Seven Moons Back to the Highlands

by Deborah R Stigall

  “Sit in your chair, Caelan and I’ll bring ye a lap fur.”

  Yvonna motioned to the dais and ran to fetch the fur as she spoke, her throat swelling with unshed tears as she tried not to look at Caelan’s appearance. The MacKay curse of loving one true soul was killing him it was obvious. As long as he knew Rachel lived and breathed and was somewhere that he was not it was killing him. Caelan was literally dying of a broken heart.

  Tucking the lap fur snugly around Caelan’s legs, Yvonna stared worriedly into his face. “Would ye please drink some broth? Ye’ve had nothing today.”

  “If I must.” Caelan stared down into his lap at his folded hands and idly twisted at his wedding band.

  Returning from the kitchen with a steaming tankard of her richest broth, Yvonna carefully wrapped both of Caelan’s hands around the mug and guided it to his lips.

  “There now a couple of sips and then I’ll leave ye be with your thoughts and the flames a few more. There now fine. I’m going to set this right here and I’ll be back in a while to see that ye’ve drained it completely. Dinna disappoint me, my fine laird!” Setting the mug upon the table, Yvonna bit her lower lip and swallowed hard as she realized that Caelan hadn’t even fought her.

  Turning quickly from his chair so as to hide her misting eyes, Yvonna froze as the room was suddenly illuminated with a shimmering blue light.

  Grabbing Yvonna’s wrist, Caelan sat bolt upright in his chair, his plaid falling from his shoulders. “Yvonna ’tis time she’s returning.”

  As the light grew brighter, the room grew warmer even though the flames in the hearths seemed to actually dim and lessen in size.

  At the center of the light, a form finally began taking shape the form of a very pregnant woman.

  Finally, the light cleared and where it had been its brightest, stood Rachel, one hand to her extremely swollen belly and one hand supporting her lower back.

  “Caelan! You look like death warmed over!”

  Her darkened brows knitted in concern as she took in Caelan’s appearance. She took a step toward him only to stop, catch her breath and start panting.

  “Is there some place where I could lie down and you could tell me why you look like something the cat dragged in? I’m in the process of having our babies and your talking to me will be a good distraction while I’m in labor.”

  Rachel huffed rapidly, a sheen of sweat breaking out across her brow as the pain in her bowels nearly bent her double.

  “Labor? Talk to you while you have the bairns but the midwives men don’t stay Rachel I’ve ached for ye Yvonna help her to our room by the Goddess light the torches!”

  Caelan rushed to Rachel’s side, almost afraid to touch her afraid she’d disappear. As he wrapped his arms around her and she leaned into him for support, he felt tears streaming down his cheeks and couldn’t care less.

  He kissed her hair, kissed her eyes as he helped her up the stairs. He’d grown so weak; all he could do was support her body with his, when he longed to sweep her up into his arms and carry her up to the bedroom. How he wished he’d listened to Yvonna and Emrys about keeping up his strength. He could kick himself for being such a fool.

  “You most definitely will be staying with me.”

  Rachel stopped and clenched both of Caelan’s hands in hers as the pain crested, closing her eyes and clamping her mouth shut as it passed. As soon as it lessened, she wilted against Caelan’s body, nearly knocking them both back down the steps with the roundness of her form.

  “God’s teeth, Caelan! Dinna let the lass fall down the steps now! Now ye see why ye shouldha listened to Yvonna and myself. Now ye see that old Emrys was nay the fool ye thought. Come here, lass. Let an old Druid show ye a spell ye’ll want to learn as soon as ye’re able to rise from yer birthin’ bed.”

  With those words, Emrys waived his ancient twisted staff over Rachel and Caelan’s heads in a counter clockwise circle. Upon the third rotation of Emrys’ gnarled wooden rod, Rachel and Caelan found themselves standing beside their bed within the laird’s chambers.

  “Bless him and every druid before him who had anything to do with his training.” Rachel breathed a sigh of relief as Caelan helped her ease down onto the bed.

  “Now why do you look like you’re ready for the grave? What have you done to yourself? What was Emrys talking about?” Rachel placed her hands on either side of Caelan’s face, her thumbs smoothing away the streaks of his tears.

  His eyes widening in disbelief, Caelan reached up and gently pulled Rachel’s hands from his face.

  “When ye left I had no reason to live. I canna believe ye thought I would just move on as though nothing had happened between us.”

  Still holding her hands in his, he leaned closer as his jaw clenched in anger.

  “Dammit woman! Do ye think I would travel across the planes of time to find the one woman I could truly love to just forget her as soon as she decided to toss me aside as soon as she decided my love wasna worth the effort wasna worth fighting for or worth working at that I’d just say ah..well better luck next time? Isn’t that what those of your time say?”

  Jumping to his feet, Caelan grabbed the bedpost to steady himself, the sudden movement setting his head to spinning.

  “I never said that! You know that’s not why I left!”

  Rachel rubbed the sides of her stomach and her back, wanting to rise from the bed but she could feel another contraction coming and it was going to be a doozy.

  “All I know is that ye left me!” Caelan whirled upon her, emerald fire finally returning to his sunken eyes.

  Not bothering to knock upon the door, Yvonna and Emrys entered the room bearing water and towels for the coming babes.

  “The midwives are coming, as are the castles girls to help with the babies.” Emrys turned to leave, after setting down the pile of towels.

  “No!” Rachel pushed herself higher up on the bed as Yvonna piled more pillows behind her back.

  “The only people I want present at the birth of my sons are in this room right now and Emrys that includes you. Caelan will be staying although he doesn’t wish it. Yvonna I’ll need your help.

  Emrys the boys are going to need your help and guidance because I have been graced with a vision of what my three young warriors are going to be capable of and they are not only going to be warriors but they are going to be quite talented in the mystical arts and at a young age. So prepare yourself, Emrys you’re going to have your hands quite full.”

  Emrys’ eyes grew wide with shock and indignation. “I canna be present at a birth!”

  “The Goddess has ordained it.” Rachel glared straight into Emrys’ eyes, daring him to defy her.

  Filling her hands with the sheets on the bed, Rachel drew her knees to her chest. Panting heavily, she leaned her head back into the pillows as she waited once more for the contraction to peak.

  “Now ” Exhaling heavily, she wearily raised her head from the pillows and fixed Caelan with a deep purple glare.

  “There were many reasons why I left you but you know that none of them were because I didn’t love you or didn’t think your love was worthy.”

  Swallowing hard, Rachel chewed her lower lip as a tear trickled down her cheek.

  “Please forgive me for hurting you for causing you so much pain. I’m the one who’s never been worthy of you and I’m just waiting for you to wake up out of your fantasy and figure it out. Then I know you’ll be the one to leave me.”

  Falling to his knees beside the bed, Caelan buried his head in Rachel’s arms. “Promise me ye will stay I beg ye say the words ”

  “I’ll do you one better ” Rachel motioned to Emrys with a grimace as another contraction began gripping her body in a crushing wave of pain.

  “Bring me the ebony crystal from round your neck would you?”

  Twirling the jagged black crystal hanging from the leather cord around his neck between his fingers, Emrys approached the bed slowly one corner of his mouth barely creeping up into a
faint smile.

  Carefully lifting it over his head, he placed it in Rachel’s hand.

  “Give me your hand.” Holding out her hand to Caelan, Rachel’s hand trembled as she steeled her body against the labor contraction ripping thru her body.

  Watching her with his brows knitted in confusion, Caelan held out his hand to Rachel, the one bearing his wedding band.

  Taking the crystal carefully in her right hand, Rachel slashed the palm of her left hand and then slashed Caelan’s left hand as well.

  Then tightly clasping their hands together, she stared deeply into his eyes. “As we blend our blood, we bind our souls, we will never part, no matter how old, this binding spell cannot be undone, so let it be spoken so let it be done.”

  As she finished speaking, Caelan felt heat burn thru his body starting at his left hand and run up thru his arm as though he were being doused in flames.

  Glancing up at Emrys, Caelan’s eyes narrowed at the old man’s smug look.

  “Speak old man I know ye’re dying to tell me some of your great wisdom.”

  “Your lovely wife has I guess ye could say has welded herself to ye. She can no longer leave this plane of existence. She has made her choice, my laird. Ye have a wife, now most definitely for better or for worse.”

  Emrys stroked his beard his clear blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

  “Why didna ye speak this spell when we exchanged our wedding bands?”

  Caelan gently smoothed his fingers over their glowing rings, remembering the day they’d sworn themselves to each other.

  Unable to meet Caelan’s frowning gaze, Rachel closed her eyes and turned her head to the wall.

  “I couldn’t I knew that once I said those words the only thing that will ever be able to separate us is death and even that will only keep us apart until we find our way back to each other again. I wasn’t sure that I deserved to even hope for your love I was so afraid of so many things.” Rachel’s voice dropped to a whisper as she covered her face with both hands. Finally, a thunderous contraction seized her body, quickly reminding her of her priorities.

  “Ahhhhhhh Yvonna please get them over by the window and help me get these babies out of my body! I can’t believe I thought they’d be any help!” Rachel released Caelan’s hand as another labor pain came again and she felt her first son quickly moving into position.

  “Nay I’ll no move an inch I’m here with ye now lass hold tight.” Caelan gripped Rachel’s hand with renewed strength climbing up beside her in the bed and wrapping an arm about her shoulders.

  “Dammit Caelan! Help me push Faolan out of my womb I swear his head must be the size of a basketball!” Rachel screamed as she bore down, her face reddening with her labor.

  “Faolan? The wolf? Ye’ve already named our first son have ye?” Caelan smiled with pride at the masculine name Rachel had chosen.

  Panting rapidly as the babe’s head crowned, Rachel glanced up into Caelan’s face. “The wolf for he will be the leader of this small pack and his fierce courage will be known throughout the land once he’s grown.”

  Grunting with one last grand push, Rachel finished bringing little Faolan into waiting Yvonna’s towel wrapped hands and fell back against Caelan’s chest.

  Wiping her face with the damp cloth he’d wrung from the bowl, Caelan gently kissed Rachel’s forehead as Yvonna placed Faolan’s wriggling squalling body upon her chest.

  “Quickly greet your brave little wolf for the other two will be knocking at the doorway soon.”

  Smiling, Rachel traced a finger along his velvety cheek as he rootled and squawked in search of her breast.

  “Not just yet, my son your brothers have to come into the world first.”

  “Come here, lad” Caelan scooped the babe up into his arms and buried his face into the baby’s arms. Smiling, he hummed a nameless tune as he rocked the little one against his chest.

  “I love you, Rachel”

  Caelan smiled down into Rachel’s upturned faced just as her brow wrinkled into a grimace of pain.

  “And I love you, Caelan and I’m about to introduce you to Ronan.” Filling her hands with the knotted sheets on the bed, Rachel drew her knees to her chest.

  Emrys stared out the window, trying his best to escape Rachel’s pain as he mumbled every pain banishing spell on her behalf that he could recall.

  “Ronan! The seal? Are ye cursing the lad to a life at sea?” Emrys whirled from the window, Rachel’s statement making its way thru the haze of Emrys’ thoughts.

  “It’s his destiny to be more at home on the sea”

  Rachel panted as she pushed Ronan closer to the outside world awaiting his arrival. Finally, after one great push, Ronan came smoothly out as though he were as slick as a seal into Yvonna’s awaiting arms.

  “Be at peace though, Caelan.” Rachel stared up into Caelan’s worried gaze as he peered down into his second son’s face.

  “Ronan will have dominion over the sea and all the creatures in it. That is his gift from the Goddess.”

  Both Caelan and Emrys stared at each other in amazement and then turned to stare at the tiny babe sucking his fist in Yvonna’s arms.

  Turning back to Rachel, Caelan grabbed Emrys’ arm as he looked at his exhausted wife sitting propped up in the bed against the pillows.

  “Look! She’s already had the third child!”

  Pushing her damp hair from her face, Rachel smiled a taciturn smile as she gently took the tiny babe’s fist in her hand.

  “I’d like to introduce you to Latharn the fox. My son who will by far be the one who will keep us all on our toes because he will be sly and cunning yet from what I have been able to see he will be honest and true.”

  Taking Latharn into his arms, Caelan cocked his head to one side as he peered into the innocent’s face. His eyes narrowing, his mouth thinned in a line of grim recognition as Latharn’s round eyes stared up into his own.

  “Aye the fox is a fine name for this wee lad.” Turning to Emrys, he held out his son as he nodded toward the approaching man. “Look at the cut of his mouth, the line of his nose even the way the lad already narrows his eyes as if he’s sizing up the room. Who does that remind ye of?”

  Chuckling in instant recognition, Emrys held out his arms to take Latharn. “Aye he’s your grandsire made over. Perhaps the old fox has returned to us by way of his great-grandson.”

  “Oh give me the lad and let me take him to his mother. She’ll need to stave their hunger a bit until the wet nurse gets here.”

  Clucking in disapproval, Yvonna returned Latharn to Rachel’s arms where he immediately latched on to her proffered breast.

  “Give me Faolan as well; he was starving before his brothers arrived.” Holding out her free arm, Rachel smiled wearily as Yvonna settled the first born son into the crook of Rachel’s arm.

  “Poor Ronan come here lad, your mother will take ye soon.” Caelan scooped up the wriggling bundle into his arms and bounce-walked as he gently patted Ronan’s little behind.

  Settling down on the bed with the baby, Caelan leaned against the pillows with Rachel, gently resting his chin on her shoulder.

  “I canna begin to thank ye for all ye have given me.” He hoarsely whispered against her cheek.

  “Trust me it doesn’t compare with all you’ve given me.” Rachel smiled up into Caelan’s face, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Caelan’s laughter echoed off the surrounding cliffs as he helped Rachel and Yvonna vainly attempt to keep the rowdy threesome of inquisitive babies corralled on the outspread plaid.

  “Have ye ever seen such fine lively lads?” Bending to scoop up Faolan as he rolled off the blanket and onto the sand, Caelan rotated the determined little crawler and headed him back toward his brothers who were in the process of making for the other border of the spread facing the sea.

  “Ronan will be in the water if ye dinna latch onto him.” Emrys glanced up from the worn leather tomb in his hands at th
e middle child heading toward the waves.

  “I told ye the bairns were too young to be this close to the sea!”

  Yvonna blew her hair out of her face in disgust as she fished a shell out of Latharn’s mouth and threw it far out into the water.

  “Watch him.” Rachel nodded toward Ronan as he glanced back at the group of adults and then furiously started scooting toward the tempting sound of the waves.

  “I’ll get him.” Caelan plopped Latharn down in Emrys’ lap, knocking the book from the startled old man’s hands.

  “No. Let him go down to the water. He needs to just watch.”

  Rachel smiled knowingly as she balanced Faolan on one hip and slowly meandered behind the determined Ronan crawling with his head down as though to plow thru anything that might get in his way.

  “I canna watch this. The laddie will drown.” Yvonna buried her face in Fergus’ chest as Ronan drew closer to the water’s edge.

  “Shhhhh Rachel willna let her son drown We agreed to trust her, aye?” Fergus patted Yvonna on her back his words belying the look of unease across his face.

  Caelan drew up alongside Rachel, glancing nervously at her serene face and then back to his single-minded son.

  “Rachel. M’love, the water is verra deep here.”

  “Watch.”

  Rachel smiled as she handed Faolan over to Caelan and squatted down at the seas edge beside her son.

  Finally having reached his goal, Ronan sat staring out across the shimmering waves. Glancing at his mother, he held out one pudgy little hand to the water and then squealed as though beckoning to the deep.

  A sea lion immediately surfaced not too far from shore, as though in answer to the little one’s call. Swimming in towards the babe, the sea lion warily watched the adults as it made its way closer to the beach.

  Glancing from the sea lion to his mother, Ronan gave Rachel a toothless grin and chortled with delight. Clapping his little hands, he held them out in expectation to the water creature, bouncing in excitement as the seal drew closer.