The next morning, Liam woke up first and drew a warm bath. He woke Erin encouraging her to climb in after he did. They washed and soaked away their soreness from their adventures the night before. Once finished, they both dried off then dressed. Erin wore one of Liam's tunics until they could sneak into her room and retrieve a clean dress.

After that, they descended the stairs into the main dining room to find it full of royal warriors, enough to be an army. Rory stood as soon as he saw Erin and Liam, a sly grin on his handsome face.

"I see you two made up," Rory smirked as he strolled toward them, winking deliberately at Erin which made Liam stiffen.

Erin ran her hand down his arm until she intertwined their fingers. "He's here to help, Liam."

"Indeed I am, old friend," Rory added, much more somber than his usual voice. "I am also here to offer my sincerest apologies for my behavior during your visit and over the years. I want to repair our friendship especially if my daughter is to marry your son. We will practically be brothers!"

Liam had to smirk a bit at that. "Alright," he reached out his hand. "All is forgiven." The two men shook hands as old friends evoking an audible sigh of relief heard through the room.

"Let us eat!" Liam announced. "Welcome to all our visitors!"

Leading Erin with him to the high table, they sat and ate the food spread before them. It was like an unplanned feast having the room full of laughter and light conversation. The children including Ashlynn, ran around laughing and playing.

Nothing like how the day would turn out to be.

"It's good to be back," Erin stated, kissing Liam's shoulder.

"I'm so glad you are here," Liam replied and kissed the top of her head.

When a scout ran in straight to Rory, Erin felt Liam stiffen beside her. Rory's eyes went wide as he stood, his eyes growing cold and locking onto Liam. Soon Rory crossed the room to sit beside them.

"Kennedy has been sighted just over the hill. He should be here within the hour," Rory reported.

Liam stood and raised a hand to signal for silence. "Family, friends and guests! I need your ears!" Silence fell across the room all attention turning to Liam as commanded by his booming voice. "We are about to be attacked." He ignored the gasps of surprise but held up his hand for silence again. "I need all able bodied men and boys over 16 to get a weapon and follow Prince Rory and I to the gates. I also need all women and children to go down to the cellar. We have lived in peace for many years but now an enemy is upon us. Kennedy O'Neill has betrayed us and brings others who mean us harm. Let us gather up arms and send them away!"

The room filled with a unified cheer then organized chaos broke out. Wives and daughters said temporary goodbyes to husbands and sons then began heading quickly toward the cellar. Connor made an angry path through the crowd straight to Liam.

"Father!" He yelled. "16 and older? You purposefully leave me out of the fight?"

Liam whirled around to meet his son. "Yes!" With a sigh, he continued. "You are all I have left. You will inherit the keep and now have a fiance to think of. I cannot lose you, too. Please, I put you in charge of keeping everyone in the cellar safe."

With a heavy sigh, Connor lowered his eyes and nodded slowly. "As you say, Father." Father and son embraced then Connor began guiding women and children efficiently toward the cellar.

Next, Liam turned to Erin and took her hands in his. "You need to get Ashlynn and get to the cellar."

Tears immediately filled Erin's eyes. "No! I won't leave you!"

"Please Erin," Liam begged, tightly embracing her, breathing in her pleasing, soothing scent of roses and lavender from their bath this morning. "I cannot fight and keep myself safe if I am not sure you are out of danger. He is here ultimately for you but he doesn't know if you are here or not. Let's keep it that way."

Erin hesitantly conceded fiercely pulling him down for a passionate, lingering kiss. "You better find me when he's gone."

"I will," Liam gave a small smile then pushed away from Erin heading out the front door with the rest of the soldiers.

Once Liam was out of her sight, Erin went to the cellar to make sure Ashlynn was there. She guided others along the way down the corridor and into the dark room. Ashlynn was there holding on tightly to Connor who oversaw everyone getting into a safe place. Erin gathered Ashlynn, perching in a corner soon followed by Connor hovering with them once the door was securely latched. All they could do was wait.

****

Joining Rory on the outer wall, Liam keenly watched the gates as his men sent women villagers into the keep and able bodied men were armed with weapons. They hid in strategic places to ready for an ambush. All along the outer walls, Rory had his best archers were hidden and strategically poised to pick off as many of their enemy as possible before they breached the gate.

"You brought most of the elite army, didn't you?" Liam inquired, standing with his arms crossed over his chest and smirking at his old friend.

Rory shook his head. "Not at first. We started out as a simple escort to get Erin to you but when Kennedy suddenly joined us, I sent one of my soldiers to get reinforcements of another two dozen. They caught up to us last night and reported that Kennedy's group had made camp a half day's ride away. They must have started before dawn to make it here this early."

"Thank you, Rory," Liam stated, nodding his head once.

"You are most welcome," Rory replied, smiling at his old friend. "She is truly one of a kind, Liam. Erin even encouraged me to make amends with Rachel and that's what I will do once we are finished here."

"Which shouldn't take long. With your 50 men plus my 150, we will outnumber Kennedy."

Rory laughed heartily. "I wanted to show strength and unity with the crown, for your sake to make him stop this dark agenda once and for all. It's pathetic how much we will outnumber him! He only has a dozen men including himself!" Both men laughed but it soon faded when they saw a small cloud of dust mounting the hill that led to the keep. "They are here!" Rory yelled signaling for everyone armed to take battle positions, preparing to fight.

Kennedy was at the head of the group, riding fast and hard to close the distance. He glared at the sight of Liam standing in all his glorified confidence on the wall of his keep. When they got close, Kennedy stopped.

"Liam! You hide like a coward behind your walls!" Kennedy taunted.

"And you ride with a band of men to attack the place you once called home!" Liam retorted, disgusted by Kennedy's behaviors. Kyla would have been furious.

"Send me the wench and I will leave," Kennedy shrugged. "She is fantastic in bed, no? I had her on our journey here then she went to your precious Prince!"

Liam scowled and Rory gasped, explaining softly, "Lies! He is telling lies, Liam! Kennedy tried to force himself on Erin but she fought him off. I stayed in her tent to keep Kennedy from trying again. I did not touch her!"

Despite Rory's past, Liam found it simple to believe him and trust Erin. "You lie!" Liam yelled to Kennedy, calling his bluff.

Kennedy snorted. "Then it is war! Charge!"

His men charged the gate and found it amusingly easy to breach. They rode into the small village but were soon ambushed by royal soldiers and Liam's highly skilled men.

Archers rained down arrows at will and took down several of Kennedy's men. It appeared they were winning easily when another cloud of dust broke across the horizon.

"Reinforcements!" Rory yelled, fearful now at the comparable number heading their way.

Liam whipped his head around, eyes going wide but he soon broke into a wild grin. "At least it will be a challenge now."

Kennedy fought fiercely through the crowd, steadily making his way toward the gates of the keep. "Find the wench! She must be inside somewhere!"

"NO!" Liam yelled, quickly turning and running down stairs from the wall into the courtyard of the village. Liam drew his sword and reached back to strike Kennedy down but Kennedy spun, swiftly blocking Liam.

Metal clashed on metal as their swords hit. Liam would strike and Kennedy would block, then Kennedy would strike and Liam would block. It would appear they would never get a hit on each other. They knew each other's moves as well as they knew their own from training together since they were young boys.

While Liam was fighting Kennedy, he didn't see one of Kennedy's men sneak past the others to successfully slip inside. He entered the dining hall to find plates of food abandoned half eaten. The kitchen was empty and a quick search of upstairs showed empty rooms. That left finding a door that could possibly lead under the keep. A door at the end of the corridor made the man grin darkly as he found the cellar door and kicked it down.

"Where is Erin?" He yelled, making all residents hiding in there cower with fear. Grabbing the first young girl by the hair, he held her up ignoring her cries of pain. "Tell me or I kill someone until you tell me where she is."

Erin quickly stood. "I'm here! Let her go!"

The man grinned, throwing the girl onto the stone floor then grabbed Erin roughly by the arm proceeding to drag her out of the cellar. Erin remained stubbornly silent yet struggled in his iron grip through the keep. Once in the courtyard, he threw Erin down onto the ground and pointed his sword at the center of her back. Erin craned her neck upward observing Liam fighting Kennedy. Both men furious and relentless.

"Liam," She spoke, barely above a whisper, but Liam still heard her.

He whirled around at the sound of her voice, giving him a long enough moment of distraction for Kennedy to swing his sword and slash Liam in the back. With a loud cry of pain, Liam fell heavily to his knees.

"NO!" Erin screamed, now drawing Rory's attention as well. The Prince dashed down the stairs from the wall to defend his friend. Everything before him happened in slow motion.

Kennedy stood behind Liam with his sword at Liam's upper arm grinning evilly at Erin. "Be mine, or he dies."

"I will never be yours, Kennedy!" Erin screamed then yelled again as Kennedy slashed at Liam's upper arm. The pain radiated through his contorting face and clenched jaw. Rory slashed his way through the courtyard but the scene seemed to be happening too slow yet so fast.

"Erin!" Liam called out to her. "Thank you."

"For what?" Erin sobbed, tears shamelessly falling down her cheeks.

"For awakening me and loving me," He called, a small, weak smile across his usually brave features showing genuine fear. "I love you, Erin...so very much."

"I love you, too," Erin replied, smiling weakly trying with all her might to be brave for him.

Watching this scene unfold hardened Kennedy's heart further. He reached back his sword swiftly plunging it deeply through the middle of Liam's torso. The crimson blade on the other side gleamed under the midday sun. Liam's eyes flew open wide and a gurgling sound escaped as blood dripped out from the corner of his mouth. Liam collapsed to his side after Kennedy mercilessly withdrew his sword. Crimson dots stippled the stone road beneath the longsword.

Erin screamed as Liam collapsed and began to crawl towards him. As the man behind her reached to grab Erin, Aedan appeared angrily running him through as well. Kennedy reached out to grab Erin before she could reach Liam but Rory was swinging his sword back and slashed the back of his neck, sending Kennedy to his knees to bleed out from the severing.

Finally reaching Liam, Erin lifted his head cradling him in her lap. She began gently wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth with the hem of her dress. She sniffled, furiously wiping her tears between stroking Liam's hair and cheeks. Rory and Aedan stood guard on either side of them wide eyed and heart shattering as well.

"Hang in there, Liam," Erin sniffed. "You're going to be fine. You promised to marry me. I want a son and maybe another daughter. How does that sound?"

"That...sounds wonderful," Liam hoarsely replied then coughed and more blood dripped down. "I would truly enjoy...raising children...with you."

"Me too," Erin replied, smiling down at him.

"My wound...is fatal, love," Liam explained.

Erin sobbed. "It's my fault! I distracted you!"

"No," Liam scolded. "It's his...fault for...being selfish...not yours...Sing for me?"

Erin smiled and cleared her throat to rid of the lump blockading,

"It well may be...that we will never meet again,

in this lifetime

So let me say before we part,

so much of me

is made of what I learned from you...

You'll be with me

like a handprint on my heart

Erin placed her hand on Liam's heart as she continued with her lament. She didn't notice that at this point, Connor and Ashlynn had emerged from the keep, frozen a short distance away.

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have rewritten mine

By being my friend...

Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face but she a had to finish. This was Liam's last request to her. Erin was bound to honor it.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But...because I knew you, I have...been changed...for good...

As Erin finished, she watched Liam smile softly then close his eyes. With one deep, raspy breath intake, he exhaled but didn't breathe again. Time stood still for a moment, every sound falling mute and dull until it hit her that Liam had passed on.

"Liam..." Erin called, shaking him slightly. "Liam!" She called louder and gasps could be heard around her. Rory turned and gave a downcast look. "No!...No, Liam!" Erin buried her face is his placid chest, breaking into sobs. Connor ran forward giving the same futile attempt to wake Liam finally joining the sobs of mourning.

Rory came around behind Erin and wrapped his strong arms around her, attempting to pull her away from Liam's lifeless body. "Come here..."

"Let me go!" She fought, kicked and screamed but Rory managed to pull her away collapsing to kneel with her sobbing in his arms.

Aedan, Connor and a few others slowly moved forward to adjust Liam's body and carry him away.

"No!" Erin screamed in protest.

"Shh, shh, it's alright darling," Rory cooed keeping a tight hold around Erin knowing she wasn't of sound mind in this tragic moment. "They won't hurt him. No one will hurt him anymore."

Rubbing Erin's back and arm, the Prince patiently held Erin allowing her to freely mourn and cry until she ran out of tears.

I'm braced and ready for the comments of shock.

Happy Tuesday!

Enjoy, vote and comment!

<3