Valley Of Glamorgan (30 page)

Maggie of course replied with a tearful yes,
and everyone cheered except me. Oh, I was happy for them, wanting
nothing more than the best for the couple, but it meant it was
time. Now it was my turn to stand in front of everyone and be made
a fool of; just so Eirnan and Taya could be happy together.

Standing up from the table I could feel Taya
who sat next to me tense as she knew what was coming next. I also
knew that she still felt bad for lying to me, which admittedly made
it a bit easier to continue walking to the center of the floor. “I
also have a special announcement,” I spoke out with a shaky voice.
“I have learnt a lot since I came to call this place home. One of
the most important things I have learnt is that the guardians here
sacrifice a lot, yet they ask for little in return.” I paused and
swallowed before continuing, “Knoll, my good friend and soon to be
brother-in-law, you have given up so much of your time. You have
spent years searching for me and putting your life on the line to
save mine; numerous times. For all of that I can never repay you,
but this is a start.” Then taking a deep breath I went on, “Knoll,
I am asking you to step down as my guardian and to take the oath to
Maggie, so that neither of you will have to put another person
before the other ever again.”

“And who will be your new guardian,” I heard
a voice call from the audience and knew instantly it was Thora
trying to bait me.

“I will accept Eirnan as my new guardian, as
long as he will have me,” I responded, trying to plaster a
convincing smile across my face.

“Eirnan,” my mother called him forward, “Do
you accept my daughters offer? Will you become her guardian?”
Quietly I waited whilst he joined me, bracing myself for the
humiliation.

With reluctance Eirnan spoke out, “I am
sorry Princess but I have sworn my oath to another. Thora was kind
enough to allow me to be Taya’s guardian, so we could know love and
peace, the same as you have wished for Maggie and Knoll.” Although
I stood trying to look shocked, I didn’t have to pretend to feel
the hurt, because no matter what happened it still did.

“Looks like the Princess is all out of
choices,” I heard Thora snidely project through the crowd. She was
having her moment of glory and intended wallowing in it for as long
as she could. That is without the expectation of anyone saying
anything, particularly my father.

But Liam, who had been quiet throughout the
entire time, suddenly chose to speak over the crowd. There was
anger laced within his words. “Thora,” he called out, “I have had
enough of your ugliness towards my daughter; you have been warned
before by me about this attitude. From this moment on you shall no
longer have a guardian! You will live alone, in fear with none of
the guardians protecting you for as long as I am king! You have
spread your hate and lies throughout this village and across my
people for far too long. You are excused to return to your
home.”

“That is ludicrous! I have to have a
guardian. It is my right,” she shouted!

“I decide what rights you have,” responded
Liam in an evil calculated tone. “Now this matter isn’t up for
discussion, you will leave my home at once or I will have you
escorted out.”

Thora made no more comments and I heard her
heels click angrily against the floor as she made her way to the
door, slammed it loudly as she went and making me jump back a
little.

“Let this be a lesson to all of you,”
declared my father, “If any of you try to strike against my family
again you will suffer the same fate. Now please return to your
homes; I am afraid this party is over.” This was the first time I
had heard my father sound so dangerous, yet so protective but I
knew that everyone would do as he said. It didn’t matter what they
felt towards him, their fear was much greater and once again the
thought of my ruling this village one day worried me. Especially
if, the only way I would have control was to make people fear
me.

The sound of the room clearing was soon over
leaving only my family and Declan that stood around me. It felt
strange. Yet this evening I had seen a side of my father that
reminded me of my pretend father, and unfortunately that saddened
me greatly.

“I will be your guardian Princess,” Knoll
stated, being the first to speak out. “You cannot go
unprotected.”

“She will not,” announced Liam sternly, “And
you will obey her wishes Knoll. You will start a life with my
daughter and be happy. You have paid your dues to this family and
now it’s your turn for happiness.” I could tell Knoll was irritated
by the command but he wouldn’t argue with Liam, especially not in
the mood he was in at the moment.

Eleanor tried to lighten the mood saying,
“Maggie, your father and I were going to announce your gift from us
but the events that took place earlier didn’t allow us to do so. We
have bought you a house. It’s the one you have always wanted; the
one that is three houses down from the castle. We felt it was time
for you two to have your own home.” Maggie was of course delighted
and thanked our parents warmly before following Knoll out of the
room. I could picture them in the mixed match, cobbled stone house
that Maggie loved so much, maybe with a family someday.

That just left me, Declan and my parents.
“If you would allow me sir, I could be her guardian. I would
protect her even if it meant giving up my own life,” declared
Declan. His words hit me like a strong cool breeze on a hot day; it
was a truly sweet and noble action, one that I knew my father would
knock down the moment it was put forward.

“Don’t be upset,” Liam began explaining,
“But, you still have years until you are qualified as a full
guardian. I can’t put Mina’s life in anyone’s hands unless I am
confident that they won’t fail. However, I thank you for the
offer,” he added warmly, hoping it would take some of the sting out
of the insult.

I was just about ready to have few choice
words with my father when Eleanor chimed in, “Actually, I already
have a solution to this problem. Mina, meet your new guardian.” And
as she finished speaking I heard the door open and Declan draw in a
long, deep breath before letting it out again slowly.

“Greetings Banphrionsa. I am honored to be
protecting you as your guardian.” The voice was one I didn’t
recognize, having a thick Irish accent. Who could be standing in
front of me?

“Mina this is Lorcan; he is from the Isle of
Dóiteáin,” announced my mother. Shocked, I had no clue who or what
she was talking about nor any idea as to what Dóiteáin meant. This
night had just been full of surprises, and at this very moment I
wanted nothing more than to sink into Declan’s arms and forget
everything that had taken place. My father, however, quickly
stomped on that idea because he excused Declan from our home
leaving just us three, and this stranger who was now my new
guardian.

As we made our way into the kitchen my
father thankfully, retired for the night and I could now ask my
mother what the hell was happening? “Mina I am sorry we didn’t tell
you earlier,” she declared. “Liam told me what you were planning on
doing for Maggie and Knoll, and all I knew was that the choice, as
noble as it was left you unprotected. Not trusting Thora I decided
to contact our friends on the Isle and they were gracious enough to
send us one of their very own guardians.” Lorcan stood silently
next to me. Although I could feel his presence he hadn’t spoken
since his initial greeting.

“Ok,” I said, feeling somewhat confused.
“So, firstly what is the Isle of Dóiteáin? And why is it the first
time I am hearing about it?” I asked.

Eleanor stifled a giggle before answering,
“Mina Bear, Dóiteáin means fire in our native tongue.”

“Great,” I replied, not stopping myself from
sounding a little sarcastic. I had a guardian from the Isle of
Fire. He sounded fun.

Eleanor avoided the question as to why I had
never heard of the Isle before but I imagined her response would
have been something like… ‘It’s difficult to give a history lesson
when I am always being kidnapped.’

After Eleanor had left the room I felt a
little uncomfortable, despite her reassuring me that I would be
safe with Lorcan. For some minutes I stood silently trying to find
something, anything to say to my new guardian. Then Lorcan spoke,
“I know this must be hard for you Banphrionsa, but I can assure you
I am capable of protecting you.”

“I never questioned if you could protect me
or not,” I answered; perhaps a little too harshly. Thinking, but
not saying that I was probably being petulant and childish; which
was stupid as my family only wanted me to be safe.

We continued sitting in an awkward silence
for a little bit longer until finally Lorcan announced, “Eleanor
told me that you would show me to my room, if you wouldn’t mind. It
was a long journey to get here and I really could use some rest.”
‘Great!’ I thought. He was going to be sleeping next to me in
Maggie’s room.

Reluctantly I made my way up the stairs,
stopping to show him into Maggie’s room before I turned and started
to go back down the stairs; I desperately needed to see Declan.
Just as I reached the third step someone grabbed my arm and I
yelled, “What the hell?”

“My apologies, Banphrionsa, but I cannot
keep you safe if I am not with you. Please retire to your room for
the night and I will accompany you anywhere you need to go
tomorrow,” instructed Lorcan in his thick Irish Brogue. Even though
he had asked me nicely to return to my room I now knew he wasn’t
going to let me just walk out of the door and so, reluctantly I
complied, cursing under my breath the whole time before closing the
door firmly behind me and clicking the lock in place.

Thoughts rushed through my mind….. What the
hell was that? Who on earth did he think he was? I was furious. I
was the princess. There was no way I was going to allow him to be
like this every day; telling me when I could sleep or where I could
go. He could just go back to the Isle he had come from! Having
undressed and finally calmed down I threw an oversized t-shirt on
and climbed into the plush bed, throwing the blanket over my head
before sinking into the warm darkness.

Chapter
19

I didn’t want to wake up. Today was going to
be no different than yesterday had been or the day before. It had
been nearly two weeks since Maggie’s party and the arrival of my
new guardian and everyone still treating me as if I was a porcelain
doll.

As if that wasn’t the only thing keeping me
hidden in my bed I now only had two days until my animal choosing
ceremony. Both Willow and Declan were expecting me to fulfill some
sort of prophecy that they had been told as a bedtime story. What
would they do when they realized that I am not who they want me to
be? What if I can’t save the world from people like my pretend
parents? Hell, I couldn’t even save myself and would be dead if it
wasn’t for Knoll rescuing me. How could they possibly think that I
held the answers? Why couldn’t people just realize that I was a
normal seventeen year old girl who wanted nothing more but to
experience the normal drama most girls my age face, instead of
which, I was expected to save the world! After much mulling over I
finally made myself get out of bed and head for the closet;
selecting a simple pair of blue jean shorts and a purple tank top.
Today I just wanted to be comfortable.

As I started down the stairs I felt someone
behind me, causing me to lose my footing and slip down three stairs
before I felt Lorcan catch me in his arms. They felt like stone and
I almost wished I had fallen the rest of the way as it would have
felt less awkward than lying in someone’s arms that I hardly knew.
“Thank you,” I managed to say, as I finally got my footing back and
continued walking more carefully down the rest of the stairs; this
time holding on to the handrail.

Making my way into the kitchen I poured a
bowl of cereal, offering some to Lorcan who, taking the box and
poured himself a bowl full before taking the seat across from me.
We ate in silence; the only sound was the two of us crunching away
on our breakfast. If he continued always being this quiet it was
going to make it harder and harder to get used to having him
around. Knoll hadn’t been the most talkative person in the world
but still, he had spoken to me.

Reminding myself that he had only arrived
recently I tried to involve him in conversation, by saying, “It was
strange for me when I came here too. It does take time.”

“But this is your home Banphrionsa,” he
replied questioningly.

“Please, call me Carmina as requested,” I
insisted. “Yes, this is my home but I lived elsewhere for so many
years that it felt like a new place to me; one I had never been to
before. It has taken me some time to adjust.”

“I adjust fairly quickly,” he simply stated,
“It is not my job to be comfortable; it is only to keep you safe.”
I nodded my head and went back to finishing my cereal in silence.
It was proving to be harder to get to know him more than I had
thought it would.

Having finally finished eating I rinsed my
bowl out in the sink and began to make my way to the door,
announcing that we had a lot to do today whilst trying to trigger
another conversation. But he simply opened the door and said,
“After you Princess.”

Slowly I made my way down the stone path and
to the gate where Eirnan was working. “Hey, Mina! Thanks again for
everything you have done for me and Taya,” he called out.

To be honest I wasn’t really in the mood to
talk about that right now, but still I hugged him and replied,
“It’s no problem; what are friends for after all,” trying to joke
about the matter.