The journey back to Robertson Castle felt to Isla as though it had taken twice as long.
She supposed it came from the desire to see her sisters and from the slow pace they had to take. Aiden and the injured could not move as quickly as those not wounded. Though they had horses, there were some men who had to walk, including those they had captured.
She had not been able to sleep at all the first night that they camped in the forest, nor the second. Isla lay awake all night, her eyes on the treetops as her mind whirled with thoughts of the recent events. She had so much to tell her sisters and had no idea how they would react.
Elayne and Annabella had been the only thing that she missed about her former home, and she desperately hoped that they would accompany her back with Iain.
By the time the third day had come around, she felt positively delirious with fatigue. Isla sat around the small fire, looking up at the morning light. Her stomach rumbled slightly, but she ignored it, taking a sip instead of the flask of water that Iain had given her.
"Isla, I know tha' ye are anxious tae see yer sisters, but ye have tae try and relax," Iain said at her side. "Try and eat somethin'. Helen has been able tae find some berries and mashed them intae a compote for the biscuits. Here, let me get ye some. Per'aps tha' will help ye tae feel better."
He was so gracious and caring that she could not help but glow inwardly. Isla had leaned into Iain's back for the entire ride, and each night had been spent with his body curled protectively behind hers with his arms pulling her in close.
He stood and made his way towards Helen, who was dishing out biscuits and dolloping them with one healthy portion of stewed berries. Isla sighed to herself; she had been unable to stop worrying about what her sisters would say. Their father had been Duncan; would they hate her for causing his death?
She bit her lip, looking up upon Iain's return.
"Here," he said. "Try an' at least get a few bites down. It'll make ye feel ten times better, I can promise ye."
Isla raised the biscuit to her lips, taking one cautious bite. She did immediately feel better and watched as relief flooded into Iain's eyes.
"There, see," he said. "Cannae have ye passin' out from fatigue before we even reach Robertson Castle. We dinnae have far tae go now."
"How much longer?" Isla asked, her anticipation growing again.
"Within the day," Iain said. "Per'aps by nightfall, though Fingal believes we will reach it before the sun sets."
That certainly cheered her. Isla was able to finish the remainder of the biscuit happily, enjoying the slightly bitter taste of the compote that Helen had so kindly cooked for them. As she looked across at the soldiers, she saw that Iain's men were conversing amiably with Fingal's group. The men were passing around their flasks, swapping stories and laughing as though they were all fast friends. It was a heartwarming sight for Isla to take in; throughout her entire life, there had been nothing but hate between the two clans.
Perhaps there can be peace after all.
She smiled at the sight, looking up at Iain, who caught her eye.
"I know," Iain said. "I cannae believe it either. They look like they're all apart o' one clan. It seems that Duncan truly was the one bit o' corruption tha' ruined the relationship between our two clans. I could never have imagined sittin' here sharing a meal with anyone from Robertson Castle."
"Even me?" Isla asked, a teasing glint in her eye.
"Per'aps I spoke a bit too soon," Iain said, laughing.
When the group finished with their meal, the men mounted their horses. Iain pulled himself up onto his chestnut stallion first, holding out his hand to Isla. She took it, pleasure shooting through her as his warm hand enclosed around hers. Isla wrapped her arms around him, happy to have an excuse to be so close to him.
She found that Iain was right; she did feel much better after she ate. Isla leaned into her beloved Laird's back, shifting along with the horse as it plodded through the forest.
"I didnae really get tae enjoy how beautiful this place is," Iain said from in front of her. "I was so worried about everythin' tha' I couldnae even appreciate it at all."
Isla sat up, gazing around the forest, her attention focusing on the green landscape that surrounded her, gasping at the sight. There was a cluster of felled trees, covered completely by a textured moss, and beyond it, a tiny creek that trailed through the forest floor. Sunlight poured through the treetops, encasing everything it touched in a light layer of gold. As it fell across the emerald forest floor, Isla noticed a bright red fox slinking beneath a curling root of a great oak.
She breathed out a mesmerized sigh, her eyes wide with wonder. It truly was marvelous, and she was grateful to experience it with the man she loved.
* * *
Iain had to hand it to the general; the man knew his way through the highlands. The man rode towards the front of the band of soldiers, directing them through the trees.
Iain thought that they would have needed at least one more day, but Fingal assured him that they were closer than he thought.
"Dinnae ye worry yer head abou' it," Fingal told him gruffly. The man reached down, patting his horse. "I know these forests better'n most here. Duncan used tae send me scoutin' with the men much o' the time in the days when he first became Laird, tryin' tae discover if there was any enemies tryin' tae camp out and spy on 'im. Always was paranoid in those times; now I suppose I know why."
"Aye," Isla said from behind him. "It's no wonder tha' he wanted tae marry me off as far from him as he could manage. I suppose he never wanted tae see or hear from me again afterward."
