Highlander's Embrace

by Amy Isan

  She stood up with a quiet movement, not wanting to disturb Rhys anymore. She began to move toward Elspet, her feet making the grass squeak with each movement, the swishing blades wetting her feet and legs in parallel lines.

  Elyn stopped several feet short of reaching Gavin and stared at his body through the darkness. It seemed to fade and shimmer, almost as if it would disappear. The pounding of her heart thudded in her ears and her shallow breathing seemed much too loud to not wake him. She took another step closer, thinking of what she would do when she reached him.

  Would she fall to her hands and knees and squeeze under his cloak? Take his arm and put it around her to keep her warm and safe like he ought to have done in the first place? She furrowed her brow at the idea. Why should she have to do this? He should’ve already invited her to stay with him.

  It had to be something else. He must not have fancied her like she thought. Her mind burned as she stood only feet away from him, her toes curling and uncurling involuntarily, the wind nipping at her back and making her skin tingle. She frowned. It wasn’t going to work. If anything, the act of trying to curl up with him would only drive him away from her more. She wished she didn’t have to even deal with this. Why couldn’t she have ran into a beggar or band of rogues out here? Why did it have to be him?

  It was his fault, wasn’t it? That everything had gone wrong?

  As she resolved to not disturb him, she heard him stir under the blanket. A lump moved upward against the horse, and turned.

  “Elyn? Are you awake?”

  The words leapt to her throat but caught as she started to answer him. She closed her mouth to try and not seem like she had been standing there the whole time. She waited a beat, then mimicked yawning.

  “I never went to sleep,” she said. There was no way he couldn’t pick up the proximity of her voice. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice from trembling in nervous excitement.

  “Are you standing there?” She heard his head move under the blanket, turning to look toward her direction. She squeezed her elbow.

  She blushed, furious that she was so foolish to get caught like this. “I am.”

  He pulled the cloak off his head and looked at her, a bit of puzzlement in his eyes. Was it a quizzical look? She couldn’t really see in the darkness. With that in mind, she hoped he couldn’t really see how furiously she was blushing either.

  “You couldn’t sleep?”

  She gnawed on her tongue and freed it. “I’m cold.”

  He threw his cloak off and stood, meeting her in the chilled grass. He opened the cloak and tossed it around her shoulders, tucking it tight against her chest until she took the knotted ends with her hands, their fingers lightly touching each other. She shivered as he let go and folded his arms.

  “There. You should be able to get a little more rest before we head out.”

  “What about you?” She cursed herself for how gentle her voice sounded. She brushed the mock-blanket absentmindedly, admiring its texture and weave.

  “I’ll be fine. I’ve gotten plenty of sleep so far. I can keep watch for Scots while you rest. Now go.” He ushered her back toward Rhys. She followed his hand and shook her head.

  “Rhys is too cold.”

  Gavin pointed at Elspet. “Then lay against her, she’s a mighty warm horse.” Elyn moved past his hand and fell to her knees, her hands still clasped against the edge of the cloak. She curled up next to the side of the beast, amazed at how warm the earth and grass were from Gavin’s restful nap. Within minutes she was able to doze off, exhaustion finally overpowering her. The comfort and warm gaze of Gavin helped. She grinned a little as she realized she felt safe for the first time in days.

  ***

  Elyn awoke to Gavin’s hand on her arm, gently shaking her awake.

  His voice was gruff but had a gentle edge to it, “Elyn, wake up.”

  She stirred and opened her eyes, stretching and letting the cloak fall off her shoulders. It was still night, but the moon had moved across the sky.

  “How long was I asleep?”

  “A couple of hours, I think. You feel okay to travel?”

  She nodded, stretching her arms and groaning. She handed the cloak to him and stood up, brushing the dust off her dress. Grass blades floated off and settled on the earth. She looked up at him.

  “Let’s get going.”

  They roused the horses and pulled them up, letting them get blood flowing to their legs again. They climbed up, Elyn feeling Gavin’s jealous eyes on her as she hoisted herself up by Rhys’ withers. She kept her enjoyment secret.

  They embarked from their day camp and headed northeast again. As they crested a slight slope, Elyn brought Rhys next to Gavin and Elspet.

  “How many more days do you think we have?”

  “I hope only another night of traveling. We’ll probably have to stop for more food along the way.”

  Elyn groaned louder than she meant to. Gavin gave her a stern look. “You can’t complain that much.”

  “I can. I can complain as much as I want.”

  He shook his head and smiled to himself. They continued to ride as the moon rose higher in the sky, illuminating them with its pale, white glow.

  The highlands seemed immortal and timeless. As the land stretched before them, it occurred to Elyn that the grass seemed to be cut, like it knew exactly what length to grow before stopping. That it couldn’t grow too much, lest it starve the land of the light and water it deserved. The sky was clear, with barely a cloud in sight, which was both good and bad for the two travelers.

  She shuddered at the thought of trying to brave another catastrophic storm, all too lucky she had managed to find shelter from the elements under a shallow bridge the first time. She had been terrified that someone would find her there, but she was tempted to stay and hope that the MacKenzie or Macrae men would come rescue her after they saved her family and her sister pointed them in the right direction.

  She knew that wasn’t going to happen though. As soon as the storm had passed, she led Rhys along the trail. Only when she saw the dark color of clothes on a distant mound of grass did she tear herself away from her aimless journey.

  She looked at Gavin and wondered about the day before. If she had actually found a rogue or band of thieves instead. She wouldn’t have lived. She was certain of that. It would have been the last her parents and sister would have seen of her, hoping she would live and not suffer the same fate as them. She swallowed hard, trying to evade the thought. She glanced at Gavin again, who stared forward and squinted.

  He raised his hand to stop her, bringing Elspet to a halt at the top of a rise. He squinted his eyes and peered forward, lowering his head as he did.

  “Are those men?” he asked her, pointing into the distance. It appeared that a group of men, about three in total, were walking along a beaten path across the highlands. They appeared to be soldiers, flying an unmistakeable Clan Maxwell crest. It was only possible to make out the detail of the crest from the distance due to the moonlight.

  Gavin breathed a sigh of relief. “Just Maxwell men. I wonder if they’ve heard what’s happened? Maybe they could help us.” He gestured for Elyn to follow as he darted Elspet down the rise, pounding her hooves toward the men. As they drew closer, the Maxwell men stopped their horses and turned to face them, obviously surprised to hear someone coming up behind them with such speed.

  “Men!” Gavin cried as he brought Elspet to a quick stop on the trail, several feet from the trio of clansmen. “Am I glad to see friendly faces!”

  Elyn brought up the rear, hiding herself and Rhys behind Gavin. She felt awkward being seen with him. Her parents had always said there was something improper about a man spending time with a woman alone. When they weren’t at risk of being caught, she hadn’t even thought of it, but now... she felt ashamed.

  The men chuckled and caterwauled with each other, knocking each other’s shoulders and almost throwing one of the men off his horse. “Aye! Are you Gavin Ma
cKenzie?”

  “Aye, I am. I see you’re from the Maxwell clan, by your flag.”

  “Aye, we be Maxwell men. You be the one we’ve been lookin’ fer,” the closest man said. His beard was as fiery red as the hair on his head, a deep scar running from his temple to his chin on the left side of his face. Elyn felt a twinge in her chest, something was wrong.

  “Gavin... I donae...”

  “Oh thank God! Have you heard any news from Eilean Donan Castle?”

  “Only that we’re here to finish the job,” the man scowled. He unsheathed his sword and charged at Gavin in one quick movement. His horse darted forward, startling Gavin into action. Gavin quickly withdrew his sword and managed to knock away the blade and knock the man off balance. Gavin glared at the other two men, who didn’t appear to be in a jolly mood either.

  “Finish the job? What are you on about?” Gavin called, his hair having fallen into his eyes. He readied his sword again, wrapping Elspet’s reins tighter with another twist of his wrist. “Elyn, run!”

  His voice sounded hollow and infinitely far away when it reached her. She couldn’t follow what was happening, and without grasping it, ordered Rhys to turn around and race back up the hill. He flew through the valley, the grass thrashing loudly against his legs as his hooves pounded the earth. She glanced over her shoulder as she reached the crest, only seeing a spray of blood as Gavin thrust his blade into one of the clansmen’s neck, pulling it out with a quick jerk of his wrist. The other two men turned to run, when Elyn drew her gaze forward again. She crested over the hill and slowed, knowing that she didn’t have to run any further.

  She thought about how she could help. She should help. He was outmatched, wasn’t he? She turned and went back, coming over the top to see a lone horse standing near its dead owner, and Gavin catching up to the other two vagrants. Gavin managed to slash one, knocking him from his horse, and the other fled across the land.

  Gavin turned his attention toward the downed man, drawing his horse around him in a circle, his blade pointed at the Maxwell clansmen with stark fury.

  Elyn raced down the hill to meet him, to find out what was going on before he killed him.

  As she reached the two men, Gavin climbed off his horse, his sword still drawn and pointed at the man. The clansman on the ground moaned and whined in pain, his hand reflexively pushed against his back. His eyes were watered over, tears streaming down his face. When he finally noticed Gavin was upon him, he panicked, kicking up grass and dirt as he tried to push himself away.

  Gavin leaned over and seized the man by the arm, dragging him up and holding him tightly. The man winced at Gavin’s force and avoided eye contact. He looked over to his dead ally and squeezed his eyes shut.

  “What did your friend mean when he said ‘finish the job’?” Gavin growled, moving the tip of his blade to the man’s neck and digging it in slightly. A small line of blood slipped out and slid down the man’s neck and into his armor.

  “We were sent to find ye! That’s all I’ll say!”

  “Who sent you? Why?”

  Elyn stayed on her horse and eyed the man suspiciously. He glanced at her and a smile crossed his face. Gavin shook him forcefully. “Don’t look at her. Answer my question or I’ll make you wish you died first.” Gavin nodded toward the corpse several feet away from them. Blood had pooled in the grass and the blades threading through it and hung long sinew-like strands of blood from their tips.

  “You’re flying Maxwell colors, lowlander. Is this because of Katrine?”

  The man burst with laughter, his unrestrained howling managed to dig the blade deeper into his neck. “You think this is because of a marriage? That’s rich,” the man said.

  “Answer me!”

  “It’s too late for you, Laird, your father is dead, and the other man you let go will alert the others of where you are.”

  “I thought we were allies!”

  “You were probably the last one to think that then, MacKenzie. You might as well kill me because I won’t tell ye another word. I only wish I could see yer face —.” Gavin pushed his blade into the man’s neck and finished him off, cutting his sentence off short. He dropped the man’s body to the ground with a thud and frowned. He leaned down and wiped his blade off on the man’s tartan before putting it back in its sheath.

  Elyn was shocked. The blood had sprayed up into Gavin’s face, and she felt woozy just seeing it. She tried to keep her eyes off the man’s body, but she could feel it burning in her peripheral. She stared at Gavin, who turned to face her, his head craned up.

  “I donae understand... Maxwell’s men?”

  Elyn thought for a moment. “Maybe he was lying. Couldnae they have been bandits that just had stolen the flag?”

  Gavin shook his head, exhaling out his nose. “I donae think so. If he’s right about that third man though, we have to keep moving. I don’t think I’ll be able to catch him at this point. If we keep moving, he won’t be able to catch us either. That’s our only chance.”

  “Aren’t you Laird now?” Elyn shifted her weight on Rhys’. She had a taste of displeasure in her mouth. She swore she could smell the man’s death lingering on Gavin’s body. “Can’t ye do something? Why do ye need the king?”

  Gavin thought for a moment, turning to look at the direction the third man rode off. “If this man was right,” Gavin said, his finger briefly pointing at the ground, “and I have the Maxwells and the MacDonalds at my gates, I donae know what I really can do.” He hung his head and closed his eyes. “Maybe you were right, Elyn. I should have just married Katrine. If that’s why these men were after me, then I really have failed my people.”

  Elyn fumed, shaking her head furiously. She gripped Rhys’ withers tightly and yelled. “Gavin MacKenzie, are you a baby boy?”

  He looked at her in shock, not understanding the question. “What?”

  “Are you a baby? Ever since I met you, you’ve been acting like one. You have these moments of brilliance... God and I know you do...” she touched her chest, swallowing hard before continuing, “but you are Laird MacKenzie now. Ye have to act like it.”

  He made a sour look. “Who are you to tell me how to behave?”

  His retort took Elyn aback, who climbed off her horse and marched toward him. He set his jaw as she strode up and planted her feet at his, her toes nearly touching his. He still had drops of blood splattered on his face and neck, and his eyes burned a furious blue as she glared at him, sticking her head up and putting on her most ugly and angry face. She jabbed her finger into his chest, ignoring the firmness of his muscles.

  “Me. I am. Maybe you’re right — maybe you aren’t fit to be a Laird of anyone. You let all this happen to your people, and your answer was to run away from it all. ‘Go to the King’ was your solution.” She withdrew her finger and put her hands on her hips. “Instead of seizing the moment, killing the men invading your castle, and taking the battle to the animals that did it, the MacDonalds. If the Maxwell clan has a problem with you not marrying their daughter, maybe you should have stuck up for yourself instead of howlering about it. You never gave me a good answer! You never let me know why you let this all happen!” She huffed and grew silent.

  After a long pause, “You’re right,” he began. Elyn kept her satisfaction hidden from him as he continued. “I’m not fit to be a Laird. But I can give you an answer about not marrying Katrine...”

  “Let’s hear it.” She drummed her elbow impatiently. She shifted to her left foot.

  “She never would have the gall to stand up to me like you have.”

  Elyn folded her arms. “What do ye mean?”

  His expression softened and he started laughing. His demeanor was off putting to Elyn, who could only look at him in confusion. “Why are ye laughing!”

  He wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, giving her a mighty hug. Her face and body pushed up against his chest, and he squeezed her as his laugh echoed through the night. She forced her head up and gave him
a disgusted look. She tried to wiggle out of his grip, but it was no use.

  “Little runag,” Gavin said, the word making Elyn's anger melt and her heart flutter in her chest. His strong scent reached her, and she let herself feel the safe comfort of his arms around her. “You are something else.”

  He held her tight for a few more minutes, and she felt like collapsing and losing herself. She couldn’t comprehend it, the mixture of anger and affection she carried. Did she hate him or...?

  After a few moments, he released her and let her stand on her own again. She felt a bit dizzy, and she blushed immediately upon glancing at his roguish smile.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” she said out of the corner of her mouth. She looked at him and furiously turned away again. She climbed up on her horse and pretended to look over the horizon. “Should we keep going?”

  Gavin let his smile fade. He wiped his face and walked back over to Elspet, climbing onto her saddle. “Aye. Let’s go.”

  They rode off across the highlands again, the moon lower in the sky, the light threatening to break and day to start. She followed him obediently, unsure of what the surging and somewhat sickening emotions that were rising and falling inside her meant. She had never met anyone like Gavin before, only giving passing glimpses to men in the markets and neighbors, but ultimately having resigned herself to a life of loyalty to her family. She knew that her clan was never going to be in a position of enough wealth or power to be sought after to join a union, let alone the opportunity for her heart to guide her down the path of love. That was a young girl’s dream, not the reality that Elyn had grown accustomed to: working and sleeping with a little bit of eating.

  That was one of the reasons she loved to stare up into the breezeway when they were in the castle walls, the idea that she would have the opportunity to be sought after, to be wed into a powerful family, and to do more than work until the bones of her fingers ached, her back throbbed and her neck would sear with pain.

  She touched her hands together, imagining that Gavin was holding her still. His powerful arms wrapped around her and keeping her safe, protecting her from the life she might have to live. How much had changed since she ran into him? Despite her posturing about her parents and sister being dead, she felt she could look up at the sky and believe they were still alive.