Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)

by Kenna Kendrick

  “I love her, I cannot just rid myself of those feelings. I love her with all my heart,” Andrew could feel his anger rise at the injustice of the situation.

  “Ye dinnae know the meaning of such a word, now be quiet and eat, yer uncle and I have been discussing what comes next, the time is right for an assault on the castle. Despite Murdoch’s attack upon us, we are stronger than we have ever been and there are many in the forest to support us, keep yer mind fixed on that prize, laddie, dinnae go chasing after flights of fancy but work for things which endure, ye hear me?” Stewart stared hard at Andrew across the table.

  Andrew made no reply but lowered his head and stirred his soup ponderously. His heart was breaking for Nairne, and he wondered what she would think when he failed to appear at the pool the next day. Would she assume he was dead? Or lost forever in the vastness of the forest? Would she shed a tear for him? Or would he be easily forgotten? These questions were at the forefront of Andrew’s mind, as he lay down to sleep that night, longing to hold Nairne once again and tell her how much he loved her.

  * * *

  Andrew rose early the next morning, looking out dejectedly across the moors and forest below, the early morning sun burning off the mist and revealing the endless landscape before him. He could hear the sounds of his mother cooking breakfast, she was humming a little to herself, snatches of a tune he didn’t recognize, and as he took his place at the table, she handed him a bowl of porridge with a smile.

  “Dinnae look so dejected, Andrew, it is not the end of the world, and very soon ye shall be Laird, is that not a happy thought?”

  “And if I dinnae wish tae be Laird, what then?” he dug his spoon angrily into the porridge.

  “It is yer destiny, Andrew, ye were born tae be Laird, it is yer burden, but there are those of us here tae help ye.”

  “When will it be, though? There is a lot of talk but rarely any action on the part of my fellow clansmen.” His opinion of his fellow man upon the croft was not high, and he could not imagine them rallying to any cause led by him.

  “Very soon,” his stepfather emerged from the other bedroom, as Rhona passed him a bowl of porridge, “We have sent the word out as far as Glen Shee, asking any Cameron, or any man loyal tae the cause of righteousness tae join us. We will march under the banner of yer father very soon, now eat yer porridge laddie, today ye are going to be reminded how tae fight.”

  Andrew turned his face away from Stewart, he had no desire to practise swordsmanship, and his interest in leading men into battle was severely depleted. Andrew Cameron would have settled for a quiet life in the forest, just like his alter-ego Andrew Macleod, then perhaps he could have married Nairne and lived happily with her forever. Instead, he reluctantly picked up his sword and followed his stepfather outside, where Duncan and several of the clansmen were already about their business.

  “Hail, Laird tae be,” one of the men shouted, raising his sword to Andrew who gave him a withering look.

  “Come now laddie, ye escaped from Murdoch’s castle, wouldn’t ye like tae see him thrown intae the dungeon he put ye in?” Duncan joined him.

  “We were angry with ye before, but warriors dinnae hold grudges against their own.”

  “Aye, ye are a good laddie really, Andrew, come now, clash swords with me, remind me how good a swordsman ye are,” Stewart urged the lad.

  Andrew found his anger rising, and he raised his sword, lunging for his stepfather who was caught by surprise.

  “See, it only takes a little tae make the laddie feisty again,” Stewart caught his breath as he deflected another attack by Andrew’s sword.

  “He fights well,” Duncan said, the blade falling hard onto Stewart’s shield again.

  “I fight well when I am angry,” Andrew cried.

  “Now what is all this, calm yerselves,” a voice called from across the croft and were surprised to hear a female voice calling to them forcefully the men looked across the heathers to where Cairstine stood, a puzzled look upon her face at the sight of the men sparring with one another.

  “Cairstine,” Andrew cried and sheathing his sword, he ran over to where his Godmother stood and embraced her.

  “I have not been here in years, and the first thing I see is men behaving violently towards one another, I came tae check on ye, I was worried not tae have seen ye or heard word for so many days,” she kissed Andrew on the cheek.

  “I am not allowed intae the forest after … after what happened.”

  “And what was that, you are not the young man I heard a rumor about, are ye? The young man captured in the forest and taken tae the castle?” and taking his hand, they walked towards the croft where his mother was standing waiting at the door.

  “Aye,” he answered sadly, “and for that reason, I am not allowed tae come down intae the forest.”

  “And what of the lassie?” Cairstine asked.

  “Well, there is more tae tell ye about her, and please dinnae be cross with me, everyone here is, and mother was angrier than I had ever seen when I told her.”

  “Ye mean the fact that the lassie was Murdoch Mackintosh’s daughter, Nairne?” Cairstine sounded matter of fact about the whole affair.

  “Aye, but how did ye know that?” Andrew was surprised by his Godmother’s words as they arrived at the door of the croft.

  “It was not hard tae guess, Andrew. No peasant lassie would be walking in the forest tae swim, and no peasant lassie would possess such an elegant shawl, only Nairne Mackintosh would be such a lassie. I dinnae blame ye for falling in love with her, but ye have dug yer hole pretty deep, and if ye dinnae tell her the truth about yerself then there is no hope for the future.”

  “But as I am not allowed tae see her anymore, there is no future. All my stepfather and uncle can think of is war, and attacking the castle, I am tae lead them. No one is interested in my happiness.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Cairstine took off her cloak as Rhona came to embrace her dearest friend.

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘Just Like Old Times’

  “What brings ye ‘above,’ dear Cairstine, I dinnae remember the last time ye came here, it is always we who come down the mountain tae ye,” Rhona ushered her friend inside shooing Andrew away.

  “I was worried about Andrew,” Cairstine settled herself down at the table, accepting the warm cup of milk which Rhona offered.

  “So ye heard about what happened then?”

  “Aye, ye know how rumors fly around the forest folk, it was said that a young laddie had been captured in the forests, and of course Andrew often comes tae visit me. So my fears were heightened. Then, when I dinnae hear anything from him, or ye, for a few days I thought it was about time I paid a visit ‘up above,’ as I always say.”

  “He is alright, now that Murdoch does not have him in his clutches, the laddie could have been killed if he had recognized him. I dinnae think he realizes how serious it is, Murdoch Mackintosh will stop at nothing tae see this clan wiped out, that is why I am always so worried about ye and Alistair living down in the woods as ye do. Ye would be far safer up here with us,” Rhona seated herself opposite Cairstine, who smiled and simply laughed.

  “Safer up here? When ye endured an attack by the Mackintosh’s just a few days ago, we shall stay in the woods thank ye, and what is all this talk of preventing Andrew from seeing the lassie?” Cairstine fixed Rhona with a knowing look.

  “Ye cannot seriously think that Andrew and this Nairne lassie should cavort together, who knows what trouble it will bring and if anyone found out …” Rhona looked in horror at Cairstine, who laughed again.

  “I dinnae think they were cavorting, they are just two young folk in love with one another, is that really so bad?”

  “But she is the daughter of Murdoch Mackintosh, ye cannot seriously think that she and Andrew would be a suitable match for one another?” Rhona shook her head, “besides, think of the danger he is placing himself in by running off down there all the time, the laddie is stupid if
he thinks he can court a lassie such as that, I was horrified when I discovered her true identity.”

  “Aye, and your husband is the brother of Murdoch Mackintosh, what difference is there? Twenty-one years ago ye did something which was entirely treacherous, from one viewpoint at least. Ye ‘cavorted’ with the brother of the man who had killed yer husband, and he then betrayed his clan so that he could marry ye, and all these years later here we are again, your dear son, my Godson, has fallen in love with a lassie. It just so happens that she is the daughter of a most unpleasant man, but that is not her fault, and neither is it anyone else's. Love is love, and if Andrew is in love with Nairne and Nairne is in love with Andrew, then so be it,” Cairstine once again fixed her eyes on Rhona who looked somewhat aghast.

  Rhona had not thought of it like that, or rather, she had chosen to conveniently lay it aside. She had almost forgotten that her husband was a Mackintosh. He was so good-hearted, courageous, and bold, everything she had been taught a Mackintosh was not. Cairstine was right of course, it was utter hypocrisy to forbid her son from meeting Nairne when she had fallen in love under such circumstances. However, she could not bear the thought of Andrew being captured by Murdoch again or falling prey to the soldiers who stalked the forest.

  “Ye are right, aye, ye are always so wise, dear Cairstine,” she took her friend's hand, “I … I just dinnae think about it like that, there is so much at stake here now, that poor lassie is in as much danger as Andrew is if Murdoch discovers his identity, and I dinnae wish tae see her harmed in any way. Ye and I know both know what that man is capable of, I am only trying tae protect Andrew.”

  “Ye will drive him away if ye prevent him from loving who he wants tae love, mark my words, dear Rhona. Ye will not change the laddie’s mind, and if ye try tae do so, ye will find ye have no son, and no Laird to lead this clan to its rightful home.”

  “Aye, and that is the next great difficulty we face, the men are hungry for war, and I dinnae know if Andrew is ready for it,” his mother sighed.

  She had long brooded over her son’s ability as a warrior, he was nothing like his father really, far gentler and with an innocent heart. He had not been raised as the son of a Laird, amidst the grandeur of a highland castle. At heart, he was a simple crofter who happened to be the inheritor of a title. For all the talk of Andrew being ‘just like his father,’ the truth was that they were very different men.

  Her own recollections of Iain were growing dim, he was a vague memory to her after all these years, yet her love for him still found a place in her heart. She remembered his strength, his noble nature, his occasionally short temper and the way he used to hold her close to him, as though nothing else mattered in the world. But while Iain Cameron had been a warrior all his life, raised to defend the honor of his clan and fight whenever the need arose, his son, raised in exile on the crofts, was a gentle creature unused to warfare.

  It was for this reason, surely, that Andrew had fallen so readily for Nairne Murdoch, his heart and mindset not on things of war but of the soul. Maybe he did love her, but Rhona still found it hard to let her son go, the precious bairn she had escaped from the castle with and whom she feared losing above all else

  “What do ye propose I do then?” she asked, as Cairstine drew her cloak around her, for the morning was still cold, and the croft had not yet warmed from the little fire in the hearth.

  “Let the laddie see the lassie, that’s what I suggest, that way ye shall keep yer son, and if ye know where he is going, then he shall be safer than if he is simply disappearing intae the forest, I will keep an eye on him.”

  “He was meant tae be meeting the lassie today, she will be worried when he doesn’t arrive,” Rhona imagined herself in Nairne’s shoes.

  It seemed strange to think of a new lassie in the castle of the Cameron’s, and what of Murdoch’s wife? How had she come to love that wicked man? Rhona wondered just what would become of them if Murdoch were defeated.

  “Then let him go; otherwise ye shall have no son, Rhona, at least not one that wishes tae be a part of this clan.”

  Rhona sighed, she knew what Stewart and Duncan would say if she changed her mind and allowed Andrew to go running down into the woods. She could hear their words, angry at her for allowing him to so easily change her mind.

  “I cannae let him go, I am sorry, Cairstine, you speak words of truth, but he must learn to be obedient and respect his clan,” Rhona shook her head as Cairstine sighed.

  “This is a decision ye may live tae regret, Rhona, but ye are the boy’s mothers, and it is up tae ye tae decide what he can, and canae do.”

  Rhona shook her head and sighed, looking out of the window to where Andrew and his uncle were still practising their swordsmanship. Her son looked quite out of place amongst the rough and warlike men, he fought well though and wielded the sword well, but there was more to him than that, and it was clear that his mind was on other things.

  She and Cairstine went to the door of the croft and called for Andrew who lay down his sword immediately and ran across the heathers towards them.

  “Come inside a moment, son,” Rhona asked as Andrew looked at her with a puzzled expression, “I have been talking with yer Godmother.”

  “A long talk,” Cairstine patted Andrew on the shoulder as the three sat at the table.

  “Cairstine had pointed out some errors in my judgment regarding ye and the lassie in the forest,” Rhona chose her words carefully.

  “I know ye will not let me see her, mother, I dinnae want tae speak of her anymore,” Andrew spoke harshly, averting his gaze from his mother.

  “It is for the best, Andrew, I know ye will say I am an overbearing mother, but these past days when ye have held prisoner there, and I thought ye were dead, they have been the hardest of my life, I cannae bear such a thing again. In time tae come ye may see her when all this terrible business is over, and Murdoch is finally vanquished, until then though I still side with yer stepfather and uncle.”

  At these words, Andrew looked up, a sorrowful look spreading across his face.

  “Then my heart is broken, mother.” a tear welled in his eye

  “I was no doubt wrong tae judge Nairne as a Mackintosh, and the daughter of Murdoch, when I am married to his brother, but I will not see ye harmed again, trust yer mother on this matter.”

  Andrew nodded his head and looked at Rhona at his mother and then to his Godmother, who smiled and tilted her head in a knowing way.

  “Ye must still come tae visit me though, Andrew, ye hear me, yer mother will not prevent that, I am sure.”

  “Aye, well, as a matter of fact, there is some fencing tae be seen tae down near the loch, it is a long run, and tae take yer mind off these things ye could do that today, what say ye? And then stay with yer Godmother tonight, no doubt ye will be breathing threats against us if ye remain here,” Rhona steadied her son with a firm gaze.

  “If Cairstine dinnae mind?”

  “I dinnae mind ye staying with me on any day or night,” his Godmother replied, once more giving him a knowing look.

  “Then ye best get going, laddie,” Rhona pointed to the door and the moorlands beyond, “make sure those fences are adequately fixed, ye hear me?”

  At these words, Andrew leapt to his feet and pelted out of the door and across the heathers. The sounds of his stepfather and uncle shouting after him could be heard in the distance, but Rhona just shook her head.

  “I hope I am doing the right thing, Cairstine.”

  “Even if it is the wrong thing he will learn from it,” her friend smiled sagely.

  “For all our sakes, I hope so.”

  * * *

  Andrew Cameron was delighted by his Godmother’s willingness to be a party to such deception, the fences could wait for he had only one thought in mind, and that was to see Nairne.

  The past few days, since his arrival home, he had sunk into a terrible depression. He could not rid his mind of Nairne’s face, and the last moment they had sha
red before his escape. The kiss they had shared had been perfect, and he longed for another.

  Running through the forest, his feet felt as light as air and swifter than the deer. Today he would tell Nairne just how much he loved her, they would embrace, and he would kiss her again.

  The image went around in his mind as he ran along the tracks, ignoring the animals and birds, his one desire being to arrive at the pool and find her waiting for him.

  His stepfather and uncle would be angry, their shouts had fallen on deaf ears as he raced into the forest. They would wonder just what words his mother had spoken that had caused him to depart his duties so readily.

  She was right of course, it was pure hypocrisy for her to say he couldn’t see Nairne when she had married a relative just as close to Murdoch as she was. At least she had seen sense, Andrew thought as he arrived breathless and happy at the poolside. The sun was high above, casting its rays down into the forest, the light reflecting off the water as the waterfall splashed upon the rocks.