Conor, now realizing that Cat was gone ran after her.
"Catlin? Catlin why did you run away?"
"Conor just go, just go and leave us alone. We don't need you."
"What? What are you saying Cat?"
"I am saying that I do not love you anymore because you do not love our child!"
" Catlin I love our baby, it's just that, well, I never had any younger brothers or sisters so I have never had to sleep in the same tent with one. And it scares me because, what if she grows up to be like me?"
"Then she would be perfect."
Conor smiled and layed down beside his wife and child, once again in perfect harmony.
The next day Catlin and Conor took Shannon top side for a small picnic. The sun shone brightly upon them and they made their way towards the river. Little Shannon stared out from beneath the wrappings her mother had bundled around her. Catlin smiled as the baby blue eyes stared curiously at her. "She has your eyes..." Conor said suddenly. Catlin looked at him smiling. "But she's exactly like you." Conor grinned shily and wrapped his free arm around her as they walked.
When they reached the river, they settled under the shade of a great oak tree and Conor set down their bag of food. Catlin set Shannon on the soft lush grass and turned to Conor. He reached over to caress her face in his hands.
Catlin closed her eyes and sighed. "I love you Conor. "She whispered as she leaned into his chest.
"I love you too." He replied embracing her in his arms.
Shannon began to wail. The young couple pulled apart sighing and Catlin reached over to pick her up.
"I'll take her." Conor offered boldly. Catlin looked him in the eyes curiously and then smiling placed their daughter in his outstretched arms. Conor seemed a little uncomfortable at first, but as the child began to babble happily in his arms he relaxed and Catlin even saw a smile escape his lips. She smiled, now only if the Romans would disappear and leave them alone, everything would be perfect!
As if one cue, a battle cry ripped through the serene silence, "Attack!!!" Conor and Catlin jumped to their feet. Conor held Shannon closer to him. He unsheathed his sword and glanced around him to catch sight of numerous Roman assailants surrounding them.
"There's seven of them!" Catlin hissed with worry. Shannon... "Conor take her and go!" She said between clenched teeth.
"No. I won't leave you Cat!" He stated a little angry that she had suggested such an idea. "You take her and run. I'll hold them off." He whispered sternly.
"But Conor-"
"No. Take our child and go! I will be fine Cat. Have you so little faith in me?" Catlin was silent. Her husband pushed their child into her arms and attacked two Roman soldiers before him.
Catlin ran as fast as her feet would take her, leaving her determined husband to fight the Roman ambushers. As soon as Catlin reached the Sanctuary she gave her baby to a neighbor and gathered Tully and Fergus. The three sped back to the spot in which Catlin had just left Conor, but all that remained was his sword. Catlin fell to her knees and screamed into the cool mid day air.
Fergus picked up the limp woman and carried her back to her tent. There he layed her, and she remained motionless. Then Fergus got all of the warriors and the little army set out to retrieve their Prince. As they came to the Roman castle of Diana they became very quiet and sneaked past the guard who was foolishly flirting with a peasant girl. After they had entered through the gate they sought out the dungeon. When they finally found it after awhile of searching they saw their tattered prince on the dungeon dirty floor.
"Conor!" Catlin yelled relieved. She ran to him and tried to prop him up. To her surprise he got up with ease and grinned wickedly at the three people standing before them.
"Guards!" He yelled menacingly.
Catlin looked up at Fergus then at the Roman guards that quickly surrounded them. Conor moved away from his former friends and went to stand by Diana as the Roman Queen appeared from around the corner.
Catlin searched his eyes in despair and saw what she dreaded the most. Hatred... Hatred towards them...
"Are you mad boy!" Fergus yelled outraged.
"You traitor!" Tully countered disgusted. Catlin stood motionless. She was speechless. The man she loved was standing at the side of another women and the look in his eyes as he spoke to the Roman frightened her and broke her heart. Shannon... What is she to tell their daughter?
"Conor, my sweet, lets get ourselves out of this dreadful dungeon. And you must change out of those filthy rags! They do not become you!" Diana exclaimed enjoying the pain she saw in the other woman's eyes.
"As you wish my Queen!" Conor replied bowing and offering his hand. Diana layed her hand on his and they left together.
Longinus appeared, "Guards, lock them up. If they escape I guarantee you that I will be the one to personally torture you!" The guards saluted and tightened their circle around them.
"There's too many of them." Tully said as more guards appeared. Longinus heard the comment and slowly made his way out of the dungeon. Erasing all of the young prince's memory was a surprisingly satisfying plan.
"Conor!!!" Catlin screamed as she slapped him across the face. "What in the world do you think you were doing holding that witches hand!" Now it was Conor's turn to laugh at his wife.
"You are the silly woman now!" He replied as he pulled her into his arms and gently caressed her back. Suddenly he pulled back and looked worried.
"What is it?" Catlin asked.
"Where is Shannon?"
"She is right here." A woman said as she walked into the tent with the baby in her arms.
Conor took the baby and held it to his face. "Next to your mother, you are my reason for living." Catlin heard this and a single tear ran down her face. Conor once again took her in his arms and whispered in her ear, "I will never doubt our family again."
The end.