“Lass, I love yer kisses.I love holding ye close to me in my arms. I love yer delectable scent.”
Elayne blushed at his words, which caused deep warmth and pleasure to course within her.
Cailean had stopped short of sharing with Elayne that he loved everything about her. He ken it would be difficult to persuade his father to allow him to wed Elayne, given her station and his father’s wish to forge powerful alliances. Cailean possessed no doubts he needed Elayne in his life, and he wanted her for a wife. He loved her and would take nae other. With his quest, he hoped the alliances would reap rewards for the clansin many areas, not only in commerce and trade, hopefully giving him a greater chance of marrying Elayne.
Cailean leaned back and allowed her to curl her fingers in his hair for the first time, enjoying her tentative soft touches as she stroked his head and smoothed away curls that had fallen into his face. Elayne understood his yearning, for she shared it. She wanted to stroke his face, his arms, and touch his warm skin. There was no safer place on earth than in his arms. She snuggled with him, curled her arms around him, and laid her head on his chest. She inhaled deeply his scent in the crook of his neck. Elayne wished she could bottle his scent of pines and fir and inhale it later to comfort herself.
Cailean’s chest rumbled as he spoke. “I wish for yer happiness, Elayne. Please don’t give yer heart to another man while I am gone,” he softly pleaded.
Elayne didn’t answer, for it wasn’t the right time. She acknowledged to herself that she had given her heart to him when they first met. At first, Cailean enthralled and enchanted her, but over time, her love for him had deepened. And it had become stronger. Her thoughts often turned to him when she daydreamed, or even when she was frustrated or vexed by something. Elayne ken he accepted her for who she was, as a person. He never judged her.
But she could not dwell on the impossibility of their relationship. Elayne wanted to relish everything about Cailean now, while he was still here. His scent, the tickle of his breath on her neck, the forceful beat of his heart, warm arms enfolding her against his hard-muscled chest, his strength, and his care. She wished this day would never end and that he didn’t have to leave her. Despite their wishes, time marched inexorably along, and soon it was time for Cailean to return to the castle and Elayneto return home. She had the finishing touches she needed to put on a gift for Cailean. He stood and pulled Elayne into his arms, pressing her tight against his body. She was a perfect fit. He groaned at the thought of leaving her. This time, he kissed her deeply, passionately, as never before.
Cailean dragged his lips away from hers and released her. “Come, Elayne. We must head back. My father will wish to talk with my family this evening before we leave in the morning and make any additional preparations for our journey. I will meet ye early in the morning at the well.” They gazed at each other with deep yearning, longing for the day when Cailean would return.
Cailean lifted Elayne into the saddle and climbed up behind her, wrapping his arms around her one last time. He grabbed the reins, and they rode back to the castle. Respecting her wishes, after dismounting, Cailean lifted her from the saddle so she could walk back alone, and they would remain unseen. He kissed her again before letting her go, and Elayne walked away quickly before he could spy her tears.
In the forge after dinner, Elayne polished a small tin lantern she had designed for Cailean. Already it held a flint and a candle inside. She placed the last stitches on an oilskin bag that she would fill with sweet oatcakes to be made early in the morning for his journey. Later, settling into bed, she refused to dwell on Cailean’s leaving. There would be time for that later. She wanted to take part in the pageantry in the morning as the laird, his family, and his warrior guards rode out of the castle on their journey for Raulf’s wedding to Fiona MacDonnell, the laird’s daughter of the MacDonnell clan.
The next morning, Elayne dressed with care in the new work dress Mrs. Logan had finished sewing for her. She made the oatcakes and left them to cool. Then she stoked the fire in theforge and opened the doors. Elayne carried a large bucket to the well to draw water as she did daily. Today would be a long, painful day, followed by equally long, painful days with nothing to look forward to. Already her chest ached.
When she dragged the second bucket to the well, she noticed Cailean standing there, waiting for her. He helped her draw the water and insisted on carrying the bucket for her and poured it into a larger bucket inside the forge. He took the empty bucket back to the well to draw more water, as Elayne retrieved the oilskin sack of oatcakes and her gift for Cailean.
Elayne met him at the well, where he kissed her tenderly. “Here’s an oilskin bag with oatcakes I made for ye for yer journey.” Cailean took the bag, opened it, and inhaled the cinnamon fragrance. “These smell wonderful. Thank ye, Elayne.”
“After ye have eaten all of them, ye can use the bag to hold other food, so it will be useful on yer journey.”
“I will treasure it as I have yer embroidered cloth that I carry with me always.”
Elayne handed him a sack. “I made this for ye, so ye will have light on yer journey wherever ye travel. Cailean opened the sack and pulled out the tin lantern she had designed and created for him. He twirled it around in his hands. “There’s a flint and a candle inside.”
“Elayne, ye always ken how to surprise me. Ye are an amazing artist and an incredibly skilled blacksmith. Ye decorated it with constellations of stars I taught ye about. I ken ye labored to create this over many hours. I love it and will cherish yer gifts. Walk with me to the stable. I wish to show ye something before Ileave.” Darkness still cloaked them as they made their way to the stable.
“Here’s my horse and his stall.” They greeted Night, who neighed in response. “I have spoken to the stable master, who will allow ye and yer father to use a horse in the stable while I am away. So ye will have yer freedom to ride, go to the loch to swim, and search for plants if ye wish.” Cailean noticed her bright smile of happiness. “I have a bow with a quiver of arrows and for ye to use, so ye can hunt. However, if ye go to a place ye have never ventured before or anytime ye go hunting, ye must take a groom with ye. I want ye to be safe, Elayne.”
“Thank ye, Cailean. This means so much to me. I am so grateful to ye.” She stood on her tiptoes and pulled him to her to kiss his lips to thank him. She ran her fingers through the silken hair at the nape of his neck..
Cailean crushed her to him and kissed her passionately one last time.
Elayne expressed her heartfelt need for once in her life, and pleaded, “Hold me, Cailean.” He held her tightly in his arms and inhaled her sweet, intoxicating scent, wishing he could bottle it and carry it with him.
“I wish ye were beside me on this quest for the clan. I ken I would be successful with ye.”
Elayne stepped back and gazed deeply into his eyes. Stroking his temple, she said, “I am with ye, Cailean, and I ken ye will be successful—more than ye realize now. Ye need to trust yerself. I am with ye here in yer mind. We talked about possibilities and being open to new ideas and caring for others as ye negotiate.” Pointing to his heart as she touched his chest, she said, “I am with ye here. I believe in ye and ken how much ye care for yerclan. We are only memories away. Ye can transport yerself back to the loch anytime ye wish. Stay well, Cailean. I will miss ye.” Not trusting herself with her overwhelming emotions, she strode out of the stable as she trembled inside and walked across the keep, back to the forge. She needed to be strong today to protect her feelings. No one can know how I feel about Cailean. I want him to see me smiling and happy as he rides away. I want him to feel confident and proud.
The sounds of the bailey and the stable collided as more people began their daily tasks. Tradesmen awakened as dawn cast the first rosy glow in the sky. Elayne heard more voices added to the usual background noises in the courtyard as she prepped the forge for work, though she would not begin work until after Cailean and his family paraded out of the castle. Her father remained abed.
Elayne made herself a cup of tea to soothe her nerves and anxiety. She nibbled an oatcake, hoping to extinguish the dread that overtook her. Too tied up in knots to eat, she put the oatcake aside for later. The noises outside swelled, and Elayne went out to observe the activity. Warriors dressed in kilts and holding tall poles with banners the colors of the clan stood next to their saddled stallions, ready to leave while they awaited the laird and his family. Elayne gazed at the laird, his lady, and others who emerged from the castle. There were too many people to glimpse Cailean. Grooms paraded stallions before people who emerged from the castle while warriors mounted their horses. More clansmen gathered in the courtyard, filled with excitement and pride over the pageantry and fanfare of their clan.
A short time later, people cheered as the warriors, with their colorful banners waving in the wind, rode ahead on their horses, leading the laird and his lady with their family behind. Peoplecraned their necks to see in the crowded courtyard, and cheers rang out when they glimpsed their laird. Fathers held small children on their shoulders so they would have an unobstructed view, while harried mothers held hands of older children so they wouldn’t become separated in the crowds.
The powerful laird was grandly dressed in his kilt, with a sword on his back and a dirk at his waist that flashed in the sun. His lady appeared regal by his side. A warm cloak covered her green gown that peeked through. She wore a silver coronet on her head, with a single braid of red hair down her back. Behind them rode the bridegroom, who resembled his father. Raulf smiled broadly, anticipating his wedding to Laird MacDonnell’s daughter, and waved to everyone assembled.
Elayne’s heart stopped when she caught sight of Cailean. He appeared resplendent in his kilt with the sash of his tartan across his broad, muscular chest and pinned with a glistening silver clan brooch. His sword was sheathed on his back, and its hilt flashed in the sun. He looked confident, like the powerful warrior he was. His eyes struck her, meeting across the sea of people, and it felt like time stopped for a moment. Elayne smiled at Cailean, and her eyes glowed with the love and devotion for him she couldn’t express in words. He placed his fist against his heart as he passed her. She saw the yearning she experienced reflected in his eyes.
And then he was gone. His sisters followed and were swallowed up by the warriors and guards before the supply wagons. The noise of the crowd swelled as the entourage passed through the gate and the village below the castle.
With heavy hearts, Cailean rode away from the love of his life and Elayne bid farewell to her only friend and the man she loved with all her heart. With nothing left to distract her from her loss,Elayne changed her clothes and began her work, beating the heartless iron. The metal glowed with intensity as she used pliers to thrust it into the fire. Elayne greeted her father as he entered the forge but did not look up from her work.
