Ailsa (A Medieval/Renaissance Romance)

Scotland, 1503

She clutched the carefully wrapped parcel close to her chest as she climbed over the cliffs. It was all she had left of her father, and she was determined that it would not be destroyed along with everything else.

She finally reached the shore and looked around carefully to be sure she was alone. Seeing no one, Ailsa carefully unwrapped the layers of cloth and withdrew the beautiful violin and bow. She brushed off the carved wood, then tightened the bow hairs and adjusted the strings. Closing her eyes, she drew the bow across the strings and played a beautiful, haunting melody. It was as though the world stopped for her; the seagulls ceased their chattering and settled along the shore, the wind seemed to die down. Even the ocean itself seemed to crash a little quieter against the shore as her fingers played the sweeping melody.

She didn't know that someone heard her, or that they stayed hidden until she was long gone. She knew only that she found peace here, peace in the midst of her terrible life. It was these stolen moments of joy that kept her from throwing herself from the high cliffs she stood upon, falling to a death that would end her misery.

She couldn't know how her life would change after that day.