Chapter Thirteen
The Reunion
Cailean awakened with renewed energy. In his mind, he had mapped out the strategies he thought Elayne would use to return from the Cameron clan.
Recalling their war strategies, she would likely travel close to the river, and at night would venture farther inland for safety.
It was amazing she had traveled to the Cameron clan safely.
Cailean had studied the map by the light of the fire last night and hoped his hunch about her route would bear true.
Deftly, he grabbed the hot meat off the spit and wrapped it in a cloth.
Then he doused the fire and saddled his horse.
Once again, Cailean set off in search of Elayne.
Hope clenched his heart while his gut clenched in pain.
Cailean acknowledged what could happen if he failed.
He wouldn’t fail Elayne. Not after all she had done.
He worried over her treatment at the hands of the Devil Laird, as he was known.
Had she been mistreated—or worse, beaten into submission?
Cailean cringed inwardly in fear. But worrying would not get him closer to Elayne.
Cailean resolved to think positive thoughts, for his negative ones would only detract from his quest.
Night cantered, walked, and galloped on flat lands.
Cailean wished it was possible for his horse to fly swiftly, like the birds, to reach his love.
He wished he was with Elayne now. But if he kent about her arrangements earlier, what would he have done?
If he had attempted to rescue her, he may have put her more in danger, for the guards could have recognized him if he returned.
Now, he kent why she had written a note instead of telling her father.
Not to be thwarted in her quest to save him, she would not have allowed the chance to be deterred.
Cailean paused several times to study any tracks on the trails or through the forest, but he saw no imprints of horses’ hooves in the dirt where he searched.
If his heart were an eagle, it would have already flown over the rivers and forests in search of his beloved. In search of a mere glimpse of her.
Despite the dark, he rode on, remembering the area from when he and his men had ridden this way.
At the river, he dismounted. Tethering his horse, Cailean removed his saddle and supplies for the night.
He located a fire ring and gathered wood for a fire.
Using his dirk, he struck the branches and carried an armload back to the fire ring, where he stacked the wood and started the fire with the flint in his handy lantern.
While the fire came to life, he laid pine boughs on the ground he intended to bed down upon.
With his bow, he hunted game and shot a pheasant.
He dressed and roasted it on the fire. Sitting back against a rock, he savored the sound of the rushing water in the river and the smell of the roasting meat.
Night settled her cloak of sapphire blue around the hills, valleys, and meadows.
His stomach growled in hunger. When the meat had cooked, he used his dirk to carve off hunks and made tea over the fire.
Fervently, he hoped and prayed he would meet Elayne on the morrow.
Cailean did not want her alone in the woods.
He hoped he was almost within reach of her and would find her before evening fell tomorrow so they could be together at last. Tortured by worry, he tossed and turned until he finally settled down to sleep.
Dreams comforted him as he envisaged holding Elayne in his arms again.
Anxiety gripped him as he awakened before dawn, eager to search for Elayne.
Cailean removed the rest of the meat from the spit and doused the fire.
Anguished over trying to find Elayne, he saddled his horse and rode off.
They were riding in opposite directions, eager to be rejoined, but Elayne dinna ken he was trying to find her.
Hopefully he would spy her before she saw him and veered off to hide.
He would call out to her, or perhaps from a distance, she would recognize Night or himself seated upon his trusty steed.
Traveling for hours, he became more worried the longer it took to find Elayne.
What if she is injured? Will she recoil from my embrace after all she has suffered for my sake?
Even if defiled while held at Tor Castle, I will wed her.
All his worries were for naught. Cailean spied her from a distance and yelled exuberantly, calling her name.
“Elayne, Elayne!” Frantically Cailean waved at Elayne and hoped his voice carried so she would not think he was an enemy and flee.
He would ken her anywhere, even dressed as a lad.
He kneed his horse and urged Night to cross the distance at full speed.
Elayne saw a rider in the distance on a coal-black horse and her heartbeat accelerated in fear.
Did this rider pose a threat to her? The horse looked familiar the closer it got.
Then came the moment of realization. Elayne recognized the warrior on the horse was Cailean.
Her heart leaped with joy at seeing her love again.
She was incredulous. How is he here? Why is he riding alone?
Cailean’s heart pounded in anticipation the moment he realized Elayne recognized him and waved back, calling out to him.
Swiftly closing the distance, he pulled his horse to a full stop before he jumped to the ground.
Desperately he pulled her from the saddle to embrace her tightly to him.
Cailean held her so tightly he feared he would crush her.
“Elayne, Elayne, I canna believe ye are here. Here in my arms at last. I missed ye so much. I have been frantic with worry for ye.” He felt her tremors in his arms and the wetness of her tears against his skin as he held her, not letting her go from his embrace.
His tears of happiness mingled with hers.
Finally, Cailean eased his grip, leaning back to gaze into the depths of her eyes.
He saw her happiness reflected in them, so he relaxed.
Cailean cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips repeatedly before he released her.
“How are ye here and alone? Were ye looking for me? How did ye ken where to look?”
“I ken ye have many questions for me, as I have for ye. Let’s make camp for tonight and I will answer all yer questions.
I have a pheasant. We can eat soon and make a fire together, for I will nae let ye out of my sight.
” Cailean gathered the reins of the horses and led them with one arm wrapped around Elayne’s waist.
Together, they found the best spot to camp.
They tethered the horses and removed their saddles.
Walking hand in hand, they picked up wood and cut branches to make a fire, carrying the wood back and stacking it in the pit they had created.
Cailean laid down plaids and placed the sack of food on top.
“We can eat whenever ye are hungry. Let me ken.”
Elayne added her sacks to their pile of food.
“We have a feast, it seems.” Cailean kissed her again and drew him to his side with his arm wrapped around her.
“Tell me what happened, Elayne,” he asked her softly.
Cailean made them tea while she collected her thoughts.
Elayne feared Cailean was angry with her.
Cailean handed her the cup of tea and sat across from her to gaze into her eyes as she spoke.
“Please don’t be angry with me,” Elayne started, “but I couldn’t bear it when I learned ye and yer men were captured and imprisoned in the Cameron clan dungeons.
It broke my heart. I had to do something.
” Cailean squeezed her hand, encouraging her to continue.
“I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to ye and I could prevent it. I had to help ye.
"I wrote my father a note and told him what I planned. I studied the maps and planned my route to Tor Castle. As a lad, I negotiated a wager with their laird to trade my services as a blacksmith for three months, but he insisted on six months for ye and yer men all to go free. I had to keep my agreement as I gave my word of honor to work for him. I was treated well, as I ate meals in the great hall and had a private room in the servants’ quarters.
I kept my identity as a lad the whole time. ”
“I am nae angry with ye, Elayne. Ye were incredibly brave and courageous. I canna believe yer sacrifice ye made for me and my guards. I am grateful to ye for freeing us, but I wonder at the cost to ye to free us. What were yer working conditions like? How many days did ye work?”
Elayne looked away before answering. She did nae want to make him feel guilty. “I worked with a blacksmith who treated me kindly.”
“I am happy for that, lass, but that isna what I asked ye.” Cailean lifted her chin to gaze directly into her eyes, ensuring she made eye contact with him.
“Every day, I worked from sunrise to sunset.”
“Every day?” His heart ached for her, never being able to leave the castle or have a break. “When ye left Tor Castle, was it the first time ye could ride yer horse?” he asked her softly.
Tears poured down her cheeks silently. “Aye.”
Cailean pulled her onto his lap and into his arms. He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her scent of heather and roses. “Oh lass, I’m sorry for yer captivity.”
“I missed ye so much, Cailean. I would do it again for ye. I kent the good ye could do yer clan when free. I kent yer warriors were happy to be reunited with their wives and families. I couldna have lived if anything happened to ye. I had to free ye the only way I kent.” She sobbed on his shoulders now, allowing free rein to her overwhelming emotions and permitting Cailean to comfort her.
She felt safe in his arms, and soon, her sobs subsided.
“I’m so glad ye are here with me now. But did ye ken where I was? Were ye riding to find me?”