Branded by a Warrior (39 page)

“Then to hell you shall return
!
”

Across the field Elisabeth watched Broderick and Kincaid, locked in an epic battle of swords. Both equally ma
tched in height and weight,
it was obvious who the better
swordsman was.
Broderick exerted
little energy as Kincaid wildly slashed his blades towards Broderick.
Like he was swatting flies Broderick easily blocked each of Kincaid’s lunges as if he was practicing with a child.
Laying blow after blow on Kincaid, Broderick was easily handling the arrogant bastard.

Behind her Kendrix easily kept Douglas warriors away from his daughter as Elisabeth picked off warriors with her skilled shooting, bodies lay bleeding into the white snow as the moon shone upon them under the shadowy mountain.

Beside her she heard Conn growl, turning a moment too late, Elisabeth screamed in agony as a arrow pierced her on her right side, directly
into her
rib, effectively dropping her to her knees.

Hearing her scream
pierce
the night sky, Broderick turned around to see Elisabeth fall on her knees, a long arrow protruding out of her side. Locking eyes with her
across the battlefield
he
watched her pull the arrow out and scream his name, behind him he felt Kincaid move
.

In one smooth motion Kincaid took advantage of Broderick’s lack of concentration and brought his broadsword
down upon Broderick, slashing him
across his chest, dropping him to his knees. Looking up at Kincaid, Broderick saw the scar
r
ed, bleeding laird smile as he squeezed the hilt of his blade.

“Now, you die Broderick. Your widow will make a lovely bride
.
”

Still kneeling upon the frozen ground Broderick felt the blood ooze freely from his large wound as he readied his blade, both injured and breathless he focused his energy on the large warrior who stood above him, looking up he
clutched
his chest as Kincaid laughed.

“Stand up Broderick, at least die like a man
!
” Kincaid taunted as he staggered
, barely remaining on his feet, the one-eyed laird was close to falling down himself.

Using his shortsword to stand up, Broderick slowly stood up and clutched his blades just as an arrow grazed past his face
from directly behind him, sinking deep into
Kincaid’s
good eye
.

Moving like lighting, Broderick jerked his shortsword up into Kincaid’s still beating heart, “Back to Hell Kincaid” he spat, jerking the sword back out and kicking the still standing laird down with one swift movement.
He watched as the life went out in the sadistic bastard
’
s eyes. Assured that he as dead, he turned around to see Elisabeth standing, her
bow notched with another arrow ready to fire if need be.

Raising his bloodied weapons, he and his men sounded their battle cry. The battle was over, Kincaid was dead and the rest of his army surrendered easily after he had fallen. Lowering his weapons his eyes swept over his brother and Isobel ensuring himself they were okay, shifting his gaze over to his wife he saw her stumble as she started to walk towards him.

Sheathing his weapons he ran across the field to her, catching her in his arms as her knees hit the ground; the right side of her gown was saturated with her blood.

Cradling her in his arms he kissed her forehead as he heard Kendrix ordering the army and calling for Elisabeth’s warhorse.

“Broderick, your chest!” S
he cried
seeing his wound up close.

“I’ll be alright l
ass, we need to get you home!” H
e
retorted as he walked towards the black stallion she rode here.

“Put me down Broderick, I can ride, I’m just lightheaded from the blood loss
. Your injury is most severe!” S
he argued, trying to get the injured man to let her go.

“We ride together Elisabeth, I will never let you go aga
in,” H
e barked, swinging up onto her horse with her in his arms effortlessly.

Behind them Kendrix gave orders to Ajax for the army, as he tossed Isobel upon a horse, and followed her into the saddle. They would ride home while the army followed behind after things were finished.

Nodding to Elisabeth and Broderick, Kendrix spurred his horse and galloped out of the burning camp with his daughter in his
arms
, the wolfhounds followed close behind, still protecting the smallest member per Elisabeth’s orders.
Following Kendrix out of the camp
Broderick rode with one arm protectively wrapped around her waist, holding her tightly against him as they stormed through t
he forest towards his castle.

Broderick’
s mind raced, he had yet to mention the babe within her womb
and neither had Elisabeth
. Did the arrow hit it? Would she bleed out? He had seen many men fall to
small arrow
wounds, and
she was losing a substantial amount
of blood. Holding her in his arms he felt his own chest throbbing, growing warm with blood as the injury continued to bleed. Because of his
well-laid
tartan, Elisabeth had yet to see the gravity of his injury, he guess
ed
that it rivaled her own she sustained when her family was
murdered. He was losing a considerable amount of blood, he knew that, yet he didn’t want to alarm the woman in his arms.
He simply wanted to hold her close to him; he had missed her so much. He had come close to losing her tonight, yet they had won the day and Kincaid was dead.
Together they rode back to the castle, trailing close behind Kendrix and Isobel, the torches of the castle illuminated the tall
stonewalls as they approached hours later.

Riding home Elisabeth searched her heart, how was she going to tell her husband she was with child, after that battle? Would he hate her? Would he scorn her for her reckless behavior?

“We are almost home my love, this time I won’t screw up welcoming you home Lis, you don’t know how desperately I
y
earn to fall asleep next to you again. Jesu, I missed that, I missed you so much
. I cannae believe that I am married to the King of England’s cousin and the rightful heir to his crown. You really are destined to be a queen Lis, there would be no one finer to ascend the title than you, you have royalty running through your veins
.” H
e mused as he leaned forward and whispered into her ear.

“I care not for the crown Broderick, only for my husband and his legacy. My cousin will produce an heir and I will be absolved of my duty to the crown. I want nothing more than to live our lives in peace and solitude of your lands until my dying day. Sc
otland suits me… I am her queen.
England has no appeal to me
.” M
ore truthful words had never been spoken from her lips. She had never cared nor wanted to be in line for the throne, it had only haunted her since she was a babe.

“Good, because your husband cares only for you, and greatly dislikes
England
and sharing you” he replied, kissing the side of her temple as he squeezed her gently as they crossed the drawbridge, “Welcome home my love
.
”

“Home” sh
e hummed, smiling as they arrived safely into the protection of the bailey.
As Kendrix and Broderick rode their horses over the drawbridge the resounding cheering of the remaining warriors who were left to guard the castle echoed off the tall walls of Castle MacMillan. Everyone was celebrating the return of Laird MacMillan and his family.

Sliding off the saddle as soon as they stopped, she looked up to see Broderick’s chest stained red with blood.
“To your study, now!” S
he pointed, demanding his attention immediately. Uncaring of the men who looked on, her eyes wide with horror as she looked upon her husband’s chest as he dismounted.

“Aye wife
.” H
e easily agreed, smiling a fierce wife. Tossing the re
ins to a stable hand, he saw that
Kendrix easily gave orders for the
guards, and returning warriors as he carried a sleeping Isobel in his arms.
Reaching down, he clasped Elisabeth’s hand and started for the castle, a very welcoming view. At the stairs, Rhona stood in tears as she watched them walk towards her. The old hen cared for him like a mother for years, he too cared deeply for his old nursemaid.
Rhona shed tears of joy as she watched them all return.

Beside him, he heard his wife hail to Rhona.

“We are alive Rhona, never fear, but I do need you to send up hot water and supplies immediately to Broderick’s study
.
”

“Happy to see ya dears, never doubted ye for a moment Elisabeth, not for one moment” she called, turning back into the castle
, throwing the doors wide
in search of her mistress’s supplies.

Looking down at his petite wife
, he marveled at her composure. She was wounded and just underwent fulfilling her vow to revenge her family. Kincaid was dead and they had all arrived home alive and safe, most women would be shriveling under immense pressure and
the
emotions tonight caused. His wife however, was helping him walk into his castle, and sti
ll acting like she was a queen. She was
amazing. Her strength and tenacity was inspiring, few lairds and kings had such courage and wits about them, let alone a three and twenty woman who was with child.

Walking up towards his tower, the
same
tower where earlier today he had caused such a rift between
himself and Kendrix
, along with accusing his wife of grave misdeeds
,
he recounted how today could have been so different. If he had never been captured, Elisabeth would have never been present when he delivered sweet vengeance against Kincaid and his men. Kendrix was
right;
Kincaid had played into her hand perfectly.

Unlocking the door to the tower, he reached up and grabbed a candle to light their way as they slowly walked up the stairs together, the wolfhounds passing them as they ran ahead.

“How is ye arm Lis? I am amazed at the blows ye blocked from Ivan tonight, I’ve never seen a stronger man in all of my days
.” H
e admitted as they walked into the study.

“Sore, my entire body is sore
.” S
he
confessed
, escorting him to the chair before the fire.
Her wound had stopped bleeding over an hour ago. She was confident it posed no threat to her health, she assured him time and again tonight on their ride home.
Broderick of course was being ridiculously overprotective and was overly worrie
d about her. She had missed the way he worried about her so. It was good to have him home.

Broderick groaned as he sat down, reaching up to clutch his chest in discomfort as he scowled. She knew he hated showing any weakness. Seeing him get comfortable she turned around and stoked the fire, tossing in a few more logs to add much needed heat and light.

Elisabeth turned around and sighed,
home
. She wa
s finally home. Her husband,
his brother and niece were
all safe
, and they were
all
home. Seeing the dogs perk up, she heard Rhona at the base of the stairs asking permission to come up, hailing down to her she watched as hot water and supplies wer
e brought.
Rhona talked Broderick’s ear off while the staff brought buckets of hot water and fresh clothes, food and supplies. Seeing that the young couple had everything they needed, Rhona kissed Broderick’s head and gave Elisabeth a warm hug
before she
quickly disappeared
.

Finally, alone with Broderick in their private retreat emotions swept over her like a stampeding herd. She could
let her guard down.
Looking at her husband,
the tears finally sprang forth.
Running across the room she jumped into his lap and wrapped her arms around him and cried. She was unafraid of appearing weak or womanly, she had longed for her husband for weeks upon weeks. The sadness, the lonely sleepless nights she had endured, the pain in her heart and the realization she was carrying his child
. She needed nothing more than Broderick’s embrace. Sobbing incoherently into his chest, she felt his large hands run up her back, soothing her as she cried.

“Shhh Lis, we are home and safe lass,” he purred, gathering her closer to him. He rubbed her back as she
cried;
finally the woman showed her feminine side and let some of her built up emotion show, “You were incredible Lis, simply incredible. I owe you my life once again, in fact, I think you saved my life several times tonight love,” he admitted in earnest.