Gawain shielded his eyes with his hand as he gazed upon the castle he once called home. Nothing had changed. Not even the foreign merchants that hung about outer walls, each tray filled an array of items, from spices to jewelry. A sparkle from one of the trays caught his eye.
"What might this be?" He stopped in front of the merchant, picking up the piece of jewelry. A golden hairpin adorned with what Gawain guessed would be emeralds.
"Jade." The merchant replied with a lazy yawn. The gold around her neck, wrists, and ankles went extremely well with her tanned skin, her hair fell over her shoulder in a long plait. He raised a brow at her wares, each item made out of priceless stones and metal.
"Jade? How'd ye get yer hands on Jade?"
"Wouldn't you like to ken?" She spat back at him, but it only caused him to smile. He had a good mind that it was stolen. Perhaps all she had was stolen. But from where? It really was not any of his business.
"How much fer it?"
"Thirty gold, ten and six silvers."
"I'll pay twenty." Gawain almost flinched at the nasty glare she directed at him. "Twenty and five." She said nothing, her glare not relenting. "Aye, aye. Thirty then."
"Ten and six silvers?"
"Nae silvers. Thirty gold coins is cutting deep into me pouch already." The merchant squinted her brown eyes at him, assessing him and weighing her opinions for a moment before she stretched out her hand. Gawain fumbled with his pouch, counting her price before handing it to her, watching as her frown shifted to a small smile. Gawain inspected the hairpin once more, raising it toward the sun. "Are ye sure this is nae painted glass?"
"Smash it over a rock and see. Either way, you already bought it." He squinted as the jade seemed to brighten under the harsh sun. It reminded him of Davinia's eyes. Quite a beautiful thing.
Gawain had no issues getting through the outer wall though the guards seemed hesitant to let him through until he showed them his brother's letter. It was the inner wall that was going to be a problem for him.
But was that how things would be for him? His own clan members, brothers, and sisters fixing a stern eye on him with every move he made. The last thing he wanted was for harm to befall his clan, it did not matter what he had gone through with them. The person he had a problem with was his deceased father, not the clan members. But had his brother not informed the guards about his arrival? Obviously, Caillen hadn't, which would explain the guards who were still blocking his path. It wasn't like his brother to forget such things. Perhaps his brother did not think he would come?
"State yer business here." One of the guards placed a hand over his sword. Gawain remembered him quite well. Duncan had only been in training when Gawain was exiled. He was glad to see that some progress had been made, at least.
"I've been summoned by the Laird." Gawain took out the already rough parchment to show the guard, who did not bother to look at it.
"For what reason?"
"Ye would be saving the both of us some unwanted chatter if ye just took the letter, Duncan. Yer Laird summoned me here, and here I’m."
"I’ve no reason to look through it. It could have been forged."
"Because I donnae have the time to forge a letter. I’ve better things to do with me time than forge letters. Look, it even has the clan's seal. How would I forget that?"
Duncan said nothing before taking the letter to read through. Gawain used that time to take in his surroundings. The stone walls still bore the clan's emblem, the small smell of different flowers and wet earth from the small garden, the statues of the past Laird stood at each pillar, Gawain could see the statue of his father, it was by the pillar closest to him. That was the only change he had seen so far. The guards posted around the walls shifted, he noticed each one with their hands on their sword and ready to draw. He almost scoffed, he had no idea he was resented this much. Was this really how he was going to be treated in his own home? It was like adding salt to his wounds
"I’ll have to see the Laird about this." Duncan finally said, but at that point, Gawain was starting to get impatient. "It doesn't matter if he sent ye the letter or ye forged it. He has nae informed us about ye arrival."
"If that is the case, then I shall take me leave. I was invited for the celebration of a newborn, which will last for quite a while. I’ll nae suffer meself to be watched everywhere I go." Gawain turned his back to leave when a voice called out to him.
The man was familiar. Gawain just couldn't remember where he knew the man from. The man was of high status judging from his clothes, he was perhaps a member of the court or at least the head of guards.
"Sir, me sincere apologies for me underling's behavior." The man gave Gawain a deep bow. Gawain narrowed his eyes at the man who plastered a tight one on his face. "The news of yer arrival has nae circulated properly. I’m to be blamed fer that. Please, accept me apologies."
Gawain shifted from one foot to another, his frown only deepening at the man's extreme politeness. "Aye..." Not knowing what to say as the man scolded Duncan and his partner while the other guards released their offensive stance.
The man soon turned to Gawain, his right smile not faltering a bit as he paved a path for Gawain. "Please come with me. I’ll see to it that ye’re settled before ye see the Laird. He has been expecting ye."
"Ye could have fooled me with that treatment." Gawain slung his bag over his shoulder as he followed the man into the castle. Just like outside, nothing much had changed. Other than portraits of his father that were hung up along with the other clan leaders who had passed, the stone walls remained the same. The emblem was hung across the hallways, the rich furnishings and decorations, the trio of stairwells that led toward different wings of the castle, guards posted at every corner, maids scurrying about, even the occasional crash of something falling could be heard. It was just as he left it.
"Yer chambers has been prepared in advance. The Laird had made sure nothing was taken—"
"I’ll nae be staying there." Gawain replied as he stopped in front of a portrait of his brother. The man stopped to look back at him, finding him staring straight at the painted eyes of his brother with a hard gaze.
"Sir?" Gawain broke his gaze to meet the man's. "But it was yer chambers. Where else will ye stay?"
