Autumn's Touch

by Elizabeth Rose

  “I love you, too, Autumn.”

  She kissed him again and again, but he gently pushed her away. “There will be plenty of time for this later. I have to secure the castle.”

  The sound of the warning bell from the watchtower rang out. Autumn glanced out the window to realize it was almost dawn.

  “It must be my brothers! They will help us,” she said excitedly.

  “Autumn, Nairnie made up that vision,” said Benedict. “She only said it to help me.”

  “Nay, that part was real.” Autumn started for the door.

  “Wait. I’ll go first,” he said, looking up and down the corridor to make sure the coast was clear. “Remember, Lester doesn’t know we are married. Neither do your brothers. If we let them in the gates, they might start killing first without bothering to ask questions.”

  “Nay, they won’t. I’ll make sure they know.”

  “Then let’s go. I need to get that gate open and stop this melee once and for all.”

  Chapter 28

  As soon as Benedict made his way up to the battlements, he could see the ships docked in the harbor. One flew the flag of the lord of Whitehaven and the other of Scarborough. Men were piling off the ships and heading up the hill.

  Looking north, he saw a sea of plaid marching toward Ravenscar Castle, led by a line of Scots on horseback. From the south came another small army of soldiers, carrying the flag of the lord of Naward. Two hawks flew in circles above the castle, and a raven landed with stealth, perching atop the merlon.

  “We’re under attack,” cried out the mercenary on the battlements. “God’s eyes, they’re coming from every direction. Get the hell out of here if you value your lives.”

  “Oxley is dead,” shouted Benedict, getting everyone’s attention. “There is no need to follow him anymore. Lower the drawbridge. Those of you who want to leave can go quickly. For those of you who wish to stay and fight, I will fight you all by my own hand if I have to. And I promise you, not one of you will be standing in the end.”

  There was much commotion as the men talked amongst themselves.

  Benedict continued. “My knights who have betrayed me had best leave as well. I don’t want anyone in my service who chooses money stolen from poor, innocent people over loyalty to his liege lord.”

  “We didn’t know, Lord Ravenscar,” called out one of Benedict’s knights who he thought was loyal to him but who had turned on him in the end. “Give us another chance.”

  “Nay,” said Benedict. “Not at my castle. Your only chance is to leave now before I kill you. You all have two minutes to get out. Anyone that lingers will be killed. Now lower the drawbridge and open the gate. I won’t give the command again!”

  The sound of the pulleys and chains clanked and moaned as the drawbridge lowered and the iron portcullis slid up into the air. The mercenaries rushed for their horses, but Benedict called out another command.

  “Drop the weapons and leave the horses,” he said.

  “Nay. We will be defenseless,” shouted a mercenary.

  “Then I suggest you run fast because from what I’ve just seen over the castle wall, you don’t have many options for escape.”

  The sound of swords hitting the cobblestones echoed in the courtyard as the mercenaries and traitors ran over the drawbridge. Benedict heard shouting and looked over to see the townspeople rushing over the drawbridge with rakes and hoes in their hands, hitting the mercenaries as they passed by. Wallace was leading the pack.

  Benedict took the stairs two at a time, coming down to the courtyard to meet with the men that were left.

  “Nelek, take our fastest horse and ride to the dock and let our visitors know our situation.”

  “Aye, my lord,” said Nelek, jumping on a horse and taking off.

  “Sir Gawain, take a man with you and ride out and greet our Scottish visitors as well as the men from Naward. Make certain to tell them I am married to Lady Autumn and aligned with them now.”

  “Aye, my lord.” Sir Gawain and another knight left quickly.

  Benedict noticed the orphans and Nairnie standing with Autumn. He headed across the courtyard to greet them. Then it was the oddest thing, but Nairnie started running. Right toward him.

  “Benedict, behind you,” cried out Autumn, her eyes filled with fear. Feeling as if he were in slow motion, he grabbed for his sword and spun on his heel to see a stray mercenary atop the battlements with a crossbow in his hand. The man released the bolt that shot toward him. Before he could react, Nairnie pushed him to the ground and took his place. The bolt embedded itself in her chest, instead.

  “Nay!” Benedict shouted, getting to his feet. He grabbed the dagger from his waist belt that Torkel had given him, and hurled it through the air. It hit the mercenary in the back as he ran. The man fell from the battlements, dead.

  “Nairnie!” cried Autumn, rushing to the old woman.

  “What did you do, you old fool?” asked Benedict, dropping to his knees and cradling Nairnie’s head in his lap. He reached out and pulled the bolt from her body, throwing it to the side. Thunder crashed loudly and lightning slashed through the sky, hitting the metal pole with Ravenscar’s banner atop the battlements at the same time.

  The children gathered around him with Rab crying. “Dinna die, Nairnie,” said the little boy.

  Autumn tore off the sleeve of her gown and held it to Nairnie’s chest. The blood flowed freely. Nairnie’s face paled. Her wrinkled skin looked to be drained of life.

  “You’ll be fine, Nairnie. Autumn’s here to heal you,” Benedict tried to console her.

  “Dinna try to fool an old fool,” said the old woman. “I’ve had a vision and seen my death. It is time, Benedict. There is nothin’ anyone can do to stop it. It is my time to go.”

  “Nay, you’re wrong,” shouted Benedict, not wanting to lose the woman who was his surrogate mother. “You will not die. I won’t let you!”

  “Nairnie said her visions of death are never wrong,” said Torkel.

  Benedict glanced over to Autumn. She nodded slightly, tears forming in her eyes.

  “Nay!” he shouted, picking up the woman and carrying her over to lay her in a soft, open wagon of hay. “People can be wrong, even stubborn old goats like you. I was wrong in leaving you and I know that now.”

  “You werena wrong, Son,” she said, her bony hand reaching out to cover his. “Ye saved my life so many years ago and now I have repaid the favor. Ye took the place of the son I lost and I am proud of ye, Benedict. Take good care of Autumn when I go. She loves ye very much.”

  “You took the place of the mother I lost,” said Benedict. “I refuse to lose a mother a second time. Do you hear me?”

  Nairnie’s eyes drifted closed. Although she was dying, she had a smile on her face, and that told Benedict there was peace in her heart.

  “Autumn, do something!” he shouted. “Use your healing touch.”

  Autumn looked at him and shook her head. Tears trailed in a stream down her face, mixing with the rain falling from above. “It doesn’t work anymore,” she told him. “I’ve tried.”

  “Then try harder,” he commanded. “Do it!”

  “I can’t, Benedict. I’ve somehow lost the healing touch.”

  “Nay, you haven’t. All you’ve lost is faith in yourself.” He took her hands in his. “You told me you believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Well, I believe in you and your healing touch. Now you need to believe in yourself. You can do this.”

  “Lord Ravenscar! Autumn’s family is here to see her,” called out Nelek leading an entourage of people through the castle’s gate. Benedict leaned over and kissed Nairnie on the forehead, saying his last goodbye. Then he got up to greet his guests.

  Autumn was so upset by what happened to Nairnie that she couldn’t even focus on the fact her family was there at Ravenscar Castle. She watched helplessly as Nairnie’s life slipped away, but she had the feeling it wasn’t her time to go.

  Nairnie had been a
hero today in more ways than one. If it hadn’t been for her, they all might be dead right now. Autumn felt the love between a mother and a son when Nairnie and Benedict said their goodbyes. It touched her heart. She wept inside but tried to keep her composure and focus on her healing.

  Benedict said he believed in her, just like she’d once told him. She’d seen the change in him, as he went from being a beast to an honorable, good lord of Ravenscar. That made her start wondering if what he said was true. Had she somehow along the way started doubting herself and her skill of healing? She supposed it was so.

  She looked over to Benedict who stood tall and proud, waiting to greet his visitors though the woman he’d known as a mother for four years of his life was dying. Then she glanced over to the orphans. They were either crying or looking at Nairnie as if they’d lost a parent as well.

  This was wrong. No matter what vision Nairnie had of her death, Autumn was sure circumstances could be changed if one believed it hard enough. She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sky, feeling the cold rain wash over her as if it were cleansing her heart as well as her soul. Laying her hands on Nairnie’s cold, wet chest, she tried her hardest to visualize the old midwife smiling and laughing and full of life.

  “I believe,” she said to herself, knowing she had a skill when it came to healing. Thunder rumbled the heavens and although her eyes were closed, she felt as if she could see the lightning. Concentrating, she tried to remember the feeling she had when she helped free the little bird in the storm. She tried to remember the surge of power that ran through her when lightning first struck the tree.

  Life was full of happiness as well as sadness. Where there is death, there is also growth and new life. She opened her heart and accepted the gift she’d been given from above, taking a deep breath and releasing it. Bright, white light shone behind her closed lids. She willed it to travel through her body, through her touch, and into Nairnie’s body to heal her and fill her with life. The old woman wasn’t dead yet, but Autumn could feel her life slipping away quickly.

  “I believe in love, I believe in life . . . I believe in me,” she said, feeling a heat emanating from her palms and vibrating against Nairnie’s chest. As the feeling of peace flowed through her, it was as if every worry she ever had was washed away. All voids or darkness were filled with light. Her hands burned with the heat under her palms now. She felt her body tingling and vibrating like the day she’d been struck by lightning.

  Then, as if by a miracle, Nairnie gasped and inhaled a deep breath of life. Autumn’s eyes snapped open to see the old woman’s gray eyes staring directly at her.

  “I . . . was wrong,” said Nairnie. “I see it now. I am no’ supposed to die yet after all.”

  “Nay, Nairnie, you are not going to die today,” said Autumn with a smile. “And if there is one thing I know it is that one’s destiny can be changed . . . if only we believe.”

  Chapter 29

  Two weeks later

  “I now pronounce you man and wife,” said the priest standing before Benedict and Autumn. “You, my lord, may now kiss your bride.”

  Autumn’s heart soared as Benedict pulled her into his arms in front of everyone, kissing her so deeply that it brought about hoots and hollers from her brothers, Rowen, Rook, and Reed.

  “Dinna look, children,” called out Reed, covering the eyes of Enar and Rab who stood next to him.

  “Reed, you fool, let them look,” said Rowen. “Is that the way you’re going to act with your own boys someday?”

  “My twins are just bairns, but when I get back to Scotland, I’m goin’ to kiss Maggie with even more passion than that.” Reed nodded his red head and smiled proudly.

  “You want to see more passion?” asked Benedict. “I’ll show you passion.” This time, he dipped Autumn and kissed her hard and long. Her body immediately reacted, getting excited. They had been married again at her request. The wedding hadn’t taken place until her parents, her sisters, and her brothers were all there this time.

  “Congratulations, Sister,” said Summer, coming up to hug her, with her sisters, Spring and Winter, at her side. Summer and Spring’s husbands, Warren and Shaw had stayed back at their homes to watch over their children.

  “I must say, I’ve got the most beautiful wife that any man could ever have,” said Benedict, making Autumn blush. She wore the rose and peach-colored gown that used to be Benedict’s mother’s gown. He also gave her his mother’s wedding ring that they found hidden away along with the money Ravenscar had collected from the sale of his ships. It was all buried in the garden under the rue plant that Bailey kept rolling atop. Since the rue was the reason her husband and the children were getting fevers as well as rashes, Benedict demanded the plant be dug up and burned.

  Goodness truly does come from hardships she realized, since Benedict was rewarded after all his suffering. The late Ravenscar, they figured, must have buried the stolen jewels and money under the rue plant, therefore getting a rash in return. Plus, he kept Bailey in his bed, after the dog had rolled in the rue. The man took his life thinking he was dying from the plague. Everyone else who had the rash had gotten it from touching the dog. They were all healed already as Autumn saw to that with herbs and potions, as well as with her healing touch.

  “I agree my sister is beautiful,” said Rook, holding out his arm. His raven dropped down from the sky, settling atop his arm, using it as a perch. “But I must say, my wife, Calliope, is the most beautiful woman that any man could want.”

  “Nay, Maggie is,” said Reed.

  “You’re all wrong, it is Cordelia,” said Rowen, speaking of his wife back in Whitehaven.

  Rowen’s sea hawk and Reed’s red kite made lazy circles in the sky above them.

  “Ye all are hurtin’ my ears with yer constant clishmaclaver,” complained Nairnie, sitting in Benedict’s padded chair from the dais that had been moved out to the courtyard for her comfort. She was healing nicely and almost back to her usual ornery self. She moved a bit slower than before and still couldn’t stand long before having to rest, but she was alive, having cheated death – not to mention her vision. That is all that mattered. Autumn was using herbs and ointments and her healing touch, so the old woman would be up and around soon. Benedict and Nairnie had a strong bond between them now, both happier than Autumn had ever seen them before.

  “When will ye two be havin’ bairns?” asked her sister, Spring, who was once a hardened warrior. Autumn and her sisters hadn’t even known they had a sister named Spring until recently. She was stolen as a baby and raised by the Gunn Clan as a warrior for most her life.

  “Yes, when?” asked her mother, Annalyse, always wanting more grandchildren.

  “Dinna pressure the lassie, Wife,” said her father, Ross Douglas. “She’s just gotten married. She is our youngest daughter, so give her time.”

  “Mayhap no’ as much time as ye think,” said Nairnie. “I have had a vision that Autumn is already with child.”

  “She just got married!” spat Ross. “She’d better no’ be with child.”

  “Father, this is the second time Benedict and I were married,” Autumn reminded him. “And Nairnie, your vision is right this time, because I believe I am pregnant.”

  “You are?” asked Benedict, looking as if he were terrified.

  “Dinna look so frightened,” said Reed. “Ye will like havin’ bairns.”

  “I never pictured myself a father of bairns – I mean babies,” said Benedict, shaking his head as if he were dazed. “Autumn, I promise you I will be the best father I possibly can.”

  “I know you will, Benedict,” she told him, kissing him on the cheek. “You’ve already managed to make an alliance with all of my brothers as well as my father. If you can do that, you can do anything.”

  “Don’t forget, he’s also brought trade back to Ravenscar,” added Nelek.

  “Aye,” said Lord Scarborough who had sent word to Autumn’s brothers as soon as his ship had returned from Scotlan
d without Autumn in the first place. That’s why they’d been able to arrive when they did. “I will personally be the first to say I’ll have a trade ship stopping here every month. I’ll also be sure to spread the word up and down the coast. Ravenscar Castle will flourish again, and so will your little, half-horse town.”

  “Thank you,” said Benedict. “I hope to one day make Ravenscar what it was before it was ruined by a man with a horrible reputation.”

  “Autumn, look what I found growing at the back of your garden.” Her sister, Winter, stepped forward with a pink rose in her hand.

  “My mother’s rose bush,” murmured Benedict. He gingerly took the rose from Winter and wove it into the wreath of flowers that encircled Autumn’s head. “This is a sign that my mother is watching over us,” he said with a smile.

  Winter called over the wolfhounds next, making Autumn tense up.

  “Winter, what are you doing?” she asked, still not feeling comfortable around the big dogs.

  “Don’t be frightened of the hounds,” said Benedict, pulling her closer. “Sampson and Goliath are two of the most lovable dogs you will ever meet.”

  “What have the dogs got in their mouths?” asked Autumn, taking a closer look.

  “They’re delivering my wedding present to you and Benedict,” said Winter. “I made the gifts and wanted both of you to have them.”

  “You made them?” asked Benedict, taking two items wrapped in brown paper from the dogs’ mouths. When he opened them, Autumn saw two beautiful daggers in his hand. Benedict held one up, looking at it in awe. “This is one of the finest blades I’ve ever seen,” he said, testing the balance in his hand.

  “I heard you might be looking for a new dagger,” Winter said with a smile.

  “Thank you, I was,” answered Benedict. “But what do you mean you made them?”

  “My sister, Winter, is not your average lady,” said Autumn. “She knows how to use the forge.”

  “And she’s good at it, too,” added Rook. “She’s going to make me a blade next.”