The Peacekeeper

  “Weel, my plans for today are tae go tae market if you feel well enough. Ian wants you tae have clothes and jewels. The girls have been asking me for a while now. Would you like that?”

  “I’d love nothing better.” Hearing laughter, she dried her eyes quickly with her hands. She couldn’t cover up her red eyes though, and the girls were smart. Catching her embarrassment Moira moved away.

  “Weel be going tae market today. Els said she’d like tae go,” said Moira.

  The girls squealed and ran to the table. Akira caught sight of her red eyes and said, “Why you cryin’ Elspeth?”

  Moira looked at her daughter, exasperated, “She’s pregnant, Akira. I’ve told you what it is like.”

  The girls squealed again louder. Akira piped up. “That’s wonderful. Does Ian ken? How long? When did you find oot? The weddin’ mither. Shouldn’t it be right away, you ken, rounded belly and everythin’…wouldn’t want people tae talk aboot…”

  “Akira!” Moira gave her a stern look.

  “I mean we should be makin’ the weddin’ plans. I remember you said you cried all the time with Finn. Da, couldn’t keep her from it. And sick. Mither said she was sick all the time, retching.”

  “Akira! Stop it now. Elspeth just found out. She was sick this morning. I think it’d be nice if we all acted like the family we are and take good care of her.”

  “I’m sorry Elspeth.” Akira slumped. “My mouth gets the better of me. Mither always says it will get me in trouble.”

  She laughed. “I absolutely adore having the sisters I never had. No need tae apologize. I love the way you talk, but your mither is right, some may not like it. You can be yourself with me Akira, I find you refreshin’.”

  “See mither, I’m refreshin’!” she ran to hug her and so did the other girls. “Och we are going tae market today! We best get ready.” And they all ran upstairs. Leaving Moira to shake her head.

  “Those girls, especially Akira are going tae be the death of me.” Moira laughed. “Come let me show you the kitchens and you can talk tae the cook while the girls get ready. I am tae go over the list of this week’s menu with her. She’s not very talkative, our cook, and strict, her kitchens are always clean, but she is the best cook I’ve ever kenned.” Moira slipped her arm through hers and it gave her a warm feeling.

  After a quick packing, they found themselves on the way. The sun was shining. They all rode beautiful horses. Moira brought two large guards, because it was not safe for a group of women to travel alone. Plus, they’d have to stay in a lodge for the night.

  Moira said she and the girls had made the trip many times. The inn keepers were friends and they would stop there first to claim their largest room.

  Moira mentioned they could mist to the market, but she thought better of it. She wasn’t sure she was full vampire yet, so hadn’t better try. She was early in her pregnancy. She didn’t know how traveling that way would affect the baby. Ian would never forgive her if something happened. She thought about it and didn’t know what being a vampire entailed. Ian hadn’t had the time to explain things. She would have to ask Ian’s mither later. The skies were clear and everyone was talking. She was enjoying herself immensely. They all were.

  Catriona said, “I forgot how much fun riding a horse is.”

  She took a deep breath of the clean air, glad that her stomach was staying calm. “I always enjoyed it too. I’d ride whenever I could. There’s just something aboot a horse given its head and running through fields. It’s a feeling of unexplainable freedom.”

  “When I’m a warrior, I’m going tae have a black stallion, the biggest you have ever seen. His name will be Night and he’ll prance. I’ll have my own armor, and people will get oot of my way. I already ken how tae throw knives, and I practice with a wooden sword. Ian is goin’ tae get me a real one someday. I can’t wait. I want it now, but he said I have tae get better with the wooden one. He practices with me sometimes. I love it when he is home. Are you both going tae live here when ye marry? I doona want Ian tae move away. You should live with us.”

  “I’ll live wherever Ian does. I hope tae make a home somewhere.”

  “Of course, she can live with us.” Moira piped up. Where else would they live?”

  She thought of Wesladus. Merlin would want him there with his troops. She loved it there, but she enjoyed the McGregor castle, loch, and certainly the cottage, as well. She didn’t mention her thoughts because she was unsure what their future held.

  After securing their room and leaving the horses at the stables they walked to the market. She had never seen anything so big or colorful. It was bustling with men and women calling out wares, people buying and laughing, food vendors with smoking fires and wonderfully delicious smells of food. At least she was feeling good, her stomach finally settled.

  Brightly colored flags of all colors of the rainbow fluttered in the breeze. She’d eaten only the two biscuits and her stomach growled. She was hungry but was nervous about eating. The smells didn’t bother her, but she wasn’t going to take a chance on eating, at least not yet. She certainly didn’t want to become ill at market. The girls grabbed her hands and pulled her toward a shop with gowns. The wide stone house held a weaving loom in the window and piles of dresses on a table outside. The beautiful day dresses caught her eye.

  “Her really good gowns are inside,” said Fiona. “She’s the best dressmaker that ever lived. Come let’s go inside.” She followed Fiona, Catriona, and Moira inside while the others remained outside.

  Fiona was right. The gowns were fit for a queen. Moira smiled at her. “Get whatever you fancy. Ian insists. We wouldn’t want tae disappoint him.” She didn’t have to say it twice. “I think you should have at least twelve,” said Moira, leaving her shocked at the thought of owning so many dresses.

  She picked out seven of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen. Two green, one light and one dark to match her eyes, a blue, a dark purple, a rust colored, a red, and a yellow.

  She didn’t think the red would go with her hair, but Moira insisted it enhanced her hair, and brought out the highlights. Moira picked out two for herself and the two girls got five each as well. Then they moved on to day dresses.

  She and Moira looked at several. She settled on seven. Moira insisted she have at least that many. And even though she hated corsets, she liked the way they pushed her breasts high. So, she got those too.

  There were satin slippers to match her gowns and several pairs of day slippers to choose from. She also purchased under shifts and several nightdresses. Eight sheer ones, as sheer as the ones Merlin had gifted her. She thought Ian would be pleased with those the most. She smiled thinking of wearing them for him but more at the thought of him taking them off.

  After the girls and Moira finished purchasing their things they walked the market streets until they came to a jeweler’s shop. Moira insisted she buy jewelry to match her dresses. She found necklaces of rubies for her red gown, and citrine for the yellow and green gowns, amethyst for the purple, and cobalt for her blue gown. She was happy with these.

  Moira disappeared while she was looking at the pieces but soon returned to help her make the final decisions. The girls didn’t get jewels, nor did Moira, she said they had more than enough.

  The experience was so exciting she found herself rambling much as Akira did. They spent the rest of the day looking around. They stopped to purchase small fruit pies they ate along the way. Much to her surprise she didn’t feel ill at all. She actually felt great.

  By the time they returned to the inn they were all exhausted and requested dinner be sent to their room. She laid her gowns out on one of the beds and placed the necklaces over her gowns, switching back and forth, then stepping back to admire them.

  “They’re bonnie,” said Moira, admiring her choices. “Like you. Ian will be thrilled.”

  “Speaking of him, I doona ken if they battled today, or if it’s tomorrow, but I’m verra worried for him and his brothers.”


  “After hundreds of years you think you wouldn’t be. But I am too. I always worry when they go tae battle, but I’ve been lucky for the most part. I did lose Lachlan and Eoghan. I miss them so much. Lachlan was and is the love of my life. We kenned when we first met, we belonged together. It’s just the way of our kind.

  “We wait, and wait, then one-day you look across a room and there he is. That was the way it was with Lachlan.” Moira leaned her head back and sighed. “I could never love another man. My boys are enough for now. I’ll be with Lachlan again. I ken it.

  “I too, got pregnant right away,” she whispered. Causing them both to laugh.

  “It was me. I couldn’t keep my hands off him. I drove him nuts. I wore a very low-cut gown and a corset that made my breasts practically jump oot. The dress was tight and had a bow on my arse. He stared at me from the moment I entered the room. When I asked him to walk with me, he couldn’t wait tae get outside. Needless tae say, he took me beneath a big oak tree on a full moon night.” Moira laughed. “I had grass stains on my behind for days.”

  She joined in Moira’s full out laugh at the image that created.

  “I guess I’m just as bad. Ian and I were so dirty from the two days in the cave we took a bath together. He was being very gentlemanly washing my back and I wanted him so bad.

  “So, I stood up and bent over in front of his face with the offer to wash his hair. He shouted at me that a mon could only take so much and carried me tae the bed drippin’ wet.”

  This time Moira joined her in laughter. It felt so right talking to Moira. Sharing the things daughters shared with mothers and friends. It almost made her cry again, this time with happiness.

  Back at the castle she waited for Ian. She didn’t want to wear any of her new dresses until he was there to see them. Days went by and she became sicker every day. Now she threw up morning, noon, and night. She didn’t think it’d ever quit. She could barely hold down anything, but worse she was becoming frantic with worry for Ian.

  She sat on his bed lovingly holding the horse he had given her. Her only close tie to the last time they were together. She only hoped that in giving her his good luck piece he hadn’t compromised his safety. A tear dropped on the piece of wood, turning the wood a shade darker. She closed her hand around it and lay back.

  He’d promised to return right after the battle. That was at least five days ago. Moira didn’t say anything, but Elspeth could tell she was worried too. When it got to be ten days with no word, Elspeth cried daily. When she wasn’t retching she was crying. Moira tried to help.

  Finally, she told Moira her suspicions. “He’s hurt or dead Moira. I can feel it in my heart. It hurts so bad.” Moira had told her she’d known when Lachlan and Eoghan died so she too feared the worst. They were sitting at the table talking when Akira came running in. “There’s a green dragon in our yard! Hurry!”

  They ran outside. Saphira was standing there. Elspeth broke out in tears. She screamed, “It’s Ian isn’t it! Saphira what’s wrong?”

  “He lives child, but he’s hurt badly. He’s not healing and he should be by now. I’ve come to bring you to him. Maybe you can heal him.”

  “Who’s watching Kalon and Sorrilth?”

  “Ator, he too was injured in battle. He’s almost well, but it’s difficult for him to fly. His wing was damaged but new bone and scales are growing. He’ll be all right. It’s Ian everyone is worried about. He won’t talk. His brothers think he blames himself for the large number of deaths.”

  “Did we lose, Saphira?”

  “No, they got all the Kearals and Asurads, his brothers think Ian feels responsible for not saving those fae and vampires as well.”

  “Nonsense, he did everything for all those men.” She started to cry.

  “What is it?” asked Moira. “What did she say?”

  Elspeth repeated it quickly. “I must go Moira. Thank you so much for everything.” She hugged Moira and apologized for her tears soaking her dress. “I’ll get my things later, Moira.”

  “Of course, you must go. I’ll see you get them. Please send word when you can.”

  Elspeth nodded, and Saphira took to the skies.

  In a matter of minutes which seemed like years they were in Wesladus. She jumped down and without a word ran through the doors past Ian’s brothers who stood right inside, up the stairs, and into their room.

  What she saw stunned her. Her man lying there, his cheeks gray and hollow, eyes glazed and yellowed, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t notice Angus in the dark corner until he spoke.

  “We take turns watching him. Somethin’s not right. He should have healed days ago, but his wound continues tae leak. We’ve tried giving him blood and he refuses it. We thought maybe you can heal him, talk tae him, reason with him. I’ve never in my life seen Ian like this afore, it’s not like him. Not at all. I’m verra worried. The wound is on his right side, no others. He willna speak.” After several moments of heavy silence, he continued, “Weel, I’ll leave you two alone. Good luck, you need it.”

  She waited until Angus left and she leaned over Ian and kissed his forehead. He just lay there, showing no recognition of her. She pulled back the furs and saw the clean bandages on his side. She gently started to remove them. Ian moved slightly. After she got them off she put her hands above the wound to heal it. Ian reached quickly and grabbed her hands. “Nae,” he said. “Doona.” He turned his head away.

  “Ian, what’s happened tae you?! Let me heal you. Please for the sake of the gods!”

  Ian responded, “Damned be the gods.”

  “What is wrong with you, Ian? Damn you talk tae me! I’m tae be your wife!”

  “I’m not fit tae be your husband, Elspeth. Find someone who is. Please leave and doona try tae heal me.” He turned his face away.

  “Nae, damn you! You talk tae me now!” and she pulled his face toward her. “I’m not leaving until you tell me why you are like this.”

  “If I tell you, will you leave?”

  “If that’s what you truly want, yes.”

  Ian barely looked at her, sighed deeply, and coughed. He wiped sweat from his head and leaned back. “I’ve made some horrible mistakes and it cost many men their lives.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “First, I dinna save the ether bottles or at least remove the caps to free their souls. But my biggest mistake was thinking I kenned it all. I dinna ask for help from the werewolves and they ultimately saved us. My pride Elspeth. Those men are dead because of my pride. I doona deserve tae live.”

  “Ian you can feel bad, people make mistakes, it happens, you gave those men everything you had tae give. You cared for them, trained them, made decisions tae help them. You’re fighting against evil. It’s the evil tae blame nae you. You dinna change those vampires and fae. You dinna steal their ether. You fought against it the best you kenned how. Doona blame yourself. If you die, then they win. Is that what you want? Your men doona blame you, they love you. You are a good leader, a good mon. You are going tae be me husband. Someday we’ll have children…”

  “I’m not fit tae be a father, or husband, or leader. If you are finished, please go.”

  “Now you listen tae me, Ian McGregor! You are doin’ nothing, but feelin’ sorry for yourself. Let me heal you and get your arse from that bed. Show your men you willna lay down and die. If you doona they willna have confidence in themselves. You are not a quitter, doona let them think you are.”

  “Are you finished?”

  “Nae, I’ll never be finished with you. You saved me, you dinna leave my side, and I’ll be damned if I leave yours. It willna happen, not now, not ever. You understand me Ian McGregor? Nae, Nae, I willna leave. Now let me heal you.”

  “Please leave.” He turned away again.

  Unsure what to do. She kept her word and she left. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was sobbing. The brothers stood there, concern etched on their faces.

  “What happened, Elspeth?” asked
Angus. “Did he talk?”

  “Aye, he blames himself for all the deaths and not just those of his men, but for not saving the Kearals as well. He said he made a mistake by not goin’ tae ask the werewolves for help. He said his poor decisions killed those men.”

  A stranger Elspeth never met before stepped forward. “I’m Larc, Alpha of the werewolves, the Ogourax. Yes, I would have helped, and when he called on the animals we came. I have men who want to join this army and fight against Athdar and Drakkor. Ian was wrong when he said to me he didn’t think we’d want to help because it wasn’t our fight.

  “Maybe it wasn’t then, but we’ve made it so. Our world is in danger as well. Ian is a good leader; any number of my men would follow him in battle. Hell, I would. He’s lost men, casualties of war. He didn’t kill them. He must figure that out for himself. If he wants to wallow in it for a while, it’s his choice. He’ll eventually come around.”

  ****

  Ian lay in bed, his head pounding. There was something he had to do. What was it. Els…Els was here. He loved Elspeth he knew he loved her. He had to save her. How, from what? He reached up and grabbed his head. A small voice came through to him. “Remember who you are.” Who was he really. I’m not fit to live. I must die. No! I must live. I have to live. At that thought, a sharp pain surged through his skull. Something happened, what happened?

  “Fight this!” he said aloud. “For Elspeth, fight this before it is too late. Must get to her.” He rolled to the side of the bed and placed his feet on the floor. One foot in front of the other he told himself. Must…save Elspeth. He made it halfway down the stairs in time to hear Larc comment on how he should wallow in it.

  “Els?” he said. “He’s right. I am wallowing. It’s time tae stop. You’re right. If I let myself die, they’ve won.” Pain shot through his skull. “Musss…t fight this. Musst.” He wobbled and almost fell from the stairs. “I love you, Els,” he whispered. Then his eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed.

  Angus and Connor moved with the speed of light and grabbed him before he injured himself further. Angus quickly picked Ian up and they headed upstairs. She ran behind them into the bedroom. She still felt nauseous, but she hadn’t eaten, she didn’t think she’d get ill, but she felt her stomach roll. Not now she thought and calmed herself. After they laid him down, Elspeth saw the blood, a lot of blood. He was so thin as if he’d been sucked dry. She turned to Angus, “Somethings not right about him. I have to heal him while he’s out. Did he get hit on the head?”