She refused to accept that she was jealous of Flora despite knowing how attached Gawain was to her before his exile. She felt angrier that Flora could simply use and cast aside a man who was wholeheartedly devoted to her. But no matter how much she fought it, she couldn’t push back the feeling that stirred the still waters of her heart.
He may never love anyone like he loved Flora, and there was nothing she feared more than him waking up to that realization, despite their budding relationship. Davinia knew she just might not be enough for Gawain. No one could ever receive that much devotion from him anymore.
The three woman made small talk between themselves until Emer brought up the issue of marriage.
"Finding a proper man to settle down with these days is difficult, Emer. Ye were just one of the lucky ones. Ye cannae compare yerself to me." Davinia defended herself as she cast her eyes down at her hands. Of course, Davinia only had one man in mind but knowing her sister, Emer would blow the rejection out of proportion.
"I understand ye, but ye already have a proper man waiting fer ye to just notice him. I mean, look at Hector. He’s handsome, understanding, diligent, and a proper gentleman who absolutely adores ye. He’s the laird's second in command, and he’s well to do. What more do ye want from him?"
"Emer, nae. Hector is nae someone I see meself with. He’s really a nice person, but I do nae even fancy him as a husband. I do nae feel anything fer him." Flora tutted as Emer rolled her eyes at Davinia's refusal. "I’m serious, Emer."
"Ye are only saying this because ye’ve nae gotten to ken him properly. Even Caillen agrees that he would be a perfect match fer ye. I would never push ye I to the arms of someone who is nae right fer ye, I’m yer sister."
"I agree with Emer, Davinia. Feelings might nae even develop until ye’re married. When we spend enough time with him, ye will come to love him, I ken that is a fact."
Davinia fought the urge to snap at both women. "Nae. Look, do nae go about fixing me up with men. I’ll find me husband on me own."
"Davinia, at least spend some time with Hector and see how it goes. Time is nae really on yer side anymore. Ye should be married, and I’m telling ye that Hector is the best match fer ye. If ye give him a chan—" Emer was cut off by her sister's harsh glare. "Have I said something wrong?"
"Nae. Nae at all, but I want ye to remember the time when I pushed ye into marrying someone who was nae Caillen, Emer."
"Ye did nae do that. I was the one who chose Caillen."
"Aye, I did nae choose fer ye, so do nae choose fer me."
"I only want—"
"Aye, ye want it. I do nae. I’ll find who I want to be with and—" Davinia's words were interrupted when the doors to the hall was flung open, and an out-of-breath guard almost collapsed at Gawain's feet. While Gawain helped up the guard, Caillen, Hector and Scott had risen to their feet.
Davinia watched as the guard babbled nonsense in Gawain's hold, pointing frantically in the direction he had come from until Caillen raised his voice. "Speak up, mate! What is the matter with ye?"
"Me lord...the fields. The fields and the granaries, me lord."
"Spit it out before I force it out of ye!" Caillen was visibly panicked at the guard's behavior, but he held himself back. "Calm down and say why ye’ve to say, slowly."
"The granaries and fields are on fire!"
Chapter Fifteen
To say Gawain was angry would be an understatement. He was livid, furiousevenat the sight before him. Red and orange flames crackled, thick blinding smoke rose into the night sky as their fields crumbled under its new master. Guards and farmers scurried around in a frantic bid to put out the flames but to no avail.
Gawain’s jaw clenched hard. Months of backbreaking, sweat dripping hard work was almost gone. He refused to let it all burn.
"Men, lend me yer ears so we can put out this fire before everything is completely consumed." He called out to them but only got annoyed looks as replies. "Would ye listen to me? Ye need to do this properly, or the whole field will burn do—"
"What exactly is left of it?" A farmer snapped at him, "Look at this! Months and months of me hard work is gone! There is nothing left to salvage, it has all been destroyed under yer nose, and ye come here now and try to tell us to put it out? What are we trying to save exactly?"
"Aye, and it isn't as if when we save it, we are going to get anything proper out of this pitiful harvest! It all goes to ye! If ye want to eat, then ye go save it. Take a bucket and go out it out yerself!" Another farmer picked up the bucket at his feet and hurled it at Gawain's feet. "Ye do the work!"
"The laird sent me here to help ye salvage this which we still can if ye do nae argue with me. If ye want me to work, I’ll. I’ll join ye in putting out this fire, and we can plow the land again, plant the seeds, I’ll help ye take care of yer fields until it is time to harvest them again. I swear on everything I have that I’ll do all I’ve said, but we just have to. put out the fire first! I cannae do this alone." Gawain picked up the bucket and made his way toward the distraught farmers but was stopped by the guards.
"Do ye think we would actually take orders from ye?" One guard asked as he snatched the bucket from Gawain. "The laird would never send ye here to head us, go back and bring Sir Hector, and then maybe we might actually listen to what a traitor has to say!"
Gawain's first instinct was to hit the mouthy guard, but that was not what he needed at the moment. The fire was getting worse, and he was starting to fear that it might spread past the fields and into the forest. If that happened, the whole clan would have hell to pay. Gawain tried to calm himself, but the more he looked at the guard, the worse his anger got. "I wish I could go get Hector fer ye, but I’m afraid we do nae have enough time." Gawain snatched the bucket back from the guard and took a step forward, causing the guard to take several steps back. "If ye will not assist me then it is fine but do nae get in me way. Anyone who wants to help should take a bucket now. If ye’re nae interested in helping, then leave. Go back to yer homes to prevent any sort of injuries."
Gawain was disappointed as people started to drop their buckets to turn away from the flames. He could not say if they were leaving because they did not want to take orders from him or because their will had been burnt to the ground like their crops. Whatever it might be, he would worry about it later. For now, the fields were his main priority.
He waited to see who was left to help him. If everyone left, he was sure he would have to involve his brother. If they would not listen to him, they would at least listen to their laird. If things turned out that way, Gawain was sure more than half of the fields would have burnt down. The smoke was getting thicker by the minute. Gawain choked back a cough just as the last man left, leaving him with barely a handful of men. For now, they would have to do.
