“He has no choice, the laddie is tae be Laird, and if he is tae succeed in the battle, then he must face his fears. He loves ye though, Nairne and that is why he wanted ye tae be warned. I urge ye tae stay out of the fighting. If Andrew and the Cameron’s are victorious, then ye and Andrew shall find yerselves together,” Cairstine added.
“When will I see him again?”
“He will meet ye by the pool tomorrow, be there early if ye can. I have asked his mother tae allow him tae come tae me tomorrow, I told her that I wanted reassuring by my Godson. He will wait for ye there, but be warned Nairne, tell no one, not even yer mother. Simply ensure she is safe, ye hear me?” Cairstine looked intently at Nairne.
“Aye, I hear ye, thank ye,” Nairne stood upright just as a voice called out across the market to her.
“Ye are long at yer words with the old woman, Nairne. What herbs be ye wanting now,” Murdoch strode across to where Nairne and Cairstine were in conversation.
“I was merely asking this good woman about her herbs, she is the one whom I went tae for mother’s remedies.” Cairstine wrapped her shawl over her head lest Murdoch should look too closely at her.
“Aye, well those herbs helped yer mother, and for that, we must be thankful, and tae ye also woman of the forest,” Murdoch peered down at Cairstine.
Their eyes met for a moment, and there was a look as of recognition in Murdoch’s face, but at that moment a call came from one of the guardsmen, pointing to a scuffle that had broken out between two peasants and Murdoch strode through the crowds to deal with them.
“Ye should go, thank ye and I will be at the pool tomorrow, but if I am prevented from doing so, then please tell Andrew that I love him.”
“I will,” and gathering up her herbs, Cairstain disappeared into the crowd, thankful that her message had been delivered without Murdoch’s recognition.
Nairne’s heart was racing at the thought of what she had been told. An attack upon the castle was unheard of. There had been skirmishes over the years, but it had always been her father who had brought his wrath down upon the Cameron’s and never the other way around. It would be a bloody battle, that was certain, and she knew that one way or another death was inevitable. She worried for Andrew’s safety, he was still just a laddie, and she knew that his skills with a sword could not match those of her father who, despite his age, still commanded an ability unmatched by many others.
As she walked back to the castle, she looked up at its ramparts, guarded by her father’s soldiers, the Mackintosh banner fluttering from the turrets. Could the Cameron’s really hope to defeat her father and his men? And would Andrew be victorious, or would she lose the only man she had ever truly loved, cruelly cut down upon the battlefield, just like his father before him?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‘Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow’
“Ye seem preoccupied, Nairne,” her mother combed her daughter’s hair and helped her to dress.
“Aye, no … I just, I am thinking of Andrew,” Nairne replied truthfully.
“A love which is forbidden, Nairne and one which ye will find no happiness in if the two of ye cannae be together, I know ye have tried, and I have done my best, but if yer father discovered that ye had been cavorting with the enemy then it would be the worse for us all.”
“He wants me tae meet him again today, I must go, I cannae bear not tae see him.”
“If only we could all enjoy such a love, Nairne. Ye will have tae sneak out of the north door if ye are tae see him today. But I cannae make excuses for ye again, there are only so many times that I can be ill, ye know,” Una laughed a little.
“Aye, I know mother, and I am grateful tae ye for helping me. I will be careful, but I must go now if I am tae see him,” and rising from her chair, she kissed her mother.
“Young love is a joyful thing tae behold, blessed by God himself, go on then, be away with ye, yer father is no doubt preoccupied with some business or other, and if ye are careful ye will not be missed for the morning, but hurry back, and dinnae linger, ye hear me?”
“Aye, I hear ye, mother,” Nairne embraced her mother once more before rushing from her chambers, taking the staircase at the back of the keep and carefully making her way through the gardens to the north door.
Unbolting it, she cast a final glance behind her and satisfied that no one had seen, stepped out into the forest beyond. That morning her feet were swift, and it was not long before she arrived at the pool, looking all around her for signs of Andrew. He was not there yet, and she settled herself upon the rock beside the water, lying on her front and trailing her fingers idly through the deep, clear pool, causing ripples upon the surface as a way to her left the waterfall splashed its way down from above.
The sun was warm, and despite her preoccupations, she found herself closing her eyes, as though sleep were about to come upon her. She put her arm under her head, her hair trailing almost to the water, but just as she was about to drift into sleep, a voice called across the pool.
“Wake up, Nairne, I am here,” Andrew called softly.
Nairne leapt up, smiling at the sight of Andrew who splashed across the stream towards her and came into her embrace. They shared a kiss, and he held her to him as though nothing else mattered in all the world.
“I am so grateful tae yer Godmother for telling me tae come here today.”
“And she told ye of the other news tae, did she not?” Andrew took her hand, his smile turning to a worried expression.
“Aye, she told me, but Andrew ye cannae lead those men intae battle, I beg ye, not tae, ye will be killed,” and clasping him to her, a tear ran down her cheek.
“There is no choice, the clan has decided that now is the time for the attack tae take place and that I am of age. They have waited tae long for this, I cannae just step back. That is why I had tae warn ye and yer mother. I dinnae want anything tae happen tae ye.”
“And I dinnae want anything tae happen tae ye, either. We … we could just run away, go now, go deep intae the forest and not return,” she sobbed gently into his chest.
“And we would be found, ye know that. Yer father would stop at nothing tae find us, and I cannae abandon my family now, not in the hour of their need, and ye have yer mother tae. But if we are victorious, then ye and I can be together always, Nairne, think of that,” placing his hands on her shoulder, their eyes met.
“Aye, Andrew, but I fear for ye. My father would like nothing better than tae see ye fall upon his sword and if that happened, I dinnae think I could bear it,” Nairne shook her head sadly.
“Then let us forget these things for just a few hours. I dinnae come here tae speak of such sorrow, Nairne. I came here because I love ye and I want tae tell ye that a thousand times and I want tae be with ye and tae be close tae ye.”
And with that, Andrew took her hand and led her to the pool.
The two spent an hour swimming in the pool, and it felt almost like the time before, when their cares could be left behind on the fringes of the forest. But a weight hung heavily over them, the specter of battle looming large. Both Nairne and Andrew knew that this could be the last time they saw one another and it was that thought which caused them to linger longer by the pool, despite Una’s warning to her daughter not to tarry from the castle.
“I could stay here with ye forever, Nairne,” and they lay together on the bank in the sun after their swim, the water dripping from their bodies, arms about one another in an embrace.
“Then stay with me,” she whispered in his ear.
He kissed her, his arms across her back, their bodies coming together as she embraced him, holding him close to her, the sun warm upon their bodies as they made love. Each knew that this could be their last time or just the beginning of a life to be lived together. The battle would decide, a battle that would see only one victor crowned and the other led away in defeat. It could bring death, or it could bring new life, only time would tell.
“I … must leave ye now, Nair
ne, we must part ways, and I must return tae the crofts otherwise I will be missed,” Andrew sighed reluctantly.
“Aye, my mother will worry if I dinnae return soon, oh, Andrew, take care, promise me, dinnae let my father take ye away from me, there is no shame in running, no shame in refusing tae fight.”
“I fear I must, Nairne. I must face him, it is the destiny I have always known, and there is the hope of victory. We have more men, and yer father is without support from many of those he considers allies. Let us trust that all shall be well and very soon I shall be able to call ye mine and ye shall call me yours, tae whoever we wish.” Once again, he took her in his arms and kissed her, a kiss neither wanted to end.
She watched him splash across the stream, his cloak trailing behind. On the other side, he turned and waved, a look of sorrow across his face. As he disappeared into the forest, he cast a final glance back, and as their eyes met, she called across the pool to him.
“I love ye, Andrew Cameron, and I shall love ye forever.”
“And I love ye tae, Nairne Mackintosh, and I promise that this will not be the last time I say those words.”
With that, he was gone, and Nairne shed a tear as she turned to walk slowly back into the forest towards home. She admired Andrew for his confidence, whether it was sincere or not. She knew him well enough to see that he was afraid and that his bravado was an act designed to make her feel better, underneath she could see the poor laddie was terrified, and she wondered just what would happen upon the battlefield when Murdoch and Andrew faced one another in war.
* * *
“Ah, there ye are Nairne,” her father said, as Nairne hurried into the Great Hall for lunch that day, taking her place beside her mother who gave her a knowing glance.
“Let it be known that today I have received some worrying news,” Murdoch began, calling for order as the clansmen on the long trestle tables below turned to look at him.
“Yer father has received word of an attack,” Una whispered to Nairne, who did her best to appear surprised.
“Long we have known of the Cameron threat, and today I have received word from our spies in the woods that an attack is planned upon the castle. They say that the young Andrew Cameron, the laddie who believes himself tae be Laird, is preparing an attack, one which I will not allow tae happen. They will presume we dinnae know of their plans, but they underestimate us and the fact that we shall fight them tae the death, what say ye men.”
A cheer went up from the gathered clansmen, and several drew their swords, raising them in support of Murdoch who called once again for quiet.
“For tae many years this glen has seen an uneasy peace. It has always been my desire tae see an end tae the Cameron’s. Their presence upon the mountainside has always been a source of inconvenience, now they bring the fight tae us, and we shall see them wiped out. I will face the young pretender upon the battlefield, and his uncle and stepfather tae, the brother I once called my own. No one will stand in our way now, and this glen will run with the blood of Cameron’s,” and drawing his sword, he raised his arms and called once again for support.
Nairne could only watch, desperate to inform Andrew and the Cameron’s that their plan had been discovered. But as though he had realised her thoughts, Murdoch turned to Una and Nairne, a smile playing across his face.
“A battlefield is a dangerous place for lassies, the both of ye will confine yerselves tae the castle, and I shall see tae it that ye are well looked after. There is nothing tae fear, the Cameron’s present no threat. They are just an idle group of men, crofters and mountain dwellers. Once this battle is over we shall find the rightful peace that is ours,” and turning to the hall once more he rallied then men, “tomorrow we ride out tae face our enemy, prepare yerselves and make ready, for this will be a great victory, of that I am certain.”
Nairne looked anxiously at her mother, who shook her head and took hold of her daughter’s hand.
“I am sorry, Nairne, but now there is nothing we can do but wait and see what this ugly day will bring. Ye and I are powerless.”
Nairne sighed as she watched Murdoch rallying his men around him and rousing them to war. There was no way she could escape now; her father would have them watched at all times. There would be no escaping, that much was certain.
Chapter Thirty
‘War is Coming!’
“Ye are a fine figure of a man, Andrew, a fine figure indeed,” Stewart stood back to admire his stepson, dressed in armor and with a sword hanging at his side.
“Finally, our day has come,” Duncan agreed, stepping forward, as around them the Cameron army massed, waiting for its Laird, “ye must address the clan and rally them to the cause.”
“I dinnae want tae, they will follow, will they not?” Andrew swallowed his nerves as he tried to stop himself from shaking.
The lad had not slept, so anxious was he of the battle. He had no desire for this attack, and now that the day had finally come, all talk of a glorious victory and the excitement of war was lost upon him. All that Andrew wanted was to be with Nairne, and if it weren’t for her face in his mind, then he would surely have run away. He was doing this only for her, she was the prize at the end of this and stealing himself he quieted his nerves and stood resolutely looking out across the moorlands.
“The men want tae hear their Laird’s words, speak laddie, our time has come,” Stewart pulled Andrew around by his shoulder and nodded to him.
“Very well,” Andrew replied, his heart heavy, the burden he carried one of sorrow for that which was to come. He knew only too well that there were men amongst them who would not survive this day and for that he was sorrowful.
“Cameron’s, brave men,” he cried, causing those around his banner to turn towards him, calling to one another for hush, “today it is my solemn duty tae lead ye intae battle, I do so with a heavy heart, for it is not war I long for, but peace.”
A general murmuring went up from the men around him, and some shook their heads in disbelief.
“Ye are supposed tae be their leader, laddie, inspire them,” his uncle hissed.
“But peace is not always won by words,” Andrew continued, “sometimes we must raise a sword if we wish tae see peace reign and so it is today. I pledge tae lead ye intae battle, not as the great warrior my father was, and many of ye remember him as such, but as the young laddie who so many of ye have seen grow up. I was once a little boy, but now ye say I am a man, and it is my duty tae lead ye. I shall do so, and I know that each of ye shall give his very best tae ensure that today we win a great victory over our enemies and return this banner tae its rightful place atop the castle which has so long been home tae our enemies. Now, who is with me?”
A cheer went up from the men, and even as Andrew was speaking, many more were emerging from the forest to join the throng. Andrew had never seen so many men in one place before, and it was as though the whole glen was revolting against Murdoch and his evil regime. Old and young they came, some bearing weapons, others with sticks and crude implements. Some wore armor and others had with them only the tunics on their backs, but each it seemed was determined to rally to the cause and see the Cameron’s victorious.
“Tae war we march and let us vanquish our foes in memory of those we have lost, not least my father who would be proud tae see this banner brought forth again in the cause of right,” Andrew cried.
“And proud tae see his son at its head,” Rhona stepped forth from the crowd and embraced her son, “do this for yer father Andrew and do it for me.”
“I will mother,” and raising his sword he called again for the clan to follow, as with a great roar the host of Cameron’s set off down the mountainside towards the forest, the battle awaiting them and victory within their grasp.
* * *
“I shall see these Cameron’s defeated today, Una, ye mark my words,” Murdoch pulled tight the straps upon his armor.
Around them, the Mackintosh clan was readying themselves for war, and the Great H
all was filled with the sounds of swords being sharpened, and the clink of armor as the men of the clan made ready.
“It is not worth it tae be killed in the process, why do ye have tae face them on the battlefield? Surely the castle is a better place from which tae defend yerselves?” Una asked as Murdoch demanded his cloak from her.
“What do ye know of warfare, woman? We will meet the Cameron’s upon the field for they dinnae expect us tae know of their plans, we shall rout them and send them fleeing intae the forest. And I shall chase down young Andrew and make him suffer as I did his father,” Murdoch smiled wickedly at Nairne, sitting quietly at her mother’s side.
“And what if ye do not win, father, what then? If ye are defeated, will ye hand over this castle and its lands tae the rightful Laird.”
Highlander's Rightful Claim (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance) Page 20
