Perhaps he’s delayed in the forest, she thought to herself, some task which his mother had given him, and besides, it was not yet the appointed time, the sun not having emerged above the canopy in the morning sky.
She sat for a while longer, idly skimming stones and glancing at the path. But still, there was no sign of him. Waiting for over an hour, her heart sank as she wondered whether he would come. The time for their meeting was passed, and usually, he was there first awaiting her. Had something happened? Did he get lost in the forest after his escape? Every probable tragedy passed through her mind, and she wondered if Andrew had come to some sorry end. A tear formed in her eye, but she told herself not to be silly, and to remember that Andrew could look after himself.
“He is just delayed,” she told herself, all too aware that soon she must return to the castle with her basket of herbs.
She had no wish to leave the glen, for what if Andrew should appear just as she disappeared into the trees. They may be just a short distance from one another and never know it, she thought about leaving her shawl, but such an act would elicit questions from her father, and she had no desire to anger him when his mood was good.
Instead, she took up a piece of stone from beside the pool and on the rock where she had been sitting, wrote these words.
“Andrew, meet me here again in three days when the sun is at noon, ever yours, Nairne.’
Kissing the palm of her hand, she let it linger on the rock, imagining herself in Andrew’s arms, and the smile on his face when he read the message. If he read the message.
She could not banish the lingering fear that he would not see it, or perhaps never come here again. How she worried as she tore herself away from the pool, ambling through the forest and casting an occasional glance back towards the pool, hoping beyond hope that Andrew might be behind her.
* * *
Andrew lay on his back, looking up into the sky. The sun was high, its heat warming his body, yet his heart was cold, and his mind filled with sorrow. It seemed that Nairne was not coming to the pool that day, or he had missed her, arriving too late after the sun had passed over the canopy of trees, or she had been prevented from doing so by some treachery. His thoughts turned to the worst possible scenarios, and he imagined Nairne held against her will in the castle. Her father having discovered the betrayal, which led to Andrew’s escape.
Rising from his place he cast another glance around him, looking down the track which led to the castle, desperately seeking any sign of the bonnie lassie who had so captured his heart. It was just as he was turning to leave, his head hung dejectedly when his eye caught a rock close to the water’s edge.
It was the place where he and Nairne had sat on that first day when they had swum together, and upon which now appeared to be scrawled a message. He ran over to the rock and looked down in delight at the words which Nairne had written a short while ago.
“Dear, darling, Nairne,” he exclaimed out loud, reading the words over and over again, a looking of joy spreading across his face.
In three days, he would meet her here again, just as the message said, in three days when the sun was at midday, and they would share the happiness which he had so imagined.
“Thank ye, Nairne,” he almost leapt for joy, as he splashed through the stream and ran towards home.
The sorrow of the past turned into intense happiness, and Andrew felt his troubles melt away as he ran through the woods. He had no thoughts of the crofters or the clan, only the beautiful Nairne, and he was so caught up with that thought that he almost careered into Cairstine as he came around a corner.
“Andrew Cameron, what a rush ye are in,” his Godmother cried as Andrew stopped headlong in front of her, panting from his run.
“I have seen her, or rather not seen her, but she was there and she …”
“Calm yerself, laddie, ye are babbling like the brook, how could ye have seen her and not seen her?” Cairstine laughed at the boy’s excitement.
“She was not there by the pool, I was too late, the sun was tae high in the sky, but she had been there and left me a message,” Andrew paused, catching his breath.
“Oh, and what did the message say?”
“That we are tae meet again in three days when the sun is high by the pool.”
“I see, so ye have another journey intae the forest tae persuade yer mother tae allow.”
“Aye, but now ye have spoken with her and made her understand then surely she will allow it, and I could bring Nairne tae meet ye and Alistair and …” Andrew began, babbling once again as his Godmother shook her head.
“Dinnae bring us intae yer deception, there is still the matter of telling Nairne of yer true identity, she needs tae know who ye are and I will not be party tae such a thing,”
At this, Andrew’s face fell, and he looked sorrowful, wondering just how he would go about telling Nairne the truth that he was a Cameron. He knew that it would change her mind about him, perhaps even scare her, despite her blatant hatred for her father she had still been taught to fear the Cameron’s and Andrew knew that the truth would cause her fear and even anger that he had played such a deception.
“I just want tae be with her, that is all,” Andrew replied mournfully.
Cairstine smiled, took his hand.
“Ye know, yer Godfather and I have need tae be away for several days this week. We have business with the folk on the north side of the Glen, and I am not always happy tae leave the cottage overnight. Tell yer mother I have asked ye tae mind the place and then ye can show Nairne yer ‘home,’ but mind one thing Andrew Cameron, if ye dinnae tell the lassie the truth then I shall not be party tae yer lies, nor shall I so readily help ye again. Yer mother is my dearest friend, and ye have always been as a son tae me, tell her I have asked ye tae mind the cottage and that ye will see Nairne again on the third day, telling the truth is always better than a lie, just remember that.”
Andrew nodded his head.
“Thank ye, I shall do, though I dread tae think what she will say.”
“She will respect ye for being honest, and if ye she runs away in terror then it was not meant tae be, such is the way of things. Now be on yer way, I have no doubt that yer stepfather and uncle have work for ye, they were not tae happy when ye left.”
Andrew smiled and embraced his Godmother.
“What they say is of little consequence tae me, so long as I get tae see Nairne again.”
“Be on yer way, laddie, and mind ye take good care of my cottage when I am away.” With that, Andrew went on his way, emerging onto the moorlands above the forest just as his uncle and stepfather were returning to the crofts.
“Hail Andrew Cameron, the ever-disappearing Laird,” Stewart mocked, shaking his head at Andrew, who looked defiantly at them both.
“Yer mother is far tae soft upon ye, laddie, what sort of an example tae the men is it if their Laird is mending fences when he should be training for war?” Duncan too shook his head.
“I was alone with my thoughts, the last few days have been a trial for me,” and ignoring their further taunts he returned to the croft.
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘A Miraculous Cure’
Nairne returned to the castle with a basket full of herbs, full of talk about the wise woman in the woods she had seen and spoken with about her mother’s health, Murdoch was awaiting her at the gates and as she approached he looked up at the sun and nodded his head.
“For once ye have not dallied amidst the trees, lassie, did ye get what was needed?” He peered into the basket.
“I dinnae dally because mother is sick and I wanted to get back tae her with the herbs she needs, and yes I got what she needed, let us not waste time in going tae her,” Nairne hurried past her father before he could look too closely at her basket.
Murdoch followed her to Una’s chambers where the woman lay at her pretence. She had played her part well, and as Nairne entered the room, she raised herself weakly from the bed and feebly held
out her hand.
“Nairne, I was worried ye would not get what I need,” her face contorted in pain.
“I am here, mother and I have the herbs ye need, the wise woman told me tae make them intae a tea for ye tae drink, she says they will soothe the fever and make ye feel better,” Taking the herbs from her basket, Nairne signaled to the servant woman to bring hot water.
“Who is this wise woman?” Murdoch asked, “how do ye know of her?”
“From many years before and I have told Nairne of how she helped me in the past, not just in my time carrying but on many occasions when I have had cause tae enter the forest in search of help,” Una sat up in bed as Nairne patted her hand.
“Ye look better already,” Murdoch eyed her suspiciously.
“The fever is passing, but the herbs will help,” Una coughed to further the illusion.
Hot water was brought, and Nairne tore the fresh herbs and placed them in a cup onto which she poured the water, creating a sweet and fragrant smell which perfumed the air, causing Una to sigh deeply.
“There, mother, ye drink that, and ye shall feel much better, of that, I am certain” Nairne raised the cup to her mother’s lips.
Una drank deeply of the fragrant liquid, and it was not long before she stretched out, as though the herbs already had their effect upon her.
“Do ye feel better then, woman?” The slightest hint of concern once again entered Murdoch’s voice.
Laying back on the pillow, she allowed a gentle smile to play across her lips, “aye, and thank ye for allowing Nairne tae go intae the forest for me.”
“Aye, well, as long as ye are feeling better. I go tae prepare for the hunt, the men must be rallied in preparation. We leave tomorrow and will be riding long down into the Glen,” and casting one final look over the scene, he nodded before gently closing the door behind him.
As soon as he had left, Una sat up and hugged her daughter close to her.
“Nairne, thank ye, ye have done well, ever so well, but did ye see him?”
“It is ye who have done well, mother, ye are a most deceptive woman, but no, I dinnae see him, I dinnae know if he is alive or dead,” and at these words, she appeared crestfallen.
“Dinnae despair, Nairne, he may have been delayed, or unable tae make the journey, and his ordeal here in the castle must surely have taken its toll, there may be all sorts of reasons why he couldnae meet ye,” Una patted her daughter’s arm.
“Aye, and that is why I left a sign upon the rock by the pool. If he comes tae that place, then he shall see it and know I was there. I wrote that I would wait there again for him in three days, perhaps then I shall see him?”
“In three days, yer father will be away upon the hunt, we shall not need another deception such as this tae allow ye tae depart the castle, though I suggest ye still proceed with caution,” her mother advised. “If he discovers ye have left again then he may question whether I was ill or not upon this occasion. I shall make a gradual recovery over the next day and continue tae drink this odd concoction of herbs,” Una looked down at the cup which still steamed gently before her.
“It is just sorrel, and willow bark, mother, nothing which could harm ye,” Nairne laughed.
“Aye, and it tastes disgusting!”
* * *
The hunting party was a grand occasion, one which Murdoch Mackintosh looked forward to every year. Many of the clansmen would gather at the castle before setting off in search of stags that roamed the forests and moorland. Murdoch’s fear of the Cameron’s meant they always rode south into the fertile glen which lay between the castle of the Cameron’s and the castle of the Mackintosh’s, from whence Murdoch had come all those years ago.
His power lay between the two, and he ruled over the glen with an iron grip, subjecting the peasants to harsh penalties should they step out of line. There was little love lost for the man who had made himself Laird, and over the years much resentment had grown up amongst the people once loyal to the Cameron’s, who saw Murdoch Mackintosh as a mere pretender.
The annual hunt was a reminder of just how much Murdoch was disliked, as he rode roughshod across the land, taking what he wanted and always returning home with a magnificent stag as a trophy. This year he had summoned clansmen from across the glen, men as wicked and unpleasant as himself. Surrounding himself with such folk gave Murdoch the illusion of power he so desperately craved and reminded him that he was Laird, whether the people liked it or not.
Nairne usually disliked this annual show of bravado, just as she hated the feasts and banquets which her father so regularly held, and which attracted the lowest of men. But this year she was grateful to watch as her father mustered his men and greeted those arriving from near and far. The next day a great throng of clansmen, some fifty or more mounted their horses in the castle courtyard and prepared to set off on the hunt.
“Keep an eye upon yer mother, lassie, and see tae it that she remains in her bed until this fever has left her, do ye hear me?” Murdoch called, as he bid his daughter farewell.
“Aye, father, I hear ye, dinnae worry about mother, I shall see tae it that she is well cared for.”
“See to it that ye do, we shall return in three days, the guardsmen will protect ye while we are gone,” Murdoch mounted his horse and called for order.
“We dinnae need protecting from anything, father, go one yer way, I hope the hunt is a successful one,” Nairne smiled at her father who looked puzzled at his daughter’s kind words.
“Ye need protecting from threats ye dinnae know of,” he replied, darkly, “come now men, the hunt is fresh upon us, let us ride,” and with that Murdoch and his entourage rode out into the glen, searching for stags and reminding the people of the Laird’s authority over them.
Nairne smiled as she watched them leave, her thoughts turning to Andrew and the prospect of seeing him once more.
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘A Tender Encounter’
Andrew Cameron was waiting on the rock by the poolside, scrawled with Nairne’s message; he left home early that day, running through the forests to their meeting point. That morning he had been honest about his intentions, telling his mother and stepfather that Cairstine had asked him to mind her cottage whilst she was away, a true enough statement given his Godmother’s earlier promises, he simply neglected to mention Nairne.
His stepfather had dismissed him as a man with idle fancies, more concerned with chasing through the forest than the business of the clan and reminded him that if he were caught dallying with Nairne, then it would be the worst for him. But Rhona had defended her son, telling her husband that they must trust him if he was ever to lead them into war.
That day Andrew was determined to tell Nairne the truth, and it was this thought foremost on his mind as he sat watching the sunrise above the trees, uncertain how best to tell her. Should he just blurt it out or wait for an opportunity to present itself. Did she really believe he was a forest dweller, and if so, could she forgive him for such deception?
Andrew watched the path towards the castle intently, willing Nairne to appear before him and just as the sun rose above the tree line, casting its rays upon the pool below, she appeared, running down the track towards him, a broad smile across his face.
“Andrew, ye came, oh, thank the Lord for his goodness tae us,” and rushing up to him they embraced, kissing cheeks and then lips, the two holding one another close as Nairne panted from the exertion of her run.
“Nairne, I am sorry, I am so sorry I missed ye, I was … I was not able tae get here early enough, and by the time I arrived ye had gone.” Holding her as tightly as he could, kissed her again.
“Dinnae worry, Andrew, it was as difficult for me tae get here as it was for ye, my father would have forbidden it, but my dear mother was able tae deceive him. She pretended tae be ill and so I came in search of yer mother to bring herbs back tae heal her, or so I said. But when I arrived here, ye were not, and so my only hope was tae leave the writing on the
stone which by happy chance ye found. Oh, Andrew, I am so glad tae see ye, my father is away hunting, and we have all the time we need together.”
“My Go … mother and father are away, and so it is only I who mind our cottage this day and night, perhaps today ye would like tae see it?” Andrew asked, smiling at Nairne, who blushed a little.
“I should like that very much,” and taking his hand, he led her across the stream and into the forest.
As they walked, Andrew told her of his escape on that fateful night from the castle, elaborating somewhat the events which had transpired since they had met. He kept stumbling upon himself, and almost referred to his stepfather and uncle on several occasions. A lie is hard to follow, and Andrew found himself slipping up as he talked with Nairne along the path.
Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 17