Blessing The Highlander (2 page)

 
           “No,” she sighed. “Do not mind me. My thoughts are elsewhere this day.”

 
           He gave a terse nod stepping closer. His eyes softened as he gazed down at her, wanting to touch her velvet-skinned cheek but thought it unwise. She did not appear receptive to his advances at the moment. He stared at her for another moment. “Your father, the King, has asked for your audience in the throne room.”

 
           Diedre’s eyes rounded as she heard the summons. Her father only conducted official business in the throne room.
“Could he possibly have found out about Seonaid already?”
Her heart began to pound an erratic beat in her chest as she carefully schooled her face to show no panic. She had no time to do more as her father hated tardiness. Something must have shown in her eyes. Fear, panic, dread...she did not know. But Lokai grabbed her wrist and, in a harsh whisper, asked “What have you done?”

 
           “N-nothing! I have done nothing!” She wrenched her arm free of his steel grip. “It is just that Father never requests my presence there. I fear that he may think that I have done something.”

 
           He was not fooled. Cool, calm Diedre at no time got that look of guilt unless she had done something. He shrugged. Whatever it was, it could not be serious. Usually it was because she had gone somewhere forbidden to her.
“Besides,”
he thought,
“I am the reason she has been summoned.”
He smirked as he led her away.

 
           Diedre approached her father with a nonchalant air she did not feel. Her throat was dry as she licked her lips and tried to swallow...her heart pounding. She curtsied deeply, as was his due as King. Her eyes darted anxiously about the room to see if there was any outward sign of what was to come. Nothing looked out of place. No broken pottery or burnt walls. No signs of rage. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief as she realized that King Alred was still clueless of her deed.

 
           She examined her father’s face while he was distracted speaking to one of the court pages, chuckling softly to himself. He was still quite handsome and virile considering that he was centuries old. He gave the impression of being in his mid-thirties with a strong body and lithe frame. His blonde hair was even whiter than Diedre’s but there were no creases on his face or his skin. She saw no signs of annoyance in his loving face as he turned to her. She smiled brightly at him.

 
           “I am here, Father. Lokai said that you wished to see me?”

 
           King Alred nodded. His eyes were guarded as he steepled his fingers before him contemplating how to approach the subject. He knew Diedre would not be pleased with his decision concerning her future but he comprehended what was best for her. She had been running wild for far too long. It was time she grew up. He cleared his throat giving her his most regal look as he made his announcement.

 
           “Daughter, as Princess of the Fae, you have certain duties that must be fulfilled.”

 
           Diedre’s stomach clenched. She recognized what her father was going to command. A shudder heaved through her body. Her eyes flared.
“Marriage!”
She shook her head as she backed from the chamber. King Alred’s eyes flashed at her as he bellowed, “Hold!” His gaze flicked to Lokai and he came up behind her preventing her retreat.

 
           “I have betrothed you. You will not shame me with bad behavior! The wedding will be held in a fortnight,” he roared at her. Anger filled his countenance as he stared her down.

 
           Diedre’s eyes filled with tears ready to spill... like a dam bursting. She could see they would not save her this time. She understood this day would come but she had hoped that her father would forget about it...she had. She gave her father a brusque nod for she could not produce words in her constricted throat. She turned to leave only to be blocked by Lokai’s huge muscular frame. He did not look at her but continued to stare straight ahead, his jaw clenched.

 
           “Do you not wish to know who you will wed?” the King asked astonished.

 
           Diedre raised her chin and gave a swift shake of her head. Defiant, she quipped, “Whoever it is makes no difference to me. They would be objectionable under any circumstance in my eyes.”

 
           Lokai noticeably stiffened as King Alred sprang off his throne at her. He seized her arm in a vise-like grip spinning her round, his face purple with rage! “You shame me Diedre...and yourself as well.”

 
           She cowered, fearing a blow. He never struck her before, but then, she had never seen him this angry before. Her mind raced ahead to find a way to sooth his rage when she realized he was still speaking to her.

 
           “...have insulted Lokai! Apologize at once!”
“Lokai? How have I insulted him?”
she thought wildly. Then her father’s implication dawned on her. Her eyes flew wide. She twirled around to face her betrothed. “You?” she asked incredulously. “I am to wed...you?”

 
           He lowered his gaze to hers revealing his wrath. His entire physique was hard as steel as he deflected her rejection. A thin smile slowly formed on his lips not quite reaching his eyes. He gave her a swift affirmation as his eyes burned through her.

 
           He desired her. He always had for as long as he had known her. She stirred his passion like no other. Her milky skin covered with lengthy, flowing platinum hair. Her petite form with all the right curves and ample breasts. And her eyes...the color of the sea...exotic with a slight upward tilt at the outer edges curtained in long dark blonde lashes. She was perfection to him. He gave himself a mental shake. He would not divulge that to Diedre. You do not give such a weapon to someone like her.

 
           “Forgive me my outburst, Lokai. I spoke in anger… lacking thought.” She sought his face for tempering but found none. Diedre turned to her father, repentant, a pleading look in her eyes. “Forgive me, Father. I would not have spoken thus if I had known. Lokai is acceptable to me...if that is your wish. I thought you were betrothing me to a noble’s house...not the Captain of the Royal Guard.”

 
           King Alred grunted, mollified that her regrets were in earnest. He embraced her, a smile on his lips. “Did you think that Lokai was nothing more than that? His father, Athor, was my cousin. Lokai is as royal as you and heir to the throne one day. I could not make a better match for you.” He kissed the crown of her head. “Now go. Make your preparations. There is much to do in so short a time.” When he released her Diedre dashed from the room keeping her eyes hooded fearing that Lokai would misconstrue her.

 
           Alred returned to his throne sitting wearily. “She is just headstrong,” he sighed, “and I caught her off guard. I know she is fond of you, Lokai. I have seen her observing you when you were unaware.” There was a long pause.

 
           “I was aware,” he stated softly.

Chapter II

 
           Diedre rushed to her chamber before Lokai had a chance to follow her. She gazed around her room. A tear escaping from the corner of her eye, slowly trickling down her cheek. She loved her room... her sanctuary. Here is where she felt safe. This is where she withdrew to reflect on her difficulties, her distresses and her joyfulness.

 
           She ran her fingers blithely over the royal blue counterpane made of the softest velvet covering the canopied bed. The matching draperies hanging from the railings were tied back with large golden cords. She loved to cocoon herself in it, shutting out the worries of the world. She shook her head.
“Father is right. It is time to grow up. Lokai is very handsome
and he has always been kind to me. He stirs something in me, though, that frightens me. I cannot seem to think straight in his presence. He rattles my senses.”
Diedre hugged herself. Her small frame trembling at the thought.

 
           Recalling Seonaid, she shook off the mood, examining the room with a keen eye. There was work to be done and she had a mission to accomplish. “Now what did I do with that memory wipe potion...?”

            A dense haze eddied around her as she lay comatose in her hospice bed. Her frail form struggling for the smallest of breaths even with the aid of the ventilator.
“Why don’t they just unplug those damn machines?”
her mind shrieked.
“All I want is for this limbo to end. There is nothing left for me.”

 
           “Are you so certain, Seonaid?” A soft, musical voice drifted to her from within the fog.

 
           “Who’s there?” Janet asked fearfully. “Show yourself. Are you an angel? Is it finally my time to go?”

 
           An ethereal woman dressed in the palest of blue gossamer silk floated toward her from the depths of the mist. Her platinum hair floated against her supple body. She was near the same height as Janet...just three inches shorter. Her aqua blue eyes piercing into her soul.

 
           There was something familiar about her, Janet believed, as she examined the wraith before her. “Who are you? I know you from somewhere… don’t I?”

 
           She saw a flash of panic in the woman’s eyes before she masked it with a smile.
“Not good!”
she thought... then banished it.

 
           “I say again, Seonaid, are you certain there is nothing left for you?” Her lilting voice was comforting, soothing.

 
           “Who is this Seonaid you speak of? I am Janet Evans. You have mistaken me for someone else.” She shook her head and began to laugh. “Even in death my life will be torture. I should have known.” Tears were streaming from her eyes before she got her laughter under control.

 
           The wraith’s eyes screwed up in anger. She put her fisted hands on her hips stomping her foot in a tizzy. Seeing her ire, Janet began laughing once again.

 
           “We make a fine pair little wraith...you are lost and I am forsaken, conceivably delusional, besides.”

 
           Diedre stood glaring at her. She was angry now and beginning to have second thoughts about assisting her sister. Until she recollected her father’s reaction regarding her response over her betrothal.
“He will surely kill me if I do not make this right for her. I must fix this.”
Resolute… Diedre held up her hand to silence Janet.  She shook her head in denial.

 
           “I am not lost...I am not a wraith...and you are not forsaken, Seonaid. Nor delusional. Your earthly body is about to pass and I have come to correct a wrong.” She need not know that Diedre was the one who caused the error. “I have come to offer you a new life in a different time. You will be young again, vibrant, alive! You will love...and be loved!”

 
           Janet’s eyes rounded in astonishment…then narrowed. “So what’s the catch?”

 
           “Catch? I do not fathom your meaning.”

 
           “I mean... why would you do this? What do you get out of it? No one does anything without receiving something in return. Do you get my soul? Is that it? Maybe you’re really the devil playing tricks on me.”

 
           Resentment flared through Diedre’s small body!
“How dare she! Obstinate fool! I offer her the world and she flings it back in my face! If it were not for Father
...”

 
          
She quickly schooled her
expression then looked back at her sister. “I am not the devil you speak of and, I suppose, there is a ‘catch’, so to speak.”

 
           “Uh-huh! I knew it! So what is it?”

 
           “I will have to wipe all your memory. You must not have any memories from this time once I send you to the past.”

 
           “That’s it?” Janet was stunned. Forgetting her previous life would be a blessing. But what if the new life was just as bad...or worse. Her eyes narrowed on Diedre. “This new life, what guarantee do I have that it won’t be worse than what I’ve just lived through?” Janet had this niggling feeling that she knew this wraith. Maybe she was the cause of her first life of hell. She had no proof...just a feeling. Diedre sighed. This was taking entirely too long. Seonaid should have leaped at the chance of a new life. She never used to be this suspicious. But then again, she was just a toddler back then. Frustrated, Diedre shrugged, turning to melt back into the fog. She glanced over her shoulder at Seonaid. “I will not offer this for a second time, Seonaid. Either you wish it or you do not. Your time is short. Let me help you...please.”

 
           Her eyes pleaded with Janet and she realized that she had nothing to lose. “Okay, if you will answer one question.”