"I do nae ken exactly what you did, but I’ve heard...a little. I believe them to be exaggerated, to be honest." Ida twirled with a curl of her hair between her fingers. “Everyone has a rumor attached to them, good or bad. There's not much a person can do when people have decided to believe what they want to believe. Not everyone will follow suit because one person decided to say the ocean is blue. There are always a few who would see green waters instead. I ken the rumors that circulate about you, sir, yet I went out of my way to see if you were doing fine. I’ve no reason to fear you because I do not believe in those rumors. Of course, every rumor carries a bit of truth, but I'd rather hear it from you instead of a few maids who gossip for a living."
Gawain let his head fall back against the stone wall, the moonlight shining directly on his face as the corner of his lips slightly tilted upwards. "I see. Ye are nae very smart." He looked down at her. "But thank ye. Perhaps I just needed someone to talk to." She was right. Not everyone in the clan despised him. There was his brother, Emer, Ida. Perhaps a few other people he did not know of yet and, of course, Davinia. They were excited to see him return to the clan. They wanted him to stay though he sincerely didnae see himself doing so. They urged him to work to make the clan see him in a good light as they once had. They did not want to see him go, and Gawain could understand that to an extent. He just wasn't sure if he could do it. He wanted to, but with each negative reaction he got from the clan, he lost a little of the will he had in him. He found himself yearning for the much simpler life he led away from the highlands.
Gawain pushed himself off the wall and ran his hand through his hair. He would stay, and he would earn his clan's love once more. It would not be easy, but he was willing to try.
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, someone cried out from the direction they were coming from. Gawain recognized the voice as their cry for help broke the silence of the night. He and Ida shared a look before she bolted toward the voice with Gawain fast behind her.
Chapter Seven
Gawain easily overtook Ida and arrived at the scene first. The sight made his blood boil, and his hands clenched into fists. Ida gasped behind him at the sight of the main dancer pinned against the wall rather harshly by Hector. She struggled and kicked but to no avail, he was stronger than she was.
Hector only looked back when Gawain called out his name, letting the dancer go before he turned to Gawain fully, his face formed no expression, Gawain couldn't tell if he was under the influence of a drink or not. "Ye should not come running at every scream fer help, sir. At times, people get what they deserve."
Gawain did not think Hector was not drunk, his speech was fine, his stance was without the slightest sway, his eyes were clear, he knew what he was doing. “A woman crying out fer help should be attended to, no matter what. What were ye trying to do to her? What would Caillen say if he knew what ye were trying to do."
"And what was I trying to do?"
"Ask yer sick self nae me! Are ye off in the head or something, mate?"
"I’ve done nothing out of the ordinary. She was going to get paid fer her services."
"She didnae want to offer those services." Gawain stepped close to Hector, pulling the man even closer by his tunic, Hector remained unfazed. “Ye should ken
"Oh." Hector met Gawain's eyes with a teasing smirk. “Like ye took yer hands off Davinia earlier?"
"I did nothing she wouldn't have wanted."
"Then why did she run from ye? Ye want to play the part of a noble when ye’re nae different from me. Ye want to take by force, is that nae the reason ye were banished? It seems yer old habits are showing once again." Gawain shoved him back, and he hit the wall with a yelp. Gawain said nothing as he led both women away from the scene.
He was glad at least he knew what Hector truly thought of him. He knew how Hector was underneath that polite smile, he knew how to be wary of him but did Caillen? Did his brother know his right hand was not as noble as he pretended to be?
How would he explain this to his brother without sounding envious of Hector? Did Davinia know as well? Hector was no doubt trying to win her over, Gawain wouldn't let it happen. Even if Davinia wouldn't end up with him, he refused to let her settle for an abusive, pretentious man like Hector.
He sent the dancer off on her way before escorting Ida toward the servant's quarters. Both were silent, not knowing where to start. He was about to leave when Ida spoke. "You should tell the Laird about this. Sir Hector tried to force himself on a woman. That's a punishable offense, sir."
Gawain shrugged, folding his arms over his chest. "How do ye expect a traitor to point fingers at the laird's right-hand man? I’ve no proof, and I'd be labeled a liar once more."
"But I witnessed it! The dancer and I, we saw it all."
"The clan would simply say I’m forcing ye two to speak in me favor. I’m already walking on a thin rope here, Ida."
"So, you will just let him go free? What if he comes for a maid tomorrow?" Gawain understood her fears. She was young, naive, and easy to scare. He raised a hand to pat down her hair, hoping it reassured her even a little.
"If he comes fer ye, I'll break his arms. This, I promise ye."
* * *
Gawain was awake even before the birds, he sat perched on his windowsill enjoying the chirping of the early birds before the hustle and bustle of the castle came alive to drown nature's song. The cold morning air nipped at his bare chest and arms, the smell of wet earth from below filled his nostrils, it had rained during the night, and Gawain had slept through it. How peculiar, he wasn't that deep of a sleeper.
The castle seemed to take its first breath of the day earlier than he expected as the garden below was soon filled with servants and guards hurrying about their duties like ants on a hill.
Having nothing to do, he slipped on his shirt and made his way out. A gust of cold air blew against him as he walked down the stone halls. He settled for wrapping his arms around himself occasionally. He had forgotten how chilly the castle could be during the rains.
He walked past the maids and guards, both sets of people ignoring as much as they could, until he found himself in the vegetable garden. Gawain settled for resting against a tree as he watched the maids go about their business. He could hear the song of birds above his head, the occasional rustle as the leaves danced on the cold breeze. Perhaps it would rain again?
Would his brother be awake yet? He still wanted to ask a lot about Hector from him. There was a great possibility that he might not be believed, but Gawain was still willing to try. He would also bring up the issue he walked into the village. Did Caillen know how the guards treated his people? Gawain had dropped a hint during their argument the previous day, but his brother hadn't noticed it. Caillen wouldn't let his people suffer, and besides, Hector was the one in charge of the guards, but how could he risk telling Hector anything when Gawain surely did not trust the man.
"Sir Gawain!" Speak if the devil and he shall appear. Gawain visibly stiffened, eying Hector as the man came over to meet him. "Good morning." The man was as polite as when Gawain had just met him, Gawain did not know where to stand with this.
