by Fiona Faris
Andrew shrugged him off and grumbled incoherently.
“Whit is the matter with ye? Hae ye gone mad?” Rory asked, watching his friend with curiosity.
“I cannae let Donald get his hands on Freya. He is goin’ tae brutally rape her. She is tae beautiful o’ a creature tae experience that,” Andrew said as he caught his breath.
His fear over Freya’s safety changed everything. He had to free her by any means possible. However, between Donald and the guards, how was that possible?
“Rory, I was down there with her an’ we had… a moment. I must get her oot o’ ‘ere, an’ as far awa’ as possible. An’ I need yer help tae dae it.” Andrew looked to Rory, beseeching him with his eyes.
“Whit could I dae tae help ye oot?”
“I need yer horse an’ ye need tae be a distraction.”
“A distraction? How?” Rory chuckled.
“I need ye tae get those damn dunderheid guards awa’ from the dungeon long enough fer me tae break her oot o’ that prison.”
“How am I supposed tae dae that?”
“I daen’t ken! Tell them the chief is givin’ ‘em two o’ the women he has prisoner. Ye will think o’ somethin’. After dark, leave yer horse tied tae the back line of trees at the base o’ the hill sae we can make our escape,” Andrew explained.
When Rory finally agreed to the plan, albeit somewhat reluctantly, as he feared for the plot going awry, Andrew rushed down the stairs. He searched for Donald, but he must have been in his quarters as he was nowhere to be found.
Andrew walked up to the chief’s quarters and placed his ear on the door. There was dead silence on the other side. Could Donald be out of the castle, riding on his horse? Andrew thought him and Freya might be able to make a clean getaway… or run straight into him to ignite a brawl.
Andrew snuck into the direction of the dungeon like a stealthy fox who had not seen a meal in months. He crouched behind tables and crawled on his knees to edge closer and closer to the dungeon without being detected by a single soul.
Damn, they are still ‘ere. Whit is takin’ Rory sae lang? The last light will leave the castle in a matter o’ minutes, he thought as he waited.
The last shimmer of sunlight faded, and Andrew feared something had happened to Rory. His hope began to fade… until Rory arrived just in time.
“Come on, Rory. Get ‘em the hell oot o’ there. Give me a fightin’ chance,” he whispered under his breath.
Giddy smiles came onto the faces of the guards, and Rory escorted them away from their post.
Andrew immediately crouched his way diagonally across the room to the staircase. He descended into the dungeon.
“Freya! Freya! Where are ye? I cannae see ye. Answer me,” he echoed in a low-pitched tone to avoid being overheard.
“Andrew, is that ye?” her soft voice called out.
“I need tae get ye oot o’ ‘ere. Donald plans on takin’ ye tae his quarters taenight an’ I fear what is tae come,” Andrew whispered to her through the cell.
“Please, dae no’ let that wretch lay his dirty hands on me. How are ye goin’ tae get me oot o’ ‘ere?” she asked with fear in her eyes.
“Stand back. I hope this works. I ne’er had the chance tae test it oot.” He held a huge stone.
Andrew gripped the stone with two hands, and with all his might, he cast the stone onto the lock of the cell. The sound of it roared inside the dungeon, and the two feared it would signal the guards.
“Again, whit are ye waitin’ fer? It’s no’ open yet,” Freya shrieked.
Once again, Andrew assaulted the lock with the stone and only knocked it loose.
In a wrath of fury, Andrew attacked the cell at a furious pace. He blasted the lock again and again, but the mangled lock wouldn’t budge. In a last-ditch effort, Andrew retreated to the farthest wall perpendicular to the cell. He bent over, then charged, lowering his shoulder and crashing into the cage’s door. He flew inside as he knocked it off its hinges.
Freya smiled with joy over his impeccable strength, but he was woozy as he climbed to his feet after his collision with the metal cage.
“Andrew! Let’s get oot o’ ‘ere. Get up!” she shouted.
“Aye. Stay by my side; we hae tae go oot the back way. I hae a getaway fer us,” he said.
Andrew clutched her wrist to keep her within arm’s distance as they traversed through the ground floor. He looked up and saw the guards walk down from upstairs. Andrew and Freya crouched behind a dining table as they quivered at the uncertainty of which direction the guards would take to return to their post at the dungeon.
The tension built as Andrew pushed her head down to prevent them from being detected. The guards’ pace increased as they drew closer, and Andrew held his breath. They both walked past to the right of the table, so Andrew and Freya crawled up the opposite side to avoid their peripheral vision.
“They are walkin’ back tae the dungeon, Andrew. We hae tae hurry,” Freya said, tapping him on the leg.
Andrew stood up and surveyed the entire floor to see if the coast was clear. Freya remained crouched by his knees, terrified of being discovered.
“Let’s go,” Andrew ordered.
He grasped her wrist again, and they hurried to a back door. Darkness towered over them as they stood outside at the rear of the castle. The full moon and stars provided them just enough light to guide them into the night.
“We hae tae get tae those trees directly in front o’ the hill, straight ahead o’ us. Come on, Freya, we hae tae hurry or else we will be hunted like dogs,” Andrew warned.
“All the way down there! Ye couldn’t hae picked a shorter route aforehand. I cannae run that distance with these treacherous shoes on my feet. Blisters will tear intae my feet,” she said after she viewed the distance between the trees and the castle.
“A’ right, hop on then, lassie!”
Andrew knelt down for Freya to climb onto his back so he could run into the depth of the trees with her straddled on his back. There was not a moment to spare. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on tight to his broad shoulders.
He trudged as fast as possible towards the hill which was the centerpiece of the background behind Blair Castle. Just in case they were followed, he crisscrossed through the dozens of trees scattered along the way. Andrew’s immense strength allowed him to carry Freya without breaking a sweat.
Freya turned her head back in fear someone was directly behind them. Every sense of thought melted the more she felt Andrew’s muscles pulsate under her palms.
They eclipsed the last of the trees, and the hill soared straight above their heads.
“Wow, it is breathtakin’, even in the dark,” Freya commented as Andrew knelt down for her to climb off his back.
She gazed at the thousands of stars in the sky while Andrew untied and readied Rory’s horse for departure.
“Where are we goin’, Freya?” Andrew asked as he straddled the horse.
Freya was perplexed that Andrew was willing to take her anywhere. She used Andrew’s willingness to aide her escape to answer the question which had infested her mind every second of every day since she was imprisoned.
“Take me hame tae Kellie Castle. I hae tae see whit is left o’ my clan,” she replied.
Andrew’s face turned sorrowful – since he had been a very large part of the destruction of Freya’s clan.
“Are ye sure ye want tae see? I warn ye, it will be a grim sight tae lay yer eyes on.”
Freya heeded Andrew’s dire warning, but she had to ease her nerves about the fate of those dearest to her. She insisted that they travel to Kellie Castle so she could see what remained of the Erskine clan herself.
Andrew lifted her onto the horse, and they rode off towards the lowlands.
Chapter Eight
Central Highlands, Scotland, a few days later
Freya and Andrew rode into the darkness of a stunning Highland night. The light of the full moon glowed over the two as the horse
galloped through the final stretches of the Highland Mountains.
Freya wrapped her arms around Andrew’s waist underneath his coat to warm her body, which was covered with goose bumps from the chilled, blustery wind. Andrew welcomed her grasp and held onto her hands with one hand as he steered the horse with the other. He gently massaged her arms as her grip around him tightened the fiercer the gusts became.
Further into their ride, a wave of green light streaked across the night sky. It expanded further and further, captivating Freya. It was soon joined by a light blue wave atop the green. The lights seemed to dance with each other, and Andrew smiled at Freya’s visible delight.
“I think this would be a good restin’ place fer the night,” Andrew said as he slowly halted the galloping horse.
“Aye. Whit are these magnificent lights in the sky? I hae never seen anythin’ sae beautiful an’ breathtakin’.”
“Ye hae never seen the Nimble Men afore?”
“The whit?” Freya looked perplexed.
Andrew hopped down from the horse, then helped Freya do the same.
“They are mirrie dancers in the sky. They show up ‘round this time o’ year when the leaves change color an’ the temperatures drop,” he explained. “In times like these, I consider ‘em a source o’ good luck.”
“Why?” Freya watched as Andrew gathered kindling to build a fire.
“Because o’ whit I am aboot tae dae. I need a’ the luck in the world. Dae ye remember when I told ye I would make things right?”
“I ken ye said that but I thought it was jist some foolish attempt tae win me over,” Freya said, blowing warm air onto her ice-cold hands.
“I meant whit I said, dear Freya. After I assure yer safety, I must go back tae my clan.”
“Why would ye go back tae that vile castle tae be with those monsters? A’ they ken is war, rape, an’ torture.”
“No’ a’ Murrays are o’ such cruel nature as Donald. That is why I am goin’ tae kill that bastard. He has soiled oor once great name an’ I plan on restorin’ my people’s honor,” Andrew said, and went to sparking the kindling.
Soon the fire was ablaze, and in the firelight, Andrew looked as handsome as ever. Freya’s attraction to him strengthened. His courage and willingness to risk everything to change his clan for the greater good was proof that his heart was equally as appealing as his impeccable physique.
“How can I help ye kill that monster? I want him tae suffer fer the pain an’ misery he inflicted upon me an’ my clan,” Freya said as she moved to sit by Andrew’s side.
“If ye can help me recruit onyone from the clans who live beside yers, then that would be a start. I daen’t yet hae enough support within the Murray clan tae put my plan intae action.”
“Let us see how many are left. Daen’t forget aboot the ither girls who are still bein’ tortured at this moment. I am unsure if my best friend, Sorcha, is among them,” Freya said as she began to weep. She placed her head on Andrew’s chest.
Andrew ran his fingers through her hair and caressed her gently as the sky transformed from the bright lights which danced above them to a greater shade of darkness. Freya lifted her tear-filled cheeks from Andrew’s chest and looked into his eyes. She grasped him by both cheeks and pulled him closer to feel his warm breath against her face.
“Andrew, I hae ne’er wanted onyone as bad as I dae right this moment. Kiss me,” Freya said and leaned toward his lips.
“I cannae resist yer sweet lips onymore,” Andrew said and met her halfway.
The two shared an intimate kiss by the fire and then came a steady flow of raindrops. The heat of their kiss sizzled like the flames burning before them. Freya’s kisses became more fervent as the rainfall increased. She lifted Andrew’s shirt to reveal his chiseled torso and proceeded to kiss his chest.
“Take me, Andrew. Right here in the rain.” Freya moaned as he glided his lips along her soft neck.
“I hae wanted ye since I first laid eyes on ye, Freya. Ye hae the beauty o’ an angel,” Andrew whispered.
He lifted her off the damp grass, her legs wrapping around his waist. Andrew stood inches from the weakening fire as he held her in the air, their mouths still locked in a kiss.
She unclasped the belt to her arisaid, and Andrew grasped both hands around her arse. Her moans aroused him further, and he returned the intensity of her kisses.
In seconds, they were on the ground with Freya straddling Andrew while he gently squeezed her breasts over her arisaid.
“Ye want tae feel ‘em underneath this?” Freya asked as she pushed Andrew back.
Andrew, unable to utter a coherent response, simply nodded. Freya loosened her ripped arisaid around her chest and seductively lowered the fabric to reveal her breasts. His eyes bulged, and his jaw dropped at the sight, despite being in near complete darkness.
“Ye hae the most stunnin’ pair of breasts,” Andrew said.
Freya leaned back and moaned at the sensation of Andrew’s palms kneading her breasts. He propped himself up and kissed her erect nipples to increase the pleasurable sensation. She released another moan.
“Ah, that feels sae good, Andrew. Please, daen’t stop,” she said in pure ecstasy.
Andrew ogled the expressions on her face. They excited him.
The rain continued to pour over their bodies, drenching them, but the lovers did not care. Freya shoved Andrew back to the ground, and her tangled hair dripped over his face. She crawled down his body and removed his undergarments below his tartan.
“Daen’t let those get wet. That won’t feel good in the mornin’.” He chuckled.
Freya just grinned, and her head disappeared underneath his tartan. Andrew lost all control of his lower body and closed his eyes as Freya took his member into her mouth. Shivers shot up his spine; he felt like he was in paradise. He lost all sense of where he was as Freya was in complete control. His hips thrust higher as he released a low-pitched moan, then his spilled into her mouth.
Afterward, they both lay on the grass, blinking as the light rain still fell around them.
“I hae no’ had that in a long time. That was fantastic,” Andrew said, stroking Freya’s hair as she cuddled into his chest.
“How lang has it been, Andrew? When was the last time ye had a woman?” Freya asked.
“Years. It has been years...”
“I daen’t understand. Ye are kind, compassionate, brave, an’ ye hae one hell o’ a physique.”
“That plague killed most o’ oor clan. It took my wife from me. She was one o’ the first people in oor clan who passed awa’ from it.”
“Oh, Andrew. I am sae sorry.” Freya leaned up to kiss him.
“Aye, it was awful. It took a while fer me tae move on, but as ‘they say’, time heals all wounds. I hae no’ desired a lassie till I saw ye in that dungeon.”
“Did ye hae ony children?”
“Nae, we ne’er had the chance.”
“Maybe ye will get anither chance someday. Daen’t give up hope, Andrew.”
“I am no’ worried aboot that right now. I only want ye, Freya. I want tae be inside ye.” He pulled her closer and kissed her passionately.
Freya lifted her arisaid and straddled Andrew again, as the rain fell harder. She pulsated when his member slid inside her. They held each other’s hands as their bodies moved in unison.
They made love for hours into the night since they were all alone in the wilderness. Freya fell asleep tucked into Andrew’s strong arms until sunrise. After countless days of insults, torture, and attempted rape, she felt like she had a protector by her side.
When she awoke the next morning, though, the thoughts of her clan stormed through her mind like dark clouds. She feared there would be nothing left for her at the home she was kidnapped from. It was paramount that she witnessed what kind of destruction had been cast upon the Erskine clan.
Soon enough, she would be back at Kellie Castle, and it was all thanks to Andrew.
Chapter Nine
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br /> Blair Castle
Donald stormed through the castle in a desperate attempt to locate Freya. His blood boiled when he expected to see “the fairest lassie in all the land”, according to him, and all he found was an empty dungeon with the cell busted open.
Donald’s first reaction was to go straight to the guards and demand an explanation for how her disappearance was possible.
“Whit is wrong with ye two dunderheids? How the hell could ye let that stoater escape? An’ on the night I was goin’ tae finally pluck her?” Donald asked as he confronted the two guards.