Chapter Twelve #2
“The woman didn’t reply, but shuffled toward him slowly.
He called to her again and still no reply.
When she was almost upon him and he caught the stench of her he gagged.
It was as if all the rotting meat for an eon was put into the one place and left to further rot in the hot sun.
At that moment, she stood tall and flung away her cape.
Her cane grew into a long staff with pointy star shaped ice at the tip.
Her skin was full on blue, and her eyes were like the brightest stars in the sky.
Her hair was white as snow and hung stringy to the ground and beyond.
This was no old lady and no enchantress. ”
As he spoke, he placed his hand on a man’s shoulder from behind him who promptly yelped.
“She touched the ground with the icy part of her staff and frost spread from it. The old man jumped back and tried to escape from its path, but it was too late. When she touched the ground again the frost spread faster. It caught up with him then and moved over his feet, climbed up his legs and chest, his arms, and up to his neck. The only parts of him that were not covered in ice were his heart and his head.”
He touched two people’s heads also from behind them. Both jumped, then nervously laughed. Those gathered now looked around the hall to follow his movements. Only Agnes kept her gaze forward as if lost in his tale. William made his way to the front of the group and honed in on her.
“She approached him with a sickening smile revealing black teeth. ‘You are fortunate you are a good man. For you offered to help me. Otherwise, you would be dead right now.’
“The man was unable to move his limbs or even speak. He stayed there like that while she touched her staff to the ground many more times and in different areas where he could still see her. Many hours passed and as the first streaks of gray crossed the sky, she donned her cloak, the staff returned to a cane, and she once again became a feeble looking old woman. She gave him one last look and disappeared off into the morning mist.”
He was now mere inches from her face and practically whispering his tale to her, loving the way she hung on every word.
He stood abruptly, addressing the whole crowd and changing his tone from dark and dramatic to matter of fact.
“How much longer he stood there, he could not say, but it was not until the sun’s rays touched him that the frost melted and he was free from her curse.
When he managed to stumble into his house, his feet were black from frostbite, and he eventually lost four toes and two fingers.
Thankfully his wife was an accomplished healer.
But he never forgot the sight of her or her stench.
And he was never caught outside at night in late fall ever again. ”
William stood back as the crowd took in his story. Many were on the edge of their seat, including Agnes, whose eyes were wide and her mouth slightly open. She stood and slowly clapped. Moments later others joined in, and the hall erupted with cheers and men coming to shake his hand.
Pushing past them all was Agnes. She looked up at him with a beaming smile. “Thank you. That was the best gift you’ve ever given me. You have a natural talent. True, I thought Mother was going to faint dead away.”
He kissed the top of her head. He enjoyed the look on all their faces as he drew them into his story, but he particularly loved seeing Agnes so transfixed. He would have to bring in the actual elder from the village to meet her.
“But is it true?” someone asked, whom he couldn’t quite see.
“Aye, ’tis true. My wife can meet him and send word of him when we return to Mugdock if you like.”
“I can meet him?” she asked. “This is a true, true story?”
“Aye, I wasn’t about to make up another seeing as how disappointed you were the first time.”
Agnes put her hand in his and squeezed. Seeing her so happy among her people lightened his heart. There were many dangers ahead of them, but for this night he would do all that he could to keep her the way she was in that moment.
They took their seats as another villager came to tell a tale of a ghostly piper and another of the dreaded kelpies.
William looked down from time to time to enjoy watching her watch them.
By God, if anyone ever laid a finger on her he would rip them apart with his bare hands.
The thought swept through him so fast it surprised him.
He didn’t just lust after her, he didn’t just want to protect her because she was his wife.
He loved her. Fully and wholly loved her and the idea of that shocked him.
He’d never given much credence or had any expectation that his marriage would result in love. He had been resigned to have an amicable relationship with a woman he could respect and with whom he could grow a family.
This was unexpected.
After hours of entertainment, the crowd dispersed and William found himself curled in bed next to his perfectly sated and sleeping wife.
The evening had been everything he’d hoped it would be and more.
Tomorrow, he would tell her of his plan to leave the day following.
He hoped she wouldn’t be too disappointed, but it was necessary.
Hugh hadn’t said much to him after only asking him once how long they would remain. The man would miss his daughter and that was to be expected. William would be pleased to see his home again and his family. His mother was sure to love Agnes.
Love Agnes.
The thought rolled around in his mind again. He’d not unleashed his full passion when they’d come to bed. Rather, he loved her slowly, watching the passion show on her face, staring into her eyes as their bodies joined.
As soon as they returned to Mugdock, he would set about reinforcing his own lands and the castle walls.
How he wished there were a faster method to return with her.
And then it dawned on him. She could ride in the saddle with him.
She would have to wear trews underneath her gown and she would be sore, but galloping with one horse would be faster than waiting for the carriage.
He would arrange with Hugh to have some of his men transport the carriage and they could be home much faster.
He couldn’t harbor the thought of being on the road for more weeks.
William cuddled harder into her and buried his face in her hair. He could stay like this forever with her. Somewhere between a lonely gull cry and the first streak of light entering the chamber, he found light slumber.
In his dreams he fought imaginary foes coming at him from all sides who snatched Agnes from his arms. Try as he might, he could not reach her.
No matter what he tried, she remained just out of his grasp.
More than once he woke with a start only to fall into the same dream again.
By the morning, he was exhausted as though he’d fought the entirety of the Highland rebels and lost everything.
William slid from the bed so as not to wake Agnes.
He stood by the window looking out over the sea.
In the distance and through the fog he was sure a long tentacle rose from the depths below then slapped hard on the water’s surface.
Was her sea monster waving farewell, warning of foreboding, or hastening them on their way?
He couldn’t tell if he was still dreaming or not, but he was sure that much longer in this place and he would lose the last of the wits he had.