“I dinnae ken, my frien’.”
“Yer relationship with her is weak. It is based on lies,” Ian said, and Aidan took his hand back, disgusted with himself. “She will leave ye.”
“No.” Aidan clenched his hands into fists and turned back to Ian. “I know ye are right and I plan to tell her this morning.”
Now that I have the chance, it is time to end the lies. It hurts to keep lying to her because I care about her.
This seemed to upset Ian. “If she finds out now, she will expose us to the Englishmen and Rattray is doomed.”
Aidan didn't seem to be listening as he was trying to wake Joan up.
“Aidan! Think about it! If ye tell her, all our hard work, the respect, the honor, wealth, and fame ye have acquired over the years will go doon the river! Think of yer faither!” Aidan still wasn't listening.
“I need to tell her. I daenae want her to think I daenae care for her.”
“Aidan!” Ian rushed to Aidan and shoved him off the sleeping girl and pulled him away from her to void waking her. “What are ye doing? All our hard work! Ye want to abandon your assignment for an English lass? An English lass! Women beg to walk by yer side yet ye act like this over one lass!”
“Leave me be!” Aidan shoved him backward and he rewarded Aidan with a punch to the face.
“How dare ye!” Aidan said as he pulled out his sword. “How dare ye raise yer hand to me!”
Ian knew Aidan was angry which meant his attacks were going to be unpredictable, uncalculated, and more vicious. “I will punch you again if that is what it takes for you to see that this lass is not worth half of the women who would kill for your attention. She is nothing, Aidan!”
“You cannae talk about her in that way.!” Aidan yelled as he lunged for Ian who swiftly kicked the sword out of Aidan's hand. Aidan rewarded him with a knee to the gut, making Ian fall to the ground. Aidan got on top of him and rained blows after blows until his friend was sputtering blood, trying to talk. Ian did not block any of Aidan's punches knowing it would only worsen the situation.
“Ye ken that I speak the truth! Even if ye kill me here nothin will change. Ye will tell her and she will leave ye, feeling betrayed! She will tell the English men and they will storm into Rattray! Maybe they will bring the entire English army. Ye will lose more than ye can think of to the war! Yer faither! Think of him! You want to risk it all for one lass!”"
“Enough!”
“Go! Tell her! Tell her everything! The English men will attack us without warning and soon they will be killing our men, taking our women and enslaving our children, but at least you were honest. Go! Tell her the truth.”
Aidan soon realized how far the argument had gone and he scurried off his friend. Aidan offered him a hand to lift him up but Ian ignored it. Ian went over to his horse and quickly packed his things as Aidan leaned against a tree, ruminating on his situation.
Ian is right, I cannae tell her now; there's too much at risk.
Ian straddled his horse after tying his things to the saddle and pulled at the reins. “When I get home, I will tell yer father about yer decision,”" he said and kicked the horse and started to leave.
Aidan looked back at Joan who had almost woken up from the commotion and back at his friend who was riding away on his horse.
Will she survive the war if it happens?
He wanted to get his head straight but he needed to calm down. He sat back down, listening to the sound of his horse hitting the soil with his hooves at the loss of its companion.
If I leave her, this forest will take her. If I tell her the truth, she would not trust me anymore. She followed me but I have only lied to her. I have travelled, but most of my journeys were for wars. The son of the Laird can only travel so much.
She is still with me because she thinks I am an ordinary traveler. If she knows who I am, a son of a Laird who has fought her country many times, will she still stay with me? No! She wants a traveler, not a warrior.
Does this even have to be a choice between her and Scotland?
He rose to his feet, straddled his horse, and raced after Ian. “I am sorry,” Aidan said as he caught up to his friend, who ignored him again. “Ian?” Aidan tried to reach out to the injured man, but Ian diverted his horse to go in another direction. “Ian!” Aidan raced after him and tried to reach out to him again but Ian slapped his hand away.
“Daenae touch me!” Aidan was shocked to see his friend's reaction. “Go back to yer English whore!”
“Daenae call her such names.”
“Or what? Will ye hit me again?” Aidan averted his gaze in shame and Ian stopped his horse. “Ye hit yer friend for a lass!”
“Ye spoke ill of her! She didn’t deserve that, you know she knows little about anything and yet you call her the enemy. Her father is our enemy but you can see that she is not her father.”
“I have said nothin' wrong about her! She doesnae act like a lady. She scales walls to see a stranger; she left her faither in England to run away with a man! She is so easy to please! I have seen many ladies and she is nae like any lady I know.”
“An' ye blame her? Her father has locked her in his castle all her life and ye blame her for wantin' to put an end to her suffering, for wantin' some adventure, you blame her for makin' a friend, ye blame her without seein' how ye are like her. Ye are the most reckless and adventurous person I ken and you have lived a free life and made yer own decisions, yet ye seek more adventure. Ye find happiness whether by killin' yer enemies on the battleground or in the bosom of a woman. Ye cannae blame her for desiring wee happiness Ian. I cannae send her back to her monster of a father and I cannae leave her here in the forest, or is that what ye would have me do?” Aidan defended and Ian scoffed.
“I ken ye would defend her,” he muttered and continued to ride on.
“I defend her because I am genuinely happy with her and I want her by my side.” Ian paused as the words left Aidan. Ian looked back, shocked at what his friend had said. “There is about to be a war Ian. We have seen enough of Haerton to know that this is an easy win for us. What do you think will happen to her when we win?” Aidan’s voice resounded in the forest and Ian was mute for a moment. “Answer me, Ian. I left her unguarded to talk with ye!”
“That should not be your concern!” Ian snapped.
“If Rattray attacks Haerton first and we win, we will plunder and loot everything we can, the women will not be safe. She trusts me to protect her. How can I protect her if she is not with me?”
“She is still the enemy.”
“If she is our enemy, why did she save you in that tavern? Why did she beg her father to spare me? Ian, she is nae our enemy, neither yers nor mine, she has a good heart, ye have seen it! I cannot help my attraction to her pure soul. It is why I won't allow the things ye say about her.”
Aidan crossed Ian's path with his horse and spoke softly to his friend “She wants ye to accept her Ian, but every time she tries, ye turn a blind eye. I have decided that I daenae care what ye want to say to me faither. I willnae leave Joan to be a captive of war. If I go to Scotland, then she goes. Ye know me, I would do the same for ye. I would sooner face a thousand enemies alone in battle than leave you behind. She is alone in the forest, I have to go.” Aidan turned back and started to go back to where their camp was.
Ian watched as his friend walked away from him, guilt eating at him painfully. Every vile word he had said about the girl replayed in his mind. Ian had no idea how Aidan felt, which was why his words caught so deep. Aidan had chosen who he wanted to be with. He tried to feel angry at the decision, but he only felt angry at himself for not supporting his friend and forcing him to choose.
“Aidan!” he called out but he was alone. Aidan had chosen and gave him the chance to leave. As he thought of it, he realized Aidan didn't choose. He simply turned the tables and made Ian choose between Rattray or his friend.
He would be damned if he chose a town that showed him no appreciation for his effor
ts over a friend who has been a brother to him. He thought back to where he first met Aidan.
The battle field was littered with bodies. Dust filled the air as the soldiers fought. Ian was in a bit of trouble as the soldier from Ireland brought down his heavy axe on his sword, breaking it in half, a deadly grin on his face. Ian had nothing to defend himself with; the axe was coming down on him again but he never felt the impact. He looked up at the man who had saved him. The man kicked back the enemy and finished him off.
“Are ye all right?” he asked as he pulled out another sword from his sheath and handed it to Ian.
“I am fine,” Ian said, and the man nodded. His golden hair was dirty from all the dust. His blue eyes reminded Ian of the sky. The man ran off.
The next time Ian saw them man was when he was honored by the Earl of Aberdeenshire for his heroism in the war. He was not able to talk to the man but learnt his name, Aidan McCabe.
Ian wanted to show his gratitude but never got a chance. He found out Aidan was a much-loved person in his town. A war hero loved by old and young. A womanizer who was always seen with a woman or two, an art that Ian later learnt.
The third time Ian saw Aidan, he was alone. Ian introduced himself and Aidan immediately recognized him. They became good friends and Ian was often seen accompanying Aidan on missions from the Earl of Aberdeenshire. Soon Ian and Aidan became inseparable. The duo was known all over Scotland for their incredible teamwork on missions.
Ian was happy to have known Aidan and secretly wished to pay Aidan back by saving his life but Aidan was a strong man, hardly ever caught lacking in a fight. Ten years passed since then…
He couldn't forgo ten years of friendship because he didn't like the girl Aidan was interested in. He couldn't bring himself to hurt him that much.
Ian heard something rustle in the bushes and saw a deer stop to graze on some grass. Ian took the opportunity to aim his knife at it and threw it, hitting the deer in the belly. It broke into a sprint but it soon stopped in pain. Ian got down and ran to it. He quickly finished off the deer and loaded it on his horse and turned back toward their campsite.
Joan was awake, a questioning gaze fixed on Aidan. “Where did you go?”
Ian chuckled as Aidan stumbled over his words. He quickly intervened, helping Aidan. “Did ye have to leave me take carry this alone?” Ian said as he jumped down from his horse and unloaded the dead deer. “Sorry about that, Miss. We just wanted to have more food ready for when we leave.”
Soon, Joan went back to sleep, leaving Ian and Aidan to skin and cook the animal.
“Ye came back,” Aidan whispered.
“Aye,” Ian said as he turned the meat over the fire to roast it. “I am sorry. I didn’t understand yer feelings for her," Ian replied, matching Aidan’s volume.
“This means we’ll take her to Rattray?” Aidan asked.
“Yes. We take her to Scotland and I promise to stay by your side Aidan. No matter what. I was daft. I hurt ye with me words but I dae hope ye’ll forgive me?”
“At this point of our friendship, we really daenae need to apologize so much.” Aidan smiled at the fire as it cackled. “I am just happy that I dinnae have to choose between ye two.”
Joan turned in her sleep and they got silent.
Chapter 8
The chirping of birds woke Aidan up. He stood and stretched, taking note of his surroundings. He was the only one awake. The fire was out and the horses were starting to wake up too. Today was the third day of their journey and Joan was starting to get restless.
He took out some of the meat they had roasted and threw it at Ian who caught it.
“Wake up. Stop feignin' sleep,” Aidan said as he pulled out another piece. Ian sat up and rubbed his eyes.
“Ye ken that I daenae sleep deep, especially when we might be attacked,” he grumbled as he bit into the meat. Soon they were ready to leave and Joan was still asleep. “Fir a lady, she sleeps a lot.”
“I ken.” Aidan balanced her on his chest as they set out. She woke up due to the rocking motion.
“Good morning,” Aidan heard her mumble inaudible words as she buried her face in his chest. He laughed and heard her giggle in his chest.
“How long till we get to Scotland?”
“It is a six-day journey.”
She sat up, still against his chest. “Where do we stay in Scotland?”
Ian looked at Aidan for his answer. “My master is a very generous man. He will allow us to stay in his house.”
She turned to look at him again. “Tell me more.”
“Scotland? She is beautiful,” Aidan said, and Ian laughed. “Wonderful scenery, not as civilized as England but the food is something no one can forget.”
“What about the people?”
“They are kind, that I can say, and they—” They suddenly heard rustling in the bushes. Aidan grabbed his sword, ready to attack, when a man fell into their path. “Who are ye?” The man got up and Aidan recognized the emblem of the Hale Estate on his clothes.
“Miss Hale! I found you!” He was excited until he noticed the men with her. “Kidnappers! I found her! I found the lady! She is over he—” He was cut off by Ian hitting him in the head with the pommel of his sword, knocking him out. Joan turned away at the sight, burying her face in Aidan's chest. She started to cry when they heard the sound of hooves hitting the ground.
“Joan, get down from the horse and hide in the bushes,” Aidan spoke softly despite the tension.
“What about you?” She was ready to get down from the horse.
“Dae as I say!” The sounds of the hooves were much closer now and just as Joan was directing the second horse she was on, the source of the noise appeared.
Joan gasped as she was able to recognize the flag. Her gasp drew their attention and they turned to her. “There she is! Grab her!” one of them said and charged toward her, but was sent back with a kick from Ian. “Please, do not kill them!”
“Aye!” Ian called back with no intention of keeping his promise. As the first guard charged again, Ian rewarded him with a painful stab to the chest before kicking him away from his sword.
“Ian! Aidan please tell him not to kill them! They are my father's guards!” Joan cried again and was ignored. Aidan kept his word and didn't kill them, leaving them wounded, but Ian wasn't so merciful. He had the horses and Joan guarded.
Aidan dodged an attack from a bigger man and scrambled away from under him. The man was large, but he was surprisingly fast.
Aidan got to his feet and raised his sword to his opponent, just as he was about to strike he felt someone grab his arm, tugging him back. “What are—p”
“Aidan, please do not kill them!” Joan had been the one who had grabbed his hand.
“Hide! Leave here!” Aidan pushed her back as he dodged his opponent's sword. “Go back to the horses!” he yelled at Joan who did not move from where she had fallen from Aidan's push. Just as Aidan was about to warn her again, he felt his opponent's dagger going through his side.
A scream from Joan made Ian look toward Aidan. She ran over to him. She shoved the bigger man out of her way with all her might and took out the dagger and threw it at the man who had stabbed Aidan’s side. . Aidan fell on his back, his blood pooling quickly around Joan who was trying to stop the bleeding.
She drowned out the fighting as she repeatedly tore at her dress to use it as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. Her hands, feet, dress and face were covered with blood but he was still bleeding. She saw Ian kick back a man who had been stabbed and looked around for any more people. She saw one man run back in the direction he came from and Ian ran over to them with different clothes.
“Is he awake?”
“Barely,” she cried as she pressed the clothes to his wound. "I need more cloth!”
“It is all we have!” Ian said as he poured the water they had on the bloody clothes. He squeezed out the blood and handed it back to her. She tore off Aidan’s shirt to get better access to the
wound and Ian cut it up. Joan repeatedly wiped over the wounds, pressing hard on it, making Aidan grunt in pain. This went on for a few minutes until the bleeding stopped. She tore her sleeves and tied it around the wound.
“There is an inn nearby. Help me get him on his horse. We can take him there to rest,” Ian said and hauled Aidan's unconscious body over his shoulders while Joan went to get his horse. With much difficulty, they managed to get Aidan on his horse and Joan rode with Ian.
Sebastian watched as Lord Tyrill paced the room. The head guard was slouched against the wall, clearly tired of the search. They had lost more men in the search than in war. There were many thieves and outlaws from both England and Scotland who made the forest their haven. They killed anyone they came across, especially soldiers. They never ventured into the forest for exactly this reason.
Highlander's Cursed Bride: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 7