by Kira Freitas
- You can't do that! - she fired with despair. - Where will I go?
- It's not my problem! - I fired a cold shot. - Now, go away!
Dropping Rose, I walked away. She began to cry, but I no longer felt sorry for her, and her tears did not convince me. She turned around and made mention of leaving, but Aideen spoke out.
- Rose? Wait!
Rose turned to face her.
- I'll have a guard and some servants escort you to the cottage. You'll stay there until this child is born.
- What's that? What's that? - we said in unison.
- Lowenna said everyone in the MacCalister family is born with blue eyes. - Aideen took a break. - It was this way with Alec, Bruce and you, as well as Cora. If this child is born with clear eyes, you will leave him in Alec's care and live in the country in a comfortable home. You can see her as she grows up, always with the company of a servant and a soldier.
- That's absurd! - Rose argued. - I will not abandon my son. I'll stay where he is.
- That's a fair offer, and it's the only one I can offer. - Aideen declared. - You don't want Alistair or moose, nor do you care about this child. What you want is status and power. I can recognize this in every word and action you say, because I was raised in an environment like this. I knew Alistair wasn't lying, because if he really wanted a woman like you, I couldn't even stop him.
She took a break smiling.
- Besides, he's mine. - she shot me looking in my direction. - Now I know that.
Smile at Aideen and I nodded. Rose took a deep breath in a deeply indignant way.
- All right! All right! I'll take it! - Rose answered by lowering her head.
- Oh, great! Since we're clear... Aideen took my arm by putting it around his shoulder. - Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take care of my husband. Guards escort her to her destination. One more thing...
Aideen took a break.
- If I go back to that fiefdom uninvited, I'll be forced to send her to the gallows. - Aideen fired. - Whether or not I'm the mother of my nephew.
Rose didn't answer, but he shot Aideen in anger. Guards came to escort Rose and she withdrew humiliated. We went up in silence, but I was proud of my tough wife's attitude.
- Why'd you do that? - I asked by sitting on one of the armchairs.
- Just as she lied about you being the father, she may be lying about Alec too. We won't know until the child is born. - Aideen declared taking the towel and starting to dry my hair. - There's no way we can confirm that Alec was actually with her before she left.
- Well, I can send a letter asking.
- Is that so? What will you say to justify your question? - Aideen asked. - You can't tell Alec that Rose is possibly pregnant with him. He's in command of his army and needs to concentrate. You can't worry him now.
- You're right! - I sighed. - It's not something you tell in a letter, especially from your brother.
- We can tell you when all this is over.
Aideen sighed, finished drying my chest and stood up to get the dry clothes that were on the bed. I was impressed by her quick thinking skills. For someone who was trapped in a room for almost three years, she was very intelligent and seemed to be more lively than I imagined. Maybe it was because of the books I read.
- You're an amazing person. - I whispered kissing your neck.
- I know what it's like not to have a mother's affection. - Aideen sighed. - If this child is really Alec's son, he's sure to want to take care of her.
- Come on, but didn't I pick the right wife? - said pulling Aideen as she approached. - Thank you! Thank you!
- I was just trying to be diplomatic. - she sighed. - That way we'll buy time to make sure everything's done without being unfair. I know she's worthless, but I can't let her use an innocent child to get what she wants.
- And it was a great idea!
Aideen sighed when I approached her to kiss her, but she turned her face discontentedly.
- What's going on? - I asked with a frown.
- I'm still mad that you invited Rose to your bed the day we got married. - she said walking away. - I need to think a little bit. I'll get dressed in another room and see what Wally did for lunch.
- Aideen... - I called, but she ignored me leaving the room.
Your disappointed look almost broke my heart. Fucking Rose! When I thought that everything with Aideen was going well and that we were beginning to understand each other, my world ruined like a house of cards. I breathed deeply sitting on the bed. Every time Aideen distanced herself from me, I felt as if she had lost a piece of me and I liked that feeling. I had to do something to get her to forgive me. Finishing getting dressed, I left the room and went to the blacksmith. I had the right gift to apologize to Aideen.
The afternoon was falling when I took courage to talk to Aideen. After she left me in the room, she was gone. I didn't even see her at lunch. I did what she asked and let her think. I let her be silent and calmed down so that I would have the opportunity to apologize, so I asked Elaine to find her. According to her, her mistress was in one of several gardens around the castle. It was then that I learned that she was restoring them. I found Aideen in the garden at the back of the castle. She was crouching to the ground. It was cold and she wore a cape to protect herself from the wind.
- Hello! - said as I approached.
- Hello! - She said monosyllabic ignoring my presence. - I'm busy.
- I can see that. - said smiling. - I think it's time to take a break.
- Do you? - Aideen said ironically.
- Aideen, I don't want to fight. - I sighed. - I missed you at lunch, and I guess you didn't eat anything, so I asked Wally to prepare a basket. Would you like to join me for a picnic?
Aideen just stared at me with a very serious look. I sighed, leaning the basket on a pile of rocks.
- Listen, how long are you gonna be mad at me? I'm trying to apologize. - I fired in a pleading tone. - I know I've only been doing nonsense and I've been acting without thinking, but I'm trying hard to redeem myself. Forgive me, please!
Aideen kept staring at me with her serious eye. She didn't sketch a reaction. I've decided to keep her quiet for a while longer. Maybe she'd think a little longer and forgive me for being an idiot?
- All right! All right! I'll let you be alone. - sighing, I turned around. - But please eat something.
I left the basket where I was and I started to walk away.
- You shouldn't be lying down. - she said at last. I took a deep breath of relief and turned around again.
- I'm feeling good. - I answered smiling. –
- That's good to know. - she said softly. - What's in the basket?
- Wine, cheese, fruit, a blackberry pie and a beautiful blanket. - he said, approaching her.
- Looks good! - she whispered. - I'll accept your invitation just because I'm hungry.
- Yeah, I do. - said smiling.
Aideen took off the gloves she was wearing and smiled at me. It was with relief that I came even closer and tied his waist. Without blinking, I took her in my arms and kissed her. Aideen was taken by surprise, but she didn't push me away, returning the kiss.
- I have a present for you. - I whispered.
- I thought the basket was a gift.
- It is too, but...
I took a break. Placing my hand on the back of the belt, I took out a small leather case and gave it to her.
- I think that's a lot more valuable.
Aideen opened the case and stared at me in surprise. Inside were six silver daggers with a ruby on the handle that formed a rose.
- Alistair, how beautiful! - she fired a smile.
Her eyes were illuminated and soon that expressive glow I had fallen in love with, appeared on her reddish face. That smile was my doom. I liked it when she sketched it. I swore I'd see her smile every day of my existence.
- Adam was forging some daggers and it was easy to shape the handle. The ruby is part of our coat of arms. - I explained
by taking your hand and kissing you. - Did you like it?
- I love it! - she said. Standing on tiptoe, Aideen kissed my cheek softly. Even that subtle touch made my skin shiver. - Thank you so much!
- Go ahead.
We went to the shore of the lake, where I lined a dry part not covered by snow. We ate and then Aideen laid her head on my chest. We just lay there looking up at the covert sky and started talking. She talked about her childhood before being attacked and all that stuff about her big sister. I felt like Aila was your hero. No! It was more than that! Aila represented a mother that Aideen had never had and had lost quickly.
- You love your sister very much, don't you?
- Yes. - She nodded. - I love you both, but Aila was very important to me. I haven't seen her in years.
- Well, as soon as this war's over, I'll take her to Gretna Green myself to see her. - said kissing his forehead softly.
- Promise?
- For my life!
She kissed me softly and I let myself be kissed. That was the best feeling in the world.
- You know what? It was Annabel who saved me from Roy to finish what he started. She screamed when she saw him on top of me and ran to warn the guards, who never came, but it was enough for me to get away. - she took a break, taking a deep breath. - I told my mother what had happened. I was very hurt, because I tried to resist and he hit me a lot. She had made me promise not to say anything to anyone and blamed me for it. She said I'd been stubborn, so she'd made it easy. After that, I couldn't look at my uncle and if he came close I would panic. Still, my mother left me alone with him on some other occasions.
- He tried again?
- Yeah, but without success because I managed to escape before he got his hands on me. One day, I was talking to Annabel about being very afraid of him and what had happened. Aila heard the conversation and made me say what had happened. - Aideen sighed by nodding. - She was possessed and left for the hall with our grandfather's sword in her hand. She attacked Roy and they started a fight. I had chased after her in tears and my father didn't understand anything that was happening, he just saw Aila's fury. He tried to break up the fight, but her hatred made her more lethal and he had to step aside. When she lost her sword, after being cheated by my mother, I saw that Roy would kill her, so I reached the dagger my father had on his waist and shot MacGregor. He fell wounded on the floor.
I was numb to that cruel story. Ravenna in a suit was a vile, Machiavellian woman. I had no limits or respect for anyone's life. She was greedy, mean and deserving of death. I judged her in thought and decided her sentence: Ravenna and Loch would be hanged. Despite having heard enough, Aideen continued and revealed the darkest part of the whole plot.
- When Aila told me, screaming, what my uncle had done to me and kept trying, my father was in shock. My mother took my uncle out of Inverness quickly, even wounded. She told us to stay locked up so nothing would leave that room. - Aideen sobbed, but she kept counting. - At the end of that night, she gave me a whip-slap so I could learn to keep my mouth shut. My sister was sent to Gretna Green days later.
Aideen took a deep breath and I realized, that for her, it was a relief to have let off steam. Her sigh came out tired and I squeezed her in my arms. She cried like a child who had just woken from a long nightmare.
- I really miss Aila.
- I suppose so.
I hugged her tightly and was silent. The hatred I felt for Ravenna grew more and more in my chest. I did not want to believe that she had suffered so much until the day I freed her from her dungeon. I was relieved to have met her that day and married her.
- Don't cry! - I whispered by passing my hands through your hair. - Your dark days are over and MacGregor and MacBride's... They're just getting started!
Chapter 16
Aideen
The days went by slowly. Alistair and I began to discover that we had a lot in common. He started teaching me fencing techniques and riding. It was getting really good. Alistair used to say it was a natural talent, but it was the riding that was becoming a bit difficult. Especially in controlling the animal's instincts and making him trust me. Despite being older than me and having experienced things I never imagined I would, Alistair was very patient. He took me for a walk in the fief and showed me his favorite places. The days of blizzard had dissipated and now it was only cold. Time and again it was snowing a little and the whole town was beautiful with that white one on the ground. I took the opportunity to play with some children who were in the yard.
- I love your smile! - I heard Alistair say.
He came to me and helped me up. I had run from a little girl who was trying to hit me with a handful of snow. Too bad, I stepped on a rock that was slippery and fell on the floor. All the children came to me, laughing.
- Would you excuse me? - he said looking at the children. - I need to kidnap the princess for a moment.
I said goodbye to the little ones, and I went in with him.
- Something wrong? - I asked strangely about the fact that he picked me up in the yard.
- Well, I wasn't asleep every time you took care of me, so I think I should thank you properly. - he said, making me raise my eyebrow. - I confess that I waited for that every day and I even put out the fire a few times.
I had a laugh. I imagined that Alistair would do that, because the wood was wet a few times he would lift it up to replace it. It was a certain amount of work to have to light up again, but I could.
- Where are you taking me? - I asked when we took a path I didn't know about.
- You'll see!
We stopped in front of a huge wooden door and he stood aside to give me passage, then opened the door. My chin almost fell off when I looked at how many bookshelves with books.
- Wow! - I exclaimed entering the room. - How magnificent!
The library was not so big, but it was impressive for the shelves that went from the ceiling to the floor and that covered the front wall. The wooden table where Alistair probably read and answered his letters was large and spacious. She'd stand in front of the bookshelves, a little away from them. A hair mat covered the center of the room and there were two chairs in front of the fireplace on the right wall. On the left, a huge window with velvet curtains illuminated the environment.
- Did you like it? - he whispered stopping behind me.
- I love it! - I responded by turning around and hugging his neck.
- You can come whenever you want. It's my private place, but I'd love to share it with you. - he smiled when I kissed his cheek softly.
- Can I start now?
- Sure! - he answered. - I have some letters to read, but have fun!
With a low scream, I let him go and ran to one of the bookshelves. I spent most of the day contemplating the works. There were books everywhere and on various subjects, but what caught my attention was one that talked about botany. I got lost in those words and didn't stop until lunchtime.
It's been a quiet afternoon. We got to know Wally, that Rose was well housed and that she was grateful for the opportunity to have her child in a quiet place. I knew those words were Wally's and not Rose's. I imagined Rose was possessed with me and cursed me every morning. Alistair took advantage of the calm to teach me a little fencing and we went to the yard.
- You're letting your guard down a lot. - Alistair said as soon as I lifted the sword.
- It's pretty hard to remember everything you teach me. - he said, sticking his sword in the ground.
The sword was heavy, but not as heavy as Aila's. There was an emerald on the silver handle and several notches on the Gaelic blade. I recognized the verses of a lullaby I used to sing when I was missing my sister so much.
- I know what it's like, but you're still getting good at it. - he said by tying my waist. - Soon you'll be better than me.
I smiled on tiptoe and then kissed him softly. He grunted and I let out a laugh.
- How about we take a walk? - he suggested sighing.
I just n
odded to him, who held my hand steady and holding the sword was guiding me back into the fiefdom. He took me to the stable where our horses were sealed. Alistair helped me to ride and we left side by side towards the forest.
- Riding isn't that hard. - he said. - First you must trust the horse and make him understand that he can trust you too. This you've already managed to do, because it seems Chimera likes you very much.
- I love her, too. - said caressing the mare's back.
- I bought it from a merchant when my sister was only 15. - he said in a sad voice. - Chimera was a beautiful foal, so I thought it would be a great gift for when Cora turned eighteen, because by then the mare would be an adult.
- I'm so sorry!
- It's okay! It's okay! It is still painful to talk about my sister, but I believe she would be happy if the mare were hers.
- Thank you!
We remain silent until we reach the entrance to the forest. I was already decorating that road and I felt safe when we went that way. He'd give it to the open, but Alistair took the road elsewhere. He was showing me some trails that only he, Bruce and Alec, knew. We stopped at the edge of a canyon from where the sea could be contemplated. He lined a blanket and we just lay there and talked about our lives. He told me a little more about Cora, for whom he did not hide a great affection. I closed my eyes when he started caressing my hair. Alistair looked at the horizon, but even though his face did not appear, I knew that he was worried about something. I took the moment to try to figure out what it was all about and maybe help him.
- I noticed you've been worried. - I said in a soft voice. - Can I help you with something?
Alistair smiled at me.
- Bruce is taking a long time to get back.
I leaned on your chest to face your blue eyes.
- Bruce is smart, Alistair. Wherever he is, I know he's all right and he'll be back soon. - I paused to pass my hand on his chest. - Remember the blizzards. Bruce must have gotten stuck because of them.
- I know that, but I'm still worried.
- Listen, I love you so much to see you worried like this. If there's anything I can do to help you, just tell me I will.