Of A King's Knight and Tears

The French Maiden

We stand here today honoring the life of Lugh Ua Duibhne,

We are also here to honor his love and wife, Deichtine.

It is a tragedy that we have to see them go.

Especially since both were such great people.

May the Lord bless them, as they make their way to the heavens above

And may the Lord bless their two sons, who have become orphans within a day

Let the whole family have the blessings of Him,

And let their fates hold much good fortune.

The day was rainy, very rainy. The sky thundered, as the bodies that belonged to their father and mother were buried. Tears fell from the eyes of all who watched the event. Once it was all over, everyone made their way home with a depressed expression on their face. Never would they have guessed that Lugh and Deichtine Ua Duibhne would meet their ends on the same day. It could only be described as a tragedy.

The only ones still standing there were a blue-haired male along with a younger raven-haired boy - the two children of the deceased couple, Cu Chulainn and Diarmuid. The elder boy, Cu, was only sixteen at the time, while his brother beside him even younger with an age of eleven. Cu had his hand placed on Diarmuid's shoulder, as they silently cried. Suddenly, Cu spoke up. "Let's go, Dia. I need to send a letter to Scathach to tell her that I can't go back." Diarmuid looked up at his brother.

"But, why? Why can't you go back? I can come with you. I want to become a warrior just like you and father", Diarmuid told him, as they started toward their home. The red-eyed man who had grabbed onto his hand a moment before stayed silent for a moment before speaking up. He had seemed angry at first, but he had cooled himself down.

"No, Diarmuid. I don't want you to become a warrior", the elder sibling told the younger one sternly. Diarmuid stopped in his tracks, causing Cu to look back at him. "What is it?" he asked.

"Why don't you want me to become a warrior. You did, and father did too, so why can't I?"

"I don't want you to, Diarmuid. You see where becoming a warrior led father? Do you want that to happen to you as well? My answer is no, and that is final. I don't want to lose you; I won't lose you", Cu replied, a slightly frustrated tone in his voice.

"But, Brother!" Diarmuid retorted but was soon interrupted by his kin, whose anger had risen dramatically. But once again Cu calmed himself before speaking and looked down at his brother, a sad expression present.

"Please, my brother. Whatever you do, do not become a warrior. Don't take the path that Father and I did. I'm begging you. You do not want to follow that path in life. I don't want you to follow that path in life. Please, don't do it. I can't...I can't lose you." Tears started to fall from the ruby red eyes. Cu knew that if he continued to look at his little brother, who still had his heart set on becoming what his brother and their father had become even after their parents' deaths, he would start to cry even more. The man turned, grabbing Diarmuid's arm, and started to forcefully pull him towards their home. He knew that Diarmuid was angry at him. "Whenever we get home, go to your room immediately." Cu's anger was being let out.

"What, why?!" Diarmuid yelled, as he tried to pull his arm away from his brother's tight grasp but with no success. "I didn't do anything, Cu!"

"I don't want to hear you ever say you want to become a warrior again, Diarmuid! That's why! You have to learn that becoming a warrior is not what you want to do in life!"