Securing Aisling

by Andrea Boyd

  I looked up into a pair of blue eyes with the life gone from them as I gasped for breath. Suddenly the lifeless body was being pulled from me, taking my sword with it. I lay helpless on my back looking up at the one who had thrown the knife earlier. He straddled my body and used the only weapons still in his possession, his hands. He wrapped them around my throat and began squeezing the life right out of me. I kicked and twisted trying to buck him off, but it had no effect at all.

  I had to fight for every gasp of air I took into my lungs. They say your entire life passes through your mind in a flash during moments like this. Well, my future flashed through mine. I had not had a chance to really experience marriage. I had never held a child of my own in my arms. What would happen to my kingdom now?

  Just when I felt I had no more fight left in me, someone’s boot caught the side of my attacker’s head sending him sprawling by my side. Even with my attacker’s hands gone from my neck, I still struggled for every breath. I watched as Garrett ran his sword through the man’s chest. My last sight before everything went black was of Garrett kneeling by me, his hand on my face while he called out my name.

  Fifteen

  Garrett

  EVERYONE CALLED ME King Garrett now, but I certainly did not feel like a king. Part of this feeling of unreality was due to the fact that the position was new to me. But more than that, it stemmed from my obvious lack of power. No one would listen to me. I had wanted my wife to be protected, but Brianna had sided with Eamon and that was that.

  The fighting was going on all around me, but I was not in it. Instead of hiding behind a rock, this time I had four men surrounding me, making sure no one got through. I would have appreciated this protection more if my wife had been there with me.

  I constantly scanned the surrounding area, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. My panic rose with every passing second. I realized that this fight had nothing to do with me when I made eye contact with one of Gilvary’s stable hands, and he made a point of turning away. They were not after me, so who were they after?

  Brianna!

  While everyone around me was engaged in the fight, I began forcing my way past my protectors. I tried in vain to catch sight of her, but there was too much going on. I just kept heading in the direction where I had seen her last. My way was made easier by the fact that any time I came in contact with a fighter from Gilvary, they would just veer off away from me. It was the oddest thing I had ever seen.

  I could not see her face, but I finally recognized her boots sticking out from behind a man more than twice her size. My body went into automatic motion. I ran up and kicked the man on the side of his head, sending him sprawling out on the ground beside my wife. The shocked look froze on his face as I rammed my sword through his chest. It was the first time I had killed anyone. I had thought I would feel more remorse if it ever came to this, but all I could think of at that moment was Brianna.

  I held her close as she gasped for air like a fish out of water. Her eyes fluttered closed and she went limp in my arms. I could not tell if she was dead or alive. My insides went hot and then instantly cold. My hands shook so hard, I could not feel her pulse. I did not even realize I was still calling her name while I held her to my chest until I felt someone tug on my arm. I looked up into Gwen’s pale face.

  “Let me see.” She touched Brianna’s throat while her gaze roamed the ground beside us as if she would find her answers there. I held my breath as I waited for the verdict. “She is alive for now. Put her down flat on her back.”

  I gently laid my beloved down on the ground. I was momentarily relieved, but my heart wrenched at the thought that she still might not make it. The fighting around us had started to die down. Suddenly everything became eerily quiet.

  I looked around to see that only the warriors on our side were still standing. Gilvarian bodies littered the ground in a sickening display all around me. I recognized some of them as castle workers and local farmers. My father must have sent them, but why? Would not his warriors have done a better job? But when I considered that they had probably been after my wife, I was thankful.

  There was also the question of why they had not come for me as Eamon had been so sure they would. I hoped it was because he would not sacrifice his own flesh and blood in pursuit of his selfish desires. Why could he not just be satisfied running his own kingdom?

  I stood up when Eamon approached, all of my anger instantly bubbled to the surface. I met him at about five feet from where Brianna lay and shoved him in his chest as hard as I could. “This is entirely your fault. If she dies, it is on your head. Do you hear me?”

  He had not lost his footing with the shove. Eamon had to be a great deal older than me, but he had a warrior’s build. I would probably receive the beating of my life, but I wanted a fight. I shoved him again. “This would not have happened if you had just listened to me. What is the point of being a king? Can you tell me that?”

  Even my shouting seemed to be having no effect on him. He just stood there with his head down. It only made my blood boil harder. I looked down to see Gwen with her hands wrapped around my arm, calling out my name. How long had she been there?

  “Garrett, Garrett. King Garrett, we need to get Brianna to the fort as quickly as possible.” It had only turned to King Garrett when I had looked at her, and the last part was said in a calmer tone than the first, but it was enough to propel me into action. I gave Eamon one last glare and then followed her back to Brianna’s side.

  Together we made a makeshift sling to hang between two horses that would carry my wife to Fort Bevan. The warriors began gathering up all of the horses and supplies. We were only a half day’s ride away. The dead would have to wait until tomorrow when men from the fort could return to take care of them. The enemy’s horses were added to ours. We could not leave them out here to fend for themselves. It was just as well that extras were available. Eoghan was nowhere to be found.

  Brianna stirred a little when we moved her to the sling, and Gwen quickly poured some liquid into her mouth while she was just conscious enough to swallow. Gwen said it was best to keep her unconscious until we made it to the fort. I was no healer, but I could not agree more. I could not bear the thought of her being in pain. I was in constant prayer for her wellbeing for the rest of the day.

  Brianna

  I awoke to the sight of a ceiling overhead. I could tell from the dark crown molding at the top of the powder blue walls that I was in my bedchambers at Fort Bevan. How had I gotten here? There had been a fight. I remembered a sword fight and something about a man with a knife, but my thoughts were fuzzy. My whole body ached, but the worst of it was my throat. I reached up and gingerly touched my neck trying to remember what had happened.

  There was movement in the bed beside me, and I jerked my head around without thinking of the pain it would cause. I gasped a few times to keep from crying out and waking Garrett. He was stretched out fully clothed on top of the blankets beside me. The sound of his steady breathing was soothing to my nerves.

  After the worst of the pain eased away, I took the opportunity to study his beautiful face, slack with sleep. I would definitely enjoy waking up to this sight for the rest of my life. My husband was gorgeous. If I ever had children, I hoped they would look just like him.

  His pale green eyes suddenly popped open to stare at me. He lay there looking at me without moving for a minute before coming up on his elbow to gaze down at me. “How are you feeling? How bad is the pain?” Just hearing his deep sleepy sounding voice caused my stomach to tighten.

  “My throat hurts. I am sore but all right.” My raspy voice was barely above a whisper.

  “How about your arm?” He pulled back the covers, enough to expose my left arm. I slowly turned my head and lifted my arm in order to see a bandage there with some blood seeping through. I had not felt the pain until that moment.

  “Hurts.” I lowered my arm, and he placed the covers back over it.

  “I will go get the healer. He will wa
nt to examine you now that you are awake.” He lifted slightly from the bed as if to go, but I reached for his arm to stop him.

  “What happened?”

  “You do not remember?”

  “A little.”

  He leaned over me again and gently stroked my hair. “There was a battle. I do not know exactly what happened to your arm, but when I found you, a man was choking you. That is what happened to your neck. You passed out, and we brought you here to Fort Bevan. Actually, on the way here, whenever you would awaken, Gwen gave you something that made you sleep. She said you probably would not remember the trip here.”

  “Gwen okay?” It hurt to talk, so I used my words sparingly, but he seemed to understand.

  “She is sore like everyone else, with a few minor cuts and bruises, but in all, she came out unscathed.”

  “Eamon?”

  “He is fine, too.” His face hardened with this answer. It would take too many words from my sore throat to get to the bottom of that look. I was concerned about my men and my horse, but those details would have to wait as well.

  “Water.”

  He got out on his side of the bed and came around to the pitcher and cup sitting on the table beside me. After pouring water into the cup, he carefully lifted my head and gave me a drink. The cool water wet the inside of my parched mouth and throat, but it was very painful to swallow. A few sips were all I could stand for now.

  He gently lowered my head back onto the pillow. “I am going to get the healer now.”

  I was sure that he had not been gone long, but I had managed to drift back to sleep before he returned with Kerwin Mundy, the resident healer at Fort Bevan. He sat down on the side of the bed and started gently probing my neck with his long dark fingers, his brow wrinkled in concentration as he stared at the wall behind me. From my little interactions with him in the past, I knew him to be a serious man of few words.

  “Are you having difficulty swallowing?”

  “It hurts.”

  Garrett spoke up. “She asked for water, and I gave her a sip right before going to find you. I hope that was all right.”

  The healer just nodded his head without saying anything. He held my head up and instructed Garrett to give me a small sip of water while he used his other hand to gingerly touch my throat as I swallowed.

  He pulled the blankets down to my waist placing my left hand between his arm and side and started removing the bandage from the upper part of my arm. I caught Garrett glancing at me and looking away, only to bring his eyes right back to me again as if he was not sure if he wanted to see or not. Then I noticed that he was not looking at my arm. I was only wearing a thin shift and nothing else.

  I looked at the healer, but if he noticed my body heating up and turning red, he did not have a reaction. Before this past week, I would have said I was not easily embarrassed, but that no longer seemed to be true. I glanced back at Garrett, and his gaze met mine. This time he turned away and stayed that way. It was some comfort to see the red creeping up the side of his neck for a change.

  Without the distraction of Garrett, I was able to really see my wound for the first time. There was about a four-inch line of stitches just below my shoulder. Kerwin had already washed the blood away and was now applying an ointment that burned like fire. I sucked air through my teeth which had Garrett glancing back with concern this time. It was a relief to have the arm bandaged once again.

  I was shocked when the healer pulled the blankets down to my knees. “I need to look at your hip. You have a nasty bruise down there. He lifted the left side of my shift, and I took one glance down before averting my eyes to the right, away from the deep purple bruise and away from Garrett. I did not want to catch him looking this time. The covers were soon back up to my chin, and I was able to breathe properly once again.

  “I think you will be all right after you have had time to heal. We will keep an eye on your arm and the rest, but your throat is the real concern. Hopefully there will not be any permanent damage to your voice. You seem to be able to swallow just fine. I know it hurts, but it will help for you to get plenty to drink. I will have a tonic sent in to help you rest and to ease the pain. I will check on you later, Your Highness.” He bowed and left the room.

  Garrett took his place on the side of the bed.

  “I need Gwen.”

  He jumped up from the bed and knocked on the door leading to her adjoining room. He must have understood my need to relieve myself without me saying so. As soon as Gwen came through, he stepped out of the room closing the door behind him.

  She pulled back the covers and gently helping me to stand. “I am glad you are awake. I have been so worried. Has Healer Kerwin been in to see you yet?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh your voice sounds horrible. Do not try to talk any more than you have to. I know you must be in a lot of pain.” She talked as she helped me to the chamber pot and then back into bed.

  “I saw those men coming at you, and I thought my heart would stop. I shot one of them down before I was attacked myself. The next time I saw you, Garrett was holding your limp body in his arms. I have to admit, I thought the worst. Thank God he had gotten to you when he did. I think Garrett really cares about you.” Of course she did not expect me to say anything, but I was not sure what I would have said even if I did have complete use of my voice.

  “My men?”

  “Eamon is okay for the most part, but I am sorry to say that we did lose three men and another was badly injured. The rest have only minor ailments in comparison.”

  Considering how outnumbered we had been, I was surprised there were not more casualties to report. Still, three men had given their lives for me and our kingdom. I did not take that lightly. I would find out their names once I was healed and give my personal condolences to their families along with benevolence pay. The money would never compensate for these men’s lives, but it would hopefully help toward seeing to their family’s financial wellbeing.

  “Torin?”

  “Torin is fine and so is Ghost, but we thought we had lost Garrett’s horse for a while. I do not mean anything happened to him, but he was nowhere to be found for some time. Garrett had already started out on one of the extras, but just as the sun was setting, we realized that, what is his name, oh yes, Eoghan was following at a distance. It took some doing, but Garrett was able to capture him. That one is a little on the wild side.”

  Once Gwen had me settled, she opened the door as a signal that we were through. Garrett walked in immediately carrying the cup of tonic Healer Kerwin had ordered.

  “Would you like for me to do it?” Gwen had reached toward the cup as she spoke.

  “Thanks, but I will take care of it. I was told there was food prepared in the dining hall for you.”

  “If you need anything else, just let me know, Your Highness.” She curtsied and left the room. The only time Gwen curtsied and addressed me so formally was when strangers were present. She was my friend, and I wanted her to be Garrett’s friend as well. This was something else I would have to address later when I got my voice back.

  Garrett lifted me up and placed another pillow beneath my head. He picked up the cup from the table and began spooning the warm liquid into my mouth as if I were a baby. It had the appearance of hot tea, but with a lingering bitterness that gave it away as the medicine it was. It was strange to be in such a vulnerable position with this man I barely knew.

  “I can do it.”

  “I am sure you can, but I want to do this. It keeps me from feeling so useless.”

  Nothing else was said between us. I could feel my eyes drooping before I was even half way through the drink. The last thing I remembered was Garrett kissing my forehead after removing the extra pillow.

  The next time I awoke it was to find Gwen sitting in a chair next to the bed. She was working with a needle and thread on some white fabric, presumably doing some light mending. It was some time before she was even aware that I had awakened. She jumped up and
poured a cup of water when she caught me looking at her. “How are you feeling?”

  I took some of the water before answering. “Better, I think.” My voice was still gravelly, but the pain was not quite as bad.

  “You have missed supper, but after we get you sitting up and straightened a bit, I will order you something to eat. You will probably only want soft foods, for a while anyway.”

  “Supper? What time is it?”

  “We arrived here just after midnight. After we got everyone with injuries settled, we all went to sleep. I woke up just before you did, which was around dinner time, and right now it is a little past nine o’clock at night. You have missed a whole day, but you needed the rest. I am sure you have a couple of more days like this ahead of you.”

  Before long Gwen had me ready and was feeding me potato soup followed by applesauce. I had tried to feed myself at first, but my arms seemed to have lost all strength. Kerwin was right, the more I swallowed, the less soreness I felt. I hesitated when Gwen offered me a sip from the steaming cup she held in her hand, but she assured me that it was just regular tea with honey.

  “Where is Garrett?” I looked around the room as if I would find him there.

  “I have no idea. He waited until you were asleep before giving me strict orders not to leave your side.” I looked back at her. She gave me a smile, but I had to wonder what she thought about Garrett giving her orders.

  “Do you think you will ever be friends?”

  “As long as he is good to you, I will consider him to be my friend. I admit it is a little awkward right now, but I think it will be easier after he is settled in Aisling.”