Highlander's Embrace

by Amy Isan

  ***

  A light rustling alerted him. He opened his eyes and rolled onto his stomach, trying see what was making noise. Elspet was standing nearby, eating some grass, but she had stopped half-way through her meal and was staring above Gavin’s hiding place. He slowly looked up at the ceiling of the outcropping and listened hard for movement.

  He heard the rustling of someone picking his clothes up, the jerkin and chain-mail lightly clinking as it was rolled over itself. The jerkin grazed the grass as it was lifted, and he heard the sound of slight breathing above him. He swallowed quietly, gently moving to his knees to try and get a surprise on the intruder. It had to be a MacDonald, looking for clues. If they saw his horse already, was it too late for him? How many were there? One? Three? A dozen within yelling distance? He wrapped his fingers around his sword and lifted it slowly, moving to balance on the balls of his feet. His cloak was still tied around his waist, and he steeled his nerves with the thought of being caught almost in the skin of his birthday suit.

  He leaped out from under the outcropping, rolling to face the top of the rock and try and surprise his intruder, intimidate them with his presence, get the jump and kill them before they could alert anyone else. He pointed the tip of his claymore at the stranger.

  It wasn’t the rugged and angry clansman that he had expected to find examining his clothes, but the red-haired lass from the market. She stared at him in a mixture of shock and awe, dropping the kilt on the ground and raising her hands in defense. She took a step back, her mouth agape and eyes wide with fear. She looked over her shoulder for a second and grasped onto her horse's withers, seemingly ready to climb up and, do what? Alert the others? Was she part of the plan that night?

  “What are you doing?” Gavin demanded, his sword pointed at her. He briefly forgot himself in the moment he caught sight of her, almost letting his guard down. If she wasn’t to be trusted, that could have been the end of him. He looked past her and around the valley, and saw no other men in sight. “Who are you?”

  The woman gulped and tightened her grip on the horse’s withers, and without answer pulled herself up and swung a leg over the back of the beast, no saddle present. Gavin ran forward as she raised the horse on its rear legs and whirled it around, flying down the valley. Fear struck Gavin’s heart, and not for the reasons he thought it would. He wasn’t worried that she was alerting other highlanders, but that he’d never find out who she was.

  Still only wearing the make-shift kilt, he threw himself astride Elspet, never having trained with riding her bareback before. He darted off after the red haired woman, flying down the slope toward her. She had gained a good couple hundred yards in the time it took him to regain his composure and pursue her, but he was confident in the speed of Elspet. No horse in the land could out run her.

  The cold yet warming shear of the wind whipped past his head. He leaned down to bring his head closer to Elspet’s. He felt the small sensation that he was gaining on the woman. Slowly but surely, he’d catch up. She glanced over her shoulder with a frenzied look in her eyes, her red curls billowing in the wind and knotting as the gusts darted back and forth across the highlands. As Gavin neared the woman and her horse, he could swear he felt the wind against his back, urging him forward. It was a sensation that sent a thrill through his body.

  “Wait! Stop!” he called out as he came within earshot of her. The rhythmic pounding of the horses’ hooves flooded his ears, his heart surging in his chest as he clung to Elspet’s flanks, his legs growing weak and his heart thudding in his ears. The woman looked over her shoulder and saw he was gaining. She began to slow her horse down, until she stopped at the crest of the small slope out of the valley. He had finally caught her.

  He brought Elspet astride to the woman and looked her hard in the eyes. She looked worried, but not as anxious as when he first jumped out from his hiding spot.

  “Who sent you? It couldn’t have been the MacDonald men...” Gavin began, tightening his grip on Elspet’s withers absentmindedly as he stared into the woman’s eyes. They seemed to capture him without his consent, a fluttering sensation that he felt would vanish the moment he looked away from her.

  She shrugged off her cloak and let it rest on the back of her horse. “No one sent me.”

  “Who are you?”

  “I should ask you the same thing, seeing as you’re naked, attacking me with a sword of all things,” the woman said.

  Gavin closed his eyes and nodded. She was guarded, he didn’t know how to assuage her fears.

  “My clothes were wet. I was trying to dry them off.”

  The woman looked away from him, which made his heart race with a kind of longing sadness. She looked over the slope into the horizon. It was late midday, which made the highlands look almost textureless, the blades of grass casting barely a single shadow across the expanse. Just vivid green for miles, with colored flowers dotting the landscape. Gavin tried to think of what else he could say. “I’m Gavin MacKenzie, of Clan MacKenzie, of Eilean Donan Castle.”

  The woman turned to look at him again, her eyes suddenly lit up. “You’re not one of the MacDonald men?”

  “Why would I be? Are they looking for you?”

  She looked away and at the ground, pulling her hand up and cradling her elbow. She traced a light line across her skin, which Gavin hungered for. He wanted that finger tracing his skin. When she looked at him again, he saw her eyes flick briefly up his body, dancing over his muscles and biceps, which were glistening with sweat from the ride and his racing heart.

  He flashed a smile when she looked at him again. “Are you really Gavin MacKenzie?”

  Gavin nodded, trying to ignore the slight injury to his pride. “Yes. I am.”

  “I am Elyn Douglas, of Clan Douglas... ” She squeezed her elbows when she said her clan name. Her cheeks flushed.

  “What are you doing out here, Elyn?” Gavin tried to not seem very pushy, he was scared she would dart off again if he said something wrong. The last thing he wanted was to lose sight of her again. He debated over telling her of him having seen her before, but thought maybe it wasn’t the best time.

  “I donae know, the attack...” She still didn’t meet his gaze.

  Gavin frowned and hung his head. “Yes, the MacDonalds finally made good on their threats... I’m on my way to see King James and try to right their wrongs.”

  “You’re going to the King?”

  “Aye, that I am.” He wanted to bring his horse closer to hers, to capture her smell, to feel her warmth on his body. He thought how Neil had grabbed her arse and gotten smacked rightfully for it. She seemed lost in thought, contemplating what she should do.

  “Where are you heading?”

  She didn’t answer. After a brief moment, she brought her horse around to face back down the valley from where they came from. “I’m coming with you.”

  “I donae know if —“

  “Please, mi Laird. You can’t honestly be expectin’ to tell me to turn right around and leave, can ye?” Her voice rose as she spoke, a bit of a fire stirring inside her. The curl of her tone took Gavin aback in humored surprise. He chuckled a little, and a small smile teased the corners of Elyn's lips as he did. “Now you’re makin’ fun, I donae like being made fun of.”

  “Nay, no fun here,” Gavin replied. He turned his horse and headed back down the hill, making his way back to his small encampment. “And don’t call me Laird. Just Gavin is fine.”

  After a small time, he broke the renewed silence with a burning question he had on his mind. “What were you doin’ touching my things?”

  “Nothin’,” Elyn said curtly. “I was gonna take them. No man was around to claim them, they were rightfully mine.” She gave him a quick glance, then dared to continue, “I’d argue I should still keep ‘em as my own.”

  “Do ye, now?” Gavin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He supposed he’d never been with a woman from one of the outside clans, only the ones that were often patrolling the ca
stle. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her, much to her apparent amusement.

  “Gavin. You should keep an eye on where you’re going, your horse might trip,” she said with rose-tinged cheeks. He cleared his throat and drew his attention forward again, just as they reached the outcropping.

  They climbed off their horses and Gavin lowered Elspet to the ground. He felt a small sense of satisfaction when Elyn tried to copy him to no avail.

  “How’d you do that?” she asked him, looking at his horse perplexed. “Rhys never does anythin’ I tell ‘im. I can’t believe I got him to leave the stables.”

  “It takes years of training, but let me try.” Gavin took a handful of Rhys’ withers out of Elyn's hands, their skin briefly touching for a moment. He swore she lingered for an extra second longer than necessary, but pushed the thought from his mind. There was no time to be thinking such improper things, he needed to be focusing on the task at hand: getting to Castle Iverlochy and speaking with the King. Maybe after the dust had cleared and everything was right again, he could engage in such foolish games.

  He tugged Rhys’ withers gently to toward the ground. Rhys was adamant, and didn’t move. Gavin pulled on the withers with another gentle tug once more, while he brought his hand to the back of Rhys’ knees and gave them a gentle tap. The horse looked at Gavin with a sort of indignity, then moved his head to gaze at Elspet, who was sitting quietly on the grass.

  Another tug and Gavin was able to slowly lower Rhys to the ground, the horse clumsily moving its legs underneath its enormous body. Gavin smacked his hands together and folded his arms, satisfied with his work. He glanced at Elyn, who looked shocked.

  “I cannae believe he listened.”

  Gavin cracked a smile. “You just have to show them that they want to listen.” Elyn gave him a small grin, and he remembered he was still almost naked. He moved to the top of the outcropping and retrieved his clothes, snatching them up. “You should turn away.”

  Elyn shook her head. “I’ll just close my eyes,” she said with a coy smile. Gavin couldn’t help but laugh at the disrespect she showed such a high ranking clan member. It was almost endearing. He shook his head as he turned away from her and donned his kilt and jerkin, doubtful she didn’t glance a peek at his arse. He smiled to himself, knowing full well it was definitely a sight to behold.

  When he finished, he turned back around and saw her quickly close her eyes again, as if she hadn’t been peeking. He cracked a smile. “All right, all right, you can look now.”

  “Can I, are ye sure?”

  “Aye.”

  She opened her eyes, one at a time. She whistled with some mock-enthusiasm, but Gavin ignored it. He couldn’t believe he had to wrangle with this lass now.

  “We’ll wait until darkness to travel, then we should try and get some rest,” he said, moving back under the rock and into the shade. His stomach moaned as he settled down on his elbow, looking up at Elyn who was still standing like a plank near the horses.

  “Why?”

  “Too risky to move during the day. The horses know the land, we donae have to really know where we’re going. I’m obviously a wanted man. I’m sure you’re a wanted woman. Funny how that works.”

  Elyn kneeled down under the rock, pulling her bag off her shoulders. “Yeah, real funny.” She untied the knot and pulled out some scraps of bread, and pushed one into Gavin’s hands. “Eat this.”

  “What? I donae need this.”

  “Shut up and eat it. I heard your stomach.” She glared at him. “Ye donae have to lie, Gavin MacKenzie.”

  He shrugged and took a bite, thankful that she had brought something to keep them going. He wasn’t sure he’d make it very far at all if he hadn’t made a detour to the loch. As she took a bite of bread, he saw what else remained inside her bag: a few more scattered pieces loaves and some clothes.

  He started to hand the piece of food back to her. “There isn’t enough...”

  “There’s plenty, eat up. You’ll just have to wrangle up something for us.”

  “Us, eh?”

  “I said I was comin’ with ye. Did ye forget already?”

  He feigned a smile. “Not at all.” He resolved that he would definitely have to go to the loch now. They’d have to do it during the day, since making a fire in the dead of night would be a giveaway of their location. It didn't matter if they were MacDonald men who found him at this point, he couldn’t have another run in with a stranger.

  As he took another bite of his bread, he watched Elyn look off into the distance. Her knees protruded slightly from the edge of her dress, their ashen white tips looking desperate to be touched. Gavin pushed the thought out of his mind as she adjusted her hair, turning to glance at him. In her eyes, he felt something mutual flicker at the surface, before hiding behind her guarded wall.

  He finished his chunk of bread and curled up under the rock.

  ***

  That night, he woke up first, the sounds of the night buzzing loudly in his ears. He looked around to try and find Elyn, and was surprised to have her butting up against his back, her shoulder blades touching his spine. He turned over and roused her gently, touching her shoulder, feeling his blood grow hot in his face and loins.

  She stirred, her eyes fluttering open with a peaceful look, unguarded and vulnerable. She looked calm and without worry for a brief moment, but once she focused on Gavin, her guard went back up and her eyes shut off again. She sat up as Gavin withdrew his hand.

  “It’s time for us to get going,” he said, trying to sound like he hadn’t just woken up himself. He crawled out from under the rock and stood to his feet, rousing the horses awake as well. They were nestled next to each other, staying warm in the chilled air of the night, their heaving chests moving in unison. The horses shook their powerful necks and whipped their withers around as Gavin cooed them, helping them stand up one at a time until they could maintain their posture.

  When he turned back around to try and rouse Elyn again, he found her already awake. She was brushing the dirt and earth off her dress, bringing her hands down to her knees and pushing the last puffs of dirt off the edges. Her gold necklace slipped out of her shirt and glinted in the moonlight in front of her, twirling and dancing as she moved and swiped at her clothes. She cracked a brief smile at him when she caught him looking at her.

  He cleared his throat. “That necklace... that’s odd for a...”

  “Commoner to have? Is that what you were gonna say, or were ye lookin’ down my dress?”

  He shook his head and stared into Elyn’s eyes. She looked desperately cute to Gavin, some slight dimples creasing on her cheek as she caught him staring at her. She cracked a smile and shook her head. “Donae worry about it. I found it one day, I didnae kill anyone for it.”

  “I didnae think —“

  “Let’s get going.”

  She grabbed Rhys’ withers and threw herself atop the horse in one powerful motion. Gavin was amazed at the sight, having only briefly ridden his own horse bareback a handful of times in his whole life. He reattached the saddle to Elspet and made sure it was snug and secure before throwing himself atop his horse as well. They slowly made their way out of the sloping valley, giving the horses ample time to get their hearts racing.

  ***

  Outside the valley, they moved further northeast, making their way toward the castle.

  “How do ye know which way to go?” Elyn asked him as he stared up at the sky.

  He pointed to the north star. “That’s how. I learned to navigate by the stars when I was a lad.”

  “By the stars?” Elyn followed his finger up and stared at the glimmering light above them. Seemingly hundreds of thousands of stars glinted in the night, and Elyn could scarcely make out which one Gavin was pointing at in particular. He nodded as he brought his hand back down, urging the horse to pick up speed again.

  “You know,” he began as the moon rose to its highest point in the sky. “I think I met your horse when I was escaping the
castle.”

  “Rhys?”

  “Yes. Rhys. He was secured in the stall next to Elspet.” He leaned forward and stroked Elspet’s cheek, to which she nudged him affectionately. “He looked pretty pitiful, I tried to give him some extra hay. I hadn’t known he was yours...” Gavin’s words stuck in his throat.

  “Hadn’t know he was mine... Have we met before?” Elyn said, cocking her head to try and and get a read on Gavin. He flushed and looked away, stammering.

  “I might have seen you from the castle.”

  Her voice perked up. “The man in the breezeway?”

  He looked back to her. Her eyes were wide. He was still taken by her beauty, the moonlight giving just enough detail for him to fill in the gaps. Shadows fell across her body in ways that made her look even more tempestuous. “You noticed?”

  “Aye. Of course I did. At least...” She paused for a moment, evidently collecting her thoughts. “I thought I noticed.”

  “Well, you caught me then,” Gavin said. He flashed a winning smile and she reciprocated. He recollected the moment when he spotted her, then to the lads who talked about her in the dining hall. This darkened his mood, reminding him why he was out in the highlands in the first place. His expression faded.

  “What’s wrong?” Elyn asked suddenly, looking concerned.

  “Things that shouldnae worry you.”

  “I saw what was happening back at the castle, Gavin. I think they very much concern me.”

  He eyed her, trying to judge how much she had really seen.

  His gaze made her shift on Rhys' and flush. She looked down at the horse's withers and excused herself. “Do I have a bug on me face?”

  He chuckled, “No, lass, you're just beautiful is all.” She didn't meet his gaze again, but repeated her question.

  “What's wrong, Gavin?”

  He sighed heavily and let his shoulders drop. “My father was killed. Laird Angus is dead. Those MacDonald wolves did it, I just know it. Who else could it have been? I donae know any other clans that have been so consistently angered at him.”