by Barbara Bard
Blair turned from his brother to face the English camp once again. All the soldiers looked utterly broken and smashed. This endeavor had not been a good one for them.
“Lord Flynn is dead. It is time for ye to sue for peace. Which one of ye is in command now? Which one of ye will come up here and talk with me?” he asked.
At first there was no movement. Sarah looked to the English and wondered if anyone was going to come forward. She wouldn't blame them if they didn't. If she was still in that camp she would have been trembling with fright at the thought of talking with the Highlanders, but because of Drew she had learned they were not monsters at all.
She spared a thought for Catherine, who must have been filled with dread, not just at this situation, but also at the fact that her brother had just been killed and she would have to go back to an angry father.
Eventually someone began to approach, walking through the other English soldiers who were sitting on the ground, not looking like warriors at all. The figure walked with his head held high. His clothes were torn, having been in battle, but other than that he looked in good condition. Sarah gasped when she saw him, and Rosemary squealed in delight. Blair was unable to react as Rosemary ran towards her father, his white whiskers and kind smile becoming clearer as he drew near them.
Sarah had a mixture of feelings inside her, still unsure of how Lord Brambly felt about the letter, but it was reassuring to know that he had not fallen in battle, and that he had found his daughter again, even briefly. For Sarah knew that Rosemary would not leave Blair, and it was unlikely Lord Brambly would choose to leave his home and live in the Highlands.
Rosemary did not let go of her father as she brought him up to meet Blair.
“Blair, this is my father, Lord Charles Brambly,” she said, her voice trembling with nerves.
“It is an honor to meet ye, I think maybe ye should hae led the army from the start. Ye may hae stood a better chance,” he said.
“Rosemary just told me about you. It seems that I owe you a great debt for keeping my daughter safe.”
“In many ways she is the one keeping me safe,” Blair smiled. Rosemary blushed. Sarah stood with Drew, bowing her head, trying to avert her gaze in case Lord Brambly was angry with her.
“And you, Sarah. I was quite intrigued to read your letter,” Lord Brambly began.
“I am so sorry, sir. I never meant to cause any harm by imitating Rosemary. Please do not be angry with me. It all happened so fast, and I know that if I told the truth there would have been more chance to find Rosemary, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it knowing what Lord Flynn was like. I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Lord Brambly looked confused. “I have nothing to forgive you for,” he said, and hugged Sarah. “Ever since I took you in as a handmaiden you have been like a daughter to me, Sarah. I was actually on my way to come to Lord Flynn's estate and demand that you be brought back to my house. I had no idea the man was like that, although after spending some time with him in this war I am now more aware of what kind of man he is. It is a sorry excuse for a leader who cowers behind the front lines and lets his men do all the dying. Rosemary briefly told me of the reasons behind this war. It seems we were all misled by Lord Flynn, and sadly many have died because of his mistake. I suggest that we get these matters over and done with quickly, for I believe there are many men who wish to return to their homes.”
“Aye, that sounds good tae me,” Blair said. “Ye are a wise man, Lord Brambly. I can see where Rosemary gets it from.”
“Oh, I'm quite sure that all of her good qualities come from her mother,” Lord Brambly said. There was a sadness in his eyes. Sarah wondered if he had realized that Rosemary was not going to return with him. “What are your demands?”
“We dinnae hae many. All we want is tae be left alone. We dinnae want the English tae keep pressing their claims on our borders. We dinnae want tae live in fear of our people being captured and hanged. All we want is for the English tae stay their side of the border, and for us tae stay our side,” Blair said.
“That seems entirely reasonable,” Lord Brambly said, looking a little confused. “Are you sure that's all you want?”
Sarah looked at Blair, who stroked his beard thoughtfully. “I hae tae be honest with ye, Lord Brambly. I am new tae leading a clan in war, but the way I see it is that we hae both paid a hefty price for this battle and the best thing we can hope for is that we dinnae hae another one soon.”
“That is very wise, Blair, very wise indeed.”
“It is what my father would hae wanted,” he said, casting a look towards Drew. Sarah felt warmth spread through her heart. Seeing Lord Brambly and Blair talk as equals gave her hope for the future, hope that the English and the Highlanders would never have to wage a battle like this again. The war had been confined to one battle, and with the wisdom shown here it seemed that that was going to be the last of it.
But there was something else. Sarah leaned up to Drew and whispered in his ear.
“Brother,” Drew said, getting Blair's attention. Blair turned to face him. “There is something else. A prisoner.”
“Who?” Blair asked. Drew looked down at Sarah.
“Her name is Catherine. She's Lord Flynn's sister.”
Lord Brambly had a pensive look on his face. “You have already killed Lord Flynn. Taking his sister hostage may not bring forth a consequence you like. Their father is a proud man, and if both of his children have been taken from him he will not hesitate in striking at you.”
“If we do not bring her with us she will be forced to live a life she does not want. She is not like her brother, not at all. She is an innocent in this. If she returns home she will be used as a pawn by her father to broker a favorable marriage. He does not care about her feelings at all, and the chances of her finding happiness are slim,” Sarah pleaded. She gazed at Rosemary, hoping that Catherine's plight would remind her of her own.
“I think Sarah is correct, Father. Blair, I know this may seem strange to you, but I think we should take her.”
“Another English lass. Well, I suppose we are making quite a collection,” Blair said.
“I will see her fetched,” Lord Brambly said. “Is there anything else?”
“I dinnae think so,” Blair said.
“Then we shall withdraw presently. I would request an audience with my daughter and Sarah though, before I leave.” Blair inclined his head. The Highlanders walked away. Sarah let Blair carry his brother back to see his wound tended to. Drew looked dazed, as though he was barely holding onto consciousness, but at least the wound was not threatening his life.
Sarah and Rosemary turned to face Lord Brambly.
“My children,” he said with a wistful smile. Tears glistened in his eyes. “For you are both my children, at least that is the way I have always thought of you. I remember when you were two little girls playing together, so free-spirited and happy, despite all the tragedy that you have suffered. Sarah, I think it shows great wisdom in you to realize that not all Highlanders are the same as the ones who killed your parents.”
“It still takes some effort on my part, but Drew won me over quickly,” she said, blushing slightly.
“I remember in the war before I met more than a few honorable Highlanders. Sometimes it made me wonder if our war was really just. I know that this one has not been. Be warned though, if you do take Catherine with you, her father will not be pleased. I know the man. I fought beside him in the old war. He is ruthless and will not stop until he has her back.”
“Perhaps, but I know it is for the best. I cannot abandon her. She is my friend,” Sarah said.
“Rosemary, I do apologize for arranging a marriage to Lord Flynn. I should have paid more attention to the man behind the prestige. I just wanted the best life for you. You are my princess, and I want you to be happy. But I have to ask you this, are you sure that you both want to stay here in the Highlands? Is there no chance that you could return with me?”
Rosemary and Sarah glanced at each other, and Sarah sensed that they were both thinking the same thing. Sarah wished that she could tell him they would return, but the thought of leaving Drew, of living without his kisses and his tender touch was abhorrent.
“Father, I am sure that when you met Mother you were filled with a sense that the world was right, that you had met your destiny and found the one person you were meant to be with for the rest of time. And I am equally sure that if anyone had asked you if you wanted to be away from her the thought would have filled you with sickness. That is the way I feel about Blair, and the way I am sure Sarah feels about Drew.”
Sarah nodded.
“I know it is not ideal,” Rosemary continued, “and I wish that things would be different so we could all live together as a family, but Blair is not just a Highlander to me. Believe me, Father, it has not been easy for me to be an English woman around them, but I have endured because I know that what I feel in my heart is true and pure. I am meant to be with Blair. My heart is his. I am sorry, I do wish that I could return with you, but my home is now here, with him.”
As Rosemary spoke, Sarah realized that her words echoed her own heart.
“I cannot deny that this fills me with sorrow, but I understand. All I have wanted for you since you were a little baby sitting in the palm of my hand is for you to be happy, and who am I to deny my daughter's happiness? I hope that in time relations between the Highlanders and the English will improve to such an extent that we can travel freely across the border, but until then I hope that we can visit with each other.”
“You could always come to live with us,” Rosemary said.
“No, no, I have too many memories at home. Leaving that house would be like leaving your mother. I could never do it.”
Tears began to fill the eyes of the girls as they realized they were going to have to say goodbye to the man who had raised them. For all her life Sarah had mourned her parents, but it was only at this moment that she realized that Lord Brambly had been a father to her. Lord Brambly first took Rosemary into his arms, holding her trembling body tightly, and then he held Sarah equally as tightly. Sarah felt warm tears roll down her cheeks. The pain was such that it broke her heart, and she wished that she did not have to endure such a thing.
With that settled, Lord Brambly had nothing else to say and turned his back, walking towards the English camp.
“That was more difficult than I imagined,” Sarah said.
“I am glad that I got to see him one more time, and that he survived the battle. I am not sure I could have coped if he were to have died. Are you sure about bringing Catherine back with us? Do you think she will be able to cope with living in the Highlands?”
“Oh, I am sure she will find a way. I had few allies in Lord Flynn's estate. Catherine was my confidante, and I felt so guilty for lying to her. She often spoke of how frustrated she was that she did not have a choice in who she married. Then I abandoned her when I ran from the English camp. I owe her much, Rosemary.”
“Then we shall see that she is safe,” Rosemary replied.
They waited together for a few moments until Catherine presented herself. She was being escorted by two English guards, and did not look happy at all. Sarah smiled as she heard Catherine's protests.
“Unhand me! I cannot believe I have been summoned by these brutes. I am not a simple pawn!” she cried. “My brother has already been killed. You should not be so willing to carry me over to the enemy! Where is your fight? Where is your honor?” she wailed in a high-pitched, feisty tone. She only grew quiet when she saw that Sarah and Rosemary were waiting for her, without any Highlanders around.
“Rosemary!” she exclaimed, and ran towards Sarah, flinging her arms around her neck. The guards walked away, leaving the women alone.
“Did they capture you too? We shall escape, mark my words. We are resourceful women and I will not see us the captives of Highlanders.”
“Actually, there's something I must confess,” Sarah said, her cheeks flushing red with guilt. Catherine stepped back, a curious look on her face.
“I am not Rosemary,” Sarah continued, and then revealed to Catherine the entire truth about how she ended up in Lord Flynn's estate, and her true name. “I am so sorry that I lied to you, but it was the only way I could survive. I knew that if the truth slipped out Lord Flynn would punish me, and I did not want to suffer at his hands. Please forgive me.”
“Sarah is it? Catherine asked as her eyes shot daggers at Sarah. Well, I suppose that makes some sort of sense. I knew something was off about you. The way you carry yourself, the way you interacted with the maids and that story about your hand. You betrayed me and my brother. You let me trust, when you are a liar,” Catherine blurted out in one breath.
“I know you are angry, but I did it to save my life. Knowing your brother as well as I do, he would have had my head on a platter of gold immediately he found out. I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me.”
Sarah shook her head vehemently.
“We should spend whatever time we have left worrying about how we are to escape. Who might you be?” Catherine asked, turning towards the real Rosemary.
“I am actually Rosemary,” she said, holding out her hand.
“This is all quite confusing,” Catherine replied. “No matter.” Then she turned and, for the first time, saw Lord Flynn's body on the ground. Catherine gasped and her hand rose to cover her mouth. She sank to her knees and cradled Lord Flynn's body.
“I did not think he would look like this,” Catherine said. “I heard that it happened, but I did not believe...I could not watch the duel. It was far too barbaric to me. I had hoped that he...that somehow he was still living,” she said. Sarah walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I am sorry for your loss, Catherine. I know that the two of you were close and that this must hurt.”
“What hurts more is that the enemy would seek to place greater shame on my family by holding me prisoner. The betrayal of my brother by someone he was going to marry. I shall gain vengeance for my brother. I know that he was not the kindest person in the world, and perhaps he welcomed this death by plunging us into a battle for which he was not ready, but he was still of my blood, and it is my duty to avenge him. Mine and my father's. The Highlanders will not know pain until my father is through with them.”
A dark scowl fell across Catherine's face, as though a black, roiling storm cloud hung in a pristine blue sky. Sarah and Rosemary glanced awkwardly at each other.
“It seems I have another confession to make,” Sarah admitted. “I was the one who suggested that you be taken with us. I remember how you spoke with such frustration about your life being at the whim of your father, and I thought you would appreciate being free.”
“Free? How could I be free up here? I am an English lady, not some savage! I cannot live among these people.”
“You can, and you will,” Rosemary said firmly. Catherine did not seem to appreciate her tone.
“You are my friend, Sarah, Catherine said as her tone became calmer. Send me back at once. I demand to be taken back to the English!”
“That's not possible. The decision has already been made. I...I am sorry. I thought that this was for the best.”
“Perhaps you should have thought harder,” Catherine retorted in a harsher tone. She looked down at the dead body of her brother once more.
“Oh brother, how different things would be if you were still alive. At least I will no longer have to hear of your hunting stories anymore. I and Father will see to it that you are avenged,” she said, and closed her eyes as she made a memorial prayer.
Then Catherine pushed herself to her feet and glared at Sarah and Rosemary. This was not such a happy reunion as Sarah had hoped.
“Take me to my new home then,” Catherine said, pushing past the two of them to walk towards the gigantic Highlander army.
“I honestly thought I was doing her a kindness,” Sarah said
mournfully to Rosemary.
“You are. Perhaps she will see it in time as well,” Rosemary said, “but she has just lost everything she has ever known. This is a time when she will need friends most of all, even if she tries to push you away.”
Sarah took Rosemary's words on board and vowed to herself that she would be the best friend to Catherine that she could be, just as Catherine had been a good friend when Sarah had been in Lord Flynn's estate.
The sight of the Highlander army was still impressive even though they had lost a great many man. The difference between their army and the English army was stark. The Highlanders were in good spirits, all standing around sharing tales of glory and honor, celebrating the dead and the battle itself, whereas the English only seemed to want to retreat home where they could lick their wounds and mourn their fallen allies.
Sarah watched Catherine with great sadness. Perhaps it had been too much to hope that Catherine would be grateful for Sarah's actions, but it was not going to be easy, and the thought of her father coming after the Highlanders was frightening. She watched as Catherine was shown a horse, and then Sarah got on her own horse, her head filled with many thoughts.