Highland Chieftain (Book 5)

Chapter 34

AN - Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

Chapter 34

The words ran around and around in her own mind. There was utter silence in the small pocket of the Keep she was sat upon. It was a few minutes at least before she could finally manage to stutter out a broken, "not married?" The confusion was apparent to her own ears. She looked from Kendrick's face and his tight expression, looking at her as if she may decide to jump again at any moment, over to the heart broken expression upon Camdyn's face. She shook her head and looked back upon Kendrick, her mind still not working as quickly as normal.

Kendrick came down upon one knee before her. Reaching out towards her face, she flinched as he neared her and so he paused in his reach, before clenching his hand to a fist and dropping it. His eyes flicked momentarily above her head, aiming at Camdyn she thought, before they came once more to her own. "Larena, I am not currently married. Aye, I made a mess of things, I almost cost Artair his love, cost myself to live in a loveless marriage. But it was Robert who made me see another way. Robert who decided that the best thing for his clan was the money that Caroline's father was putting up for her dowry, and the money and title upon his death. Robert may not be in for a happy marriage but his clan will be better for what it can do with the capital." He inched closer, Larena catching every tiny movement. "Larena, I thought I deserved a loveless marriage that would make me miserable. But in fact I did not realise my reason for being miserable would also be the reason you would be too. Robert was the one who made me see, that if I hurt, so do you. That means that I can also be there to help you heal as I heal too."

Larena only shook her head, unable to fully comprehend everything he was saying after the events of the last hour or so. A hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to jump, pulling herself away and backing into the wall. Camdyn's face crumpled as he backed away a shuffling step. "Larena, I am your brother." His words barely recognisable and whispered to a level just high enough to be heard. "No matter what you have heard, it does not change the fact we were brought up as brother and sister and I will protect you as one from any threat. Even if that threat is yourself."

Nay, this was not happening, maybe she had died and this was her punishment. Swallowing hard, she let her gaze lift to the star strewn sky above, the tiny lights glowing in an unordered display of beauty. Was the heavens above now cut off from her forever? Was she now to be tormented by those who did not want her in life for all of eternity? The chill of the night started to seep into her bones when a new voice cut in through the festivities below and the thick silence surrounding the small group she was within.

"LarLar? Why so sad?" Her eyes left the blanketed sky above to look at her cherubic sleep ruffled nephew. Held in the arms of his mother who was looking upon her husband. But Leathan was not happy with his current position. Wriggling in Aislinn's arms until she placed the bairn down near his father. Yet he bypassed Camdyn completely and much to her shock, came directly to her. His small hand tapping her knee as if trying to comfort her. His little brow furrowed as his floppy slightly curled, chestnut hair falling into his eyes, causing him to swipe it out of his way with a frustrated hand. "LarLar, no sad anymore." His voice took on a command that was most often heard from his father, as if he could stop her from feeling this way just from his order. A tiny, half smile broke free as she looked into his familiar eyes, she may have kept her distance as much as possible, but living in such close quarters meant she knew everything about her nephew, she just had no idea he seemed to care for her in anyway. Or was this him just trying to make anyone feel better?

Unable to help herself, she reached out and pushed back the soft locks which had once more fallen into his eyes. His smile was cherubic. "What are you doing awake at such a time?" His small face crumpled as he dove into her arms, shock held her still for a moment as Leathan burrowed his way into her cloak and held onto her neck tightly. "LarLar was sad." It was such a solemn statement from such a small, young voice. The numbness disappeared in that instant and the dam broke, the tears ran free and sobs rocked through Larena's chest. Her arms curled around the small body which clung to hers.