Months Apart #2
As the day wound to a close, Elayne rode off the trail. In the forest, staying close to the river gave her cover. Her horse drank from the stream and grazed in the lush spring grasses that grew near the water’s edge. Afterward, she left River saddled in case she had to make a fast getaway.
Skilled to ride bareback if needed, she would still hate to lose the saddle that did not belong to her. Elayne ate meat and bread from her oilskin sack and drank water from the river.
She fashioned a bed of pines over the hard ground.
Its scent brought back memories of the loch with Cailean and comforted her.
Peaceful here by the river, Elayne recognized her sore muscles from feeling tense and gripping the reins tightly.
A soft breeze in the firs and pines murmured to her, a soothing sound, and she fell asleep and dreamed of swimming in the loch with Cailean.
*
Finally, Cailean found Thomas alone with nae one about to overhear their conversation. Cailean met him purposefully at the well. He needed the truth if Thomas ken it. Elayne may have shared her plans with him.
“So I ken ye may ken where Elayne went, Thomas. I have searched everywhere for her. I sent countless letters to her kin and people who kent her in the Grant clan. But she has vanished, and I ken not where else to search for her. I ken ye were close, for she told me much about ye in her letters. My patience is at an end. Over six months since she left, I worry about her safety. If she is in danger, I need to ken. I beg ye to tell me. I love Elayne.”
Nervously, Thomas glanced around and hung his head, trying to decide the best course of action.
He his hands fidgeted nervously. A battle raged within him—mind against body—as the dryness of his mouth mirrored the conflict, a stark reminder of his oath to Elayne.
Dread filled Thomas. Elayne could be in danger.
He saw the pain Cailean felt. Thomas missed Elayne too.
Six months were up. What if she was held against her will?
What if she was truly in danger and he stood by and did nothing? I would never forgive myself.
“If I tell ye, ye have to swear ye will nay tell anyone else. The only reason I am telling ye this now is because I’m dreadfully worried about Elayne.
It has been over six months, as ye say. I vowed not to tell anyone.
” Thomas hesitated, still in mental agony, weighing if he should disclose what he had kept secret all this time.
“I respect yer vow to Elayne. I, too, am worried she may be in peril, and if anything happened to her…” Cailean clearly couldn’t even finish that thought.
“Elayne was worried about ye and yer men. She wanted to free ye and avoid bloodshed. She ken you were held for ransom, but it never came. Elayne worried that a high ransom would force the laird to seek money from his allies, a process that would take time. Time that would prevent ye from returning. Time ye would remain in the dungeon.”
“I understand.”
“Elayne dressed as a lad and took yer horse and rode for the Cameron clan. She planned to negotiate for yer release by planning to change places with ye.”
“What do ye mean, change places with me?” he said fiercely, raising his voice.
“Her plan was to negotiate with the laird. She planned to work as a blacksmith for a few months in exchange for yer freedom. She said not let anyone ken until seven months had pass-ed. Elayne wanted to sacrifice her freedom for yers. She said ye were friends. That is what friends do for one another. Anyone rescuing her before her contract was over would jeopardize her identity, her life, or the clan itself.” Thomas looked hopefully at him.
Cailean’s world came crashing in with the full weight of what Thomas had said. Cailean hadn’t trusted his freedom without an apparent reason for their release. Elayne was obviously there before their release. Had she watched him and his men ride away as she sacrificed her freedom for theirs?
Icy dread filled him. How could she do this? Does she not ken what she means to me? Had she kept her identity as a woman a secret? Anything may have befallen her. Elayne rode alone all the way to the Cameron clan. She would have to ride back alone too.
“Thank ye for telling the truth. I must ride to her. If I do nae encounter her in my travels, I will return and seek her release by any means possible.”
Thomas nodded sorrowfully. Cailean ran to the stables, saddled his horse, gathered supplies for his journey, and spoke to Bessie in confidence. Explaining what had happened and his plans, he secured her promise not to tell anyone until two weeks had passed. Bessie gave him food for his trip.
“Bless ye and Elayne. I hope ye find her safe and bring her back with ye. Safe travels, Cailean.” Bessie hugged him before he left.
Cailean strapped his sword to his back and his dirk to his waist. He took his bow, a quiver of arrows, and extra plaids and tied them to his horse.
It was springtime in the Highlands, and the weather could be mercurial.
It could rain or snow. Cailean decided not to ask his friends to accompany him.
They would if he asked, but it would slow him in reaching Elayne.
He traveled faster alone and doubted bandits would venture far during inclement weather.
Cailean rode out of the castle and headed toward the Cameron clan.
He rode fast and hard. Night seemed to ken his mood.
Cailean stopped long enough to rest and water his horse, then he rested at sunset to camp for the night.
Building a fire, he hunted, shot rabbits, and roasted them.
Cailean carved off the cooked meat and made himself a cup of tea over the fire.
The rest of the meat smoked during the night.
Cailean wrapped his plaid about him and bedded on the ground.
His mind immediately turned to Elayne, worry etched on his face.
The magnitude of what she had done did nae leave him.
The stubborn and independent woman he loved had sacrificed herself to protect his clan. Few would do that—even if friends.
Did she feel more than friendship for him? It was true, he would have sacrificed himself for her, but he never imagined that she would attempt what she did. Elayne was a brazen lass. I canna rest until I reach her.