Her Noble Destiny

by Annie L. Marshall

  Jaedin sat her digital camouflage backpack down next to her desk then noticed all the paperwork stacked in the inbox. “I was only away from my desk for…” She stopped herself as she knocked her coffee cup over. “Damn!” she exclaimed as she picked up a few papers to keep them from getting coffee on them. “Damn, damn, damn!”

  It had been a long deployment for everyone and her nerves were beginning to wear thin. Not to mention her sleep schedule was off due to the weird hours they were keeping. She took a deep breath then turned to Sergeant Parks, one of the medics on duty. “Has it been quiet?” she asked, nodding her head in the direction of the radio equipment in the corner of the room.

  “I sent Summers out on a mission earlier, but nothing for the past three hours.” He said as he handed Jaedin a towel.

  “Thanks,” she said as she took the towel from Parks, then as he tried to help her clean up the spill, “I can get this!” Jaedin snapped, not wanting any help from Parks. “This is why I’m not a surgeon.” She then laughed at herself. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m still not quite awake yet.”

  “That’s ok, ma’am. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it will be quiet tonight.” He said as he still continued to help her wipe up the mess.

  It was then, that destiny took a hold of its mistress.

  “This is Sergeant Major MacKellar! We have soldiers down! I repeat we have soldiers down! Over.” The voice pierced through the radio receiver, startling them both.

  Parks quickly went to the radio, “This is Sergeant Parks with Aid Station Two. You have Sergeant Summers with you and he’s your medic, Sergeant Major.” The young medic instructed into the transmitter.

  “We’ve been hit hard and our medic is dead!” MacKellar’s voice cried out! “These damn insurgents are all over the place! We need someone here now!”

  Parks looked across the room to Jaedin. “Ma’am, if their Sergeant Major is on the radio, it’s bad.”

  “Who was it you sent out with them?” Jaedin asked, not recalling who he had said earlier.

  “They had Summers with them,” he answered.

  Jaedin placed her hands on her hips and looked down at her feet. “God be with him,” she quietly said. Taking a deep breath she gave Parks a nod.

  “What is your position? Over.” He grabbed the incident log and began writing the information that the Sergeant Major was telling them.

  “We are just north of Samarra approximately 12 miles!” a slight pause, “Incoming!” MacKellar called into the radio just before a loud explosion sounded over the receiver.

  Wincing, Parks held the receiver away from his ear to keep the noise down as he input a few numbers into the computer, calculating the position of the firefight.

  “Sergeant Major, all the choppers are grounded due to this crazy sandstorm. It will take us about 30 minutes to get there. Over,” Parks informed the soldier, looking at the map of the area. There was nothing but static. “Sergeant Major?” Again, nothing.

  Then with a crackle, “Sabitino’s hit and he’s in bad shape! Get that medic here now, God dammit! We need help! If we lose him, there’ll be hell to pay!” a panicked MacKellar yelled. Again, another mortar round exploded in the background.

  “Are the vehicles ready to move?” Jaedin asked Parks.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed.

  Jaedin took the transmitter from Parks, “Sergeant Major, this is CPT Greer. We have a hold on your position. I’m on my way! Out.” She tossed the radio down then grabbed her Kevlar and 9 mil Barretta and snapped it in place on her right thigh. “Parks, you’re coming with me,” she said as she secured her gear in place. “I need someone who’s familiar with the area.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Parks answered then quickly walked over to his locker and put on his Kevlar jacket.

  Jaedin headed out the door with her gear to her Hum-V, Parks glanced back over his shoulder to the other medic. “Wake up MacNiall! You’re in charge,” he said leaving the other medic on duty stunned. “It’s all in the log,” Parks explained. Then he picked up the radio to call headquarters. “This is Parks at the Aid Station. We need an escort and a gunner for our vehicle. We have to head off the Forward Operating Base to aid MacKellar’s team.”

  “We have two staffed vehicles available and waiting. We’ll be sending you Jordan as the gunner.” The Staff Sergeant informed him. “They are on their way to meet up with you at your trailer.” He hung up the radio and barked the orders to the waiting soldiers.

  Parks quickly walked out of the trailer and jumped into the driver’s seat of the Aid Station’s vehicle and started up the engine. “Our escort is on their way,” he explained to Jaedin as he took the log book out to record their information while Jaedin, secured herself in. Then he took the radio receiver and barked a few orders to the other two Hum-V’s that would be accompanying them. Then as they rolled in, he stepped on the gas and they were off.

  The gate guards opened the metal barricade and watched as the three Hum-V’s rolled out one by one. “Stay safe, ma’am, and God speed!” One of the guards called out.

  Once they were on the road, Jaedin picked up the radio that sat in the middle of the vehicle and made contact with MacKellar again.

  A few moments later, a blinding flash of light and loud explosion of an Improvised Explosive Device hit the lead vehicle, mangling it beyond recognition. Jaedin’s vehicle blew past the hit truck then stopped about one hundred and fifty meters in front of it and the rear vehicle stopped behind it, assessing their next move.

  Jaedin turned to look at her other medic and gunner. “Parks, Jordan, are you two ok?”

  “Ma’am, no one survived that blast,” Parks said a bit stunned.

  A faint whistle was the only warning before the rear vehicle was hit with a mortar, sending that vehicle off the road and onto its side, instantly killing its passengers. Then before they knew what happened, another blinding flash sent Jaedin’s Hum-V up in the air like it was a toy, dumping it upside down on the ground. Jaedin and the other two soldiers hung upside down from their safety straps. After a few moments, Jaedin awoke with a loud ringing in her ears and her head pounded like wild drums.

  “Parks, Jordan, are you ok?” she asked receiving no response from her medic. She looked back for her gunner, Specialist Jordan, to see if he was still with them. No…only a portion of his body remained. Then she looked over to the driver’s seat to see Parks hanging above what was left of the steering column from his own straps, unresponsive. Jaedin struggled to reach past the radios to check his pulse. “Praise the Almighty!” she exclaimed as she felt a faint beating. She reached inside her vest pocket and grabbed her knife and then cut the straps restraining her inside the vehicle, dumping her body onto the crushed roof. She reached for her pack of supplies and hurried around the vehicle to help her wounded medic.

  After cutting the seatbelt strap, she pulled Parks from the Hum-V and dragged him to safety.

  From inside the mangled, twisted mess of what was left of their Hum-V, “God Dammit! Where’s that medic?” the panicked Sergeant Major kept asking through the radio, finding nothing but static.

  Before she knew it, there was another bright flash of light and loud explosion. She covered Parks’ body with hers, shielding him from the blast. Then the winds picked up, howling over the sounds of another explosion.

  The atmosphere popped and sizzled with anticipation as Jaedin felt herself being dragged away from her position with extreme force. She looked behind her to see what had hold of her, seeing nothing but a whirlwind of fire licking closer to her. Grasping at the ground, she tried to pull herself away from the flames, but whatever had her was strong.

  “Let go!” she cried out as she continued to fight to get free. Then she felt her body leave the ground, the flames encircled her. The heat was nearing unbearable as she felt its molten fingers tugging at her clothing. Jaedin could smell her flesh burning and she was losing air. Then one last time, another bright flash of light and loud explosion sounded, knocking Jaedin
’s air entirely from her lungs just before she lost her battle with consciousness.

  ChapterTwo

  Her Noble Destiny

  Chapter Two

  1300

  Inverlochy Castle

  Scotland

  Aiden sat alone at the head table in his own great hall of Inverlochy Castle listening to the thunder roll in the distance. He gazed around at all the servants scurrying around, starting their day. It had been only a few weeks earlier when he and Duncan had arrived home from his friend’s wedding.

  Lachlan MacLean had managed with help from Robert the Bruce to snag himself a bonnie bride, Duncan’s younger sister Sheena.

  Aiden had never seriously considered marriage. He always figured his older brother Iain would take a bride to carry on the MacAlister bloodline and was ecstatic when Kenna came into their lives. Now that both Iain and Kenna were gone, he knew the deed would be left up to him. Seeing Lachlan and Sheena together had hit him hard. He had been so busy taking care of his brother’s holdings and his own that his sexual needs had gone by the wayside. Going back and forth between Inverlochy and his brother’s keep of Dunstaffnage for the past few months was definitely taking its toll. Most of the servants avoided him because of his foul mood and his current mistress had grown weary of his melancholy and turned to another, not even bothering Aiden in the least.

  The MacDougall laird had made a generous offer to purchase Dunstaffnage from him, but he didn’t know if he could part with his brother’s keep. However, without a constant presence, the castle servants would grow lazy and the lands would run down.

  “Good morn, Aiden,” Duncan said as he wandered into the great hall with a smile spread wide across his handsome face.

  “Hmmmph.” Was all that Aiden said as he took a drink of cider from his tankard.

  Duncan chuckled, “Tis good to see ye in such a grand mood this morn.” He jested as he sat down across the table from his grumpy laird.

  “Aellair arrived from Duart late last eve,” Aiden said as he took a drink from his tankard.

  “I gather he brought ye yer barrels of mead from my brother-in-laws stock?” Duncan asked.

  “Aye that he did. And brought ye a message from yer sister,” Aiden said as he tossed Duncan the sealed parchment bearing the MacLean seal. “He’ll be here for the week and then he’ll go back.”

  A petite curvy middle aged woman brought Duncan a plate of food and a drink. “Thank you, Mairi,” Duncan said as he grabbed the woman by the waist and pulled her on his lap and landed a solid kiss on her lips.

  “Och, yer in a lusty mood this morn Laird MacKinnon.” Mairi laughed as she quickly got up and straighten her skirts and hair. “Ye ken tis not possible. My man Hamish would run yer young arse through if he caught ye with yer hands on me.” She attempted to dodge his advances.

  Duncan took her hands in his and placed a kiss on them as a clap of thunder resounded. “At least give me hope, Mairi. Tis all I ask.” He gave her the sad puppy eyes.

  “Ha!” she laughed as she took her hands back and slapped him on the arm. “I’m old enough to be yer mum. I’ll be givin’ ye nothin’ lad except for another cup of milk,” she said then walked away to the kitchen.

  Pretending to be struck in the heart, “Och, Mairi! Ye’ve wounded me!” Chucking, Duncan turned back around to eat his meal with a sardonic smile spread across his face. “One day she’ll tell me aye,” he continued to chuckle.

  “Aye, and one day I’ll be tellin’ yer sister that her dead idiot brother was killed by my smithy Hamish because he couldna keep his breall in his breeches,” Aiden replied. “Cease tormentin’ my servants, Duncan.” He took a drink. “Tis not a good thing for ye to…”

  “Aye, aye,” Duncan dismissed him chuckling. “It does a man good to bury the breall from time to time.” He took a bite of the bread that was on his plate. “Ye ken it wasna that long ago and ye were as lustful as the rest of us lads,” he said.

  “We all must grow up some day and realize tis more to life than chasin’ skirts around the keep.” Aiden downed the rest of his cider.

  Duncan recalled how jovial Aiden used to be and knew that there was no use pressing the issue further. It made him weary attempting to get Aiden to come out of his foul mood. “Are we headed to Dunstaffnage this morn?” he decided to change the subject.

  “Nay. I’m goin’, but yer sayin’ here.” He said to a puzzled Duncan . “I need ye to stay behind and keep an eye on my keep. Tis no gest, Duncan. I need ye to be serious about this.” Aiden stood up and replaced his dirk in the sheath on his belt. “Tis only a matter of time before Longshanks decides to set his sights on her. I need a level head here to lead my men in my absence.”

  “Yer soundin’ like yer not coming back,” Duncan stated.

  “Oh, I’m comin’ back. Tis likely to be a bit though. I have to make certain that Iain’s holdings are bein’ taken care of.”

  “Ye have my word, Aiden.” Duncan became serious. “I will protect all here or die tryin’.”

  Aiden gave him an approving nod then turned away from the table and walked out of the great hall, leaving Duncan alone to eat the remainder of his meal.

  * * * *

  A loud clap of thunder sounded as the heavens opened up and poured down cold rain healing Jaedin’s body and waking her back to the world of consciousness as she heard the sound of a lonely wolf howling in the distance, calling for its mate. Then the sound of thunder rolled from the left to the right above her. The air was much cooler than Jaedin remembered as a gust of wind blew over her body. She rolled from her side onto her back and laid there with her eyes closed so she could enjoy the sound of the thunder rolling. The cold rain felt wonderful, and even though her body ached from the blast...the blast! She sat up quickly and opened her eyes. A stabbing pain shot through her head as a crack of thunder hit close by. Jaedin fell back to the ground. “Christ Almighty!” she cried out, cradling her head as another stabbing pain shot through. She opened her eyes again as she lay there. She couldn’t see anything except blackness! “Ok, Jae. Don’t freak out. This is normal. Temporary,” she told herself, “Just a result from the blast and will go away.”

  Jaedin reached down to her cargo pocket on her leg to get her handkerchief to wipe her face off, but all she felt was her bare leg. She began taking note of the rest of her clothing and found……Nothing. “What the hell?” She took a deep breath, confused. Slowly, Jaedin began to remember the events that happened right before she blacked out. Sergeant Major MacKellar calling for help, her Hum-V getting hit by mortar, the explosions, Parks.

  “Sergeant Parks?” Jaedin called out as she rolled over onto her hands and knees and began to feel around for her medic. “Parks, can you hear me?” There was no answer. She kept feeling around for any sign of her soldier. “Parks?” She called out one more time, still hearing nothing but the sound of the rain.

  Where the hell was she? As the rain continued to fall, it didn’t sound like it was hitting dirt and sand. Jaedin kept groping around searching for something familiar, realizing she didn’t recognize any of her surroundings. She couldn’t feel the sand she knew she should be there. All she could feel was wet, cool grass and moss. Moss? Then she just stopped and sat down. Without her sight, she was inevitably lost. She was at a loss for what to do next. She should find some sort of shelter, but had no clue where to look, or feel for it for that matter.

  Then Jaedin heard a faint pounding sound and vibration on the ground. Something was moving. She closed her eyes to concentrate on the sound, listening to the rhythm. Thud du du…thud du du…thud du du…horse hooves. She continued to listen, and then she felt the vibrations grow stronger. The sound she heard and felt were horse hooves thundering towards her. At least she hoped it was a horse.

  Jaedin began to crawl around again, hoping she was heading in the direction of help. “Now is not the time to be frightened, Jae,” she said out loud. Without her sight, she was at the mercy of whatever was coming her way. She only hope
d that the creature had a rider.

  “Hello!” she called out. “Hello, is anyone there?” Jaedin kept crawling around feeling the ground getting colder and soggier. “I need assistance, please,” she continued.

  The rolling thunder and hoof beats grew louder; competing to be heard as Jaedin blindly crawled closer and closer towards the loch. Cold rain pelted her body like hundreds of needles causing her to stagger.

  Then the sound of the horse halted and Jaedin froze in place, her hand one pace away from falling into the water. Her heart was beating so hard that it clogged her hearing. She could hear the voice talking to her, but couldn’t comprehend what it was saying. Then all of the sudden, a set of large, strong arms encircled her ribcage, picking her up into his arms as she let out a yelp.

  “Are ye daft, woman?” The deep brogue asked. “Ye nearly found yerself in the loch!”

  The voice belonged to a very male set of arms holding her as he spoke English; at least English with a thick Scottish accent. An accent she hadn’t heard since visiting her grandmother’s cottage in Scotland a year and a half ago. She knew there were UK forces deployed with them, however she couldn’t recall them sending any Scots to their location.

  As he kept talking she began to recall the scene in the book Sense and Sensibility when John Willoughby found Marianne on the hillside in the rain. Then there was the deep voice of Alan Rickman. If he was Scottish, this is how he would have sounded. Oh God, that voice…loch. Did he say loch?