Gifted

Strangers

Even with an empty cart, it took over an hour before Alina crossed the drawbridge and entered the castle's busy bailey. It contained their cider mill, orchard and stables. Workers bustled along with their various tasks. She returned the donkeys to their shared stall and fed an apple to her Andalusian mare, Zephyr.

Now that the immediate danger seemed to have passed, Alina's thoughts drifted to the giant Viking in her visions. He was certainly a powerfully built bear of a man. Her future self seemed to have an unprecedented physical response to him. She petted her deerhounds, Mac and Cam, speculatively while looking for some other little chore to occupy herself and delay the inevitable.

Alina dreaded talking with Lady Lillian but it was time she knew about Jamie's elopement. So far, the lady only knew that Jamie was balking at the marriage but she still expected the betrothal to stand upon his return. Her stepmother knew nothing about the Sinclairs and currently would have no understanding of why the Highlanders were descending upon them.

Alina received a letter from Jamie a sennight ago but chose to share the information only with Garrick and Morag. She considered them family. Her stepmother was a different matter. They'd previously agreed that a long betrothal was best as it gave Lady Lillian time to assure the MacLellans that the alliance would not be a threat to his territory. Alina had a mind of her own and would reman neutral in his long-standing feud with the Campbell.

Marriage to Jamie Campbell after he returned from the highlands would have been perfectly pleasant. They grew up together and liked each other well enough. It was good that they were never going to be in love each other. Romantic love, in Alina's opinion, made people selfish and blind. She saw it in her own parents. Their love doomed the both of them, not to mention the damage wrought on those around them.

Still, Alina didn't have the heart to try to hold on to Jamie after his letters made clear that he had fallen very much in love. Before he left last spring, she had a vague vision of him returning a more complete person, like he'd found what was missing in his life up in the highlands. She did not foresee that the missing thing was the right woman.

She didn't need her foresight to know that he would never find happiness with her in the way that he'd found it with Mairi Sinclair. Alina may not have wanted that kind of love for herself but she couldn't deny her friend his chance at love. Maybe, she hoped, those two would find a better way, a way to be in love but still care about other people and not lose themselves in throes of romance.

Time had well and truly run out for Alina when the sentry at the north tower trumpeted a warning. It was not an all out alarm but signaled a possible threat. He'd likely seen vessels coming from the Campbell territories. She rushed toward the ramparts and met her stepmother on their way up the stairs. She shook her head no when Lady Lillian asked if she knew what was happening.

"My ladies," the sentry bowed. "Two vessels are approaching from the north. They're about two hours away from our village docks."

"The Campbell is coming?" Lady Lillian fluttered. "We weren't expecting him. Has Jamie returned? Surely they could have sent a message ahead and allowed us to prepare a welcome. I suppose we still have preparations left over from Sir Euan's visit."

"I'm not sure it's the Campbell, mistress. At least, it's not his vessels approaching us," the sentry said. "They're flying a flag bearing a wolf and bear. Looks like one of the highland clans."

Lady Lillian dismissed the sentry with instruction to send updates down to the great hall then turned wintry blue eyes toward Alina.

"Tell me what is going on," she ground out.

Alina gestured toward the loch and said, "Those are probably Sinclair vessels. They're likely visiting the Campbell because Jamie eloped with the only eligible daughter in their family."

Lady Lillian exclaimed, "What?! How do you know this? Why are they coming here?"

"I don't know why but - and I very much apologize for keeping this from ye - I got a letter from Jamie last week. He said that he was going to elope with the Sinclair lass. He expected that they'd be chasing him all the way home because she was already betrothed to a neighboring clan," Alina winced at her stepmother's expression.

Surprisingly, she said nothing further, just looked intently at the distant vessels then turned abruptly around and strode to one of the guards. Lady Lillian kept her voice low and he had to lean down to hear her. Alina spared one last look at the two vessels before taking off her gloves and tucking them into her belt once more. She hadn't yet been able to use foresight with Lady Lillian, who was still asleep when Alina had to head down to the docks.

Putting on what she hoped was a sympathetic expression, Alina tried to take her stepmother's hand. "I'm worried, too, but I'm sure - "

Lady Lillian swatted Alina's hands away and said irritably, "Worried is not the half of it. Two large vessels loaded with Highlanders are bearing down on us with only heaven knows what intent. You've thwarted the Campbell's plans for you and his heir and he does not take kindly to disappointment. I can only assume they mean to invade our territory while Christopher is away and our defenses are low. We have to prepare."

She turned and hurried down to the keep while Alina followed in her wake. For a petite woman, the lady could certainly move quickly. They'd made it all the way to Lady Lillian's wing of the castle before she slowed. She instructed her lady's maid to fetch additional writing supplies and waved Alina away.

Alina continued to follow and asked, "What do ye intend to do? Can I help with anything?"

Lady Lillian made more dismissing motions as she sat at her writing desk and said, "I'll be writing letters: to Christopher, to King William and even to King John. Someone will have to come to our rescue. Who knows where my king is these days, what with him fighting his own barons. But I'm sure he'd be interested to know what the Campbell is up to. Christopher is one of England's best knights and these Scots should not be treating his family in this manner. Your king is nearer but he might well take their side. Still, he ought to know."

"And after the messengers go out?" Alina persisted.

The lady huffed in annoyance, "I've instructed the guards to pull up the drawbridge and prepare for a siege. I hope I'm overreacting but - "

Alina interrupted, "I agree that we have to assume the worst. We cannot allow armed strangers entry into our home while our defenses are at a low. I'll talk to the servants and the workers at the cider mill. Give them the option to bring their families here for protection or head down to the village if they feel the threat from the Highlanders are more against us at the castle than their fellow Scots."

Lady Lillian made a sound of frustration, "Most of the people in here are Scots!"

Alina shrugged, "Aye, but the soldiers are English. They take turns going home every other winter. They don't belong here. Even our castle guards carry a mix of Scot and English kit under their Kerr livery. They'll be loyal to us but ye're right to question how King William will respond, if he responds at all. Be sure to inquire about his health. I hear he's at Stirling castle convalescing."

Alina feared her king might already be on his deathbed. Last year, she foresaw their bard singing a song of mourning for him this Christmas.

Lady Lillian had already started tuning Alina out as her lady's maid arrived with fresh ink and paper.