Chapter 10
C aroline gazed helplessly at the windows and the doors leading to the outside. After learning why Ryan wanted to marry her, she felt more compelled to swiftly flee the Keep, not that it would have done much good. It seemed as though she was trapped in a loveless marriage, no matter where she ended up.
The guard led her through shadowed hallways and winding staircases to a small room. There was another guard stationed outside the door, who nodded and grunted as a greeting. This guard pulled out a key that was attached to his belt by string and opened the door. The darkness threatened to swallow Caroline whole. The other guard took her arm and pushed her in. Then the door was locked.
It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light. Because of their earlier attempt to escape, she and her sisters had been placed in a room without windows. They had been allowed a blunt candle, but the flame was already fading.
“Caroline?” Tara asked with hope in her voice.
“Aye, how are ye feeling?”
“Better now. The medicine hae worked wonders,” Tara replied.
“I’m glad tae hear it.”
“Is that what we’re gaeing tae talk about? After everything that’s happened? Caroline, we need tae finish our earlier conversation,” Nessa broke in, speaking sharply as always.
Although they had spoken a little about the situation earlier, they had not been able to speak freely because the healer had been around.
“There’s naething more tae say.”
“There’s everything tae say! Ye promised tae be his wife?” Nessa’s voice rose with shock.
Although Caroline couldn’t make out the exact expression on her face, she knew Nessa well enough to picture the incredulous form.
“I dinnae hae a choice! The bandits hae ye in their grasp and Tara hae been dragged away. What was I supposed tae dae? Be selfish and let them hae their way with ye?” Caroline yelled back, tension getting the better of her.
Tara whimpered at this, but quickly pushed herself off the bed and got in between Nessa and Caroline.
“Dinnae fight! We hae spent tae long fighting and there’s nae sense in it. We are nae gaeing tae accomplish anything if we’re fighting. We’re supposed tae be in this taegether. Instead of being angry with Caroline, we need tae help her get out of this,” Tara said.
“I can help her and still be angry with her,” Nessa replied sullenly. Caroline heard footsteps pacing around the room.
“Nessa, ye are good at these things. Is there a way tae escape?” Tara asked, trying to shift the conversion to something more practical.
“I dinnae believe sae, nae for years anyway. I’ve tried all the stones and none of them are loose. There are nae gaps in the floor, nae even for a mouse. The only way out is the door.”
“And that’s being guarded religiously,” Caroline added. “I noticed that the key is attached tae a string around the guard’s waist.”
“Perhaps there’s a way for us tae get the guard’s attention. What if we told him that one of us hae fallen ill? When he comes in, ye could try and detach the key,” Tara suggested.
“Even if we did, what’s the point? We would be back in the forest again, and he would come after us. He’s hardly gaeing tae let his bride escape,” Nessa said pointedly.
Caroline exhaled deeply, shaking her head. “It’s hardly as though I like the situation,” she muttered.
“Ye could hae denied him. Ye ran away from home because ye dinnae want tae be forced intae marraige, but now ye accept it willingly?”
“Nae willingly. I accepted tae save ye. And I hope that I can still save ye. I will dae everything in my power tae make sure ye and Tara are safe.”
“Or maybe the Laird hae won ye over. Is that it? Are ye ready tae abandon our quest for freedom because ye hae seen a side of the Laird that ye like?” Nessa taunted Caroline.
Tara gasped and rebuked Nessa, while Caroline threw her hands up in the air. The truth was that the remark did hit quite close to home, but, of course, she wasn’t going to tell Nessa and Tara about the touch she and Ryan had shared, nor the lingering look that passed between them. Naturally, partly this was because she didn’t know what to make of it herself. It wasn’t long after this that Ryan had changed his nature again and become more bestial.
“It’s naething like that, and ye would know that if ye listened tae me,” Caroline said.
“Then tell us because it seems as though ye are starting tae keep secrets from us. Is there anything else that we should know?”
Every word that Nessa said dripped with hostility. It was hard to believe that a few hours before this they had been locked in an embrace, weeping together. Their love ran so deep that it did lend itself to hostility as well.
“I am nae keeping anything from ye. I intended tae tell ye when we returned tae the castle. I dinnae see that there’s any way tae get out of it. But things hae changed. I learned why he wants tae marry me.”
“Why?” Tara asked.
Caroline took a deep breath. “It all gaes back tae Da. Apparently there was a battle and Da killed the old Laird Knox, and Ryan’s brother. Ryan was just a lad, a wee bit younger than ye, Tara. Ever since that day he swore revenge on our clan and when we arrived, well, he sensed an opportunity. He wants me tae provide an heir for him sae that he can wrest control of the clan away from uncle.”
Nessa and Tara fell silent. Caroline’s legs ached. There was a dull throbbing sensation in her head as well. She rubbed her temples, but the crown of tension didn’t seem to dissipate. She felt her way to the bed, bumping into the frame of it before sinking onto the hard mattress. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.
She was still reeling from her encounter with Ryan and all the strange, conflicting emotions that arose because of it. In one moment she thought about the way he held her cheek and tenderly asked her why she was so kind to him; then in the next she saw him storming towards her, rage flaring in his eyes, pressing her against the wall and telling her that there was no escape. Which was the true Ryan? Could they both be real?
“Then it’s even more certain. We need tae find a way tae escape before the wedding,” Tara said with an urgent tone to her voice.
“Maybe he can gae and fight with uncle, and they will both kill each other,” Nessa said, taking no joy in contemplating two deaths.
“I believe Ryan is daeing this sae he will nae hae tae fight,” Caroline replied.
Nessa scoffed. “Ye think uncle is gaeing tae give up the clan without a fight? If Ryan thinks that, then he’s a bloody fool. Ye should hae let him die, Caroline. We would nae hae been in this situation if ye hae just let that bandit run him through. What were ye thinking? Ye could hae prevented yerself from haeing tae be his wife.”
Nessa didn’t sound angry anymore, it was more that she was dismayed and rued that things had not worked out differently.
“I was nae thinking, that was the problem. I saw a man in danger of being stabbed in the back and I just… I just reacted. It seemed like the right thing tae dae at the time. He hae come tae our rescue after all,” Caroline remarked in a weak voice.
“Aye because he wants ye as his wife. It’s nae as if he did this out of the kindness of his heart. I’m nae sure such an emotion lives within him.”
“Dinnae speak like that, Nessa,” Tara interrupted, “Caroline did the right thing. We cannae simply let people die if we can prevent it. It’s nae noble.”
Nessa waved a hand in the air. Caroline could just about see the movement amid the darkness. “Ach, ye need tae learn a lesson from the wild. It’s all about survival. That’s what our lives are now. It’s what they hae been since we left home. We cannae afford tae be noble because that’s how we end up like this.”
“I’m sorry,” the words dropped out of Caroline’s mouth like heavy stones. “I dinnae mean for this tae happen. I dinnae know it would be like this. I thought we would find kindness and shelter. I thought we could find a new beginning. I promise that I will dae everything in my power tae see that ye are safe. I dinnae care what I hae tae dae for Ryan. I will dae anything he wants as long as ye get tae enjoy yer lives.”
The softness and vulnerability that was evident in her voice elicited sympathy from her sisters. Nessa set aside her anger for the moment. She and Tara moved closer towards Caroline, and they all embraced again. Caroline closed her eyes and enjoyed the solace of being with her sisters. She didn’t know how long she had left to enjoy quiet moments like these.
“We still need tae escape. I appreciate ye offer, Caroline, but ye dinnae need tae sacrifice yerself for us. We are all adults now, and we can make our own decisions. As ye said, whatever fate awaits us, we will meet taegether. While we are here, we should try to find a way tae escape,” Tara said with surprising maturity.
Sometimes it was difficult to realize how much she had changed over the last few years, and this ordeal had again forced her to grow up quickly. For Caroline, who had practically raised Tara after their mother had died when Tara was very young, it elicited a feeling of immense pride.
“Tara is right. There must be a way. Perhaps we can give her plan a try, even if the chances of it succeeding are slim,” Nessa added in a gentle tone, perhaps trying to make amends for her earlier harsh reaction.
“I appreciate ye both, and while I’m willing tae try, I’m nae sure we hae the energy tae make another attempt taenight. It hae been a trying time for us and if we are tae get through this we need tae rest and make sure we hae our wits about us. Let us try tae eke out some sleep from what remains of the night,” she suggested.
Tara and Nessa made no objection to this. Caroline went to move off the bed and sleep on the floor to give the others more room. However, Tara and Nessa kept her held in bed. They pulled her under the covers and all squeezed together in the narrow bed. The younger sisters were not going to allow Caroline to suffer for them any more than she already had.
Although Caroline’s head and heart were reeling with wild emotions, she fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. It was a sudden collapse into slumber, a much-needed state for her exhausted body which had been put through the wringer.
Unfortunately, there were not many hours of the night left, so when Caroline awoke, her eyes were heavy and bloodshot. The door burst open and light from outside spilled in. Three maids arrived with bustling energy. They carried two large lanterns, which pushed the darkness of the room away. Caroline rubbed her eyes as she roused herself, but it was not the lanterns that caught her attention. It was the other thing the maids were carrying, a white gown.
A wedding dress.
Her wedding dress.
“What is this? Am I tae be fitted for a dress?” Caroline asked.
She knew that a wedding would likely happen sooner rather than later. She didn’t get the sense that Ryan was the type of person to let things linger. But she barely had a chance to catch her breath.
“This is yer dress, ma’am. I am tae tell ye that the wedding is tae take place in an hour. The Laird will be waiting for ye.”
A look of horror came upon her face. Her features became drawn and the last semblance of color drained from her cheeks. Tara gripped Caroline’s wrist. Nessa reacted with shock. She leaped up from the bed and confronted the maids.
“How can ye say that? It’s nae fair!” she shouted, which alerted the guard outside. He came to the door and brandished his sword.
“Calm down, they’ll be none of that. If the Laird hae requested yer presence, then ye will be there. I suggest ye stop wasting time,” he barked.
Caroline looked towards him, filling the door, blocking it with his frame. There was no way out, no way to escape, and no time to plan anything. Ryan was smart enough to hasten the wedding, ensuring that the girls could not attempt another escape. Her future was rushing quickly towards her and there was nothing she could do, nothing apart from take the dress and don it with the help of her sisters.
The bridal procession took place with a guard escort. Caroline’s face was utterly dispirited, and her soul felt heavy. Nessa and Tara were allowed to attend, and they too looked dour. They looked more like they were going to a funeral rather than a wedding.
The white gown fit Caroline perfectly. The stitching was intricate, creating a subtle flowery pattern that stretched over the front of the dress. The design left her neck and collarbones exposed, and she was filled with the fear that the dress would slip off her shoulders at any moment. The dress reached down to her feet, the hem brushing the floor as she walked. It narrowed at her hips, and around her waist was a belt tied loosely, made up of the red and black tartan pattern of the clan. The knot pressed into the small of her back, and two pieces of fabric rested against her rump.
On any other occasion, she would have been blessed to wear something as fine as this, but she wanted to be anywhere else. There was a sick taste in the back of her throat that didn’t seem to go away, no matter how much she swallowed. She knew Ryan’s intentions, and surely, what followed the wedding would be his desire for an heir.
She shuddered at the thought because it seemed as though all that she wanted was being taken away from her. There was nothing she could do about this. She was about to be condemned, and she couldn’t even be certain that her sisters would be allowed to go free.
She doubted it, if Ryan’s eyes were still burning with hatred.
They entered the Great Hall, walking through the huge double doors. Caroline had always imagined her wedding being held in a gilded room that was filled with all manner of decorations. Because of the nature of this wedding, the assumed effort had not been taken. The servants had scattered petals along the aisle, and fine tapestries had been hung from the walls. These depicted romantic scenes from fables and history. Caroline gazed at the stitched women and wondered if any of them had been filled with such misgivings.
Ryan was standing near his high seat. He looked regal in his traditional garb. His kilt was made of the same tartan pattern that stretched around her waist. His shirt was laced across the chest, revealing dark shadows of hair. His sporran was silver-mounted in fur, and the clan emblem was proudly displayed on his chest, polished brightly. His boots rose to just beneath his knees, his stance was powerful.
A minister was beside him, holding the holy book. The servants of the Keep were in attendance, but this was no happy occasion. There was no music as Caroline walked down the aisle, no grand celebration at all. This was a mockery of a wedding, a grim taunt to romance. Frankly, it was an abomination and Caroline hated Ryan for putting her through this.
As she walked through the chamber and felt all eyes upon her, she searched for her sisters, and saw the anxious looks on their faces. They had been given new dresses to wear as well. Tara’s was pastel, blue, while Nessa’s was an earthy brown. Nessa had her hair pulled back with a thin tiara. Tara’s hair was tied in a tight bun.
Caroline couldn’t help but think how much Tara looked like their mother. Caroline and Nessa had both favored their father.
Tears glistened in her eyes. At least they would have a chance to find their happiness. Caroline would do all she could to see to that. But then her attention was drawn back to Laird Knox, whose presence dominated the room.
He didn’t even look at her until she was standing directly in front of him. His eyes were still cold and unflinching.
“Ye look lovely,” he said, although his tone was flat, and she didn’t believe the compliment was sincere. She hadn’t even been given flowers to hold.
The minister began the ceremony, and the words he spoke were traditional. He might have been the only person in the room who believed this moment was sacred. Caroline met Ryan’s gaze and vowed that she would not break it. She did not want to show him any sign of weakness. They exchanged their vows without any hint of romance or kindness.
Tara and Nessa clung to each other, watching on with concerned faces as they saw their sister being dragged to the grisly depths of sorrow from which there was no escape.
Eventually, she was asked if she took Ryan to be her husband. She stared at him and arched an eyebrow pointedly. The unspoken sentiment was, “Do I have a choice?” But she did not give voice to this.
“I dae,” she said in a soft tone.
Ryan exhaled deeply, as though there had been some doubt in his mind. He took her hand. His touch was rough, but warm. She searched his eyes for the same vulnerability she had seen the previous night, but it was absent from his eyes. Perhaps it had never been there in the first place, and it had only been a trick of the imagination.
“Ye may seal yer vows with a kiss,” the minister continued.
Ryan leaned in. Caroline tensed and closed her eyes. It was the first attack in this marital war. He was going to strike the first blow. She assumed he would have been overt and pressed his lips against her, suffocating her. But instead he placed a kiss near the corner of her mouth, more on her cheek than her lips.
His breath was warm, his lips soft, and the kiss was surprisingly affectionate compared to the rest of the situation. He drew back slightly. There was barely an inch between them. He squeezed her hand and turned his head, placing his lips next to her ears, and he whispered something that was only audible to her.
“Welcome tae yer new prison, my wife. Ye are mine, and soon enough yer clan will follow.”
It was a promise and a threat, and it chilled her to the core. She was little more than an object to him, and she would never be anything else. Soon enough, she would be a vessel to an heir that would betray every one of her father’s wishes.
Ryan then let go of her hand and strode away from the altar.
“Now that’s over and done with, ye can all get back tae yer duties,” he muttered, and marched away without looking back at his bride.
He had gotten what he wanted after all, she thought. The servants turned, while the minister gave her an apologetic look. The guards remained behind to escort her wherever her new husband demanded her to go. Caroline put her head in her hands and wept. There could be no escape now.