Rogue 2

Rogue

Disclaimer: This is uber-Xena. I don’t own Xena, Gabrielle and the rest. I’m merely borrowing for entertainment, don’t bother suing me. Since this is a period piece uber, the characters are original and mine and not for public use, thanks.

Violence: about the same as a TV episode

Sex/Alt-Fiction: yes. This story is of couples of the same gender in loving, caring and sexual relationships with each other.

Feedback: yes, yes, yes - please. I respond to all feedback.

Background: this story was a request by my editor as a birthday present. She asked for a story from me that included: swashbuckling, romance and a happy ending. No small requirements. What follows is the story I wrote for Dev Anderson, my best friend, best editor, and inspiration to my muse. She helps keep me sane in this insane world.

Once in the cottage Breeya found the bandits setting muskets next to the three windows and Edna stamping her foot.

"There you are, lass," she snapped. "Tell me, which side are we on in this upcoming ruckus?"

"We’re siding with the Irish on this one, Edna," Breeya grinned and took a position next to the window watching the trail heading to the cottage and could see the figures approaching slowly on horseback.

"Good," was all Edna said as she took up a position next to Cal, prepared to help with reloading the weapons.

Everyone was a bundle of nerves as they waited to see what the soldiers had planned, knowing they couldn’t make a run for it with the soldiers on horseback so close.

"Patrick, get out to the stable and hold there," Kieran ordered and the Irishman quickly ducked out the door and dashed for the stable before the soldiers could get into firing range.

"Cal, get on the roof of the shearing shed, if you get a chance, grab one of those bastards alive. We need to know what their orders are."

"Right, Kier," the small elf like bandit jumped out of the east window and kept low below the line of the stone wall.

"Let’s see what the official talk is, shall we?" Kieran grinned and cocked a pistol in each hand and waited while Maeve grabbed up a musket and pulled up her red scarf to hide most of her face.

"Don’t trust them, Maeve," Breeya said simply.

"Aye."

The soldiers on horseback pulled up just short of the fence line when they spotted Kieran and Maeve leaving the cottage and approaching them, both armed.

"What do ye want here?" Kieran called.

"Your head, Irish scum," the first horseman yelled back.

"Well, that’s blunt and to the point," Kieran said softly to Maeve. He turned back to the soldiers. "And what would you be wanting it for?"

"We know that you are the rebel trash that have kidnapped and killed Lady Kerr, betrothed to Lord Selwyn," the officer called back.

"Damn, if we deny we have her they’ll kill us and if we deny we’ve killed her then we’ve admitted to kidnapping her," Kieran cursed.

"Aye, either way they’ll kill us," Maeve said softly.

"You’re mistaken, my friend," Kieran called back. "We’ve no one here against their will. I want you to leave me property."

"In retaliation for the kidnapping of Lady Kerr the prisoner known as Brian O’Malley was hanged yesterday. If she lives, then surrender the Lady to our custody and give yourselves up."

Kieran heard a gasp from Maeve at the news of her husband’s death and leaned back towards her.

"Steady, lass," he said softly. "They mean to kill all of us, I’m thinking."

"I agree, with Breeya’s death Lord Selwyn will have all the justification he needs to over-run our land and claim it for the English Crown and he saves face in avenging her death and not receiving ‘damaged’ goods," Maeve agreed.

"I’ll repeat meself, we’ve no one against their will. Leave now," Kieran ordered.

Kieran suddenly threw himself to the ground as Maeve’s musket sounded in his ears. He glanced around and saw the four soldiers coming up from the beach had reached the stone wall surrounding the cottage property and were aiming to fire. He quickly scrambled to his feet and followed Maeve to the cottage as the horsemen dismounted and took up positions behind the stone wall.

"If the Lady is in here you are risking her life!" Kieran called from the door to the officer.

"She’s already dead or soon will be," the officer countered and Kieran slammed the door shut as musket fire began from the British soldiers. Edna and Breeya inside returned fire.

"They mean to kill me?" Breeya demanded as she began reloading the musket Maeve was carrying.

"Aye, with you dead Lord Selwyn can massacre all of our kin and claim our land," Maeve stated simply, firing another musket. Breeya handed her the reloaded weapon.

"Well you got one of them," Breeya said grimly.

"That only leaves seven of them," Kieran grinned.

"We could wait until night and make a run for it before they call for more troops," Edna suggested.

"Aye, but I don’t think they’re going to wait that long. Look!" Kieran pointed to the soldiers between them and the cliff. Edna stayed at the other window while Breeya and Maeve looked out the window beside Kieran.

Two soldiers could be seen moving in either direction along the fence, ducking low to make poor targets. Each of them carried a torch.

"They intend to burn us out?" Breeya demanded. "Let me go out, they’ll listen to me. I can trade myself for your freedom. I’ll personally plead the case of your husband and brother’s release."

"My husband is dead, hanged by Lord Selwyn yesterday and he’ll never let our brother or us go. They won’t listen to you, Bree." Maeve said simply.

"Maeve," Breeya said softly but Maeve shook her head and took up her position at the other window.

"We’ll grieve later, right now we’ve got to survive first."

The inhabitants of the cottage ducked as musket fire once again rained into the room. They could hear return fire from Patrick and Cal as well as their own return volleys. A scream cut through the air and Maeve and Edna cried out at the same time as they saw Cal fall from the shearing shed roof, his chest bright red with blood.

"Cal’s down!" Maeve screamed.

"Our only chance is to run for it," Kieran yelled back.

"Agreed, where and how?" Maeve called back and gave a yell as one of the torch bearers went down by one of her shots.

"I’ll take Edna and Patrick by horse, you take Breeya and go to the ledge. We’ll bring a boat around tonight," Kieran suggested.

"Agreed. Breeya, pack a bag of travel food and some fresh water," Maeve ordered.

"We can make it to the back of the stable without getting hit," Kieran commented.

"You’ve still their horses to worry about," Maeve frowned.

"They won’t be expecting us to make a break for it, I’ll scatter the horses," Kieran explained.

"You’d better make it, Kier," Maeve threatened. "I’ll not forgive you if you don’t!"

She kissed him on the cheek and he quickly hugged her.

Edna grabbed up a couple of packs and followed Kieran out the window. Maeve covered them with a musket while Breeya fired a musket at the soldiers at the sea wall. The Irish rogue sighed with relief as the older woman and her brother made it to the stables. She turned to Breeya and nodded.

"When they make a break for it, we’ll wait and see where those three on your side head to. If they head for the other soldiers we wait until they pass, then follow me and head for the wall and hide over it."

"Alright," Breeya nodded, throwing the pack over her shoulder. Her eyes widened as Maeve tucked a pistol in her belt and grabbed up another one. It was the sight of this one that startled Breeya, it was a pistol with an axe head under the barrel. She had heard of this type of German pistol but hadn’t seen one before.

Maeve handed the captive Scot two pistols and watched outside the window, keeping out of sight.

Suddenly shouts and gunfire filled the tense silence. Breeya rushed over to the other window.

"They’re going for it!" she hissed quietly. "They’re over the wall!"

After a tense moment she gave a small cry. "Patrick’s down! The soldiers are rushing for their horses. Kieran has scattered them and they’re trying to catch them."

"Get down, the others are heading for their mates!" Maeve instructed and Breeya moved over next to her lover and they watched the soldiers jump up from behind the wall and head for the other English.

"Come on, stay low and run down the sea path, like the devil himself were after you," Maeve instructed.

"Aye," Breeya acknowledged.

"Now!" Maeve opened the door slightly and slid along the wall with Breeya behind her. She quickly moved into the open space, staying low with musket primed and ready as Breeya moved past her, heading for the wall and the path. The Scot climbed over the low fence and looked back.

Shouts suddenly turned towards them and Breeya saw some of the soldiers snapping their heads around in their direction. Maeve raised the musket and one soldier went down with a musket ball in his face. Two others raised their own muskets and fired but missed the moving Irish bandit. Maeve dropped the musket and pulled her cutlass and turned to run for the wall.

"Run!" she yelled and Breeya turned and headed down the path but couldn’t resist looking back.

Maeve turned and fired her pistol, as two of the soldiers got close enough for a pistol shot and Breeya heard one yell but not go down. Then the two were on Maeve with their own pistols and swords.

The Irish rogue yelled as a musket ball hit her shoulder and spun her around. She quickly followed through with a sword strike that was barely parried in time by one of the soldiers and she slashed at the other with the pistol-axe, keeping him from firing his pistol.

Breeya couldn’t follow the movements of the three as they fought, sword to sword and sword to pistol-axe but within moments it was over. Maeve ducked one strike and thrust upward with the cutlass into the throat of one and then slashed with a backhand movement and cut a deep gash in the arm of the other. The soldier dropped his sword to grab his arm, before he could correct his mistake the axe cut through his throat.

Maeve turned and began running towards Breeya, motioning the Scot to run, Maeve’s white shirt quickly turning red.

Breeya gritted her teeth and grasped the dagger tightly and looked into Maeve’s blue eyes with concern.

"Do it, Bree," Maeve ordered and closed her eyes and gritted her own teeth and then tried not to scream as the knife dug into her shoulder. After a moment of red hot pain she couldn’t help but cry out and slam her hand onto the stone beneath her.

"Got it!" Breeya cried out and quickly covered the wound with a piece of a shirt she had ripped up from their pack and held down tightly as Maeve broke into a sweat and bit her lip.

"I hate musket balls," Maeve muttered and then Breeya felt the Irish rogue’s muscles beginning to relax as the pain began to ease.

Breeya looked around in amazement once again, now that Maeve’s shoulder had been tended to for the moment.

When they had hit the beach Breeya had started for the soldier’s boat but Maeve called her back along the sea cliff and into the water that was knee deep around some rocks. Breeya had started to protest but Maeve had grabbed the Scot by her collar and practically dragged her through the water. Breeya had quickly found herself in darkness and in water in a cave.

Maeve somehow knew where to go and Breeya heard the striking and lighting of a lantern and looked around at the sea cave. It wasn’t very big but it looked deep and Maeve began walking through the water towards the back.

"Come on, lass, we’ve not much time before the tide."

Breeya felt fear clutch at her heart. Tide? Maeve meant for them to be in a cave at high tide? The water was already to their knees. She swallowed and put her faith in her lover and followed behind in the bitter cold water.

About a hundred feet into the cave Maeve began climbing the rocks, slipping back a few times with her wounded shoulder and crying out. Then she disappeared and Breeya felt a moment of panic until she saw Maeve’s head above her and a rope suddenly appeared, dangling down the cliff wall.

"Tie the pack and the lantern to the rope and then climb up after them. Hurry!" Maeve said simply.

Breeya, looking down at the water that had risen another six inches, quickly did as she was told and somehow scampered up the rocks, having an easier time of it without the gunshot wound.

The ledge was long and wide enough for at least four people to stretch out on and Breeya was impressed to find blankets, a water cask, and another lantern stored there.

Now that the bullet was out, Breeya bandaged the shoulder and made a sling with what was left of the shirt she had torn apart.

"Your shoulder is broken," she said, her Scots accent becoming thicker in the tension.

"Aye," Maeve acknowledged as Breeya wrapped a blanket around the tall Irish woman.

"How long are we caught in here?" Breeya asked nervously, eyeing the water that was only two feet below them now that the tide had come in.

"Until ebb tide, several hours. By then the soldiers will think we either had a boat waiting or got caught in the tide and drowned. Kieran will bring a boat around when the tide goes out," Maeve said.

"If they made it," Breeya muttered.

"I’d know if he was dead, I think," Maeve said softly, leaning back into Breeya’s arms, trying to get warm.

"I’m sorry about your husband, Maeve," Breeya said softly.

"Aye. He was a good man and a good companion."

"Did he know that you weren’t in love with him?"

"Yes, he knew I loved him but more as a brother. He accepted that and didn’t ask me to our bed often. He deserved better than a rope," Maeve said bitterly.

Breeya leaned down and kissed the top of Maeve’s head and held her closer.

"I be having a feeling that my future husband isn’t going to be as considerate," she said softly.

"I know, I think he prefers you dead at this point," Maeve agreed.

"Why not let him think I’m dead? He’d leave us be then," Breeya suggested.

"Same reason as before when he tried to have you killed, my love," Maeve shook her head. "He’ll use it as an excuse to drive us from our land and claim it and hunt us down like dogs and all our kin."

"Damn his eyes!" Breeya cursed.

"Damn this shoulder, I could think of a more pleasant way to pass the time with you if I didn’t hurt so badly," the Irish rogue grinned and was rewarded by Breeya shifting her body and claiming Maeve’s lips with her own. Both women moaned from the feelings and sensations and spent quite a bit of time occupied with each other’s lips and tongues.

After a bit Breeya insisted that they eat the bread, cheese, and salted meat Breeya had packed and began talking again.

"What if he knows I’m not coming to his bed a virgin, that I slept with one of my Irish captors?" Breeya suggested.

"He’ll still have an excuse to hunt us down and he’ll have an excuse not to marry you. He’ll send you back to Scotland disgraced and hunt us down," Maeve countered.

"What’s going to keep him from hunting you down after your turn me over to him?" Breeya complained.

"The bargain will be made public and I’m hoping that you’ll keep him to his word."

"I’m not leaving you!" the young Scot said fiercely.

"We knew it would come to that, Bree," Maeve countered, her eyes tearing up. "We’d have to find a way for him to release his claim on you, free my brother and swear not to come after us. I don’t see his English pride accepting any of that, do you?"

Breeya felt her own tears threatening to overfill her eyes and shook her head. "No," she agreed.

"Damnit, Bree, I would go through hellfire to have you in my life!" Maeve swore.

"And I you, beloved. Talk to me about something else," Breeya asked.

"Ah and what would I be telling you?" Maeve asked with a sad smile.

"About your name, my love," Breeya suggested.

"Maeve was Queen of Connacht, the land south of Ulster. She was a powerful queen and had a vicious appetite for power and an equal one for men," Maeve began, snuggling into Breeya’s arms. "It’s said that no man could satisfy her, that it would take sometimes three."

Breeya felt herself blushing a bright red. "Go on with you!"

"Aye, ‘tis true," Maeve grinned even wider. "She and her husband argued one day about who had more power and who had more possessions. In those days women could be equal with the men and owned their own property."

"And we think we’re more civilized," Breeya muttered.

"Well, they set their advisors to counting all of their belongings and comparing their worth. It came down that they were equally matched except for a massive white bull that Maeve owned. It was a huge beast that none could tame but it gave good offspring. The advisors wouldn’t declare Maeve the winner, however, because the bull was in among the Kings’ cattle and wouldn’t be moved to Maeve’s bunch."

"Interesting, a stubborn bull."

"Aye, a bewitched one but that’s another story," Maeve continued. "Maeve was furious but the bull refused to be moved and killed several herders. The Queen had heard of a reddish brown bull to equal her own in Ulster and decided that she would settle the matter by invading Ulster, taking the bull and winning the contest with her husband."

"She was willing to go to war with the Ulster region over a pissing contest with her husband?"

Maeve laughed heartily and then grabbed her shoulder as the laughter brought a fresh wave of pain.

"Owww," she cried, still laughing. "Aye, that’s about it!"

"Silly woman," Breeya grinned and Maeve wasn’t sure if she was referring to Queen Maeve or the rogue Maeve in the Scotswoman’s arms.

"Aye, it was. Maeve had found out a secret about the men of Ulster though and knew she had the advantage."

"And that was?" Breeya asked.

"Because of a curse from the Goddess Macha, the men of Ulster fell ill with women’s cramps every seven years for a time of three days and nights, unable to move. Queen Maeve planned to get into Ulster, capture the bull and be gone before they recovered."

"Moon cycle cramps?" Breeya found herself laughing at the thought of men having to suffer the fate that women went through every month. "Why would a goddess curse men like that?"

"Her thoughtless husband made a bet that she was the fastest runner in the land, even when she was pregnant and about to deliver their child. She ran the race and won and delivered a child right at the end of the race. In anger she cursed all the men of the Ulster region with the pangs of childbirth and cramps," Maeve explained.

"Oh, I like that!" Breeya continued laughing.

"Aye. Well Queen Maeve found that there was one man in Ulster that was immune because he was goddess born himself, Cu Cuchulain, defender of Ulster."

"Kieran’s bandit name," Breeya commented.

"Aye," Maeve nodded, "and Finn MacCumhal is another Irish hero that I take my bandit name from. Our brother Hugh is named for Red Hugh O’Donnell, who almost drove the British from the region. My husband, Brian was named for Brian Boru, another Irish hero."

"So what happened with Queen Maeve and Cu?"

"Cu managed to hold her army off, killing them by night and day until the men of Ulster were recovered. Cu almost won but was killed in the end. Neither side really won. Maeve became a recluse at the age of 80 something and was killed by an Ulster warrior in revenge for the war."

"I like the story," Breeya said softly.

"I know you have a father and no siblings, what happened to your mother?" Maeve asked.

"She died in childbirth," Breeya answered.

"I’m sorry, Bree."

"It’s alright. I guess that they loved each other deeply, my father never remarried and never courted anyone after her death," Breeya explained. "Edna’s been with us since I was born, she’s been a good friend, a mother."

"She’ll be okay with Kieran," Maeve said reassuringly.

"Aye, like I am with you," Breeya smiled.

Edna was indeed alright with Kieran. When the tide ebbed both Maeve and Breeya were relieved when Kieran’s voice called to them from the cave entrance. After much fussing over by Edna about Maeve’s wound and their soaked clothes, they were bundled into a boat and were off into the darkness.

Breeya praying that her stomach would leave her alone for once and losing.

By morning they had landed and had taken refuge in another cottage with a fisherman, his wife and their five children. Maeve and Breeya both quickly suggested they sleep in the barn and refused to look at Kieran as he grinned at them. Maeve turned away as she blushed bright red and Breeya glanced away, becoming interested in the family doings. After the tension and travel of the night, everyone slept soundly through the morning, even with the family going about the daily chores around their sleeping guests.

Lunch found Maeve grumpy with the shoulder pain and everyone troubled about the situation with Lord Selwyn.

"Sean’s oldest son went to the English troops and offered to reopen negotiations and Lord Selwyn sent word he’s willing to end this. We’re to meet him at Kesh tomorrow. He gives his word that he’ll bring Hugh," Kieran informed the women and the family.

Breeya could see the muscles in Maeve’s jaw tense up and the Irish woman refused to meet the younger woman’s eyes. The Irish rogue stood up quickly and went out the door.

"Excuse me," Breeya said simply and followed out the door. She found Maeve sitting on the typical stone fence in front of the cottage. She walked up behind the bandit and wrapped her arms around the taller woman.

"I can’t let you go, Bree."

Breeya could feel Maeve’s body shaking with the tears and her own escaping down her cheeks.

"We’ve no choice, my love," Breeya whispered.

Edna, watching from the doorway, frowned thoughtfully and turned back inside and approached the woman of the house, Mary. The women began a long conversation while the men continued to talk and plan and the two young women held each other.

Neither woman had much appetite for dinner and Kieran kept having to draw Maeve’s attention back to the plans for the exchange the next day until he finally threw his hands up in frustration.

"It’s going to be a long day tomorrow," he stated. "Set her up a bed in the barn and watch over her."

Maeve nodded and motioned for her "captive" to head out of the cottage.

Once inside the barn door Breeya turned into Maeve’s welcoming arm, their lips crushing each other, the sense of desperation filling the barn. Breeya broke from Maeve’s embrace and hung the lantern up and set up the bedding for them, knowing that Kieran and Edna would find places among the Sean and Mary’s family or near the fire in the cottage. She then turned and slowly helped the injured Maeve undress and pushed the Irish bandit down onto the blankets. Then Maeve was making small noises as Breeya undressed in front of her, as the rogue took in the younger woman’s beauty again with her blue eyes.

"By God you are so beautiful!" Maeve said softly and then moaned as Breeya crawled over her and gently lay on top of the bandit. "I’ll never get enough of you, woman!"

"Nor I you, beloved," Breeya promised, relishing the feel of her skin against Maeve’s and the heat their bodies were beginning to create. Maeve quietly cursed her wounded shoulder as Breeya’s leg and hip went between hers and Maeve found her body moving on its own rhythm.

Maeve’s teeth found Breeya’s neck and the young captive cried out as her body jerked in response to the intensely erotic feeling from the bite and then her cry was followed by moans as Maeve’s one free hand began feeling and loving the breasts above her.

It seemed forever and but a moment that they continued on until each was a mass of shaking muscles and jerking bodies. Breeya whimpered as Maeve’s hand went lower and the rebel’s fingers began exploring the young Scotswoman and then entered her. Breeya whimpered again and found her body jerking and begging for more of Maeve, impaling herself on Maeve’s fingers.

Within minutes Breeya was beyond thinking as her body trembled out of control. She felt the waves of pleasure began to overtake her and she heard someone screaming Maeve’s name and then crying out. With a start, Breeay realized she was the one screaming.

After what seemed like an hour but was only minutes, Breeya realized that she was snuggled in Maeve’s good arm and being held tight against the Irish rogue.

Then she was covering Maeve’s lips and body with kisses and her hands as she moved down Maeve’s body until her lips found the rebel’s sexual lips. Maeve’s hips jerked in reaction as Breeya’s tongue began exploring her entrance, lips and then her clit. She matched Breeya’s earlier cries as the Scot’s fingers entered her and her tongue danced over Maeve’s sexual lips and pearl, drinking in the very essence of Maeve.

Maeve’s screams echoed after Breeya’s. Then they held each other as the tears fell freely at the thought of the morning.

Edna gently shook Breeya awake the next morning as her young charge lay in Maeve’s arm, sleeping curled around and over the Irish bandit.

"It’s time, lass," the older woman said gently.

Breeya raised up slightly and looked at the sleeping face of Maeve and felt tears filling her eyes once more.

"Let me say goodbye to her," she said softly.

"There's no time and it'll only be more difficult if you do. Mary has a dress that will suit you," Edna said firmly.

"Dress? We'll be riding, why can't I wear what I've got?"

"You and I will be riding in a wagon, as fitting the Lady Kerr and the dress, hopefully, will keep you from being shot as a bandit. Come on, let her sleep a bit," Edna said gently.

A short time later Maeve opened her eyes as Kieran shook her awake. She frowned and looked around immediately for Breeya.

"She's getting dressed," Kieran answered the unspoken but obvious question from his sister. "She couldn't face saying goodbye to you, lass."

Maeve closed her eyes, fighting back the tears and then nodded at her brother that she was alright.

"They'll be in the wagon in a few moments. Sean and his cousins are coming with us in case it's a trap. Will you be okay?" he asked gently as she sat up and reached for her shirt.

"No but then we've no choice in the matter, do we?" she said bitterly. "I lose my husband and now I'll lose Bree to the same bastard."

"Aye, maybe we can get her away in a couple of months," he suggested.

"No, Kier," she shook her head as she pulled her sword belt over her shoulder. "We've our own duties to our families."

Maeve steeled herself in a few moments and opened the door to the barn and glanced out. She quickly looked away from Breeya's green eyes watching her from the back of the simple wagon. Edna looked troubled as well.

Maeve quickly mounted her horse and checked her pistols as Sean began the wagon trek to the arranged meeting place, a meadow outside of the small village on the river.

After a few minutes the Irish rogue couldn't stand it and brought her horse up alongside the wagon and took Breeya's hand as the young woman reached for her.

"Are you okay, lass?" Maeve asked gently.

"No and I'll never be again, beloved," Breeya admitted, fighting back the tears.

"Aye, I feel the same," Maeve admitted.

"Any ideas, my blue-eyed bandit?"

"No good ones other than throwing you over my horse and tossing you onto my brother's ship and sailing away with ye," Maeve tried to smile.

"I know, but you know I get seasick," Breeya teased.

"Aye," Maeve smiled back.

"We're approaching the meadow, Finn," Kieran called, switching to their bandit names.

Maeve reluctantly let go of Breeya's hand with a whimper and then spurred her horse to catch up with Kieran's.

Maeve pulled up her scarf as they took in the sight of four riders waiting in the meadow below them. Kieran pointed with his sword and two of the cousins broke away from the main party and each took out in opposite directions in flanking movements.

Kieran and the others approached the riders slowly until they were about 50 yards apart. The two groups looked each other over carefully.

The horseman just in front of the other three could only be "the" Lord Selwyn, the small party of Irish and captives figured.

Dressed in rich velvet and Irish linen, Lord Selwy struck a fancy picture with his long curled hair and large floppy hat and fine Spanish leather sword belt. He appeared to be just approaching middle age but his eyes were hardened with experience that went beyond his years and this revealed more of his nature than his attitude of superiority could.

The men with him were typically dressed as English soldiers and each had a musket across their laps.

Kieran and Maeve stopped and dismounted and William Harrington, Lord Selwyn did the same, they approached each other and stopped after forty yards apart.

"Send the Lady and her maid over and you can have the prisoner," Lord Selwyn called.

The Irish rebels watched as two more soldiers appeared over the small rise with a chained man between them. Both recognized Hugh O Donnell immediately but kept their eyes calm.

Hugh was bearded and filthy but walking upright and appeared to be alert. His eyes quickly took in the figures of his brother and sister and he nodded slightly that he was alright under the circumstances.

"Ye think us fools, MiLord?" Kieran called out. "You assume we trust you. Send the prisoner across and we'll send the Lady and her maid at the same time. We've your word that you'll not try any tricks or pursue us?"

"Yes, my word. One gentleman to another," Lord Selwyn stated. "Send for the Lady and her maid."

Kieran turned slightly and nodded to Sean, who jumped down off the wagon and helped the two women down and escorted them to the two rebels. Maeve resisted drawing Breeya into her arms and never letting go. Breeya looked deep into the blue eyes and nodded slightly.

"I love you too, my Irish rogue," she said softly and turned to go.

"Bree," Maeve began to speak.

"No, just let me go, Finn, my hero. Just let me go."

"Are you alright, MiLady?" Lord Selwyn called.

"I am well, MiLord," Breeya called back.

"Unshackle the prisoner," he ordered and waited until Hugh stood beside him unchained. "Go to your rabble lot, rebel. We'll meet again."

"Aye, MiLord, I've no doubt of it," Hugh said simply and began walking towards his family and Breeya began walking towards him with Edna.

The three met in the middle of the space between the rebels and the English lord and Edna stopped Hugh.

"You dunna not know me, Master Hugh, but I would be indebted to you if you would do me a favor, lad. Take care of your sister, she'll be hurting bad." Edna said softly.

The Irish rebel looked confused for a moment and watched Breeya turn her eyes away, her jaw muscles tightening visibly. "Aye, that'll I do," he promised.

As the two groups reached their new positions, Lord Selwyn raised his hand and one of the soldiers sounded a horn. Instantly the Irish pulled their weapons and Kieran and Maeve turned back to back. Both felt their hearts skip several beats as soldiers appeared on all sides of them, all armed with muskets and pistols.

"You are surrounded, drop your weapons and surrender. Soldier, take the Lady and her Maid over the ridge to safety," Lord Selwyn ordered.

"What are you doing, William!?" Breeya demanded.

"What is the meaning of this?" Kieran also demanded. "You gave your word!"

"I gave my word as a gentleman, it is only binding to another gentleman which no Irish dog could ever be," William grinned evilly.

"William, I beg you, don't do this. Let them go and let's be gone from here!" Breeya begged.

Suddenly Edna threw herself into Lord Selwyn's arms, hugging him fiercely. "Oh, MiLord, thank you for saving us! Please! Take us away! Let them go and get us away from here!" she cried, actually knocking both of them to the ground. She quickly regained her feet and helped the English noble to his feet and handed him back his pistol.

"Woman! Control yourself!" he shouted. "This rebel scum kidnapped you and they'll pay for it!"

"William, no! I beg you!" Breeya cried again, pulling away from the soldier holding her arms and threw herself in front of Lord Selwyn.

"Get out of the way and learn your place!" Lord Selwyn snapped.

The Irish rebels held their fire, waiting to see what developed between the Lord and his fiancée before opening fire that might get all of them killed, Breeya and Edna included. The soldiers also hesitated.

"William, I ask this of you, spare them," Breeya said firmly.

"No, I will not have my fiancée kidnapped and my prisoner freed without retribution!" he shouted.

"I beg you for the sake of my child!" Breeya cried out and everyone looked stunned.

"What?" Lord Selwyn demanded, turning bright red.

"I am with child, William," Breeya said simply, lowering her eyes.

"Which bastard molested you? I will have him flogged before hanging the scum!"

"I'll not say because no one harmed me!" Breeya snapped her head up. "I went to his bed willingly, William."

"You slut!"

Kieran found himself holding Maeve back as Breeya hit the ground holding her jaw from Lord Selwyn's vicious backhand. A trickle of blood seeped from her cut lip as he pulled his pistol and pointed it at the Scot.

"No!" Maeve cried out and struggled against her brothers as Hugh joined in holding his sister back.

"Is that the bastard? How do I know you're telling the truth, you've just grown fond of them after being with them so long. No woman of your station would bed an Irish mongrel in the hay like a common tavern slut," William reasoned with a frown.

Breeya spat her blood at his feet and slowly removed the scarf covering her neck and raised her head so he could see the bruises from Maeve's passionate bites from the night before. "I'll tell the world, William, that the child is the son of an Irish rebel and not the seed of your loins!"

Lord Selwyn's eyes went wide with surprise and then anger and he pointed the pistol towards Maeve, still assuming she was the male she was dressed as.

"I'd rather be a tavern slut than a Lady to such a oath breaking bastard as yourself!" Breeya snapped.

"You bitch!" William muttered as he turned the pistol and fired down.

Maeve and Edna screamed as Breeya grabbed at her stomach and turned over in obvious pain. Edna quickly grabbed Breeya into her arms and both sides could see with horror the spreading blood on the young girl's dress and then her eyes closed and her body went limp.

"No!" Maeve cried and broke loose from her brothers and the three of them quickly went to Edna and Breeya. Maeve, having seen wounds before, realized the amount of blood flowing from a stomach wound meant death and bowed her head, tears beginning to flow.

"You're the bastard that raped her, aren't you?!" William Harrington, Lord Selwyn demanded, pulling his other pistol.

"No, MiLord! I swear it!" Edna suddenly cried and reached over and pulled Maeve's scarf down from her face. "This is a lass, they became good friends. I swear on the name of the Lord and on my mother's grave that the man who bedded the Lady Kerr is not among this bunch."

"Line them up and shoot them," William said flatly.

"You do and every noble house in Ireland, Scotland and England will know what's happened here today!" Edna threatened.

"Not if you're among those dead," William threatened.

"Look over to the high ridge over there, MiLord," Kieran suddenly suggested.

Lord Selwyn turned pale as he took in the sight of at least thirty people standing on the ridge watching everything.

"Those are villagers from the town. Unless you plan on wiping out the entire town, word will spread that you murdered your fiancée in front of your own men and broke your word in the exchange," Kieran explained.

"You'll tell it that way as it is."

"No, it's true that we became fond of the Lady Kerr during her time with us. To save her reputation and memory, we'll keep to the story that something went wrong in the exchange and she was caught in some crossfire. No one knows who fired the shot," Kieran suggested.

"Her maid will talk out of revenge," Lord Selwyn countered.

"To save Breeya's memory, I won't be talking," Edna promised.

"You can even say that you wiped out all but a couple of the rebels in revenge and we leave. You'll not see us again," Kieran continued.

"How do I know you'll not talk?"

"Unlike you, we keep our word. We swear by all the saints and the Mother Mary that we'll not say how you killed Breeya in cold blood and broke your word." Maeve countered.

"Agreed! Sergeant, gather the troops and move out!"

In a moment Lord Selwyn had mounted his horse and was riding out of sight with the soldiers hurrying to follow.

Edna turned to the sight of Maeve kneeling by Breeya, tears flowing freely down the Irish rogue's face.

"Quick, lass," Edna suddenly said with a smile. "Tell her you're alive before she grieves to death!"

Breeya suddenly smiled and opened her green eyes and took in the stunned blue eyes over her. Edna knelt beside the young woman with a grin.

"Don't move, just in case he left one of his soldiers to spy on us. I would suggest moving her into the wagon and getting out of here before he changes his mind and kills us all," the older Scotswoman suggested.

"Aye!" Kieran grinned. "Hugh, grab her shoulders and I'll take the feet. Sean, bring the wagon and let's be gone!"

Maeve was still stunned into silence as the two men lifted the "body" and placed Breeya gently in the back. Edna and Maeve both jumped in the back as Sean took his position on the seat and clicked the horses into movement.

Hugh took Maeve's horse and took up a position on one side of the wagon and Kieran on the other, both their faces questioning.

"How?" Maeve finally spoke, taking Breeya into her arms.

"Edna's idea, ask her," Breeya grinned as she lay back, playing dead for any observers.

"We all figured that the only way out of this was if William Harrington rejected Breeya and or if she were dead. I figured that if she were with the child of an Irish rebel he'd have no choice but to kill her," Edna began explaining.

"So you risked having her shot?" Maeve demanded.

"Aye, with a bit of trick to it," Edna smiled.

"I'm not hurt, beloved," Breeya said reassuringly.

"But the blood?" Kieran questioned.

"Mary and I slaughtered a pig last night and filled its bladder with blood and sewed it up into a belt. Breeya is wearing it under her skirt," Edna continued to grin. "When Lord Selwyn shot her, Breeya punched a hole in it with a small bodice dagger and pressed on it to give the blood a flow."

"But she was shot!" Maeve protested, "What about the bullet?"

"When Edna knocked William down she switched pistols with him. Mine was loaded with a wax ball that didn't hurt when it hit," Breeya grinned, holding Maeve's hand tightly.

"Switched pistols?" Hugh asked.

"My pistol was a gifting from him, part of a matched pair. We hoped that he would be carrying the match. He probably won't even notice the switch," Breeya explained.

"Oh God, save the world if the women ever start planning a rebellion!" Kieran commented with a smirk.

"Aye, why do you think men keep us quiet and in bed?" Edna asked with a laugh.

"How do we explain you being alive now?" Maeve asked.

"She survived the wound but her child didn't. Lord Selwyn will still release her from the engagement," Edna stated.

"Then her father will want her back home for another arranged marriage," Maeve complained.

"I'm sure after this mess he'll be more than willing to listen about my wishes and happiness," Breeya suggested.

"He won't approve of a noble lady of the House of Kerr taking up with an Irish female rogue," Maeve grumbled.

"Would he approve of a marriage with a rich merchant Captain? One that owns his own ship?" Kieran asked.

"Kier?" Maeve questioned.

"Probably a wealthy landowner and if I approved of the marriage," Breeya said thoughtfully.

"Aye, we're wealthy and own land, both here and in the Americas," Kieran grinned.

"Marry you?" Maeve demanded.

"Why not? I'm away at sea most of the time and no one would think twice about you living with me and Breeya," Kieran suggested.

"I can’t marry you," Breeya protested.

"Why not?" Kieran asked with a hurt expression and then grinned at the women.

"You know I’m in love with your sister and not you, I’d be robbing you of a chance at a happy marriage with someone you love!" she reasoned. "Besides, your people would never accept a Protestant in the family."

Both Breeya and Edna were surprised when Kieran began to laugh heartily and Hugh and Maeve grinned.

"You dinna nay tell her?" he asked Maeve.

"You didn’t come up in conversation a lot, brother," Maeve grinned.

"Somebody want to tell me what is going on?" Breeya demanded.

"The taste in romance runs in the family," Kieran grinned.

"What does that mean?" Breeya demanded.

"He prefers the company of his First Mate than any Irish lass," Maeve laughed.

Breeya and Edna seemed to take a second to absorb the new information and both broke into grins as well.

"We’ll be the perfect picture of respectability, Breeya as my wife and us taking in my widowed sister." Kieran grinned. "Then there’s always the option of the Americas. I’ve received commission to run supplies to settlements there. Not many will be questioning who is what religion in the middle of those woods."

"Would your father agree then?" Maeve asked, kissing the top of Breeya’s head.

"Aye, we’ll go visit him and get out of Ireland while William cools down," Breeya suggested. "He would also agree with the idea of America, seems that years ago some of our family settled in Ireland and discovered that they also liked the Irish women. To escape the troubles between the Protestants and Catholics, five of their sons left for America. I’ve cousins there already."

"You mean we’ve figured it out?" Maeve asked with a grin.

"Yes, beloved, we get to be together," Breeya smiled and snuggled in Maeve’s arms.

The Irish rogue looked over at Edna, "Thank you," she said, tears of joy filling her eyes.

"I’d rather her reputation ruined as well as a good dress and see her happy than with that cold hearted ill-bred Harrington," Edna shrugged off the thanks with a smile.

Maeve held Breeya close, breathing a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks.

THE END?

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