“Ye and I are nae the brothers we thought ourselves to be. Not in blood at least, though ye shall always be my brother in soul and spirit,” Fraser said, and Duncan looked at him in wide-eyed disbelief.
“Of course, we are brothers. We grew up together, and we have always known ourselves to be such,” he replied, shaking his head.
“No, Alistair Elliott is my true father,” Fraser replied, and he told Duncan the story of Lena and Alistair and how she had recognized him by his birthmark and revealed herself to him.
“‘Tis unbelievable,” Duncan said, shaking his head, a strange expression upon his face.
“Aye, but ‘tis the truth, and we must both accept it for what ‘tis. I will never think of ye as anythin’ else but my brother though, Duncan,” he replied.
“And I ye, Fraser. We have shared a lifetime together, and if truth be told, I was worried about leaving ye when I went off to Lanercost. I could see that ye might be lonely, and I ken that ye have sacrificed much to allow me to enter the monastery. I will always be grateful for that, but I cannae believe that Alistair Elliott is yer father, after the way he treated ye,” Duncan replied.
“Aye, but that is why he treated me so. ‘Tis understandable, I suppose. He had nae wish for his secret to be revealed, but when secrets are kept, they have a nasty habit of revealin’ themselves anyway, and sometimes in the most unlikely of places,” Fraser replied.
“And now he gives his blessing for his daughter to marry his son. ‘Tis a strange way to put it until ye know the full story,” Duncan said, laughing and shaking his head.
“Aye, when ye put it like that, ‘tis and make nae mistake,” Fraser replied.
The two brothers sat talking for a while, and Fraser felt a weight lifted from him now that this secret was revealed. It would not be long before the whole village knew of what had occurred and of Fraser’s true lineage. The humble blacksmith now the heir to their Laird and betrothed to his daughter. It was quite a change, and as the evening drew in, Fraser suggested that together they walk to Kirklinton and join the celebrations.
“I have never set foot in the castle before,” Duncan said. “‘Tis nae a place for a lowly monk.”
“Aye, but ‘tis the place for the Laird’s brother,” Fraser replied, laughing and throwing on his cloak.
“Are ye nae tired? Ye have suffered much and look exhausted,” Duncan replied.
But Fraser wanted to see Isla, and so the two wrapped up against the cool of the evening and made their way up the track towards the castle, where the sounds of celebration echoed across the lonely moorland.
Chapter Forty-Three
Isla had stayed close to her father since their arrival back at Kirklinton; she and Lena had joined him in the Great Hall, where the other clansmen and their chieftains were already toasting victory. Barrels of whiskey and ale had been brought up from the castle cellars, and Fraser MacGinn was the toast of them all.
“A son? Ye old dog, Alistair,” one of the other Lairds said, raising his glass to Alistair, who shook his head and smiled as the others laughed.
“‘Tis nothin’ to be proud of. Though ‘tis nae longer somethin’ to be ashamed of either,” he replied and looked across at Isla, who nodded.
“Nae more secrets between us, father,” she said, and he nodded.
“Nae more secrets, Isla. I promise,” he replied, and turning to Lena, he took her gently by the hand. “Lena, I am sorry for all that ye have gone through, and I want to thank ye for the kindness ye have shown to Isla, and to Fraser too. If it were nae for ye, then my daughter would now be a Musgrave, and there is nae worse shame than that.”
“I forgive ye, Alistair Elliott. I am nae a woman to hold grudges, and I know why ye did what ye did. It was nae yer choice, and if I have learned anything in these long years of exile, ‘tis that we dinnae always have a choice as to what we dae. Let us put the sorry past behind us and look to a happier future,” she replied.
“Aye, let it be so,” he replied, and he raised his glass. “My friends, a toast. Firstly, to this great clan, and may God bless each of us. Secondly, to my daughter, safely returned, and thirdly, to my son, who though not with us at this moment, is the reason for our joy in seeing Isla home. And lastly, to his mother who played her part so well,” and he raised his glass, as did the others.
A feast was now prepared, and Lena was seated at Alistair’s left. Isla was at his right, and she kept looking at the door, hoping that Fraser might appear at any moment. As the food was served, her father turned to her and smiled.
“Young love is a bonnie thing to watch, and make nae mistake,” he said, laughing as she blushed.
“And ye were intent on preventin’ that love, father,” she said.
“Aye. I wanted ye to marry a noble or a knight,” he replied.
“But ye had a noble right here. Fraser is the rightful inheritor, is he nae?” she said, looking at her father with a puzzled expression.
“Aye, that he is now,” Alistair replied, smiling at her and shaking his head. “‘Tis strange how things turn out, lass.”
“Aye, father, ‘tis indeed,” she said.
The feast continued with much joy and celebration, and darkness was drawing in when a clansman entered the Great Hall to announce that Fraser and his brother had arrived.
“Send them in; they are more than welcome,” Alistair cried, and a few moments later, Fraser and Duncan were ushered in, and a cheer went up from the gathered clan.
“Welcome, Fraser MacGinn, the hero of our age and his brother, too. Welcome to ye both,” Alistair said, indicating seats at the high table.
Duncan looked warily around him, and his eyes settled upon Lena, who stood up and went to him, her arms outstretched.
“Ye are Duncan? Yer brother speaks so highly of ye and remembers yer parents fondly,” she said.
Duncan nodded and smiled. He looked nervous, but Isla called him to her side and welcomed him, as her father repeated his own words of welcome.
“Ye are welcome here, Duncan, and ye always will be. Yer brother is still yer brother, and so it seems I have gained another son. Yer parents were good folks, and they took Fraser in when he was but a bairn.”
“What happened that night?” Fraser asked, looking at his father with interest.
Alistair turned to Lena, but she nodded, as though giving her permission for what had transpired to be recounted.
“‘Tis a sad story, but one I think of every day. Ye must know that, Fraser. All these years past, I have thought of ye each and every day. Why else would I have had the horses shod at yer smithy and employed yer father and ye about the work of the castle? I have always watched ye from afar, and I have been proud of ye, particularly for the way ye so often have helped others in the village with yer healin’ touch,” Alistair said.
“I thought it was for my healin’ touch that ye wished nothin’ to dae with me. There’s many a folk over the years have called me a devil for it,” Fraser said, shaking his head.
“Aye, well, nae me. ‘Tis yer healin’ hands that have helped many a lad and lass in the village, and even yer mother now,” he said, pointing at Lena’s arm.
Her recovery had been remarkable. Though still in pain, the wound was healing, and she had a simple bandage wrapped about her forearm. As he pointed, she smiled and looked at Fraser, who blushed and turned away.
“‘Tis a gift, I suppose, and one I didnae ask for, though it must come from one of ye?” he said, looking at his mother and father.
“There is an old story in the clan, datin’ back centuries, which says that the Lairds of the Elliotts were known for their healin’ touch. ‘Tis lost in the myths of time, of course, but perhaps there really is some truth in it. Certainly, ye have done much to heal this clan by rescuin’ my daughter and avengin’ us against the Musgraves,” Alistair replied.
“Ye are avoidin’ the story, father,” Isla said, interrupting him with a pointed look. “Tell us what happened on the night that Fraser was born.�
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“Aye lass, all in good time, and dinnae forget that it was a long time ago, and much has passed. My memory is nae what it used to be,” he replied, shaking his head. “That night, I stood waitin’ for Fraser to be born though I was not present for the birth, and I heard of it later on. Dear Lena, here, was helped by one of the servants out in the stables. She was a faithful old maid, and I am glad that she showed us both kindness on that night. Yer mother wouldnae allow the birth to take place in the castle, and I suppose I can understand why. She was a proud woman, and I hurt her by my actions, and I dishonored both her and Lena, but I cannae change the past, and now we are livin’ with it, so let it be.”
“Ye, Fraser, were born without any problems, for which I thank God each day. For I couldnae have lived with myself if anythin’ had happened to either of ye. I was worried and anxious for myself, too, which was selfish, I know; but then we all dae selfish things at times, not that I am tryin’ to excuse myself, only explain the thoughts in my mind. Yer mother, God rest her soul, Isla, had already forbidden Fraser from residin’ at the castle with Lena, and when it was discovered that the baby had the appearance of an Elliott, she flew into a rage. It was nae long before she was banished from the castle, a tale I need nae repeat.”
“But why was I called Fraser?” Fraser asked, looking at his mother, who smiled.
“My own father is named Fraser, yer grandfather,” she said, and Fraser nodded.
“I have always wondered. My mother, my MacGinn mother, told me that it was because she had favored the name, that is all. But I like to think that I am named for somethin’ of more reason,” he said.
“Aye, but baby Fraser was nae welcome in the castle,” Alistair continued. “I had to beg my wife to allow the bairn to be nursed here, at least until he was strong enough to be sent away. She grudgingly accepted, though she herself would have nothin’ to dae with ye. It was only for a few months, and then the time came for ye to be sent away. I had known the MacGinns for many years. Yer father, this is getting confusing, yer father, Fraser, was a skilled blacksmith and a man I always respected. They had been tryin’ for a baby for a long while, for this was before the happy occurrence of yer birth, Duncan. They were good folks, and I took them into my confidence, with the promise that I would see to them and have them looked after.”
“When ye were strong enough, the faithful old maid and I took ye secretly by night to the smithy. Yer parents took ye in, and they kept yer name, for it seemed the right thing to dae. Over the years, I watched ye grow up, and I was always impressed by the young man ye were turnin’ out to be. But I couldnae show ye favor or greater sympathies than any other clansmen, and so I decided to keep my distance. When ye came to the castle with the horses, I was taken aback, and more so, when I knew that Isla wished to know ye better. But of course, what I hadnae reckoned upon was Isla’s disobedience,” and he turned to his daughter and smiled. “If I hadnae forbidden the two of ye from meetin’, then perhaps ye wouldnae have done so. But Isla knew better, and she was right, or so it turned out,” and he sighed and took a drink of whiskey.
The others had been captivated by his story, and Fraser and Duncan shook their heads, looking at one another in disbelief.
“All these years, our parents kept the secret,” Fraser said.
“I remember one day when we were bairns askin’ mother why we looked so different from each other if we were brothers,” Duncan said, beginning to laugh. “She told me that I looked like her father, and ye looked like father’s father.”
The rest of them laughed, and Alistair Elliott shook his head.
“Well, Duncan. Now ye know the truth of why ye look so different. It was a blessed day when yer mother gave birth to ye. The MacGinns had thought she was barren, and ye were the answer to many prayers, perhaps that is why ye intend to enter the monastery,” he said, smiling at Duncan.
“How dae ye know that I intend to enter the monastery?” he asked, looking at Alistair with a puzzled expression.
“Oh, I may have kept my distance from the MacGinns, but I always knew their business, and I made sure that I knew what Fraser and ye were up to. Now that the English threat is lessened, I imagine ye will want to go at once to Lanercost, will ye nae?” the Laird said.
Duncan nodded, and he glanced at his brother, who smiled.
“There is nothin’ now that need hold ye back, Duncan. I told ye that when the English were nae longer a worry, I would come with ye to Lanercost, and ye can make yer vows,” Fraser said.
“I would suggest we all go,” Alistair said, and the others turned to look at him with surprise.
“All of us?” Isla said. “Are ye plannin’ to enter holy orders too, father?” and she laughed.
“Nae, but I am plannin’ to see my daughter married to my son, so to speak, and what better place to celebrate it than with the dear monks of Lanercost in their beautiful church. I am sure they would be only too happy to welcome ye and Fraser to be married, and we shall watch Duncan make his profession too,” Alistair replied.
They were all delighted by this suggestion, and the rest of the evening was spent discussing and planning what would surely be a very happy occasion. The journey to Lanercost would take a day or so by horse and cart, and they would leave in just a few days. As the feasting ended and the clansmen retired to their beds, Isla and Fraser bid one another a good night.
“To think that just a day ago, I was in the Great Hall of the Musgrave castle, on show for the English nobles, and now I am at home safe and lookin’ forward to marryin’ the man I love,” she said as Fraser took her in his arms and kissed her.
“I thought we wouldnae survive the escape,” he said, “and to think ye came so close to marryin’ Howard Musgrave. It doesnae bear thinkin’ about.”
“Aye, but I didnae, and we shall nae hear from the English for some time now, I think,” she said.
The two walked together out onto the moorland, which surrounded the castle. The stars were bright, and the moon was high above them. The vastness of the skies was a complete contrast to the tiny room in which they had been imprisoned together, and Isla breathed in with a deep air of satisfaction and spread her arms out wide.
“I used to think about being a bird and flyin’ away when we were in that awful place,” she said, as Duncan emerged from the castle to join his brother.
“And now ye have yer freedom, lass,” he said, and he kissed her again.
“Aye, and I intend to make the most of it,” she replied.
They bid each other goodnight, and Isla watched as Fraser and his brother disappeared down the track towards the village. She was startled to find Lena now standing next to her, but she smiled at her and nodded.
“He is a bonnie lad, and his brother is too. They make quite a pair together,” Lena said, taking Isla’s arm as they walked back inside.
“Aye, and I am glad that now they both have what they have desired for so long. Fraser has a family again, and soon Duncan will enter the monastery,” Isla replied.
“He will make a good monk. His heart is in the right place, and there is a lot of goodness in him,” Lena observed.
They returned to the Great Hall, where Alistair and the others were again toasting the victory over the English. But both women were tired, and they bid goodnight to the others, Isla climbing the stairs to her chamber, and Lena was given chambers next door. As she lay down in her bed that night, Isla breathed a sigh of relief. She had never felt more comfortable, and her eyes felt heavy with sleep. She had endured much in these past few days, but she could not have done so without Fraser at her side. The thought of marrying him filled her with happiness, and as she fell asleep, her final thought was of the handsome blacksmith and the future they would enjoy together.
Chapter Forty-Four
The next few days were filled with frantic activity. There was much to organize, and word had been sent ahead to the monks at Lanercost priory that they were to expect a larger party for Duncan’s vows than had firs
t been expected. Father MacConkey would accompany them on their journey, and several of the clansmen would come as witnesses. There was much to prepare, and Isla was kept busy, ably assisted by Lena, as together they made ready for the wedding.
They would travel to Lanercost on the track, which led over the moorland and heathers to the west. It passed by the Armstrong’s ruined castle, and Isla could remember when, as a child, the monks from the monastery would visit her parents from time to time on their journeys east. She was looking forward to seeing them again, and in the days before their departure, she daydreamed about the wedding, which would take place in the great monastery church with all those whom she loved. Her father would give her away, and she would wear a pretty gown, the one her mother had worn for her own wedding to Alistair. Lena had helped her to clean and dry it. It looked almost new again when Isla tried it on, and she imagined her mother wearing it on her own wedding day all those years ago.
A Highlander Forged In Fire (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 23
