Gryffynhall (the Danu Cycle: Fiann Trilogy Book 1)

Chapter Thirty-Two

The woman from the night before had a sister, and she had told Eamon that she liked to swim naked before lunch in a nearby stream. Well, he was not going to pass that one up, so he slipped out while Conor was busy.

He felt the projectile coming towards him and had caught it before his mind had had time to process it. He had seen Niamh training so knew she had fired the arrow at him. He also knew that she was a decent enough shot to have done it on purpose. He stared at her, hiding his true feelings behind humoured anger. He had smirked when she'd waved, then stalked off to find the woman's sister.

When he found the stream, he leant against a tree to watch her, though his thoughts were on Niamh. He had to smile at her audacity and it only made that annoying interest in her more severe. He had trouble getting the feeling of her body in his arms from the night before out of his mind, he could almost still feel her in his arms now. He had been slightly disappointed when she had let him kiss her. However, when she had pulled back, his faith in her convictions was restored.

He did not know why he acted as though he was pursuing her so relentlessly. He had promised Conor he would not seriously try, though here he was...trying more than he meant to. All he knew was that he wanted to spend more time with her, get to know her, find out what went on inside that mind.

And yet, this game he continued playing with her...

He laughed as he remembered how long she had stood there, watching him with the other woman the previous night. He knew her body was interested, even if her mind was not and it made him laugh.

The woman's sister turned at the sound of his laughter and she smiled at him coquettishly. He drew off his clothes and joined her, finally able to thrust Niamh from his mind for half an hour at least.

As he was pulling his clothes on, he heard the shouts. Leaving the woman's sister behind, he darted back through the forest, heedless of his half-dressed state.

Let Conor think what he will, he thought as he conjured daggers and burst into the fight.

They were sorely outnumbered, but no one had gone down yet. He found all 29 other members of the fianna. Some were broken and close to falling, but none of them had fallen yet. He ducked and weaved through the vile goblins, trying to fight his way through to the others.

Rohan's usually careful aim was thrown off and Eamon narrowly avoided his fireball with a shout. Rohan threw him an apologetic look before turning to meet the next enemy.

"Glad you could join us, sir," Nessa laughed as she whirled to him.

"You know me, Ness. Would not miss a fight for all the ladies in all the realms," he returned.

"I do know you, Eamon," was all she said as she sliced through three goblins.

Eamon spun to cover his left flank, but felt himself blasted backwards. A slight shiver ran over him, but seemed to pass through him. From the corner of his eye, he saw the rest of the battlefield get levelled. He turned and saw Niamh beside him. She wavered and fell to her knees. He sprang up and helped her to her feet.

Dunne and O'Neill carried her inside and Conor ran over to him.

"Everyone is all right? Accounted for?" Eamon asked, looking around, sudden panic setting in that one of his fiann was hurt, or worse.

"Nothing more than a few scrapes, they will be right by morning."

"Good, good. That was a close one..."

"I did not think you were going to make it." Conor smiled, though looked him over, quite clearly understanding the situation he had been embroiled in prior to the fight.