"Did they end up fighting?"
"Nae. It seems as if Sir Gawain backed down first and left. I believe he left the keep nae long ago." Davinia nodded, thanking the boy as he left.
If Gawain left the keep, there was only one place he could be heading to; the village. If the boy was correct, she could catch up with him if she made haste. She would be leaving behind her duties if she ran after him, but she was desperate. She had to know how he was feeling and be there for him in case he needed it and knowing Gawain, he probably did.
Davinia headed for the stables, hoping to find the stable hand or the groom himself there to help her select a tame horse. She passed by the guards, not missing how tense everyone was. The disagreement between the brothers had the guards ready to draw their sword for their Laird.
"Miss Davinia?" Towards her right was the lad that followed Gawain about, Hansel, was it not? The boy was charging toward her as fast as his kilt would let him. In his hand was an empty pitcher. Davinia plastered a cheery smile on her face once Hansel had reached her. He was drenched in sweat. "Sorry to bother ye, Miss Davinia but I wanted to ask about Sir Gawain's. I saw him at the stables a while ago, I did nae talk to him, but he looked furious about something. I thought to come to ye as ye’re the only one I could ask. He asked me earlier while we were in the village to find Ida, his maid, when we returned to the keep. I’ve only seen her a few times, but I ken how she looks like. I wanted to report to Sir Gawain that I’ve nae been able to locate her, miss."
This sparked some worry within her. Ida had gone snooping around on Gawain's command, Davinia hoped she was at least out of harm's way. Clasping her hands behind her, Davinia looked up at the boy, who hesitantly smiled back. "Aye, do nae worry, I’ll relay yer message but keep looking fer her. I’m getting quite worried about her meself."
"Of course, Miss Davinia."
"And did ye say Gawain was at the stables?"
"Aye." He replied.
Davinia smiled at him again before waving him off. She waited until he was out of eyesight before she almost bolted for the stables, and true to the boy's words, Gawain was at the stables patting down a brown mare who huffed and whined softly at him every time he ran his hands over her neck, brushing off her black mane
"Gawain?" She tested and earned his attention. She could see his glare soften immediately, allowing her to make her way toward him. "Are ye alright?"
"Nae. I want to kick his teeth in." Gawain took her into his arms, letting her press her face into his chest. "I apologize fer earlier. I should have nae spoken to ye in such manner. I was furious with me brother, nae ye."
"I understand, I’m nae as upset over that. Me sister took me along with her to tell me to stay away from ye. She actually forbade me from seeing ye. I refused her. She even mentioned Hector."
Gawain clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Sometimes, I cannae stand that man, Hector. He woke up and caused a fight. Goodness, me brother and Hector and Scott, all of them have managed to get on me bad side, I’m so livid!" He tore away from her to growl at the wall. "Ye ken he's lying, do ye nae? He’s trying to pull me into whatever nonsense he has planned. He probably wants me brother to get rid of me that's why he's pretending."
It was just as she had guessed, he was going to be inconsolable. If she let him continue, he could rant about how Hector and his brother for hours. "Gawain, if ye listen to me fer a second…" She trailed off as he sharply turned, angry eyes immediately locked in on her before she swatted his shoulder. "Do nae look at me like that. ‘Tis terrifying. What I wanted to say, and do nae get me wrong, is that Caillen is only desperate to find the culprit because he’s worried sick and not just about Hector. This person is unpredictable. What if they harm Emer or one of the children next?"
"Do nae make excuses fer him. He should trust me a wee bit. I ken what I did years ago doesn’t help, but Caillen trusted me enough to put me in charge of his village after inviting me back himself. Now, I’m both a liar and a violent person who would set the village’s food supply ablaze. If this was to be my fate, why bring me back in the first place?"
"I understand?"
"I thought I would be able to stay here, maybe I could work me way back but that doesnae seem like the case. Davinia, I do nae think I can stay." Davinia blinked once, twice before she properly understood what he meant. "I cannae live than this. I just know this will escalate, and when it does, it'll end in me being executed or exiled again, if I’m lucky."
"Gawain, do nae say things like that. Everything is just a misunderstanding and—"
"Will ye come with me?" Gawain cut her off, leaving Davinia speechless once more.
She swallowed heavily. Could she go with him? She would be leaving her life and her sister behind to follow him anywhere. It was a tempting offer, but the clan was where they both belonged. Things could work out here, she knew it, at least she still had some hope.
"Gawain, do nae say things like that." She repeated, stepping closer to wrap her arms around his torso. "Ye will nae be leaving, and ye will nae be getting executed. They cannae judge ye without listening to yer part first. Ye have people who can back up yer claims even though Hector and yer brother are acting based on intuition. Ye need to calm down, become levelheaded before ye can understand them. I’m nae saying yer brother was right in accusing ye, but I believe ye could have handled the situation better. I’m nae trying to scold ye, I’m only telling ye the truth, Gawain."
Gawain took a deep breath before silence settled over them, save the twitching of some horses. It was broken by the sound of some people rushing by the stable. Gawain only spoke up after the shouts died down. "Ye have still nae answered me, Davinia. Will ye go with me?"
"Ye are nae listening to me."
"I’m. It is ye who is nae listening to me. Ye are nae answering me question, Davinia?" Gawain took a few steps back before pointing in the direction of the keep. "But why should ye leave with me? Ye are content with what ye’ve here. Ye have people that respect and care fer ye. People look up to ye. Ye have built a wonderful reputation fer yerself. Why leave with me and ruin it?"
"Gawain, ye will nae be going anywhere! Stop for a minute, will ye?" Davinia reached out to him, but he stepped back, causing her to yank him closer by the sleeve of his shirt. "I’ll nae allow ye to detach yerself from us the second time. Aye, nae one respects ye, nae one looks up to ye like they used to, nae one seems ye worthy of anything proper anymore because they refuse to look past how ye once were. Aye, ye can be quite stubborn at times, and ye toss about petty comments. Damn the poor soul that gets them. Ye do nae ken when to stop, and yer temper is awful, but I’ve also come to know a different side of ye. The kind, generous, and lovable side. The side that is fair and warm. Does me opinion mean so little to ye?"
"Ye ken I value everything ye’ve to say, Davinia. I just cannae help but think that ye could find a man better than I. Yer said it yerself, nae one respects or sees me as anything more than a traitor. That I what I’m so would ye nae rather find someone who is looked up to like Hec—"
"If ye mention that man again, Gawain, I swear I’ll kick ye where it hurts the most." Gawain winced at the threat. "I do nae want anyone else. I do nae care if they are better or worse, that is what others think, but fer me, ye’re the best man I’ll ever know." Davinia let her words sink into him before she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him down enough to press a soft kiss to his lips. "I said I was nae going to leave yer side, and I meant it." She said when she pulled away, letting him rest his forehead against hers.
"Thank ye."
"Hush and kiss me." She chided as Gawain gave a small laugh before he crouched to scoop her into his arms. "Where are we going?"
