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Authors: Sorcha MacMurrough
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you as well as I do, I know you would not
rest tonight until you had seen all there was to see. No doubt you
have already begun on the work which must be done.You have seen the
damage my neglect has caused.
"Nay, more than neglect, foolish grief, with no care or thought for
the future. But I had lost the two things I treasured above all.I am
close enough to death to tell you the truth now, so that you can
learn the extent of my foolish pride, and you will know once and for
all beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ruairc is blameless.”
“What truth?”’ Morgana whispered.
“Ruairc was not to blame for your brother’s death, for he was away
on an errand for me, making preparations for your wedding, and
legally dividing the lands between yourself and Conor, so that you
would both be my joint heirs.”
Morgana was dumbstruck.“But Father, splitting the land? Between a
man and a woman? It is unheard of.”
“Your brother was a great warrior, but weak in the ways of managing
the estates. Conor could never have held it all together in peace
and harmony.
"I knew if he were ever in trouble, you would come to save him, you
and Ruairc, my loyal foster son and your husband, and Conor's best
allies he could have ever hoped for. That is also why your share was
to have been two-thirds of the estate, instead of a mere half.”
Morgana stared at her father, all her doubts and mixed emotions
swirling within. She licked her lips and managed to find her
voice.“But surely if this were true, it would have been all the more
reason for Ruairc to kill Conor, to take it all for himself,
not merely two-thirds.”
“And I tell you, Ruairc was not to blame. Yes, I know the dagger
which killed your brother looked like Ruairc’s, but three days
before your brother’s death, when we were out hunting, he broke the
jewel off the handle, a large ruby. I ought to know, I gave it to
him, as my father had given the dagger to me.It never left his side.
No one could have stolen it, so a copy must have been made.That copy
killed your brother, for there was still a jewel on the hilt.”
“Father, why did you not tell me so before!” Morgana gasped.
“I was so stunned when I saw the dagger, I didn’t bother to look
closely. It was only much later, that I remembered the hunting
incident, and by then it was too late.
“You were gone, Ruairc had left for parts unknown, and in any case,
I thought at that point that you didn’t love each other enough to
put the whole incident behind you.
"To tell you the truth, by that point I really didn’t care. It is a
terrible thing to tell you, but I begrudged you life and happiness
while I had lost my only son. But,” Morgan said, holding up a
shaking claw, “I was wrong, not for the first time, and your mother
was right, as she always was. She insisted you be named after me,
and I will tell you now, Daughter, never once, ever, have I been
disappointed in you."
"Oh, Father, you don't have to say—"
He silenced her with one finger on her lips. "I do have to. Before
it's too late. I know I have never been honest with you about my
feelings, for you should have been a boy. But not a day has gone by
that my heart hasn’t nearly burst with pride at seeing you grow more
beautiful, more strong, more womanly, and more wise. Never had I met
a woman like you, though your mother came close. I'm so proud of
you, I cannot say. I thank God for sparing me long enough to right
some of the wrongs I have committed over the past eighteen years,
and I hope you can forgive me.”
“Oh Father, there is nothing to forgive. Sean said to me that
nothing is gained without struggle and sacrifice,” Morgana sighed,
tears in her eyes.
He nodded. “You struggled to make this clan what it is now, not your
brother, and I have let it all slip away. But it can be great
rest tonight until you had seen all there was to see. No doubt you
have already begun on the work which must be done.You have seen the
damage my neglect has caused.
"Nay, more than neglect, foolish grief, with no care or thought for
the future. But I had lost the two things I treasured above all.I am
close enough to death to tell you the truth now, so that you can
learn the extent of my foolish pride, and you will know once and for
all beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ruairc is blameless.”
“What truth?”’ Morgana whispered.
“Ruairc was not to blame for your brother’s death, for he was away
on an errand for me, making preparations for your wedding, and
legally dividing the lands between yourself and Conor, so that you
would both be my joint heirs.”
Morgana was dumbstruck.“But Father, splitting the land? Between a
man and a woman? It is unheard of.”
“Your brother was a great warrior, but weak in the ways of managing
the estates. Conor could never have held it all together in peace
and harmony.
"I knew if he were ever in trouble, you would come to save him, you
and Ruairc, my loyal foster son and your husband, and Conor's best
allies he could have ever hoped for. That is also why your share was
to have been two-thirds of the estate, instead of a mere half.”
Morgana stared at her father, all her doubts and mixed emotions
swirling within. She licked her lips and managed to find her
voice.“But surely if this were true, it would have been all the more
reason for Ruairc to kill Conor, to take it all for himself,
not merely two-thirds.”
“And I tell you, Ruairc was not to blame. Yes, I know the dagger
which killed your brother looked like Ruairc’s, but three days
before your brother’s death, when we were out hunting, he broke the
jewel off the handle, a large ruby. I ought to know, I gave it to
him, as my father had given the dagger to me.It never left his side.
No one could have stolen it, so a copy must have been made.That copy
killed your brother, for there was still a jewel on the hilt.”
“Father, why did you not tell me so before!” Morgana gasped.
“I was so stunned when I saw the dagger, I didn’t bother to look
closely. It was only much later, that I remembered the hunting
incident, and by then it was too late.
“You were gone, Ruairc had left for parts unknown, and in any case,
I thought at that point that you didn’t love each other enough to
put the whole incident behind you.
"To tell you the truth, by that point I really didn’t care. It is a
terrible thing to tell you, but I begrudged you life and happiness
while I had lost my only son. But,” Morgan said, holding up a
shaking claw, “I was wrong, not for the first time, and your mother
was right, as she always was. She insisted you be named after me,
and I will tell you now, Daughter, never once, ever, have I been
disappointed in you."
"Oh, Father, you don't have to say—"
He silenced her with one finger on her lips. "I do have to. Before
it's too late. I know I have never been honest with you about my
feelings, for you should have been a boy. But not a day has gone by
that my heart hasn’t nearly burst with pride at seeing you grow more
beautiful, more strong, more womanly, and more wise. Never had I met
a woman like you, though your mother came close. I'm so proud of
you, I cannot say. I thank God for sparing me long enough to right
some of the wrongs I have committed over the past eighteen years,
and I hope you can forgive me.”
“Oh Father, there is nothing to forgive. Sean said to me that
nothing is gained without struggle and sacrifice,” Morgana sighed,
tears in her eyes.
He nodded. “You struggled to make this clan what it is now, not your
brother, and I have let it all slip away. But it can be great
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