by Diana Knight
“You said you killed her! You told me you’d shot her down with arrows. You said you killed the couple traveling together already.” Rollen gripped her wrist hard. She could feel his nails breaking through the layers of her skin.
“Well they are everywhere. You asked if we’d killed a couple. The man first, then the lone woman. Aye we did.” One of the young archer Englishmen said crossing his arms in defense.
Lena pulled her wrist hard from Rollen’s grasp, she tried prying her fingers under his to break free but he continued to hold on tight.
“How could you!” She started screaming, her voice was cracking as she shouted. “You betrayed us! How could you do this to us! To your people!” Lena began smacking his chest and kicking his shins with her feet. He stood there and took every impact until he unwielded his knife and brought it to her throat.
Maria and her mother screamed at the sight. Lena could feel the cold blade against her neck, it was making her swallow uncontrollably. He won’t. He wouldn’t. Though even her thoughts were more dreams now. Especially when he began leading her from the hut and shoved her outside to the ground. She fell onto the dirt and saw the red river of blood staining the brown path. She followed the trail of blood until she came across the body. Her hands began crawling towards it on the ground. She clutched her father’s limp unmoving hand and pulled it to her chest, her head flooding with tears as she tried to use her father to protect her once more. To take her away from danger like he would when she was just a child.
“What’s the big deal we didn’t kill her? We can kill her now.” The Englishman archer said as he began un-wielding his own dagger.
Rollen was walking across the path towards the nearest horse and began untying it from its post. Lord Grayhan came out of the hut now as well with a stern look of anger across his face. Lena avoided looking into his eyes, the very presence of them made her stomach roil.
“What is the problem.” Lord Grayhan walked over to Rollen and grabbed the reigns of his horse, keeping him from leaving without an explanation.
They were surrounding Lena as she held the empty body of her father. She sat there besides his body and looked up as she watched the chaos begin to unfold. Rollen walked from the horse and went towards the burning pile of wood. Lena watched him with her eyes and swallowed the bile from her throat when she realized it was not wood he wa searching through, it was burning bodies.
“He isn’t here. You didn’t kill him!” Rollen turned back, his face was red and flushed with panic.
“You told us you would take care of Marren. You sent him to us?” Lord Grayhan began shouting, Rollen was pacing back and forth.
“His wife. Her. She ran off. I made him go find her, I knew surely, they’d be killed by scouts. I thought surely…” Rollen trailed off as he spoke, his finger pointing towards Lena in a ruthless manner.
“I was the youngest Walsh, and they all thought I could not lead… Well I brought the English onto the island and I will have lands and wives for the rest of my life. A Scotsmen, an English, it is all the same when it comes to blood.” Rollen spit down to the ground at Lena where her fathers blood painted the ground.
“That doesn’t answer the question. Where is Lord Marren Walsh?” Lord Grayhan asked in a monotone and steady voice.
Rollen seemed to almost shake at the sound of his name, Lena could see he knew the betrayal he’d caused.
“If he is alive, and he knows Lena is here. He will stop at nothing to get her. He will take our men! My Scotsmen!” Rollen’s rage echoed inside him until it overwhelmed his arms and he reached for the reigns and yanked them out of Lord Grayhan’s hands.
Lena eyed the hut doorway as the arguing and shouting of loss began breaking through the Englishmen, they were not truly read to fight today. They did not have enough men, and no matter how high the smoke burned for the other English ships to arrive in aide they would not make it there fast enough. Not if Marren was in charge. Lord Grayhan seemed just as nervous at the thought of Marren at the control of an army, proof of what real Scotsman courage he knew the Walsh men had. Lena could see Maria and her mother holding each other as they cried, they were in view of her fathers body but they were within a distance from the opening of the hut. Lena tried to mouth to them, the chaos brought the guards from their hut and they were alone. They could escape this, they could run. Go. Lena twitched her head up while she stared at her mother in the eyes. Be strong mother, please. Go. Lena did it again and pinched her lips tightly as her mother and sister only stood there. Rollen had mounted the horse and was neighing around the Englishmen, men were unsheathing their swords around her. Finally her mother saw the opening and began shoving Maria towards the escape. Yes. Yes, They will make it out. Lena had not felt this type of relief in days, her sister would grow into a beautiful woman, and have her mother to protect her.
“If you lose your men, you will lose your land.” Lord Grayhan shouted to Rollen, it brought Lena’s attention over to the gathering of English.
Just as he had finished his statement the sound of a horn blasted through the hills. It rang inside her heart and sent a rush to her cheeks that curled her lips into a smile. The sound of war and death came along with it, but it was the sound of her men ringing in courage and strength that gave the horn such a beautiful sound. Although they were nothing but small spots in her vision, she knew the spot in the front pacing back and forth against the wall of men was hers. Her Marren. The urge to run to him overwhelmed her. They would be victorious today, and Marren would find her after the war and embrace her warmly with his lips and arms. Her life without Marren is nothing more than the past, a past she remembers but a past she no longer cares for. The life she wants now will only be a life if Marren is beside her, and in the past few days this was the first time she ever thought it was possible once again.
“You have lost your men Rollen.” Lord Grayhan gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Rollen turned his horse towards the Englishmen giving him a glaring stare. His voice cracked as he spoke, the desperation was clearly written across his face.
“Maybe, but we can still win the battle.” As Rollen finished speaking his eyes turned to look at Lena, they met her eyes and she felt as though his eyes pulled like a leech. Pulling the hope and life from her with nothing but an idea.
16
Chapter Sixteen
His strength came from his men but his drive came from her. He knew Lena was down there, surely captured by now. The horn still echoed in his ears as he lifted his sword to march the men forward. They did not even question him when he revealed Rollen as the traitor. Their eyes looked wounded, but they did not see it as losing a brother.
“He was not brother of mine.” One of the men had said.
“Nor mine. No Scot takes Land before Life.” Another had shouted.
Their devotion would win this battle, their devotion and love for their country is what will win this war if they ever make it past today. The sun was pounding hard against his shoulder, the warmth was making his skin shine with a layer of warm nervous sweat. The burning would kiss his shoulder red, but it would not be the only red upon him soon. His eyes scanned the village, the pile of rising smoke continued to rise thick and dark as it burned a signal for the English. The clouds across the sea would be their only ally for now, they would block the vision of the approaching enemy until they could vanquish the ones in front of them. Marren kicked with his heels at his horse and waved his sword forward. The men on foot went out first. He would follow them down to the waist high fence of the village and charge inside to save Lena. The men on foot sounded like rocks tumbling down a mountain. They shuffled their feet together and their swords clanked against their wooden shields across their arm.
“What is that up ahead.” A brother shouted, sending his sword pointed in the direction of the village.
Marren lifted his sword in the air to stop the men in a sudden halt. He could see there were three men riding towards them on horseback. They brought no a
rmy behind them, but one of the horses did not have one rider, but two. The closer they grew the more he could see the auburn fire of her hair, he had to clear his throat in order to swallow. Rollen knew him far too well. Nothing could stop him from fighting the English, except one thing. That thing he was being carried against Rollen, her arms bound tightly and her mouth covered from a cloth ripped from her dress. Marren’s jaw tightened as they grew closer, he could feel the eyes of his men staring at him. Marren did not look at them, he would not let them see the anger inside him, The uncontrollable rage he was feeling starting to boil in his chest. He kept his eyes glued to Rollen until they were throwing distance away.
“If you want Lena, you can have her. Just turn around back to Silver Port and we will let her be free.” Lord Grayhan was the one who spoke.
I will not fear him. Marren had spent far too long being afraid of this man, watching his people die because of their bloodline and family. The thought of having Lena alive meant so much to him, for a moment he thought he could risk the lives of his men for just her. He was willing to give the entire island up if it meant having her back in his arms. It was tempting to say the least, Marren could see her hair flowing over her shoulder and the dry tears across her face in streaks from the dust and dirt. He could have her in his arms in mere moments if he gave into their plea. Marren was taking too long to answer, the suspense of his answer casted a feeling of loss among his men. Lena was shuffling on the back of the horse and pried the cloth from around her mouth across her face and down.
“No! No Marren! Don’t listen to-” Rollen grabbed the cloth and wrapped her mouth back up but she fought it down again.
“Please. If you love me, please. Do not turn back.” Lena begged. Rollen finally covered her mouth with his own hand.
It was as if he was being choked. He had two choices, he could either lose the battle, or lose Lena. Neither of which he wanted, but one he wanted least of all. Marren never imagined her to have such courage, to be within a knifes blade and still be begging for death instead of surrender. She was stronger than half the men that followed alongside him today, and possibly stronger than him.
“Lena I, I cannot live without you.” Marren’s words cracked as he spoke. “I am not strong enough.” He looked down at the reigns of his horse, while he heard his men mumble around him.
A life without her would mean waking up every morning to see the empty bed where she once used to lay. He would find her hair throughout their home, her clothes would be there folded inside the small wooden chest she keeps on her side of the bed. The smell of her would fade after time, but knowing she would no longer be there would be enough to drive him mad. He’s faced enemies far worse than Lord Grayhan, and killed men with his own hands. Those nightmares are nothing compared to facing a life without Lena, a bed without her by his side, and a kiss without her lips. He stared into her eyes and could see what she was saying. She would forgive me. If he chose to sacrifice her for the island, she would have forgiven him before he had swung the first sword. His hands were trembling and his heart was pounding like a drum inside him. The panic had to have been noticed, but then there was Lena. She was in the hands of the enemy still looking as elegant as always. She would forgive me.
“I-.” He tried to mutter some sort of answer, Lena began fighting with Rollen’s hand. She suddenly bit down hard on his hand and he winced in pain.
“Marren. I’ll see you. I trust you. Marren! Please! I trust you! I love you.” Lena said as Rollen took her again.
She loves me. She trusts me. Marren let the words sink in.
“You trust me.” Marren said squinting towards her. He saw her nod with while her head was bound against Rollens side.
Marren knew their plan from the beginning, that once Lena was safe in his arms they would wait for the surrounding ships to come to their aide. That letting them return to Silver Port would be an excuse to give them time to prepare for the real battle. Now they could win, he could choose to battle. He could choose to fight, and Lena would trust him. He knew what he had to do.
“I’ll take Lena.” Marren said sheathing his sword.
The men around him let out a devastated moan, and Lena screamed her rejection to the idea through the bound hand of Rollen. They began approaching his horse. Marren saw them stride closer, until Rollen’s horse was pushing against his leg.
“I am sorry.” Rollen was about to unsheathe his sword but Marren was far too prepared.
Marren brought out his sword and Lena leapt over towards Marren’s horse. She ducked her head with a mere hands length from the blade. Marren swung until he felt impact, and Rollen’s blood washed across the blade. Lord Grayhan and the others retreated back quickly, leaving their Scottish ally to his lost brothers. Rollen’s strong grasp on Lena began to loosen and she pushed her way from his horse and fell to the ground.
“Go!” Marren shouted to his men as he turned his horse to protect Lena from getting run over by the feet of angry scots.
Rollen tried to say something as he began falling from his horse, but Marren took his eyes off him. He was not worth it to watch die. The sound of weight hitting the ground bellowed beside him but Marren’s eyes were only on Lena’s. She was staring up at him with a small smile across her face but it quickly faded with a voice of panic.
“We have to get my mother and sister. We have to get them.” She said.
Marren watched her jump from his horse and walk to the Rollen’s body. She knelt down as if she was saying a silent goodbye, or a giving him a revengeful stare. Soon after she mounted Rollen’s horse and looked over to him. Her strength knew no bounds, and with the final end of his kinsmen running towards battle he knew he was running out of time. They were eye level now, and she was about to run off again into danger. Marren held her horses reigns and Lena looked at him aghast.
“We have no time to waste Marren.” She said, but her body spoke differently.
She wrapped her hands around the back of his head and kissed him hard while she spoke.
“We… Have… To go.” She kissed him over and over again and Marren kissed her back.
He never thought these kisses would be his once again, yet there he was feeling the warmth against his again. With one final kiss she let her wet lips sit on his for a full breath before pulling away.
“I will see you.” She said.
“Then I will see you.” He pulled her back to him and released her again.
He lifted his sword once more into the air and sent the horse riders towards Colreed now. They would have the English captured before midday, as long as everything went as planned.
17
Chapter Seventeen
The battle was nothing like she imagined, the villagers were able to escape to from the left and right. People were scattered everywhere, so many were going to survive. Colreed still might have a chance to live once again if they can stop put out the fire and say goodbye to the dead. She could see her mother and sisters tracks in the dirt, they should have been well on their way to Silver Port by now but there was no sign of them after the brush. Lena could hear the clinking of swords and see the dust being picked up from stumbling and sparring feet. Her heart thought of Marren, but she had no fear. She was not afraid of his death, because she knew he would live for her. He would fight his way through anything to insure she was safe. She heard the sound of horse hooves pattering on the ground and looked to her side thinking Marren was coming to join her. Instead she saw Lord Grayhan running with his sword unsheathed. He was not running away from something, but towards something. Her first thoughts were of her mother, knowing full well that her and her sister would be somewhere out there. They could be in the line of Lord Grayhan’s attack. The ripple of terror shook through her, if she lost them she would never recover from this. Her sister’s laugh would never be heard again, her mothers smile never comforting her. Her brothers would return to bury their youngest sister and say goodbye to both of their parents. Lena kicked up her feet and followed L
ord Grayhan. She knew her mother would have taken the small travel path, he was going to find them if he went far enough. The trail weaved in and out, she was cutting corners when she could and felt the stinging sensation in her legs as she tightened her grip against the horses’ torso. Her body was exhausted, her head was growing dizzy, and her mouth was dry and sticky. It was is if she was running herself, but the horse was growing slower in speed. There was a small hill up ahead, if she could just get over that she could see for miles. The horse stopped and knelt down, the men had run the beast ragged and Lena had not helped it recover. She slid from the back of the horse and felt her body jolt in a sharp pain as her feet his the ground.
“Go home.” She whispered and pulled the reigns off the horse. It’s mouth foamed and breathed heavy, but it turned and began walking back towards Colreed limping and wobbly. Lena prayed it would make it, but for now it would be quieter without it anyways. The sounds of swords were long lost, and she did not know what Marren was doing now. It had to be blocked from her mind, she was tired of thinking of death and loss. There was no turning back now, she knew Marren would fight for her but her mother and sister could not fight for themselves. If there was one thing she learned from Marren in their marriage together, it was to never stop. She picked up her legs to move up the hill, each step stabbing into her bones and up her back. If she were to stop and take a moments rest she would collapse and never get up again. Lena thought back on her marriage, of Marren, and of all they had been through. Everything they knew before this war was gone. Lena used to leave Colreed to gather food with the women, she used to ride bareback on a horse with her Father as they chased the sheep from escaping the fence. She took another step up the hill, it seemed like she was moving backwards because to her she was no closer to the top. Her mind went to Marren, seeing him for the first time. Not knowing that within a month she would be married and in bed with him, expected to bind the clans and provide a child. Marren was so cold and callused before, he never spoke to her the way he did now. He used to stare at her like she was nothing but a barter, and she used to let him think that. She was only doing what she thought was right. Marren had to love her on his own, just like she needed to learn who he really was. Lena thought in the beginning she would be waking up cold and alone for the rest of her life with him. Her mind raced back to their first night in bed together, and then their first night making love. Things were so different now, Marren was different now. The pain in his eyes was not seen he saw her, but when he did not see her. Lena wanted those arms around her again, the thick smell of him and the heat from his bare chest. The stabbing pain went into her leg again as she reached to top of the hill but now she could see the distance. The sight of movement from the corner of her eye caught her just in time to see the front of a horse coming towards her. It’s galloping speed only increasing.
