Highlander’s Honorable Oath (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)

by Fiona Faris

  Gretchen received the advice and the herbs with murmured thanks and walked him to the door. As the healer departed, she covered Callum's body with a quilt, sensing that the effects of shock and blood loss were sending shivers across his body

  Callum opened his eyes and focused on her with difficulty.

  "If I need heavenly help," he swallowed "I'm in trouble. I'm nae that good a soul tae receive the blessings of healing unless there's some corrupt angel tae offer bribes tae," Callum said and smiled dryly at his joke. A startled laugh escaped Gretchen as she glanced at him with unveiled emotions.

  "Don't be sae ridiculous, my laird. Ye are a kindly laird, and this everyone in the keep and the village knows about." She poured the grounded herbs into a small spoon and helped him to sit up. "Take this. The healer prescribed it and highly recommends it for yer discomfort." Gretchen held the spoon up his mouth. He swallowed the herbs, wrinkled his face and cursed., Gretchen reached for a cup of water and pressed it to his lips. "Drink, my laird!" she said. Callum obeyed and settled back on the pillow.

  "Dunkin! I feel bad for him I…”

  "He's a wicked man, my laird, ye have just saved the future of the Glenbogle clan. He well deserved what he got. If a man could be sae brutal tae have kidnapped a little girl for his unhealthy purposes, then he should nae be pitied for whatever thing that befell him," Gretchen replied, reaching for a tiny pot of oil. She smoothed some in his dry lips with gentle fingertips.

  "How's Ava?" Callum asked, trying to sit up. A bolt of pain caused his face to whiten, and he fell back with a gasp.

  "Do nae move, my laird. It will hurt yer abdomen, and ye may start to bleed again," she warned and rested a hand on his chest and ran her fingers through his golden chest hair. "She is well, in her room, protected by the guards," she said, answering his question.

  "If I get through this, I shall strengthen the guarding of the keep," Callum whispered, exhausted by the effort of talking.

  "Ye can think about much of that later. Yer only concern right now is tae get well. "

  "My lady... " his shaking fingers fumbled for hers, feebly trapping her fingers on his bare chest. Under their joined hands, his heartbeat unsteadily, reminding her of his grave condition.

  "T-take c-care of A-Ava," he whispered with his eyes half-closed “If I... If I... "

  "If ye what?" Gretchen stared into his face, his white skin, and realized he was referring to his death. As she felt the hand slide away from hers and gripped it firmly. His hand was no longer warm but quite cool to the touch, and she knew this was not a good sign. "Nae, my laird, there would be nae if. I will stay with ye every moment. I will keep ye with me."

  Suddenly her breath was coming hard. She felt the pressure of panic inside her chest. Continuing to lean over him, she turned her hand so that their palms would match, their breathing mingling.

  "If my love can hold ye, I will keep ye with me!" she sobbed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was some moments after the incidence of Callum's diminishing health and treatment. After adequate care had been administered to him and with full satisfaction that he would get better soon, Gretchen went to Merriam's room, and her eyes widened at her sight as she leaned wearily on the bed, gazing tiringly and sickly from her bed.

  "Mother!" Gretchen screamed, taken aback of the scene that lay before her and hurried toward the bed.

  "What happened tae ye, mother? Why dae ye look sae sick and tired," she screamed with fury as her hands were tightly pressed on her head. She came across Merriam and touched the back of her hand on her neck and wrist to observe her pulse.

  "My daughter! I am sorry, I couldnae bear the news of the missing Ava, and I thought something bad had happened tae ye and Callum in the course of yer search," Merriam said, her thin voice spurring out faintly.

  "Mother, nothing much happened, just a fight with the man that abducted Ava, and he has been sent tae the Hell he deserves. What about the maids who were supposed tae take care of ye?" Gretchen asked, her voice slightly breaking with anger.

  "I dismissed them myself, stating clearly tae them that I daenae desire their care, I will become strong again, my daughter. How's the Laird and Ava?" her raspy voice called out, managing to flash a faint smile at Gretchen.

  "They are now well, Mother. Ava is in care of the maids and is being protected by the guards. Nae evil will come again. And the Laird is in his room, being offered treatment. He was slightly injured from the battle with the wicked man. Mother, ye need tae get better for us. Please, Mother. I shall see tae yer care myself. I will be back within a short while with yer food and some herbs and buttermilk. Ye need food tae regain yer strength."

  Without waiting for her reply, she hurried toward the door and returned in a few minutes with a food tray and settled it at Merriam's bedside.

  "Let's get ye seated, Mother, and shall we start with the meal?" Gretchen asked, settling the plates on the table.

  * * *

  It was now two weeks after Callum returned to the keep. The sun shone through the glass windows of the hall where the Council of Elders was now seated, exchanging pleasantries. They were all unaware of the reasons he had chosen not to attend any of the council meetings. They had held about four sessions in his absence, and he had been silent about the reason for his absence.

  On the day he had returned from the forest after his fight with Dunkin and had been injured, Gregory had offered to represent him, and had found one or two excuses to table to them. On the other days, there had been more excuses, which had later led to a slight uproar.

  The elders had vehemently demanded to see the Laird when Gregory had appeared again, explaining to them that the Laird was suffering from a slight sickness incurred during his search for his daughter, deliberately omitting the part where Callum had killed Dunkin and how badly injured he was.

  "Nothing will stop us from knowing the truth of the Laird’s well-being. You have given us the same excuse every day. I sense something is wrong; the truth is being deliberately concealed from us. We're thrown intae darkness about the whole situation. If there's anything tae be done, I will suggest that we all visit the Laird’s chambers to see for ourselves what has happened tae him," Alistair intoned, a scowl darkening his features.

  "I think Alistair is right. We should be enlightened about the whole situation. Believe me when I say we're as lost as a calf that has strayed from its mother. There is something deeply amiss with the Laird; he would be here otherwise," agreed Patrick.

  "Yes, my friends and fellow elders, this matter is serious, and I will suggest we proceed with utmost seriousness. Ye all know we have been long on this issue, and my intestines are crying for food; moreover, my stomach is such a small one, it rumbles easily. Pray let us have some food before marching upstairs tae have a glance at the Laird and confirm what goes on," Albert said.

  His suggestion was brushed away with hisses and headshaking; no one could have expected lesser. They had known him to always be interested in food and little else. Some of the other elders in the room also stood and offered suggestions, and upon hearing them all, Elder Gilbert cleared his throat and made to speak.

  "Great Council of Elders, yer suggestions are always witty. All the suggestions have been noted, and I'd propose tae the council that in order nae tae arouse any concerns with the people or enemy suspicions, let us send two delegates tae find out what could be wrong," he said.

  After further deliberations, the elders suggested that Alistair and Patrick go to find out the cause of the Lairds absence. As the matter was decided, Gilbert called an end to the meeting and sent the two men to fulfill their task.

  * * *

  Callum awakened in a haze of pain, not only in his wound but in his head, bones, and joints. He was dry and burning as if a fire had been trapped beneath his skin, and he twisted in a vain attempt to escape the heat. A pair of gentle hands descended on him, and a wet cloth passed over his face. A hiss of relief crawled out of his lips as he reached out for the
source of the coolness.

  "My laird! Dae rest, daenae bother, it's me," Gretchen's cooing broke through his ears. Gasping, he released her and fell back against his bed. The cloth moved over him in short strokes, temporary ease from the burning torment. Each stroke served to calm him, and he was able to lie quietly beneath her ministrations.

  "Gretchen," he said hoarsely.

  "Yes, my laird," she said, aware of the fact that he had called her by her name. He always had politely referred to her as "my lady." Calling her Gretchen sounded much more familiar, and she found she preferred it. "I am here, my love," she said as she slipped a moistened cloth between his dry lips.

  His lashes lifted, puzzled by the endearment. He watched as she leaned over him. The cool water felt good against the heat of his parched throat. Before he could request more, she re-moistened the cloth and returned it to his lips. Fetching out a clean cloth, she wiped his chest and beneath his arms. The room was dark except for the pale moonlight that slipped into the room from a shrouded window. As he suckled water from the cloth, the unnatural heat scorching his insides abated slightly.

  "If there was anything tae be grateful for, certainly it’s tae God for this wonderful creation!" he said and halted for a few seconds, sucking a little more moisture from the cloth she held to his lips. "I couldnae make dae with what would have happened if ye were nae created tae grace my world. This is the second time I lie on a sickbed and have ye tae care for me. I am forever grateful tae ye, Gretchen,” Callum said hoarsely as he smiled wryly and gazed at Gretchen with love in his eyes. Although he was still sick, he knew he would get over the illness with Gretchen's healing presence. He could not be surer.

  "Shh, my laird" Gretchen whispered to him, placing one of her fingers on his lips. "It's all right! Ye are a kindly man, too."

  Callum continued talking with terrible desperation. He wanted her to never doubt how he felt about her, and in his fevered delirium, she seemed so far from him, an angel come down from the heavens.

  In time, she was able to quiet him with a soft kiss on his lips, and their eyes met in a moment of silent understanding. Her love for him swelling in her chest, she sank to her knees beside his bed and rested her head gently on his chest. Listening patiently to the thumping of his heart, Gretchen silently thanked God that he had survived the battle and prayed that He would allow him to heal from his wound as well. What would she do if she lost him?

  After a while, Gretchen rose to her feet and gently changed the cold cloth on his forehead and smoothed salve on his cracked lips. She caressed the side of his face, the golden bristle scratching her fingers. Callum turned his cheek into the softness of her palm with a quiet murmur.

  Ah, but he was such a beautiful, graceful, and handsome creature. As she stared at his helpless form, she knew that no other man could ever capture her heart the way he had. Not only because of his comely face and body but because despite his busy schedule and everything, he had always made time for her and her daughter. Also, he had been willing to give his life for hers.

  When daylight came, she found Callum utterly still. She had thought he was getting better, but no, her hope of seeing him alive was slipping away as he was lost in a stupor.

  "My laird! My laird!" she called, feeling his face and neck with the back of her palm. The fever was blazing, and it seemed almost impossible that human skin could burn so hot. Flinging herself off his bed, she stumbled to the bell pull and tugged it violently. "Can someone send for the healer, please!"

  With the help of Gregory and the other guards, Gretchen lay moistened cloths over his body. Callum remained still and silent through it all. Gretchen's hopes were briefly raised when the fever seemed to drop, but in less than a few minutes, it resumed its relentless climb.

  Gretchen watched Callum’s motionless body, and her stomach knotted with worry. She had lost her husband once, and now it appeared she might lose Callum, too. If he should die, she would never take pleasure in anything again.

  Callum had been the first man she had affection for, even before her parents arranged her marriage to Fraser, and thinking of the time they had been together in the forest, against the raging storm, at the dance party, where they had both crazily made love, the dance itself, and the kisses, she smiled sadly.

  Glancing up, she looked at Gregory, who had been hovering near the Laird’s bedside. He had been performing the Laird's duties in Callum’s absence, and he looked exhausted. She spoke to him with her gaze fastened on Callum's waxen face.

  "I daenae know what tae dae for him," she whispered, "any healer I ask for will always want tae cut and bleed him, but the Laird daesnae want it."

  Reaching out, Gregory brushed back the wild locks of Gretchen's unwashed hair and patted her on the back. "My mother was a healer before she allowed death tae take her away," he said thoughtfully, "I remember that she used tae flood wounds with saltwater and pack them with dried moss. And when I had a fever, she would make me chew sprigs of apple tree and apple leaves."

  "Apple leaves?" Gretchen repeated blankly. “I have never heard of that,” she said and tucked her hair behind her ears.

  "Yes, apple leaves and garlic. It grows in the moors," he said

  "I daenae think he has much time left," Gretchen said as her voice broke. Terrified that she might lose control of her emotions, she straightened in her chair and glanced blankly at the window, gazing at the sun's pale rays and shrugged away from Gregory's consoling touch. "Please, dae find something tae dae."

  " I will surely return soon," she heard him say softly, and in the next minute he was gone

  Hours after Gregory had left, Gretchen snuck into the room, making sure that her feet made no sound. She sat beside Callum’s bed in a state of exhausted indecision, aware that she should probably make some concessions to the needs of her own body, but she was afraid to leave Callum, even for a few minutes, scared that he might fade away in her absence.

  She stared at her loving Callum. Her spirit and body had become so weighted that no action or thought was possible. If anyone entered the room, she would notice. Her only focus was on the nearly undetectable rise and fall of Callum's chest.

  "God, I adore this man sae much. Callum, I want ye back tae me. Ye are the only man who has given me joy and protection,” she whispered on a broken sob. “I swear that I have come tae understand love through ye. If ye can get well, I will show tae ye all my love. I will give tae ye my heart fully and let ye dae with it as ye please. I just want tae love ye with all my heart and with all that remains of me. Please, my laird, dae get better for your clan and for me. The people await the return of the Laird."

  She thought about how Fraser had left her when he died at the battle and what had become of her, how she had battled with her emotions and how nothing interested her for a long time. Thank God for Callum. She would have gone ahead living at the outskirts of the town and continued her solitary lifestyle.

  "Lord, please, I daenae want him tae die! I will be shattered," she said and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on his forehead. As the kiss landed on Callum's head, he turned wearily on his bed and slept on. Sighing, she rose to her feet and left the room. Going to check on Callum’s mother, she headed to Merriam's room. The old woman was looking pale and tired, lying almost on her bed.

  With the help of Gretchen, Merriam bathed and changed into a loose day gown that required no corset. She braided her clean, damp hair into a long plait that hung down her back and stuck her feet into a pair of knit slippers. As all was done, Gretchen settled her in her bed and began talking to her.

  "Mother, yer tray of food was just brought up, and I will bring it tae ye. Boiled egg and bread. If ye would take that and take the herbs, I can assure ye that yer weak bones will rise again."

  "Nae, I daenae feel like eating anything. My stomach is filled up, and my strength... for food has diminished," Merriam rasped.

  "Mother, I should hate tae hae tae use force on ye. Ye have herbs tae take as recommended by the healer, please Mo
ther, dae take some food, sae that the herbs can function well in yer system." She grabbed the tray of food and set it on the table.

  Merriam sighed and allowed the younger woman to help her sit up. After a few bites, she became tired and could eat no more.

  "Ye would feel better now. Just open yer mouth, and I'd feed ye the herbs," Gretchen said, dipping a spoon into the pot. "Here we go, mother!" she said and held the spoon up to Merriam’s lips. "Good mother! Now ye can rest yer back as we await tomorrow morning,”

  Confirming that Merriam had already fallen asleep, Gretchen heaved a sigh of weariness and walked out of the room straight to her bedroom and took off her dress for a bath. After cleaning and bathing, she fell on her bed. "What a long day," she said and closed her eyes.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was about three days after Gregory's return with the moss and herbs that Callum's fever had broken, and his wound began to heal. It was a bright afternoon, and the sun was out. Gretchen sent for a slipper tub to be brought to Callum's room, anticipating that he would appreciate the opportunity for a tub bath.