As soon as his brother arrived, Steaphan planned to ensure he was confined and then go for Fiona. It was time for his wife to be with him.
The ride home was quiet, solemn. There was always the sad chore of giving the dead one’s families the news. They’d have to visit about ten houses before finally going to the keep. The injured would be looked after. The rest who fought would come to the keep and celebrate. It was tradition to drink and eat, appreciate the gift of life.
“I think things are going to be quiet now between the clans.” Niven kept his eyes on Barclay who was in the cart next to them. “They retreated and we will not attack again.”
“Aye. All is fine for now.”
Niven swallowed. “I know this is not my concern. But I agree with yer mother. The archer is not truly your brother. Not anymore. He is a McLeod. Raised by them and lived his entire life with the clan. He will not simply change because you bring him home. Given the chance, he will escape and return to McLeod lands. Why bring him if he will only be held captive?”
He’d thought the same thing, considered that his brother would not be agreeable to being captured and brought to his birth home. But if there was just a chance Darach would want to remain, Steaphan was willing to take it. “He deserves to know where he comes from. Where his true home is. See firsthand what his life could be again if he chooses.”
“And what if he asks about being taken as a child? Questions why your parents didn’t search for him? What will you say? Yer mother has never told anyone what happened that day.”
“Her handmaid did. Part of it anyway. And my father did send out search parties. Many looked for Darach. Although, I find it puzzling they did not go to the McLeod lands.” Steaphan did not say anything else. Instead, he urged his mount to a faster trot.
Chapter Sixteen
“I am sorry, Lily, what did you say?” Ariana looked to Lily who had been rattling nonstop since the men left the night before. When nervous, she tended to talk on and on about different subjects. Although it would unnerve most, to Ariana it was a familiar thing that soothed her.
“I said the guards are lining up, they must have spotted riders coming.” Lily ran to the window and peered out. “Should we go up to the roof and look?”
Ariana let out a frustrated breath. “The guardsmen will not allow it. They will insist it is dangerous.”
“We should go anyway.” Lily surprised her with her new found feistiness. “The lot of them will be too busy guarding to notice us.”
“True. Very well, I agree.” Ariana went to the corner of her room and grabbed her bow and quiver. “Let us go.” They rushed out of the room, down the hallway and to the stairs that led to the roof.
It was clear now that most of the morning misting had lifted. Both shaded their eyes ignoring the young lookouts’ glares at them. Finally, one gathered the courage to approach her. “Milady, you cannot be out here. ’Tis too dangerous.”
“I will only remain long enough to see if my brother returns. Once I recognize him, Lily and I will return to my chambers.”
She turned and once again scanned the distance. “Where are they?”
“There.” The young man pointed and she followed to where he looked.
“Oh, I see them. It’s them,” Lily called out. “Our men.” She leaned forward at the waist and attempted to get a better look.
The young guard finally gave up that she’d return into the keep and moved away.
They were too far yet to see if her brothers returned so Ariana looked down to where the guards and archers were lined up. She looked from one end to the other and back again. Valent was not among them. Impossible
She looked back to the lookout. “Did the archer Valent go with them to battle?”
“Nay, milady. He remained.” The boy looked down to the archers. “Down there with the rest of them.”
Ariana remained quiet. Valent was not there. She was sure of it. If he wasn’t lined up to defend the keep, it could only mean one thing. He’d left. Gone and had not taken her.
“I think I see the Laird.” Lily got her attention. “Look!” she cried out while pointing towards the mass of men that come closer.
The archers lowered their bows and the warriors sheathed their swords at recognizing the riders. Some hurried down to the courtyard to meet the men. Only a few remaining to keep guard.
“Come, Lily, let us greet my brother.” Beathan was not among the riders. She hoped he was in one of the carts bringing home the wounded.
The courtyard was full of people hurrying to gather the injured and house the horses. Men rushed from one spot to another helping unload the carts. Ariana ran to one cart, the injured man sat up and attempted to move only to groan and hold his side. “Lay back and allow them to assist you.” She patted his shoulder and went to the other side of the cart to see who lay there. It was another man. Not Beathan.
“Ariana, go inside.” Ceardac’s stern command did not bode well. She swung around to look at him only to find he’d dismounted and stood beside her, his hand on her elbow. “Inside, now.” He wrapped his other arm around his midsection.
“Are you injured?”
“Aye, cut, but it’s been bound, nothing fatal.” He managed a shrug.
“Where’s Beathan?” She tried to get free of his grasp. “I want to see him.”
“He is dead.” Ceardac guided her to the great room. “They beheaded him.”
Her knees buckled. If it was not for her brother’s hold, she would have crumpled to the ground. “Oh God, no. It is too much to bear.”
“You should lie down,” Ceardac told her and grimaced. She couldn’t rest. He needed to be looked after. Her last brother had to recover and she’d see to it.
Once inside the great room, she and Lily insisted Ceardac lay upon a long table so they could administer to his wounds. Once the layers of binding were removed, the angry gash made Ariana’s already fragile nerves break and she was not able to stop the tears.
Ceardac’s gaze locked to her face. “Lily, can tend to my wounds. Why don’t you rest?”
“No,” she insisted. “I need to help. This is not the time for sensibilities.” Ariana took a cloth and dipped it into the water, then gently cleansed the wound, while Lily cut more strips and washed off the dirt from Ceardac’s face. It was obvious from the looks they exchanged. There was definitely an attraction between them. Ariana was thankful he’d survived. Even if Ceardac didn’t marry Lily, it was nice they had this moment without barriers between them.
“Did he suffer?” Ariana had to ask, needed to know the circumstances of Beathan’s death. “Did you speak to him?”
Pain reflected from Ceardac’s eyes understanding she spoke of Beathan. “Nay, it was swift. I did not speak to him.”
“Who did it?”
“The McKenzie’s first.”
She didn’t try to stop the blackness that closed in around her.
* * *
“Lady Ariana, will you wake for me please?” The voice permeated the heavenly fog enveloping her and she fought to ignore its pull to the harshness of reality. There in the abyss everything was perfect. No thoughts, only space. The reality of her world was not something she was ready to face again. Here in the swirls of mist, she could float and ignore everything.
“Come now. You can hear me.” It was one of the older maids. She recognized the voice. “Ye must eat, milady. Drink something.”
She batted at the hand that attempted to pull her head up. “No.”
“It’s been two days and everyone is worried,” the woman persisted.
Ariana pried her eyes open. The room was dim, the window covered with a black cloth of mourning. Beathan. Her younger, brash, handsome brother was dead. If only he’d not goaded the McKenzies with such senseless killings. Tears slipped down her cheeks. “Where is my brother?” She spoke of Beathan, but the maid assumed it was Ceardac she asked about.
“He is probably still abed, milady. It is very early in the morning yet.�
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“Beathan?”
The maid ignored her question. Instead, she brought the rim of a cup to Ariana’s lips. “Drink this. It will help you recover your strength.” The broth was flavorful and she drank it down, finding herself hungry.
Once she was propped up on the bed, she looked to the older woman. “Is there any other news?”
“No, milady. Everyone is well, even the guardsman who was hurt quite badly is healing after no one expected him to.”
“Lily?”
The maid turned away, but not before Ariana caught the hint of a smile. “Miss Lily will be here to see you shortly. She has been so worried about you.”
“I didn’t want to wake up,” Ariana confessed. “It was wonderful to escape all this.” She brush tears away with the back of her hand.
The woman patted her hand. “True, milady, there has been much loss. You, along with many of our clan, have lost loved ones. We should be thankful it seems to be over. The McKenzie sent a messenger to propose a truce between the clans and yer brother accepted it.”
It was good news, indeed. Since the woman had not made mention of an archer missing, she hoped Valent remained in the keep. Perhaps he’d not lined up with the others the morning the men returned. For some reason had remained below with the other guard.
“What of my Beathan’s burial? Has it been done?”
“Aye, milady. We can go visit the gravesite once you gather your strength.”
Ariana smiled at the woman who’d served her family for many years. “I would appreciate that, Clara. Thank you.”
The rest of the morning, she remained in her chambers, finally leaving the bed to sit in a chair by the hearth. Each time she considered stepping out, the idea that Valent was gone stopped her.
Lily entered the room. She was flushed and looked pretty as she settled onto the chair opposite her. “I am so happy you are awake.” She leaned forward and her lips brushed Ariana’s cheek. “It was horrible when you didn’t wake. Although everyone said you would recover, I couldn’t help the thought that I would lose you as well.” Her eyes misted and Ariana smiled at her.
“You fret too much, dear friend.”
“It is warranted, I believe.” Lily looked to the fire. “There is so much I want to tell you. Unless you heard me when I talked the last two days.”
Knowing how Lily would prattle on when upset, Ariana wondered what all her friend had shared. “I did not hear you, so you will have to tell me again.”
Lily let out a breath. She seemed to be relieved at Ariana’s statement. “Yes, well, first of all, your archer, Valent. He is gone.”
A gasp escaped and Ariana’s mouth fell open. “Does Ceardac know?”
“Not yet. He has been…preoccupied. The guards have all gone to the village to see about their families and with all that, there were only a few at the evening meal the last two days. Murray himself has gone to see about the village to help with any rebuilding and such.”
“Are you sure he has gone, Lily?”
“Aye. I even stole away and went to his cottage. No one has been there in a long time by the looks of it.”
Ariana let out a long breath. “I expected he would leave. When Ceardac finds out Valent is gone, he will assume he’s returned to the McKenzies.”
“If he is with his family, then it is a good thing,” Lily pronounced and then flinched. “Forgive me, I misspoke. I know you hoped for him to take you, but if he went to his family it would not do to take you along.” Lily covered her mouth with her hand and let out a sigh. “I am so stupid to bring all of this up. You have such deep feelings for him.”
“I am the fool for it. It is more than obvious he did not feel the same toward me.”
“Nonsense. He cares for you, it was easy to see by the way he followed yer every move. His eyes warmed when lighting upon yer face. Valent loves you; that is why he left.”
Lily’s words made her feel somewhat better, but when remembering their last conversation, a part of her felt he took the easy route. He’d purposely set her passions loose to avoid her questions.
Valent did not love her. He was not willing to confront her brother and stand up for their love. She’d been willing to leave everything behind and he left without a word.
“Are the McLeods of Skye still here?”
“The older McLeod left yesterday.” Lily looked away from her and Ariana knew something else was on her mind. “Ariana…the younger McLeod remains. He is awaiting your recovery.”
“Why would he do that?”
“The McLeod asked Ceardac for his son to be handfasted with you.” Lily bit her bottom lip and released it. “Yer brother accepted.”
“What?” She sat straight up and then fell back onto the chair when the room swayed. “I will speak with Ceardac. How dare he make such a decision without speaking to me?”
* * *
Hours later, Ceardac sat across from her in a chair in the study. The clenching of his jaw was the only sign that he was aggravated by her questions. “As your brother and laird, I have every right to decide about your future. You should marry and start a family. Ross McLeod will be a good husband to you, sister.” He didn’t allow for an argument, holding his hand up when she opened her mouth to protest. “Do not think I am not aware of your interest in the archer. I know something happened between the two of you. I have not said anything, allowing you some leeway with all that has happened. But do not mistake that, dear sister, for allowing you to not do as you are told. The handfast ceremony will be tomorrow. You will leave with Ross two days hence.”
There was a knock to the door and Ceardac stood, going to speak to whoever was there. When Ross McLeod entered, she kept her eyes downcast, not wanting to look at him, not now that he was to be her husband. It mattered not to either Ceardac or Ross what she wanted. How she felt was secondary, if that.
Boots came into view followed by the lowering of Ross McLeod. He crouched to look into her eyes. His large hands enveloped one of hers. Eyes the color of a lush meadow were framed by thick lashes. So engrossed she’d been with Valent, she’d not noticed before how handsome this man was. “Lady Ariana, I know it may come as a shock to you that I wish to marry. I have admired you since first arriving.”
Ariana slid a glance to the door to find that Ceardac had left. “I am not ready for yet another change so soon. So much has happened.”
“I am aware.” Of course he was. Although not related by blood, he, along with his men, had fought for her clan. “But life continues does it not?”
His simple question took her breath. He was right. Valent was gone, had left her, not even saying goodbye. Why did she resist marriage? It was always expected that she’d once again marry a man her brother, Donall, chose.
Ross lowered his head while waiting for her to reply. It gave her the opportunity to study him. His dark brown hair fell to wide shoulders. Ross had strong, well-formed arms and thick thighs.
He looked up when she released a breath and licked her bottom lip. “You are right, we must move forward. I need to ensure you are aware that I am not a virgin. I…I was married before, am a widow. I’ve had a lover. If it is not to your liking, I understand.” Although she maintained a steady voice, her face was hot. “I will not tell you who he was. I will not speak more on it, only that I assure you I am not with child.”
“I see.” His gaze searched her face. “Then I must admit. I am not a virgin either and hope that is not a problem.” His lips curved and she couldn’t help but smile in return.
“I suppose I can live with that.”
“Ye’re quite pensive…Ariana,” Lily stated later that day in the sitting room. The hesitation of Lily saying her name was understandable. After so many years of referring to her as milady, it would take some time for Lily to get used to calling her by her first name.
Ariana put her sewing aside. “I cannot fathom the idea of marrying so soon to someone other than Valent. I am not sure what to do.” She looked to the cloth she’d he
ld. “I’ve not put one stitch in. What would you do, Lily?”
Lily let out a breath. “’Tis difficult to say. Honestly, I wish the laird would give you more time. Perhaps you can try once again and ask Ross McLeod for time. What is the hurry anyhow?”
“It is a handfast and not truly a wedding. Yet when I leave with him, it means I am to become his wife, don’t you think?”
“Aye, it does.” Lily’s brow furrowed. “Should I try to talk to your brother? Convince Ceardac that you are in mourning. I could tell him that you need time to get over so much loss before tossing you into yet another situation that will bring you much stress.”
Why had she not considered that? Of course, it was too soon. She was in shock from all that happened. No doubt, Ceardac was as well.
As if summoned, her brother appeared at the entrance. “Sister, how fare you?”
Lily blushed and looked to Ariana, giving away they were just speaking of him. “Ariana is not well. She needs more time to recover from all that has transpired.” The diminutive woman went to her brother who glowered down at her. Not at all intimated, Lily launched into her speech. “It is not the right time for you to insist she become handfasted and sent away from her home. How could you do this to her at a time of mourning? Both of your brothers are just recently dead. Not just Ariana, but you as well need time to mourn the loss. Think of your mother, she must be distraught over this. She cannot be planning a wedding.”
Ceardac’s eyebrows rose at Lily’s speech, looking to Ariana as if expecting her to help him reply. Lily pushed her index finger into his chest. “Additionally, right now you need her here with you. I am positive your dear mother will want to travel home immediately to see about her sons’ proper burial ceremonies and to complete her mourning time as well.”
“What you say is true, Lily. I had not considered all that,” Ceardac admitted. Ariana noted her brother studied her friend’s face for a long moment as if seeing her for the first time. Lily swallowed and moved to sit next to Ariana.
“I will speak to Ross in the morning and ask that we postpone the handfast until after the mourning time has concluded.” His green eyes met Ariana’s. “Do not take this as me changing my mind. We have accepted his proposal, so you will marry Ross McLeod in the spring.”
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