Duty And Passion In The Highlands: A Scottish Medieval Historical Highlander Collection

by Adamina Young

  “What are ye daeing?” they cried out, gesticulating wildly at her.

  “Let her gae,” Duncan said. Their eyes met again and wild emotions surged through her. She geed the horse and it turned around, galloping through the forest to a safe land. Her heart raced with fear and she crouched low, worried that an arrow would find its way into her back, or that they would chase after her and hunt her down in some sick game.

  But neither of those two things happened. She fled into the night, leaving the Highlanders behind, and she was utterly confused. Everything she heard about Highlanders told her that they were no better than bandits and showed no mercy to their prisoners, but this man had released her and claimed he had saved her from certain death. Panic flooded her mind as she remembered what he had said about her mother. She urged the horse on and raced back to where she had been captured from, hoping that the unthinkable hadn’t truly happened. Sorrow flooded through her body as she thought of the unending tragedy that was her life. Perhaps the Highlander had taken pity on her because her mother was dead. If so, then it was likely that he had had some hand in her father’s death as well. After all, he seemed to be the leader so he would have led the attack.

  Unless what he said was true and the English were the aggressors…her mind was a mix of confusion.

  She rode hard and fast, pushing the steed to its limits as it raced into the darkness. Its hooves thumped against the ground and the air whipped around her, before she slowed, and thought for a moment. She had no idea where she was, or how to get back home. If her mother was truly dead then was there even a home waiting for her? There was Alan, she supposed, but what if she couldn’t get back to him? No, Ellen couldn’t accept that her mother was dead. There must have been some mistake. How could she trust the word of a Highlander?

  The horse snorted and sniffled as she peered into the darkness all around her. Looking skyward, she saw the smudges of clouds resting against the stars; they did not help her find her location. She could have been anywhere in the world. Suddenly she felt the cold creeping up on her, as though the shadows had been stalking her, waiting for her to stop before they preyed on her like vicious ghouls, waiting to drain her life. Ellen’s skin shivered and she felt vulnerable. She turned and rode back to the Highlanders.

  She thought they would have been monsters, but they were not. The leader was even, dare she think it, quite handsome in a rugged, masculine way, the same way a jagged, brittle mountain looked majestic and impressive. Going back to them was the lesser of two evils, but at least they had a fire and food, and if any wild beast lurked in the woods they could protect her. When she returned, they laughed and exchanged coin. Apparently a wager had been placed on how long it would take her to return. She glowered at this and summoned as much courage as she could, endeavoring to make herself a sword so that she might cut through any of their wanton desires.

  Duncan smiled at her and then turned away. A tight ball of fury coiled inside her.

  “Did you want me to die?” she asked. “Is that why you let me leave by myself, because you knew I’d never make it back home? Do you make a habit of attacking wagons and then playing games with the survivors? What kind of man lets a maiden ride through the forest by herself?”

  Duncan turned and studied her. All the other men suddenly stopped laughing, shocked that she would speak to him like that.

  “First ye want me tae let ye gae, then ye’re angry when I dae just that. Aye, ye are a typical woman alright,” Duncan sighed. The men laughed, but Ellen didn’t find it humorous at all.

  “All the stories are right about you. You’re nothing but bandits, preying on the weak and innocent and taking what you want. It’s disgusting.”

  “There’s a lot ye need tae learn about the world lass. I dinnae want war, but as long as my clan is threatened I will fight tae protect it. Ye are welcome tae come with us, and maybe ye’ll change ye mind. If nae, ye can ride back tae England and let the gods guide ye way home.”

  Ellen hated hearing him claim that the English were the villains in all of this, but she started to wonder if everything was not as it appeared. The thought of riding through the forest alone was scary, and there was something intriguing about these men. She wanted to know why they thought the English were bad, and if the stories she had heard about them were true. So she stayed, although she found it difficult to sleep during the night as she was afraid that something might happen to her, despite Duncan’s insistence that she was protected. But when the morning sun rose Duncan gathered them all and they rode on. A few Highlanders murmured at her presence, not approving of Duncan’s decision, but none of them dared to oppose his will. He had a commanding presence and absolute trust over all of these men.

  There was something attractive about that.

  5

  Alan was sitting at home, drinking a goblet of wine. He stroked his beard. His face was cast in shadows as a fire flickered beside him. He raised the goblet to his mouth and his hand twitched. Wine spilled over his hands, as dark as blood. He cursed and scowled, shaking the wine off. He leaned forward and rested his head against his hand, rubbing his temples. He stared into the fire. The heat glowered and beat against his eyes, surrounded him, consumed him. In the dancing flames he saw shadows and images, echoes of dark deeds that weighed like a boulder on his mind. He breathed heavily and took another long draught of wine, swallowing the liquid deep, feeling it slide down his throat.

  He pushed his errant thoughts aside, thinking of the future. It wouldn’t be long now until he had a beautiful young bride sharing his bed, a girl he had coveted for a while now. She was the picture of innocence, youth, and beauty. Just thinking about her made his soul swell and his heart thundered in his chest. Soon enough he would have his hands on her supple skin and her warm, pliable flesh would press against his. It would be heaven, and she would give him so many beautiful children. It was no less than he deserved, after all. He had been through so much, his body scarred and battle-hardened, his mind tense and taut with all the dark horrors he had seen.

  Ellen was a shaft of bright light shining through a bleak and murky night. She was hope for the future, and with her by his side he knew that everything was possible. He had already taken the first steps towards a better life and now all he needed was to see his plan through to fruition. Once she arrived he would make haste in making her his bride. She would no doubt want to embrace happiness given the tragic demise of her father. Dear old Robin, Alan thought to himself, it’s such a shame about what happened to him, but war is such an unkind business and there is never any telling what might happen in the unyielding chaos of battle.

  He clutched the goblet tightly as he thought about having Ellen by his side. Soon enough people would pay attention to him. After his years of wandering they would all see what a truly noble soul he was, but the waiting was interminable. Ellen was hesitant, yes, but soon she would come around and see what a fine husband he could be. Then she would perform all her wifely duties. That is one area in which Robin failed, Alan thought. He should have been more disciplined in raising Ellen. She was a willful girl who had no qualms in speaking her mind, a quality that would have to be dealt with, as it would get tiresome. It seemed as though he would not have to just be a husband to her, but something of a father figure as well, which was only natural when a girl of her age was taken for a wife. After all, that was one of the benefits of them marrying someone so experienced.

  “Alan! Alan!” he heard someone cry as they entered his estate. He rose and walked to the door, seeing Myra walking towards him. She looked bedraggled. Her hair was unkempt and dried blood stained the side of her face. She looked pale, and she walked with a limp. Fear instantly seized him as he noticed that Ellen wasn’t with her. There was another man, bearded, with a ragged top and a woolen cap. Myra rushed up to him as fast as she could, stumbling at the last step. She fell into his arms and he caught her in a heap. Tears rolled down her cheeks, making tracks through the dust and dirt that peppered her face.
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br />   “She’s gone. They took her!” Myra wailed. Alan asked her questions, but she was too distraught to make any sense. He supported her as she walked into the room and he made her sit down, giving her some wine to help calm her nerves. He turned to look at the man who had brought her to his estate.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Alan demanded.

  “Well, y’see sir, I was riding along with my cart, I’m a merchant y’see, and I saw this overturned carriage on the road. Well, I took it upon myself to inspect it and I heard this whimpering. Sorted through the damage. Saw a dead body; must have been the driver, and then I found her. In a bad way she was. I gave her some water and helped her to her feet, but she kept going on and on about the same things all the way here. I managed to get her to tell me where she was going, so I brought her straight here. Is it her daughter she’s talking about?”

  “Yes,” Alan said through gritted teeth, “her daughter and my betrothed.”

  “Oh, I’m terribly sorry to hear that sir. By the looks of it the wagon came under attack by bandits. I didn’t take too long to look around on account of the lady’s state, but it didn’t look like there was much left. I didn’t see any sign of another girl either, just horse tracks leading away, and a lot of them.”

  Alan clenched his jaw. Anger rose inside him. He thought the road would have been safe from Highland bandits, but it seemed as though they had their vile influence everywhere, and now they had taken his greatest prize. He dreaded to think what those brutes might be doing with her. He would have to do something, and soon.

  “I hate to take up more of your time sir, but I did have to go out of my way to bring the lady to you, and if it wasn’t for me you’d never have word of your bride. I think that’s worth something…” The merchant’s eyes gleamed and he licked his lips like a hungry rat.

  A typical peasant, always trying to eke out coin at any opportunity. He scowled at the man, but reached into his pouch and pulled out a few silver pieces, handing them to the merchant. “A good deed deserves a reward I suppose,” Alan said, but really he was paying to get rid of the merchant more than anything else. The merchant bowed his head in thanks and then scurried away, out of Alan’s sight.

  Alan turned towards Myra, whose shoulders were shaking. He paused for a moment to compose himself, not looking forward to the prospect of dealing with a hysterical mother. Nevertheless, he walked towards Myra and fell to his knees, clasping her hands tightly. He wore a pained expression. Myra’s cheeks glistened with the reflection of her tears. She sipped the wine, but her hands trembled. She gazed into the distance.

  “Myra,” he said gently, “you must tell me what happened.”

  “It was…it was awful,” she began. Every word was a choking sob and her chest heaved with sorrow. “We were riding along talking about how wonderful our lives were going to be once Ellen and you were married, when suddenly the driver shouted in alarm and the wagon rocked. The door was flung open. I heard Ellen scream, but then I hit something and everything went black. I awoke and it was cold. I called out for Ellen but she didn’t answer, and then that man found me. They must have taken her. Oh Alan, it was horrible! I can’t imagine what they must be doing with her, or if she’s even still alive!” Myra’s head bowed and she started to sob heavily.

  “Myra, please, we must calm down. It will do Ellen no good if we are distraught like this. We cannot help her in this state. I’m sure that she won’t have been harmed. She will be too valuable a prize for that. No, we must act quickly. I shall gather men and go hunt for her. I must rescue her. Time is of the essence.”

  “How will you even know where to look?” Myra asked.

  “I know. We have sent scouting parties into their territory. I have a good idea of who is behind this, and I will make them pay.” Alan said. “You stay here and ease your mind. Ellen is my responsibility now, and I will see to her safety.”

  He left the room abruptly. His mind was a storm and his footsteps were as heavy as thunder.

  The group, with Ellen in tow, rode back for a few hours until they reached a small village. Thin spires of smoke rose up into the blue sky, and the thatched roofs of huts appeared. There was a large fire in the middle of the village that was lined with a stone wall, while other smaller fires had been lit outside people’s houses. The residents roamed around, chatting happily. Some of them carried animal pelts, others had freshly baked bread, while still others were preparing baskets to go and gather some berries, fruits, and vegetables. It was an idyllic, humble place, and Ellen looked quite shocked, for it seemed entirely normal.

  “Ye seem surprised lass,” Duncan said, slowing the pace of his horse to ride alongside her. They came to a stop and alighted. The other men took their horses towards a stable, while Duncan helped her down. She was hesitant to take his hand at first, but found it to be stable and strong.

  “It’s just not what I expected, that’s all.”

  “Nae? Did ye think we all lived in caverns like ogres?” Duncan teased her with a twinkling look in his eyes. Ellen flushed red because that was exactly what she had thought. Duncan chuckled. “Spend a wee bit of time with us and ye’ll see that nae all the stories are true.”

  They entered the village and Duncan was greeted warmly by everyone. He was given fresh bread, which he shared with Ellen. He introduced her as a guest. Some people smiled at her politely, while others viewed her with suspicion, especially when they heard her accent. The children that ran beside them didn’t seem to notice either way. They were eager to hear about another adventure from Duncan and his merry band of men, but Duncan told them that would have to wait until later. The bread was delicious, baked with some kind of seed that enhanced the flavor. It melted in her mouth and was like nothing she had ever tasted before. She had told herself that she should hate everything about this place, but there wasn’t anything to hate.

  “Let’s take a wee walk,” Duncan said. Ellen agreed.

  They strolled around the perimeter of the village, taking in the rolling hills and the valley that lay to the south. In the distance she could see the outline of mountains and it promised mystery and adventure in the deep north, a place that she had always been warned against. It was said to be the land of monsters and strange creatures that were borne of death. But the blue sky of the horizon had a sapphire beauty and it looked peaceful. The air was sweet and calm. Birds chirped as they soared ahead, flying back to their nests in the forest. The grass was a lush green and beautiful flowers peppered the landscape with flamboyant bursts of vibrant colors. It was a blessed land, not one where monsters would live.

  “They treat you like a hero,” Ellen said.

  Duncan smiled. His head dipped in modesty. “I’m nae that. I’m just trying tae dae the right thing.”

  “How can you say that killing can be the right thing?” Ellen asked, anger flaring in her when she thought of her father. As charming as this place was, she had to remind herself that one of the men here, if not Duncan himself, was responsible for her father’s death. The shadows of war and death still shrouded this place.

  “It is nae, except when ye are defending ye home and ye honor. I’m sure ye hae been told that we are the villains and the English are fighting a just war, but it is nae that way at all. They take land from us whenever they want and drive us from our homes. We are just a small clan, and if we dinnae dae anything tae stop them they’ll come up here and take this away from us. Could ye let that happen?” He shook his head. “They only see me as a hero because I fight for them. If it was nae me, well, I dinnae ken who would take up arms. But I’m only daeing it tae follow the example of my da. He would hae done the same thing. He was a great man.”

  From the way he spoke, Ellen could infer that Duncan’s father was dead.

  “How did he die?” she asked, folding her arms around herself.

  “In battle. Killed by the English. A sword through his gut,” Duncan said. “I watched it happen.”

  “That must have been horrible,” Ellen
gasped. “My father is dead too,” she said, although she refrained from admitting that he had died in the battle with the Highlanders. If Duncan found out that she was Robin’s daughter he might be angrier than he was thinking she was just a random English girl. “And now my ma is likely dead too.”

  “By a miracle she may hae survived, but we did nae hae room tae carry ye both.”

  “I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s dead. I have nobody…” Her voice trailed off and seemed very small.

  “When ye are ready tae return home I can send ye with a guide. But ye could always stay here tae. We can always use another pair of hands.”

  “I’m not sure I’d be much use around here. I’ve never really learned to do much of anything.”

  “There’s plenty of time for ye tae learn. I see ye are good on the horse. Would ye like a wee race?” he suggested. Ellen’s eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly. He sidled up to her, and as he leaned across she caught his scent. It was earthy and musky, and wholly masculine. It made her feel heady inside, as though bubbles were rising up into her head. He pointed towards the valley. “There’s a tree there with three thick branches, ye cannae miss it. We’ll ride there and around it, first one back tae this spot wins,” he said. Ellen nodded, agreeing to the terms of the race. Duncan counted down from three, and then they were off.

  Ellen pushed her horse fast, wanting to beat Duncan so that he would see she wasn’t such a helpless girl after all. She pleaded with her horse to be as swift as the wind. Dirt was kicked up as the horses galloped away. Duncan pulled out in an early lead and he twisted his neck back, teasing and taunting her, yelling at her that she had to pick up the pace. Ellen snapped the reins of the horse and geed it to go faster. She lowered her body and braced herself against the violent motions of the gallop. Her body was being shaken as the horse crashed into the ground. The earth quaked under their hooves, and she could feel herself getting closer to Duncan.