King Macbeth interjected, “Then what say you of Latin speaking nuns?”
Wallace paled and just kept quiet.
Dalziel whispered to Beiste, “It would appear they have all been in your uncle’s employ all this time. He has also offered coin to the Commissary to find in his favour. Whether he has accepted is another matter.”
“The bastard, he cannot get away with this.” Beiste was so frustrated.
The crowd mumbled and gave Amelia suspicious looks. She was tiring from the proceedings. She knew it was the babe, but she hoped she could sustain enough energy to at least last the day, she felt so exhausted.
The Queen leant across to her husband and spoke some words.
The King stood, “I think we should break for some rest and refreshments, we will meet again before the evening meal.” With that, he and the Queen moved to the dais.
Amelia was ushered into a private room by stewards, and Beiste was called to join her. There was a small bed for her to rest on and a servant girl arrived with food and beverages from the Queen’s share. Amelia had never felt so grateful for the refreshments and the respite. Beiste sat on the bed and she sat on his lap as they enjoyed the meal together. Neither of them talking, there was no need, it was enough they were allowed this time to be together.
***
The following day it was their turn to call their witnesses. Amelia stood in the Great Hall once more, except this time the Queen was not present. The proceedings started as usual. Amelia’s witnesses were few, but they were honest people. Amelia was tiring under the strain of false accusations. She worried that she might lose everything. She was so close to weeping.
Beiste wanted to slay every man in the room for putting his wife through this. He could see her looking unwell and paling even further. He had been worried about her these past few days; she seemed to be so sick. He was so grateful to Orla for her constant care of Amelia and for keeping him apprised of her welfare. If they all got through this, he would make sure Orla never wanted for anything for the loyalty and support she gave to his wife.
It seemed as if the Commissary had already decided on Amelia’s guilt, for they did not take into account the people who spoke on her behalf. Beiste knew in instances like this, justice was rarely served in Royal Court. This was political and whoever strategized the best won. He could not bear to think of life without his wife. What they needed was a miracle. After they had exhausted all their witnesses, Amelia looked close to giving up. She knew Ludan’s evidence had been strong, even if the witnesses had lied.
Before the day ended, they had to make one last call for witnesses then the Court would adjourn to decide her fate
The Commissary called one last time. “Is there anyone else here who can vouch for the character of this young lady?”
No one came forward. Amelia was downcast until she heard the Queen’s voice say loud and clear, “I can vouch for her.”
Amelia looked up instantly. Beiste also stared at the Queen as if she had grown two heads.
The crowd looked towards the front as Queen Gruoch entered the room. There was a hush. She greeted her husband Macbeth with a kiss, then Amelia watched the Queen slowly walk towards her. Amelia was so exhausted, but she stood to courtesy, “Sit down, there is no need.”
Amelia sat and looked around in confusion.
“Your Majesty please explain how you can vouch for this woman?” The Commissary asked.
“I can vouch for her because she saved the life of my grandnephew.” There was more muttering from the crowd. The Queen looked to the back of the hall, “I call upon my niece to come forward and explain.”
Amelia had no idea who she was referring to, she had never met the Queen before or any of her relations and she certainly had never treated royalty. Like everyone else in the hall, she turned to look to the back of the room. There was commotion and murmuring as the crowd parted for a woman who would be her last witness. When she finally came into view Amelia looked shocked. For there, walking down the aisle was none other than Eliza Kennedy.
Beiste saw the Kennedy woman and almost wept. He remembered her and her son Thomas, the day he saved his wife from attacking Eliza’s husband with a broom.
“Eliza stepped forward to the dais and in a loud voice addressed the Court. “I can vouch for what my aunt the Queen has said this woman saved my son, Thomas Boite Kennedy even when it meant putting herself in danger.”
“Please explain how she saved your son and what methods she used.” The Commissary asked.
“I and my guardsman watched her the whole time, and she did not use sorcery only healing knowledge passed to her by her mother who had knowledge of such practices learned from the Abbey. My son suffered a stomach complaint, this woman found an alternative food source for him and he is growing well and healthy now.”
“How do you know it wasn’t witchcraft?” The Commissary questioned.
“Because she consulted a book from Iona Abbey, it was written in Latin, the language of the Church and it set out many healing methods. The method she used has also been used before by religious orders such as monasteries and nunneries.”
“Did you see this book?”
“I did. While I was there, I looked around the cottage while the healer gathered things outside for my son and I came across it. She consulted the book and applied the cure to my son. How can a woman who uses healing practices taught by the Christian church be a witch?”
Amelia wept with relief.
The crowd hushed and Ludan realized he had lost his battle once more.
Macbeth secretly smiled to himself as the Commissary looked uncertain about what to do. If he ruled with Ludan, he would call the Queen a liar, her niece a liar and the Christian church practice sorcery. Macbeth knew what petty jealousies ruled the clans, he liked the MacGregor Chieftain and would much rather have him as a loyal vassal than his deceitful uncle.
After much debate, the Court ruled Amelia MacGregor was no witch and her husband Chieftain MacGregor was fit to rule.
Ludan lost his mind, “No!” he shouted and made to lunge at Amelia with a dirk. He was stopped in his tracks when Macbeth threw his dagger at Ludan’s throat. His aim was true and Ludan collapsed in front of Amelia’s feet, blood seeping from his neck, but he was still alive. Guards appeared and carried him away as Macbeth ordered he be imprisoned in the dungeons. A hush came over the crowd, reminding everyone why they called Macbeth the blood “Red King.” Prison guards also detained Elora and Wallace for false testimony, and Beiste doubted anyone would see either of them again.
After the Great Hall was cleared and the proceedings completed, Amelia and Eliza sat together with the Queen in her solar taking refreshments while Macbeth, Beiste and Dalziel held council in the King’s chambers.
The Queen was playing with Thomas, who was sitting on her lap and looking every bit a healthy and spoilt child. The Queen was laughing and Thomas was giggling at the faces she was pulling.
“I cannot thank you enough your Majesty for your kindness these past two days and you Eliza for speaking on my behalf, how can I ever repay you?”
“It is we who should thank you for saving this precious child, the Queen said. He has given us so much joy whenever his mother visits.”
“Thomas would have died had it not been for your knowledge I hoped that someday I could repay your kindness and I am glad it came today. Although I am sorry I snooped around your cottage but not sorry I saw the book.” Eliza and Amelia hugged.
“Mayhap when your bairn is born you will come and visit us too Amelia, this place could use the laughter of bairns.”
“I am sure we could arrange it.”
***
As they took their leave, the next day Amelia and Beiste thanked her cousin the King for his hospitality and she thanked the Queen as well for her kindness and they said farewell to Eliza and Thomas.
“We will see you again, my dear. God bless you both.” The Royal couple waved them off.
As they rode away from the C
astle, Beiste said “Well wife it seems you have friends in very high places.” Come, let us go home.” Beiste kissed her deeply and when he gazed upon her countenance, he could not imagine any being on earth lovelier that his wife.
***
Six months later Iona Jonet MacGregor was born into a Keep filled with her kin. The MacGregors, Macleans, Dunbars and even the Frasers were there and when her father saw her for the first time, he thought she was the loveliest being he had ever seen.
Epilogue
MacGregor Keep—Glenorchy, Scotland, 1042
Beiste bathed in the Loch after training his men and then made his way to his private chambers to check on Amelia. He found her curled up sleeping peacefully in their large four-poster bed. As he watched, he could not resist brushing the back of his knuckle against her cheek. He bent down and kissed her lips, savouring the sweetness. She looked exhausted but still managed a smile in her sleep. Beiste’s chest squeezed. He loved this woman more than anything in the world it almost scared him.
“Beiste?” Amelia asked, still half asleep.
“Aye sweeting?”
“Please try not to wake the bairns this time.”
He suppressed a laugh. “I promise I’ll not wake our bairns.”
“Good, because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.” She spoke in a husky voice.
Beiste kissed her forehead as Amelia yawned, snuggling deeper into her pillow as she drifted back to sleep. He knew he should go back down to the hall and see to his men, but he could not resist taking a quick peek at the nursery. He would be quick and this time he did not have Brodie or Dalziel stomping around the room fighting over whose turn it was to carry the babe. The ruckus they caused last time resulted in all three men being banished from the nursery. He chuckled at the memory of his feisty wife beating Dalziel and Brodie over the head with a soft toy and threatening to castrate Beiste if he ever woke her son again. No, there was no way he was waking anyone up this time.
Beiste crept into the adjoining room to peek at his baby son, Colban Gilleain MacGregor. He tucked Colban’s blanket in, leaned forward and kissed his cheek. The baby sighed and Beiste smiled at the overwhelming feeling of love that surged through him. He would never get used to seeing his babe sleeping without a care in the world.
He then looked over to the larger cot on the other side of the room where his two-year-old daughter should be, only to find the space empty. Where had his little warrior disappeared to now? He was about to go on a hunt when he heard a shuffling noise under Colban’s crib.
"Iona, are you under there?" He whispered.
After a brief pause, he heard a muffled response, "No Da, I'm not."
Beiste chuckled quietly and crouched down, whispering. "Iona, come out from under there, now." His daughter emerged from underneath the crib with a mass of black curls and chubby limbs.
She gazed up at him with one green eye and one brown. Holding an index finger to her lips she said, "Shush Da I’m hiding from Ma."
Beiste reached down and picked Iona up, cradling her against him. She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his scarred cheek. Beiste choked on the lump in his throat. His daughter was his little warrior who had him wrapped around her little finger just like her mother. Beiste straightened to stand, holding her firmly in his arms.
"Why are you hiding from your ma Iona?" he asked, kissing her on the tip of her nose.
"Because Ma doesn't want me to wake Colban." She frowned.
"And were you trying to wake him?" Beiste questioned her with one eyebrow raised.
Iona instinctively nodded her head then realizing what she was doing, stopped midway to shake it instead. Her brow furrowed as her dark curly hair bobbed from side to side with the movement. "No, Da, I wasn't." Beiste bit back a laugh.
"Iona you know your mama needs her sleep and if Colban is awake she's not able to rest?"
“But I just want to play with him Da.” she pouted. Then a thought suddenly came to her, she placed both of her hands on either side of Beiste’s face and looking straight into his eyes pleaded, “Can you wake him Da?” her eyes rounded with the exciting possibility. “If you wake him, I won’t get into trouble.” In her excitement her leg which was dangling near the crib hit the edge with a jerk, setting the cradle to rock. As if on cue, Colban opened his eyes and stared up at his father and sister before his face scrunched up, threatening to cry.
Beiste cursed, "Blast." He set Iona gently to the ground, picked up his son and began rocking him back and forth. "Shh son, go back to sleep like a fit lad or your màthair will kill me." Desperation set an edge to his voice. Colban whimpered as Beiste increased his rocking. Iona started jumping up and down in excitement "You did it Da, you woke him up. Can I play with him now?"
"Keep your voice down, you can’t play with him he needs to sleep."
"But I want to play with him." She whined.
"No Iona you cannot play with your brother." Beiste stated in a firm voice.
Colban seemed to pick up on the tension and before Beiste could do anything, he let out a loud cry and wailed.
"Blast!" Beiste cursed again.
"Blast!" Iona repeated after him. Beiste stared in shock.
"Iona you must never let mamaidh hear you say that word."
"But you say it, Da?"
“That’s different, I’m a Chieftain and I can use bad words.”
She looked confused then shrugged her shoulders and started jumping up and down chanting “Colban’s awake, Colban’s awake!”
"Beiste? What on earth is going on here?" Amelia stepped into the room, looking bedraggled and exhausted. "And Iona Jonet Dunbar, did you wake your brother?" Amelia placed both her hands on her hips and scowled at the pair.
Beiste and Iona both froze. Then Iona blurted out, "It was Da he woke Colban and said blast." with that she ducked behind her father wrapping her arms around his leg she peeked up at Amelia with her vivid eyes.
"Traitor." Beiste muttered under his breath, instinctively clapping one hand over Iona’s mouth lest she let out any more damning evidence against him. He rocked a now screaming Colban in his other arm. "I swear sweeting it was Iona’s fault. Your daughter is demon spawn." He said with a guilty look on his face.
Amelia took one look at her husband’s face, and her ire abated. There he stood, a six-foot five warrior reduced to a panic-stricken mess, a screaming babe in one arm and a mouthy bairn wrapped around his leg. This was her husband, the athair of her children, and she loved him even more.
Letting out a deep breath, Amelia threw her hands up in the air and crossed the room. Unable to put up with the racket any longer, she reached out to take Colban.
"Hush little one, it's all right, mamaidh is here now." She cooed as Colban immediately settled. Beiste looked relieved. He reached down to pick up Iona, who curled up in his arms and stuck a thumb in her mouth.
“What am I going to do with you lot?” Amelia shook her head then leaned across to kiss her daughter. Iona took her thumb out of her mouth and gave her mother a loud smacking kiss on the lips before resting her head back on her father’s shoulder.
“I think I need a kiss too, wife.” Beiste chided. Amelia stood on tiptoe with Colban cradled between them as Beiste bent his lips lower and kissed her soundly.
"It's an excellent thing I love you, husband."
"Not as much as I love you wife." He winked.
They settled within an hour, all four in their enormous bed. Beiste and Amelia sat up against the headrest while Iona slept on Amelia’s lap and Colban slept on his father’s chest. Amelia sighed with contentment. "Finally, some peace." She rested her head on Beiste’s shoulder.
"I love you Amie mine." He said as he kissed her hair. "I love the teaghlach you have given me" looking down at his bairns he continued, "even if our daughter is a hellion like her mother." He reached across, pushing a ringlet away from Iona’s face.
“I love you too husband and our wee bairns, even if our son bellows like h
is father.” She grinned.
Beiste made a mock look of outrage. “I do not bellow.”
Amelia giggled, paused for a while as silence descended between them, then she continued.
“That day in Dunbar Castle when you chose me to be your betrothed, I don’t think I ever thanked you. You saved my life Beiste and gave me a future I could never have dreamed of for myself.” Amelia smiled up at Beiste, who was looking at her with intensity before he spoke.
“No Amie, you saved me. I will always choose you, love.” Beiste’s voice was hoarse with emotion and Amelia’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as an overwhelming feeling of love crossed between them.
***
Brodie
Brodie lay on the bed staring at the ceiling in utter frustration. Beside him lay a very naked buxom blonde with an equally dissatisfied look on her face. He should be replete and sated he should have spent the best two nights of his life in a euphoric haze of debauchery. But no, he had done nothing at all because for some unknown reason, little Brodie refused to perform.
“Tis all right, maybe when you have had some rest we could try again?” The woman beside him was reaching for him again, Brodie instinctively rolled out of bed. He knew there was no way he was going through another embarrassing night like that.
“Ah no thank you Felda… ah Helda?”
“My name is Zelda.” Came her pouty reply.
“Right my lovely Zelda, I am sorry, I have just had a lot on my mind.” He was already moving, gathering his clothes and with that he made his farewells, left more than enough coin on the table, fumbled some apologetic words, and exited the door.
Feeling annoyed with his predicament he swore into the night, it was all that damn wench’s fault the one who plagued his mind constantly the one with the big innocent eyes and beautiful tanned skin, skin that glistened in the water when she swam and pert breasts that could fit comfortably in his hands. He was depraved he knew it he had watched her many times swimming in the Loch and wanted so much to join her.
Why could he not get her out of his head? Because she was forbidden fruit, that is why. Beiste and Amelia, those smug little love birds with their happy little family, had warned him not to touch her for pain of death.
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