Chapter Four
Maddie
Maddie woke up in the middle of a flaming hearth, she swore. Something was not right. She shoved against the source of the heat, shocked to feel skin beneath her fingers.
“Alex?”
“Maddie?”
“Alex, I have to get these covers off.” She pushed and tugged, but they wouldn’t move. A moment later they were flung off the bed and nearly hit the wall.
“Better, sweeting?”
“Aye,” she mumbled, then broke into a coughing spasm that would not stop. It pulled from so deep inside her that she thought her chest would split in two. “Alex, I’m…”
“I’ll go get Jennie.”
“Nay.” She caught the edge of the plaid he was donning from the side of the bed. “Nay.” She could barely speak and didn’t have the strength to sit up, pointing instead to a goblet on the side table.
“Aye. Drink. Jennie is here and she said if you awakened to get you to drink as much as you could.”
“I can’t…” Her breathing came out in a gasp she didn’t like. It was painful to breathe deeply; her chest felt full, thick.
Alex climbed back into bed next to her and lifted her, sliding beneath her. “I’ll hold you up, Maddie. Please drink. I’ll hold the goblet.
The concern in his voice told her more than she wished to know—how long she’d been sleeping, how high her fever had gone, how worried he was.
Jennie was here. That told her more than anything, but it was also a comfort.
He held the goblet up to her lips, and she sipped, swallowing slowly, the warm liquid soothing her throat. “A bit more.” She drank what she could, then fell back into her husband’s arms, curling into his embrace, tucking her head under his neck. “Alex, I’m not…”
How did one tell their loved ones they were about to die? She knew it but didn’t know how to get the words out. Her insides fought a battle that she could tell she’d not survive. It was so hard to breathe, to cough, to do anything.
It was hard to lift her hand to brush away the damn piece of hair that would not leave her face. “Alex…”
“I’ve got it. I need to get Jennie…”
“Nay. Stay with me.” She closed her eyes, taking in her husband’s scent, which she loved so. He’d protected her all her life, gone to battle so many times for their clan, but this one he would not be able to fight.
Her breathing calmed once she focused on Alex and his protection, the calm in every battle they’d had to face.
A knock on the door interrupted them.
“Enter,” Alex barked, arranging his plaid so he was decent.
Jennie peeked her head inside. “Safe to come in? Are you covered, Alex?”
“Aye.” He waved her inside. “She’s awake, and she drank a bit, but not much.”
“Has she conversed with you? And how is her fever?” Jennie pulled the chair over next to the bed. “My, but you had a battle with the covers, brother dearest.” She giggled as though she were ten summers again.
“Maddie said she was hot, and now she’s not.”
Jennie patted Maddie’s hand, and she opened her eyes. “Maddie, I need to talk with you. Tell me how you are feeling.”
“Alex, would you give us some privacy, please. I need to use the special chair Jennie has for me.” She’d left one she fashioned with a bucket long ago.
“I can help you with that, Maddie. Jennie cannot lift you.”
“Alex…”
He growled, but kissed her forehead and said, “I’m going for some porridge.”
As soon as he was gone, Maddie took Jennie’s hand and whispered, “It’s my time, Jennie. You’ll have to help Alex.”
“Oh, Maddie. I think we can fight whatever you have, but if it’s your time, I’ll not argue with you. I have a potion that should help you rest.”
She tried to push herself up to sit, but she was too weak. Jennie assisted her, and she leaned against a pillow, her breathing slow and painful. She would choose her few words carefully. “No grandbairns.”
Jennie sat on the bed and took her hand in hers. “I have an idea. What if your bairns come in two at a time and they share a favorite memory with you? I’ve done this before, and it goes well. You won’t have to talk. If you get overtired, I’ll have them leave while you rest.”
“Alex too.”
“Aye, I’ll bring Alex back inside.”
The door burst open, and her husband’s large frame filled the doorway. “Maddie? I’m coming back.”
She nodded, knowing he was a bit stubborn, so she’d allow him back in. Jennie explained their plan, then suggested Alex sit behind her to support her. Then she left to search for Jake and Jamie.
Alex climbed in and covered her up, and she tucked the covers up to her chin. Now she was cold again, and she welcomed her husband’s warmth. “Sorry, Alex.”
“Do not apologize to me, wife. You’ve given me five beautiful bairns, countless grandbairns, and raised a sweet adopted daughter. You’ve kept a fine castle and welcomed my clan into your heart. I could ask for no more.”
He kissed her forehead again while she fought to catch her breath.
“Your traditions and love will be remembered for years to come.”
The door opened, and three-and-ten-year-old Dyna entered, closing it behind her. “I know you don’t wish to see any grandbairns, Grandmama, but I have a message for you. I snuck in so Alasdair wouldn’t see me.”
Maddie knew Dyna had the sight, so she decided to allow whatever she felt she had to do.
“Erena said to tell you that it’s nearly your time. They need you.”
Alex’s voice came out in the lowest tone she’d ever had. “You tell Erena I said not yet.”
“Erena said you cannot change destiny, Grandda. Maddie is the protector of bairns and she is needed. You will join her someday, but not yet. You have more to do for several years yet.”
Maddie heard the huskiness in her husband’s breathing as he fought the tears that wished to come on her account. She squeezed his hand to let him know she was still with him.
“Jake and Jamie are coming now.” Dyna leaned over and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “We’ll meet again someday. Do you not recall the time by the loch when Kyla was toddling?”
Maddie had forgotten that moment. She peered up at Alex, who said the words she’d been thinking but couldn’t get out. “It was you, Dyna. You had the leggings and tunic on, your color hair and boots. I forgot. You did come to us, but older yet.”
“Remember that, Grandda. ’Tis not the end, but the beginning of a different life.” Then she whirled around to leave as Jake and Aline entered, Jamie and Gracie behind them.