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Hilda had wanted to help with making plans for the defense of the village, but fatigue had overwhelmed her, and she ended up falling fast asleep. She spread out across the expanse of the bed, and she imagined it was what sinking into a cloud must have felt like.

During the night, she fell into a dream where she was walking along a field in a white dress. It billowed around her as the sun kissed her skin, and everything seemed perfect. She walked through the soft grass. Her feet were bare. The ground was cool against her skin. She looked up and saw the giant of a man waiting for her. He was so far away, he looked more like a shadow than anything else, but there was no denying who he was.

A smile spread across her face as she welcomed the future, but then she felt a pinch in the middle of her stomach. She looked down and saw the tip of an arrow protruding from her stomach. Scarlet spread across her, and the world spun as she teetered back. She had been so close to happiness, so close to paradise, and now it was over before it began.

She awoke with a start, breathing heavily. Cool sweat trickled in between her breasts and along her cheeks. She gulped in air and looked around at the dark shadows of the room. Once again, she was filled with a profound sense of sadness. This place should have been filled with happiness, and it should have been filled with love. Instead, it was filled with whispers of what could have been. It had been ignored, abandoned, and she knew that it was going to be like her own heart if she let this continue.

For so long, she had pushed aside the idea of romance. When her mother had tried to convince her, Hilda had scoffed and tossed her head, and walked away because she didn’t want to hear the truth. In her mind, getting married was a weakness, a sign of failure, a testament to the fact that she would have to give up her birthright of being a warrior. Now she wondered if she had been too foolish in resisting. If only her mother were here…if only she could speak to Fiona again, then she would be able to come to some understanding, but Fiona wasn’t there. Oh, how she missed her mother.

She ended up sobbing without even realizing it, and then suddenly, Maxwell was standing in the doorway. He looked like a ghost at first, and then he came to the bed beside her.

“I miss my ma,” she confessed, and broke down into fervent tears. They streamed down her cheeks, leaving a warm fire.

Maxwell wrapped his long arm around her and held her tightly, trying to squeeze the sadness away. He didn’t say anything, nor did she elaborate further, especially not about the dream she had where she was going to be his wife. But still, it was nice to be held by him, to be held by anyone. In the back of her mind, she had always told herself that she could never get married until she met a man as impressive as her father, and now she had perhaps met the only man in the land who could lay claim to that title.

She fell asleep again, and this time, he placed her softly onto the bed, pulling a blanket over her. She awoke in the morning feeling refreshed as well as a little troubled. After all this was over, she was going to have to ask herself serious questions about where she saw her life heading and what kind of person she wanted to be.

She stretched before walking out of Maxwell’s house, looking up at the high ceilings, wondering if there was yet a chance for this place to be full of life.

Maxwell lumbered out shortly after her, yawning loudly. They were greeted by Stephen, who had an excited gleam in his eye.

“We hae a plan,” he said, the words rushing out of his mouth in an excited, singsong manner.

Hilda and Maxwell joined a group of people around a table where breakfast was being served. The offerings were not humble at all. These villagers clearly liked to live well, and she assumed that one of the reasons why Maxwell had grown so tall was because he had always eaten heartily. Hilda helped herself to some eggs and bacon, enjoying the taste compared to the rations they had been given during their captivity.

“We know we hae tae work fast because the enemy will be upon us shortly,” Stephen began, glancing up at the lookouts, who were yet to sound the alarm. “We hae been plotting all night, and we think we hae found a way tae outwit them. I was impressed with the walls here, and I think we can use them tae our advantage.”

“How?” Maxwell asked.

“Well, I was thinking about what these raiders are gaeing tae dae when they arrive here. I hae no doubt they’ll want tae charge intae the village and ransack it as quickly as possible, and I suggest we let them.” Stephen allowed a dramatic pause to punctuate his words, for he knew that it was going to get everyone intrigued.

“I’m nae sure I’m following ye,” Maxwell said. “Are ye suggesting that we surrender?”

“Nay.” Stephen placed his hand on the table. “I’m suggesting that we bait them intae the village and then close the gates on them. We can trap them. These walls are great for keeping things out, and I dare say they’re handy for keeping things in as well.”

“Aye, and what are we gaeing tae dae while they’re in the village?” Hilda asked.

“We’ll be hiding in the forest, ready tae attack. We’ll lather tar over the walls and burn them, smoke the enemy out,” Stephen said.

“Ye cannae dae that! What about the village?” Hilda said, surprised that such drastic measure would be taken.

It was the gatekeeper who spoke up. “We know firsthand what these people are capable of. We cannae let them continue tae rampage across the Highlands, attacking people whenever they want. If we can put an end tae it, then we shall. Villages can be rebuilt. Homes can be rebuilt. And if we take care of these men, then perhaps we will nae need any walls in our new home. When the attack happened, we all swore that we would dae anything tae bring justice tae them. Some of us even left our lives behind.” He looked at Maxwell as he said this. “We’ve discussed it, and we’re all for it. They hae never shown mercy tae their victims, and we shall show no mercy tae them.”

Great cheers rang all around the village as people loved the idea of this vengeance, but Hilda couldn’t believe what she was hearing. To her, it seemed too drastic, too dramatic. She was all for finding justice, but like this? It didn’t seem very honorable. In fact, it seemed like the kind of thing the worst of the Vikings used to do when they raided the Highlands.

As everyone else went about their business, Hilda grabbed her brother and pulled him to the side.

“Surely ye cannae be fine with this? What would Da think?” Hilda asked in a harsh whisper.

“I’m sure he’d want us tae dae anything we could tae bring these people tae justice. Besides, it was nae even my idea. Hamish suggested it. These people are willing tae gae through with this Hilda. Nobody is forcing them. I thought this was what ye wanted. Didnae ye come out here in the first place tae get vengeance on Ma’s killer?”

“Aye, but I always thought I would kill him in combat, nae burn him.”

“Either way, he’s gaeing tae be dead. If ye think they deserve better, I’m willing tae hear ye out, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s their village, and I’m happy tae gae along with their plan.”

Hilda couldn’t bring herself to say that she wanted to show the enemy mercy. She had indeed come on this journey with anger in her heart, and that thirst had not been quenched yet. However, something didn’t seem right, and she just couldn’t bring herself to come to terms with the idea of burning this village. It didn’t seem right that they should destroy homes just to punish people. Hadn’t enough been destroyed already?