The Chieftain's Daughter

by Leigh Ann Edwards

  “Oh, my only love, what a dreadfully battered state you are in, but what a valiant battle you fought, my champion! You must allow me to heal you. Come here, come closer to me!”

  Killian tried to smile to show her how greatly relieved he was that she was truly alive and seemingly well, but he felt the tears falling down his cheeks. All the fear, pain, and fatigue of the last days seemed to overcome him completely and he openly began to sob as he rested his head upon her heart. Alainn soothed him tenderly as she hummed softly to him and gently caressed his dark hair.

  Mara once more intended to leave them alone, her own relief so overwhelming she felt her heart would explode with utter joy. Though the fate of the child was yet to be determined, her daughter was back and apparently with all her wits about her.

  “Do not kiss him!” She warned as she turned her back to them from the doorway.

  “What? Why?” Alainn couldn’t understand why her mother would try to keep her from kissing her own husband.

  “You have belladonna on your lips!” She warned.

  “To render the henbane harmless.” Alainn realized, but then a look of complete horror crossed her face. “Tell me of our son, Killian! Mother, what of the child?”

  “You have not lost him, yet.” Mara assured her as she came back to her daughter’s side and touched the top of her head in reassurance. “But indeed, there has been much bleeding.”

  “And the evening nightshade will make the bleeding increase!” Alainn exclaimed worriedly. She looked down at the bedsheets and then pulled her nightdress up so that she might assess the situation closer. No fresh blood seemed apparent. She placed her hands to her stomach and closed her eyes. The child still lived; she sensed it though she could feel no movement. She slowly lay back down again, taking Killian’s hand and squeezing it tightly. Killian had managed to compose himself admirably and knew he must now console her.

  “I pray he will survive, Alainn. But, if it is not to be so...if it is the cruel hand we are dealt, then we will have many other children. As long as we are together, my sweet Lainna, we will surely be blessed with other children.”

  Alainn nodded sadly and tried to believe their son would be strong enough and have received enough of her immunity to live through this.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  A moon and a fortnight had passed since Alainn had nearly succumbed to the poisoning. And for the first month she had barely been allowed to move from the bed. She’d slowly regained her strength and to nearly everyone’s surprise and elation, she’d not lost the child. With each day he seemed to grow stronger and more active within her. Killian had been fiercely protective of her and would scarcely leave her side, the entire time. Ten days previous, when she’d finally asked to be allowed to at least stand at the window of the east solar, he’d nervously relented though insisted on carrying her even that short distance.

  Each day since then, she’d moved a little more, and regained more freedom along with her strength. Today, she’d bathed again in the round washtub Killian had hauled up for her. He’d also carried the pails of hot water up the many stairs himself. She knew he would do anything for her and he showed her several times a day, and in many ways, how grateful he was that she was still here with him when he believed he had lost her forever.

  After she’d enjoyed the lovely sensation of soaking in the warm, scented water and washed her hair, she’d brushed out her long tresses and dressed in her most appealing gown. Now she stood at the small open area outside the window, looking out upon the bright midsummer’s day. The day was warm, the flowers and trees full and beautiful, the river and everything in nature appeared so entirely enchanting to her. A soft, fragrant breeze tousled her hair. She breathed in the freshness and reveled in the glory of the warm summer afternoon. Though she had missed the outdoors, she could not think of it as a hardship to remain indoors or even confined to her bed even for her entire term, if it meant it had kept her unborn child safe.

  She pondered all the many happenings of the past weeks.

  The O’Brien weddings had taken place. Riley and Mary, Rory and Brigid, and Sean and Iona had all been married the same day in a joint ceremony. Though she’d not been able to attend, Killian had been present for the nuptials, but not the celebration afterwards. Although Molly had sat by her side so she’d not be left alone, Killian was adamant he would not be parted from her for that length of time.

  Alainn had insisted on hearing everything about the weddings. Killian had told her some, but he’d explained it only in a vague manner typical of how men were often inclined, leaving much to be imagined. She’d finally been told every detail, by Mary, who had visited often in the days following Alainn’s grave mishap. Alainn had been curious to ask Mary how she’d found her wedding night, when she’d expected it to be such an unpleasant ordeal, but they’d not had much time alone. Alainn judged by Mary’s happiness and radiance, she’d not found it nearly as objectionable as she’d been led to believe she might.

  Molly had come to see her often, so her days were not spent entirely in boredom, and only occasionally when she was not alone, did Killian dare to venture away further than the castle walls. She had encouraged him and insisted she would be quite well, but he seemed to need the reassurance that being close at hand had given him.

  Alainn had grown closer to her aunt, Lady Siobhan O’Brien, as well. Though they’d always been connected more than any lady and a commoner should be, now that they knew they were blood kin, they continued to strengthen the connection. To Alainn’s utter delight, her aunt had ensured her cherished Irish harp be brought to Alainn’s bedchamber.

  At first knowing how Alainn was drawn to music, her aunt simply soothed and entertained her niece during her time of rest and healing, but soon Alainn showed an interest and aptitude toward music as with so many ancient druid talents. Her aunt instructed her in learning how to play the lovely harp and in little time her aunt claimed Alainn was playing as well as she did. Though she doubted that, noting how gifted Lady Siobhan was at bringing the music to life with a beautiful and poignant clarity, Alainn reveled in the fact she was now also capable of playing the harp. She knew the gift would be a treasure and a solace to her throughout her entire life. Killian adored sitting with her and listening to the lovely, melodic Celtic pieces she loved so well and produced so effortlessly.

  Hugh O’Brien and his captain, Mackenzie MacArthur, and his entire army had made a valiant effort to discover who might have aided the priest in his attack on Alainn, but no conclusive clues had ever been found. Alainn knew no other trace would be found, for she knew his accomplice had not been human. The dark demon that had come to her in the dungeon was surely responsible for the priest’s actions. He had gotten to him and to Richard McGilvary for both had possessed dark souls and been willing to aid him in his misdeeds.

  Alainn shuddered when she thought of the hideously evil being and it frightened her more than she would care to admit, knowing he or perhaps any other dark creature of evil origin could surely take human form. She was nearly certain she had not seen the last of such abhorrent devils.

  Ramla’s spirit had come to Alainn and he explained to her that not long before his death he had seen someone he believed was a demon. He had come to him in attempt to employ him to concoct a strong poison. He had refused and cast him away from him with a magical distancing spell. But, he’d known it was only a temporary spell. And apparently the demon had found someone who aided him in creating a potion and then gotten it to the priest. Alainn couldn’t, in all her dwelling upon the matter, determine who that might be.

  What disturbed Alainn most about all of this was not even the fact that the Ramla described him as she’d seen him in human form, dressed entirely in dark clothes, with dark black hair and eyes, and that he’d spoken in an English accent as she’d heard herself. It was that when Ramla saw him he was in human form and he’d seen him in daylight. Surely only the most powerful and darkest demons must possess powers that allowed them to pr
esent themselves in human form in the light of day.

  She had not told Killian about what had occurred in the dungeon or of what Ramla had told her regarding the demon. She was ruefully hesitant to keep another secret from him, but she saw no benefit to him being fretful about an enemy he could not fight. He had already suffered greatly trying to protect her, both her honor and her life. She remembered when she’d woken and seen him wounded, his face and body a mass of cuts and abrasions, she’d wanted to heal him. But, it had been the desperate state of a breaking heart and his woeful soul in seeing her so close to death that had caused him the worst pain. She was not eager to have any type of discord between them or unpleasantness for them anytime soon. She felt they’d both been through quite enough for a very long while. But through all of this, Alainn believed Killian’s once strong faith had been renewed.

  Alainn had been saddened and disappointed to learn that Danhoul had left Castle O’Brien without so much as a brief word to her. Killian justified his sudden departure, explaining his intent to immediately return to his duties in the kern, the Irish army. Alainn felt that didn’t excuse him leaving without a word of farewell or Godspeed. She wasn’t certain if it was because of his deep guilt or regret at being unable to assist in healing her, or if in truth he’d simply been called away, perhaps by the gods who had once insisted he was to be her guardian.

  Occasionally, she sensed him nearby and in her dreams she was certain she could sometimes hear his voice reaching her through telepathy, but mostly he seemed incapable or unwilling to speak with her at this time. She would respect this, though she was almost certain that she and the young druid, Danhoul Calhoun, would one day cross paths again.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The castle had finally returned to common everyday life, for all the guests who had come to attend the games and celebrations had returned to their own lands and their chiefdoms. The McDonnels of Glynn had left their daughters and their niece to begin their lives with their new husbands, and headed back to the far north. Alainn’s grandfather had gone home as well. She’d become emotional when he’d come to say his farewell to her. Though they’d only known each other a short time, she felt close to him and was thankful she would soon be allowed to become better acquainted with him when she and Killian journeyed to their home.

  Riley and Mary had gone as well. Although Riley had mostly patched up his differences with his father, he had decided it would be advantageous to become chieftain of the O’Rorke clan, with assistance from his grandfather, of course. Though Alainn wondered how Riley and their grandfather might manage their relationship and their chiefdom when they claimed such vast differences of opinions in religious matters, she felt Riley had matured much in the last months, and that her grandfather’s calming nature would be a good influence on the younger man.

  She and Mary had shed many tears when they’d said their parting words as well. They had become close friends and Alainn was pleased she would soon only live a short distance from them. How peculiar fate was for the woman who was to have been Killian’s wife, Alainn now thought of as a valued friend.

  Lady Siobhan had remained here at Castle O’Brien for the time being. Although she had spoken of ending her relationship with her husband, she had chosen not to leave with her father and Riley and Mary when they’d gone on to Castle O’Rorke. Alainn knew the decision was weighing heavy on her mind. She recalled their recent conversation regarding the situation.

  “Ahh, dear Alainn, with all these magical abilities you possess, would you be capable of telling me what path is best for me? Might you look into my future and tell me what I should do?”

  “Nay, ’tis certainly not a decision that should be made by way of magic, and I have attempted to calm all my powers and abstain from using magic at least until my child is born. Sure this harrowing decision can’t be made by anyone bar you, Aunt Siobhan.”

  Her aunt’s lovely face appeared drawn and weary with the weight of her worry and her eyes held an uncommon sadness and the puffiness of having shed many tears regarding her future, and the difficult choice she had before her.

  “Well, if not by use of your abilities might you give me any female advice simply as my niece and my friend, another woman whose opinion I highly value?”

  “Well, firstly you must tell me how you feel regarding your husband; do you maintain feelings for him? Do you love the man?”

  She seemed to contemplate this for a time before she spoke. “I did not love Hugh when we were married; I admit full well that truth. It was an arranged marriage and of course, I had the usual reservations and concerns when we were wed. I thought he was a handsome sort, and I was attracted to him. He did not mistreat me. He could be harsh and demanding as a chieftain, but as a husband he was not unkind. In truth, I did grow to love him. We created our two fine boys and we shared in the love and pride of being parents.

  All was well for a time, we were happy, I suppose, and then the curse was upon us. After we lost our babies, five times we went through the unimaginable grief and despair of losing five wee newborn babes, Hugh changed markedly, and so did I. We no longer shared a bed, by my request for I couldn’t bear the thought of carrying another child all those months to full term knowing it would be lost as well.

  He did not force himself upon me of which I suppose I am thankful. I knew he had taken other women to still his desires. I accepted it for I was unwilling to go to his bed. Of course it pained me knowing I was his wife and he bedded any number of other women, but I was resigned to the fact. And so we lived out our lives in such a manner for so many years. I knew when he looked at me that he desired me still; that he did care for me in his own way.”

  Alainn looked at her aunt with much empathy as she spoke on.

  “I did not think of him as a bad man, of course as a chieftain he needed to make harsh decisions that were not always easy and perform tasks that I’m certain he did not relish, but it was only recently that I felt his temperament and characteristics changed so drastically. He became a stranger that I did not know and I most certainly did not care for.”

  “Aye, I never thought of your husband as an unreasonable man. I considered him to be a fair chieftain. It is clear the combinations and amounts of the remedies and elixirs he was ingesting severely altered his temperament and affected his mind.”

  “Aye, I know he committed some terrible deeds and I am well aware I know not all of what he did. I see how Killian despises his uncle and that was long before he was issued the lashes in your stead. I understand Killian’s anger when at the time Hugh ordered the lashings he knew you were with child. That in itself is surely unforgivable. I am certain the information I do not possess has much to do with Hugh attempting to keep you apart. Killian is a wise man for his young age and I feel inclined to agree with him, if he cannot forgive Hugh then I am uncertain if I can either.”

  Alainn turned away at these words for there were, indeed, many events her aunt was unaware of, one being that Hugh had attempted to rape Alainn and that he had also ordered the two vile, untrustworthy McGilvary brothers to have their wicked way with her as well. Even still, Alainn did accredit much of his instability and bad judgment to the use of mixing herbal remedies. An alchemist and a healer had great responsibility in handing out remedies and the alchemist in Galway had given Hugh elixirs that most certainly affected his mind. In truth, a vast many people were driven to madness because of such misdeeds.

  If Alainn ever thought of actually attempting to speak in explanation of Hugh O’Brien’s unsavory state and grave misdeeds, Killian refused to listen to her insistent reasoning. Even with the challenge ended, with Killian sparing his uncle’s life and Hugh saving Killian’s life, Alainn believed they would never truly be close again. Killian could never forgive the man for all he’d done to her and to keep them apart. Her continued attempts in deducting how gravely detrimental the herbal potions had ill affected him did nothing to ease Killian’s disdain for his uncle, and she knew he felt a sense of betra
yal when she attempted to ease the differences between them. Alainn believed she actually harbored fewer ill feelings toward the man than Killian did.

  She surmised her husband’s pride and loyalty were a force to be reckoned with and, when crossed, he would not be inclined to forgive. Yet deep within her heart, Alainn felt there was a distinct possibility the chieftain had been plagued and pursued by the dark demon, and that in his mad condition and darkened state, the demon had perhaps nearly won him over.

  Alainn would never be able to loathe Hugh O’Brien completely for he had saved Killian’s life and because of that, part of her would always be thankful to the man. Now that the chieftain had refrained from taking the herbal remedies he appeared to be returning to the man Alainn had once trusted and defended. She did not envy her aunt in her difficult decision for past mistakes and wrongdoings held much weight, yet without forgiveness future peace would surely be impossible.

  “Sure it must be you who decides what must be done, Aunt Siobhan. And whatever decision you come to, you know I shall respect it and forever support you.”

  The other woman warmly embraced her and smiled gratefully. “I am most appreciative of you, Alainn. I have always been, since long before you were known to be my kin. You saved the life of my dear, precious son, Rory, and I am thankful every day for that.

  In truth, it may not be Hugh I consider in this decision as much as Rory. He is a dear son to me and a good, kind, sensitive man. I know he will miss his twin most assuredly and being apart will weigh heavy on his gentle heart. They have spent their entire lives together, barely ever been apart. Before Riley journeyed with his new bride to live with father, surely my twin boys had never been parted longer than a day at most. I cannot imagine that I could leave Rory, as well, and to be apart indefinitely and far distanced from him, not when I have nearly lost him twice before, to the fever and the fall from the tower.