My Highlander, My Love, Part Three:Forbidden Love, The Greatest Love Story Ever Told.

The Love of a Fay

The door burst open and Carly walked in the chambers casting a sideways glance at her mistress before she dumped a pile of logs next to the hearth.

"My Lady, will you join Lady Mara for breakfast this morning? She has asked for your appearance at the breakfast table."

Alana wiped the tears from her eyes, she had not slept a wink the night before, because she was overwhelmed with anxiety.

"I'm really not in the mood to dine with anyone today. Mayhap you should bring my breakfast tray to my chambers and I can eat in silence."

"Nay, my Lady, the Laird told me sternly to make sure you are not left alone, he threatened my head on a silver platter should I do so!" Clary argued.

"Tell me Carly, does your master really act upon his threats?"

Carly looked down to her bare feet, "No my Lady, but I want to gain the position as head servant and I don't want to anger my master less he give the position away to another. I have worked hard to get where I am and do not want to jeopardize elevating my station in this household as head servant. I need the extra coins to help my needy family." She said softly and Alana's heart went out to her.

"Very well then," Alana reluctantly said, and flipped the warm blankets off her body, "please help me get dressed, I don't want to disappoint Lady Mara."

Wiping her hands on her worn out apron, Clary hastened over to the chair where a new purple gown lay and grabbed it, loving the silky feeling, as she caressed the material with her fingers. "''Tis a beautiful gown my lady," she said softly, ignoring the tinge of jealousy that pinched in her heart. Exhaling a sigh of regret that she was not born into riches, she walked over to where Alana sat and waited until she stood to her feet.

"Has the Laird taken his seat in the dining area yet?" Alana threw her curious eyes on the servant girl, and held her breath, waiting for Clary's response.

"Nay, he and a few chosen warriors have gone hunting, the pantry is running low on food supplies, and it must be filled before the first hint of snow." Clary responded innocently, as she helped Alana step into her gown.

Surprised by Clary answer, Alana rolled her eyes, "I can't imagine anything running out in this household, the Fays can easily snap their fingers and fill up the pantry in seconds!"

"Nay mistress," Clara finished buttoning the last of the golden buttons down Alana's back, "the Laird doesn't use his magic on a daily basis, he is a great warrior and loves to hunt, and never disappoints us, they always return with plenty venison to last the entire winter."

Alana was impressed with her husbands way of thinking, but withheld from saying so. "Tell me Clary, how long does the hunting party stay away for when they go hunting?"

"They can be gone up to a fortnight my lady, they always stop at the nearby village for a tankard of ale before they head home, and the Laird never fails to stop at the shops to buy the items on the list that lady Mara gives him, and being that he is kind to all of us he never fails to bring back trinkets and lace, just a little something for everyone." Carly hoped she wasn't giving too much information to the mistress, she was the Lairds wife after all and might not take it too kindly that he brings back gifts for the servant girls, then her friends will blame her for opening her big mouth.

Alana's heart sank, she wasn't quite sure why she was feeling disappointment that her husband will be gone a fortnight, she should be glad that she will not have to suffer having him around for a couple of weeks.

Slipping her dainty feet into the glass slippers, Alana lifted her head, straightened her shoulders and walked to the door, "Fetch me my shawl please, I feel a chill in the air." She said as soon as she opened the door and felt a draft surround her.