Embers in the Snow

Chapter 24 | Idle Gossip

A week had passed, with no sign of improvement- just peaceful slumber. The wound on Ewan's head had already begun to scab over, a hopeful sign of healing. But whatever injuries were inside of him, where Aili's eyes could not roam, she could only hope they were healing too. Aili drowned out all other noise except the steady rise and fall of his shallow breathing. She did not hear the heated arguments between her father and Laird MacDonald, or the ensuing spats between Laird MacDonald and his prodigal son Allister.

Or maybe she did not want to hear them. All she wanted was for Ewan's eyes to open, and for him to say her name. Or say anything at all.

The door creaked open. Sofia walked in, a tray balancing in her hands. "Ignore them," she said. "Hmm?" Aili asked, unaware.

"They are arguing again. The whole castle can hear them yowling at each other," Sofia spit, disapprovingly as she set the tray down on the nightstand nearest the windowsill. "What are they arguing about?"

"Your father is enraged he was not able to reclaim your dowry at the battle against the MacKinney's. Allistair's father on the other hand is enraged that we ran off to get married and have come 'skulking back', I think was how he put it."

Aili sucked her teeth in a grimace at the gossip. "That is dreadful," she offered thoughtfully.
Sofia took a seat beside her and motioned towards the tea tray. "Ye should eat something. Ye have been couped up in this room for too long. Ye must keep your strength." The truth was, Aili was exhausted, though she would never admit it. Her eyes were discolored and sunken. Her cheekbones were more pronounced and concaved. Her hair braided in the same tangled braid she wore when Ewan had arrived to her battered and broken.

Sofia grabbed some fruit and cheese and a steaming cup of hot tea from the tray and forced it into Aili's hands. "Eat," She coaxed. Aili obliged her, nibbling on the food in her palms and washing it down with the brewed tea. The tea warmed her bones, while the fruit gave her a burst of energy she needed.

"And don't take my meaning wrong, but ye could really use a bath. I'll call the maid to draw one for ye."
Aili opened her mouth to protest, but Sofia shushed her. "You'll find it is better not to argue with me. Besides, you don't want Ewan to see you in this state when he finally opens his eyes, do you?"

Aili mused over her words. Then glanced down at herself. Sofia did have a point. Before Aili could concede, Sofia was already clanging shut the chamber door behind her. Moments later, a maid was dragging in a wooden tub to the center of the chambers, followed by two other maids carrying a bucket of steaming water. Once in the bath, Aili began to come back to herself.

She thought about the tidbit of gossip Sofia had told her. Her mind had been hyper fixated on Ewan, so she neglected to think about the consequences of her father not being able to reclaim her dowry. Was the alliance in trouble again? Surely Laird MacDonald would not annul their marriage once it had already been consummated. Would he?

A surge of urgency jolted through her. She looked over the rim of the tub at her slumbering husband. She willed him to wake up before it was too late. She knew Ewan would never let anything happen to her, but what could he do if he was unconscious? She realized two things in that moment: The first was that she trusted Ewan whole-heartedly, which surprised her. The second was that her fate rested in his hands.

She slid down into the water, submerging herself completely. Letting every worry go with each bubble that escaped her lips. She drowned out her anxieties, and when she reemerged with a huge gasp, she felt clearer headed. Sofia was right. A bath was just what she needed to reset. Now she was ready to return to tending to Ewan.