Cailean paused several times to study any tracks on the trails or through the forest, but he saw no imprints of horses’ hooves in the dirt where he searched. If his heart were an eagle, it would have already flown over the rivers and forests in search of his beloved. In search of a mere glimpse of her.
Despite the dark, he rode on, remembering the area from when he and his men had ridden this way. At the river, he dismounted. Tethering his horse, Cailean removed his saddle and supplies for the night. He located a fire ring and gathered wood for a fire. Using his dirk, he struck the branches and carried an armload back to the fire ring, where he stacked the wood and started the fire with the flint in his handy lantern. While the fire came to life, he laid pine boughs on the ground he intended to bed down upon.
With his bow, he hunted game and shot a pheasant. He dressed and roasted it on the fire. Sitting back against a rock, he savored the sound of the rushing water in the river and the smell of the roasting meat. Night settled her cloak of sapphire blue around the hills, valleys, and meadows. His stomach growled in hunger. When the meat had cooked, he used his dirk to carve off hunks and made tea over the fire.
Fervently, he hoped and prayed he would meet Elayne on the morrow. Cailean did not want her alone in the woods. He hoped he was almost within reach of her and would find her beforeevening fell tomorrow so they could be together at last. Tortured by worry, he tossed and turned until he finally settled down to sleep. Dreams comforted him as he envisaged holding Elayne in his arms again.
Anxiety gripped him as he awakened before dawn, eager to search for Elayne. Cailean removed the rest of the meat from the spit and doused the fire. Anguished over trying to find Elayne, he saddled his horse and rode off. They were riding in opposite directions, eager to be rejoined, but Elayne dinna ken he was trying to find her.
Hopefully he would spy her before she saw him and veered off to hide. He would call out to her, or perhaps from a distance, she would recognize Night or himself seated upon his trusty steed. Traveling for hours, he became more worried the longer it took to find Elayne.What if she is injured? Will she recoil from my embrace after all she has suffered for my sake? Even if defiled while held at Tor Castle, I will wed her.
All his worries were for naught. Cailean spied her from a distance and yelled exuberantly, calling her name.“Elayne, Elayne!” Frantically Cailean waved at Elayne and hoped his voice carried so she would not think he was an enemy and flee. He would ken her anywhere, even dressed as a lad. He kneed his horse and urged Night to cross the distance at full speed.
Elayne saw a rider in the distance on a coal-black horse and her heartbeat accelerated in fear. Did this rider pose a threat to her? The horse looked familiar the closer it got. Then came the moment of realization. Elayne recognized the warrior on the horse was Cailean. Her heart leaped with joy at seeing her love again. She was incredulous.How is he here? Why is he riding alone?
Cailean’s heart pounded in anticipation the moment he realized Elayne recognized him and waved back, calling out to him. Swiftly closing the distance, he pulled his horse to a full stop before he jumped to the ground. Desperately he pulled her from the saddle to embrace her tightly to him. Cailean held her so tightly he feared he would crush her.
“Elayne, Elayne, I canna believe ye are here. Here in my arms at last. I missed ye so much. I have been frantic with worry for ye.” He felt her tremors in his arms and the wetness of her tears against his skin as he held her, not letting her go from his embrace. His tears of happiness mingled with hers. Finally, Cailean eased his grip, leaning back to gaze into the depths of her eyes. He saw her happiness reflected in them, so he relaxed. Cailean cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips repeatedly before he released her.
“How are ye here and alone? Were ye looking for me? How did ye ken where to look?”
“I ken ye have many questions for me, as I have for ye. Let’s make camp for tonight and I will answer all yer questions. I have a pheasant. We can eat soon and make a fire together, for I will nae let ye out of my sight.” Cailean gathered the reins of the horses and led them with one arm wrapped around Elayne’s waist.
Together, they found the best spot to camp. They tethered the horses and removed their saddles. Walking hand in hand, they picked up wood and cut branches to make a fire, carrying the wood back and stacking it in the pit they had created. Cailean laid down plaids and placed the sack of food on top. “We can eat whenever ye are hungry. Let me ken.”
Elayne added her sacks to their pile of food. “We have a feast, it seems.” Cailean kissed her again and drew him to his side withhis arm wrapped around her. “Tell me what happened, Elayne,” he asked her softly. Cailean made them tea while she collected her thoughts. Elayne feared Cailean was angry with her.
Cailean handed her the cup of tea and sat across from her to gaze into her eyes as she spoke. “Please don’t be angry with me,” Elayne started, “but I couldn’t bear it when I learned ye and yer men were captured and imprisoned in the Cameron clan dungeons. It broke my heart. I had to do something.” Cailean squeezed her hand, encouraging her to continue. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to ye and I could prevent it. I had to help ye.
"I wrote my father a note and told him what I planned. I studied the maps and planned my route to Tor Castle. As a lad, I negotiated a wager with their laird to trade my services as a blacksmith for three months, but he insisted on six months for ye and yer men all to go free. I had to keep my agreement as I gave my word of honor to work for him. I was treated well, as I ate meals in the great hall and had a private room in the servants’ quarters. I kept my identity as a lad the whole time.”
“I am nae angry with ye, Elayne. Ye were incredibly brave and courageous. I canna believe yer sacrifice ye made for me and my guards. I am grateful to ye for freeing us, but I wonder at the cost to ye to free us. What were yer working conditions like? How many days did ye work?”
Elayne looked away before answering. She did nae want to make him feel guilty. “I worked with a blacksmith who treated me kindly.”
“I am happy for that, lass, but that isna what I asked ye.” Cailean lifted her chin to gaze directly into her eyes, ensuring she made eye contact with him.
“Every day, I worked from sunrise to sunset.”
“Every day?” His heart ached for her, never being able to leave the castle or have a break. “When ye left Tor Castle, was it the first time ye could ride yer horse?” he asked her softly.
Tears poured down her cheeks silently. “Aye.”
Cailean pulled her onto his lap and into his arms. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent of heather and roses. “Oh lass, I’m sorry for yer captivity.”
“I missed ye so much, Cailean. I would do it again for ye. I kent the good ye could do yer clan when free. I kent yer warriors were happy to be reunited with their wives and families. I couldna have lived if anything happened to ye. I had to free ye the only way I kent.” She sobbed on his shoulders now, allowing free rein to her overwhelming emotions and permitting Cailean to comfort her. She felt safe in his arms, and soon, her sobs subsided. “I’m so glad ye are here with me now. But did ye ken where I was? Were ye riding to find me?”
“Aye, lass, I was. I couldna remain at the castle knowing ye were undertaking a journey alone because of me. I badgered yer parents and Thomas often about whether they had heard from ye, if they kent where ye were, when ye were coming back, but they only said ye would be gone a few months. They kent nothing more.
“A few days ago, I confronted Thomas alone at the well and shared with him how worried I was about yer safety and that I feared ye were in danger. He did not want to betray his vow to ye, but he worried mightily about ye. He finally relented and told me where ye went and why. I saddled my horse and grabbed supplies for the journey. I told Bessie where I was going and made her promise nae to say anything for two weeks.”
“How did she take yer news?”
“Bessie was shocked. She dinnae ken ye had left. If I dinna encounter ye on yer way back, I would have returned and asked my father to give me an army to get ye if necessary. Secretly I would have tried to sneak ye out. Thankfully, we took the same route and came across each other from opposite directions. I’m so glad I found ye safe, Elayne.” He embraced her again. “Let’s eat and then ye can tell me more if ye are ready. I have much to share with ye.” He made more tea and, uncovering the food, urged her to eat. She ate the pheasant he had warmed by the fire with a piece of bread he tore off for her. Elayne had little appetite but gratefully accepted his care. She started yawning at the end of their meal.
“I’m sorry I’m yawning, but I am so tired, Cailean.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. A few minutes later, he realized she had fallen sound asleep, no doubt exhausted. He carefully laid her down on the blanket beside him and added more wood to the fire to burn.
Cailean lay down beside her, covering them with plaids and pulling her into his arms to keep her warm. He tenderly kissed her head. It was heavenly to hold her to him once again, inhale her sweet scent of heather and roses, hear her soft breaths upon his chest, and ken she was safe in his arms. He fell asleep listening to Elayne’s steady breaths, with her warm body pressed against his.
