Given to the Highlander

by Veronica Touse

  When they got to the stables, Malmuira found the stable boy and asked him to get Culloden and Eaunrig if he could find them, or any other sturdy men if he couldn’t. She counted away the seconds while he was gone.

  “Mal… Mal where are we?”

  “Hush’n yerself, Oidche. We’re back at the keep.”

  He drifted back into unconsciousness before both Culloden and Eaunrig jogged into the stables.

  Culloden approached first and examined the crooked leg. “Wha’ happened?”

  “Ah dunno, he couldn’t stay conscious long enough to tell me.”

  “Let’s get him inside and get someone to look at him. Ah’m thinking the leg will need to be set.” Eaunrig began to position him for a lift while he spoke.

  Culloden seemed to have firsthand knowledge of what needed to be done. He took a rake, broke off the metal part and broke the thick stick in half by first cracking it into a post on the wall. He lined up the stick with the part of Oidche’s leg that wasn’t bent out, and then tied the sticks by wrapping some torn fabric around both the sticks and his leg.

  “How’d ye know how to do that?” Malmuira had never seen a broken leg and didn’t know how to help.

  “Ye learn things on the battlefield.” Culloden didn’t elaborate and Malmuira felt it best not to bother him with more questions.

  Both men hefted Oidche off the horse, taking his weight by holding his arms over each of their shoulders. Oidche was so tall that his legs still dragged on the ground. Malmuira worried for him, but knew there was nothing else that could be done.

  “Take him to our room,” she instructed. She led the way into the keep and to their room.

  They dropped his heavy form onto the bed and adjusted his leg, removing the sticks and fabric from the break.

  “We’ll get someone up here right quick.” Eaunrig patted her back awkwardly in what she thought was meant to be a comforting gesture, and then turned and left with Culloden.

  The doctor arrived after Oidche returned to consciousness. Malmuira made Oidche drink water and allowed him to sip some whiskey for the pain.

  “Mal, so good to see ye again.”

  The doctor took her hand and kissed her cheek. His white beard tickled her skin and his wrinkled eyes sparkled. He turned to Oidche. “Ye must be the valiant Oidche. The man who got the privilege of marrying this bonnie lass. Ah’m Cohlm Murray.”

  Oidche smiled weakly. “Ah dunno ‘bout valiant, but ah know ah couldn’t be luckier.”

  “Well, maybe ye could’ve been luckier to not have broken yer leg, but ye couldn’t have been luckier to marry a prettier lass. Ah’ve been taking care of Malmuira since she was a wee bairn. And before that ah cared for her maither. Mighty headstrong women, this bunch.”

  Oidche tried to laugh, but it came out as a gasp.

  “Broke yer leg right good, did ye?” The old man examined the leg without touching it. “We’ll need to set it. Ye’re lucky it’s the lower leg. Could’a been much worse had ye broken the upper part.”

  He moved over to the corner of the room and procured a large mug of whiskey. Enough whiskey to bring even the largest man to his knees.

  “Ye need to drink a bit of this. Ah’m afraid this’ll hurt a lot.”

  Oidche nodded with a determined look on his face. Malmuira took the mug from Cohlm and gave Oidche the mug to drink. He took a long draw from the mug and closed his eyes. His head was covered in sweat. A few minutes later he took another long pull from the cup and waited.

  “Ah’ll wait till ye’re feeling the whiskey.” He sat in a chair in the corner, pulling a book out of his pocket and reading while he waited.

  “It’s going to be alright, Oidche.” Malmuira wished there was something else that she could do to help him.

  “Mal,” he growled in pain when he tried to adjust his body. “Ah’ve had injuries in battle, ah’ll survive a broken bone.”

  “Aye.” She didn’t know what else to say, so she waited while he drank the last of the whiskey.

  His eyes were bloodshot and his speech started to slur. “Ah’m glad ye’re here, Mal. Ah like to look at ye.”

  She felt her face flush with heat.

  “Ah dunno what ah’d do if ye stayed here when ah leave, Malmuira. Ah don’t want ye to stay. Ah want ye to be my wife forever. We haven’t even bedded each other yet.”

  “Hush, Oidche, hush.” Malmuira was keenly aware of Cohlm’s presence.

  “Ah don’t even care if ye never want to join me in bed, Mal. Ah just want to be with ye. Ye’re…” He passed out before he could finish his sentence.

  Cohlm got up and tucked his book back in his pocket before moving over to the bed. “Ye got yerself a good man here, Mal. Ah’m glad ye were wedded to a good one.”

  He didn’t say anything else about the drunken words of Oidche. “Grab a bowl, Mal. Even though he hasn’t eaten for a while he may be sick.”

  She had cleaned up after her sister’s sick, but was wary of seeing Oidche sick. “Aye.”

  Once she was positioned near Oidche’s head with the bowl, Cohlm grabbed the broken leg, standing on the bed, and counted down from three. On one, he pulled and twisted the leg with a resounding pop.

  Oidche woke briefly to howl before unconsciousness overtook him again. The doctor used a couple of sticks and fabric to keep his leg straight.

  Cohlm finished up and handed her the bottle of whiskey. “Keep an eye on him, Malmuira. He needs to be watched for fever. If he is hot, try to cool him. If he can’t cool, ah will come see him again. Give him water and whiskey. Tomorrow give him porridge.”

  “Ah’ll do as ye ask. Will he be okay?”

  “Aye, lass. He’ll be okay. He needs to heal though. Ah don’t know how well his leg’ll work after it heals. Don’t tell him that though. A warrior like that won’t be able to handle the idea of not being a whole man.”

  Her dreams were fretful as she slept while sitting in a chair next to the bed. She had laid her head down on Oidche’s chest and fallen sound asleep well into the night. At some point during the night Oidche woke up and muttered about needing water. She rushed over to the table and poured him a glass. She helped him sit up and gave him the water.

  “Thank ye, Mal.”

  “Of course.”

  He fell back on the bed and almost immediately started snoring. Malmuira watched him for a while and felt his head. It was warm, but not hot yet. She wet a washcloth and laid it on his head, needing more water for him.

  Getting up, she headed towards Maizy’s room. She knocked on the door and Maizy answered, wrapped in a blanket and bleary eyed.

  “Malmuira, what in the god’s name are ye doing here?”

  “Ah need yer help, Maizy. Oidche is injured and he needs a few things. Ah’m fallin’ asleep on the bed, and ah need to keep an eye on him. Can ye help me?”

  She seemed to wake up instantly. “Aye, of course, Mal. What can ah do?”

  “Ah need fresh water, but ah don’t wanna leave him for long. Also need some more whiskey on hand. Can ye tell Cohlm that his skin is warm? He needs something for fever, ah think.”

  “Aye, Mal. Go back to him.”

  Malmuira turned and ran back to her room, leaving Maizy to take care of the rest. She knew she could count on her friend to take care of everything. The stress that she felt eased up, even though she still worried about Oidche.

  Once she returned to the room, she rewet the wash cloth and placed it on his head. He woke up when the cloth touched his skin.

  “Malmuira, where am ah?”

  “Ye’re with me, Oidche. We are in the keep. In me faither’s keep.”

  “Aye. Ah forgot. Ye’re taking care of me, Mal? Ah’m okay. Ah just hurt a bit.”

  “Ye broke yer leg, ye big oaf. Ye’re not just hurt a bit, ye’re broken.” She sat on the bed next to him and dabbed at his head. The layer of sweat was starting to drip down his face.

  “Ah’m not broken, Mal. Just a bit beat up.” He closed his eyes again and th
e snoring continued.

  She wasn’t sure how to help him. She got up again and grabbed the last of the clean water in a cup. She carried it over to him and woke him up. “Drink this please, Oidche.”

  He drank the water in one gulp and, with a sweet delirious smile on his face, he touched her cheek. “Ye’re a good woman.”

  “Sleep, Oidche, ye need it.” She continued to wipe the sweat off of his head while he stared at her.

  The door swung open, and Cohlm walked into the room carrying a bag. “Ah hear he has a fever.”

  “His skin’s getting warm and he’s sweating.”

  He moved over to Oidche’s side and felt his forehead. “He’s very warm. Ah have some willow bark. ‘Twill help with his fever. Ah need ye to get him to chew it.”

  “Can ah let him sleep for a while?” Oidche had just started snoring again. She fretted over his pillow, fluffing it to make him comfortable.

  “Aye, let him rest. Check it though. If his skin gets hot and he stops sweating, give him the willow bark.”

  She nodded and took the stick from his hands.

  “Ah need to get back to my wife. Call if ye need me.”

  Malmuira didn’t notice Cohlm leaving or when Maizy had come into the room until she handed her a new cup of water. Before she got it to Oidche’s mouth though, Maizy put a hand on her shoulder. “‘Tis for ye, Malmuira. Ye need to drink water too.”

  Maizy stayed through the night, getting fresh water, fresh cloth and even helping him adjust his body so that he could stay comfortable. It was almost dawn and she began to insist that Malmuira get some sleep.

  “Ah slept before ye got me up. Ye need some sleep now. Ye have been taking care of Oidche all night. If ye don’t rest ye’ll get sick and not be able to care for him.”

  Malmuira was irritated that Maizy was telling her what to do, but knew that Maizy was looking out for her. “Ah’ll sleep, but ah’ll sleep here next to Oidche. Please wake me if he gets any worse.”

  Maizy took her job very seriously and nodded. Malmuira knew she could count on her for this. It was so nice having such loving friends.

  The night had passed slowly, with Malmuira waking every half hour or so to care for Oidche. He tossed and turned all night long and his skin kept getting warmer to the touch. She went through basins of water as she set wet cloth after cloth on his forehead to cool him.

  Maizy came in with a new bowl of water and set it on the nightstand. She had taken turns with Malmuira watching over his fever and gotten just as little sleep.

  “Maizy, ye ought to take a rest. Why don’t ye head back to yer bed.”

  “Ah dunno, Mal. Ye’re just as tired.”

  “Ye made me sleep some last night. How ‘bout ye rest first and ah’ll rest after ye’re done.”

  “Aye.”

  Maizy left quickly and Malmuira was alone with Oidche. She moved the blanket aside and checked on the bandage Cohlm had wrapped around the leg. The leg was swollen, purple and red. But the skin was still cool to the touch. Cohlm had warned her to get him immediately if the skin became hot and dry.

  She tucked the wrapping back in the way Cohlm had shown her and went over to get Oidche another drink of water.

  “Malmuira.”

  She turned and joined him again, sitting next to him on the bed. His eyes were closed.

  “Malmuira.” His eyes were still closed and fluttered under his eyelids.

  “Oidche, I’m here.” She stuck her hand on the side of his cheek.

  His eyes flew open and a look of fear assaulted his features. “Malmuira, where are ye?”

  “Oidche, I’m here.” She tried to calm him, too soothe him. She twirled her fingers in his hair. She didn’t know what to do to help him calm down.

  “Ah miss her. Ah miss her so much. Ah dunno what to do.” He was fretful and upset.

  “Who? Who do ye miss?”

  “Me wife. She’s gone. Ah miss her.” He began to sob.

  Malmuira’s heart broke. The fever was making Oidche delusional, but the pain was real. The heartache that he felt was real. In that moment, she felt what it would be like to lose a spouse. Even more so than losing a mother, it would hurt. The pain would never go away.

  He was sitting up now, and Malmuira couldn’t get him to lie back down, so she put her arms around him and laid her head on his chest. His arms encircled her and held her tight.

  “Ah’m sorry, Mal. Ah love ye, but ah’ll always love her too.”

  “It’s okay, Oidche.”

  Her mind reeled at the words. Was this still just a feverish fantasy or did he tell her that he loved her and mean it? She didn’t know how to respond to him and she didn’t need to. He fell back onto the bed with a groan, where unconsciousness took him.

  She covered him back up with the blanket and continued her care for him. Her soothing motions and gestures stood in stark contrast to the storm of emotions and thoughts raging in her mind. Oidche may love her.

  Chapter 9

  The entire day was spent tending to Oidche’s fever. Culloden stopped by for a moment to let Malmuira know that the clan chief had postponed talks for another week in order to allow Oidche time to heal, but he had left promptly after asking about his friend’s health. He probably didn’t want to interrupt. She tended to her husband all day, only pausing for a few hours’ sleep at Maizy’s insistence.

  His fever hadn’t seemed to get any better, but the skin around his leg remained cool to the touch. This was very reassuring to Malmuira. At least the infection remained away. She was vigilant about keeping his head cool and forced him to drink water all day. Well into the evening, Oidche regained consciousness and seemed to be more or less himself when the doctor, Cohlm, came in.

  “Ah dunno why ah’m feeling so ill. Ah’ve broken bones before, Doc.”

  “Aye, but probably never as bad as ye broke it this time. And ye probably didn’t stay overnight without water or food. This is one of the worst breaks ah’ve seen. It’s not nearly as bad as when poor Dean broke the upper part of his leg. The bone went through the skin. He died within minutes of the fall. Nothing ah could do. How did ye break it by the way?” Cohlm looked curious.

  “Nothing grand. The horse fell on my leg and it bent the wrong way over a stone,” Oidche responded.

  Cohlm left after rewrapping Oidche’s leg and leaving more willow bark for fever.

  “Ah’ve broken my arm once and it wasn’t nearly this bad. Ah guess the fever is what has done it.” Oidche adjusted his body with a wince.

  “Aye, ye were delusional for a while. Ah couldn’t keep ye still. Ye’ve been really sick.” Malmuira helped him put his leg up on a pile of blankets they had been using to keep his leg elevated, so it wouldn’t swell.

  “Ye’ve been caring for me this entire time?” He sat up and sipped some broth that Malmuira had brought to him.

  “Most of the time. Maizy has been helping, as well. Thank the gods for her. She forced me to sleep or ah don’t think ah would’ve even slept.”

  “Ye need to care for yerself too, Mal. Ye can’t just forget yerself and care for everyone else.” He scolded her in a tone that was light, but she could tell he was serious.

  “Ye needed me. Ah had to take care of ye.”

  “Ye already did. Ye came out and found me at the loch. Ah wasn’t sure how long it would take before anyone came looking for me. Ah certainly didn’t think ye would come searching for me yerself. What were ye thinking? Ye could’ve been hurt. That loch is a good long ride from the keep. Hardly the place for a young lass to be riding alone.”

  “Stop lecturing me, Oidche. Ye’re talking nonsense. Ah’ve ridden to that loch alone plenty of times. And ah’ve never been bothered.” She sat down on the bed next to him and put the back of her hand on his head. “Yer skin is feeling much better now. The fever is breaking.”

  Oidche took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Ah like yer hand on me. Yer skin is cool.”

  “That’s ‘cause ye’re feverish. Everyone w
ould feel like ice to ye right now.”

  “Nay, ah like yer hand on me skin because it’s a part of ye. Ah’d like yer whole body on me, if ah could have it.” A sly smile crossed his face as he spoke.

  Malmuira smacked his arm, playfully. “Ye shouldn’t be talking like that, Oidche.”

  He feigned a hurt look and grabbed his arm with his free hand, almost spilling the broth in his bowl. “Stop beating the sick and weary.”

  “Ye’ll survive. Ye whine more than my sister.”

  “How is Siusan doing?” Oidche asked her.

  “Ah dunno. Ah haven’t seen her much since we got here. She’s been with Maizy, ah gather, and ah’m expected to remain with ye.”

  “That’s not the only reason ye’re with me, is it?” Oidche said this lightly, but Malmuira could tell that he was asking a serious question of her.

  “Ah’m with ye because ah want to be. There are menservants and maidservants to care for ye, should ye need it. Ah wanted to sit by yer side.”

  A replay of his feverish outburst ran through her head. She would never forget the way he had said that he loved her. But does he really feel that way? Was that only from the fever?

  He finished his broth and she took the bowl, setting it on a surface near the door for someone else to collect and take back to the kitchens.

  “Have any of my friends stopped by?”

  “Ah think they wanted to give me the space to care for ye. Culloden asked how ye were and then left.”

  “What about the trade talks?” He was trying to sit up more, but Malmuira sat next to him on the bed and lightly pushed him back down into a prone position.

  “Ye need to rest. The talks were postponed for a week.”

  He gave a deep sigh which sounded a lot like relief.

  “Will ye go tell my friends ah need to speak to them?”

  “Aye. Ah need some food anyway. Will ye be okay?”

  Oidche rolled his eyes. “Of course ah will.”

  She found the men gathered around a barrel they were using as a table for a game of dice while they all sat on stumps and buckets in the stable. They were in a heated discussion about which was the best type of blade to wield in battle when she interrupted with a polite cough.