The Realm of the Sun

The Plan

          Eirainna arrived at the edge of the black forest by midnight, the rain torrential and the winds high. It looked vastly different in the stormy black evening than it had the first time she approached it. She shivered violently, her hands cold as ice and frozen in tightly clenched fists around the reins. Her velvet cloak, which was intended to keep her dry was now soaked through and weighing her and her horse down. Before she could consider its numerous uncertain perils, she entered the deep dark forest, the path narrow and treacherous.

          For what seemed like ages, she slowly forced her way through fallen branches and protruding tree roots that looked like thick black snakes, monsters slithering across the pathway. She began to worry she had grown lost and was in a different part of the wood or in a different wood entirely. Never had she thought that she might die before, or that her horse might die underneath her and she by being stranded as a result. It only occurred to her now that she may have stayed the night at Nessie's and set out before dawn. Still, she'd have to keep lying for hours and Nessie's eyes held hundreds of questions when she was leaving.

          Panting from exhaustion, she persuaded her equally weary horse to keep going with a gentle but firm tap on the side. Whether they were headed in the right direction or not, Eirainna knew the only way to get to anywhere was through. Finally, she saw a faded light in the distance, though it blurred behind the dense wall of rainwater. A new surge of life and adrenaline burst within her and she dug her heels into the horse, begging him to go just a few more steps. The cottage came into focus, the stone chimney sending up a trail of smoke that dissolved in the heavy rain.

          "Eirainna?" came a gruff, distant voice. Almost in shock from the cold and arduous journey, she could barely call back to him. She wondered if it was just a hallucination, but saw her horse's ears turn upward in response.

          "Conn," she uttered, her voice breaking with exhaustion. Within seconds, he emerged through the sheet of rain before her, reaching up to help her off the horse and into his arms. "Conn!" she threw her arms around him and kissed him with nearly all the life she had left in her, "You're alive," she whispered, tears mixing with rainwater as it all streamed down her face.

          "Yes, yes, I'm...you got my message..." he exclaimed, equally thrilled and surprised.

          "I went to Nessie and she gave it to me, I have it here," she panted, pulling the soggy paper from her bodice. Connor took it from her hand and dropped it in the murky stream forming on the path. He pulled her close again and kissed her shivering mouth, trying to breathe whatever warmth and life he could into her.

          "Raina, you're drenched," he said, finally pulling away from her in horror mixed with adoration, "You should not have travelled in this storm, it's far too dangerous. You could've been hurt..."

          "I thought they'd killed you, I thought—," she muttered weakly, her whole body shaking and her soaked dress pulling her toward the mud and moss.

          "I promised, remember? Everything's going to be all right," he held her head on his shoulder, running his hand over her dripping wet hair, "We have to get you inside, quickly..." putting his arm around her securely, he helped her into the warm stone cottage. A fire burned steadily in the hearth and lit up the room, which was surprisingly dry.

          "I—I was with Nessie and she said there was a man came to—I had to come right away...I thought...Diarmiad and his men, they came to find you and—" She did not know where to begin and her teeth chattered violently.

          "You're chilled to the bone, Raina, you poor thing," he ripped her heavy sodden cloak off of her and threw it aside, trying to sit her down gingerly and take care of her, but she insisted on finding out what happened, despite her condition.