Highland Dove: (New Year's)

by Elizabeth Rose

  She’d been cleaning the castle all day long. Now, she was on her knees scooping the ashes out of the hearth in Eideard’s room. It was customary to clean out all of one’s debts, to make room for bringing in new wealth and luck for the New Year. Eideard was superstitious. That is why he was having her do this, not to mention why he planned on taking her virginity at midnight when the bells tolled.

  She was sure Duncan would have tried to rescue her by now so she didn’t understand where he was. Then again, she hadn’t been able to send him her last note, telling him how to get into the castle.

  It didn’t matter, she decided, scooping the ashes into a bucket. Eideard had most of his men posted in the dungeon by the tunnel. If Duncan and his army came in through the grate, they would be killed immediately. If they tried to get into the castle any other way, Eideard’s men on the battlements and at the front gate would take them down. They didn’t have a chance. Eideard had already won before the battle even began.

  “Eideard requests yer presence down in the great hall,” came a small voice from behind her. She turned to see a serving girl standing there.

  “Well, I’m no’ goin’,” she said sadly, brushing off her hands, leaving the bucket at her feet.

  “He’s brought Angus and Duncan’s mathair into the great hall for the celebration.”

  “He has?” she asked, curious as to why he’d do that. “All right, I’ll join ye in a minute.” After dumping the ashes and cleaning up, Mari made her way to the great hall. The place was crowded when she walked in.

  “Come, sit with me for the feast,” said Eideard, appearing from nowhere, escorting her to the table. She walked across the hall seeing that Angus and Emmaline still had their hands and feet chained together.

  “I dinna feel much like eatin’ or even celebratin’.”

  “Why is that?” he asked as they sat down at the dais. “Because yer precious Duncan hasna showed up to save ye? Well, he willna be joinin’ us tonight. I have enough guards posted to stop him and his men from even steppin’ foot inside the castle. Tonight will be our time to celebrate our marriage and it will end with our consummation durin’ the ringin’ in of the bells at midnight. I even brought Angus and his mathair here to witness the happy event.”

  “I can hardly wait,” she muttered, picking up her cup to drink. She noticed Harris watching her from the opposite end of the hall. Their gazes met and then he slipped back into the shadows and disappeared.

  “Everyone lift yer cups and drink to the night when I will finally make Mari my wife,” shouted Eideard. “Tonight we will consummate our marriage, and no one is goin’ to stop us.”

  Mari was so nervous and upset that she barely remembered what they ate for the meal. She kept thinking about Duncan and looking over to the door, hoping he would show, but he didn’t.

  The meal was followed by loud bagpipe music and drums, making her head pound. Eideard spun her around dancing until she became dizzy. The night went too fast and before she knew it, Eideard was dragging her to the door.

  “Wait, where are we goin’?” she asked, looking over at Angus and Emmaline as they passed by, feeling more fearful than she ever had before.

  “It’s almost midnight,” said Eideard. “We’re goin’ to get naked and finally couple.”

  “Nay, I dinna want to couple with ye.” She tried to pull away from him, but he flung her over his shoulder. Angus jumped to his feet and two guards pushed him back onto the bench. “Angus!” she cried out, but Eideard reached up and slapped her rear and chuckled.

  “No one, no’ even that big brute can help ye now. Ye are my wife and in a few minutes, everyone will ken it. I want ye to scream out loud in passion when I thrust myself into ye.”

  Tears dripped down her cheeks as he entered the solar and slammed the door behind them. He flung her onto the bed and she landed with a whoosh of air from her lungs.

  “I have waited so long for this,” he said, removing his weapon belt and dropping it at his feet. Then he pulled off his clothes and stood there naked, looking like he was about to stalk her.

  “Leave me alone,” she cried, scooting back on the bed as he leaned over and crawled toward her.

  “Ye’ll no’ deny me yer pleasures again.” He reached out and ripped her bodice, leaning his body over her as he pushed up her skirt, preparing to enter her. She couldn’t move under his weight.

  “I love ye, Duncan. I’m sorry,” she whispered, closing her eyes and turning her head, crying as she heard the sound of the bells ringing in the New Year. She expected to feel Eideard plowing into her next but, instead, she heard the sound of someone kicking in the door.

  “What the hell?” Eideard turned to look. Mari opened her eyes and, to her surprise, Duncan stood there with his feet firmly planted. His sword in one hand, he gripped a bottle and a bag in the other.

  “I heard it’s guid luck for a dark-haired man to be first-foot on Hogmanay, and come bearin’ gifts.” He threw the bottle on the floor along with the bag. The glass broke and the smell of whisky filled the air. “I brought some coal, a wee bit of black bun, and some whisky. Now get off of my lass or I’ll stab my blade right through yer heart.”

  “How did ye get in here?” When Eideard tried to get off the bed, Mari slipped out from under him and ran over to the window to get out of the way.

  “I saw yer little welcomin’ party at the tunnel entrance in the dungeon.” Duncan walked in slowly with his sword extended. “Too damn bad they’re the ones occupyin’ the cells now.”

  “There is no way ye could have gotten in here. It’s too well protected. I’ve seen to it.” Eideard eyed his sword on the ground. The sound of swords clashing and men shouting from below stairs filled the air. No longer was there happy music, just the sounds of a battle as the bells tolled.

  “It seems my men are really more loyal to me than ye after all,” said Duncan. “Now pick up yer sword and fight me like a man.”

  “Kill him, Duncan,” cried Mari, holding together her torn bodice.

  “Did he hurt ye, lass?” Duncan’s eyes flashed over to her and then back to Eideard.

  “Nay, Duncan. And I am still a virgin.”

  The sound of heavy footsteps was heard and Angus poked his head into the room. “Do ye want help killin’ him, Brathair?” he asked, rattling his chains on his hands. “These things proved to be beneficial in chokin’ the life out of a man or two.” He pulled the chains tight between his hands to prove his point. “The MacKeefes and Laird Stewart are takin’ care of the rest.”

  “My faither is here?” asked Mari, praying for his safety.

  “Pick up the sword,” Duncan told Eideard again. Eideard, naked, moved slowly to the end of the bed, but didn’t grab his weapon.

  “Mayhap ye should just kill me unarmed, ye coward.”

  “Eideard, I’m comin’!” called out Baldair, running down the corridor with his blade drawn. When he got close, Angus kicked the sword out of his hand and then choked him with the chains. When Duncan turned to look, Eideard dove for his sword. Mari screamed as he picked up the blade and lunged for Duncan.

  “Duncan, watch out!”

  Duncan turned and raised his blade, embedding it into Eideard’s heart. The sword fell from the man’s hand and he fell dead to the ground at Duncan’s feet.

  “Duncan!” Mari ran to him and buried her face against his chest and cried.

  “Shhh, it’s all right,” Duncan told her, putting his arm around her and kissing her atop the head.

  “The castle is yers, MacLean, and Eideard’s men are either dead or imprisoned.” Storm MacKeefe walked up, holding his bloody sword.

  Mari looked up and kissed Duncan hard, not wanting to ever be without him again.

  “Och, sorry about that,” said Storm. “I’ll meet ye downstairs. I see ye’re busy.”

  “I told ye I’d come for ye,” said Duncan, looking deeply into Mari’s eyes. “And this time, I am never lettin’ ye out of my sight again because I love ye, Mari. I
want ye to be my wife.”

  Chapter 15

  New Year’s Day

  “Congratulations to the two of ye. I am so happy that ye married my son, Mari.” Emmaline gave them both a hug as Mari’s father stood right behind her with a large smile on his face.

  “After all we’ve been through lately, it’s hard to believe that Duncan and I are finally married.” Mari admired the gold ring on her finger that Duncan had placed there when they’d said their vows. Her hand went to her locket again, and she fingered the etched turtle doves atop it.

  “Ye’re no’ worried about consummatin’ the weddin’, are ye?” Duncan asked her, his eyes dropping down to her hand.

  “Nay,” she said, releasing the locket. “I guess I am just in the habit of worryin’. Actually, I canna wait to be yer wife in every way.”

  The great hall had been cleared of the dead bodies and cleaned and now they all enjoyed the happiness of bringing in the New Year with a wedding that was in the making for such a long time. Two houses were aligned as one, and Mountain Magic was flowing like wine. The MacKeefes were also part of the celebration since they were a big part in helping secure the castle.

  “Mari, ye were so brave, and I thank ye,” said Duncan, kissing her and running his fingers over her cheek. She leaned in to his touch, a warm feeling encompassing her now. She felt safe with Duncan and always would. “We couldna have done this without ye.”

  “What about me?” Angus walked up, scratching himself. Tillie was with him and Malmuira was right behind them with Tillie’s girls. Tillie never looked happier. “Dinna forget, I dressed up like a wench to find out the whereabouts of Mathair.” He scratched his arm and then his leg. “I even had to read Eideard’s palm.” He scratched his cheek next.

  “Angus, I think ye are startin’ to get blisters,” said Tillie, looking at him closer.

  “Och, nay!” he spat. “It’s because I had to touch Eideard’s palm.” He scratched some more and groaned. “I never should have done it.”

  “Hrmph,” snorted Malmuira. “Do us all a favor and never try to read a palm again, because ye are no guid at it at all.”

  Angus leaned over and talked to both the little girls. “Now remember, both of ye bring back an extra minced pie for me. And stop by the table with the black bun on yer way back and get me some of that, too.”

  “We will, Uncle Angus,” said Ilona, taking Ava’s hand and running through the great hall squealing.

  “They look happy,” said Mari.

  “That’s because they think Angus is funny and they’re happy he’s goin’ to be part of their family,” Tillie told her, holding on to Angus, but using his plaid so she wouldn’t touch his skin.

  “Tillie, is there somethin’ ye want to tell me?” Mari looked quizzically at her sister.

  “Mayhap.” She looked up at Angus and smiled.

  “Let me tell them,” said Angus. “I asked Tillie to marry me.”

  “Ye did?” asked Duncan in surprise. “And she said yes?”

  “I did,” said Tillie with a giggle.

  “Are ye sure it wasna out of pity?” asked Duncan.

  “Or because she likes to cook and ye like to eat?” Mari teased him as well.

  “We’re in love, no matter what ye think.” Angus squirmed and scratched some more and tried to dip down to kiss Tillie but she stopped him.

  “No kissin’ until yer blisters disappear,” she told him. “Ye’ll have to stay in bed for a few days.”

  “As long as ye bring me lots of food, I willna complain,” Angus told her.

  “It’s a deal.” Tillie blew him a kiss.

  “It feels guid to have the castle back, and I’m thrilled that ye each found the love of yer life,” said Emmaline. “But I will never get over losin’ yer faither.”

  “Aye, it is hard and takes a while,” said Mari’s father. “When I lost my wife, I felt like I would never be able to live without her. Do ye want to go sit down and talk? Or mayhap dance?”

  “Well, I dinna ken,” said Emmaline, being hesitant.

  “Go on, Mathair,” said Duncan. “It’s all right. Faither would want ye to have a little fun on Hogmanay, so dinna feel guilty.”

  “Aye, it’s guid to see ye smile again,” said Angus. “We’ve missed that.”

  “Well, mayhap just one dance.” She took Daniel’s arm and they headed away.

  “It looks like ye’re chieftain now, big brathair,” Angus told Duncan, scratching the top of his head. “I’m just glad everythin’ worked out.”

  “I still dinna understand how ye were all able to get into the castle,” said Mari.

  “It was because of Harris,” Duncan told her.

  “Harris?” Mari looked across the room to see Harris with his family. He nodded to her and she nodded back. “I dinna understand. He was the one who told Eideard that yer mathair had escaped.”

  “He only did it as a cover,” said Angus, snatching a sweetmeat off the tray of a server as she passed by and popping it into his mouth. “He had to make it look like Eideard could trust him. Then he talked to all the men who were once loyal to Faither and convinced them to work with him and no’ to live in fear of Eideard anymore.”

  “That’s right,” agreed Duncan. “And with help from the inside, it was easy to get inside the gate. I kent everyone would be celebratin’ Hogmanay and would be distracted. So attackin’ at midnight worked in our favor.”

  Angus snitched an umble pie next, taking a big bite of the small pastry stuffed with spiced entrails. He moaned in ecstasy as he chewed. “This is the best umble pie I’ve ever tasted.”

  “Really?” asked Tillie, cocking her head.

  “Well, it’s no’ as guid as yers, of course,” said Angus with a deep swallow. “No one can bake like ye.”

  Tillie hit him playfully on the arm. “I made it, Angus. And ye need to stop eatin’ them because we’re goin’ to hand them out to the beggars.”

  “I kent that all along,” said Angus, not sounding at all convincing. “Let’s go find somethin’ that I’m allowed to eat, shall we?” He shoved the rest of it into his mouth and left with his wife-to-be, scratching himself as he walked.

  “I’d better go watch the girls,” said Malmuira, having taken on the role of a grandmother to Tillie’s children already.

  “I hope ye are happy bein’ my wife, Mari.” Duncan pulled her into his arms.

  “I am happier than I’ve ever been. I am only sorry that I ever married Eideard in the first place.”

  “I ken ye were forced into it and I thank ye for doin’ it to save my mathair. But none of that matters anymore. Eideard is dead and now ye are my wife, just like it was always meant to be. Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for ye.” Duncan raised his hand in the air and waved Harris over.

  “Here ye are, my laird,” said Harris, handing Duncan a cage with the two turtle doves in it.

  “It’s Guinevere and Lancelot,” she said excitedly. “I’m so glad they are all right and that ye had them brought back to the castle.”

  “When I first gave ye these doves, I told ye they symbolized our love for each other.”

  “Aye, ye did,” she said as Duncan opened the cage door and the doves flew up to the ceiling, perching on the beam going across the great hall.

  “Duncan, mayhap ye shouldna have let them out of the cage. They might try to fly back to the Stewart camp again.”

  “I dinna think they’ll do that for awhile,” said Duncan.

  “Why no’?” she asked. “I thought they were trained to fly there.”

  “They are. But I think they’ll want to stay close to the mews here for awhile. This mornin’, Harris found two eggs in a nest and said they belonged to Guinevere and Lancelot.”

  “They’re goin’ to have babies? How excitin’.”

  “Aye, it is. And it would be excitin’ if we started a family, too.” Duncan scooped her up in his arms and stood under mistletoe that was hanging from a beam. “That’s mistletoe and we need to
kiss, that’s the rule,” he told her with a raised brow.

  “I’ll gladly agree.” Duncan kissed Mari so passionately that her desire to bed him was hard to control. “Duncan, everyone is starin’ at us. I think we need to go to the solar.”

  “I agree,” said Duncan, walking and carrying her and kissing her all at the same time. Hearing the cooing of the doves, he stopped with Mari in his arms and they both looked up at Guinevere and Lancelot, sitting side by side. Two turtle doves, symbolizing undying love marked this glorious day, making it a New Year’s to remember.

  “I love ye, Duncan,” said Mari, feeling safe, secure, and very lucky to be starting the New Year married to the man she loved.

  “And I love ye,” said Duncan, looking deeply into her eyes. “Mari, ye are the love of my life, my friend, my wife . . . ye are my little Highland Dove.”

  From the Author

  I hope you enjoyed Duncan and Mari’s story and finding out more about the customs of Hogmanay, or New Year’s during medieval Scotland. If you could take a moment to leave a review for it, I would be ever so grateful.

  This book is Book 4 of my Holiday Knights Series. To find out about the rest of the books of the Series and the medieval traditions of Christmas, Valentine’s Day and May Day, among others, please see the entire series.

  Thank you all for your support, and watch for more books soon.

  Elizabeth Rose

  Excerpt from Mistletoe & Chain Mail

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