“Let her go ye wicked devil,” Fraser cried, and Isla fell from his grasp and continued running with Lena.
The English soldiers had scattered, and now, Howard and Fraser faced one another. Their swords were drawn, and they circled back and forth, the tips touching in their standoff.
“Get back, or I shall run you through, boy,” Howard said, lunging at Fraser, who dodged to one side.
“I am nae boy and ‘tis ye who will feel the sword, Howard Musgrave. Ye are a despicable man,” Fraser said, and the two clashed swords together.
Soldiers on both sides were watching now, and both sides had backed away, leaving Howard and Fraser alone amid the battlefield. Sir Percy Musgrave sat upon his horse some distance back, and the Laird had ridden to the head of his men as both sides now looked on at the scene unfolding before them. Fraser and Howard faced one another, each with their faces set in angry hatred for the other.
“Surrender, and I shall spare your life,” Howard said.
“I would say the same to ye, but I cannae trust an Englishman,” Fraser replied.
“A simple lad is no match for an English noble. I will run you through,” Howard said, and he lunged at Fraser, who dodged to one side.
“Fraser, be careful,” Isla cried, but Fraser heard her not, his whole attention upon Howard Musgrave and his one desire to settle his score and reek his revenge upon him.
“Listen to the wench, boy. Be careful,” Howard said, and with a roar, he lunged forward, as Fraser struck his sword with his own, and he fell back with a cry.
“‘Tis ye who must be careful, Howard Musgrave,” Fraser cried and fell upon Howard, reigning down blow after blow.
But Howard was skilled with the sword, and he dodged and weaved about Fraser, causing him to stumble and fall back.
“I have you now, boy,” Howard cried, and he raised his sword, just as Fraser turned and lunged towards him.
With a gasp, Howard fell. Fraser had pierced his armor, and he fell upon his sword with a groan. A cheer went up from the Scottish soldiers, and Fraser staggered to his feet, as the English soldiers began to scatter. The Scots gave chase, and Sir Percy Musgrave turned on his heels and fled with his soldiers close behind.
Fraser ran to Isla, who took him in her arms and embraced him.
“My dearest Fraser, are ye alright? Are ye hurt? Oh, ye were so brave. I thought … I thought for a moment that ye would be killed,” Isla said, and she kissed him and held him close to her.
“I am alright, lass, but thank the good Lord for our friends here, else the three of us would have been caught, and that would have been the end of us all,” Fraser replied, and he sat down heavily upon the heather, as around them the Scots cheered and congratulated one another.
The English had now disappeared across the border, leaving the body of Howard Musgrave lying still upon the battlefield. It had been a glorious victory, and with the heir of the Musgraves now dead, it seemed unlikely that the English would trouble them for some time.
Isla was tending to Fraser, and Lena had her arms about them both when Alistair Elliott came striding over, his sword still drawn.
“Isla,” he said, and she turned and rushed to him, embracing her father and kissing him.
“I am alright, father. Fraser came to rescue me, but he was captured too and then … and then we were rescued by Lena, and we escaped and …” she began talking so fast that he held his hands up and shushed her.
“Isla, Isla, calm yerself. I am so glad that ye are safe. We have all been so worried for ye. Today was our last hope of rescuin’ ye. We intended to storm the castle and lay siege the gate. I have thought of nothin’ else but ye ever since the day of the battle when ye went missin’. Ye were a foolish girl to follow us to war, but I was a fool not to protect ye, and I have paid dearly for it these past days,” he said, embracing her again.
“I am safe now, thanks to Fraser and his mother,” Isla said, turning again to Fraser and Lena, who sat together on the heather.
“His mother?” Alistair said, looking in amazement at Lena, who nodded.
“Hello Laird, it has been a long time since last we saw one another,” she said, blushing a little.
“I … I thought,” he began.
“Ye thought I was dead or long gone? Nae, after ye banished me, I found my way across the border and to the castle of the Musgraves. Sir Percy took me in, and I have been in his employ ever since. A prisoner, just like poor Isla here, though for many years longer than she,” Lena replied, looking at Isla and smiling.
“But … so … ye, ye know the truth then, Fraser?” Alistair said, looking down at Fraser, who nodded.
“Aye, Laird. We all know the truth. How ye sent away my mother in her hour of need, and me too, and why ye have treated me so coldly and with such disdain these past years. I am yer son, and I am sorry if that has made ye ashamed of it,” Fraser replied, looking up defiantly at Alistair, who hung his head.
“Aye, and I am sorry for the way in which I have behaved,” he said, looking around at the other Scots who were listening in disbelief. “‘Tis true what the lad says. He is my son, and this here is the woman I allowed to be so mistreated all those years ago. I was younger, though that is nae excuse. I was a fool to send her away, and for that, I am sorry, and since then I have kept the secret my own. I didnae even reveal it to my own daughter, but now I have seen the bravery of this lad for my own eyes, and I am grateful to ye, Fraser, for bringin’ back my daughter to me,” Alistair said, and he reached out his hand to Fraser, who nodded and took it.
Standing, Fraser faced his father, and the two shook hands there upon the battlefield. It was a reunion that should have happened many years before, and Alistair knew that he had failed his son in so many ways. But Fraser had a heart for forgiveness, a generous and open heart that could forgive others their wrongs if they were sincere in their sorrow.
“Then I must ask ye this now, father. Will ye allow Isla to marry me? I have asked her, and she has said yes, but I must seek yer permission too, and so I ask ye now, will ye give us yer blessing and allow us to marry?” Fraser said, taking Isla’s hand in his.
Alistair smiled and nodded to Fraser, who turned and kissed Isla as a cheer went up from the gathered soldiers.
“Oh, father. Thank ye. I cannae understand why ye sent Lena away and why ye treated Fraser like ye did, but now I hope ye see that he is everything I need and deserve. He risked his life to save me and was willing to risk it again and again to defend me. I love him with all my heart, and I know that, together, we shall be happy,” she said, rushing to her father and embracing him.
“I was a fool, Isla. That is the only explanation I can give. I thought that I was protectin’ ye by forbidding ye and Fraser to spend time together. I didnae want either of ye to discover the truth. But ye have discovered it without me, and I am grateful for that for it has been a heavy burden to bear, though heavier still for his dear mother,” Alistair said, turning to Lena, who nodded.
“I dinnae blame ye for sendin’ me away, Alistair. Ye had nae choice, but I have had a hard life, and I hope that now ye shall see to it that I am looked after,” she replied, fixing him with a hard stare and causing him to blush.
“Aye, Lena. Ye will be looked after, I promise,” he said, and raising his voice, he continued, “but now, ‘tis time we returned to Kirklinton. It has been a glorious victory over our enemies, and my daughter is returned to me. But I have gained something more too, a son and a son-in-law, and that is somethin’ to celebrate.”
A cheer went up from the soldiers, and Isla climbed onto her father’s horse behind him, and Lena rode on the back of another. Fraser mounted with Sweeney, and the Scots rode back across the moorlands towards Kirklinton.
“I didnae think ye had it in ye,” Sweeney said, as they rode along.
“Why? Did ye think that a simple blacksmith couldnae hold a sword and fight? There is more to me than meets the eye, Sweeney,” Fraser replied.
“So it seem
s. I had given ye up for lost, and when Duncan told me ye were gone, then I feared the worst. Ye was a fool to take on the Musgraves single-handedly,” Sweeney said, shaking his head as they rode on.
“A fool who is in love, Sweeney. I couldnae leave Isla to the mercies of the Musgraves. They were to marry her to Howard this very day, and if I hadnae been there, then she would now be a Musgrave mistress,” Fraser replied.
“And Lena is yer mother? I remember an old tale my mother used to tell about the Laird havin’ lasses outside the bedchamber, but I didnae believe a word of it. It seems it was true, though. Perhaps ye have a dozen brothers and sisters runnin’ about the place,” he said, laughing.
“I very much hope not. I just want a quiet life now,” Fraser replied, as the turrets of Kirklinton came into sight.
“A quiet life? Ye will nae have that if ye are to marry the Laird’s daughter, and the Laird’s son is surely the rightful heir of the title. A quiet life? Ye will be lucky,” Sweeney said.
Fraser had not thought about it like that before. Since learning the truth about his father and mother, he had wanted only for Alistair Elliott to accept his love for Isla and bless it. He had never considered that he was the rightful heir and, therefore, would inherit the castle and its lands. All Fraser wanted was to be a simple blacksmith again; he’d had his adventures now and would happily settle with Isla at his side for whatever life now gave him.
But he knew that the threat of the English remained, and that the clan would need him in the future. It would not be the last time that an English force rode across the borders to do battle, and it would surely be only a matter of time before Sir Percy Musgrave sought his revenge. But for now, Fraser was content in the knowledge that he, with the help of his mother, had rescued Isla from certain doom and in doing so, had gained a family he never knew he had.
“Ye will come and celebrate with us, Fraser?” Isla said as they arrived at the castle at Kirklinton, and the soldiers dismounted their horses.
“Aye lass, I will, but I must see to my brother first. He will be anxious for news,” Fraser replied.
He kissed Isla, and the two parted ways. She watched as he made his way down the track towards the village. Her father came to stand next to her and placed a protective arm around her shoulder.
“Why did ye never tell me about Fraser, father?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I … well, I was ashamed, and I thought that if I kept him a secret, then that shame might go away. He reminded me too much of the past, and I felt guilty for betrayin’ yer mother and for betrayin’ Lena too. I didnae want ye to hate me as I believed they both did,” he said.
“Lena doesnae hate ye, father. But now is yer chance to make amends for all that has happened in the past, and when Fraser and I are wedded, then I hope that ye will treat him as the son ye never had,” she replied.
“I will, Isla, and I am just thankful that I have ye back with me now. I love ye so very much, and my heart was broken to think that ye were a prisoner on my account,” he said.
“I was a prisoner on my own account, father. It was my own stupidity that led me into the hands of the Musgraves. I should have listened to ye and done yer biddin’. Ye told me to stay here at the castle, but I thought I could be a hero and have my revenge upon the Musgraves for what they did to my parents,” she said.
“Well, it seems that Fraser has done that for ye,” her father replied, and he led her inside, where already there was much celebration taking place.
Isla learned from Sweeney that the northern clans had banded together to mount a rescue. More soldiers had already arrived, and there would be no threat from the English while the castle was so well fortified. She could not help but feel a great sense of relief now that her ordeal was over, and she would be forever grateful to Lena for helping them escape.
“Ye will stay here with us,” she said to her as the two entered the Great Hall, and there was much cheering and celebration around them.
“If the Laird allows it,” Lena replied.
“I demand it,” Isla said, smiling and embracing the woman she now considered as much a mother as her own.
Chapter Forty-Two
Fraser walked slowly down the track from the castle. He was pleased to be alone again; the excitement and heat of the battle and its dramatic aftermath had taken their toll upon him. He was a solitary figure and needed time alone to find peace. The moorlands were quiet, and there was no sign of another soul from east to west.
The noise of celebration from the castle was gone, and the wind whistled over the lonely moor as, above him, a hawk circled. It was only just dawning upon him how close to death he had come that day. Howard Musgrave was a fine swordsman, and Fraser had only been saved from death by good fortune.
He had never taken another man’s life, and though he knew that it had been an honorable thing in Isla’s defense, he also knew that it was an experience he would not readily forget. His hands had healed, but now they had taken life too, and that fact could never be altered. He paused for a moment and looked back across the moorlands towards Kirklinton.
Today, he had gained a family, and after the sorrow of losing the MacGinns, it seemed strange to once again have a mother and father. He would never forget the simple peasants who had shown such love for him in taking him in as a child, and he would never think of Duncan MacGinn as anything but his brother in all ways.
Right now, Fraser wanted to see Duncan more than anyone else, for he still had his promise to keep that Duncan could enter the monastery at Lanercost and take his vows. Firstly, though, Fraser had some explaining to do.
After walking for around half an hour, he stood on the ridge and looked down at the village. A lot had changed since that fateful night when he had hidden in the apple cart. It seemed an age ago, yet it was only a few days. In that short space of time, so much had happened, and Fraser’s life had changed forever.
He paused for a moment, before taking the track down towards the blacksmith’s workshop below. A thin plume of smoke was rising from the chimney, and in the distance, there came the sound of the bell from the kirk, tolling for prayer. It all seemed so familiar, yet now that familiarity was entirely changed. This would always be his home, but he had a new home now, with a new family and a place to call his own. It was everything he had always wanted, and his worry of loneliness at the thought of Duncan’s departure for the monastery was gone. Both could have what they had always desired, and both could be happy.
His brother leaped up in delight, as Fraser opened the cottage door and appeared before him. He flung himself on Fraser and stood back, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I thought ye were dead. When ye didnae return the other night, I feared the worst. What happened, brother?” Duncan said, and he embraced him once again, a tear in his eyes. “I made a vigil in the kirk for yer safe return. Father MacConkey and I, we prayed all night before the Lord, and here ye are now brother, safely returned.”
“Aye, thank ye for yer prayers, Duncan, and at times I thought all was lost,” Frazer replied, and he recounted the tale of everything that had happened since he had left the cottage on that fateful day, except for the details about Lena; that would require a further explanation.
“I told Sweeney ye were gone and had nae returned. He said there was little that could be done to rescue ye, though the Laird was attemptin’ one last attack with the forces of the northern clans,” Duncan said, as the two sat down before the fire and warmed themselves.
“And we were lucky they did so, otherwise I wouldnae be sittin’ here before ye. They arrived just in time, as the Musgraves bore down upon us. It was then that I fought Howard Musgrave,” Fraser replied.
“Aye and ye won, brother,” Duncan said, nodding his head.
“But I took another man’s life, Duncan. I didnae think I would feel as I do now. There is a guilt in me for what I have done,” Frazer said.
“The scriptures say that to kill is wrong, but ye were actin’ in yer
own defense, and if ye had nae killed him, then he would have killed ye, brother. And what’s more, he would have taken Isla with him and subjected her to a life not worth living’, I can assure ye that God will forgive ye for any sin ye think may have passed by yer hand,” Duncan said, “but ye say that the Laird has allowed ye to marry Isla. What has changed his mind?”
Fraser paused for a moment. He wondered how his brother would react to the news that the two of them were not really brothers at all. They had grown up together and shared so much together, the grief of their parent’s death and the sorrow which life had brought them since. Now, Fraser had others to call his parents, but Duncan would still be left an orphan.
“There is somethin’ else to tell ye, Duncan,” he said, fixing his brother with a sad look.
“‘Tis already a fine tale, brother. What more can ye add to make it more extraordinary?” Duncan replied.
A Highlander Forged In Fire (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 22