The Highlander Without a Bride (12 page)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Bridget
watched over Kaye in sadness as she slept deeply and dreamlessly throughout the entire night.  She never moved once for her exhaustion completely consumed her small body.   As Bridget sat vigil by her side never leaving her for a moment, her heart broke for the pain and suffering her dear sister had obviously experienced. 

T
or stood outside in the hallway forever pacing and oftentimes gazing in over the threshold to the woman who lay silently within the bed.  He never entered the room once even though he wanted to be near, but he knew that it was not his right.  The pain of his guilt consumed him and he blamed himself for much of her troubles, for if he had protected her as he should have to begin with and implored her to leave her husband, none of this would have befallen her.  How she must despise him for his lack of protection.

It was nearing midday
and the heavily clouded skies outside emitted tiny cold droplets of rain upon the land and Kaye was yet to stir.  As a large clap of thunder burst forth from the heavens above and permeated the chamber, Kaye's slight body was shaken from her deep slumber.  Her eyes flew wide as she bolted upwards and startled upon the bed.  Her breath came in gasps as her heart beat wildly within her chest for the fright that was upon her. She looked about the room in confusion as she tried to frantically piece together in her mind her situation and her whereabouts. 

Bridget immediately went to her side and taking her hand
within her own attempted to calm her trembling sister.  She noted immediately how Kaye's heart was beating fiercely as her breath was coming in strained gasps as the terror continued to show upon her face.

"Shhh, dear Kaye, you are safe now."

Kaye looked at her with uncertainty as she slowly lay back upon the pillows with her eyes still wide open in fear and staring straight ahead.  As she leaned back upon the bed, Kaye detected a slight movement in the hallway just outside the door and her gaze quickly moved to its source.  Kaye watched in wonder as she spied Tor who was looking upon them with fearful eyes.  She gazed in his direction as their eyes locked for a brief moment before he turned and was abruptly gone from her sight.  She furrowed her brow not understanding the feeling of the hollowness upon her chest or the reasoning behind his quick disappearance and gazed back at Bridget with a questioning look upon her face.

"Tor has paid
a constant vigil in the hallway as I have done here by your side since you arrived, including the whole of last night, dear sister."

Kaye simply
stared at her with a vacant look then removed her gaze from Bridget as she peered across the room into the blazing hearth.  A coldness had settled upon her petite body as a constant void plagued her heart as a slight shiver moved throughout her.  So much had happened and so much had transpired over the last few weeks and it overwhelmed her.

Kaye reached up absently towards her swollen eye,
lightly touching the brow above.  Slowly, she moved her fingers across to the gash upon her cheek as the throbbing continued to resonate within her head and the tears began fall.  She closed her eyes praying for strength and for the fortitude to get through her pain and more importantly to move on with her life.  For not only was the physical pain distressing, but the pain upon her heart was quite alarming.

Through her lowered lashes she
looked at Bridget as she silently pleaded for an explanation for she fervently wanted a full understanding of her plight.

Bridget began,
"Matthew arrived here last eve with you upon his horse and please know, dear sister, that you are now safe.  We will not let anything happen to you.  Please, Kaye, tell me you are alright?"

Kaye looked over at Bridget, attempting a slig
ht smile as she nodded her head.  She was ever so grateful and thankful that they had arrived here, unscathed.  A heavy weight had been lifted from her chest, for the protection she had hoped to gain.  For long minutes they sat as such with each quietly lost in their own thoughts as Kaye was quite unable to speak.

A
child's whimper was heard and a movement was had from the doorway as the Lord Alec walked a few paces into the chamber with a crying child in his arms.

"I am
sorry to intrude, but Bridget, Edward here is crying out for you and will not settle.  I think this storm has him frightening and nothing will please him.  May I bring him in?"

When the small child saw
his mother he cried louder yet as he stiffened his back and extended his arms outwardly.  Quickly, he became more angry and agitated for his father's lack of movement.

Bridget looked over at Kaye,
now torn between caring for her son and her sister.  But as she saw the softening of Kaye's features as she looked upon the babe and the small smile as it began to play across her face, she knew exactly what she had to do for it appeared this could be a welcomed distraction.

"Yes, Alec, please do bring him in
.  I would like to introduce our son to his aunt."

Alec
breathed a sigh of relief and did not hesitate as he walked forward knowing he could divest himself of his unhappy son.  While he loved the child deeply and without question, he was quite uncomfortable and felt rather helpless around his tears.  Bridget grinned fully as the small child began to smile and then giggle as he came to rest within her arms.

"This, my dear Kaye, is your nephew Edward."

Kaye's own smile widened as she looked upon the beautiful boy child with very dark hair and dark eyes like his father and his mother's nose.  Kaye noted that Edward had passed his first year of life the previous spring and his considerable size even for one so small, was hinting at the large and powerful man that he would become some day.  She looked on in awe and wonder as she saw the happy parents smiling with pride over their most precious treasure and the product of their love.  How her heart soared for their happiness.  To be so blessed…

Bridget walked near the bed and setting Edward upon its edge, Kaye immediately moved her hands towards the
young babe.  As she looked upon the beautiful child, her own fears and pains were suddenly forgotten as she pushed them from her mind, if only for the moment.  She touched his chubby little arms and ran her finger lovingly upon his soft cheek, all the while a deep smile spreading further upon her battered face, so thankful for this sudden and unplanned diversion.

*****

Kaye stayed abed the remainder of that day and into the next with her body completely rebelling from her recent ordeal.  Just before the nooning hour arrived on that second day, she found herself quite alone in her room and a sudden feeling of restlessness.  She could hear slight noises filtering in through her window from outside and the courtyard below and rose from the bed as she moved slowly to the window to reflect upon its source. 

The small opening overlooked the side of the keep showing a portion of the
square and the full of the stables below.  There was much activity about within the area on this fine fall day.  She stood staring intently for a long while as some of the clansmen moved the horses about while others were training with bows and yet others, with swords. 

As her eyes
eagerly scanned the activities below, they came to reset upon one in particular who stood taller than most and was ever so graceful upon the field.  His long blonde hair blew carelessly about in the wind as his vast muscular chest flexed wildly as he wielded his powerful sword.  His skin glistened intently in the midday sun as he moved effortlessly while he battled his opponent.  Kaye's breath caught within her throat as she watched him closely and marveled at his strength, his grace and at his magnificence.  She stared at this man intently and began to wonder at how he could affect her so.

Kaye
was brought suddenly from her revelry when she heard a slight footfall directly behind her and gasped in apprehension for its sudden nearness had startled her greatly.  Her recent memories were forever leaving her panicked as the ill-fated events flashed through her mind.  She turned around quickly to see who was approaching as a sure fear encompassed her heart.  Her hand flew to her chest as a gasp came from her throat and her eyes widened in alarm as she spun around to face her invader.

Bridget walked near
seeing the true terror and fright upon Kaye's face and said softly, "Oh, my dear, sister, I am so sorry for I did not mean to startle you so.  You must know that you are protected and that you are safe here."

Bridget moved closer
as she brought her slight sister within her arms, feeling the thundering of her heart as her body began shaking anew.  She gently rocked her, embracing her tightly as she wished to pass her own strength on to help get her through this ordeal. 

As Bridget comforted Kaye, she
slowly looked over her sister's shoulder through the window and downwards, so she could see what had Kaye so entranced.  As she gazed out at the activity below, she saw the Bruce clansmen training in the courtyard and her husband's cousin Tor very visible from where she stood.

A slight smile spread acros
s Bridget's face as she noticed the man and what she had hoped was the subject of Kaye's attentions.  She watched as Tor's strong body moved gracefully upon the training field as his power was being ever so clearly demonstrated.  She could only view this as a positive sign that her dear sister Kaye was perhaps finally being brought out of the desperate state she found herself committed to.  And just this small possibility, made Bridget quite pleased.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

It was
immediately following the nooning meal on the third day after Matthew and Kaye had arrived at the Bruce keep, when the alarm was sent up from the sentries high upon the walls that there was a band of riders approaching.  As had Matthew and Kaye been escorted by the Bruce clansmen those few days previously, so had this large party that was arriving within the courtyard today.

The
Englishmen were fifteen strong and as they road directly into the center of the square they stopped midway to the keep's stairs.  The men were sitting quietly upon their mounts with somber and angry looks abound.  The numerous Bruce clansmen that had escorted the party through the gates were circling the edges with their weaponry ever ready as the clansmen were on alert and just waiting for their own lord's direction. 

In the lead
of the visiting party was Kaye and Bridget's father, Lord Devon.  Flanking him was his brother-in-law Roger on his right and Lord Hann, Lord Alden and Father Flannigan to his left.  Behind these great men were ten of Lord Hann's best soldiers.  This time when the English were within the presence of the Bruce Highlanders, the Hann men were fully armed and their chests entirely armored as they were quite prepared for battle.

As the sentries alerted the keep
within, Alec, his brother Cameron and his cousin Tor were inside the great hall with Matthew, Bridget and Kaye all in attendance.  Alec, fearing that trouble was looming, ordered the women to stay inside as the men abruptly exited through the front door.  But Bridget willfully refused and followed them out onto the landing as she ensured Kaye was close at her side.  Bridget would not stay behind for she knew her father and Roger were there and it was Kaye's fate that so precariously hung in the balance.

The
Bruce Lord, his two lead men and Matthew moved slowly down the great stone stairway that led out onto the courtyard as they ascertained the group below.  Bridget and Kaye were trailing closely behind, Alec wholly concerned and none too pleased for both the English upon his soil and his willful wife's actions. 

They walked
down into the courtyard and came up short of the visiting group of men and stood staring directly at the imposing assembly.  While no weapons had been drawn, the air was filled with an anxiousness as all present were standing on alert and awaiting for someone to begin.  Every warrior within the square was ever prepared for whatever would transpire.

After long moments of the men's silent standoff and
full appraisal of each other, it was Lord Devon who spoke first and loudly enough for everyone within the courtyard to hear.

"Kaye, are you a
lright?"

The Bruce clansmen
hesitated only a moment before they stepped aside slightly and allowed Bridget and Kaye to be seen clearly for the first time by all.  Lord Devon narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow severely as he looked at his daughter and spied the mark upon Kaye's once flawless cheek and the other fading abuse that was ever obvious upon her face.  Otherwise, he did not react, never spoke as he waited patiently for the truth of it to come forth from her own lips.

As the men moved
from before them, Kaye was forced to gaze upon all of the visitors within the square for the first time including her husband the Lord Hann and his son.  Her heart began to beat wildly within her breast as the fear rose for just the sight of them.  She was thankful the Lord Alden was alive for she knew with a certainty that she was now not guilty of his murder, yet a renewed fear threatened to consume her for just his presence.  Just the fact that he was this near, petrified her. 

Kaye
took a deep breath and spoke loudly, once again for all to hear, "Yes, father, I am now alright that I am
here
and
protected
."

For long moments no one moved and
no one spoke as the tension mounted in the air.  Lord Alden, clearly becoming agitated and impatient with the situation, looked over at his lord who had not yet spoken nor looked as he would anytime soon, so he did so in his father's stead.

"Lady Kaye, you are my father's wife and it is your
duty
to come with us immediately so that we can return to England.  For that is the oath you took before your country and your God.  No one here can dispute that fact for many here witnessed it!"

Kaye
watched in horror and wondered if they could force her to do as such as a panic began to rise further within her chest.  For if she did not return with her husband, would they bring all of the English king's forces here to Scotland?  She understood fully that the Lord Hann's ties to her king appeared to be strong but were they strong enough to instigate a battle?  Would there be many lives lost including those of her own family and those that had unquestionably taken her in?  How could she do this to them?  She reasoned fairly that she could not be responsible for lost fathers, lost husbands and lost sons from both sides of the border.

She
lowered her eyes to the ground as she began to fully comprehend her plight and what she had done and the wrath that she had placed upon these kind people who had taken her in and vowed to protect her.  Kaye had been so naïve to think that they could just take her away from her lord and defend her without any real consequence.  With misery she now understood that it was true that she was simply her lord's property to do with what he wished and no one could intercede.   She realized only too clearly now and with a sadness, that she was surely bringing potential death and destruction to them all.

A feeling of devastation like no other c
oursed through her body as the reality of it all befell upon her heart.  She, herself would rather die than go back, but that was her choice and her death.  This was not the choice of her family nor of these fine Scottish clansmen.

When she did not
respond, Tor turned slightly peering at her over his shoulder and watched as the fear and dread of it clearly washed through her.  His heart broke for her panic and for the devastation that blatantly appeared upon her beautiful and now troubled face.  How he wanted to take her within his arms and comfort her at that very moment and tell her that he would protect her to the ends of the earth.  But he could not for his first duty was to
his
lord and
his
clan.  He dared not risk their lives and those of his brothers for his own heart.  Instead, he took a small step sideways and closer to Kaye to try and silently provide to her his backing and protection.

I
t was not only Kaye that witnessed the slight movement in the Bruce warrior's obvious show of support for the Lord Hann's wife, it was also the Hann men, themselves who witnessed such.  Angry looks and muttered warnings began to be thrown about as the tension within the courtyard began to mount further.  The young Lord Alden spat out viciously and in anger.

"Father, go get your
wife
so that we can be gone from this wretched place."

Lord
Hann looked hard at the blonde Scottish warrior who had now boldly made more than one advance towards the Lady Hann, a mixture of hatred and fear upon the lord's face.  He looked from the warrior to his wife and slowly back again as he shouted for all to hear.

“But she is
now
soiled!”

Those words cut Kaye deep
ly and as much as they had the very first time she had heard them on the afternoon of her wedding day, a devastation and humiliation fully consuming her.  For she was not soiled, she had never been by any of her own actions.  And by the looks and the accusations that he just threw down for all to hear, she now truly understood what her husband was insinuating.  With mortification in her eyes and a new found strength in her heart, Kaye responded loudly and for all to hear.

“But I have lain with no man
!”

All eyes
within the courtyard looked at her in surprise at her outburst, for her boldness to speak out against her lord.  She continued with a much lower tone, yet still heard by all as her humiliation and complete shame in that instant was laid out for all to now know and to understand.

“Including my husband…”

All eyes within the square immediately flew to her face, each gawking at her as she looked down as the color began to rise upon her cheeks for she was truly ashamed of her heartbreaking confession.  The pain within her chest felt as if one hundred blades had penetrated her heart, for she had just acknowledged quite fully before all that no one had wanted her, no one had ever truly claimed her and she was once again alone.  As she stood now in her silent misery with the shame clearly etched upon her face, the tears began to fall unchecked down her flaming cheeks.

She felt movement
all around her and looked up slightly as Tor stepped directly in front of her as he unsheathed his largest sword.  He stood most powerfully with his back to her and with obvious intent, protecting her from her husband or any of the English men before her.  The other Bruce men and Matthew all followed his lead as they too, drew their massive swords and shifted to protect. 

Kaye's
father and her uncle moved from within the English line of men and dismounted from their horses as they quickly moved on foot to the Bruce clan's side.  They too had drawn their swords and now had them pointing towards the Hann men.  All were now standing before
her
, swords unsheathed and pointing at the Lord Hann and the English soldiers. 

Bridget moved
closer to Kaye as Father Flannigan quickly dismounted from his small horse and approached. When he reached her side, the priest took both of Kaye's hands within his own and looked at her deeply as he spoke quietly to her, though loud enough for the Bruce Lord and the small surrounding group to hear.

“My dear Kaye,
you mean to say that your wedding was never consummated?” 

The tears continued to fall
down her cheeks as her shame spread through her body as her face began to turn a deeper shade of crimson.  Kaye heard for the first time these words spoken out loud and all those who mattered to her had now heard of her deep shame and her disgrace.  She could not look up into the clergyman's eyes nor to anyone's, for the pain and humiliation that was ripping through her.  The anguish of her misery and her one true flaw echoed through the now silent courtyard.  No one had wanted her and no one had ever claimed her, even her own husband…

Kaye
could only stare at the ground and shake her head, confirming the full of what Father Flannigan had asked.  With a new found sadness and in desperation, she pulled her hands free from the priest's and turned from all those in the square as she fled up the stairs of the keep.  Kaye was intent upon seeking refuge for her shame that was fully upon her and was now entirely known by everyone.

The
tears flooded her eyes, moving unheeded down her face and blinding her as she ran up the stairs and to her room.  She moved across her chamber and to the far corner beyond the wardrobe as she crouched within the corner with her back to the wall.  She was hidden from the doorway and huddled upon the floor, unseen from all those who knew of her appalling secret.  She pressed her face into her hands and allowed the tears to fall freely as her body wracked with her sobs.

For long m
inutes she sat as such completely consumed by her mortification.  On and on she cried as the unrelenting pain filled her.  As the anguish continued to mount, she heard heavy footsteps within her room and moving in her direction.  She drew herself in tighter wishing she could disappear as her tears continued to fall freely as her body convulsed in misery.

She felt a
strong and large hand upon her shoulder and gazed up through her tears to find her father sitting on the floor before her with an aggrieved look upon his face.  She moved herself across and over into his arms as she laid her head upon his chest and allowed him to surround her with his love, his support and his understanding.  For long moments they sat as such as her sobs continued to wrack her tiny body and his arms gently surrounded her.  She cried for the foolish decisions she had made, she cried for all she had been through, but she cried mostly for the loneliness she now found within herself.

When time had
finally passed and the tears would no longer come and the only thing that remained was the slight hiccups and a hollowness upon her heart.  Kaye took a deep breath, ready to recognize the truth of her life and timidly asked her father of her fate.   

"Father, will I have to go back?"

He answered her quietly, "Where else would you go, my dear?"

She began to tremble anew
as the faces of her husband Lord Hann and the young Lord Alden flashed through her mind, their sneers deeply cutting into her.  Her tears began to stream down her face anew as her worst nightmare became realized as she shook in certain terror. 

"You would make me go back to
Lord Hann?"