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.