Why?

By the time he walked up to her though, his smile disappeared. Instead that smile of relief was replaced by a look of confusion, even anger. "Why?" Éinrí asked Ailis. That’s all he could think of to ask, “Why?”

"What?" Ailis said as she stopped walking when she heard his voice. "Why what? I thought you enjoyed it." She thought he caught on that it was her singing and not the girl she hired. "What's wrong? You look upset.

Éinrí had no idea that that was Ailis’s deception. Instead he feared it was much more sinister. "Oh yes, of course I would enjoy everything I fought for, being destroyed. I was going to say 'we' fought for, but obviously I was wrong about you. Making your getaway already?"

"My what?!" Ailis was shocked at the accusation. "I came out of the bathroom! I was on my way back to you. What are you talking about destroyed? Unless you mean the mob that'll form when they realize there are only a dozen bathrooms for all these people... I don't follow you, so spit it out."

He was very confused. She seemed to damned genuine and innocent, but then again she always did! He just didn't know what to think. Of course he knew he could scan her mind, but somehow he didn't want to, not in case he found his fears were the truth. "You are already spitting it out, or should I say your artillery. Your bombs should be here within seconds, so I would make your getaway now, while you still can."

"MY WHAT?" Ailis exclaimed. She shook her head as she asked, "What the hell?" She was dumbstruck. "I didn't give any orders, I even told the boys at the missile command to take in the party, not like we'd need them at their post." She put her hand to her mouth. "I don't believe this! After everything we've been through lately, and you THINK I'd throw it away like this?" She was ready to slap him.

He actually took a step back as he could sense the anger coming from her. Not that he could blame her. After all, he had felt compelled to hit her just moments before. But he got over his anger right away, though he could not get rid of the confusion. And naturally he had to defend his accusation. "What am I supposed to think when you disappear mere seconds before the missiles appear? Look, I said you better get the hell out of here, now, before it is too late. Now go!”

The missiles almost seemed to know where Éinrí was. He could actually feel them as if they were targeting him! ~Just run out of time. ~ he told himself and his sons – telling them that they would have to run the kingdom without him. He may have run out of time, but he didn’t want their children to lose their mother as well as their father.

So no matter whether she was innocent or not, they would both not die here. "It can't end here Ailis! If you really had nothing to do with this, then go and keep the peace alive. And do not blame me for suspecting every one; I would be no leader if I did not. And leadership must come above love and matters of the heart - you yourself know that. Now please, just go!"

Ailis tapped her bracelet to instigate emergency transport. Before she left, she said, "I love you Éinrí..." She blew him a kiss as she was transported to safety.

~Did she say she loved me?~ he asked, with a goofy smile on his face. He seemed to forget that the bombs were about to hit, at least for a second anyway. For just a moment, nothing else mattered except for one thing – that she had finally returned his love. What did it matter if he was about to die? At least he knew that the woman he had forever loved, loved him in return.

Hearing her saying she loved him, was the last thing he remembered, before the bombs hit and it all went to hell. Still as hell approached, he couldn’t help but look skyward to Heaven and say “Why!”

“Ailis, will you be in heaven, or will you be in hell... my damned illusive, Ailis my Queen.”

“Not like this!” Éinrí yelled angrily as he raced throughout his castle, fighting to ensure everyone was safe before it all was being blown all to hell. “Not because of you Ailis... please not because of you!” Of course he couldn’t argue about it with her, because he could not find her! But he didn’t know what he would do if he did find her. Would he wrap his hands around her neck and force her to admit that she betrayed him? Or would he crumble at her feet because he allowed his love for her to destroy it all.

He was filled with conflicting thoughts and feelings as he ran as fast as he could, knowing that time was running out. He was hoping to find her, but did he want to find her to punish her, or to rescue her? That was something he would think about later, if there was a later. Right now all he knew was that he had to find her, fast. He would leave what he would do to her, until the ‘if there is a later’.

Every turn he took, he found someone else in the castle, someone else who was not her. And they were someone who shouldn’t be there, not if they wanted to survive that was. There was no one he wanted to die there, not even Ailis if this was her fault. Just like a Captain of a ship, he would be the last to leave, and if he had to go down with the ship (of Peace), go down he would.

But by God Ailis would not go down with him. He would not let her. If she was responsible, he would make sure she would pay for it with her life. But her life would be taken by a court of law, not by him. Though it would be ironic if she was responsible for this hell that was coming, and she ended up perishing in affect by her own hand.

“Ailis!” he shouted as he rushed through the corridors of the Castle. “Ailis!” Time and time again, he would see a woman who he thought was her, only to find it was someone else. “Nico, transport these two out now.” He ordered Nico, wondering why they didn’t appear on their scanners. This made him wonder how many more of their people were not being picked up by their scanners. So he stopped just checking for Ailis, he checked each and every floor to make sure there was no one else around.

Finally sure the palace was evacuated, and getting more frantic to find Ailis with each moment, he knew there were only moments left before the bombs hit. He didn’t know what to think! If he couldn’t find Ailis, she might die, but then again so might he. Or, if he didn’t find Ailis, did it mean that she had in fact arranged this disastrous and deadly end to the peace treaty? He didn’t know what would be worse – to find out she had betrayed him but was safe, or find out she was innocent but about to die....

He just didn’t know what to think anymore, or who to trust. And with moments ticking down to ‘zero’, he couldn’t help but wonder why it all had to always go to hell just when peace was so close.

“Ailis, Ailis, Ailis, will you be in heaven, or will you be in hell... my damned illusive, Ailis my Queen.”

Just when he thought all was lost, he heard a group of people and once again had hope that Ailis would be there. "Nico, get the ones behind me." He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard them being transported away. He didn't look at them though, because his eyes were transfixed with someone he saw in the corner of his eye.

And there in the distance, he caught sight of her, and despite it all - despite the fact that the bombs were about to hit, he smiled!

Just when you thought it would all work out well...

Éinrí kept watching the singer, wondering why the voice coming from her mouth just didn't seem right.... Still the song was lovely, and he listened... all the while wondering where Ailis had gone.

He applauded the singer and whistled, as he obviously appreciated her amazing voice. He also wished that Ailis had not missed this song, as to their peoples, it seemed to say it all. As did the next song – as each song had been carefully planned by Éinrí to install such fervour in their peoples that they would feel compelled to make peace....

On the stage a holographic Garth Brooks appeared, as did choir members in the audience, all together singing one of the anthems, "We shall be free."

*****

Just as Éinrí was getting lost in the song, he was suddenly drawn out of it by the total opposite of what everyone should be feeling. Instead, he was sensing what he feared the most... murderous rage. He immediately contacted the HQ, all the while hoping against hope that Ailis's absence had nothing to do with this.

Careful not to be overheard, he opened a channel to his most trusted aide. “Nico, confirm there are bogies heading our way?”

“Confirmed.” Came the reply.

“How many and how soon?” He asked, dreading the answer.

“Too many, and too soon.” Nico replied.

Éinrí sighed heavily. After he got the answer he feared he would, he immediately made contact with his loyal forces that were dispersed amongst the crowd. He made sure of course that they were the only ones who could hear him, because panic was the last thing he wanted. "My warriors, it seems that we were tempting fate one too many times. I have just received word that we are under imminent attack. I need those involved in the defence forces to remain seated for instructions. Those who are not, those who are civilians, will be transported out."

He continued speaking to Nico. "Nico, execute the rescue plan. Thank God the ship will have more than enough room for those in the audience and in the castle. Do you copy?"

"I copy. We'll get the civvies out." Nico said as he coordinated the rescue plan.

"We've got the non combatants locked in. Transporting them out in five seconds. I doubt I could persuade you to join them?" Nico asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Confirmed.” Éinrí replied, knowing that Nico knew him so well. But what Nico didn’t know worried him. “Maybe you can tell me why you did not pick up the missiles coming towards us, until it was too late?" he asked, though he tried not to sound like he was accusing Nico of anything... he knew better than that.

But Éinrí also knew that someone was better at keeping the missiles undetected, than Éinrí’s forces were at detecting them. And now it was too late to do anything about it, except to get the civilians out, and get ready for the battle to come.

It took a few moments for Nico’s reply to come. "Hey my sensors are still reading clean, except for the heat imagers and that's only showing a slight pattern. But if I didn't know better it would just look like birds." Nico replied as he looked at his monitors. "Well I forgive you Éinrí... for keeping me up here instead of being down there with my lady, God she looked beautiful. Sometimes I wish your bad feelings DIDN'T come true. I hate dark ones. "

"You and me both." Éinrí replied with a groan. "At least the plan is working, I hope. Transport up all the non-coms and make sure their seats are taken up by our fighters, ASAP. Then as soon as the non-coms are out of here, get in the military transport and beam everyone else. I will join you shortly." he said, intent on finding Ailis first and asking her personally why her bombs were about to destroy the peace, perhaps forever.

The Voice

King Éinrí listened intently to the song, as indeed it was the cry of his heart. Somewhere there was a place for them, and he hoped that this was their somewhere. He knew of course that he could not do this alone, which was why he had brought together all the Leaders of the Nations, in the hopes that they would work together to bring peace to their land. And of course one of the major players, was the Queen, Ailis, the love of his heart...

That was the problem, he loved her and she knew just how to manipulate his love to get whatever she wanted... including her heirs... But he would forgive her almost anything, such as was his love for her... and such was the reason that he kept staring at her all throughout the concert, hoping that she wouldn’t notice.

Ailis looked at her watch and knew it was time for her to take her secret part in this whole celebration. Using her amazing skills of deception she started to fidget in her seat and then leaned over to Éinrí. "I'll be back my love... I need to find the powder room." She smiled, got up and started to leave, then she turned and said, "Save my seat."

"As if anyone would dare to take the seat of the Queen." He chuckled. And then he replayed in his mind what she just said. Did she just call him my love? Perhaps everything would work out after all..

"Thanks." She pecked his cheek and left after saying, "Enjoy the show."

The mere fact that she pecked his cheek and called him 'my love' was giving him more hope of having a true marriage with Ailis, than anything ever had. Now it seemed possible that there was hope for a bright future, not just for him, but also for their people... He just wished Ailis wouldn't miss this, and couldn't help but wonder where Ailis had gone.

Ailis had gone down the back exit way and waved to the guards while giving that universal sign of a woman in need of a restroom. When they had directed her to the restroom and she was sure she wasn’t seen, she tapped her communicator and she gave the signal to her friend. Then she made her way to the secluded room with a microphone and monitor that she had set up earlier in the day with the help of her son.

Meanwhile, a very attractive brunette walked onto the stage and waited for her cue to begin singing. The earpiece she wore gave the signal from Ailis and the brunette singer began to lip sync and perform to the song that Ailis had secretly begun to sing, ‘The Voice.’

"The Voice"

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name

"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"

Well, here together they had answered the call of the Voice. And all Éinrí could hope, was that the Voice would do as they promised, and set them free.

Beginning of the End

In a century filled with bloodshed, on a planet torn apart, could this be the place of peace? Here, in this place, the Dónal put everything on the line in order to get the one thing worth dying for – peace. King Éinrí of the Ailill had enough of the bloodshed, the death, and he hoped that they would finally reach a lasting peace, without one more life being lost. But if anyone did have to die, one phrase stuck in his mind, “Let it be me.”

*****

Day One – The Beginning of the End?



“For freedom.” King Éinrí of the Séafran people stood looking outside his Palace window, a stoic look on his face. He allowed himself a slight smile as he watched the other Leaders of their planet Ailell all arriving, all dressed in their Sunday best. As they walked inside, he breathed a deep sigh of relief. It had taken so long, and he had worked so hard to get them here, that he had started to think it would never happen. And now that the Peace Treaty was about to be signed, he actually allowed himself to have hope for the future. Yes, right now he actually had hope that they would finally reap the peace that would save them all.

One Leader in particular could stand in the way of that peace. And it was that one leader that he could not take his eyes off. It wasn’t because of enmity for them either – it was something else entirely. And as he watched, entranced as he always was with her, he just hoped that his wife, ruler of the neighbouring and warring people Queen Ailis, would finally see that it was time for the war to end. “I am watching you Ailis...” he said softly. “Please aid me in reaching peace... for our peoples.”




















He was so entranced by the Queen, that he barely noticed his son Prince Cadfael as he walked into the room.

Cadfael took one look out the window and could see what his father was looking at. He smiled, knowing that his father loved his mother, whether he would admit it or not. “Beautiful isn’t she?”
















“Breath-taking.” Éinrí admitted as he only just realized he was not alone. “Is there something you need Cadfael, my son?”

“It’s time to start the party.” Cadfael replied. “It’s been a long time coming. Who knows, maybe after this peace is reached, you and mother can actually spend time together as man and wife.”

Typical son, Éinrí thought to himself with a chuckle, thinking it was only natural for children to want to unite their parents. “From your mouth to God’s ear.” he said, as besides peace, there was nothing he wanted more. But peace had to come first... “Let there be peace.”

*****

Éinrí walked onto the stage and smiled as the crowd erupted in applause. “Save your applause until after I speak.” he joked. “Or you may just wish you hadn’t clapped at all.” Someone whistled and he chuckled again. Then he quickly wiped the smile off his face, and once again his face became stoic. This was a serious subject – the end of the war. It had been a war no one wanted, and had brought back to Éinrí too many bad memories of all the time, the blood sweat and years fought between the descendants of the Scots who were his people, and the descendants of the English who were Ailis's. Unlike the English and the Scottish people, he was going to bring an equitable peace between these two peoples, if it was the last thing he would do.

"My people!" He had to yell to be heard above the crowd. "Welcome to the first day of the rest of our lives as a United Planet." He smiled over at Ailis and acknowledged her presence. "Welcome to Your Majesty, Ailis... Welcome to everyone. Shall we begin with some music to celebrate this momentous day?"

Éinrí walked off the stage and smiled as he watched his daughter Niamh woo the crowd with her amazing voice. He watched her with pride, and kept stealing looks over at his only true love, Queen Ailis, wondering if she was as proud of their daughter as he was.

Ailis smiled warmly and winked at Éinrí. She could tell what he was thinking and yes, she was indeed proud of her daughter. She was pleased that Niamh also got the beautiful singing voice that was a trademark of her side of the family, although it was a gift she would rarely show in public. ‘Beautiful... simply beautiful Éinrí.’ she thought to herself, knowing that Éinrí could hear her thoughts.

Éinrí had been innocently telepathically scanning the crowd to make sure there were no assassins amongst them. Needless to say he did not intend to hear Ailis's thought. But he did, and he returned Ailis’s wink, ‘Couldn’t agree more.’ He saw her communicating with him as an invitation, so he went to take a seat next to her.

Ailis took Éinrí’s hand and squeezed it. "Forgive me for being silly but... where did all these people come from?" Ailis whispered. "I didn't realize you sent out that many invites to this... this is one angel's breath from becoming a mob."














Éinrí looked out at all the people and smiled. He thought the crowd size was just right. "There are a lot of people who have a stake in our peace, my Lady. This is the first chance our peoples have had to celebrate, in a long long time. Let them enjoy this while they can, and let this be one of the many happy times to come."

"And you do intend to save the first dance for me right?" Ailis winked. "I had a tutor in your people's popular dances." She sighed happily and said, "Peace is a wonderful thing to declare. We should have done this long ago."

He never thought he would hear her say that, and now that she had, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. "Believe me I wanted to do just that." He thought of how hard it was to come this far, and he sighed. "But it wasn't time then. The time is now. Now it is time for another song. This was my dream, this is why we are all here... because I believed there was somewhere where our people could live together in peace... and finally, we are here... this is our somewhere."

On stage Niamh and her fellow female singing sang the song Somewhere.