Chapter Twenty-Five
Highland Harmony
Avelina Ramsay, Drew Menzie, and a faery named Erena.
Chapter Thirteen
One of my favorites. Oh, I cried…
Brenna crept out of the cave from behind the waterfall, her arms wrapped around her sleeping son. From the look she gave Avelina, she had heard everything.
“I swear, Lina. Now tell me what this is really about.” Logan ran his hand through his hair and mopped the sweat from his forehead.
“The fae. The Queen of Harmony came to me on two occasions. There is evil in the land of the Scots and the fae have asked for my help. They wanted me to locate the sword. But the queen has not told me what I must do with it yet.” The words came out in a rush, but no one stopped her.
No one moved after she finished her explanation.
Lina searched each of their faces to see if they believed her.
The expression on her brother’s face was one she had never seen before.
Was it fear? Confusion? Gwyneth had stepped closer to her husband and laced her fingers with his, Logan responding with a tender squeeze.
Though Lina was afraid to look at Drew, she needed to know how he was reacting. When she finally peeked at him, his gaze was already fixed on her, his eyes wide, but she thought she could also see a sense of pride there. She clung to that thought, hoping the others would feel the same way.
Then Brenna stepped toward Lina, her arms outstretched. Gregor was still not moving, and his skin had taken on a dusky hue. “Take him,” she said.
Lina stared at her brother’s wife, confused by her request. “What?”
“I said take him.”
Lina stared at her, confused by her fierce expression and harsh tone. “I do not understand, Brenna. You’re frightening me.”
“Take him, Lina. He is near death. He will be dead in less than an hour. I can tell by the sound of his breathing. Please take him.” Her voice rose an octave as she spoke, becoming almost shrill. “Take him. He needs your embrace.”
“Brenna, nay.” Tears tracked down Lina’s cheeks. “He’s your son. You must hold him if he’s dying.”
“Nay, you, Lina. Do you not understand? ‘Tis why you had that dream. He was calling for you. Please, I beg you.”
Lina did her best to absorb what Brenna was trying to explain to her, but there was too much in her mind.
“Gregor knows, don’t you see? He called for you because he knew you were the only one who could save him. Bairns know things we do not.” Brenna took two more steps forward and thrust Gregor into her arms. “Take him or he will die.”
“I do not understand.” Lina caught Gregor and cuddled him against her heart.
“You. ‘Tis you,” Brenna whispered.
“What?” Logan barked, finally finding words. “Brenna, what are you saying?”
Brenna pointed to Avelina, not looking away from her.
“She is a chosen one.” Then she spun back to face Lina.
“You are a chosen one. My mother told Jennie and me about this fae queen, who could choose a human when necessary to help her save the Scots.
She told us any chosen by the fae would have special energy.
‘Tis you, and only you can cure my son. Please, Lina. Focus your energy on him. I beg you.”
Lina’s arms trembled as she held Gregor close and leaned her cheek against his forehead, pouring her attention and love into the nephew she adored.
Oh, how she loved this lad, and she hated to see his lips so waxy and dry.
Warmth stole over her body, and she closed her eyes and said a prayer over wee Gregor.
She heard a light fluttering, and when she opened her eyes, her little nephew’s color had gone from gray to a light pinkish hue.
Logan gasped and whispered, “Saints above, ‘tis true.” He wrapped his arm around his wife, tugging her close.
Lina lifted her gaze first to Brenna, pleased to see a look of hope on her face. Then she shifted her attention to Drew, whose face lit up with wonder. They locked gazes and he gave her an almost imperceptible nod, clearly pleased with her newfound talent.
The others had all moved back from her, Lina noticed, probably due to the bright, buttery gold light surrounding her. She heard a fluttering next to her ear, and a golden butterfly flew down onto Gregor’s chest.
Erena. Lina smiled as the butterfly flapped its wings a few times before it flew away, but not before landing on her shoulder for just a moment, as if to pat her.
Gregor opened his eyes and placed his hand on Lina’s arm. “Aunt Wina, is my mama hewe? I dweamed she was.” Lina nodded, unable to speak because of the joy in her heart and the tears lodged in her throat.
Brenna came to her and picked up her son, tears flooding her cheeks.
“You awe hewe, Mama, I wuve you. I’m hungwy.”
Brenna leaned over and kissed Lina’s cheek, whispering, “My thanks.” Then she answered her son. “Come, I’ll find you a piece of bread.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Lina finally realizes she was not the cause of Brenna and Quade’s loss…
When they finally reached the Ramsay land, Lina wished to run up the hill just to tell everyone how happy she was with her marriage.
“Drew, you will not be expected to learn everyone’s name the first day.” She grinned at him as he helped her dismount near the stable.
He gave her a confused look. “There are that many?”
“Aye, the Grants will likely still be there.”
“And how are you kin with them?”
“My brother, Quade, married Alex’s oldest sister, Brenna. Of course, you know Jennie. There are many bairns here, you’ll see. You’ve met some of them at Cameron’s.”
Moments later, a string of bairns rushed toward them through the courtyard. Leading the way were Gavin and Gregor, though she suspected everyone had held back to allow them to greet her first.
“Dabin, look! Aunt Wina is hewe.”
Gregor threw himself into her arms, Gavin right behind him.
She picked each one up separately and gave them each a big kiss. “You two do not look sick at all. You are better?”
“Aye, we are not sick,” Gavin answered. “Why would we be sick?”
“Short memories,” she whispered to Drew.
“Abby,” Gregor yelled, “come say hi to Aunt Wina.”
The puppy came bounding out to greet Avelina. She picked Abby up and kissed her nose. “Have you been a good girl for Gavin and Gregor?”
By the time she set the dog down, Jennie, Aedan, Micheil, Diana, Logan, and Gwyneth had all circled around to greet the new couple. Behind them stood Brenna and Quade.
Lina stood back, tears welling in her eyes. “Brenna, I’m so sorry.” All she could think of was the pain Quade and Brenna had faced. She gave each of them a hug.
Brenna said, “My thanks, but we’ll see our bairn again someday.” She squeezed Quade’s hand and looked into his eyes. “It had naught to do with you.”
“Now I understand the truth of that statement, but I did not before. I was hoping you did not believe that I had aught to do with it.” Lina stared at the ground.
Brenna lifted Lina’s chin. “We are certain of it, and you also saved our son. I told your brother about what you did for Gregor.”
Quade leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’m glad I was not there. I do not believe I would have handled it well. My thanks to you for listening to your dreams.”
Drew’s hands squeezed her shoulders from behind.
Brenna brushed Lina’s loose hairs back from her face. “I’m just pleased to see you married and happy. You are happy, are you not?”
“Aye, I am. I did not think I could ever be this happy.” She gave Drew a hug and introduced him to her family. Then they all made their way up to the hall to greet the rest of the group.
At the base of the steps to the keep, Avelina stopped to glance up.
Her mother stood at the top, tears running down her cheeks.
“Oh, Lina. You look so beautiful. Married life suits you.” She gave her daughter a warm hug.
“You have always been my chosen lass. I am proud of you. You’ll have to tell me all about it when you get settled.
” Arlene Ramsay turned to Drew and took his hands in hers.
“Finally, my clan is complete. Welcome to the Ramsays, Drew Menzie. Many thanks for taking care of my daughter.”
Erena was right, Lina realized with a full heart. She had nowhere to go but up.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alex and Quade continue to compete, and Brenna finds comfort in her family’s joy.
A few days later, Alex clasped Quade’s shoulder as they headed out of Quade’s solar. Both came to a sudden stop in the middle of the Ramsay great hall.
“Where is everyone?” Alex asked, his gaze searching the empty space.
Quade’s mother came down the stairs with several plaids slung over her arm.
“They are hoping to tire the weans out by spending the afternoon at the loch. Brenna is excited to show off the improvements Quade has made to try to compete with the famous Grant loch. I’ve heard much about it, though I have yet to see it.
Come, walk with me. I am bringing out more plaids for the bairns for when they get out of the water. ‘Tis a lovely day.”
Alex followed Quade and his mother out the door and down the hill toward the loch. “Did it take much work to adjust your loch for the bairns to use?”
Quade took the plaids from his mother before he rolled his eyes.
“Nay, not to make it as you have arranged your loch, but it took a bit more to please my wife. Aye, creating a gentle slope for the weans on one end and removing the grass was not difficult, and we were pleased to find a soft sand mixed in with the stones. But Brenna came up with a few more things she wanted. And my brothers had their own ideas.” Quade clasped his shoulder.
“You’ll see what I mean. Your sister is like you in many ways.
And I’m sure after you leave, she’ll have even more ideas for me. ”