“Speak to him,” Feargan said, turning to Una and grabbing hold of her arm, pulling her forward and leaning her precariously out over the battlements. “There she is Callum McNeil, the woman ye have risked everythin’ for it seems, for I shall nae forget this.”
“Una, are ye harmed in any way?” Callum called up.
As she leaned out over the battlements, Una could see Callum’s smiling face below. He was dressed in armor and tunic, riding upon a black stead and his face appeared noble and handsome. How foolish she had been to think of his intentions towards her as anything but honorable and how foolish she was to have believed his feelings insincere. As their eyes met, she realized just how genuine his love for her must surely be and her heart was filled with longing only for him.
“Callum, I am here but he shall force me to marry against my will. I am sorry I left ye, I am sorry for my stupidity,” she cried, as Feargan dragged her back and threw her into Mungo’s arms.
“Let her go, Feargan,” Callum cried up from below.
“And lose my honor? Ye come here with an army of soldiers and make yer demands, but I will wager that ye wouldnae face me alone Callum McNeil, man to man,” Feargan called.
“Cousin, daenae be a fool,” Mungo hissed.
“Ye think I am nay a warrior, Mungo? Ye think I couldnae defeat wee lad like that? Nonsense,” Mungo said.
“And if I fight ye and win then ye shall relinquish yer claim over Una and release her to me?” Callum called back.
Feargan paused and turned to Una, his eyes narrowed and a sickening smile playing across his face.
“Let Una go, Feargan,” Amelia said, stepping forward.
“Stay out of this, woman. Tis’ nay concern of yers,” Feargan replied.
“Tis’ every concern of mine. Ye have become a cruel hearted man, Feargan and yer actions on this day only prove yer wickedness further,” Amelia replied, but at these words Feargan raised his hand to her and sent her sprawling backwards.
“Wicked man,” Una cried, struggling free from Mungo’s grasp and rushing to Amelia’s side.
“I shall fight ye, Callum McNeil and ye shall know the bitter taste of defeat for when I win I shall unleash such anger upon ye, such as ye have never known,” Feargan shouted over the battlements. “Have the gates opened, Laird McNeil has an appointment with a sword.”
As the gates creaked slowly open, Una and Amelia stood watching over the battlements, as the McNeils, led by Callum, advanced forward. Una knew that the next moments would decide her fate and as Callum entered the courtyard, she wanted to cry out to him and declare her love. She knew his own to be sincere. Now he came, not to win a prize in a game of cards but to rescue the woman he had come to love, and for that she would be grateful for the rest of her life.
“He will surely lose,” Amelia said, but Una shook her head.
“He is different somehow, he has the look of a warrior to him,” she replied and together they watched, as the two sides gathered below and their fate was decided.
Chapter 7
The Final Battle
Feargan and Callum now faced each other in the courtyard. The soldiers had formed a circle around them and Una and Amelia stood watching from the steps leading up to the battlements. The wind was cold, and they huddled together for warmth, Mungo Grayling standing above them, his hand firmly on Una’s shoulder.
“So, ye think that ye can come here and face me, dae ye? A wee lad, barely a man and who has seen too few winters,” Feargan said, his hand upon his sword.
“I have seen enough winters to ken when a man lacks honor, to ken evil in a man, and I can see it in ye, Feargan McDonald. Too long now have ye believed yerself to be invincible,” Callum said, drawing his sword from its hilt.
“And so ye would come here and challenge me? Defeat me and take my lands, make yerself ruler of these people?” Feargan said, as he too drew his sword.
“My terms are simple. Give me Una, set her free and ye shall have nay more trouble from me, Feargan McDonald. There is still time to let her go, ye know,” Callum said, circling around Feargan who laughed.
“And ye think that ye can come knockin’ at my gates with yer demands and expect me to roll over and give in like some dead animal in its last throes. Ye are a fool, Callum,” Feargan replied, and he lunged forward with his sword as Callum stepped to the side.
Their swords clashed and the sound of metal upon metal rang through the courtyard, as Una flinched at the sight. Which of them could prove victorious? Callum was younger, but he was inexperienced. She had never seen him lift a weapon or practice swordsmanship with his men, he was no warrior, yet now there was something different to him. A determination it seemed, and as he and Feargan clashed she held her breath, shrugging Mungo’s hand from her shoulder and hurrying down the steps.
“Wait, Una,” Amelia hissed, but Una was pushing through the soldiers towards the place where Feargan and Callum were fighting.
“Ah, the wench is here,” Feargan said, as Una pushed through the last of the soldiers.
“Aye, I am here,” Una said, as Callum turned to her, before Feargan reined down a fresh blow upon him, one he barely avoided, as their swords clashed again.
“Stay back, Una,” Callum cried.
“Nay, nay, let the lass come forward,” Feargan said, panting as he stepped back.
“Are ye all right, Una?” Callum said, breathless, his eyes still on Feargan, as the two circled one another.
“Tell him lass, tell him how ye escaped from his clutches and came runnin’ back here. Ye had nay desire to stay there, did ye? His quest is a foolish one and make nay mistake. Why did ye come here, Callum? She does nae want to be with ye. She wanted to escape,” Feargan said, scowling at Una.
“Tis’ nae true, Callum. I am sorry I escaped. I regret it for all I have thought of is ye,” Una said, tears running down her cheeks.
“And all I have thought of is ye, dear Una,” Callum replied.
“How touchin’ lad, well, I am afraid that she is mine. Ye had yer chance, and the lass escaped ye. Now, she is betrothed to my cousin and I suggest that ye go back to Gilloch Castle and think over the foolishness of yer ways. I may allow ye to keep yer castle, but know that ye have lost a friend today,” Feargan replied.
“Ye are nay friend of mine, Feargan McDonald. Far from it,” Callum said, and raising his sword he flew forward, taking Feargan by surprise.
Their swords clashed and Una let out a cry as the two men fought. It was a bloody battle, and she watched helplessly as Callum and Feargan rained down blow after blow upon one another, the soldiers around them watching in silence as their Lairds fought a bitter battle.
“Finish him cousin,” Mungo cried, but as he did so, Amelia turned and pushed him down the steps. His cry distracted Feargan for a moment and Callum lunged forward dealing a deadly blow to Feargan, who fell to the ground.
“Ye have nae won,” Feargan cried, staggering up and lunging forward again.
“Ye are defeated, Feargan,” Callum cried, but as he did so Feargan struck out again, clutching his bleeding side and Callum brought his sword down in a final blow.
Feargan fell with a cry of agony and a cheer went up from the McNeil soldiers, as Una rushed to Callum’s side.
“Una, are ye hurt? What have they done to ye?” Callum said, as she flung her arms around his neck.
“It does nae matter now, Callum. I am safe now that ye are here. Thank ye for rescuin’ me. I …” she began, and her words faltered.
Around them, the scene was chaotic, as the McDonald soldiers realized they were defeated. The McNeil’s and their allies had begun to take control of the castle and already the banner of their clan was raised over the battlements.
“I … I was so worried when ye escaped. I thought we were friends, it … it broke my heart, Una,” Callum said, taking hold of her hand.
“I ken and I was a fool to dae so. I am so sorry, Callum. I thought … oh, I did nae think at all. I should have kent that ye
were nae like the others. Ye are a good man and I … I dae love ye, despite my stupidity. I thought I could be a hero, rescue my clan and see my father avenged, but tis’ I who needed rescuin’ by ye,” Una said, as Callum placed his arms around her.
“I forgive ye, Una. I was a fool too. I should have let ye choose, nae kept ye in the castle, as though ye were some kind of prize. I love ye, and when ye left yer absence made me realize how I loved ye even more. I have thought of nothin’ but ye since that horrible Christmas night,” Callum said.
“And I have thought of nothin’ except ye either, dear Callum,” she replied.
Snow was falling now, and the courtyard had begun to empty. Una looked around her and saw Amelia watching them from the steps. Mungo had disappeared, his bruised ego enough to see that he would make no further claims upon any of them. The body of Feargan still lay in the snow and as Amelia hurried over, Una held out her arms to her.
“Ye have been a good friend to me Amelia. What will ye do now?” Una asked, as Amelia glanced warily at Feargan’s body.
“I … I dinna ken. But I ken that I am better off without him. He proved that for the last time today,” Amelia replied, and embracing Una once again, she hurried off back towards the keep.
“Let us leave this accursed place, Una. Will ye come back to Gilloch Castle with me?” Callum asked, taking her hand and smiling at her.
“Aye, I will but I must tell ye somethin’ first. On the night of my escape I overheard ye and yer mother talkin’ when I was hidden in the shadows by the library. Ye told her that ye intended to ask for my hand in marriage. I would say yes if ye asked for it now, and it would be an assent born out of love, the love I have come to know for ye in this terrible absence. Can ye find it in yer heart to forgive me?” Una asked.
He smiled at her and kneeling in the snow he looked up at her, taking her hand and kissing it.
“Una, I did intend to ask for yer hand and when I discovered that ye were gone it was almost too much to bear. I love ye, nae as some prize I have won but as the woman I have come to love because ye are everythin’ to me. I love ye and if ye will marry me, then I shall be the happiest lad in all the glens of Scotland,” he said, kissing her hand.
“Then I accept, Callum and I shall be the happiest lass in all of Scotland and together our lives shall be good,” Una said, as Callum rose and embraced her.
He looked into her eyes and their lips met in a gentle kiss. Despite all that had happened, Una now felt an overwhelming sense of peace envelop her. How grateful she was to him, the one man who had not been like all the others, the one man she knew she could trust in all the world.
Together, they walked across the snowy courtyard and a horse was saddled to take them back to Gilloch Castle. It was a day of victory and celebration and as they rode, the soldiers cheered, and the villagers thanked Callum at their liberation from the hands of Feargan McDonald. But neither Callum nor Una cared for such adulation, all that mattered was that they had each other and as they rode towards Gilloch Castle, they knew that a new life awaited them.
Chapter 8
The Auld Alliance
It took most of the day for Una and Callum to ride to Gilloch Castle. As the sight of the glen and loch came into sight, Una breathed a sigh of relief. How happy she felt to have returned here and as they approached the castle walls her heart soared to be back in the place, she could now call home. No longer was it a prison but a liberation, and the thought that she would soon be its mistress filled her with joy.
But, as they approached the gates, a soldier came hurrying forward. His face ashen as he hailed to Callum, who leaped down from the horse.
“Laird, ye must come quickly. Tis’ yer mother, she is gravely ill. A fever has taken her,” the soldier said, as Callum turned to Una in horror.
“Quickly, Callum, come,” Una said, taking hold of his hand as they hurried inside.
It was dark now, and the corridors were lit only by candles and flaming torches. Together, they hurried up the stairs towards Mary McNeil’s chambers. They found the elderly woman propped up in bed, and several of the servants tending to her. A fire was blazing in the hearth and despite the warmth of the room, Mary was wrapped in several blankets and shivering.
“A fever, Laird,” one of the servants whispered, “she took ill just after ye left, but she has been calling for ye.”
Callum and Una rushed to Mary’s bedside, and she offered them a weak smile, reaching out her hand to Callum who took it. Una could see that she was gravely ill, and that there was little now that could be done except to make her as comfortable as possible. Instinctively, she too reached out her hand to Mary’s. It felt icy cold, and she felt helpless in the face of the inevitable.
“I am glad ye have come, my son,” Mary rasped, “I thought …” and her words trailed off.
“I am here, Mother, and Una is here too. We have come back and we are to be married, just like I told ye,” Callum said, his hand upon his mother’s brow, as she gave a weak smile.
“Aye, that is good. He was devastated when ye left, Una,” she said, her eyes turning to Una who sighed.
“And I am sorry for that. I was so foolish, I thought I was a prisoner here when in fact it is here that I have felt the freest I have ever been,” Una replied, and Mary nodded slowly.
“I am glad ye made the right decision lass, and I am glad that Callum went after ye. He is a good lad,” she said and suddenly her breathing became erratic and she clutched at Callum’s hand.
“Mother? Oh … no, please … mother,” he said, but at that moment Mary McNeil took her last breath and Una watched, as Callum sank down upon the bed, tears flowing down his face.
“Callum, she is at peace. We must pray for her soul,” Una said, as the servants stood silently around the bed and Callum brought his head down to mother’s outstretched hand.
“Thank the good Lord that we were here,” he said a few moments later, turning a tear-stained face to Una who reached out her hand and took hold of his.
“She waited, I think. Perhaps she did nae want ye to suffer the same fate I suffered with my own dear father. I had nay chance to say goodbye, but ye have done and for that ye shall always be grateful,” Una said.
“Ye are right, Una, and she was so happy to know that I had returned with ye at my side. She spoke often of ye in these past few days and it was she who told me that I must come after ye. I had nae the courage to dae so. But she told me I must follow my heart and if it led me into danger, then so be it but that I would have regret for the rest of my life if I did nae at least try. And I am glad I did,” he said, turning back to his mother, who lay in peace before them.
“And she was proud of ye, Callum. I knew that from the moment I first met her and she spoke of ye. Ye are truly yer mother’s son,” Una replied.
“She asked one thing of ye, though,” Callum said, looking back at Una.
“Anything,” Una replied.
“That ye take care of the garden. She told me that if ye agreed to marry me, then her gift to ye is the garden, the place she loved so much and which I too want ye to have,” Callum said.
Una smiled and nodded.
“Of course I shall take care of the garden, Callum and together we shall honor yer mother’s legacy, I promise ye,” she replied.
Quietly, she slipped from the room. Leaving Callum alone with his mother. She felt exhausted and went at once to her chambers, which to her joy she found prepared for her, a fire kindled in the hearth. Outside, the clouds had cleared, and the stars shone brightly above, as the moon rose over the loch, its pale light shimmering upon the water.
The only sounds were the distant hoot of owls in the forest and the lap of the water on the shore below. How peaceful it felt, and despite the sadness of that to which they had returned, Una could not help but feel a sense of happiness at finally being home.
How grateful she was to Callum for never giving up on her and to his mother too for the encouragement to pursue her. How easil
y could her doom have come if it were not for Callum and the fact he had loved when she herself knew not if her own feelings were true. Now, after all they had been through together, Una knew for certain that she loved him and that it was with Callum she would happily spend the rest of her life.
***
Mary McNeil’s funeral took place some days later. A funeral bier was prepared and a priest from the nearby monastery at Kilmallock came to conduct her final rites. Una stood silently with Callum as they watched his mother’s final journey. Her hand slipping into his as the priest pronounced the blessing and made the sign of the cross over the grave.
The whole clan had gathered and there was much sorrow amongst the McNeil’s, for Mary had been a good and wise mistress over them. Una knew that now it was her responsibility to be mistress of the clan and as she and Callum walked away from the graveside, he placed his arm around her, holding her close for comfort.
“Ye and yer mother were very close, I know that and we shall always keep her memory alive,” Una said, and Callum nodded.
“Life will be strange without her. When my father died, I relied upon her counsel in all matters. Now that she is gone, I will have …” he said, turning to her.
“Ye will have me,” Una said, and she smiled reassuringly at him, “and though I may nae have the wisdom of yer mother, I shall always be here for ye. I promise.”
He smiled at her and sighed, turning back towards his mother’s grave where the clansmen were offering their farewells.
“Aye, and for that I shall be ever grateful,” he replied, taking her hand and leading her back towards the castle.
It was bitterly cold, and the glen was now covered in a blanket of snow, which hung upon the trees, whilst the waters of the loch had frozen solid. They had received word from the McDonald Castle that Mungo had fled back into the north and that Amelia had been proclaimed leader of the clan by the McDonald’s, who had grown weary of war mongering and were calling for peace. It seemed that soon the castle of the Gordons would return to its rightful heir and that the auld alliance would once again be forged.
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