The door to his chambers opened, he raised his head to look at the intruder only to find Ida staring back at him. "Sir, are you alright? I knocked a few times, but you gave no reply."
Ida was a sweet child, no. He couldn't snap at her. It wasn't her fault. "Aye, all is well. Is there something ye need, Ida?"
Ida opened the door a bit wider but stayed outside the room. "The Laird requests your presence."
"I just saw him."
"He said it was urgent...well, Sir Hector relayed his message. He asked me to find you at once, sir." Gawain sighed, running a hand through this hair in annoyance.
"Aye, aye. Lead the way."
For the first time in the past hour, he wondered about something else aside his lost beloved.
Chapter Four
Gawain stopped in front of the oak door, hesitating for a moment as he tried to calm himself down. He still didn't know how to work with his rejection. His brother had always been oblivious to little bits of emotions, the last thing Gawain wanted was to get into a misunderstanding with him on the first day of his return to the clan.
If the worst were to happen, Gawain could always just pack up and leave. He had no business staying in the clan anyways. The people did not want him there, the guards were a startle away from pouncing on him, and the woman he wanted had slipped through his fingers. He would stay until the bairn was born, at least. If he could endure until then.
Gawain tapped slightly against the door before entering what used to be their father's study. Gawain never got used to the place, even while he was being trained to become Laird. His brother hadn't done anything to help it either. The table was littered with parchments of paper, shelves of all sorts of scrolls that dated back to the very first existence of the clan, behind the desk sat his brother, and on his right hand was the man who had helped Gawain get into the castle.
Caillen beamed at the sight of his brother, getting to his feet to pull Gawain into an embrace that was not returned. "How are ye faring thus far?" Gawain shrugged as he continued to look around.
"The place is just as before."
"Was I meant to change something? Things are fine, so why change anything?" Caillen stepped back, an uneasy tension filling the room.
"It's a new reign." Gawain got no response other than a nervous chuckle from his elder brother.
"Well, it's me reign. I do nae think anything needs to be changed, brother." Caillen's hand rested on his brother's shoulder, a hard squeeze followed. "I called ye here to introduce ye to someone." The man stepped forward with a curt bow. "This is Hector Willis. He's aided me tremendously in yer absence though I ken ye would have done yer best." Hector nodded as Caillen praised him.
Caillen stopped to fetch three cups from the top of a wooden shelf as Gawain’s eyes trailed him. "He has proven himself, his bravery, and his loyalty to the clan on many occasions. He service has outshined everyone else’s both in times of war and peace.” Caillen said as he started to clumsily pour some ale into the cups. Gawain painfully looked away for the first time.
He continued. “Only last harvest, during the raid from the McCullough clan, he singlehandedly repelled those savages.” Caillen offered Gawain a cup and moved toward Hector where he stood with a big smile on his face. He sent his palm over the blushing man’s shoulder and pat him heartily. He leaned back slightly, his hand still on Hector’s shoulder as he admired the man. “I've surely never seen a man as courageous as he is, just charging straight into battle. Therefore I’ve appointed him as me right-hand man."
Gawain had had enough. He jerked his head back up, strands of hair flying backwards. "Ye called me here to gloat about another man's devotion to the clan?" Caillen's brows furrowed, his mouth slightly agape at Gawain's conclusion.
"...nae, that would be—" Caillen started as he took his hand off Hector’s shoulder.
"Insensitive. Aye, ye’re correct, brother."
"Gawain, please. I wanted ye two to meet since ye’re back now, and ye will be involved in the clan as well."
"I see."
"I cannot take Hector's position from him, so ye will be me left hand, brother. I only want what is best fer the clan, which would be the three of us working together with no qualms." Caillen whispered harshly at his brother, who watched him, unfazed at his reaction. Both men said nothing afterward, silently feuding with the harshest glares.
"Milord, pardon me. I should go check on how the preparations are coming together." Hector stepped in, breaking the silent fight between the two brothers. Caillen stepped down, turning to face Hector.
"Aye, stay in touch with Davinia. I’ll call fer ye later." Hector gave a bow before he set out. The moment the door shut, Caillen went off. "Is this how ye will continue to act? Ye are meant to make the clansmen like ye, Gawain."
"I tried once, and look where it got me." Gawain scoffed, folding his arms over his chest." I’ve nae intention of being an underling to a man who was once me underling. I refuse to be degraded in such a manner."
"I’m nae out to degrade ye. This is fer the betterment of the clan. I cannot make ye me second in command because of the uproar it would cause amongst the people. Hector informed me of the guard’s reaction to yer arrival. In due time, they will get used to yer presence, and things will be as they were."
His blood seemed to boil and his tongue came loose. "I never asked fer any position. Ye make it sound like I begged ye to let me come back when we both ken it was the other way around!"
"I wanted ye around because ye’re me blood. I want ye to be involved in the clan as much as I’m, but it seems as if I've made a mistake by taking ye into consideration."
