Home Again

Prologue

   Cat sat up and rubbed her eyes and looked at the door. She could hear talking but she couldn't exactly make out the words. She stepped out of her bed and padded over to the door to her bed chamber and leaned forward pressing her ear against the wood.
   "For seven sakes, she's still a child, Sebastian." Ailill said to the young man as he followed.
   "Believe me, do ghrásta, I am fully aware that she's only thirteen but when she does come of age she will need a husband. A suitable husband." The boy replied.
   Ailill laughed heartedly. "And you think you are to be that suitable husband?" He snorts, "Sebastian," he turned and looked at him, laying his hand on her shoulder. "You're easily the brightest man I know." Sebastian smiled and looked down then back up. "But my daughter," he looked away and sighed then looked back. "She will eat you and spit you out alive. Even if you are her best friend."
   "So what? I'm just to leave my feelings for her aside?" The boy asks frowning.
   "I never said that. You're not a military man. You've never been out to battle. Even if Caitlin did accept you, she comes with big responsibilities. Will the people accept you? Not every king will come to negotiation and not every invader will strive off with fact and a lecture on the world." Sebastian started to say something but Ailill cut him off. "You have served me more than well when it comes to negotiations and what I need to know at the time. But that won't always work. This is a strong house, and a proud name. An Rí has always rode out with his people into battle."
   Sebastian hung his head and nodded. "I understand, do ghrásta."
   Ailill reached out and grasped his shoulder again and gently squeezed. "I understand you, my boy. And I understand what you are feeling. I wish I could change it for you, but this is the way things are. The way they have always been. I have to chose for her. And I will chose for her."
   Sebastian nodded, though the pout on his face was quite out of place for his age.
   Ailill patted his shoulder. "Come along then. The council will be gathering any moment now."

   The next morning, Cat stormed into the dinning hall where her máthair and athair were breaking their fast. Clodagh looked up and smiled lovingly at her. "Maidin mhaith, a ghrá."
   Cat ignored her mother's words. Her piercing green eyes were locked souly on her father as she walked up to the table. She slammed her hands down in front of him and the wood creaked and groaned with protest, but it didn't split. Slowly, Ailill sat his bacon down. "I take it you need to talk?"
   "You don't get to chose who I want!" She all but yelled at him.
   Clodagh slowly looked over at her husband.
   Ailill sighed and dabbed at his mouth. "You heard the conversation."
   "Aye ah heard it! And you don't get to choose who I will marry! If I even marry at all!"
   "If?"
   "Who says ah want ta get married?! Who says ah want ta have a king!"
   "Ya kinda have to have one in order to rule," Ailill says tilting his head at her.
   "So what? If I never get married ah don't get to sit the throne?!"
   "No one ever said that."
   "What in the seven hells is going on here?" Clodagh asks looking between the two of them.
   "I pick who ah want when I want! End of story!" Cat starred her father down. Her emerald eyes piercing straight into his soul.
   Ailill locked eyes with her and held her there. "Our Cat Beag overheard a conversation last night between someone and myself and apparently she didn't like what she heard."
   "Ah'm not a doll ta be dressed up and shown off and sold ta the highest bidder. Ah'll chose. Fer myself!" Cat repeated.
   Clodagh looked between her husband and daughter for a moment. After a moment she cleared her throat. "I understand your anger, Mo grá. My parents tried to do the same thing to me when I was your age. But there are rules-"
   "Rules are meant to be broken!" Cat said turning on her mother now. "When have we ever truly followed by the rules? Traditions, rules, chains they are all meant to be broken."
   Clodagh inhaled through her nose, "ah blame you fer that," she growled looking over at Ailill then back to Cat. "Listen to me, Cat Beag." She held her hands out to her and smiled. Cat stood her ground until her mother raised her eyebrow. With a huff, and a similar inhale through her nose to Clodagh's, Cat stomped around the table and took Clodagh's hands. Mother smiled up at daughter. "You still have time before the suitors start to arrive. We will let you chose."
   "No! That's no-what?"
   Clodagh smiled, "when the suitors come, instead of choosing for you, we will let you choose."
   Cat seemed to deflate with a huff. "No telling me who I can and cannot love?"
   "You have my word," Clodagh said with a nod.
   Cat pierced her father with her eyes.
   "Alright, alright. Ah agree with yer Máthair." He said finally holding his hands in the air.
   Cat smiled, though there was no real happiness there. She nodded, "ah'll choose fer myself."