Isolda had returned from the dead. They would never be parted again.
***
Rhun carried his trembling betrothed back to her own chamber and helped her to bed. “I’ll stay, but don’t worry. I only want to bring comfort.”
Glain couldn’t speak. A cruel fate had befallen her sister. Hope had blossomed in her heart at the sound of Isolda’s voice. She had trusted all would be well for the four of them. Her sister had reawakened, but was blind. No matter the cost, she swore to stand at her sister’s side to help her with this burden. She fell asleep in Rhun’s arms, sobbing.
***
As Rhun stroked Glain’s hair, the sobs racking her body twisted a knife in his heart. If the same affliction befell his twin brother, no doubt he would move heaven and earth to help him. Glain would do no less for her sister. He grieved for Isolda, sightless in a world dangerous enough for the sighted. He grieved for his brother whose life had suddenly become very difficult. They had shared everything, but Rhydderch would have to shoulder most of this burden alone. He grieved for Glain because he loved her. And he grieved for himself, terrified he might lose his beloved to Isolda’s blindness.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Isolda pouted as she struggled to free her hand from her betrothed’s grasp. “Forgive me, Rhydderch, but can you not see I am blind?”
He took a deep breath. “I know that’s true now, Isolda, just as I know three days ago you were in a deep sleep no one believed you would awaken from, yet here you are, saucy as ever.”
She blushed and thrust back her head. “Blind women don’t make good wives. I can’t marry you. Things are different.”
He placed her hand on his erection. “Nothing about my passion for you has changed, as you can tell. I want you to be my wife, and I’ll keep asking until you agree. I would, of course, prefer you to see my obvious interest in you, but—” He bent to kiss her lips softly, “—I can describe it to you!”
A warm ache snaked its way into her belly and her breasts tightened. She should remove her hand from his disturbing hardness. “No, Rhydderch. It would be selfish to agree. You’re an important man, with many responsibilities. You need a wife who can stand by your side, a wife with her sight.”
He laced his fingers in her hair and pressed his arousal more insistently against her hand. “What I need, what I hunger for, is you.”
She wanted to believe him, to give herself over to him, but fear held her fast, fear of her blindness, of the future. “No. I can’t be your wife. You’ll find another, one who is whole. I must learn to live in a new world.”
He raised his voice slightly. “Yet you won’t let me help you with your challenges. You won’t share your new world with me, the man who obviously loves you?”
He thrust his hips provocatively. She wrenched her hand away. “It’s mine to face alone.”
His anger filled her senses. “But you know Glain won’t let you face it alone. She’ll be there to help you on every step of the journey. You won’t refuse her help.”
“No,” Isolda admitted. “She’s my twin.”
“You’ll deny your sister her life with Rhun?”
She gritted her teeth. “I deny Glain nothing.”
His angry voice echoed off the walls of the small chamber. “Isolda, your self pity will destroy your sister and my brother. They love each other desperately, but Glain won’t marry him if she believes you need her. I can fulfill those needs, but you refuse me. You want to keep her for yourself.”
He slammed the heavy door as he left. She sobbed into the bolster, lost in private grief, wanting him with a desperate ache, but not knowing how to cope with being adrift in a sightless sea.
***
“How is Isolda?” Rhun asked as Glain took her seat for the evening meal in the neuadd. “I haven’t seen you for several days. I hope the time you spend with her is helping.”
His voice betrayed his irritation, yet she understood the frustration of not being able to reach out and touch the person one loved to distraction. She wanted to sound positive. “She’s well, and is learning to dress and feed herself.”
He did not smile. “Good, and how do you fare, Glain?”
It was impossible to look at him as the molten heat he stirred rushed to her loins. “I’m—I’m well, Rhun.” She could barely speak his name. “How do you fare?”
He shrugged. “I fare badly, but you know that.” He came to his feet so abruptly his chair toppled. A tear trickled unbidden down her cheek as she watched him leave.
***
Rhys and Annalise witnessed the angry exchange between Glain and Rhun.
“I need to do something about this,” Rhys said. “It goes from bad to worse.”
She curled her arm in his. “You may be the only person who can bring a solution. They’re destroying each other. Help them.”
He patted her arm. “The person who holds the key to this is Isolda. I’ll begin with her.”
Annalise put her forefinger to her chin. “She spends her afternoons in the petit chamber off the neuadd, and Glain is often in the jardin.”
Rhys winked as he came to his feet, rubbed his sore leg and hastened off as fast as he could. He found Isolda where his wife had indicated she would be. He crossed his fingers, squared his shoulders and uttered a silent prayer. He limped into the chamber, coughing to alert her to his presence. “My lady Isolda, such a pleasure to find you here.”
Isolda startled, but recovered quickly. “Lord Prince, I’m grateful to be a guest here in your llys.”
“Isolda, I’m the brother of your betrothed. Please call me Rhys. May I sit? My leg—”
“Of course.” She squirmed in the chair, her white fingers gripping the arms. “My lord, Rhydderch and I can no longer be betrothed. I’m blind.”
Rhys uttered a disdainful reproof, for effect. “My dear Isolda, do you judge my baby brother so shallow he would cast off a woman he loves because she has lost her sight?”
She bit her lip. “But my lord—”
“Is sight the only attribute you brought to the proposed marriage before your illness?”
“No—but—”
He decided to raise his voice. “Do you love Rhydderch?”
Her eyes filled with tears and she swallowed hard. “Yes, of course. I’ve never stopped loving him. But—”
Ignore the tears. Show no mercy.
“You know, Isolda, I used to be a great cynic when it came to matters of love. Now if I had to live without my beloved Annalise I would find it impossible. Few people ever find their true love, their soul mate. You’ve found yours, and yet you push him away.”
She fisted her hands and pounded the arms of the chair. “But I am blind, my lord, I can’t see.”
“Yet, Isolda, you have a man who is besotted with you, who yearns to be your eyes and you reject him. It would seem you’re not the courageous woman I believed you to be—I bid you good day.”
He rose and limped to the door. She probably thought he had left but he watched as she slumped deeper into the chair, struggling to suppress the sobs that threatened to rack her. Would she understand he spoke from the heart? She feared she would burden Rhydderch with her blindness. Rhys had to hope his brother loved her enough to shoulder such a burden.
***
“My lady Glain, such a pleasure to find you enjoying the sunshine here in the garden.”
Glain seemed startled and made an attempt to rise and curtsey. “My lord Prince, I’m grateful to be a guest here.”
“Glain, I’m the brother of your betrothed. Please call me Rhys. You need not rise on my account. But I must sit. My leg—”
She hesitated halfway between a curtsey and the bench as he sat down beside her. “My lord, Rhun and I can no longer be considered betrothed. My sister is blind and I must take care of her needs first.”
“My dear Glain, do you consider my baby brother Rhydderch so shallow he would cast off a woman he loves because she is blind?”
“But my lord—”<
br />
“Is sight the only attribute she brought to the proposed marriage before her illness?”
“No—but—”
“Do you love Rhun?”
Her breath caught in her throat. She leaned forward to pick up a twig, twisting it back and forth between her fingers. Tears filled her eyes. “Yes, of course. I’ve never stopped loving him. But—”
He put his hand on hers, stilling the twig. “I used to be a great cynic when it came to matters of love. Now if I had to live without my beloved Annalise I would find it impossible. Few people ever find their true love, their soul mate. You’ve found yours, and yet you keep pushing him away out of a misguided sense of duty to your sister.”
She clutched the twig and tried to pull her hand away, but he held fast. She keened plaintively. “She is blind, my lord.”
“She has a man who loves her, who yearns to be her eyes, yet she rejects him. It would seem she’s not the courageous woman I believed her to be. You have a man who longs to make you his wife, yet you prefer to be bound by the bonds of guilt your sister has imposed upon you—I bid you good day.” He let go of her hands. The twig fell to the ground.
She did not attempt to rise as he stood stiffly. Before going back inside, he stole a glance to where she sat. She struggled to stifle her sobs, her head in her hands. Would she understand he spoke the truth? He again prayed fervently that Rhydderch loved Isolda enough to take care of her needs for all time.
He made his way back to his wife and embraced her, resting his chin atop her head. “I’ve done what I can. Diplomacy is about repeating things over and over until someone listens. The rest is up to them.”
***
Since childhood Rhun’s dreams had often been full of longbows, quivers, arrows, and fletches. It was natural a boy as gifted with a bow as he would dream thus. Perhaps his prowess had come about because he hit targets in his sleep, eyes closed! It had always been effortless.
In this dream, sweat poured from his body as he strained to ensure his arrow flew straight and true. The bowstring cut deep into the calloused pads of his fingertips, every muscle in his upper body screaming with the effort. He had to slay the demon pursuing Glain. He dared not miss.
He woke, his body and hair drenched. He shivered in the clammy air. Rubbing his eyes, he pieced together the hazy bits of the dream. Glain was fleeing, crying out, in despair. Without pause he had drawn his bow and nocked an arrow to save her. But the demon chasing her changed shape, disappeared then reappeared. Rhun struggled to keep it in his sights, determined it would not destroy her.
His memory refused to reveal the dream’s ending. Had his aim been true? Had he saved her?
***
“Glain?” Isolda’s voice held a hint of nervousness.
Glain tore her gaze away from the practice fields where Rhun, stripped to the waist, was instructing young warriors in defensive moves with shields. The stiffness in his body as he drove his pupils betrayed his anger. How she longed to run her hands over those tight muscles, to ease his pain.
Isolda continued. “I’ve been thinking.”
Glain was only half listening. “About what?”
“You and Rhun.”
Glain became alert instantly. “What about us?”
Isolda hesitated. “Not about just you and Rhun. About me and Rhydderch.”
Nervous dread seeped into Glain’s belly. “What is it you want to say?”
This time Isolda did not pause. “I want you to be happy.”
Glain scoffed. “And what about you and Rhydderch? Does he not deserve happiness? Will you continue to deny him the love he wants to lavish on you?”
Isolda pulled at the collar of her gown. “I have my own problems. Don’t you think I crave—but that’s no reason for you to postpone your happiness with Rhun.”
Glain snorted, her anger getting the better of her. If Isolda still loved Rhydderch, why was she determined to be unhappy? “Don’t you understand we are twins? Our lives are inextricably bound together. If you’re not happy, I can’t be happy. If you don’t marry Rhydderch, I can’t marry Rhun. The prophecy will not come to fruition.”
Isolda looked like she had been struck by lightning. She sat with shoulders drooped, her mouth agape. Glain worried she had gone too far.
Isolda remained silent for a long while, then murmured, “I will marry Rhydderch, but only if you marry Rhun.”
It was a barely audible whisper, but Glain heard it. Tears flowed freely down both women’s faces. “Isolda, without you I’m nothing. Without Rhun I’m less than nothing.”
“So be it then. Take my hand. Let’s inform the magnificent men to whom we’re betrothed.”
Glain helped her sister rise. “Isolda, blindness doesn’t make you any less beautiful. Rhydderch loves you still.”
Isolda shook her head. “He pities me. How can a man such as Rhydderch love a blind woman?”
CHAPTER NINE
Annalise watched Isolda. Despite her wedding finery and the garland of fresh flowers in her hair, the woman looked like a prisoner on her way to execution, rather than the banquet celebrating her marriage. Anyone who beheld Isolda and Glain would discern immediately they were twins, but their expressions today were as different as chalk and cheese.
Happiness shone on Glain’s beautiful face. Rhun’s enormous grin spoke for itself. Annalise doubted if they would remain long with their guests, already having difficulty keeping their hands off each other.
Isolda did not smile during the double ceremony, and Rhydderch’s expression remained unfathomable. Both repeated their vows in ragged whispers strangled with emotion. Isolda stood rigid in her husband’s arms when he kissed her after the vows were complete, whereas Glain and Rhun’s kiss came close to setting the chapel afire.
A pang of dismay skittered through Annalise. She remembered with regret how cold she had been to Rhys on their wedding day. Her behaviour had been caused by fear. She did not know then she would come to love her Welsh barbarian with such passion.
She and Rhys barely knew each other when they were wed, did not speak the same language, were from different cultures. She resented being traded for the lives of these two twins whose wedding she was witnessing today. She had come to love Rhys once she got to know him, but Isolda had fallen in love at first sight with Rhydderch and had admitted her love. They were made for each other—that was obvious to all.
Instead of shying from Isolda’s blindness, Rhydderch had embraced it, glad to be her eyes, anxious to protect her. Whence her fear? Annalise shuddered again. She was not blind and had no right to judge, but should Rhydderch be the whipping boy for his wife’s affliction?
Seated next to her, Rhys must have sensed her unease. He drew her closer, placing his hand on her swollen belly. “What is it, my love? Are you unwell?”
She shook her head slightly, then rested it on his shoulder, thankful for the gift of this strong, gentle man. “Non, Rhys, I’m sad for Rhydderch and Isolda. Your tactics worked, but they seem so unhappy.”
Rhys chuckled. “I recall your unhappiness at our wedding, but look at us now. You’re deliriously happy wed to a handsome man who loves you passionately.”
Annalise feigned outrage and wagged her finger at him. “Handsome? Méchant more like it.”
“You love it when I’m naughty.” He leaned forward to lick her finger and then sucked it into his mouth.
She inhaled sharply and let out a whimper, her eyes wide. “Rhys!” An ache of longing spiralled through her tender breasts to pool in her nipples. Her gaze strayed of its own volition to his groin and there she espied what she expected to. She shifted in her seat. The ache had spread. He grinned lasciviously and licked again.
She protested, pulling her finger slowly from his mouth. “We must be serious.”
Rhys frowned. “No, Annalise, this is my brothers’ wedding day. Rhun is so obviously happy I want to weep for him. We mustn’t overlook their happiness, their joy. Isolda and Rhydderch have many obstacles to over
come, but they will succeed. Their love for each other will carry them through. He has to stop doing everything for her. They will never be completely happy until she learns she is still a beautiful woman and that Rhydderch truly loves her despite her blindness. Now she feels guilty and believes he is acting out of pity. She fears she’ll be a burden to him.
“Look at her. She knows Rhydderch would rather be laughing and carousing with his brother instead of sitting holding her hand. He could be, if she would accept his love, but she is trapped in her own misery. She refused Glain’s coaxing to join her in hiding for the traditional wedding ‘kidnapping’.”
Annalise squeezed his hand, regretting she had not known about the Welsh tradition when she and Rhys were married. “I pray you are right, but regarde, you must go with Rhun. He’s discovered where the women hid Glain and is already dragging her off to their bridal chamber. You’re his older brother, you must go with them. My ankles are swollen. I’ll remain here, with Isolda and Rhydderch.”
Rhys came to his feet and turned to join the merry band carrying Rhun and Glain to their chamber. Then he looked back at his wife. “It doesn’t appear so, but Rhydderch and Isolda are both relieved they’re married.” He kissed her forehead. “Je t’aime.”
She smiled, thrilled she could confirm her love for him in his language. “Rwy’n dy garu di.”
He grinned and limped off to catch up to the revellers.
***
Rhun needed desperately to be inside his beautiful wife. The silk bed robe he’d been given did nothing to hide his rock hard tarse, which tingled and ached unbearably. The fear Glain would never be completely his until he claimed her body drove him mad with need. The threat of losing her terrified him.
The plague had brought home to him how rapidly joy might turn to despair. He would seize the day and consummate his marriage without delay, before his shaft turned to granite. He wanted to spend his life pleasuring and protecting the bewitching and playful woman he had wed. Wales had been his first love. Now his country would have to take second place.
The Winds of the Heavens (Sons of Rhodri Medieval Romance Series) Page 5