by Fiona Faris
“Aye, she is bonnie.”
“You look well together.”
“Does such a thing matter?”
“It appeared to matter to your people. They were quite enamored with the sight of the two of you together. All but one.”
“One?”
“There is a young warrior in there who loves her very much; but unfortunately, I do not believe that she returns his affections. However, he does not hold any resentment against you for it. A charming young man who might be a possible ally himself if given the opportunity.”
“His name?”
“Liam MacDonald of Castleton. He and the fair Fiona grew up as children together.”
“I remember Liam. He is a skilled warrior, and a good man. It wouldnae be amiss tae have him as a friend. If I were tae wed Fiona MacDonald, I would have her faither and his men tae support me cause were all tae come tae an end, Liam among them.”
The entire ordeal seemed too calculated for Elizabeth’s comfort, including her own part in it; but she knew that it had to be done if James’ life, and those of others, were to be preserved. “Will you be asking her faither for her hand?”
James sighed and turned his body to fully face hers. “Soon,” he answered softly, his eyes tracing her features. “It will need tae be soon.” He reached up and caressed her cheek. There in the starlit dark of night, he leaned down and kissed her. What started as a tender kiss in acknowledgment of what could never be between them turned into a passionate encounter that made the rest of the world disappear, leaving nothing but them and the darkness. His hands roved over her body igniting fires with every touch.
“James,” she pulled away, overcome with feelings she was not accustomed to having. “You are about to be promised to another.”
“I have already lost one great love in me life. I didnae wish tae surrender the possibility o’ another without e’er havin’ tasted her, held her in me arms, e’en if only for a moment.” Turning, James walked back into the hall, disappearing from sight.
Elizabeth stood alone in the courtyard dazed. She nearly jumped out of her shoes when she heard James’ voice from behind her in the doorway. “Are ye comin’, lass?” He had come back for her. “’Tis nae safe for ye tae be out here on yer own, lass.” Elizabeth nodded and followed him back inside.
James rejoined the other lairds upon the dais, and Elizabeth joined Agnes at one of the lower tables. The evening wore on, and by its close, the announcement of James’ betrothal to Fiona MacDonald had been made. Elizabeth’s heart felt as if it had shattered in her chest. She searched the crowd for Liam and found him by the fireplace, drowning his sorrows. The look on his face was one of utter decimation. Liam looked up and locked eyes with Elizabeth. The room filled with the cheers of exuberant clansmen and women. Elizabeth and Liam stood as still as statues among the jubilant celebrants, the only two sad people in a sea of joy. Their eyes saying the message that their mouths could not - they are lost to us.
Chapter Thirteen
James awoke with a pounding headache. His mouth felt as if he had swallowed sheep’s wool. After kissing Elizabeth, he had returned to the hall, arranged the betrothal to Fiona with her father, and then had gotten roaring drunk. While his people had celebrated the betrothal of their laird, believing his intoxicated state to be in celebration as well, he had drunk to drown out the voices inside of his head and heart that told him he was marrying the wrong woman. Even now he could still feel Elizabeth’s lips upon his own, her warm body pressed against him, her lithe form moving beneath his hands. He knew that if he had waited one moment longer, he would have lacked the strength to walk away from her.
Elizabeth… his heart whispered as he closed his eyes against the pain.
Sighing, he forced himself to stand and walked over to the washstand in the corner. He splashed water on his face in an effort to combat the haze that lay over him like a heavy cloud. I must resign meself tae me duty with nae more fanciful notions elsewhere. He had made a commitment to his people, and he would keep it no matter the cost.
After he had washed and dressed, he went below stairs, slipping out the kitchen door. “Me laird,” the cook called after him and pressed a bannock into his hands. “Ye will be needin’ this.”
James nodded his thanks and continued on his way. He could not stand the idea of being trapped inside, receiving copious congratulatory salutations. He could not pretend to be happy about his coming nuptials, not today. Today was the day that they began watching the men they suspected of being possible blackmailers. Most of his guests would be leaving by morning’s end. He looked forward to the end of the festivities and was grateful that the business of choosing a bride had come to its end. He hoped to use the betrothal to sustain an alliance with Donald MacDonald for as long as he could without following through with marriage itself any sooner than he must, but he knew that such an alliance would not be gotten by postponing it for very long at all.
Elizabeth had agreed to stay on at the castle and keep an eye on things there. Samuel and Agnes were to watch the men who lived closest to their croft, while William continued to observe the warriors under his care. James had taken stock of the surrounding lairds and did not believe them to be involved; however, he would not have put it past them to take advantage of the situation were he to be compromised. He had not, however, gotten that impression from Donald. He hoped that he had not misjudged the man.
James snuck into the stables, saddled his horse, and slipped out of the castle with very little notice other than from the guards upon the wall. He needed to clear his head and, foremost, put some distance between himself and his heart’s desire; for if he did not, he feared he would take Elizabeth to his bed. How he had managed to feel so strongly so quickly for the Sassenach, he would never know; but it had happened and now all that remained to him was either to fight it or give in. He planned, for all their sakes, to fight it.
* * *
“No!” Elizabeth sat up panting and terrified. “No…” she whispered as she searched the shadows around her, driven half-mad with fear. She had seen him. She had seen the man who had killed her mother. He had been so very calm as he had walked into their home and murdered her mother before her very eyes. His eyes had burned with a red-hot fire, a mixture of hatred and desire. “Mother, my poor mother,” she sobbed. She did not know who the man was; but she remembered the terror on her mother’s face, the desperation in her mother’s voice when she had screamed for Elizabeth to run. Who was he? Why did he kill her? What happened after? Her mind swirled in unanswered terror.
The memory continued to play over and over in her mind until she was forced from her bed. Beside herself with grief and fear to the point of fevered delirium, she ran from her room, down a flight of stairs, and out into the night. She knew not where she fled to, but she only knew that she must flee. She ran and ran and ran until she could run no more. Collapsing onto the cold hard ground in nothing but her nightdress, she lost all sense of consciousness.
* * *
James rode toward his grandmother’s old croft. He had a thought to stay there for a time, but he knew that he could not leave Elizabeth alone. Perhaps bringin’ her tae the castle wasnae the best thing tae have done. I was thinkin’ tae bring her tae me for protection better than what could be provided at Samuel’s croft. Now I fear I have done nae but bring temptation tae me door.
James rode hard, attempting to leave his cares behind him, if only for a day. When he arrived at his grandmother’s old croft, he looked around to make sure that no one else had been using it without his consent. He then did his usual bit of repairs and upkeep. He found the quiet menial tasks to be soothing after the chaos of the gathering. When he was finished with his chores, he sat down by the fireside to read. The page blurred a bit making it difficult for him to concentrate. His head still aching, he decided to lie down and close his eyes. Moments later he was asleep.
When next he awoke, the sun was well past its zenith. Leaving the croft, he rode back to the
castle. His headache had eased, and he felt better rested to face what lay ahead. When he rode into the courtyard he found William, Samuel, and Agnes all waiting for him. “Where is the Sassenach?” William asked in confusion.
“She is here at the castle with ye.”
“Nae, she is nae,” William protested.
“Where is she then?”
“We thought she was with ye.”
“Nae, she is nae.” James began to grow concerned.
“Have ye searched the castle?”
“Aye, we have and asked everyone in it. She didnae take a horse either.”
“Did ye send outriders?”
“Nae, as I said afore, we thought she was with ye.”
James yelled up at the guard on the wall to see if they had seen her. They all answered to the negative. “Samuel, take Agnes and return tae yer croft. Elizabeth may come tae ye there.” Samuel nodded and gathered his wife to him.
James turned his horse around and rode back out of the castle in search of Elizabeth, leaving William to await her possible return to the keep. James searched everywhere from the shoreline to the high ground within walking distance of the castle, yet he found nothing. He searched the waters for signs of her body and was greatly relieved when he did not find anything there. A storm began to blow in from the sea, but he kept on searching.
He urged his horse to keep moving, concern for Elizabeth’s safety driving him ever forward. If anythin’ were tae happen tae her… he could not bear to finish the thought. Her bonnie face flashed through his mind, causing his heart to constrict within his chest. When he reached the beach where she had first washed ashore, he dismounted and searched the ground for evidence that she might have returned there in a fit of melancholy or even curiosity. He realized too late that he should have stopped at the castle long enough to bring a hound with him. Such a beast would have been able to pick up her scent from the keep, but he had been too worried to think clearly. He looked at the darkening sky and knew that he was running out of time.
Where could she have gone? He blamed himself for moving her to the castle too soon. He prayed that the storm would hold off long enough for him to find her.
Darkness began to fall making it difficult to see as the incoming clouds covered up the moon’s light. His horse stumbled on the rocks as he climbed up away from the shoreline and back inland. James was forced to dismount once more to lead them both to safety. When the storm hit, James was no closer to finding Elizabeth than when he had started. Not a single sign had been left for him to find and track her with. The wind howled across the landscape as giant cold raindrops pelted his skin. The rain increased in intensity until it had created a sheer wall of water all about him. Lightning split the sky as thunder caused the ground to shake. James could no longer see where he was going and feared falling off into the sea unawares. He needed to find shelter, or he would not survive long enough to save her.
James squinted peering through the downpour searching for a rock outcropping that he could crawl under but did not see anything. He knew he was somewhere between his grandmother’s old croft and Samuel’s, but knew it was a risk to set out for either; however, he was left with no other choice. Pulling the long end of his kilt up closer around himself, he set off for what he hoped was his own croft. His horse stumbled again, and he stopped as it fought against him. Lightning flashed again and the horse bolted. James slipped on the rocks and tumbled down an embankment. He rolled until he came to a hard stop at the bottom. Groaning, he crawled up onto his knees and felt around him in the darkness. He felt his way under a rock ledge and lay down pushing himself to the back of the space. Instead of meeting a hard wall as he had expected, he met cold human flesh.
“Elizabeth?” he questioned, reaching up to examine the feminine form beside him. The figure was wearing a sodden nightdress, the skin was like ice to the touch. “Elizabeth!”
Chapter Fourteen
Elizabeth awoke shivering and in pain. She looked about her but could not make out where she was. Her vision was a blur as shards of pain flitted through her skull. She attempted to stand but faltered. She felt about her to see if she could find something to aid her in propelling herself upright but did not find anything within her reach. She attempted to call out for help, but her mouth was too dry. She attempted to stand once more but fell back down, hitting her head upon the rocks.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as the pain coursed through her skull. Her head had not fully healed from the shipwreck. Lying among the craggy rocks, she felt hopeless and alone. She knew that at some point James would come looking for her, but it would be nearly impossible for him to find her before the storm she could hear rumbling in the distance reached the island. I need shelter. I need James. How will he ever find me? How did I even come to be here? Panic seized her mind and heart, and she squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to calm her fear. She looked about her again, trying to ascertain where she might be. She tried to remember James’ description of the island and its landscape.
‘Skye is the most beautiful island in all o’ Scotland. She is rocky and yet green as green can be. She is hard and yet gentle. She is jagged, mysterious, and gloriously wild. As ye approach her, magnificent stone cliffs tower above ye, welcomin’ ye home. Lively streams flow throughout her, turnin’ tae waterfalls that tumble down as riotous white sheets in tae crystal clear blue and green pools beneath the protective watch o’ the mountains. A path o’ stones cuts through the solid rock beneath the water’s surface as if it were the path tae heaven itself. ‘Tis unlike any other place I have e’er seen. They say that the fae folk dwell among the pools enchanting each and every wayfarer who sojourns there.’
Elizabeth wished that the fae folk would help her now. From where she lay, all that she could see were rocks. She could not see any of the landmarks that he had talked about that might guide her back, even if she could have stood on her own. Crawling to the edge of the rock that she was on she peered over the side only to find more rocks. How did I get here? Her vision faded in and out as she leveraged herself up onto her hands and knees. She dragged herself across the ground, her head pounding so hard she felt as if it might explode. When she lost consciousness once more, she felt herself falling into a crevice in the rocks. No one will ever find me now…
* * *
“Elizabeth!” James shook her body, attempting to wake her up, but she did not move. “Elizabeth!” Though he could not see her face in the darkness, he knew it was her.
James placed his cheek against her face so that he might feel if she was still breathing. The smallest puff of warmth on his skin caused relief to flood his senses, and he worked vigorously to warm her up, rubbing her body from head to toe. He pressed his body against hers wrapping his plaid around her. The wet nightdress barely covered her body providing little to no warmth.
“Hold on, lass. Just hold on. Once the storm passes, we will get ye someplace safe.” If he could have seen where they were going through the storm, he would have lifted her up out of there and carried her home. “Hold on.” When she began to shiver violently, he knew that he had managed to bring her body some warmth. He could only hope that it would be enough to save her.
When the rain let up enough to see, James crawled out from under the rock outcropping. He looked about him to get his bearings and realized that he was not far from one of his clansmen’s crofts. James dragged Elizabeth out from the rocks and lifted her into his arms. Gritting his teeth against the cold biting wind, he concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Elizabeth’s teeth chattered so hard he feared that they would crack. Her body shook against his chest as he nestled her head under his chin. She whimpered, calling out his name, and he murmured words of reassurance in her ear. “Hold on, lass. I will get ye tae safety.”
The wind howled all around him as he trudged across the rough surface of the rocks. Such weather would have been difficult to traverse during the daylight, but in the dark, it was nearly impossible. When he finally saw t
he outline of the croft, his heart leaped in his chest. He quickened his step across the remaining ground, crashing into the door. The door gave way, and he stepped inside to find it cold and empty. Walking over to the bed in the corner, he laid Elizabeth down and covered her up with blankets. He started a fire in the fireplace, stoking it until it radiated heat out into the room.
James moved back to the bed and searched through the trunk at the end for dry clothes. He had been surprised to find the tenants had still not returned from the castle, but he knew that they would not mind his using their things during such a time. Pulling out a dry nightdress, he carefully removed the wet one from Elizabeth’s shivering form while keeping her modesty preserved under the blanket. He slipped the dry nightdress over her head and let it fall around her. Groaning, she swatted at him in a state of confused delirium.
“Och, lass. Dinnae fash. Ye are safe now.” His voice must have soothed her as she stopped fighting him. He laid the wet garment over the back of a chair, then removed his own clothing and laid it out to dry. In its place he donned the clothing from the trunk then moved to the pantry in the corner. He found half a loaf of bread, a chunk of cheese, some dried fruit, a small pot of honey, some assorted root vegetables, a sack of oats, and another of barley. Usually he would have used the bread and cheese, but he thought that warm food would be better for Elizabeth in her state. Grabbing a kettle, he filled it with water from the barrel in the corner. When the water boiled, he poured in the oats. He stirred the grains in, then stepped back to let it cook.
