The Peacekeeper

  “I see…” she said. “Weel partially.” And she laughed at her own attempt at joking. He looked in her eyes as she reached up and pushed his hair from his face. Concern marred her otherwise calm exterior. He stood silent and still as she reached up to kiss him, then release his mouth to touch him softly on his neck with her lips. She let go of her dress and all the shells fell in a pile at her feet.

  He held back, waiting on her as she reached up and put her arms around his shoulders. Standing on her tip-toes, she kissed him ever so tenderly. Using her tongue, she parted his lips and he groaned.

  “You ken what’s tae happen now,” he said removing his tartan and laying it on the beach. He glanced around, looking for prying eyes, and noticed they were in a secluded cove with cliffs reaching up behind them. If someone should swim, they’d be a mile down the beach where the cliffs end. Solitude. He turned to her and lifted her day dress off and smiled when he saw that she had nothing underneath it. “Bonnie,” he whispered. “Come tae me, my bonnie lady.”

  She stepped up to him and he tightly wrapped his arms around her and they kissed. She was certainly the instigator today, because suddenly she ripped at his kilt. He laughed. He removed his kilt, hose, and shoes, and stood gloriously hard in front of her.

  He knelt on the tartan he’d removed just moments ago. His eyes never leaving hers. She melted in his arms. God’s, he wanted her. So much, he trembled, and then noticed she did as well.

  Mistaking the tremble for fear, he said, “We can wait if you need, Els. You need tae heal and aren’t ready for this.”

  “If you make me wait one more minute, I’ll scream at you, then ne’er speak to you again.”

  He laughed. Seeing his mistake, he replied. “Far be it from me tae not give my lady what she wants.” He pulled her to him.

  She shoved him to his back and straddled him. She leaned down and pulled the tie from his hair and fanned it out. He closed his eyes and felt her run her fingers through his long locks. Her tentative touch doing things to his insides. Her breasts brushed his face and he opened his mouth, his tongue laving her nipples.

  He felt a shudder run through her as she leaned down and kissed him. He was hard tucked up against her buttocks and his shaft jerked against her. When he grabbed her to turn her she stopped his attempt to take control. He let her. He felt she needed to take back something she may have lost at the king’s hands. It would be hard on his control, but he’d give her this.

  “I want you Ian, I wish to touch and explore you,” she said, as she brushed her hands up and down his chest. Where her hands went her lips and tongue followed. He let her explore. Her hair fell in waves and traveled after her tongue.

  He thought he’d go mad but laid there letting her explore. She laved the tight little nubs of his nipples. Swirling her tongue around them then nipping. He drew in a quick breath of air as he felt he had surely lost the ability to breathe. He lay still for her even though he wanted more than anything to throw her down and bury himself deep inside her, reclaim her, make her his all over again.

  She backed up straddling his thighs and continued her tongue bath to his navel. Then she surprised him. She licked the length of him then plunged her mouth down around him. He almost lost it. Then when she wrapped her hand around him, the touch was enough to send him in a frenzy. She lapped at the bead of moisture that he knew was there, then she wrapped him in the heat of her mouth. Without notice she drew him to the back of her throat. He groaned loudly. That did it, he could take no more. “Els…” She sucked him in deep and used her hand to follow her mouth, repeating the strokes.

  “Stop Els…please. I won’t last.” He leaned up and grabbed her wrists to stop her. “Lay down, and he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her off him. Once down she lifted her knees and spread herself wide. Ian kneeled in between her legs and placed his hands under her bottom. He sucked her button and laved his tongue over and around it. She moaned.

  “Please Ian…I want you inside me, now.”

  He laughed and said, “Not yet my bonnie woman. I’m not done.” He placed his finger inside her. She was so hot and wet.

  She thrashed her head back and forth and just when he knew she was to explode he sat up and plunged in. He almost lost his seed right then but held still for a moment. Then he pulled out and buried deep again.

  Elspeth looked at him, “Faster, harder, now!” He immediately thrust harder and her hips came up to meet him. She wrapped her long legs around him and held on for dear life.

  The last thrust she exploded and with one more stroke, he joined her, biting her at the same time, with a gulp of her blood it engulfed them in another exploding orgasm. It continued until he pulled his teeth from her neck.

  They screamed out and rode the blissful rollercoaster together. He leaned down and kissed her softly before turning to his side. They held each other until they reached earth. He looked at her. “Would you like a swim.”

  “I’d love tae swim.” She giggled. “Come on.” Jumping up she grabbed his hand to pull him up. He jumped up laughing and chased her into the waves where they laughed, splashed, and swam.

  They made love once again after swimming, then lay there, him on his back toward the sun, and she on her side, her head on his shoulder. They lay in silence, enjoying the breeze and the sound of the waves.

  They stayed that way until the tide started coming in, and he said. “It must be time tae eat Els. We should go.” She murmured something about never wanting to leave. She was half asleep. He nudged her slightly. “Come sweetling, time tae go.”

  Chapter 23

  The next morning came late for Ian, but he’d made it to break his fast in time. Halfway through the meal he looked up and saw Lauren descending the steps. Then everyone looked up from the tables in the great room as Lauren walked down the stairs. He noticed he looked like hell and knew immediately he’d had a rough night, most likely more dreams of Merlin. “You look like a damn bull pulled you through the gates of hell,” he said with a mouthful of biscuits and jam.

  “I have a lot tae tell you. Been a busy night.” Lauren rounded the corner and had to take a seat down from his usual place. He saw him look down the line of brothers at the stranger sitting in his usual spot. “Who’s that?”

  “He’s my first, Lysanthir,” he replied. “Anything you got tae say, you can do so in front of him.”

  “Pleased tae meet you, Lysanthir. Weel, I dreamt all night aboot Merlin, then aboot King Arthur. It went back and forth all night.”

  “Were you able to contact the angels?”

  “Nae, I tried at first, but my dreams went immediately to Merlin, then were busy all night. I didn’t think I’d be able to contact them anyway. My dreams usually just receive. I have on occasion reached out, but it doesn’t seem to work that way.”

  The cook interrupted. “Breakfast?” She asked Lauren from a doorway.

  “Please,” he replied.

  “Be right there.”

  “Anyway, as I was saying. I was walking a long narrow hall, all made of wood. It was dark even with a lit torch. Dark wood, polished floors, walls, and ceiling. Each side of the hall had doors. Rows of them. At the end of the hall I could go left, right, or straight up some stairs. I went left. I came tae a high gathering room.

  “It made me think monastery, because it had an alter with crosses on the wall. I walked to the alter, and before it, laying on the floor, was a dead priest. I left and went back to the hall. At the right was another hallway with more doors. I heard a moan and it sounded like it was coming from the upstairs.”

  The maid returned putting a trencher of food in front of Lauren. “Thank you,” he said grabbing a piece of bread, swathing it through thick gravy.

  “I went up the stairs and came tae a door where I heard the moaning. I could not open it, it was locked. So, I floated through. It was a huge room. Dark like the rest of the place, eerie it was. There was Merlin tied tae a wooden chair. His hair flying in all directions. Beat up he was, and lookin
’ older than usual. He was alone, but he looked up and saw me. He tried tae speak, so I went closer.

  “The dream you had about my room,” he told me. “It wasn’t future, it was past. Athdar had some of my ether before your dream. He’s barely keeping me alive. He comes every day and drains my ether leaving just enough to keep me alive. It gives him power. He said he’d kill me in front of Ian and Elspeth before he killed them. Take some of my hair. Do it, before you leave. Locator sp…sp…spell. Hurry though, he wants King Arthur, and he’s using my knowledge to find him…must save…”

  “Then he passed out. I have never had a dream about the past afore, so this was news tae me, and I’ll be damned if I didn’t wake up with a handful of Merlin’s hair. Doona ask me how that happened, because I couldn’t answer that, probably Merlin. Anyway, I dinna ken where he was, so I went to the window to look out. The place was in the clouds. I went downstairs and ran past the priest and ootside. It was surrounded by clouds. I ran a distance and if I hadn’t been watchin’, I’d have run off a cliff. It’s up in the clouds somewhere. I just doona ken where.”

  “Did you notice anythin’ else?” he asked, putting down his knife.

  “Yes, verra sad, but not important. I looked through a few doors and found dead boys. I couldn’t look through anymore, after the first couple doors.”

  Everyone was quiet.

  “After that my dream changed tae King Arthur. There’s Kearals and Asurads heading to Arthur’s now. Not an army, but a league of soldiers. Half Asurads and half Kearals. If it were a legion of them, we wouldn’t make it.

  “I doona think Drakkor and Athdar have that many yet. There’s still time tae beat them, but we have no time for training. These men have tae go Ian. Arthur’s in danger. Trained or not they have tae go. They ken either how to get through the barrier Merlin placed or he’s so weak he can’t hold it. Arthur, his men, the kingdom, all sitting ducks, and these people doona care if it’s men, women, or children they kill. I’m tellin’ you, they’re ruthless.”

  He cleared his throat and sat back. “Weel, Angus is going to Mystic Kingdom tae take care of the kingdom and queen. You have tae take his place with the army. That leaves Dougal, and Cameron here tae find out aboot Merlin. I’m taking Elspeth to Mither’s as soon as we’re done eating. I ken you probably doona like it, but I will pull no quarter aboot it,” he said, turning toward her. She didn’t respond, instead sat quiet in thought, staring down at her plate, so he continued.

  “Lauren, you ready Angus’ Squadron. Connor, Finn, and Taryn the same with yours. I’m going with you, and all squadrons are goin’ ready or not. Conall I ken you are working with Dougal and Cameron, but I want you with us as weel. You may see somethin’ we doona ken aboot. Dougal and Cameron will have tae find Merlin. We canna take the chance with King Arthur being captured. We leave in the morning. Training as usual.

  “Lys, with the men. Watch each Squadron in training, give your best advice, and hope tae hell they take it. Make note of the strongest and smartest. We’ll split them up evenly.” He turned once again to Elspeth. “Els, I need you tae not argue with me on this. I need tae ken your safe.” He stood and held out his hand for hers. “I canna take you with us. It’s too far, I ken you wanted to be here for the war, but this is a simple battle for King Arthur and it is far away, so doona argue. Please.” He looked at her pleadingly. He couldn’t take her, not now, not after what happened with King Rulm, it was still too damn raw.

  She took his hand, a quiet understanding showing on her face, their united souls saying more than his words, and said, “I ken I said I wanted to be here for the fight, and I want tae be, but if you feel it is a simple battle, and all will be weel, I’ll go tae your Mither’s, but Ian, anything else I have tae be here for. On this I will not argue with you, so let me be clear on future battles. I doona care how far they are, I am nae going to cower from my duty as a healer, and if you have need of me on this one, I expect you tae get me right away. You have tae promise that. With that being said, I shall enjoy your Mither and sisters, I look forward to it. Let me pack and I’ll be ready.”

  She was back rather quickly, he was surprised, but then again, she didn’t have much. Mental note; talk to mither.

  Angus entered and was ready to go with them. He nodded to Angus. “Let me call Ator and we’ll be on our way.”

  He called for the dragon, he was big enough to take three through the veils. He could drop them to outer earth at the McGregor Keep, where he could stay with Elspeth while Ator continued to inner earth to drop Angus at Mystic Kingdom.

  He’d have to use the Mystic Mountain portal. Then Ator would return, pick him up and take him back to Wesladus so he would be ready to leave in the morning with his men. That would give him some time to spend with Elspeth and his family.

  He grinned and wondered what Angus would look like granitized. The only portal he knew straight to inner earth was Mystic Mountain and the gargoyles. There was the stationary portal to Wesladus, but it only went to outer earth.

  He wished he could take his men via this portal, but the gargoyles had only given permission for him to use it. He knew they wouldn’t let any more men through. It was pressing it just taking Angus, and he sure didn’t want to alienate his new friends in any way.

  They didn’t have any other way to create a portal. He missed Merlin. Suddenly he felt very sad for him, thinking about his pain. He hoped with all he had, that the old wizard would make it.

  He took Els bag and grabbed her hand and led her outside. He looked at her. “Els, I would rather be with you right now. I had planned on spending several days with you, at least ’til you were healed. Until Lauren’s dream…”

  “Shush,” she said. “I love you, Ian, I understand. You need tae be with your men. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I also ken why you doona want me at this battle. I really do understand. To tell you the truth I’m not yet over my fears of what happened. I’m not sure I would be much help.”

  She touched her injured eye. “Thank you for not mentioning why you doona want me tae go and for kenning why it would be hard for me tae right now. I want tae go tae your Mither’s. I think I need her right now. Besides, I’m verra fond of her and your sisters. They want to make my wedding dress. I want them tae. You’ll be back, you have tae. You’re tae marry me.” She teared up.

  “Nae, stop Els. You ken I’ll make it back. Nothing can keep me from you. I love you. I’ll always love you.”

  “I doona ken what’s wrong with me. I never cry and I’ve done so much of it lately.” She hurriedly wiped at her face.

  He kissed her gently and wondered what his Mither would say about her eye. He’d have to tell her the story. “You’ve been through a lot sweetling. No need tae think anything of it. I mean that. I wouldn’t have let you go even if you had insisted, you ken that doona you?”

  “Yes, I ken. Thank you.”

  “Och, Bullocks Els, if anythin’ were tae happen tae you…”

  “Shush,” she said and leaned up to kiss him.

  “Ah, here’s Ator. Angus!” he shouted, “Ready?”

  Ator flew straight, no sightseeing, and dropped them at the front door. Moira and the girls came running out screaming “Ian’s on a dragon! He’s so big! He’s beautiful!” Moira smiled, “Aye, I can see that.”

  He noticed Ator loved the attention. He carefully lowered his wing to let him down, then turned to the young ladies. He nuzzled each, which garnered a pat, a pet, a few kisses, and a lot of squeals. Moira asked if Angus was coming down. He answered in the negative and said Ian would fill her in. Finally, he stopped the girls. “Angus has tae leave. I’ll explain.”

  “Do you want tae explain Elspeth’s eye,” Moira asked sternly. “I ken you dinna do it. So how did that happen?”

  “I’ll explain all when we…”

  “Ian, Elspeth!” Akira came running up leaving the other girls to watch Ator fly away. “How did you get tae be friends with a dragon? Think I can ride sometime? Elspeth, w
hat happened tae your eye? Ian, did you hit her?” She put her hands on her hips, tilted her head, and drew in a deep breath.

  Elspeth laughed, “Nae your brother would never hit me. He saved me though. I’d be dead if he hadn’t.”

  The other girls came running, screaming for Elspeth. They stopped dead in their tracks. “What happened tae your eye?” They all asked at once.

  Akira answered. “Ian didn’t hit her! He saved her.” Fiona took one arm and Catriona took the other. They led her through the front doors. “You must tell us what happened,” Akira said right behind them. “You can see the fabrics now, Och, you canna get married with your eye swollen like that!”

  “Akira!” he shouted.

  She flinched. “I mean I hope your eye is better in time for the weddin’. Mither thinks summer will be nice. What do you think? That way everyone can travel here and it’s so beautiful by the loch then. A wedding. Do you think I’ll ever get married?”

  Elspeth laughed, “Why of course you will. You all will, you’re all so beautiful.”

  “I willna,” said Catriona. “I wish to be a warrior like my brothers.”

  “Oh, Catriona there are many ways we women are warriors. The biggest challenge is taking care of the men.” Elspeth laughed, and so did the girls. Holding on to Elspeth, they led her up the stairs to the solarium.

  “I have a mark mither.” He pulled down his shirt so she could see the dragon above his heart, as they walked inside. “I saved his life, and with the mark we can talk tae each other. I understand all the dragons and they me. But they doona use their mouth, it’s crazy, they speak through thought.”

  “That’s wonderfully exciting Ian. The girls are thrilled. I doona ken if I want them riding a dragon though. I see that’s nae the only mark you have,” she said, smiling. “You and Elspeth. I’m happy for you. You’ve been busy saving a lot of lives lately. Your da would be so proud. You must tell me everythin’. I’ll get the mead, you sit.”