Chapter 46
Artair and Aonghus had split up. It was not often they were apart, and most of the men found them such a novelty they acted on that status. But in situations such as this many were surprised to see how serious most of them actually were. They had both grown with Cam, and while he might make jokes about them he ahd never found them a curiosity as some others had. As such they had had their utmost loyalty for a long time now. They would not allow their future Laird to lose his wife. Before she even became his wife.
Quickly making his way through the cottages nearest to him, Artair felt the sense of urgency overtake him. Breaking through doors that would not yeild immediately. He knew the guilt would come about that later. This menat he would be making sure they were fixed later, right now was not the time to do that.
Jumping the fence that penned in the goats at the front of a small cottage he made his way through the muck and mess and vaulted the fence on the other side. He tried yet another front door, blocked again. He pulled back so he could ram through it. Only something made him pause a moment. Was that a noise from within? He placed his ear to the wooden slats that made up the solid structure before him.
There were definitley people within. Checking the frame, and and door once more. He nodded decisively to himself and pulled back to give a slight run up.
As the door gave way under his weight and slammed into the wall beside him a scream rent the air. That was definitley a woman. His heart in his mouth, and breathing harshly he prayed to God Himself that that was not Aislinn. The table in the centre of the room was in the way. He could not see past it, yet he aslo had to give the signal. He was torn between duties.
Leaning back outwards and let out the earsplitting whistle that would bring all the men running in his direction. With that completed he sprinted into the room almost crashing into the table before him. Edging around it as was speedily as physicaly possible. At the scene that hit him on the other side his breath left him.
All he could see was red. There was blood pooling on the floor. Blood covering both women. Both breathing heavily, backs to the floor, both visibly in agony. Coming down hard on his knees. The pain jolting through him as he gritted his teeth and grabbed Aislinn by the shoulders, looking her over to see the full extent of her injuries.
She was finding it difficult to catch her breath. That much was obvious straight off. She had a deep cut on her arm, but he could not see anything else. Unless it was inside her very body where the damage lay. He hoped that was not the case. His eyes focusing once more on her face, he recognised that she had been trying to catch his attention. Her lips moving as though trying to speak.
He moved his head closer, straining to make out the words she formed almost silently. “I…Iona.” Her head moved in the direction of the other girl. “Please.” He could not believe what he was hearing. He knew what Aislinn was like. It was hard to miss her caring nature after spending an hour with her, but this was beyond anything he would have expected.
She had been through some sort of hellish seeming fight. And here she was trying to make sure the woman who had caused her injury was well. He did not know if he could ever be so selfless. He flicked a glance at the other woman, took in the position of the dagger handle he could see. Knew exactly what would happen next. There would be no hope, and a painful end. He could not help her know. But Aislinn. Aislinn he could help. “Sorry Aislinn, Cam would hand me my arse if I did not see to you above any other.” Lifting her into his arms, to her weak and futile protest. She did not want to be focused on when someone else had injuries worse than her.
Taking her around the table, and back out the doorway he saw the men racing over to him. Aonghus being the first to him, he nodded solemly over his shoulder, and saw his twin straighten his shoulders before entering the cottage.
Artair placed Aislinn on a patch of grass away from the cottage. Laying her so her back was flat with the ground, allowing the air to pass more easily into her body. He was worried about how she still struggled for breath. Wondering if perhaps a rib had been broken. He knew that feeling well. It had been weeks before he felt he could take a full breath. The blood still seeping from her wound to the grass below was one thing he could help with.
Pulling his shirt from the waist of his kilt. Tearing a strip from the bottom of the linen. Drawing his dagger from his boot he cut away the sleve from above the wound. With her arm free, he carefully but efficiently bound the arm tightly. As he tied off the ends of the linen, he looked around to find Cam coming to his knees on her other side.
As he saw Aislinn gathered into Cam’s arms, he saw not for the first time the feelings they shared for each other. A moment of jealousy spearing through him. He would never begrudge a friend happiness, but it would be nice to feel those feelings himself. Most saw him, though, and did not differentiate or separte him from his brother. It was unlikely he would find someone for his own.
Seeign Cam completely occupied with Aislinn, he turned to stand and head in the direction his brother had taken. Only to find Hamish stood in the doorway. He looked over his shoulder at Artair as he approached. “Is it over so soon? It looked to be a long one when I took a quick glance earlier.”
Hamish’s eyes showed the anguish he felt. No one deserved a death such as the one Iona was going to suffer. “No. No it is not over. But she should not have an audience as she goes through the pain we have all seen on the battle field with this injury.” Hamish, however, did stand aside to let Artair enter to be beside his brother. No matter the reason, no one deserved to enter the last goodnight alone. Especially one who had been a much loved part of the clan. Even if she had had ulterior motives. They would try and hide those from the majority of the clan.
He had no idea how it could be. But her family would not be well received if full news of what she had done was known to the clan.
Going down gently to his knees on the opposite of Iona to his brother. He took in her full condition. She would have been full of health right now if not for that wound to the stomach. He did not know how it had happened, but there was no reverse for this. He had seen strong men felled by such a simple wound. They had no wish for this pain before them.
He reached for the hand closest to him. Felt her clench her hand tightly around his. A testament to what she was fighting to keep silent about. Writhing on the floor between him and his twin. He felt the tears prick his eyes. He looked at his brother, and knew he was thinking the same. Would it not be better for them to end the misery she was in. For a comrade in battle he could have done it. But a woman…he did not think he could do that to a woman.
“Why Iona? What happened to make you act so?” He could not let the questions go unanswered, in a way this was her final confession, her last chance to admit her sins before the final judgement.
The pain in the eyes that locked with his hit him full on. “I deserved it…I shouldn’t have to stay at the bottom of the pile…my mother was a bastard from the Laird’s family.” He knew this. As one of the few Cam had actually told. “I have had none…none of what they have…why…why should I not have something for once.”
“Did you really have to go to such lenghts. Cam would have done right by you if you had spoken to him.”
“He had already…refused. Mother…told me so. They would…not help. So I…went out to make Cam…notice me. He did. He saw me…if not for…her. He would be..with me.” She was so adamant of the last point that he knew nothing he said or anyone said would have swayed her to the right way of thinking. There must have been something in her mind that showed her different stories to the ones that happened in real life. It was the only explanation he had.
Cam held Aislinn close. She still gasped for breath but it was easing somewhat with time. He had heard from one of his men what was happening in the cottage. He could not find it within him to feel pity. If she had survived he would have had to pass judgement upon her. This could have been the kinder option, he was not sure he was entirely rational when it came to Aislinn.
He tucked her head into the crook of his neck and stroked her hair back with his free hand. He looked up at the moment he saw movement in his peripheral vision. Seeing the twins leave the cottage he knew what had happened. He never wanted it to end like this, had never expected this. He never wanted a member of his clan to be capable of such things. It was a day that would be overshadowed by this betrayal for some years to come.
They had to come up with something to tell the populace, that could not be told the truth. It may be possible they could turn on each other, expecting someone else to act out in a similar fashion. This had to be taken care of cautiously, but for those who knew the truth. It would be a warning for the future. One he could only be grateful he could still have with Aislinn.