Chapter Five
There were oft times when Rory felt like an arse. This was one of those times. Last night, he had sat and watched Alana break down into tears.
Why?
He didn’t ken. He hadn’t bothered to ask.
He had done naught to aid her in any way.
He didn’t offer comfort or speak soothing words.
No solace came from him. Instead, he just sat against the tree, watching silently as she did her best to conceal her tears—until their eyes clashed. Then there was no denying the fact.
Yet still he said naught.
Even now, as he watched her quietly wrap strips of linen around her blistered feet, he said naught.
And when she winced as she slipped her boots on, her teeth gnashing at her lip to stop herself from crying out, he, once again, remained silent.
Her strength radiated from her in waves, yet he didn’t acknowledge her in any way.
He was an arse of the worst variety.
Alana pushed to her feet, masking the pain she was for certs feeling and scooped up the blanket she’d slept on. Rolling it up as she walked to him with nary a limp in her step.
And he kenned she was in pain. He had no doubt. Her feet were in an awful state.
If he were a gentleman, he would insist that they delay their journey until her feet recovered and she could continue on with no issue.
But he wasn’t, so he didn’t. Nay, instead, he only accepted the blanket she passed to him and turned to stuff it into his travel sack.
Once he’d snuffed out the fire with his boots, they carried forward on their journey.
As much as he wanted to push through at the pace they’d done the past couple of days, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Rory found himself in awe of Alana’s perseverance.
Her ability to push through the pain without complaint.
Without a word actually.
She hadn’t said a thing since they’d left.
Every once in a while he would steal a glance in her direction, but their eyes never met. She was always looking at something that had caught her attention—a bird, a tree. Hell, a bug. Aught but him.
And through it all, he could see the tense of her jaw, and kenned she was clenching her teeth as she kept moving.
“I need refreshment,” he announced, and Alana paused. He didn’t. Not really. But guilt—an emotion he didn’t feel very often—had slowly been building, and he felt that he should give her a respite, even if only for a brief moment. “Ale?” He asked, handing her the skin he’d pulled from his side.
She paused so long that he expected her to refuse his offering, but she finally nodded and reached for the drink, taking a long pull. Good. Mayhap the ale would lessen the bite of pain she was enduring.
“Thank ye. Ye didnae have to stop on my account. I am perfectly fine to move on without delay.” Her voice was clipped as she spoke. “I ken ye are anxious to arrive to our destination and divest yerself of my presence.”
Rory frowned, biting the inside of his cheek.
’Twas true that he wanted this journey to be done with as quickly as possible, but when she had confronted him with the words that were whirling in his mind, guilt once again flowed over him.
He realized that he hadn’t denied her statement.
“Now that we are in the thick of the forest, I find myself no’ as anxious as afore.
” He gave her a sincere smile, something he didn’t give freely or often. “Nature has a way of healing my anger.”
She harrumphed but said naught.
“Do ye want more?” He pointed to the skin she was still holding.
Her eyes dropped to her hands as she lifted the ale. It was as if she had forgotten that she still held it and shook her head. She held out her hand so he could take the skin back and secure it to his side.
“If yer thirst needs quenching at any time whilst we travel, ye only need let me ken and we will stop.”
Alana didn’t answer, only looked off through the trees.
He sighed and held his hand out in front of him, signaling the direction they needed to continue in.
“Is that water I hear? Crashing aboot it sounds like.” Alana asked.
“Aye. ’Tis falls that are no’ too far from here.”
“Falls?” She questioned.
“Aye. The Falls of Fae arenae far from here. The water passing over them is strong which is why ye can hear it at this distance. Would ye like to see them?” The question left his lips afore he could stop them.
He wanted to kick himself. Whilst he had resigned himself to the fact that they were taking longer to arrive at the MacDonell clan than he had anticipated, veering off path to visit the falls was more time wasted than he wanted.
“What a unique name.”
“They are legendary. The fae have spent centuries watching o’er the falls. ’Tis said at cert times of the year one can get close enough to the fae here that ye can see them.”
“Have ye e’er seen them?”
He shook his head and chuckled. “I havenae. Though I have been here oft enough. I guess I dinnae have the right qualities they seek.”
Her forehead crinkled in confusion. “They seek something?”
“Mostly, they want to be left alone. They seek the peace and quiet of the land. But they enjoy offerings. Flowers, stones, baubles. They take them back to their palace to decorate its walls.”
Alana’s breath hitched. “Have ye seen their castle?”
“Nay. I have no’ been blessed enough to be granted that luxury.”
“Then how do ye ken it truly exists?”
He hadn’t realized the fae would have enraptured Alana so. Did they not have fae in the lowlands? He had never thought about it, but it seemed they would be in all locations. Whilst the highlands offered much protection, it surely could not be the only place they were found.
“I have heard the tales. They are passed on from generation to generation.”
She cocked her head to the side as she studied him, her lips pressed together. “I think I would like to see,” she said finally after a long silence.
“We are a little higher than the mid-way point of the falls. The true magic is seen from the top. This way.”
He led them through the thick trees, slowly climbing higher and higher. He didn’t have his climbing gear, and even if he had, Alana was ill-equipped to partake in such a feat, especially with the wounds on her feet, so he slowly circled them up and around, taking them even longer.
“Almost there,” Rory announced as they emerged from the trees. The sounds of rushing water filled the air around them. “We just need to make our way over this ledge and then ye will see the most breathtaking sight ye have e’er laid yer eyes upon,” he promised.
Her gaze went to the high ledge and he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. “Dinnae fash. I will help ye climb it.”
She gave a subtle shake of her head.
“I have climbed it many a time. ’Tis no’ as difficult as it appears.
I’ll show ye.” He clasped her hand and pulled her forward, ignoring the heat that emanated up his wrist and arm from their entwined fingers.
“Look,” he pointed to the ledge. “There are notches in the rock that make it easy to climb. Ye are only a few steps away from the top.”
“There must be another way to get to the top,” she stated, and Rory shook his head.
“Nay, this is the only way.” He shifted so he could look her in the eyes. “I promise ye I willnae let any harm come to ye. All will be well, I assure ye” He caressed her hand with the pad of his thumb.
He didn’t understand why he cared so much whether or not she made the climb. But he found himself holding his breath as he waited for her answer.
The corners of his mouth lifted when she finally nodded.
“Put yer foot here.” He pointed to the first notch.
“Wait. That willnae work.” He rubbed his chin as he thought for a moment.
What was the best approach to get them up there together?
He could have her rest his feet on his and he could make the steps, but once they reached near the top, he wouldn’t be able to assist her getting over the lip.
He would have to go first and guide her through.
“The best way to get ye up there, is if I climb up first. Then ye follow my instructions on where to put yer feet. Once ye are close enough to the top, I can lift ye the rest of the way.”
She eyed him cautiously, her teeth worrying her bottom lip, afore looking around at their surroundings. “How do I ken ye willnae abandon me here?”
“Hey.” He tipped her chin up with his finger so their eyes could meet. “Whye’er would I bring ye all this way only to leave ye alone?”
Alana shrugged. “Ye wouldnae be the first to do so.”
The words she spoke hurt, hitting him right in the heart. She had been put through a trial this past sennight. And all for duty to her family. Rory admired her dedication, but he was sad to see the toll it was taking on the lass.
Her eyes shined with unshed tears. She was scared. Frightened to be left alone. He may be an arse, but he would never do such a thing.
“Look at me. Am I happy to make this journey? As I have said, nay. I have no qualms admitting to that. But I have a duty. An honor to escort ye safely to yer destination. I fulfill my duties—always. And that doesnae include leaving ye to fend for yerself alone in the woods.”
Alana’s shoulders sagged in relief.
“Now, let us climb this ledge afore we anger the fae and they appear and create havoc.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that what they do?”
He chuckled. “I have ne’er been given the chance to find out. I have only heard the stories. But let us no’ test that theory.” He bent so their gazes were at the same level. “Agreed?”
She nodded.
“Right. Watch where I step into the notches. Ye will need to do the same for the first few. After that, I can pull ye up the rest of the way.”
Her teeth pulled at her lip, but she nodded.