningless..but to Aislin they meant the world. She gave her own..and for the second time ever..he gave his. Aislin face had long since crumbled, her lips pouted and shivered as tears rolled down her face, stinging and leaving a trail of salty purity to clear lines of blood away from her face. His words...his pleas...they tore through her like daggers. She had been such a horrid wife...ignoring him so. No more! She would never walk away from him for so long again. Together they were crying... before she felt the world shift and then went down. Her knees crashed into the ground with his while their arms locked so neither fell from each other's graces. Her husband..her glorious, handsome and powerful warmonger. "Ah'll nay leave ye!...nay now..nay ever! There has only been ye. Ah forgive ye husband..ah love ye......AH LOVE YE!" she screamed it loudly so that all the heavens could hear...all the souls that were floating towards the heavens would carry her words so their parents knew that they were in each other's arms once more. Their children...they had arranged for them to be together..fate had made sure it happened and stupidity on both parts nearly tore it apart. Now.. fates gave one more hand and Aislin was paying attention. "Ah did nay mean to scare ye....ah needed to understand...so ah can be a better wife..so ah could nay judge ye and how ye are...ah just needed to understand..."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Rarely did the horseman cry. To cry was a sign of emotion, which some would exploit and turn into a weakness. But right now, Eamonn did not care who was around to see the Marshal crying. He nearly lost his beloved, because of what? Because of his pride. Because he could not beseech her forgiveness, it nearly tore their live apart. It nearly cost him the life of his wife, the first person in the living world to care about him since the death of his mother. Countless times she had rescued him, whether by the sword of the miraculous hands of healing, she kept him going on, and he had failed to be her rock. Her foundation. This was his beautiful wife, his strong, loving wife who came here to risk her own life to understand him. For him...Eamonn wept openly now, not trying to hide it as hazel eyes peered down upon her through clouded eyes. She fell with him, but he never let go. Never again would he let her go. He would show her his love, that he was trying to be a good husband, to be the perfect man for her. He did not understand emotions...after a lifetime of limiting the feeling to a single expression, multiple feelings and emotions confused him, left him dumbfounded. "Don't leave me....please don't leave me...I LOVE YOU...ONLY YOU...I...I cannot survive without you..." He sobbed loudly, salty tears cleansing away the stains and spots of blood and dirt upon his cheeks. "Don't do this again...don't you DARE DO THIS AGAIN! Forgive me...I..I failed to be your rock..." His voice cracked, broke, and came out in a hoarse voice. It had been more than a year since he wept so hard and openly. Gently, he rocked her, craddling her close to him, forsaking the tears of blood his wounds wept. Only one person could heal his heart, and that was his wife. "I have failed to be a good husband....forgive me....Aislin forgive me..."

Aislin Creed- Aislin had only been this open one time and it was because Sorcha grew within her stomach, leaving her vunerable to emotions she never really felt. This time..they were her own. Like a flood among the land, she did not hold back as all the emotions that were only for him spilled out. No one else ever stirred her heart...no one else ever made her want to smile more then him. She felt his hands grip her braid and back tighter as he spoke, but she did not flinch. She wanted him to hold her this tight and never let her go. "[/i]Ah won't! Ah can't! Ah need ye...ah love ye..ah want only ye![/i]" He was opening up like never before...he was cracking and even now as he cried so opening and hard, she still thought him the bravest man in the world. Their faces were so close. Everytime he rocked them back and forth, her body went in the same rhythm as his while her fingers shifted in his hair to caress his scalp. How she loved him! He was hurt..she knew it. She was hurt...but just a little longer. Just a little bit longer did she want to stay like this. Please do not take this away! the darkness creeped in her body like a void, moving along her. No! Please no wait! "Do nay take me away yet..." she whispered as her tears stopped and her swollen lips began to tremble. Please! More time..she just needed more time! "Ah'll nay....ah'll nay..." her breath grew shorter..and she knew her time was running out. She closed the few inches between them and pressed her lips to his as hard as she could, but her strength was leaving her as the darkness grabbed a hold of her like a hand in the dark and yanked her back. While her lips were against his own..they lost their pressure and she wheezed slightly before her eyes closed and her body weigh shifted then loosened and became limp in his arms. Her head moved forward to his own and her grip loosened in his hair. Breath still moved from her mouth, but barely. So tired...so worn and exhausted, she went to sleep. [/color]

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Before the battle of Sleat, he had looked to the others and their wives, how they kissed them farewell, never knowing if they would see their beloved again. Oh, how he wanted to hold and kiss Aislin that morning, to tell her that he loved her so dearly, but she had not been there. She was in the army, somewhere, and he had no knowing. No one had ever made him feel so alive before like Aislin. No one made a smile crack upon his stone-like features. No one ever bothered to shed a bit of light in his darkened world, a world forged of tragedy and death. She wouldn't leave him...she would stay. Stay with me. His body ached, but he wanted to keep holding her, holding her close to him. Take her away? But he had to take her back to camp. As her full lips pressed to his, he kissed her back hard, a kiss that he had longed to give. However, the kiss began to die, and not from the will of either lover. She was falling asleep. How badly had she been hurt! Her forehead pressed to his, and her grip loosed. No! "Stay with me....don't leave me....my love...stay with me..." He whispered to her, until he felt her go limp in his arms. Frowning, and stifling his sobs, he whistled for Finbar to come close. "Stay here with her..." He told the horse, before limping off to gather his sword and the dropped helm. Quickly he made his way back to his wife, and picking her up in his arms, with great strain and draining strength, he carried her back to the encampment and to his tent. Immediately he sent for a sergeon, a nurse, Anyone to look at her wounds. Upon the single cot she was laid, furs for warmth and comfort as they laid a sheet out to help dress her. One even tried to help him, but he refused. He wanted his wife well, he wanted her taken care off. Finally, once she was stabilized, her wounds healeed and she was sleeping, Eamonn sat down in a chair, and began the grueling process of treating his wounds. The Arrow had been pulled out quickly, and he stifled a cry of pain. The bloody armour was handed to a boy to clean, and fresh linen had been brought in. For Aislin, they gave her a man's tunic to wear, for it was long enough. Simply in his breeches and boots, the man tended to him, pressing a cloth to the wounds as he first tened the simplest, the arrow wound. After that had been wrapped and dressed did they move to the harder, and more painful task: his side. Bits of metal from hte chain links had embedded and bruised the flesh around the gash. Closing his eyes, he winced, grimaced, and fought the urge to cry out. When his eyes did open, they turned to his wife, and gazed upon her worriedly, praying she would get well...and stay with him

Aislin Creed- Aislin wanted to stay...she did not want to leave her husband, but her body had closed off without her..shut down. She passed out with Eamonn's voice chasing her into the darkness. His pleads...his words. She tried so hard to stay.. but she could not. Aislin did not stirr as her husband carried her limp body to the camp. Echo and Finbar followed behind them, trotting to keep pace with the Marshal. Aislin's braid swung along and by his ankles as he moved. Cormack headed towards Eamonn to help, but he was waved off and dismissed, making him nod to his lord before he turned to called on those he would need to assist. Echo and Finbar paused outside of the tent and waited as Eamonn moved inside. The first movement she gave was when he pulled back, her fingers tightened and then loosened on his arms. She lay still, only shifing now and then as she was undressed down to nothing and checked over. A sheet was pulled up to cover her slender body, but not before the small baby fat was noticed. She had yet to loose it after Sorcha or had she and gained more again? Her shoulder was cleaned and dressed, as was the gash in the side of her head. She did not wake for them, her body was done for a while, taking her soul elsewhere it seemed. Just for a time. Finally...the light came to her. She drifted and colors began to show before her eyes fluttered open and the wall of the tent came into view. Had she been dreaming? no..when she moved she could feel the pain on her shoulder. Wincing, she turned her head to the side, letting her braid fall over te cot and from it to touch the ground before her eyes found her husband in a chair not far from her. His chest was bare, showing those stronge shoulders and that set of swollen abs bunched together as his body was bent. the arrow had been removed and his side looked raw, horrid. He had not been seen by a healer again. She swallowed and tried to find her words..her voice was raw from all the screaming she did and she felt parched. " Water?...and a healer for ye..."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- As bits of metal were extracted from the flesh, his teeth clamped together and he groaned inwardly, tensing, and taking a deep breath. Pain. It hurt, but it had to be done. Such as life, the life of a soldier. This would not be the last or the first of scars that would come to his frame. The healer had left to fetch more bandges for him. His shoulder had been wrapped and tended to, but his side remained raw, bleeding now and then, and bruised horribly. Thankfully, it was not a deep wound, but it still hurt, nonetheless. As he pulled more of the metal from his side, his eyes turned to his wife. She was awake! The broken links were placed in the bowl by his side, and slowly, he rose from the chair. "I will get you water...lay down. Rest." He whispered, before slowly making his way toward the flap of the tent. "Water." He told the nearest person, and off they went to get a skin of water. Bring it back to him, the Marshal thanked the boy, and made it back over to the cot, opening the top. Carefully, painfully, he knelt before her, and held the skin to her lips. "Drink, my love..." He whispered hoarsely to her. Until she had her fill did he pull the skin from her lips, and place the cork back on it and set it by the cot, should she want more. Slowly, he rose to his feet, and walked back over to the chair to seat himself, and finish the painful task of picking out the bits of metal until the healer came back

Aislin Creed- Aislin did not want him to get up to get it, but she had little say in it at the moment. She was still climbing from the darkness and her head was cloudy. They should not have let her sleep..she could have never woke up. Stupid folk When he rose, she watched him carefully and tried to focus on him as he moved. Her eyes were still blurry as if she were crying, but she knew no more tears were falling from her eyes. Finally, after blinking so many times, the world was coming into focus and she could see the scars that riddled her husband's firm back before they vanished into the breeches. His long, blood and dirt filled hair trailed to his mid back, helping to shield some of the scars from the world. He turned and was moving towards her, making her pull up a hand as he lowered his frame and offered her water. her fingers curled around his larger ones as she took a drink and coughed it up, then took a few more until her throat did not feel so dry. Eyes went to him as he helped her before she pulled back and he took care of the rest. When he moved away, she wanted to reach out to him and ask him to stay, but she knew he had to be cared for first. "How bad are ye off...Do ye need my help..if ye come to me...ah can help ye get them out." she could see better now, even though she was still so tired and weak from it all. She could at least help him pull the bits from his body.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn moved back to the chair that he had been sitting on. In the time that she had been unconscious, he had time to think and reflect when he was not fighting off the urges to scream in pain. He wished that he had not struck her, for then things would not have gotten so bad, and she would never have been hurt. It was a strain to his heart to see his wife so weak and so injured, for he could not take that pain for her or from her, and he felt powerless. Leaning over a bit, he winced as he pulled another link from the flesh, setting it in the bowl. A few more remained embedded, and from the angle he had been struck at, and the binding of the shoulder, made it hard to reach and pull out a clinging crescent of metal. He sighed, and glanced over to his wife as she inquired as to how bad off he was. To be honest, it was neither light nor heavy, nor fair or cataclysmic. Lips pressed together and he arched a brow. "You should be resting. Would you like something to eat? A pillow? Another blanket?" He asked, taking a deep breath as he snatched another out. Only two more left...he had to reach and bend for them. Eamonn tried, but could pull them out. Damn. Sighing again, he reached down, picking up the skin of whiskey he had brought to him, and took a hefty swig.


Aislin Creed- Aislin did not even attempt to hide the frown on her face when he did not answer her first question. It was hard to see him while she was laying down, so slowly she tried to sit up. her head felt awful, but she was ok. A slight dizzy spell had her holding her palm to her forehead for a moment until she knew she could sit up without seeing things flash by her eyes. "No..nothing right now. Ah am just trying to sit up for now. " She had no plans to move from this bed for a bit. She was too weak. Her hands shook and her body felt like it was crushing around her. Finally..she looked to him and sighed. "After what we just said on the field......ye will nay tell me what ills ye? Come husband...pride be left outside this tent. Ah meant what ah said. Ah need ye be me...come..venture once more time past the pain to be near ye wife." she pleaded and reached out a hand from her to let it hover over the bed. Slender finger tips pointed towards him, beaconing him to come to her. She needed him. She wanted him by her side. No more distance..she could not stand it anymore. [/font]

[Creative Consortium]

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn was concerned for the well being of his wife, knowing that she was not adapted and suited for a life of war as he had been. One could not enter into the fray of bloodshed and be expected to know all there was to battle. You learned the more you were in, just as it was so for her in the matters of medical administrations. He did not know even a quarter of what she did, it was not his profession. But she was hurt now, perhaps worse than she had every been, and Eamonn wanted her to rest, to relax now that she was safe in his tent. Unfortunately, this was not the end for him, there was still more battles to be had, he suspected, but he was no stranger to fighting with inflictions. He caught her sitting up, out of the corner of his eyes, and lifted them to focus on his wife. He frowned. She should not be trying to sit up and strain herself. "Aislin...I will be fine...the physician came while you were sleeping, and bandaged my shoulder...he went to fetch more wrappings and salve of some sort for my side.." But then he paused. She reached out to him, and with a soft sigh, he nodded lightly, and carefully, slowly rose. The physican would lecture him about moving so much, adding injury to his side all the more, but he did not care. Moving over to the cot that would have been his to sleep and rest on, he sat down on the edge of the cot, and took her hand in his larger one. He gave her hand a light squeeze. "My love, my wife, you should be laying down and resting. I suspect that these wounds you have gotten are more severe than you are accustomed to. Now come, lay down."

Aislin Creed- Aislin knew her limits and she knew she needed the rest. She was no fool, she was going to take this time that she could be safe in Eamonn's tent from the eyes of others and the enemy at the moment. Of course...anything could happen so she did plan to stay on the cot as long as she could tob e rested and ready to move when it was called for. Eamonn made sure she knew the physician had come while she was asleep and she could only give a nod to that. It was not the point, she wanted to help him now while no one was around. As soon as his hand touched hers, slender fingers curled around his and laced them together, pressing softer hands against rougher ones in a firm grasp as he eased his body down. Her strong husband. She smiled softly, knowing it would reassure him that she was ok, in the sense that she was alive and not dying before him. His love. "Aye...ah know My heart...my husband. Ah wanted to see ye and when ye were so far away, it was hard to se past the blur. nay...this nay be as bad as the wolf bite ah believe. It do be hurting though, but look at ye. Ye are nay as hurt as normal." spoken softly as she leaned forward and spread her knees so her body could move between her own legs and she could press a soft kiss to his bare, sweat and dirt covered shoulder. "How long before we move? Ah'll rest while ye rest.."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn was concerned for the well being of his wife, knowing that she was not adapted and suited for a life of war as he had been. One could not enter into the fray of bloodshed and be expected to know all there was to battle. You learned the more you were in, just as it was so for her in the matters of medical administrations. He did not know even a quarter of what she did, it was not his profession. But she was hurt now, perhaps worse than she had every been, and Eamonn wanted her to rest, to relax now that she was safe in his tent. Unfortunately, this was not the end for him, there was still more battles to be had, he suspected, but he was no stranger to fighting with inflictions. He caught her sitting up, out of the corner of his eyes, and lifted them to focus on his wife. He frowned. She should not be trying to sit up and strain herself. "Aislin...I will be fine...the physician came while you were sleeping, and bandaged my shoulder...he went to fetch more wrappings and salve of some sort for my side.." But then he paused. She reached out to him, and with a soft sigh, he nodded lightly, and carefully, slowly rose. The physican would lecture him about moving so much, adding injury to his side all the more, but he did not care. Moving over to the cot that would have been his to sleep and rest on, he sat down on the edge of the cot, and took her hand in his larger one. He gave her hand a light squeeze. "My love, my wife, you should be laying down and resting. I suspect that these wounds you have gotten are more severe than you are accustomed to. Now come, lay down."

Aislin Creed- Aislin knew her limits and she knew she needed the rest. She was no fool, she was going to take this time that she could be safe in Eamonn's tent from the eyes of others and the enemy at the moment. Of course...anything could happen so she did plan to stay on the cot as long as she could tob e rested and ready to move when it was called for. Eamonn made sure she knew the physician had come while she was asleep and she could only give a nod to that. It was not the point, she wanted to help him now while no one was around. As soon as his hand touched hers, slender fingers curled around his and laced them together, pressing softer hands against rougher ones in a firm grasp as he eased his body down. Her strong husband. She smiled softly, knowing it would reassure him that she was ok, in the sense that she was alive and not dying before him. His love. "Aye...ah know My heart...my husband. Ah wanted to see ye and when ye were so far away, it was hard to se past the blur. nay...this nay be as bad as the wolf bite ah believe. It do be hurting though, but look at ye. Ye are nay as hurt as normal." spoken softly as she leaned forward and spread her knees so her body could move between her own legs and she could press a soft kiss to his bare, sweat and dirt covered shoulder. "How long before we move? Ah'll rest while ye rest.."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Inwardly, Eamonn was still shaken up at seeing Aislin covered in blood, both her own and that of the men she killed. That frightened him because of the fact that she could have perished and he would not have known until the end, when her body was brought back. She could have been killed, and that scared him. Eamonn tried not to show that fear, for what good would it do now? She was safe, here with him, and he could not ask for anything more. He was proud of her for surviving this long, angry at her for stealing away in the army, and worried for her wounds and pain suffered. He went to war so she did not have to...and yet here she was. He was glad she was alive, VERY glad, but still he could not get the thought from his mind. It lingered, but with time it would fall into the memory bank with the others. Eamonn nodded. He understood her need for him to be close of it was because she could not see him, but Eamonn wanted her to lay down, to sleep in peace after fighting so hard. Once again, she was not conditioned for warfare like he was. "I will be fine Aislin. They are just more scars to..." He shrugged off his own wounds. They would not be the last to be received. Aislin leaned forward and kissed his dirty shoulder, and he sighed softly, and if she noticed and looked closely, muscles were shaking lightly. "A day or so...but you are going back to our home to be with our daughter. I will send a few horsemen to escort you back." He replied.

Aislin Creed-Aislin knew they would only be more scars to his body, it was why she said what she had said. These were no where near the worst of his wounds that he held while they had been as one and he had worse before they had even looked into each other's eyes. As she pulled back from that kiss, her eyes went to his shoulder and saw the muscles shivering under the skin. Was he cold? At his words, her eyes moved to the side profile of his face. "Eamonn...I have come this far...my reasons for coming are not the reasons I will be staying. I can not let you go through this alone, not this time. You could have died. I can not turn back now, but I know that I can not dive into the front line as I did before. My body is still getting use to these conditions." her free hand went to his shoulder to gently touch his skin. "Are ye cold? Would ye like to lay down with me?" she did not want to take his place of rest from him, but she knew her husband. He would sleep in the chair if he felt it would give her a comfortable place to lay and sleep. He always did that, even before they were in love.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn was not cold, for there were no goosbumps, and the temperature of the room did not warrant a chill of any sort in a physical sense. That bit of fear and surprise from the events that had transpired. Hazel eyes watched the folds of the tent just beyond. Nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, slowly, minding the hole in his side. But when she said she could not turn back, Eamonn frowned deeply and turned his eyes to his wife. She was going to stay? After all this? Why? The chance of death was always there, for war was never an absolution. Eamonn did not want her involved in this war at ALL. "Aislin.You are NOT going back there. You are a beautiful wife, a loving mother, and a skilled healer. If our home is threatened, I trust you can hold your own. But DO NOT march into battle. I don't want you in the battles. Tending the wounded at the camp...I will accept. But as far as riding to war...No. Absolutely NOT." She asked if he was cold, and he shook his head. Her touch...how he missed it. "No, I am not cold...There is not enough room for you to rest in the cot comfortable with me as well. Get some rest, I wait for the physican to finish administering my side."

Aislin Creed- That smile that once greeted her husband began to fade with his words. She understood, what he meant. She understood what he wanted, but did he understand what she wanted? What she said? This was one of the things that caused their seperation in the first place. " Eamonn please understand that ah respect ye husband..more so now then ever. Ah respect what ye do, but ye are nay listening to what ah want or trying to compromise with me at all. Ye are telling me what will happen and leaving it at that. Why can ye nay compromise with me, speak to me as ye wife and nay ye daughter. Did ye forget what happened at the battle field so quickly? How well we worked together? We use to do that often...but now..now ye are so head strong that ye bash yers into mine and knock me from my feet before ah have a chance to be ready for the impact. Stop! Stop husband....stop making my choices for me and start making them with me." he said he was not cold, then perhaps he was angry. Aislin felt he had every right to be, but so did she. After all that...he went right back to his old ways. After the words he spoke..it hurt. It made her want to be distant all over again.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn did understand, but it was the same conversation that he had with his sister, but Bess did not listen. In his humble opinion, women did not belong in war. Women that were not trained fighters and had seen their share of service in war did not need to be on the field. But that was his belief because of how he had been raised. Women did not march to battle. They stayed at home, and while they were prefectly capable of wielding a sword, their purpose was not to go galavanting off to fight with the men. Someone needed to protect the lands, and that was the duty that woman had been charged with while men were away. Such was what he expected here, but in Scotland, this was not so. Eamonn respected women that could wield a blade, truly he was glad that Aislin knew how to use a sword, but he did not want her rushing off to fight. Others would have need of her skills to heal a woman's husband. With the number of wounded, a physician lost was the same as ten good men dying. "Aislin..THIS is not something to be compromised. I did NOT forget what happened at the battle field. For reasons I do not know, you went off to fight WITHOUT my knowing and without a 'compromise' as you say. Yes, I will not deny how well we worked together, and that I am proud of you for, to hold your own. But Aislin...I love you..I want you safe. Who will tend to our family if we are gone? I trust Aman-ud-Din, yes, but not like YOU. Please....PLEASE do not go back onto the field of war. You are being headstrong as well in this, do NOT lay more blame and guilt upon me than I already bear." He replied once more, frowning and trying so hard to mask the fear that was surfacing again. Go to war? Now? Yes, she was here now, but what if he could not have been there to help her? Now every woman was seemingly taking the duties of men, soldiers, and making their minds split from concentration of the battle to protecting their lovers, their sister, who in this case knew less of war than he did. Shaking his head, he attempted to stand

Aislin Creed- Without his compromise. Aislin frowned, sending those wide lips dowards at the corners. Her ocean eyes grew more serious and met his without a flutter. Perhaps now was not the best time to speak of such, for they were both hurt, tired and confused. It had ben some time since they had been together for so long, even longer of a time since they had held each other, kissed each other or made love. Aislin finally pulled her hand from his shoulder as he spoke on, pleading with her to not go to war any more. How could she deny him now? She was being slightly head strong and for once, she was doing something instead of backing down. Now...that old feeling came over and she felt the tears working once more behind her ocean colored eyes, ready to push forward and fall down her high cheek bones. Blame..guilt. She heard those words, but he had yet to tell her anything. " Tell me Eamonn...what are ye feeling now? Tell me, my husband, what ye have been thinking, feeling while we were apart. Are ye afraid? Are ye lost? Ah do nay understand...why ye can be the head strong one..and ah feel as though ah must always bend and do as ah be told. Perhaps.. ah do be more tired then ah think..but that be how ah feel in this moment..."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- What was he feeling now? There were many things that he was feeling at the moment, so many that Eamonn could not lay a finger on to describe acutely. Guilt. His stubbornness had caused him to fail to be her emotional support. He did not know how to easily convey his thoughts and emotions. It was new to him. He feared his distance from her, his fear of losing her love made him afraid and sad, sad because he could not be the man she deserved. Eamonn stood there, beside the cot, and closed his eyes. Rarely did he discuss his feelings...it made him feel weak...exposed...and those were things he did not like. Always he had to be the strong one, the rock that men looked to for protection. But they never asked him for emotional confidence, and he never gave it. The tall Marshal tensed. "...Because...that is the way it is supposed to be. I have been feeling guilt and shame while we were apart because I failed to be a good husband. I lost my temper and STRUCK you...no man should EVER strike his wife. My father didn't...and I regret ever doing so. I failed to be your emotional support...you said so yourself. I...I do not know how to deal with more than one emotion at a time. Aislin...my LIFE has been pain, death, and serverity of war. I did not confide in others, and they did not confide in me for cousel in matters of heart and mind. I feared that you lost your love for me.. I feared I fell from your good grace...and you ran away because of me. I have said this to Bess, and I will say it to you. You are NOT a warrior. Your place is NOT among the men in battle. Should war come upon the doorsteps, then yes, you have the strength of a soldier to defend your home. But I cannot concentrate when I am worrying about about you. You are a physican, perhaps the best in Skye. We need you HERE. Tending the wounded...I need you here...so I do not have to worry if my wife is dead upon the field, where I should have been to protect her....I GO to war so you don't have to! Why can you not understand that?" Eamonn sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, trying so hard not to yell at her. The physican came in, and Eamonn noded to him, before making his way back to the chair and sitting down. The remaining bits of metal were pulled out, and the wound was cleaned and sown. Salve to help it heal was applied, before the man wrapped it around mid-torso, covering the wound. When the man was done, Eamonn dismissed him, and snatched up the skin of whiskey, downing it to drown the bit of pain that lingered.

Aislin Creed- A heavy sigh fell from her thin, wide lps. "Eamonn please sit-" but her words never truly made it past that. Eamonn...finally started to open up and Aislin listened as she always had been waiting to do. Her ever lasting patience came into use then and she waitd with her hands in her lap as she watched him speak. So serious...it was nothing new. Eamonn was a man of the sword and spear, that would never change. New knowledge moved into her mind as her husband spoke on. There lay his guilt. In hitting her and not being her support as she had said to him. In being a good husband and thinking she lost her love for him. how he had told Bess and would tell her as well that she was not a warrior and not meant to be here. She did not need him to remind her of her skills and where they lay nor did she need him to tell her about how he went to war so she did not have to. Aislin was about to speak, but the healer came in and she paused her words, feeling there was no need for another to listen to their conversation. once more she waited with patience for Eamonn to finish being tended to and then dismiss the male. Once the flap of the tent closed, leaving the world outside the thin material, Aislin looked back to her husband and spoke. "Eamonn. Ye are right in many ways. Ah'll nay deny this. War is new to me and ah have no need to see it again any time soon after this. Ah was nay born a warrior as ye were nor do ah want to become one. Ah am a healer...after my Ma....and so it shall be, however...here me well husband. Ah have forgiven ye for loosing ye temper..ah have never saw ye as a bad husband for ye always put me first and yer own second. Ah told ye once that husbands and wives be different when it comes to confiding. if ye can nay confide in me...then there should be no other for ye to confide in. It has been a year Eamonn since we have been as one in marriage...it be time to start living as such. Share things with me..for ah know ye think about more then war. Ah have seen other lives in yer eyes. Ah nay be a warrior aye...but ye nay be a statue either...when ye do nay tell me things..ah am lost and left in the dark. " she paused and thought on how to phrase her next words." Do ye remember....the dark? Do ye remember the first time ye confided within me? Ye drank more then ye fill and we went to yer room upstairs over the tavern. The door was shut, but we had no light to guide us. Only each other until we stumbled to the floor by the bed. We were lost..but it did nay matter for ye grabbed me and held me close. Ye told me yer fears that first night....ye hopes and what ye would never have, but wanted. Look around ye Eamonn. Look around ye while the light still shines in this tent. Everything..ye wanted...ah have given ye ...we have given each other. All because...ye told me what ye wanted and ah understood. Ah saw ye more clearly in the dark...then ah do in the light. So go now husband...kill the light that burns over there...seal this tent in darkness and let me see ye once more. if that be the only way...then so be it. Ah never lost my love for ye...ah never will, but ye must come to me now."

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn loved his wife dearly. He would die for her, but he did not understand her logic sometimes, and that frustrated him. He tried to make sense of it, but nothing came. Women were suppose to be upon the home front, protecting the familes and home while men were away. Why were they now so stubborn in breaking tradition? Eamonn did not understand the need to go to war if one went already. Eamonn did not want their daughter to lose too parents instead of one... that had been another fear of his. Once the physican was gone, Eamonn finished the whiskey in the skin, and sat aside the sack of once filled amber liquid. Aislin's voice sounded once more, and inwardly he sighed. Eamonn was not born into anything. He grew, and this was where life had turned him to. He had no plans to be a solider before, as a child he did not know. But the death of his father had quickly made him decide what it was he would do with his life. He listened to her, silently, as she spoke, and he swallowed hard, unable to meet her gaze. She never saw him as a bad husband? Why? He failed to provide something to her, a critical ingredient, and she still loved him? But then again, Eamonn knew little of women and their minds. But she was right. If he could not go to her, than who would he turn to if not his own wife? He loved her, trusted her, and never before had she left him doubting. It had been long enough that they should start confiding in the other, speaking, discussing, and supporting. But it could not happen overnight for a man like Eamonn. It was such a foreign concept to him, Eamonn did not understand it all. Aislin brought up the memory of the night he had been so intoxicated, he sat upon the floor in the room he had been and confessed parts of his soul to her. Eamonn exposed himself to her, and it was a feeling he never felt before. Finally, hazel eyes lifted as she instucted him to douse the lightsand secure the tent flap shut. For a moment he arched a brow, unsure of this...but soon he nodded, and inwardly sighed. They needed to talk it out..and it could not wait much longer. Slowly, he rose from the chair he had been seated in, and crossed to the tent to the opening flap, and quickly tied it around the inner front pole securely. When they were alone in a darkness, the Marshal wandered over to the bed and sat beside her. "I was not born with naked steel in my hand. I did not anticipate that I would achieve feat in this way...but I have lived through my mistakes a nd learned from them...and I hope that you do not hurt yourself badly...I need you...here..."

[Creative Consortium]

Aislin Creed- Aislin loved Eamonn because he was a true knight and a good man. She never had a doubt to his love and she knew he would never love another in the manner of husband and wife. Only her. She did not have to worry about him flirting with other women or wandering around to find someone better then her in looks. Eamonn was not petty and he saw her for who she was. He saw her as a woman and as someone she wanted to be in Inverness. While others called her a witch he was the first to defend her and jump to her side. Finally he was moving to seal the tent so no one else could enter. The light was smudged out and the one by the cot remained, keeping a dim light for him to find his way to her. Once he sat down, Aislin leaned over and blew out the candle, letting darkness creep over them. His words...they always found her here. They were more true and she did not have to worry on how he kept his face emotionless. All she had to do was listen to his voice and know what emotion lay within him. He was not born as he was now..she knew this. It was because of his father's death that he became this man. "Then here...ah shall stay. Come..lay down with me for a while. We have much to speak on. Ah have things ah must confess to ye." She shifted, making the cot of hay and wood creak under her so he could lay down. If she had to, she would lay half of herself over him with care so they both could fit. In the dark...they held each other and there was no need for the hiding of emotions on the face. She felt his shivers and tried to ease him with her body close, safe. " Ah came to war...to understand ye and why ye are. It may have nay been the right reason, but ah understand why ye are so stoic. War...is nay pretty...war is nay filled with hope. Years of this..would wear me down as well. Ye have every right to be as ye are Eamonn, so perhaps it is unfair ah ask ye to change, but ah do nay want ye to change in the sense of being another. Ah love ye as ye are...ah need ye to change in the sense of letting me in. Does that make sense?"

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Once the tent had bee closed, and the light extinguished, save for the candle beside the bed, the tall Marshal made his way over to the cot,and lowered his frame onto it. The candle was blown out, and soon all that remained was the darkness and light that came from under the tent from torches and fires outside. The cot was big enough for someone like Eamonn to lay down comfortable, but it was not wide enough for two people. So, they had to shift about, he laid on the cot with his wife on top of him. or partly on top of him. Confession. Eamonn could see her face partly, he could make it out, but as for emotions, they were hard to read upon her features clearly. Once she was comfortable, Eamonn wrapped his arms around her with care, minding his shoulder and his side. Still he wore his boots and breeches, having forgotten to take them off before he climbed in. Silently, he listened to her as she spoke. She came to this war to understand him, and Eamonn frowned, and sighed softly. But...she understood. She understood why he was stoic, reserve, and how war could harden a heart. But still, he had to let her in, and that was hard to do, not because he did not want her in, rather, he had not let anyone in for years of his life. Change was...hard. "Yes...it makes sense..." He whispered in reply, closing his eyes tightly. "I have not opened up to anyone in long years... Aislin...do not expect me to suddenly start spouting my emotions. But...I understand you...and I am trying..truly...I am."

Aislin Creed- If Aislin had the strength to take off her husband's boots and breeches, she would have so she could feel his flesh against her own, but they blocked each other, even now. His lower end was covered by clothing and upper was exposed, while her upper was covered and lower end exposed. A taunt..a tease. Eyes drifted upwards in the dark so she could see the outline of her husband's face while his husky voice curled around her and pulled her close. "Eamonn..ye have been saying the same thing for a year now. Ah know my heart...but be aware that ah may start pushing, because ye have nay even made a small change..and there needs to be that at least. Ye have opened up to me a few times Eamonn.... ye can do it again. Do nay fear me. Ah shall never hold what ye feel is yer weakness against ye. Ah be here to give ye strength and take strength from ye. We be human Eamonn..we must stop acting as if we are nay." a soft kiss was placed to his right peck muscle, softly. "Eamonn...ah am sorry that ah was nay there before ye left. Ah am sorry ah did nay see ye off, but ah had already left by then. Something...happened before ah left that pushed me to go. The man....the one ye tried to kill that night when ye saw him kiss me. He tried to take more then a kiss later and ah fought him. believe me ah fought him and barely got away. Ah never lead him to believe anything...ah swear...ah never made it seem that ah was nay yers...his thoughts were his own. "

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn was aware of a year having passed. He that, but for four months of that time had been spent on foreign soil in the war of Inverness. He was trying, but what Aislin was asking for would take more than a few months or even a singular year. There had been a few changes, he was more expressiver, perhaps not sharing his thoughts, but he did let her in...slowly, bit by bit. He tried, but Aislin was not pleased. Tensing, he turned his face away. "I do not fear you, Aislin. I have tried, though it seems that my efforts had made little a notice. I am trying, Aislin...I am..but it is habit...a habit forged years and years ago to keep myself and those I cared about safe.." He whispered, almost stiffly. However, that kiss to his chest made him sigh again, and swallowe hard. Oh how he missed her lips against his flesh, her body against his like this, and her words close and not a figment of his imagination. But then a topic came up that he did not think he would admit to. That man. The disgraceful man that kissed his wife and tried to take more from her. Eamonn knew, Eamonn had seen it, and put a stop to it as she ran off. For a long moment he was quiet, unsure if he should say it or not. But she was his wife, and she wanted him to be more open. Would she think ill of him? Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "I know. I saw him...I warned him that I would kill him if he tried anything..that is what I told him the day he kissed you...well...I saw him trying to chase you..and I caught him. He is dead now."

Aislin Creed- It was the best thing and worst thing in the world to be laying upon her husband. She could feel every muscle tense when she said something wrong in his mind or to his ears...or even something that struck him a way she had not meant it, while also being this close to him and feeling safe, protected. She did not want him to think she was unhappy or that she did not notice. She had...in truth, blamed herself. Had she been gifted with better emotions..she could help him with his. A hand rose up his chest, feeling the darker dusting of wheat colored hair there before she paused and turned her head upwards so her face was no longer laying on his shoulder. " Eamonn.." she whispered. Not sure what to say to him. He...he killed him? It was one thing to kill a man in battle...but to kill a man who she knew had no weapons..how did Eamonn feel? She had just sent off one of her three hand maidens with Sorcha to take her to Eamonn for the night. The castle was but a few inches away and as the maiden moved forward, Aislin felt a hand snatch her from the dark, yanking her towards a solid body. At first, she thought it to be her husband until she came face to face with Clemus. Eyes widen as he pushed her to the ground with his own weight and held her there, his chest upon her own, making it hard to breath. Once, Aislin had been raped before, but then emotions did not fill her. Since seeing that girl killed and then her body deviled, a new meaning of the word came to mind and Aislin panicked. She fought him with everything she had as he tugged her skirts up and tried to force his way between her thighs. She could feel his need of her body, but it was not a shared one. He was not her husband. Aislin punched him across the face blind siding him for a moment so she could roll them and push him to the ground to strike him again in his jaw. Every breath was taken in deeply as she moved to her feet and ran as fast as she could, never looking back until she was in her own room.[/i] "Ye killed him? What happened Eamonn. Please tell me." Her hand kept moving over his chest, not wanting him to think she would shy away, still...her husband killed someone that was not ...in war. She would not judge him..she had to know the story first.[/color]

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn pressed his lips together into a tight lip. Clemus had not been completely weaponless, but the man tried to rape his wife, and that was an offense that Eamonn took personally and in fearing for the dignity and integrity of his wife, he killed him. But now, by his boldness, Clemus had been put to death, and would no more try to harrass his wife. Part of him expected Aislin to recoil from him in disgust. Eamonn was not asshamed that he killed him, for as he saw it, he was protecting his wife, and the man committed an attempted offense. What was to say that he would not have tried to kill her? That dagger in his boot could have been used for that. Eamonn warned him that he would take his life if he ever saw him near his wife again. True to his words, Clemus was put in his place. Clemus' face twisted in anger. He could not have her willingly, she denied him and would stay with a man who was colder than ice, who did not love her at all, or so he proclaimed. Jealousy and envy bit him hard, and he tried to throw himself upon her. Aislin fought him, and got away. That, was the scene that unfolded before his eyes as he came home that day. Gloved fingers coiled into hard fists as his eyes narrowed into thin and deadly slits. The helm was tossed to the ground, and as Aislin ran far away, Eamonn was upon Clemus, and slammed into him like a bull. Enraged, Eamonn grabbed Clemus's throat and began choking him.[/i] 'I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM HER! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU BASTARD!' Eamonn snarled, banging Clemus' head backward into the ground under them. Clemus gagged, choked, and wheezed as he tried to pry the Marshal's iron-like grip from his neck. Seeing it would not work, Clemus reached into his boot and pulled out the knife. Seeing the gleam of silver in his periphial vision, his eyes turned and a hand moved from his throat and caught his wrist, stopping the dagger from plunging into his neck. Eamonn wrestled with Clemus, forcing his arm down and slamming his hand on the ground over and over until he dropped the knife. Clemus brought a knee up to kick the Marshal in the abdomen, and Eamonn did wince, giving Clemus time to shove the blonde man away. The two rolled on the ground, sending punches and kicks into each other. Eamonn head-butted Clemus to send him into shock on top of him, before reaching over for the knife and slicing him across the chest. Clemus gasp, and Eamonn kicked him off, before landing on top of him and stabbing him over and over with the knife. Blood splashed onto his face as he ripped the blade from his chest.[/i] Eamonn sighed. There was no point in hiding it from her. "He tried to rape you. He was going to chase you down and force you, but I cut him off. I choked him, and he pulled out a knife from his boot I suppose, so we wrestled on the ground for some time, before I killed him with his own knife. I was not going to let him rape my wife against her will, for there was no knowing if he was going to kill you in the end or not." He said stiffly, though not wanting to elaborate on the details of it all. Eamonn killed him, and that was that.

Aislin Creed- Aislin waited not able to see his face as clearly as she would have liked to at the moment, but knowing he was thinking. Perhaps debating on what to tell her, how much, how little? Aislin wanted his side...it did not matter how much or little he would tell her at this point. So Clemus did have a weapon in his boot as most men seemed to now a days and he pulled it out on Eamonn? What if Eamonn had lost...what if Clemus would have gotten the upper hand. Life was life..death was death, but Eamonn meant more to Aislin by far. "Ah did nay want ye to see that. Ah can nay even begin to imagine what it must have been like for ye to walk upon that. " Aislin had been afraid...more so because when war came to inverness, she had witness rape at it's worse. Sick men...doing a deed that was already shameful, but killing during and after...was worse and foul. It made the person seem like they were a item..not a living thing. Aislin did have a thought to ' what if ' when it came to Clemus. It was why, she could not let it happen and fought with all she had even though she was tired and weak from not eating or sleeping as she should have been. Had she not had the strength...Eamonn would have still been there to save her. He was but a heart beat away...her tears finally released themselves down her cheeks as she moved her hand to reach up and touch the side of his face before she shifted over him and leaned forward, pressing her lips close to his. " Ye were right there...if ah had nay the strength...ye would have saved me either way. Ye are nay a bad husband Eamonn. Ye are caring...even though ye show it differently." she was about to kiss him, when she paused. "Did anyone see ye....does anyone else know?"

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn did not care if he lost, for he could have. So upset by the actions of the man, Eamonn threw himself Clemus and in blind rage, he killed him, which could have gone against him. But did Eamonn care about himself? Not when it involved his wife and family. Aislin came before him, his daughter came before him, and he would not sit back and idly watch a man define and shame his wife. Once before she had been raped, but that had been before Eamonn had met her, and that was the only reason the man was still living. He didn't care if he did die in such a battle, but he was not going to let it go. He couldn't This time, Eamonn won, for he was fueled by rage and fear for the safety of his wife. Had Aislin not have gotten away, Eamonn would have still snatched him off. At first, he did not know how she would respond. Would she think him horrid for killing a man not in battle? Part of him hoped not, the part had faith that she would love him unconditionally. Hands touched the sides of his face, and his eyes opened, even though he could not see her in the dark. Yes, he was there for her. He would always be if it could be helped. So close.. so close but yet she paused. "A few of my horsemen did...but they knew what had happened, and vowed they would not tell, for they would have done the same had it been their wives in danger. No one else need know. Not my sister, Adam or anyone else." Eamonn was unsure if he could be beheaded or jailed for such an offense, but right now, Eamonn didn't care. If so, he would die for his beliefs. It was a self defense for his wife to preserve her dignity and fight for her life and honour. His men had taken care of the body while he was gone from his mind. Carried away into the dead of night and burned to a pile of ash so no one could find him in solid form again. Pulling her body against his more, he could not stand it anymore. Eamonn lifted his head and craned his neck forward to press his lips to hers in a fiery, passionate kiss

Aislin Creed- Aislin gave a soft breath in sigh as he spoke of only a few knowing. "Let us keep it that way. Ah do nay want to risk loosing ye." She would have said more, but Eamonn's head lifted and his chin moved forward. As if knowing and remembering on it's own, her body moved to press her lips to his and seal them in a more passionate kiss. She would never deny him again...she would not push him away now. Not when he needed her to show him she still loved him and did not think him a bad man for what he did. Lips pressed against his own as her breath was sucked into her lungs. How she missed him so terribly much. She could not stand it much longer..she had to love him. She had to let him know that she wanted more then just to make a child with him. She had left him in such a wrong manner before, in their room. She had used him for his seed and that was not fair. her left hand lowered and moved over those slightly swollen abs, feeling the ribs just before hitting them and moving lower to feel his hips bones. He had been starving himself...because her love was thought to be gone. She could not let him starve of anything any more. She had to help him and show him love. Fingers found the cords of his breeches and began to unlace them as their kiss went on. She pressed her lips to his and moved quickly, with every bit of passion she had for him, pouring it from her body and into his like water to a man that had been lost in the desert for so long. Pulling back from the kiss, she went slightly wild, leaning down to kiss him any where close. His neck, his chest, a nipple, a peck muscle, the other peck muscle. Her lips kept moving over him, wanting to kiss him from head to toe and cherish him as he did to her. Hands finally got his cords undone and she moved, wincing as she moved too fast and her head pounded, but not stopping as she turned her body around and started to yank at his boots, not in a very suave manner, more like frustrated and nearly went forward and over the cot twice trying to get the boots from him. "Damn ye boots..." she mumbled before she the last one somewhere in the area and then turned back around to kiss his stomach, pressing a moist one hard to his muscles. Aislin had never been to wild and in charge with Eamonn...not this much.

Eamonn of Sevenwaters- Eamonn kissed her back passionately, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close. He missed her, terribly, and now that he had her, he did not want to loose her again. With the absence of his armour, it was easier to see the toll that their argument and this whole fiasco had on him. His ribs were more apparent, as were his hip bones. While there still had been muscle covering the bones of his body, Eamonn was thinner, though it was hard to tell with the layers of armour her wore, and even then the only evidence rested in that of his face, cheekbones sticking out more than they use to, and his face overall appearing thinner than it had before. He had been starving himself because he had been starved of love. His need for her was greater than the mundane things that the body itself needed naturally. He thought that her love had been gone, and it was hard to think of anything else but that. However, he now knew that she loved him, and he would not need to forsake his body anymore. Eamonn leaned into the kiss, and as her hands ran down his chest, he sighed against her lips. He wanted her love, desperately. He didn't care who heard at this point. His wife could have died, they had not been speaking for weeks now. He wanted his lover, the only woman in the world to take a chance and love a rough warrior as he. Fingers were felt upon the cords of his breeches as she began to undo them quickly, the pressure to his groin felt, and he groaned inwardly. Hands gripped the ends of her tunic and pulled, pulling it up and to her arms, where their frenzy in getting the other undressed was preventing them from getting the materials off. Her lips left his, much to his dismay, but they traveled elsewhere, moving down his body and sending shivers of pleasure up and down his spine. Only she could create such a feeling from him, such an excitement that made him want her instantly, especially after being without her for so long. When his breeches had been unlaced, he winced a bit as he sat up, using the muscles of his arms and straining the shoulder that had been shot with an arrow, and causing movement in his side. He didn't care. Damn boots. His arm wrapped around her, keeping her from falling off of the bed before the boots came off and his long feet were finally free. When she turned back to him, Aislin urged him, physically, to lay back down. Damn and he had to be on the bottom! It didn't matter to Eamonn. Sighing, he pushed his breeches down as far as he could go, and Aislin snatched them down the rest of the way, flinging them over her shoulder to land wherever they may fall. His large hands reached for her tunic, and pulled, tugging it roughly over her head and ridding it of her body before tossing it away too. The cot creaked and groaned under their weight as his arms wrapped around her bare frame and moved to cup her rear, his hands exploring and reacquainting themselves with the soft flesh of his wife, minding her bandaged wounds

Finally, after being apart for little more then a month, Aislin and Eamonn made love. With no care of who would hear them or what others would think, they found themselves again on the break of war. What might seem like such a small act was one that twisted their bond tighter then ever. It was now about more then just the need to make a seed, it was about more then just the need of flesh. It was about the sharing of love in a physical aspect. When all was said and done and their bodies could no longer express the joys of being husband and wife, they held each other on Eamonn's cot and tried to get some rest before they would need to move once more. Cormack, Eamonn's second in command gave a glance to the tent in which his Lord and Lady rested in before turning to Eamonn's third with a wide smile. " Finally...they have some peace. We shall let them be just a bit longer to cherish each other's arms, then we will regretfully disturb them. Go now..find your rest. " A Celtic word of love and life was given towards the tent before he moved off to his own in search of rest.[/font]

~~~END THREAD~~~

[Creative Consortium]

The Breath of Death

Aislin knew arrows, she knew sword wounds, bites, wagon wheel accidents..brushed bones and opened tissue, but not spikes. Not like these. He was spitting up blood and that was never a good sign. The rider came back around and jumped from his horse, moving to stand behind Aislin. He heard those words and moved to do just that, walking around the contraption and pulling his sword out to cut the rope. Aislin shook off the urge to cry, but Eamonn made it so hard. When he told her he loved her..she held his face tighter. "Do nay fade when we just came together. Wait...stay with me as ah have with ye..just a bit longer my heart. Ah love ye. Ah need ye.." The man moved back around and put a hand on Aislin's shoulder, telling her they could move it now. She shifted, letting go of Eamonn to move around to the side of the spikes, getting as close to Eamonn as she could to hold him against the cliff while the other male wrapped gloved hands around the wood and pulled with all his might, sliding the spikes from Eamonn's body as Aislin held him to the cliff. The moment he had the things away, Aislin hurried to press her body in front of her husband, wrapping her arms around him as they both went sliding down the wall of the cliff to their knees. She held Eamonn tightly in her arms and eased him down to his back, though it was hard..he was heavy and despite her attempt they both landed with a THUD to the ground, her over top of him. She scrambled to her knees and started to franticly undo his armor. "My lady...we must move him.." "No...nay yet...ah must see how bad it be." finally his plate was removed, but the mallie was still upon his body. Glendon and Lochan finally made it to them, their horses making Aislin turn." Find something to help carry him back...quickly."

Eamonn did not mean to make her cry, and had she not been here, she would have no need to see him like this. However, part of him was glad to see her, for it was her face he wanted to see last before he died. Another rider came, and he shifted his gaze to look upon the man as he did as he asked. Once more his eyes turned to his wife as she asked him not to fade. He was trying...for her...for his daughter. His head was still spinning from that blow, which did nothing to help. His body was in shock, nerves stunned at the strange blow. Aislin called him back...but he did not listen. This was his fault, his mistake. She needed him...Aislin was strong, with or without him, but he did not want to leave her. May the gods spare him and have mercy. When the time came to remove the contraption from him, Eamonn closed his eyes tightly and braced himself. RIP. He cried out in pain as the wooden spikes were ripped from his chest, the tips bloodied and letting the riverlets of blood pour down his chest and armour. He felt her body against his, trying to hold him and ease him to the ground. THUD. Eamonn groaned. Eamonn tried to take a deep breath, but it hurt to do so. A weight was lifted from him as the chest plate was removed, revealing the broken arrows on his back, which were pushed in now even more, the one in his stomach, and the two gaping holes from the spikes. "Aislin... f-forgive me...I was foolish..." He was growing paler by the minute as he was slowly bleeding to death. He had to hold on...for Aislin...for his daughter. For his sister. Again his eyes fluttered, the constant struggle to sleep apparent as his eyes rolled from time to time, and lids closing for lower periods of time

Aislin turned back as she heard her husband's faint voice. His bloody smile was haunting her..but she had to look back at him. She smiled, even as tears rolled down her cheeks and burned her blood and dirt covered face. "Aye ye stupid warmonger...ye were. Very foolish. If ah was a crazy wife...ah would be beating ye now..lucky for ye..ah can nay get angry." she held his gloved hand in her own, holding it tightly. "Ye are bad off Eamonn...we have nay had worse together..but ye have had worse alone. Hold on...do nay drift." They had tog et him off the field...somewhere safe. Anywhere at this point would do. Finally the brothers came back with four banner poles and linked them together with string, placing Eamonn's body carefully on them so they could place him on it and drag him, holding the top end while the bottom moved along the ground. Just enough to get him away from the direct field and into the out skirts. There, Aislin had to stop them. Finbar was bad off and limping, he needed rest. Echo had spraned her ankle and needed it as well. Eamonn was going to need treatment now. Aislin had no whiskey on her. She had a needle, but very little thread. "Any skins have whiskey?" Glendon to the rescue, moved to offer his skin to her. She remembered this..." Ah need some of Echo and Finbar's hair. Quickly. " The other male helped her peel Eamonn's mallie from him, careful of the arrows sticking out. They would have to stay for now..she could not take them out with what she had. The holes from the spikes needed to be closed now. Cleaning the bits of hair and needle with the whiskey, she threaded carefully and quickly before telling the men to hold Eamonn down just in case. Among other bodies, on blood soaked ground and without the comfort of privacy, Eamonn was sowed together in the two places that could cause his death. Aislin had to do so with care and make sure no deeper damage was done, or closing him up would be pointless. Eyes were wiped at constantly, as she kept the blury vision at bay. She had to try...she had to. "Eamonn....ye remember our first kiss....how ah grabbed ye face and pulled ye towards me. Ye thought the bag ah carried was too heavy for me. And then the second one...ye were so angry with me. Ye thought ah used ye. "

Eamonn took her hand and held it as tightly as his body would allow him. He was a fool to rush off, but he was so angry. He wanted vengeance for the suffering the people caused his family. He wanted retribution and he desired it so much that now it had costed him more than he wanted. She smiled, even now. Such was a good sight on a pained eyes. He was a warmonger. It was all he knew, it had been the forging of his life. That and horses. Even if she was crazy, Eamonn would still love Aislin. He always had, since the day he grew to know her. She was the only one to let him go outside after he washed ashore. She took care of him, even now. She loved him, and no man could ask for more. For a woman to love someone like him at all, it was a cherishable gift to have her love and affection only. He was holding on for her, for Aislin, he would do anything. When the poles were brought and lashed together, they carefully moved him away from the battle, or what was left of it anyway. Still, the field was soaked with blood of man and beast. Eamonn felt every movement the stretcher made, and the Marshal tried to bite back the pain. Finally, it stopped, and he was all too grateful. Aislin knew what she was doing, and she did what she could. She remembered what he told her about the hair and needle, and had he not been in so much pain, he would have smiled a bit more at that. It was no painless process, for when the maille came off, he groaned, and the moment that needle threaded through flesh, he cried out in pain. They held him down as he squirmed at first, but even then his body was too tired to put up much of a fight. So much pain...he wanted to sleep. "...How...could I forget...it was..the first time any woman kissed me..." He whispered hoarsely, coughing as he choked on blood a bit. "Then...and now...you captivated me.. I...didn't want to believe...that someone could love me...this..w-warmonger..." He felt cold. Eamonn started to shiver a bit as he laid on the ground, bare chested, save for the bloodied bandaged around his side as new holes and scars would be made

Eamonn's blood was coating her hands and his flesh was moving in her fingers. Muscle could be felt as she tried to close the gaping wounds. She could not see bone, so that was a good sign. Oceanic eyes drifted upwards as he said he did remember and that she captivated him. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt her stomach and chest getting tight as more tears moved to blur her vision. She fought them, wiping away quickly. "Aye...ah think ah loved ye then and ah know ah love ye now. Ah never told ye...but there were nights ah wouls stare at ye scars and trace them with my fingers while ye slept. Ah have never seen a more handsome man then ye. No one has even come close. Ye have saved me so many times....let me save ye once more..." Aislin did not care that his men were right here...hearing intimate things in their lives. She wanted Eamonn to know..if he died..he would know he was loved fully. There was no holding back. She moved to the next wound and this one was smaller. Aislin knew that just because she closed the wounds, it did not mean he would survive. He was loosing blood and lots of it. Her head turned to the side and she spoke to the unknown male. "We need water...quickly." she whispered before he took off to find the lake close by. Aislin finally finished, but blood still leaked from between the stitching. "Eamonn...Eamonn." The man had returned and Aislin was the one to offer Eamonn water, slowly and carefully so he did not choke.

Her tears could not be missed, for his eyes rarely left hers, if it could be helped. She was holding back tears...for who? For him? Eamonn knew she was strong, for it took a strong woman to stitch up her own lover. Few woman would and could do that. He was blessed to have such a strong woman...and loving. Eamonn inhaled slowly. "Aislin..." He whispered, but he was cut off as she spoke. Instead, he listened, listened to her voice...to her words. She loved him. Eamonn still could not get over that fact. She would stare at his scars? Aislin truly was a unique woman, and he smiled a bit at that. Perhaps she did not know it, but she already saved him, so many times from things he did not say. She saved him from the bitterness of the cold in his heart. She saved him from living alone and never knowing what love could be. He would never be as happy was he was now, and that was all her doing. And so she went back to stitching him up, blood over his flesh and her hands, it even coated parts of his golden hair. The smell of death was not too far off and carried by the wind as it ferried the souls to the next life. When she as finshed with that task, there was a need for water. While he would have preferred a bit of whiskey, Aislin knew best. When the skin was brought to his lips, he swallowed the clear liquid, coughing a few times here and there, but when she pulled it back, he sighed softly, faintly. His eyes closed for a moment, before he spoke. "Aislin...it is all right...y-you don't have to hold back for me....I know you..you are strong..I know you..." Eamonn opened his eyes for a moment, blinking rapidly. It was getting harder and harder to stay awake. Eamonn reached for her hand

Aislin could not know if this was the end or not. Her heart was torn into pieces and she was trying to stay strong. Why? She was not sure really. When he coughed, she held him and waited until he was done before offering him more. At his words, she let go. Tears ran freely down her face, her swollen lips quivered and shook as her face grew red with the stress in her eyes and head. She felt sick, tired and achy, but it all was small compared to him. It was nothing to complain about so she never would. The skin was put down and she grabbed his hand, moving around to pull him partly into her arms and lap as the other men went to get fire wood and start a fire. They were not going any where with the Marshal like this. they had to wait it out and hoped he could make it. Aislin cried for a good while, rocking her husband..holding his close as she weezed and gasped. She had never felt so naked and open before, not even the time she worried over him going to war. The men looked to her and Eamonn before putting their heads down, feeling the hurt and sharing it. So many of their brothers..would have to be picked up. After some time..Aislin's noises turned to soft whimpers and her rocking became slower. No one else would ever understand her. No one else would ever love her as Eamonn did or respect her. No one else would defend her like he did or take her when she had little emotion to none. After Eamonn...there would be no other. No one could ever compare to him. She never trusted some one so completely in all her life. Unsure if Eamonn was asleep and needing him to stay awake longer, she spoken gently to him...trying to keep his attention even as she sniffled and held him." If ah be with child..what would ye want to name them..."

Men standing there or not, Eamonn did not care. He did not know if he would die here and now, and the Marshal wanted to be with his wife. The men in his company were like an extension of his family. They gave their life for him, and he gave his life for them. Aislin let go of her emotions, and even though he had been one to shun tears, he found her tears, her sorrow, somewhat soothing. She wept for him. She loved him. Never again would he doubt her love for him. Now, hopefully he would live through it. Eyes rolled again and lids closed for some time, before something snappened him out of that trance, and he opened his eyes again, making them focus on her. It pained him to see her so distraught, but she was here..with him. His Aislin. She pulled him partly in her lap while the men went to get wood for a fire. In his condition, they were going nowhere. The tall blond listened to the cries and sobs of his wife, wishing he could hold her back, wrap an arm around her. Something. His hand held hers still, and he swallowed hard, taking in a shallow breath. As time went on, the struggle to stay awake was becoming impossible. Eyes closed, and he did begin to drift off. Aislin spoke again, and for a time he said nothing, a delayed response, before frim lips parted and he whispered lowly. "...You know I am not...good with names...but...I guess..if you had a girl...Niamh...and if it was a boy...Kieran.." There was a history behind those names, but he did not have the strength to delve into that now. His head canted to the side a bit. So much pain...it was so much. "You know...that...if I die...all I have is yours and Sorcha...and tell her..I love her very much...just as I-I love you...my wife...my love.."

What hurt the most was that a month and more had gone by where they did not speak...did not share a bed, did not love one another. A month wasted over what? Anger...pride. Things that meant so little now. The time in his tent was much too short. They had been together only a little over a year, though it felt like a lifetime. Aislin held him close and listened, hearing the names and repeating them to herself. If he should die, here in her arms, she only wished that they would grant her one last child of his blood. " Aye husband...ah know. Ah will tell her...and if we have another child..ah will tell that one too. Ah be proud to carry ye brain. Forgive me..for that night when ah use ye...ah only wanted another for ye. It was never about only wanting ye for that, ah simply knew how happy ye were with Sorcah and thought....thought to give ye another for more happiness. Ah love ye and only ye husband...it will always be ye. No other shall ever come to our bed, nor any bed ah lay on. Ye must pull through. No one.....will understand me like ye do. No one can ever love me and protect me like ye. Ye defended me when no one else dared. Ah have never met a man like ye...ah never want to again." she kissed his head, careful of the wound there from his helmet. "Rest now husband...but ah must keep waking ye...ye must keep waking."

While their time together had only been a year in matrimony and a few months added in courtship, it felt as if they had been with each other for decades. Eamonn wanted nothing more than to grow old with his beloved, see their children grow into lovely adults. But life was never certain. He lived by the sword, war was his occupation, and the defense of his country was his mission. He had a purpose in life, and he would see it fulfilled to whatever end. He once told Aislin that he would die in the same manner that his forefathers had: by the tip of a sword. For many, many years he believed it, his ruin would be upon so battle field. Now, it looked all too true. Eamonn's body was starting to shiver, from the cool air, loss of blood, or both. But then, Aislin said something different...it struck him odd...but in a good way. It made him want to smile. She was proud to have his children. Never before did he expect to see himself with a wife and child. He had, and now he had worked hard to see that they would remain free and without constraint of tyranny. Aislin claimed to never love another, that he was her only love, and he opened his eyes slowly, dulled, and gazed up at her. He tried to move and shift to be closer to her, but it only caused more pain to smack him hard across the face. He grimaced and groaned, before relaxing his body. He was panting still, breath still ragged. "I...I would have no other woman....carry my children...there...there is no one more perfect than you...only you.." Eamonn breathed out, closing his eyes again. He didn't want to leave her here in his world alone. Silently, he prayed and begged the gods to spare him, to let him live to be with his wife and child, a daughter he adored. Her soft lips kissed his head, another comfort that he would never forget. Again he sighed and moaned as another tremour of pain took him. His thigh was still bleeding, and the arrow wounds were still bare, but they were minour in terms of blood loss compared to the nasty holes the spikes had caused. Still, they seemed to matter in instance, adding up more pints of blood loss. "Forgive me, Aislin...if I-I have ever wronged you..I..I only wanted you happy...I..I wanted to be the p-p-perfect husband for you..."

"Shhh..be still my husband. Ah have ye. Ah won't let ye go." Aislin's arms were growing tired, she was growing tired, but she fought it, not wanting to let him go. His words, made her feel perfect in his eyes. No one else could do that to her. She wanted to treat his other wounds, but she did not want to risk him passing out from the pain. Torn..she stared at his thigh as it still bled. What was she to do! She had to either wait and watch him slowly bleed to death or risk him passing out and never waking up. When he slept, she would sow that up. The arrows..were still too risky. Eyes widen as she looked to his head. Perfect. "No one be perfect husband...ah have nay been a perfect wife, but to me, ye are the only and ye have made me happy. The way ye desire my flesh and my mind..made me feel more like a woman then ever. Ah know nay anything more perfect than that. I missed ye so much while we were away from each other. I wanted to come to ye so badly, but ah feared ye would turn me away. My heart could nay take that. Ah know now...that was horse shyt. Ye would have never turned me away as ah would nay have ye. Never again....will ah leave ye bed if ye stay with me." Eamonn was drifting..she could feel it and this time..she was going to let him. She wanted to sow that wound on his thigh and would do so once he was asleep.

In his eyes, Aislin was perfect. No other woman could even compare to that of his beloved wife and lover. In every way she was the sort of woman that he could love only her, everyone else was unworthy. She was beautiful to him, a goddess upon the mortal lands. If no one was perfect, they why he see her as the perfect woman? Perhaps it was because he was naive when it came to women because there had only been one in his life to love him. Aislin. She was his first and his last. There would be no other woman. "...You..you are p-perfect to me...in every way.." He whispered out hoarsely. He feared that she would turn him away and stop loving him, that fear along kept him away from his wife but no more. In the tent before this war, they forgave, reunited, and loved again. That was a choice he would never regret. She would never leave him, a promise that he had instilled for himself. He would never leave her again, not without word. His bed had been cold, but no more. She was here to warm it. Eamonn coughed again as he choked on a bit more blood that managed to work its way down the corner of his mouth. His body wanted him to sleep, and Eamonn could only hold that desire at bay for so long. But, would he wake? He prayed so. "Aislin..." He whispered, his eyes looking up to her. Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his eyes closed as slumber finally won in the end, and he was rendered into a deep darkness. His last, conscious thought was of his love for Aislin, a love for her exclusively. Unfortunately, he could not finish that thought for sleep silenced him. Eamonn went limp in her arms, a sign that he went to sleep, the deep sleeps that were so uncertain

[Creative Consortium]

Eamonn said she was perfect and she believed him. However naive it may seem, she believed her husband, for he would never lie to her. He was blunt, even when it hurt to be and once she had scolded him for it, but now...she needed it and he gave it to her. A hand moved to stroke back his blood and dirt caked hair from his head so she could see his eyes a bit better when they looked up to her. Her name...whispered on his lips made her smile only to have it fade when his eyes rolled back and he went more limp in her arms. Franticly, she gathered him and moved to check his pulse. It was so weak, she barely could feel it and panic had settled in until she felt the thumping of his blood in his veins. Moving to shift him and ease him down in a way that the arrow would not get pushed in, she called to Glendon to help her so she could mend his thigh now. Quickly, the two worked, using up the last bit of whiskey as Glendon held him down in case he woke and Aislin worked, ripping his breeches and sowing him up past the blood, hairs and skin to seal the bleeding. Still he bled and Aislin had no other choice but to send her dagger into the open flame and place it along his flesh, searing up the wound by melting the skin together and burning the blood. The smell of his flesh buring reached her nose and made her gag slightly. The two wounds on his chest were checked and if they still bled..Aislin had no other choice but to do the same. Looking to Glendon...they had no other choice. The arrows would have to be removed now. The one in his shoulder, she was not overly concerned about removing...the ones in his back and stomach..she was concern over. Carefully, yet quickly, the one to his shoulder was eased out while Lochan came to help hold his body and the other male moved back and forth, heating Aislin's dagger and handing it to her so she could press it to Eamonn's flesh. She had no other choice...he lost too much blood already and she could not wait for his body to stop the bleeding on it's own. The back arrow was removed slowly, not wanting anything to break off inside of him. Both ends..if it had pushed through all the way, were burned. Finally, he was laid on his back and the arrow in his stomach was the hardest one. Aislin held his stomach down, feeling the blood there, muscle and flesh. Slowly, she pulled it out, praying that none of his guts came out with it. When a small chunk of flesh clung to it..she feared it was a bit of his organ but if so, there was nothing more she could do for now. The blade was pressed over the hole and held, burning and melting blood and flesh together once more before finally he could rest. Aislin was thankful for him being out, though pain was how one knew they were still alive. Once more she checked his head, finding the area where he had been hit and feeling to make sure his skull was not cracked. It felt like there was a dent there, but she did not feel a fracture. Now able to lay him on his back, Aislin snuggled up to his side to keep him warm. He felt so cold to touch, she hoped death would stay back. As she lay there...she felt a material being placed over her and Eamonn only to look up and see Glendon had laid his cloak over her and Eamonn. Lochan moved to do the same with a small bow of his head and then the other male, all giving up their warmth for them. Aislin smiled and thanked them before looking to Eamonn's face and checking his pulse once more. For a time.she let him sleep before she woke up and offered more water. If he could not stir..Aislin carefully placed it into his mouth and turned him sideways in her arms hoping his body would naturally take it for him. Night was starting to fall and with it the cold came. The fire was close, but not so close that they were directly near it. The three cloaks were added onto as those from dead bodies were collected to help keep Eamonn warm. In the dead of night, Aislin could not find sleep and instead, began to sing a soft song to Eamonn as she made sure his hair was not in his face. Her hopes were that her voice and song would keep his soul here on the ground and in his body..luring him to stay where it was and not go towards the beautiful light others spoke of.

Eamonn saw nor heard anything more as he laid there in his sleep, his body limp and littered with wounds, by arrow and blade. The first thing to be tended to was that of the knife wound up his thigh, where that dagger had come sailing into his flesh. Even as the hot dagger was pressed to his flesh, going to leave a noticeable scar upon his body, Eamonn idd not stir. He was hanging on by a thread, a thin line that tied him to this world still as Aislin worked fast to mend his wounds and stop the bleeding. His face was deathly pale, and his body cold. Eyes would never open during that gruesome operation here upon the field of battle. Eamonn saw something...a light. There was something about it that called to him, lured him, beckoned him to come home. Unsure, his eyes narrowed and he glanced over himself. He was...healed? No holes, no wounds, no open gashes littered his body. What was happening? Instead, he was garbed in a while long tunic and white breeches. The fabric was soft...smooth...and comfortable. It was anything unlike what he had on earth. The, he looked up, and there in the distance, he saw someone.'MOTHER?! FATHER?![/b]' He exclaimed, suddenly rushing towards them. But then, he stopped. Eamonn heard a voice. Aislin. Here lay his junction. His choice. Stepping up behind his family, was the parents of his wife. Her mother and father, and they were smiling upon him. In the distance they beckoned him, calling him home. But should he go? Glancing over his shoulder, he turned, and there saw his wife, singing to him as he lay upon the ground, for a moment, suspended by death. His breathing was bare and shallow, and his pulse still weak. Around her were hills and rolling cliffs of Eohmark, beautiful at night. In the distance, there were bodies of men, of the fallen, and the ground stained red with blood. Before him, the path was clear. He closed his eyes, and could feel the cool, soothing breeze of beyond. Still, he could hear the soft coos from his mother, welcoming her son and exhalting his bravery and heroism. Aislin's mother and father both so proud of his dedication to their daughter. He kept her safe. But wait, his duty was not over. And he frowned. Eamonn could not leave his love, not now. He wanted to see his mother and father again, his family, but not now. Not yet. He still had a duty as a husband and lover. Shaking his head, he stepped backward, toward the darkness of the world. He stepped away from that bright light. How could he leave her now after they had been through so much? Turning back to his wife, Eamonn walked back to her, and though she could not see him, the spirit of him anyway, he placed a hand upon her shoulder and gave it a loving squeeze, 'I'll not leave you, my love...not yet. Not yet. I will stay with you a while longer. You have saved me...cared for me...even now. I cannot abandon you.[/b]' He whispered to her. For a time, he was not allowed to enter that body upon the ground yet, for it was not his time to. But, when he could, he would be there to join his wife's side once more, and keep their family in his mind. As she sun and watched over him, he was watching her now, keeping her warm by the fire while she tended to his physical form, so beaten and bloodied

Aislin tried to hold back more tears..but as time passed, her body had build up more water to release and gave her the will to cry more. Holding him and stroking his hair, uncaring about the blood and dirt around them, under them and on them, she kept him close and sang to him. The same song she sang to their daughter to sooth her. During mid song, she thought she felt a weigh upon her shoulder and turned around quickly with tears rolling down her cheeks. Aislin could hear his voice, but when she looked back to him, he did not stir. Confused, she blamed it on her mind playing tricks and continued with her song, ending it with a kiss to his blood and dirt covered lips. How she wished for him to respond and kiss her back, but he did not stir. She had to wait. The men had went to kill any game they could find and put the meat on while they helped others collect the bodies and clear the valley. Some men were still alive and hurt badly, horses were dead and barely alive, while some held broken limbs. Many men could not say goobye to their horses, having grown to become one as Eamonn had showed them, some men built fires and stayed by their horse's side as they were tended to. Most would not walk for days and they would have to wait for wagons to come and gather them. When Glendon came to Aislin and touched her shoulder to offer her meat, she took it without delay and took in as much as possible to help keep her strong. Eamonn would need to be awaken soon so he could take in some meat as well. "Glendon...Tell those that can move and work..to build more wagons for the fallen horses. Non should be put down until we are sure there is no hope. Send a message to my maidens and tell them ah live..find out about the others..and come back to give me a count of who still lives and who has fallen to the other side. Thank ye..for everything." she whispered as she looked back to her husband, hoping that is what he would have wanted. Morning came and Aislin had little choice but to try and wake Eamonn.

For a moment there he did have a choice, to stay and live, or rid himself of a body and live forever in the company of his family. It had been a hard choice, but he had faith that he made the right one. Aislin needed him now, and while he longed to see his family again, he had to take care of his own. As the light faded behind him, he could hear the voice of his father and mother. 'Wise son, remember that we love you...and wait for you to come home...' Even in his unconscious state, he would forever remember those words. Time passed, and how long he was not sure. While the men cooked, Eamonn stayed beside his wife, watching her with a careful eye. She felt him. Knew he was there. That he could tell, and it made him smile fondly. Indeed, he made the right one. When she gave that command to Glendon, there was a sense of pride there for his wife. She knew him well, and had the strength to give such an order. Indeed, there was no better wife than that of Aislin, and he was fortunate to have her as his own. His beloved, his wife. When morning came, he watched the sun begin to rise over the hills and pinnacles of the land. A bit beyond, one could even see the lake in the distance, and a few miles more, their home. So close, but yet so far away. It was time to return now, as Aislin shook his body in hopes to rouse him. with a soft sigh, the spirit and life slipped back into the body, returning to lend what strength it could to help him get well. At first he did not wake, his eyes remained closed as the darkness continued on, that deep-coma, though short, still had a grip on him and kept him unresponsive. However, that faint pulse remained, and grew a little stronger

Aislin knew Eamonn had not left her, for she still felt him and his body had not gone stiff in the night. "Eamonn my love...come to me..wake up." she said softly as she shook him. She tried softly at first, but as the moments passed, she did so harder. Her hand and fingers went to his throat were the small wound had stopped bleeding from long ago, and pressed to feel for his pulse. It was a bit stronger then before, but nothing to have a celebration on. It was time to move her husband. After another request was sent to the male she know knew as Mickey, a wagon was brought around to take Eamonn and a few others that were still alive back. Aislin did not mind sharing with other men, wanting them to survive just as much as her husband as they loaded him and others on there. Only enough so bodies did not lay on each other. Finbar and Echo walked slowly behind as Aislin rode in the wagon. Eyes kept going back to her husband as she checked the other men and did what she could for them while they moved and headed towards home. Some men only wanted to hold her hand and feel the solidness. While holding her husband's, she held another male's as well. He spoke of his wife and she listened, making sure to have eye contact with him now and then before saying a few words of her own. "Ye will make it to see her...we head home now. Stay here for her.." she encouraged before turning back to her husband between her legs and against her body, holding him closer not caring that his body was so much heavier then her own. The back of the wagon lead support as they came down the hill. That was the worst..all the men groaned and moaned out their pain making Aislin reach out to touch their heads and ease them. "Soon my brave soldiers...we are almost there. The pain....be what lets ye know ye be alive...ye have done so well. Your home be proud of ye all. Just a bit longer...LOCHAN!" she called out and when he moved to her side upon his horse she looked to him. "Ride ahead...have all the women prepare comforting bed for these men. If they have to...use sheets the beds within Eamonn and my home to add to padding. If the riders of Eohmark wish to pass...they will do so in the last comfort they can seek. Please...ah know it seems like the impossible...but try. Thank ye." he gave a nod and rode on ahead.

His body shook as she tried to rouse him from the sleep. Nothing yet. Even as her shakes became harder, he did not wake. Still in that deep slumber, he was loaded onto the wagon that had been brought to help carry the wounded back to their homes. Eamonn was of the few fortunate in the sense that when the wagon went down that hill and bumps, men groaned at the pain the wagon was causing them. However, Eamonn did not feel a thing, and with the wounds he had, that was a good thing. The few miles that it took before the home of the Horse Lords could be seen, those that could see the city were glad of it. Home. Even if they parted, they would die in their beds. His body was heavy against her as she help him, for he was a tall man, and dead weight was never light. Still, he could have been heavier had it not been for the pounds shed during that month of depression and absence of his wife. When the agon did finally stop, the women came rushing out, as well as the guards that were there, and began to help the wounded off the carts and into their homes to be looked after. When it came time to unload Eamonn, men took him from Aislin, lifting him up and out with care, and onto a stretcher. The men carried him up the steps and incline before the door was opened by the guards and they carried him into his and Aislin's bedroom. The horse lord was placed onto the bed. Not long after, Cormack came in, his head bandaged, but he was walking at least with a little limp. In his arms were the helm, sword, and armour of Eamonn, bringing them to Aislin as he stepped into the room and placed them on the chair

Finally they were home. Aislin waited for the wagon to stop and when men came to get the others, she stressed the care needed as women fauned over their husbands, brothers and fathers. Aislin waited until they took Eamonn, but she was never more then a step behind. Still covered in blood, she moved up the stairs quickly, feeling each ache and pain hitting her slender body. She did not notice the guards that were still and bowing their heads to her and Eamonn as they passed. Her eyes were only on Eamonn's body as they moved around the designs on the walls and headed for their large bedchamber. Aislin heard her maidens coming towards her and called out to them. "BRING ME OUR DAUGHER!" before she vanished into the room with Eamonn. As soon as they placed him down..she thanked them and asked them to leave while she struggled with his clothing to get the rest off. most were cut from his body in torn shreds and thrown to the ground until he was fully nude save for their pendant that lay heavy on his chest, upon the light dusting of hair there. The sheet was pulled over him just as the door opened and Cormack came limping in. She gave a bow of her ehad from the neck up to the man in thanks as he held up a hand. "It is I that should be bowing to you both. Welcome home..healing horse and horse lord."Aislin did not understand at first and thought nothing of it as she looked around him to see the maidens entering with Sorcha. "My baby..." Aislin nearly ran towards the maid that held her and took her with care from her arms to kiss her all over her face. Sorcha giggled and moved her fist up and down quickly with glee at her mother holding her. "Thank ye all...some time alone now please..have food and water sent." Aislin did not delay any longer..moving towards the bed, wanting Eamonn to wake for the one person in the world who would always greet him with a smile. Sorcha saw her daddy laying there and wiggled, making cooing noises to get his attention. When it did not work..she yelled out to him. "AHHHH.....AHHHHHHH!!" as Aislin moved them onto the bed along Eamonn's side. "Husband....my love....our daughter seems in a fit to see ye.." While one hand held the sqirming child, the other moved to Eamonn's shoulder to shake him. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Sorcha held a longer note, making Aislin wince. "Aye child...ease there...he will hear ye.."

With care, he was laid upon the bed by the men, and somberly, they left, left to help the other wounded and go back to the field to help bring the rest of his company home. The clothes that did cover him were shredded, and looking like rags ready to fall off. Finally, Aislin removed them from him, leaving him nude upon the bed, save for the ugly wounds and their wrappings. The cover was pulled up over his waist when Cormack came in to deliver the Marshal's arms. As he lay there in limbo, his body was already starting that slow process of healing. In came the maids with their child, and Aislin took her, barely taking time to relax herself. Sorcha was brought over toward him, and the stubborn girl was determined to get her father's attention. The babe had no idea that her father had been rendered unconscious and nearly died, and he still was not in the safe zone, that possibility was still great. His daughter cooed loudly this time, and Aislin shook him, trying to wake him. Finally, at last, he stirred, and signs of consciousness were visible. Fingers moved , and hearing the protests of his daughter, Eamonn opened his eyes slowly, and turned dulled eyes to his daughter, and then his wife. Eamonn took a shakey breath in. Sorcha. His baby girl. He was home. Lips parted. "Aye...I hear..you.." He whispered, his voice cracking and weak.

As soon as she saw her father's eyes open even the slightest, she gurgled and giggled with a happy glee that she had gotten his attention. Aislin smiled wide right after her daughter, seeing Eamonn finally come around from his coma like state. "See our little one...he hears ye.." Aislin moved closer to Eamonn on the bed, careful to not crush Sorcha between them and careful of his wounds, but wanting him to touch his daughter, feeling her little hands reach out for him. If he died...Aislin would make sure he had the chance to be with his daughter one last time. "Thank ye for coming back to us...even if for a little while longer." There was a knock on the door and Aislin looked up to before telling the woman to enter with the food. She placed it carefully down on the table by their bed and gave a bow before moving out. "I know it be the last thing on ye mind...but ye must eat." Aislin pulled Sorcha with her and rose to move around the bed, holding Sorcha in one arm as she reached for the meat within the stew and placed it between her lips and into her mouth. Quickly, she chewed it up until it was fine and in shreds before moving towards Eamonn and spitting it into her fingers. It was not the first time Aislin had chewed up Eamonn's food for him because he was too weak. Holding it above his mouth, she waited for him to open before pressing it gently inside. Bits clung to the hair around his face, but Aislin brushed them off. Sorcha watched in awe at her father, some drool came from beyond teethless gums as she smiled wide to show those healthy bits of flesh and gurgled, blowing bubbled from her own saliva.

Coming out of that coma meant the onslaught of pain. Suddenly, he was aware of the condition of his body, the wounds he had as they washed over him like a great wave. Inhaling sharply, he grimaced. Oh he was in such pain, but he did not want his daughter to see him as such. However, it was hard to hide it. His flesh was still deadly pale, and that made the bruise on his jaw all the more apparent. His eyes turned to his daughter as Aislin held her close, and a small smile appeared on his lips as he felt little fingers brush against his still dirt and blood stained face. When the knock on the door sounded, Eamonn glanced that way, and saw the food come in. He was not hungry, but as if reading his thoughts, Aislin spoke up. He had to eat, to replenish his body and help combat this weakness. Inwardly he sighed, and watched his wife as she pulled up the piece of meat first, and then placed it in her mouth to chew it. Indeed, it had not been the first time his wife chewed food for him because he could not at the moment. She placed the pre-chewed food into his mouth, and Eamonn swallowed, hazel eyes lazily turned to his daughter. "Aislin...you need...to rest...what good..will come for us if you...are half alive..go...I'll be here.." And he would. He had no intentions of leaving her now. He made his choice, and it was right here, where he belonged. "You can..leave..Sorcha here..I'll look after her..." He whispered.[/font]

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Aislin knew he was in serious pain and that waking up, was the worst thing because he would be able to feel every bit of it, but at least he was alive and soon enough she would let him find rest again. For now, she was trying to get him to eat. "Eamonn....ye can nay look after our daughter alone. Ah can nay even leave ye alone...rest yerself. Ah have no plans to leave ye." As if Sorcha knew what they were talking about, she gurgled and reached out for her daddy wanting to be in his arms. Aislin was not leaving Eamonn for a moment. Another piece was taken into her mouth and chewed, this time she ate it before she repeated it for more pieces of juicey meat. Potatoes were given to him alone because they were soft enough to be crushed by his gums alone. Finally, she shifted Sorcha on her hip as she moved the bowl over and placed Sorcha to lay upon Eamonn's shins were she knew he had the least damage. Sorcha lay with her chubby cheek pressed to her father's leg, wiggling about as she tried to crawl up but was unable to lift her head higher then a few moments before it fell back onto her father's legs. Aislin reached behind Eamonn's head carefully and lifted him up higher to press the bowl to his lips so he could drink down the warm broth of the meats and juices mingling. The smell of it was wonderful and Aislin took some for herself to warm her insides. The night was moving into the skye once more and all had stayed there for some time. Sorcha was getting fussy because she wanted to eat , but Aislin wanted to clean herself partly first. Moving to a bowl of water while Sorcha remained on her husband's legs, she undid her vest and peeled it from her body before reaching for her torn tunic and lifting it high, exposing the scraps along her back. Dirt and blood stained her skin as her narrow shoulder blades flexed while she stood in nothing but her breeches. A cloth was dipped into the water before she ran it over both breast, scrubbing them hard to get them clean and ready to feed her daughter as she got fussier by the moment. Finally, the blood and dirt was cleaned from her small breast and she dropped the cloth to turn around and move back to the bed. Hands reached to pick up Sorcha and hold her towards her chest, pressing her lips along the nipple to have her latch on quickly and begin suckling as Aislin sat carefully by Eamonn's side. She missed this closeness with her daughter...this bonding. The cut on the back of her arm looked raw and angry, but it was ignored for now. She was so tired...she started to nod off while feeding Sorcha and sitting up in bed by her husband's side. She shook herself awake...needing to see to their needs first before her own since she was the stronger of them both

It was no secret that Eamonn was in great pain. All one had to do was see the many wrappings around his body that concealed a wound before they had an idea of just how much pain he was in. Eamonn had no drop of alcohol in his blood so there was no way to numb the agony he was on. Eamonn frowned a bit at Aislin. He could watch Sorcha...or at least he told himself he could. However, Aislin would not be swayed. "Aislin..." But she would hear no more. Sorcha wiggled and squirm to get to her father. Eamonn wanted to hold her. He wanted to hold her so badly, but he did not know if he could keep his arms up long enough to hold her steadily. More meat and potatoes were fed to him by his and by her, he got some amount of nutrition. Sorcha was rested upon his lower legs, where he thankfully had no injuries because he was on a horse a majority of the time. Sorcha tried to crawl up his body, and Eamonn was partly glad that she did not, or else she would have moved his thigh and abdomen, which were but more injuries that caused him great pain. Right now, he was resisting the urges to cry out, groan, or make any other vocals of pain. His eyes followed his wife as she moved to pull off her shirt and wipe her breasts to feed Sorcha. How his wife did it, he would never know, but he admired her for the stamina that she possessed. She was truly an inspiration, a model, and a woman unlike any other. She sat down beside him, and he sighed, carefully, and slowly reaching a hand over to her thigh, the closet thing to him that did not require much movement. "Call for a maid...to ready a bath for you...I want you to take a moment and relax...your body is not use to this...mine is well...aquainted with injuries.."

Eamonn's hand to her thigh jared her awake once more so her half opened ocean eyes glanced to him. She was too tired to deny his request for her and she wanted one so badly. Aislin did not mind being dirty, but covered in other people's blood was not something she wished to do for much longer. She was much too tired to care for herself and clean herself at this point. "Aye husband.." she whispered and leaned down to press her lips to his for a moment before sh sat back up and shifted Sorcha to detatch her from her breast. Small bits of milk still leaked out as Aislin moved Sorcha to stand and lay her cheek along her shoulder. Gently she patted her back until she burped twice and as she brought her down, Sorcha's eyes began to grow heavy from a full belly. She had grown so much in the weeks they were gone. Laying Sorcha down, she slept by her father's side and Aislin moved a pillow on the other side so she did not roll from the bed. Between her father and the pillow, the soft breaths of his daughter was heard, every now and then a hiccup as well while she settled with her face towards her father and back to him on her belly. Aislin called for a bath and one of her closer maidens to help her wash. A arm rested around her breast as the maidens moved in to fill the tub within their room and only one stayed behind. A blond with wide eyes like a doe and a soft smile. Aislin ahd never allowed anyone else but Eamonn to bath her, but she was much too tired to be nervous. The woman helped her strip the rest of the way from her breeches, without looking to her body for too long and when she reached for Aislin's necklace, Aislin shook her head. "This never comes from our bodies..if we ever come back dead...please tell others that. Eamonn and ah have nay removed these since our wedding day." she informed her as she helped her into the tub. Aislin stumbled and nearly fell over from being so tired, but the maid caught her and eased her down until she was sitting. A cloth was taken up and the maid took great care to scrub Aislin's back, neck, chest, legs and washed her hair for her. Aislin was leaning forward as the maid carefully washed her wound at the back of her arm and checked the stitching. The pampering was paused for a moment so whiskey could be poured onto it, making Aislin whimper and bite her lower lip. Fluttering eyes turned to Eamonn to see if he was watching her. She bit back any more noise knowing her injury was no where near his.

Eamonn could still taste the copper scent on his tongue from blood that had once before gathered in his mouth and out, which now mingled in the hairs around his lips. Taking his advice and words, finally, Eamonn closed his eyes for a moment. Aislin finished nursing Sorcha, and now that she was full, the little girl burped and was ready for sleep. So, his daughter was laid beside him as she yawned softly and sighed. So cute. Eamonn smiled a bit, before his eyes opened and he slowly turned his pounding head to look upon his daughter through hodded eyes. She was so beauitful...and a child of his loins. He couldn't ask for more, Aislin already made his dreams reality. When the maids came in, a bath was pepared for his wife and his gaze followed her. Hazel eyes did watch his wife as she was stripped down the rest of the way, and helped into the tub. However, he began to doze again, and wincing at another sharp jolt of pain, he closed his eyes for a moment and went into a light sleep, his head falling to the side of the pillow. He barely heard the comment about the necklace, the silver pendant upon a leather cord that matched the one around his neck. Sorcha squirmed, before settling down again, and stuck her thumb into her mouth

Aislin closed her eyes as she felt herself being pampered once more, secretly loving it at this moment though she wished that Eamonn was the one doing it for her. His touch, his tenderness was what she wanted, but not now. Soon enough she hoped to be in his arms. He would need a bath as well soon. When she was done, she was helped from the tub, letting water rush from her slender body as she moved up to stand. That small bit of extra tissue still about her tummy was held as she moved to stand straight and was towel dried off before a long green cotton dress was placed over her head, making her raise her arms upwards before it was pulled down her figure. Aislin adjuted it and asked that a larger bowl be filled so she could bath some of her husband. As she waited, Aislin moved to pick up Sorcha with care and walked her towards the crib to place her in it. For now, she did not move the crib close to the bed, but she would later on for Eamonn. Finally, the bowl was brought and she was alone with her husband once more. The sheets were rolled down and he was fully exposed so Aislin could move the hot cloth all over him, cleaning the dirt and blood with care from his chest. She moved to his face and temples then scrubbed his arms tenderly as she hummed to herself. His stomach was done with extra care before she moved to his legs and groin. As sensual as it may seem...it was all done more for love of her husband, wanting him to feel better on the outside if he could not on the inside. For now..his back remained dirty and the sheets under him the same. One one that had rested over him was replaced before Aislin went to start a fire in their large hearth and finally settled back into bed by his side to rest. Closing her eyes, she snuggled to his side, resting her face on his shoulder, still smelling the sweat, blood and dirt on him.

Eamonn had never been so pampered as he was with Aislin. She had done things for him that no one else would do, and he would never forget those deeds, such as the invitation to stay within him so he could earn a bit more coin. Of course to some, that was viewed as inappropriate for two unmarried people to be in the same hut together. She shared her bed with him, she massaged him, she treated his wounds. Eamonn had never been so pampered in his life. And now, he had baths in tubs from his wife, something that was new to him. His sleep went deeper as time moved on, and when she finally was out of the tub and dressing, he was once more in that deep sleep. Aislin came over and washed him, wiping away the blood and dirt from the front of his body, while his backside was still covered in old blood, dirt, and sweet. As she snuggled close, Eamonn could feel it deep down inside him, and Eamonn sighed softly again, though this time contently. Her presence was soothing to the heart and soul. Sorcha slept in her crib, which would need to be placed closer to the bed. The night passed in silence, and Eamonn slept peacefully, surviving another night. When the morn came, Eamonn did not stir or way until she called him, or mid day. In sleep, he did not have to feel the pain, the only good thing about it

It did not take long for Aislin to fall asleep. Her body surcame to the need and the calling of dreams beyond. She fell hard, head over feet into her slumber that she heard nothing of the world of the wake. She had only been so tired before, twice in her life. She slept through the whole night with her husband and her daughter. Aislin only awoke when she heard Sorcha calling out to someone. Moving with a groan, she pulled her tired form from the bed and walked towards the crib to smile down at her daughter before she was greeted with coos and gurgled. Sorcha was changed and fed once more before Aislin rocked her to sleep and placed her back into the crib, this time, she moved it closer to the bed, dragging it carefully inch by inch so as to not wake Sorcha. The child slept through anything as she suckled on her thumb. Aislin could only get it to the foot of the bed before she grew tired all over and crawled back into bed with her husband, checking his pulse and forehead to see how cool or hot he was first and make sure he was covered enough before she fell back to sleep. This cycle was one that went on for the day and into the night. Aislin could barely stay awake for more then the time it took to change Sorcha and feed her. Twice she put ointment on her husband's wounds and once she stayed awake long enough to get more broth into him, but no meat. Others came in to keep the fire going and keep the room warm for them. Aislin could not fight the feeling of being drained no matter how hard to tried. War, had truly taken a toll on her.


Aislin was not the only person that was fighting to stay awake. Eamonn found it hard to keep himself awake for long periods of time before sleep took him and Eamonn was soon fast asleep. This had been the most he had ever gotten in nearly a month. Eamonn's body had taken control now, and whether he wanted to or not, Eamonn was going to succumb to sleep and slumber. That went on for a few days. Aislin tended to his wounds, putting new ointment on in between her times spent with Sorcha. Finally, their family was together again instead of lying in separate beds. They both, even though he was still dirty, were sleeping together again, and Eamonn could not have been happier. He missed this, the time spent with wife and child. Had he gone to the house of his fathers, there would be no more of this...he would be alone with his family and waiting however long it would take until Aislin joined him. But then, who would look after her if not him? She vowed already to love no other, and Eamonn feared what would happen to her and his daughter. He was still here, though, and he was going to be the best husband and the best father he could be until his time to depart this world was no longer a choice. One night, as Aislin dressed his wounds, Eamonn could not help but speak his mind. "...When I feel into darkness...you tended to me...I saw you....I saw my mother...my father...even your mother and father...they called to me. Beckoned me to come home...but I could not. I...I heard you singing...and saw you there beside me. I could not leave you..I cannot...not yet...not now." It was like a dream, he could still recall it. Swallowing hard, his voice died down and he closed his eyes, pain shooting up his body

Days had passed and one could see that Eamonn was going to make it. Still he was weak, but Aislin had no worries on taking care of him. Feeling better each day, she was eating more, sleeping less and going back to how she once was when they first came to sky before their horrid fight. A hand rose to Eamonn's face, seeing the nasty bruise there had lightened but still lingered in his skin. Other wounds had done much the same, healing slowly but getting there. Already the wound along the side of his neck was fading into a faint scar. The wounds from the spikes had already been burnt shot, along with the arrows, but the burns were not nearly done peeling and inside, the flesh had to re grow to let scar tissue heal muscles. Eyes drifted upwards to look into his face when he spoke. He saw her...but his eyes were shut. Then he went on to say he saw his mother, his father, her mother and father. Aislin froze in her movements of re bandaging his spike wounds. Was it true then...was there another life after this? Would she truly see Eamonn again after their bodies died and they moved on? Would she see her mother and father too? "Truly? What was. it like? Did they...say anything to ye?" Aislin may have not believed a lot of things people told her, but she believed her husband. He had no reason to lie to her, more so about things like this. Part of her felt dread...he had died..then another part was glad he had come back and stayed with her. "Thank ye Eamonn. Ah...ah meant what ah said. Ah do nay want to live here without ye. Ah now understand...why my mother let herself fade away after my father died."

Eamonn was witness to another life after this. He saw them, and it was no dream, for he looked upon his battered and bruised body and upon his wife as she tended to him. There was brightness around them, and while he could not see beyond them because the light was so luminous and it made him wince a bit, there had to be another place. Aislin froze in her movements of tending to his wound, and he sighed again. Eamonn had no reason to lie about something as serious and somber as this. They were together...in the end...even death could not stop them from being together. Death truly was a road to awe, but Eamonn only caught a glimpse, for he did not venture down that road just yet. He would not leave Aislin now. Clearing his throat, his eyes opened once more, and turned down to her hands that paused in their work of dressing the wounds upon his chest. "Truly. I saw them before me...just beyond..and it was bright, as if the sun were behind them...the clothes...they were different..unlike any material I have felt before...They called to me...exhalting my courage and valour...they called me home, Aislin. But I could not go. I could not leave you here alone, not now. I want to take care of you...and I will not forsake my duty as husband and lover. You sang to me...you called me back...My father called me wise...and said he would see me soon...Aislin..I think you knew I was there...but I watched over you as you watched over me...and that is how it should be..." He went on, finally lifting hazel eyes to her face. The colour to his skin was starting to slowly come back.

Aislin knew pain would still take shelter within his body for some days that would come to pass, but he was alive and she could not be more happy about that. Aislin waited patiently for the pain to pass so her husband could tell her more. When he spoke, her eyes never left his face while her fingers went on to finish their work of dressing him. Clothing unlike here? Light like the sun behind them. It seemed...magical. Aislin was never one to believe in such things, but after experiencing things during war and see the struggle of man in the face of death...her mind was opening up to what could be beyond. Why would they call him home....his home was here. Silently she spoke to her mother in her mind, saying he was home. He was watching over her? Aislin fought her eyes and tried not to let the emotions that spilled into her take over. "Ah...ah think ah knew ye were there too. While ah was singing to ye...ah felt a hand on my shoulder, only to turn and see no one. Ah heard ye voice, but ye mouth never moved. Ah felt ye beside me, but ye were gone from the waking world. Ah thought it to be my imagination and my mind carrying me away with wants of ye to hold me. " a hand moved to wipe the mist from her eyes before she blinked rapidly to pull back the tears that threatened to fall. "Ah was so lost...ah don't know what ah would have done if ye had left me. Ah know..ah would have to live for Sorcha, but ah do nay think ah could live as whole without ye. Please...ah beg of ye. Take more care Eamonn. Ye temper...it almost took ye away from me on more then one occasion." He had been nearly killed more times then she could count, arrested, poisoned, stabbed, gutted, and now nearly taken...more then twice seriously, where death touched his shoulder.

Eamonn had seen strange things before in his time, but never something as strange as this. Perhaps that could be awarded to the fact that before, Eamonn did not need to make a choice, or at least he would not. Had he passed before, now, there would be no junction. He would have gone to sit with his father and passed from this life. War was an ugly business, but it was a life that he knew well. But now, Eamonn would take greater care and perhaps even learn not to be so reckless. This time, it was due to his temper and recklessness that nearly claimed his life. He wasn't going to do that again. When she finished dressing his wounds, Eamonn looked up to her, catching her wiping her eyes, and he lifted a hand ot her face. His large hand cupped her cheek, seeing the tears forming in her eyes. She knew he was there, she could feel him. That was love, a love so deep and so true that nothing, not even death could break it. "It wasn't your imagination...I was there..." He whispered to her, his thumb rubbing her cheek gently. Lips pressed together. Her plead nearly broke his heart. He would take more care now, she had to ask him, and in that tone, Eamonn could not refuse his wife. "I will...I will take more care...Aislin...I was angry...and I became reckless...Forgive me, my love, for scaring you. But you were there...and while I told you to stay away from the battle...had you not been...I do not think I would be here now...Please promise me you will not sneak off into war again...please...it is not because I do not think you are strong...but I cannot focus when those I love personally are in the fray of the battle. If it can be helped...no more sneaking off...there is no one I trust more than you, Aislin...no one I love more. But you fought well...and for that I am proud of you...so very proud.." And a small smile appeared on his lips, though weak, it was there nonetheless. "When I get better...remind me to teach you more about the sword and bow..."

[Creative Consortium]

Aislin did not see that large and callous covered hand until it reached up and cupped her face. Smooth against rough, soft against hard. They were different and yet the same in so many ways. Her eyes closed and her hand on the same side lifted up and placed itself delicately over his own, holding him as he stroke his large thumb over her cheek and face. Starved for any affection of any kind from him, she rubbed her face into his hand and held it tightly to her skin. "Ah know husband...my heart. Ah know ye get so angry at those that hurt ye family or loved ones. Ah have seen it more times then ye know, but this can nay be. Nay anymore...Ah promise ah will never sneak off to war again. Ah just wanted to understand why ye were how ye were and now...ah know. Ah know it Eamonn. Ah know why ye have become so harden, ah know why ye charge off to war when it comes up. Ah only got a taste of what ye go through, but it be enough for me to understand that war is no friendly place and it is not a place for everyone. " Eyes opened and she looked to her husband as he said he was so proud. Aislin smiled wide, making those wide lips part and show her well cared for teeth before she leaned over, careful to press her hands on either side of his body. Hovering so close to him she laughed. Just a soft one and short lived, but one never the less as she pressed her lips to his softly and finally took a kiss from her husband, one he could press back with. When she parted their lips, they peeled away from each other, wet mixing with dry. "Thank ye my husband. Ah only ever want to make ye proud, for ye always make me feel that way to be yer wife. The wife of the Lord Marshal...a wife of a warmonger..always will ah be proud of ye and even when we were apart...ah stood up for ye and stood by ye side."

Feeling that smaller, slender hand cover his own made him sigh again. So warm and comforting. He never knew a touch like this before from anyone. No woman had ever loved him so deeply, or even at all except her. Aislin was his first lover. She was the perfect woman for him, and each memory of her made him realize just how far they had come. From strangers to lovers. Through the fires of hell they went through together, and would continue to do so. He had no plans on leaving her anytime soon. "I cannot say I will not get angry...but when those I love are direct involved...I cannot help it...this is why I tell you and Bess both NOT to run out into a war...I get distracted...and sometimes lose my sensibility. I am...glad you understand...I just wish there was another way for you to understand...but you are safe now...and that is what matters to me most.." He replied, loving the feel of her cheek against the palm of his hand. Their eyes met once more, and she smiled wide. Eamonn was proud of her, he loved her deeply. Had ne not been so hurt now, he would show her how much he loved her. She was not the sort of woman who could not defend herself, and he was glad. Eamonn knew that if he left her here, she could at least defend herself and if something happened, it would not be because he knew not how to defend herself. His hand fell back to his side as she leaned over him and pressed her lips to his. Starved of such affection for days, he kissed her back. Eamonn was sad to end it, but it did, and his eyes opened to look up into her eyes. "You always do, Aislin. I am always proud of you. My wife...I will try to be better for you...better support...and...speak more freely and openly...have you eaten and rested? If not, you should...I will be fine as long as you are here with me...but I need you to not forget yourself." Eamonn commented, his hand resting on her hip

Eamonn being distracted was another reason why Aislin had not told him. She also fought in another area for that same reason, wanting to go but not wanting him to worry on her or what was going on with her. She handled her own with help from others. Still, Aislin always knew her limits and war was not the place for her. She was here to heal and she was better at it then fighting. Her body was too slender for such things and she did not wish to see years of war , once was enough for her and she hoped she would never see it again, though if she had to, she would. "Ah know..it be why ah never told ye ah came. Ye need not worry about yer wife. She will listen and leave war to her brave husband. " Bess was another story and she had no doubt Bess would always do as she pleased. Aislin did as well, and she did not wish to ride into war again like she had. "h be glad husband..we feel the same for each other in this matter. Ah will try nay to distance myself again. We will make mistakes...but as long as we try. Aye...ah have eaten...but ah could eat again and so should ye before Sorcha wakes. Ah love ye.." she pressed her lips to his again, before moving back and going to the door to ask for more food. More solid food now that her husband could chew on his own. Together, in bed they ate. Aislin cut his meat into small pieces and fed him with a fork, though he looked to the item strangly, before helping him finish his plate and her do the same. Sorcha was pulled into bed with them for a time before she drifted to sleep. Aislin moved the crib towards her husband's side for Sorcha to wake and see her father before she snuggled in next to her husband and another night of restful sleep took them over.

~~~END THREAD~~~