The Highlander's Lass; Arran's Story

Chapter 15 Maisie

It was several minutes that I spent sobbing beside the fire. But it felt like hours, I could not think about anything except Arran dying for me. I could picture him dying in my arms, just like Callum. Something I never wanted, something I do not want for him. I heard the door open, and through teary eyes I saw Arran. He fell to his knees beside me, and pulled into his arms. I buried my face into his chest and continued to sob. He slowly rubbed my back, and planted small kisses on my forehead.

"Tis will be alright Maisie, tis will be alright," he whispered over and over again. I shook my head in his chest. How could he possible know that it will be alright? I looked up at him.

"How can ye be so sure Arran? My father may very well kill ye, to get me back. I could not live with myself if that happens. I cannot be the cause of another's man death. Another man that I love," I sobbed. His eyes softened, and he cupped my cheek gingerly. Wiping away the tears that continued to fall.

"'I am so sure, because I love ye. And I have seen love move mountains and cross the roughest of seas Maisie. I watched my brother fight for his wife, fight for the love they had. Fight for what he wants, and I will do the same. I will walk through the deepest of the seas, and walk through hell itself for ye. To be by your side," he said. His voice was full of conviction, but it did not stop the terror that consumed my heart and mind. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. I gripped his linen shirt, pulling him closer to my body. He laid us down, our lips never parting. His hand moved from my waist, to move underneath my skirts to caress my knee. Before hitching up over his waist. My skirts are riding up by my waist. His lips moved to my neck. He pulled away to meet my eyes. My eyes are finally drying. My mind clearing from the turmoil it was in.

"Ye are my wife Margaret Hamilton Wallace, I have sworn to protect love ye til the end of my days. I will fulfill that oath and vow to ye," he said softly. I caressed his face gently. Wishing to encapsulate this moment.

"Aye, ye are my husband Arran Hamilton Wallace. And I thank God every day that ye have come into my life. But I do not want ye to die. I do not want ye to do something foolish and make a decision that could cost ye your life," I replied. I knew Scottish men were stubborn and they would do anything to defend their honor, or the honor of their women or family. He sighed and kissed me again. Before resting his head on my forehead.

"I will not promise anything Maisie, not when it comes to your protection. Your father will not, cannot tear us apart. We are married in the eyes of God. I will do what I must to protect ye," Arran replied. I felt my heart drop into my stomach. That was not the answer I wanted, the answer I needed. Feeling sudden anger, I shoved him off of me. I stood up, smoothing my now rumpled skirts. Looking down at him. He just stared up at me, shocked that I did such a thing.

"What are ye doing Maisie," he demanded. I walked over to my vanity table and sat down. Pulling at the pins in my hair. I felt the pain in my scalp, but I did not care. In fact I needed the pain, it meant that I was not dreaming. Though I wish that I was.

"I meant what I said Arran. I do not want ye to do something foolish. And I know that the moment that the tempers fly out of control, so will the swords. And when the swords do come out, so will the blood," I snapped.

"Ye do not know that Margaret. Ye have to trust me, trust what I am doing. Trust that I can protect ye," he said. His words sent me back to when Callum died. He used to say the same thing to me as a child. Now he was dead, dead because he protected me.

"Callum said those same words to me as a lass. Where is he now Arran? He is dead, he died to protect me. That guilt is still with me today. Do ye think I could survive if something happened to ye? If ye died protecting me," I said. I stared at him through the looking glass. His eyes were blazing with anger. He had not right to be angry at me. He did not know my father.