by Aury Dobsyn
The sight that greeted him would live in his memory for a lifetime, as it fairly broke his heart. Naked from the waist down, Ella stood looking over her shoulder with watery eyes at the reflection of her scarred back in the large mirror that hung on the wall. By her horror-stricken expression, he realized it was the first time she had seen the multiple red scars that lined her back from shoulder to waist.
Within a heartbeat he was across the chamber, holding the woman he loved. Ignoring her protest, he rested his cheek on the top of her head and said, “Forgive me. I should nae have spoken about the attack or the whipping.”
“I’m hideous,” she cried.
Gavin pulled her from his chest and looked into her glade green eyes when he said, “Ye are beautiful. Yer face, form, heart, spirit, everything about ye is beautiful.”
He took a deep breath, then cupped her face and said, “I never kenned true fear until ye came into my life. And like a wild fire, this fear grew when I kissed yer sweet lips and held ye close at night. My fear soon turned into a raging inferno when ye became my wife, and later when ye opened yer heart to me. And ‘tis my love for ye that ignites my greatest fear . . . losing ye.”
In a soft whisper, she asked, “Ye love me?”
“Aye, I love ye, little one,” he said with smile, then tenderly stroked her face.
Ella closed her eyes, completely in awe by enormity of his words, then laid her hands on his chest and over his heart. Tears flooded her eyes when she opened them, and said, “I love you, Gavin. My heart and soul are yours, will always be yours.”
He captured her lips in a devastating kiss that had her trembling with raw sensation and savage need. When his arms encircled her, she felt engulfed by his love the way early morning mist would the trees. He stood her by the edge of the bed, stripped her with tenderness as he rained kisses over her exposed flesh.
Fierce, hot desire pounded through Gavin as his eyes made love to her gloriously naked body. Leaning forward, inhaling her sweet aroma, he trailed tiny nipping kisses down her throat and across her breast. His tongue traced wet circles over the protruding buds, savoring her taste and scent before he turned her body to worship the skin on her back.
“Nae, Gavin.”
“Let me love every part of ye. Kiss, touch and taste all of ye.” And he did.
A series of slow, shivery kisses were pressed to the raised flesh of each scar. His hands stroked the length of her back before they meticulously paid homage to her heart-shaped, callipygian bottom. The two small identical mounds were firm, the skin silky soft. He tasted her sweetness and nibbled her enthralling flesh as she ran her fingers through his hair in silent encouragement.
Turning to face him, Ella clawed at his clothes, wanting to feel him against her. She tore his plaid from his waist as he ripped off his tunic until nothing inhibited her view of his sculpted, wildly aroused body.
Gavin moved her so she was kneeling on the bed with her hands on the headboard, his large body spooning her smaller one. One hand stoked a growing flame to smoldering blaze between her legs as the other fondled her throbbing breasts. In detail, he began describing the feel and splendor of her body, then what he planned to do with her exquisite body.
The warmth of his hands and lure of his words made her mindless to all else, but him. She arched against him when he leaned over to kiss her neck and shoulders, engulfed by his was masculinity. The feel of him, swollen and hard, heated her core until she was panting with need. The hunger, the urgency, was almost more than she could bear.
“Gavin!”
Answering her breathless, urgent plea, he grasped her hips and slowly filled her body. He rocked her gently back and forth on her knees, each thrust bringing him deeper, tighter, until ravaging pleasure filled her every pore. The sensual pagan rhythm was soon thundering against her as she matched his fluid movement.
She raised one arm and palmed the back of his head as she felt a tumultuous thrumming within her expand to a wild crescendo until she convulsed into a fiery, cataclysmic chain of rewarding spasms. A wild, keening cry burst from her lungs as she shattered and soared to sweet oblivion. She heard his hoarse cry as his fingers dug into her hips and buttock before she felt his seed explode within her.
After collapsing on the bed, for long moments neither of them moved. The sound of heavy breathing stirred the air around them as pleasure undulated throughout their bodies, drenching them in the heat of their love. She was still dazed when he stretched out beside her, and held her close as she floated back to reality.
With their bodies deliciously sated and their skin sensitive to the touch, Gavin explored her feminine curves as she lay motionless on her stomach. He languidly caressed her slender hips and rounded bottom while he kissed her shoulders and back.
With a tender gaze, Gavin stared down at the woman he had just made love to so fiercely. Her skin was not dove white, but glowed golden by the sunlight streaming in through the chamber window. Her body was slim, but he could see the lines of sleek muscle under her taunt skin.
Through his eyes, she was perfection. He knew the scars were there, felt them when his hand slid down her back, but saw only her beautiful courage.
As he unraveled her braided hair, he felt a pang of remorse for not doing so earlier, before they made love. Running his fingers through her long, golden tresses, he was amazed by the thickness and silky soft texture.
Gavin smiled remembering what his men say when they see her enter the bailey. ‘I do love when the sun comes out to brighten our dreary day, Laird Gavin.’ Their comments varied, but all referred to her as the sun, even on cloudy or rainy days.
He parted her hair to kiss her spine, and then said, “Ye are my angel, my sun, my love, my little one.”
Ella turned to lie on her back, then grabbed the back of his head, and flowered kisses upon his face. “I love ye more than my own life, but. . .”
He pulled back to stared down at her. “But?”
Smiling, she replied, “But, I nae have cute names for you.”
His grin reached his eyes, she saw, then added, “Well, other than mule and barbarian, but they are nae so cute.”
Gavin laughed in a deep, jovial way before he said, “Ye are a bonny fine lass, and a spitfire to boot. I predict ye will keep me amused all the days of my life. Howbeit, I will nae be called mule when I’m in bed with my wife, but barbarian . . . aye, barbarian I like verra much.”
“I’ll call ye knave if you don’t kiss me.”
“With pleasure, my love with, with a great deal of pleasure.”
73
It was mid afternoon when the blissful couple finally emerged from their chamber. Gavin decided to spend the remainder of the day with his wife, watching her tend to the villagers’ various ailments and injuries, then later play with the children. The most memorable part of the afternoon came when he helped her teach Thea the basics in swordplay.
Thea was a quick learner, fast and agile, too. After an hour the little sprite needed a moment’s rest, but she encouraged her instructors to do mock battle. Ella readily agreed. Gavin, on the other hand, groaned in dismay.
It was bad enough that his sweet wife was all for impaling him with a wooded sword, but it was made worst when his family came out to watch. His brothers and Bowen cheered for Ella and offered instructions on how to best strike him. His mother, however, would have encouraged him, but she was too busy making threats.
“I’ll tan yer backside if ye hurt my delicate angel, Gavin.”
When he wisely yielded to his wife, Thea consoled him with a pat on the arm and words of encouragement.
“Dinna feel bad Laird Gavin, mayhap Ella will practice with ye, and one day ye will be able to beat her. And dinna fear, I will nae tell my papa.”
Sitting in the great hall for the evening meal a few hours later, Thea lived up to her word and told not a soul about Ella defeating him in mock battle. It was Bowen who took that honor, and even demonstrated with the help of Tavish the events of the aftern
oon. The Macleods were vastly amused, and as their joyous laughter filled the hall, Gavin just shook his head with a broad smile.
Throughout the night his gaze continued to fall on Ella’s contagious smile and dancing glade-green eyes. He felt such pride with her beside him, as he held her hand and watched her dazzle their people with her keen wit and spirited nature.
When the meal concluded Paen, Tavish, Edric and Osgood stood and presented Ella with a gift, which they had been working on unbeknownst to Gavin.
Osgood gave the signal for silence, and instantly the hall went quiet. His usual jovial expression turned serious when he turned to Ella and said for all to hear, “When the black guard first met ye, we thought ye the worst kind of hellion from Hades.”
Laughter rippled through the air while a pretty blush spread throughout Ella’s cheeks.
Osgood continued with a smirk, “But, it dinna take long to notice yer fiery spirit and courageous heart.”
Even though Osgood was the largest Macleod and one of the most feared Highlanders in Scotland, he was also complete mush when he became emotional.
Turning to look out over the crowd, he stated, “All ken the brave tale of how Lady Ella saved Gabriel, nephew to Laird Macleod, son to Keir Mackenzie and grandson to Laird Alex Mackenzie. But, most here this eve, dinna ken that on our return journey home, while on Scot soil, we were attacked by English swine. And, they outnumbered us five to one.” He paused for a moment, when he continued his voice choked with emotion.
“We were victorious that fateful day because an angel chose to bless us.” He turned to face her once again and said, “Lady Ella, ye will always be our angel, our wee warrior.” He winked at her, knowing how she hated to be called wee, then cleared his voice and faced his kinsmen.
“I speak on behalf of Laird Gavin’s blackguard when I say we have ne’er seen such exceptional skill and accuracy with a bow, especially amidst a battle.”
When the four men of his blackguard drew their swords then lowered themselves to one knee, Gavin understood that his men had chosen to pledge their loyalty to his wife. This Highland tradition usually occurs after the wedding feast of a clan’s laird, but he had postponed it due to the complications that surrounding his marriage.
He assisted Ella to her feet, and then stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders while his men continued.
As Paen pulled out a newly carved bow and leather quiver of arrows, he stated with conviction, “The four men kneeling afore ye, as well as Laird Gavin and Nicholas, ken the sentimental value of the long bow ye used to defend us during the attack. Yer uncle, the admirable Sir James, carved that bow with his own hands as a sign of his everlasting love for ye. It is our deepest regret that such a fine weapon and symbolic gift was destroyed. As a symbol of our love and devotion to ye, we recreated the original long bow made of yew wood, pinion feathered, and sized accordingly to yer stature. The one subtle difference is the carved inscription. Lady Ella Macleod, please except this humble gift as well as our solemn oath of loyalty.”
With trembling hands, Ella took the lightweight bow and read ‘In Honor of Sir James of Greystone, beloved kin to the Macleod Clan.’ As slight gasp passed her lips and tears cascaded down her face as she touched the words that were carved into the smooth wood shaft of the bow.
After a few silent moments, she lifted her head and listened to first Paen and Osgood, then Edric and Tavish swear to protect and honor her all the days of her life. When they finished, each kissed her tear-stained cheeks, then moved to stand behind Gavin on the dais.
Her eyes returned to the bow, to the magnanimous gift that left her in awe. When Gavin’s warm hands gentle squeeze her shoulders, she turned her buoyant gaze to him, but was unable to speak.
“Tis nae over, little one. Allow me to take yer precious gift, while ye turn yer attention yonder,” Gavin suggested as he pointed.
It was then Ella noticed all the tables in the hall had been cleared away to provide space for the horde of people that seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Gavin’s warriors moved to stand behind Bowen, a few paces away from the dais. By the time Bowen raised his hand, the men at arms were in methodical rows of ten, which extended the length of the hall. Completely flabbergasted, she was unaware that Gavin had taken her bow and placed in on the trestle table
Bowen faced her as he raised his hand to still the shifting people behind him, then waited for complete silence before he lowered to one knee, and was followed by every Macleod warrior in the hall. It was as if the entire center of the hall dropped at once, and the display was breath taking.
In a strong, clear voice Bowen gave his oath of loyalty, which was followed by the simultaneous oaths of all the kneeling warriors. She knew this was a tradition of the Highland clans, for the warriors to give their oath to the laird’s wife, but it still overwhelmed her.
After the warriors dispersed to the side of the hall, the unexpected and uncommon occurred. Led by Colban and his family, numerous villagers came into the hall to stand before their laird’s wife.
“I, Colban McGregor, come before you on behalf of the villagers,” he said as waved his hand in the direction of the double arched doors that suddenly opened to the stone platform of the grand staircase that looked out over the bailey.
Ella gasped at the number of men, women and children that filled the large courtyard. Surrounded by darkness, the lit candles in their hands looked like the stars had descended from the sky.
When her gaze ventured back to Colban and his family, in unison they went to one knee. The mass that stood behind them quickly followed, and those without swords placed their hands over their hearts. After Colban made his pledged of loyalty, the villagers in the hall and outside in the bailey did as well.
Ella was thankful Gavin stood behind her with his hands atop her shoulders when she saw Lady Esme, Maeve, Ualan, Fin and all who worked within the castle kneel and recite their oath. When they finished and cleared to the side, she assumed it was over, but was proven wrong. The pledges of loyalty made this night had been made by large groups of people until now. The last came in a single pair.
The sight of young Leif and wee Thea kneeling and pledging their honor, one after the other, shattered the last remnants of Ella’s composure. She cried out as she fell to her knees and gathered them in her arms.
“Thank you,” she began, then looked up, “all of you.”
The sea of warm faces that surrounded her burst out in loud cheers and applause. The women wept tears of enchantment, while the men nodded approvingly at her affectionate nature.
After the children scrambled away, Ella turned to Gavin and took his hands in hers. She then stunned all watching by slowly dropping to one knee before her husband and laird.
“Before God and my clan, I, Ella Macleod vow to love, honor, protect ye, Gavin Macleod. I give ye my heart as I give ye my loyalty, now and always.” The latter came out in a broken sob.
No words or gesture alone had ever affected Gavin so profoundly. Without another thought he lifted her to stand, then kept his gaze locked with hers as he gradually lowered himself to one knee.
“I, Laird Gavin Macleod, take ye, Ella Macleod, into family and clan, but more importantly, I take ye into my heart and soul. I will love and honor ye, protect and be loyal to ye, now and always.”
Before his last few words were spoken, she fell to her knees, and when he finished she was in his arms. The thunderous cheers of the Macleod Clan vibrated the wall of the great hall as he stood with her in his embrace and her feet dangled in the air.
The momentous occasion confirmed Ella’s decision to tell Gavin the origin of her birth, and about the earth-shattering day when she killed her mother. Still encircled by his strength, she whispered, “’Tis my greatest wish to tell you this eve about my family and my past.”
He lowered her to the ground, then cupped her face with love shining in his eyes and said, “Aye, I would like that verra-”
His words were cut short by the
ominous sound of horns alerting the clan that something was amiss.
74
“Fire, in the village!” Someone shouted from the doorway.
Pandemonium erupted in the great hall as Gavin grabbed her upper arms and said, “I must go. Promise me ye will nae leave the castle.”
“I . . . I promise. Please, be careful,” she said in a shaky voice.
He gave her a quick, hard kiss before saying, “Aye, my love.” Then he was gone.
As the men of the clan took flight to put out the fires that threatened to consume their homes, the women busied themselves cleaning the hall and preparing for the worst. Clean linen strips, blankets, clothes and buckets of water were set on the trestle tables, while Ella made large quantities of salve to heal burns and alleviate pain. When the mixture of barley seeds, anise, and comfrey was made ready and put into jars. She distributed it to the women in the hall, along with instructions on how to apply the remedy.
After all was said and done, Ella excused herself from the hall to change into a more serviceable gown for tending injuries. The moment she entered her chamber, she saw the rolled up parchment on the bed. Chills went down her back as she careful opened it and began reading.
Ella,
It was wise for you not to reveal your true identity and the heinous sin you committed. By the hands of either your father or husband, you would have been killed. As you well know, your father will never forgive you for the death of his beloved wife, and your husband would never go against Alex Mackenzie.
As always, I will help you escape your ill-boding future. I offer you a chance of redemption, in the eyes of your family.
Sacrifice yourself for the lives of your brothers and nephew as well as the Mackenzie stronghold, which are all under my control. I will expect you by dawn at the front gates.