The Realm of the Sun

Finnian's Hour

Hours later, when night and quiet had finally fallen, Eirainna and Eilé still huddled together anxiously by the fireless hearth. A knock at the door startled them and they remained silent for the first knock. Eirainna squeezed Eilé's hand and stood to calmly walk to the door.

            "Milady, it's Sir Niall..." came the comforting, muffled voice on the other side of the door. Letting out a great sigh of relief, Eirainna opened the door quickly and he burst through with great concern. His face was cut up and his armour tarnished and dented, "are you all right, Milady?"

            "Yes, we are all right. Niall...you're..."

            "I'm fine," he dismissed her concern, perusing the room anxiously. 

           "Have they gone?" Eirainna asked, her voice still hushed and fearful.

            "Yes," he replied, and then he paused, contemplatively. Eilé sat alert but silent at the edge of the bed.

            "And the child?" he asked, concerned.

            "He's fast asleep," Eirainna nodded fondly to the bed where Eilé tucked Furbaide in securely, "Eilé, dear, you can rest, now. It is safe and I know how tired you are."

            "I think she'd better stay here, if just for tonight," Sir Niall suggested.

            "Of course," Eirainna agreed, smiling reassuringly at her shell-shocked sister who immediately climbed into the bed beside Furbaide, unable to process what could possibly have happened downstairs that afternoon before a good night's sleep. The chill of the midwinter evening charged wickedly in through the window's cracks in a single, powerful gust. Eirainna shivered as the flame on her candle tilted dramatically.

            "You can light the fire now," Sir Niall said, going over to the hearth and kneeling the light the fresh pile of firewood with his torch, "It's going to be a cold night." Eirainna walked over to him after shutting the door, "Milady, if I might speak with you...alone..." he began, uneasily.

            "I believe we are, actually," she whispered in reply, gesturing to the two people in her bed who were both fast asleep already.

            "Very well," he said, with a forced smile, then looked grave again, "I'll not try to cover the truth for you, Milady. Many men were killed today. Of both realms."

            She wrapped her shawl tightly around herself to keep warm and also to conceal her stomach now that the room was well-lit.

            "I'm afraid it is a grave scene just down the stairs, I encourage you to brace yourself...many men are severely injured," he swallowed, "One of which...is Sir Finnian."

            "Finn," Eirainna murmured, her eyes immediately finding the door.

            "He is being cared for very closely at the moment, I can assure you we are doing the best we can..." Sir Niall said, trying to place a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

            "Please take me to him at once," she said, unable to say anything else.

            "Milady, I would not want to prevent you from any more sleep..."

            "I am no stranger to sleepless nights, Sir Niall, and this certainly was destined to be one anyway," she replied, "My brother needs me."

            "Will they..." he looked over at Eilé and Furbaide who huddled together in the center of the bed for warmth.

            "They'll be fine," she replied, making her way to the door and opening it quietly, "thank you for telling me, Sir Niall."