BLIND CONVICTIONS by Conorgirl!

	Okay, this is my first attempt at a Fanfic, so here goes.  
Thanx for the support, Konnor.

	Attempt at disclaimer:  I do not own the characters that are 
in this story, they unfortunately belong to Roar and Universal. I only 
own the few that I made up in my brain.  I did also use the character 
Madhia from another story, because she fit in the story.



	Not only were the rocks she was clinging to cold, they were 
jagged and difficult to grasp.  The Romans were gone, but she had yet 
to feel their presence completely disappear.  The ledge that she was 
hanging on for dear life on to was starting to give way beneath her 
fingertips.  So, as a last resort, she wrestled her way over the top of 
the cliff to safety.

********************************************************

	Conor looked out over the assembled people of his Sanctuary.  
This morning they were practicing in the field so as to be ready for any 
enemy attack.  He smiled as he remember all the times he had spent 
with his father out hunting for their dinner; how like these were to 
hunting for food.  Conor then turned his head to look on Catlin in 
the archery stall.
	"Another bulls eye,  Catlin?  You're gettin' too good!"
	Catlin grinned at him devilishly, keeping her face turned to 
him while she hit the mark a second time.  Conor laughed with a 
happiness he hadn't felt in a long while.
	*I wonder why I feel so good, so contented,* he thought to 
himself.  Just then, he heard a loud rustling of branches.  A woman he 
had never glimpsed before, fell to the ground in large heap.
	"Fergus! Tully! Catlin!  Help me!"  Conor rushed to her side, 
his face a plethora of unknown emotions.  *Where have I seen this 
before?*  Catlin reached his side first.
	"What happened, Conor?"
	"I don't know.  She just fell into view, from the forest.  We 
must get her to Madhia, the Healer."
	Fergus and Tully finally arrived, and together with all of 
the villagers watching, they carried the unconscious woman to 
Conor's tent to be tended.

**********************************************************

	Diana gritted her teeth, while listening to a guard tell her of his
insubordination.
	"We looked everywhere, my Queen.  The woman was nowhere 
to be found."
	Diana glare at him, " If you had looked everywhere, then she 
would be in my dungeon under interrogation.  You and you're 
subordinates failed me.  Do not do so again."  She shooed him away.
	She turned in her seat to face her lover who was facing away 
from her.
	"Longinus, do you think she would have taken refuge in one 
of the Celtic strongholds?"
	Longinus turned around to face her.
	"Diana, I know it.  We have to find her.  The future of Rome 
depends on it."


	Conor placed the unconscious woman on top of his 
sheep-skin covered bed. Her face and body were a mass of cuts 
and bruises.
	Conor asked in dismay, "Madhia, will she be all right?" He 
gestured to the sleeping maid.
	"She'll be all right, child."  The old woman turned to the 
assembled friends.  "But, I need to tend to her wounds, so I need you 
all to leave."
	"But," Conor pleaded.
	Madhia glared at him, giving a finality to the conversation.
	Conor stepped out of his tent, not understanding why the 
sudden occurrence was troubling him so incredibly.
	Catlin seemed to read his mind.  "You're thinking about Claire 
again, aren't you."  It wasn't a question.
	He nodded his head meekly.  Conor looked at the ground, 
searching for an explanation.  
	"She looks just like her."  
	"Yes," answered Catlin matter-of-factly.  Her tone seemed 
cold, distant. She too was thinking of Claire.  But she was feeling a 
sudden urge to scream out loud at Conor, for he had still not totally 
accepted Claire's death. Catlin was beginning to worry about him.  She 
wanted him to start the healing process.  And above all else, Catlin 
wanted him, Conor, the man she secretly desired in her heart of hearts.  
But she just wasn't ready to admit that fact to his face just yet. 
	Mahdia stepped out of the tent.  "You may go see her now.  
She's resting comfortably."
	Fergus and Tully excused themselves, for they had to attend 
to other matters.  Only Catlin and Conor entered the tent.
	They both had nothing else to do that night, so they sat 
down and waited for the unknown woman to wake up.
	They had little conversation the rest of the night.

*********************************************************

	Longinus sat atop the windowsill gazing at Diana, sleeping 
peacefully.  *She is so contented.  What if things had been different?  
What if that boy had given me lasting peace by killing me with the 
spear?  She would have probably died by now.  Killed by a 
barbarian's sword.  Interesting thought*
	Diana stirred.  "Oh.....Longinus.  How long have you been 
watching me?"
	"Long enough, my Queen." He got down from the sill, 
leaned over her bed, and kissed her.
	The night had been hard.  Conor slowly stood up, careful not 
to wake Catlin or the woman sleeping on his bed.  He had chosen to 
spend the night in his tent watching over the woman who now, still, 
occupied his bed space.  Conor had found the ground next to his bunk 
truly hard.  He inadvertently yawned, and by doing so found a crick 
in his neck.  Conor grimaced.  He placed his hand on his sore neck.
	"Oh......hhsssss.  Ouch."  He said the latter a little too loudly.
	Catlin turned over onto her back.  She looked up at him 
from her place on the floor.
	"Crick in your neck?"  She gradually got into a sitting position.
	"Yea."
	"Here.  Come sit down next to me, and let me rub your 
shoulders."  Catlin patted the ground in front of her, indicating she 
wanted him to sit there.
	Conor smiled.  He nodded an affirmative.  Conor sat down 
Indian style with his back to Catlin.  She got up on to her knees, and 
placed her hand on his shoulders.
	"Oh.....right there," he said as she worked away at the sore 
spot on his neck.  Catlin felt Conor's muscles relax, at the same time, 
he was sighing in pleasure.  Catlin smiled extravagantly.
	"Oh."  They both quickly turned their heads to see where 
the foreign voice had come from.  As they stood up, they could see 
that the woman who had been sleeping on Conor's bed, was now 
starting to wake up.
	She put her hands to her eyes, and then took them away 
again.  The woman slowly sat up on her elbows.  She blinked her 
eyes many times and gave a questioning look to the unknown 
people in the room with her.
	"Where am I?"
	Conor stepped forward.  "You are in a Sanctuary.  You're 
safe here."
	Catlin then took a step forward to stand next to Conor.  
"What is your name?"
	She slowly smiled at them.  "My name is Linnis."
	Catlin turned to Conor, elbowing him in the side. She wanted 
him to say something.  "Oh, uh.....my name is Conor.  And this," he 
gestured to Cat, " is Catlin."
	Linnis had not been looking directly into either of their 
eyes their entire conversation.
	"Uh, if I may ask, can you see us?"
	Catlin again elbowed him in the side, but this time harder.
	"Conor....," Catlin warned.  She turned to him, glared, and 
shook her head. That told him that that was the wrong thing to ask.
	Linnis just smiled, and waved Catlin's protecting words 
away.
	"It's alright, Catlin.  I appreciate your concern, both of you.  
But, yes, I am blind.  I have been all my life."
	Conor and Catlin both looked at each other in surprise.  
	"Oh, I'm uh, sorry.  I didn't mean....." Conor was clearly 
uncomfortable. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. 
	Catlin cut in.  "Linnis, would you like to get dressed, and 
take a walk. I'm sure it would be good for you."
	Linnis smiled.  *Despite her blindness,* Conor thought, *she 
has a radiant smile that could take anyone's mind off her one downfall.*
	"I would love to."  She threw back the skins that covered 
her legs, and started to stand.
	"Oh, no, let me help you," offered Conor.  He reached out to 
take her hand, and helped her to her feet.
	Catlin quietly put her hands on her hips, and raised one  
eyebrow.  *Oh, this is interesting,* Catlin thought.  But then she 
realized how foolish she was being.  *I don't know what I'm worried 
about.  He's obviously just trying to make her stay as easy as possible,*  
Then a worried look quickly crossed her face.  *I hope.*
	Catlin joined Linnis and Conor outside.  The day was 
beautiful.  Just the kind of day to go out and have a picnic by the 
lake.  *Oh, I'll ask him later, AFTER he introduces Linnis to 
everyone.*
	Linnis stood by Conor.  "What a BEAUTIFUL day!"  Linnis 
closed her eyes, and sighed.  "Just beautiful."  She smiled.
	Conor was astounded.  "You can tell the kind of weather 
there is?"
	"Of course," she said, "I may be blind, but I can still smell, 
and hear."
	Conor's face immediately turned bright red.  He was glad for 
the fact that she couldn't see him do that.
	"Conor!  Conor! Help!!!"  
	He turned to see a man from the Sanctuary, Daren, carrying 
his son in his arms.  Daren ran over to Conor, and set his son down 
before him.  Both men kneeled.  The boy looked lifeless, with a 
dark blue face, and skin cold to the touch.
	"What happened, Daren?"
	The man shook his head.  "I don't know, Conor.  We were 
standing next to the lake, fishing, and the next thing I know, Coren 
had fallen in.  I couldn't revive him.  Where's Madhia?!!"
	Conor looked all around him.  The old woman was nowhere 
in sight.  Then he suddenly remembered.
	"Madhia went to the neighboring village to help with 
wounded."
	Conor suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.  It was Linnis.
	"Conor, let me."
	He made a space for her over the fallen boy.  She knelt down 
next to him.
	Linnis touched him, and closed her eyes.  "He drowned, and 
is dead."
	Daren shook his head, and inaudible "No".
	Conor started to stand up, and tell Daren he was sorry for 
his loss, but Linnis spoke.
	"NO! Not yet."
	Conor wondered what she ment by this, and knelt down 
again.
	Linnis placed one of her hands on the boy's forehead, and the 
other on his heart.  She clenched her eyes shut in deep concentration.  
She then bent down, and put her lips on the boy's.  Then she blew one 
single breath into the boy's body.  Linnis then resumed her sitting 
position and waited.
	Coren started coughing, spit up water, and gasped for breath.  
The color started to come back to his cheeks.
	Both men looked at her in amazement.
	"How did you do that," they both said in unison.
	Linnis took her hands off of the boy, and stood up slowly.  
She put a hand to her forehead.  Her eyes closed.
	"Oh, I haven't done that in a while."
	Conor stood up as well.  He helped Daren carry his boy 
over to his hut, and then quickly returned.
	"How did you do that?"
	She waved his question away.  Instead she turned her back 
on him and faced Catlin, who had also witnessed what had just 
recently transpired.
	"I'm feeling a little dizzy."  With that, Linnis collapsed into 
Catlin's arms.  	Conor ran forward.  He helped Catlin carry Linnis' 
unconscious form into Conor's hut.  They laid her out on his bed.  
Catlin situated Linnis so that she would be comfortable.
	"Conor, go fetch a wet cloth," Catlin ordered.
	Conor looked at her in surprise.  Catlin had a sudden air of 
authority to her.  Conor obeyed nonetheless.
	He returned to find Catlin sitting next to Linnis, stroking 
her hair.
	"Here you go, Catlin."
	She didn't answer.  She just kept staring at Linnis.
	"Catlin.......Catlin!.........CATLIN!!!,"  Conor yelled.
	She finally responded.  "Oh......What?"
	Conor noticed that she had a dreamy, almost surreal look in 
her eyes.  Then, as soon as it appeared, it had gone, and Catlin was 
again aware of her surroundings.
	"Oh, I'm sorry Conor.  I must have been thinking 
about.......oh, never mind."
	Conor walked up to Catlin and handed her the cloth.  Catlin 
started to wipe at Linnis' forehead.
	"What is wrong, Catlin.  You've been acting strange these 
past few days. You know that you can tell me anything.  PLEASE! 
Tell me!"
	Catlin saw the pleading look in Conor's eyes.  She also saw 
the wisps of gold curls framing his face, and his brow furrowed, 
and his.........lips. *Ooh, better not go there, girl* 
	Catlin shook herself to stop from thinking the thoughts.  
*Not a good idea to think those things around him.....and his lips*  
She shook herself again. *AAGGHH!! Must STOP thinking these 
thoughts!*
	Conor had been watching her threw her whole internal 
struggle, and had a pretty good idea of what she had been thinking 
about, considering the past few days' events.
	Catlin was looking at her hands, and had a very guilty 
look on her face. Conor raised his hands to her face, and held 
brought her face up to his.
	They looked into each others eyes.  Conor brought her 
face up to his.  They both closed their eyes, and leaned towards 
each other.
	"OH!"  It was Linnis.  She turned onto her side.
	They suddenly both realized what they were doing and 
quickly moved away from each other.
	Conor stood up and crossed the room.  He looked guilty.
	"I'll.....I'll go get another wet cloth."  He quickly left the 
room.  But before he turned around, Catlin glimpsed Conor.  His face 
was bright red.
	Catlin sighed, and covered her face with her hands.  She 
removed her hands and smiled.  She started to giggle.

	Conor hurried out of the hut, eager to be sure Catlin 
wouldn't see the expression on his face.  He felt quite embarrassed 
at himself, for getting so carried away.
	Conor's quick steps were suddenly interrupted.
	"Where ya goin' man?"  Fergus stepped plainly into view.  
His chest was bare, and on it, trickles of sweat from chopping wood 
with Tully.
	"Oh.  I'm ah......," he suddenly forgot where he was going.  
Then he remembered.
	"I'm goin' to fetch a damp cloth.  Linnis...."  Conor 
gesticulated with his hands his incessant need to get going.
	Fergus just nodded.  He returned to his wood chopping.
	Conor kneeled by the pond, and dipped the cloth into the 
cool water.  He then raised it out of the water and began to stare.  In 
the pond was a reflection.  A reflection of a love smitten boy, who 
didn't know how to deal with the new found emotion.
	Conor splashed the reflection away, and stood up.  *I 
need to get back.*  
	Conor found Catlin sitting cross-legged in front of the 
fire.  She didn't seem to notice him come in.
	Conor took her silence to mean that she was cross at him, 
so he proceeded to cross the distance to his bed and wipe the sweat 
from Linnis' brow.
	Catlin turned around.
	"Conor, about just a moment ago....I-"
	"Oh," Linnis opened her eyes.  She sat up in the bed.
	"You're awake!" Conor and Catlin both said in unison.
	Linnis began to laugh.
	"What?" asked Conor.  He was truly bewildered.
	"You two.  You are both just so perfect for each other."
	Conor and Catlin just stared at each other.  Then they all 
started to laugh.

********************************************************

	"Diana, wake up."  
	Longinus shook her.  She moaned and turned over onto her 
other side.
	"Why?  Don't you want to stay in bed?"  She whined at him, 
which she knew would not get her anywhere, but she did it anyway.
	"Of course.  But it is time to find the girl.  She is near, 
and I feel that today we will finally catch her."
	Diana made a face, but obediently proceeded to get dressed.
********************************************************

	Linnis sat in the bed, waiting for the child to bring her the 
soup that Madhia had made her, after she returned from the village.  
Catlin and Conor sat on stumps, on either side of the bed.  
	The child, Mary, walked into Conor's hut carrying the bowl 
of soup, careful not to trip, for the soup was scalding hot.  She tread 
across the room, but tripped over her own feet.  The soup splashed 
out across the room and hit Linnis square in the eyes.
	"AAAAAAHHHH, my eyes!"  Linnis covered her face 
with her hands.
	Catlin instructed Conor to bring her another wet cloth.  
Conor sent Mary for it.  Conor ran to Linnis' side.
	"Linnis, are you alright?!"  His voice did not hide the 
concern he was feeling, and Catlin began to feel jealous once again, but 
she waved it away.
	*I have no time to feel jealous, especially when someone is 
hurt.  Shame on me!*
	Mary returned with the cloth, and handed it to Conor.  He 
reassured Mary that Linnis was fine, and that there was nothing to 
worry about.  He shooed her out the door, so they could tend to Linnis.
	But when they got to her side, Linnis was completely calm.  
She kept her hands over her face.
	"Here, Linnis, move your hands."  Catlin tried to move 
Linnis' hands.
	"No, Catlin. I'm alright."  Linnis removed her hands from 
her face.  Incredibly, her face was not red, but totally pale, as she 
had been before. Linnis opened her eyes.  It was the first time she 
had done so.
	"May I ask, what was in that broth?"
	Conor looked confused, but answered anyway.
	"You probably don't want to know, Linnis.  In fact, come 
to think of it, I probably don't want to know either."
	Catlin and Linnis smiled.
	"Why?"
	"Oh, I just thought that I would tell you; I can see you."
"You -- what?!!" Conor was amazed.
	"What ever your healer put in that broth healed my eyes."  She 
smiled.
	Catlin was ecstatic.  She hugged Linnis.
	Then, suddenly, they heard a familiar voice outside.
	"Where is Conor?!" the voice screamed.
	Conor and Catlin both looked to each other worriedly.  They 
knew who it was.
	"Stay here, Linnis.  We'll be back in a moment."  Then Conor 
grabbed Catlin's arm, and they both hurried outside.
	They were right.  It was Longinus. 
	He stood in the middle of the Sanctuary, with only a few 
loyal soldiers to back him up.  He didn't look like he needed them.  
There was fire in his eyes.
	"Where is the sorceress, boy?"  Longinus asked maliciously.
	Conor crossed his arms over each other, and stood tall.  
Catlin stood the same way behind him.
	"What girl," asked Conor.  He turned to Catlin.
	"Do you know of any girl, Cat?"  She shook her head.
	Longinus looked more dangerous than ever.
	"You two know full well where she is.  If I have to, I will search 
this place, with or without your cooperation."
	"There is no need for that," came another's voice.  Conor and 
Catlin both turned to where it had come from. 
	Linnis stood in the doorway to Conor's hut.
	She began to walk slowly toward where Longinus stood.
	"Ah, Gaius Cassius Longinus--I've been expecting you for 
some time."
	Longinus looked confused.
	"You know who I am?"
 	"How could I not," she answered quietly, "You are the Roman 
centurion who killed his god.  And you believe I can offer you 
everlasting peace."
	"Can you?"  A look of hope crossed over Longinus' face.
	"Maybe," answered Linnis matter-of-factly.
	"You can help me?"
	"Yes, I could.  But you have not helped another creature 
when there was nothing to gain from it.  I do not believe that you 
deserve my help, my gifts."  Linnis put her hands on her hips; a 
defiant gesture.
	Conor had, this entire time, been watching what had transpired 
while his feet where planted firmly, not budging, on the ground.  *What 
is she doing?*
	Longinus' face quickly turned from hopeful to furious.  His 
face contorted in rage.
	"You WILL help me, girl!!!  I will NOT take no for an 
answer!"
	Longinus raised his hands up, and with some unimaginable 
power, made Linnis clasp her throat.  She was choking.  Longinus 
had reached out with an invisible hand, and started choking her.
	Conor and Catlin, who were both still stuck in their places, 
yelled out for Longinus to stop.
	Linnis raised her hands into the air, and immediately, she 
stopped choking.  She inhaled slowly and deeply.
	"You will not control me that easily, Gaius Cassius Longinus.  
I will NOT be controlled!"  And with that, she raised her hands again, 
and Longinus and his men flew through the air, back to where they 
had come from.
	Conor and Catlin's bonds were broken.  They could now walk 
over to where Linnis stood, shaking slightly.  
	"How did you do that?!?"  Conor was astounded.  He could 
hardly believe what he had just witnessed.  On the contrary, Catlin 
patted her back, and congratulated her.
	"That was incredible."  Catlin looked truly envious.
	Linnis sat down, and motioned for Cat and Conor to do 
the same.
	"When I was a child, my mother and father told me I was 
special.  Really special.  I could not comprehend this, because I 
imagined myself a handicapped lost cause.  I did not understand 
what they meant, until I was a teen-ager.
	"A child in our village had accidentally been hit with an 
arrow.  I had been the nearest to the accident, so I tried to take him 
to the healer.  I could not make it.  The journey was too far.  So, I 
set him down, and proceeded to remove the arrow.  When it was out, 
I put my hand on the wound to try and stop the bleeding.  When I 
removed my hand, the wound was gone, healed.  It was then that I 
understood what my parents had told me so long ago.  Since
then, I have discovered miraculous powers at my disposal."
	"Wow," was all Conor could say.
	Catlin and Linnis burst into hysterical laughter.

*********************************************************
	Conor say at the edge of the cliff, overlooking the ocean.  His 
eyes were closed, and he was thinking.  *I'm tired.  If it weren't so 
windy, I'd take a nap. Oh, well.*
	There was suddenly a snap of a twig behind him.  Conor was 
so rapped up in his own thoughts, that he didn't notice it.
	Catlin strode out of the woods, being careful not to disturb 
Conor, while he was in such deep concentration.
	She walked right up behind him, and put her hands on his 
shoulders.  *Oh, boy.  I do love his shoulders.*
	Conor jumped.
	"Oh, it's you, Catlin.  You scared me."
	She sat down next to him.
	"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to."  *I don't think*
	He smiled.
	"That's alright.  I enjoy your company."
	She blushed, and then became serious.
	"So, where did Linnis go?"
	"She wanted to move on.  So I told her about a clan in the 
mountains with people who are said to have powers quite like her own.  
I think it's called the Stargazer Clan.  She left early this morning."
	"Oh."  Catlin suddenly felt a little guilty, for being jealous 
of Linnis.
	"What's wrong, Catlin?  You look upset."
	"I was just thinking about Linnis.  About how I was so....so..."  
She couldn't finish.
	"So, what?"  Conor looked bewildered.
	She suddenly felt confident.
	"So jealous!  I was jealous of the way you were helping 
her, and paying so much attention to her!"  Catlin finished, her face red 
with embarrassment.
	Abruptly, Conor took her face in his hands, and kissed her.
	When it was over, he looked deep into her eyes, and told her 
something she would never forget.
	"Catlin, I LOVE you!  Please, don't ever be jealous again."
	And with that, he kissed her again, and all the while, Catlin 
had thoughts running through her head.
	*OH I LOVE THIS, I LOVE THIS, I LOVE THIS, 
AND I LOVE HIM!!!*



					THE END

By Lexy aka Conorgirl