Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Annabeth sat tall on the horse, her hands steady on the reins as the two guards flanked her.
Behind her, the fox was safely secured in a cage on the back of the horse, its bright eyes gleaming with curiosity.
The steady rhythm of the horse’s hooves on the dirt road provided a comforting sound, but Annabeth’s thoughts were elsewhere.
She had left the castle without so much as a final word to Marcus, and it gnawed at her, the pain of unsaid farewells tightening in her chest.
As the landscape blurred by, her mind wandered back to the courtyard.
She had thought he would come to see her off—Marcus, strong and steady as ever, would stand tall in the shadows and say something, anything, to make the departure easier.
But he never came, and the only one who had watched her leave was Lady Elizabeth from the window above.
Elena had been there too, with a sad smile and a tight hug, but it wasn’t the same as the man Annabeth had hoped would be by her side, offering his quiet reassurance.
The thought of Marcus, silent and absent, lingered in Annabeth’s mind as the miles passed by.
The disapointment settled in heavier with the growing distance.
Even now, with the open sky before her, she couldn’t shake the emptiness that seemed to follow her like a shadow.
The fox shifted in its cage, snapping Annabeth from her thoughts, and for a moment, she was grateful for the small creature’s presence.
As the road curved, Annabeth could see the familiar outline of her village on the horizon, and something inside her softened.
It had been months since she’d been home, and her heart lifted with every step closer.
The sight of the green hills and the wooden cottages brought a sense of peace, a warmth she hadn’t realized she’d missed.
It was home—where the memories were simpler, where she could breathe without the weight of unanswered questions hanging over her.
“Maither, I’m home!” Annabeth called out, her voice ringing through the quiet air. She couldn’t contain the relief that washed over her as she stood outside the cottage, the familiar landscape of her village stretching before her.
For a moment, everything felt right again—until the weight in her chest reminded her of the pain she had left behind. She heard the creak of the door, and then Claire appeared, her face lighting up with joy at the sight of her daughter.
“Annabeth, lass!” Claire cried, her arms opening wide as she stepped forward.
In an instant, Annabeth was enveloped in her mother’s warm embrace, and she felt the tension in her body begin to ease. Tears welled up in Annabeth’s eyes, but she swallowed them down, not wanting to show the turmoil that had followed her all the way home.
“I’ve missed ye so much,” Claire whispered, her voice thick with emotion, and Annabeth could only nod, her heart full of conflicting feelings.
“I’ve missed ye too, Maither,” Annabeth managed, her voice cracking as she pulled back to look at Claire.
The older woman’s face was lined with age, but her eyes were still bright with warmth, the same comfort Annabeth had known her whole life.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the words she had been holding in for so long felt like they were just about to spill out.
Claire smiled, wiping a tear from her own cheek, and kissed Annabeth’s forehead gently.
Annabeth turned to the two guards who had escorted her, giving them a respectful nod.
“Thank ye, both of ye,” she said, her voice sincere. “I’ll be fine from here.”
The guards nodded in return then looked at each other before heading toward the local tavern. Annabeth watched them go, a fleeting sense of gratitude for their presence and care before she turned back to the warmth of home.
Once inside the cozy cottage, Annabeth’s heart lifted slightly as she noticed the familiar scent of Claire’s cooking.
Her mother was already bustling about, pulling a kettle off the hearth and setting it on the stove.
The quiet comfort of the home filled Annabeth’s senses, and for a brief moment, the weight of her departure from the castle felt lighter.
She set the fox in the corner of the cottage, but then, Claire’s voice broke the silence.
“Now, tell me all about yer adventures, lass,” Claire said, her tone full of curiosity as she set about preparing tea.
Annabeth smiled, but the expression faltered almost immediately. Her mind drifted back to the castle, to the Laird, and a heavy sigh slipped from her lips. She felt as though she was sinking into a place she couldn’t escape, no matter how much she wanted to.
Claire noticed the change in her daughter’s demeanor and turned, concern knitting her brow.
“Annabeth, what’s wrong, love?” she asked softly, her hands resting on Annabeth’s shoulders.
Annabeth’s throat tightened, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words.
The days of guarding her heart suddenly seemed too heavy, and before she could stop herself, the dam broke.
“I—I developed feelings for him, Maither,” Annabeth admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
“The Laird… I thought I could leave without any of this happenin’, but I did.
And now, it’s breakin’ me heart to leave him behind.
” Her words tumbled out in a rush, and she buried her face in her hands, unable to stop the tears that had finally begun to fall.
Claire moved to her side, sitting beside her, and gently pulling Annabeth into her arms.
“Ye’ve been carryin’ that burden alone, havenae ye?” Claire murmured, her voice soothing as she stroked Annabeth’s hair. “Oh, me sweet lass, I wish I could take away yer pain.”
Annabeth sniffed, shaking her head.
“But ye cannae just leave it like this,” Claire continued, her tone firm but kind. “Stay a few days, give yer heart time to heal, and then go back if ye truly feel it’s what’s best. The castle is nae too far.”
Annabeth pulled back slightly, looking into her mother’s eyes. “I cannae, Maither,” she whispered. “He doesnae care for me the way I care for him. It’s better that I left now before things became even messier than they already are.”
Claire’s expression softened, but she didn’t argue, sensing the finality in Annabeth’s words. The silence hung heavily in the room as Annabeth allowed Claire simply to hold her, letting the weight of the moment settle between them.
Annabeth’s heart ached, the idea of leaving something she had never truly had, something she had never dared to believe in.
But she had always known when it was time to move on, and this time, it seemed she had no choice.
With a heavy heart, Annabeth sighed, her gaze fixed on the fire burning low in the hearth.
That night, Annabeth tossed and turned in her bed, the weight of her thoughts keeping her awake.
The small room, once comforting and familiar, now felt stifling as her mind raced back to the castle.
She thought of Marcus—his strong, commanding presence, the way his eyes had softened when they spoke, and the lingering warmth of his touch.
She wondered if her mother was right, if perhaps she should return to the castle after a few days at home to clear her head.
But why would I go back? I have nay real reason to return.
She could check on Elena, of course; after all, they had become friends, and it would be kind to see how she was faring. Yet, even that felt like a thin excuse to return to the castle.
The thought of Marcus stirred something inside her, but she couldn’t quite place what it was.
It wasn’t just the physical pull she felt whenever he was near—there was something deeper, something that made her heart flutter and her breath catch.
She had tried to convince herself that it was just the heat of the moment, a fleeting attraction that would fade with time.
But she knew better than that; it wasn’t just fleeting, it was something she had never expected to feel for someone like him.
The thoughts tormented her until she drifted to sleep.
The morning sun had barely risen when Annabeth started her day, slipping into her familiar routine.
She was eager to immerse herself in the steady rhythm of work, a way to keep her mind from wandering back to the castle and the confusion she still felt over Marcus.
She walked through the village, making her way to the homes of her patients, checking on them one by one.
Her thoughts were focused on the care she needed to provide when she unexpectedly ran into Kyle, her landlord, just outside the town’s smithy.
Kyle bowed deeply when he saw her, his expression full of respect and a hint of something else she couldn’t quite place.
“Ah, Mistress Annabeth, what a pleasure it is to see ye well,” he said, his tone oozing reverence.
She smiled politely, surprised by his formal demeanor. “Good mornin’, sir,” she said, adjusting the basket in her hand. “How fair thee? I hope ye are nae goin’ to tell me I owe ye for rents.”
To Annabeth’s surprise, Kyle’s eyes gleamed with something like pride as he straightened up.
“Oh, how ye tease and joke. Ye ken very well the turn of events there’s been, Mistress Annabeth,” he began, his voice almost giddy. “The Laird, bless him, he sent a guard with a purse to settle yer debts, and on top of that, he bought yer cottage from me. But ye ken that lass.”
Annabeth stopped in her tracks, her breath catching as she tried to comprehend what he was saying. “What do ye mean?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Kyle straightened up even more, as though the news was an honor to share. “The Laird insisted on buyin’ yer cottage along with the ones around it and some land too,” he explained, his words tumbling out with excitement. “Ye ken, technically, it’s all his land anyway.”
Annabeth felt a swirl of emotions as her thoughts whirled. She couldn’t quite grasp what he was saying—Marcus had done this for her?
Without another word, Annabeth turned on her heel and hurried home, her heart pounding in her chest.
She burst through the door, nearly out of breath. “Maither!” she called out, her voice tight with disbelief.
Claire looked up from the hearth, startled by the urgency in Annabeth’s voice.
“Annabeth, lass, what is it?” Claire asked, worry in her eyes as she wiped her hands on her apron.
Annabeth’s voice faltered as she struggled to find the right words. “Why didnae ye tell me?” she demanded. “The Laird, he—he bought the cottage and the land around it. He settled our debts! Why didnae ye tell me?”
Claire hesitated, looking guilty. “I hadnae had a chance to explain, love,” she said softly, meeting Annabeth’s wide eyes.
“But the Laird—Marcus—he made sure we wouldnae have to worry about debts any longer. He said it was the least he could do, given what ye’ve done for him and the others.
” Claire handed her a letter that Marcus had sent.
Annabeth shook her head, her thoughts racing as she tried to process the unexpected news. It felt as though the ground beneath her had shifted, and she wasn’t sure how to stand steady on it anymore. She read the note that Marcus had sent.
The shock was still settling in, the weight of Marcus’ actions heavy on her chest. “But why?” she whispered, her voice small. “Why would he do that for me? I—I left. I didnae even say goodbye.”
Claire reached out, placing a gentle hand on Annabeth’s shoulder. “I daenae ken, dear, but it seems the Laird cares for ye more than ye realize,” she said softly.
Does he care this much?
Annabeth sat in stunned silence. He had never mentioned this to her. It was more than what was in the deal they made. How had he kept this from her?