Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (55 page)

Through his eyes, she was perfection. He knew the
scars were there, felt them when his hand slid down her back, but saw only her
beautiful courage.

As he unraveled her braided hair, he felt a pang of
remorse for not doing so earlier, before they made love. Running his fingers
through her long, golden tresses, he was amazed by the thickness and silky soft
texture.

Gavin smiled remembering what his men say when they
see her enter the bailey.
‘I do love when the sun comes out to brighten our
dreary day, Laird Gavin.’
Their comments varied, but all referred to her as
the sun, even on cloudy or rainy days.

He parted her hair to kiss her spine, and then said,
“Ye are my angel, my sun, my love, my little one.”

Ella turned to lie on her back, then grabbed the back
of his head, and flowered kisses upon his face. “I love ye more than my own
life, but. . .”

He pulled back to stared down at her. “But?”

Smiling, she replied, “But, I nae have cute names for
you.”

His grin reached his eyes, she saw, then added, “Well,
other than mule and barbarian, but they are nae so cute.”

Gavin laughed in a deep, jovial way before he said,
“Ye are a bonny fine lass, and a spitfire to boot. I predict ye will keep me
amused all the days of my life. Howbeit, I will nae be called mule when I’m in
bed with my wife, but barbarian . . . aye, barbarian I like verra much.”

“I’ll call ye knave if you don’t kiss me.”

“With pleasure, my love with, with a great deal of
pleasure.”

It was mid afternoon when the blissful couple finally
emerged from their chamber. Gavin decided to spend the remainder of the day
with his wife, watching her tend to the villagers’ various ailments and
injuries, then later play with the children. The most memorable part of the
afternoon came when he helped her teach Thea the basics in swordplay.

Thea was a quick learner, fast and agile, too. After
an hour the little sprite needed a moment’s rest, but she encouraged her
instructors to do mock battle. Ella readily agreed. Gavin, on the other hand,
groaned in dismay.

It was bad enough that his sweet wife was all for
impaling him with a wooded sword, but it was made worst when his family came
out to watch. His brothers and Bowen cheered for Ella and offered instructions
on how to best strike him. His mother, however, would have encouraged him, but
she was too busy making threats.

“I’ll tan yer backside if ye hurt my delicate angel,
Gavin.”

When he wisely yielded to his wife, Thea consoled him
with a pat on the arm and words of encouragement.

“Dinna feel bad Laird Gavin, mayhap Ella will practice
with ye, and one day ye will be able to beat her. And dinna fear, I will nae
tell my papa.”

Sitting in the great hall for the evening meal a few
hours later, Thea lived up to her word and told not a soul about Ella defeating
him in mock battle. It was Bowen who took that honor, and even demonstrated
with the help of Tavish the events of the afternoon. The Macleods were vastly
amused, and as their joyous laughter filled the hall, Gavin just shook his head
with a broad smile.

Throughout the night his gaze continued to fall on
Ella’s contagious smile and dancing glade-green eyes. He felt such pride with
her beside him, as he held her hand and watched her dazzle their people with
her keen wit and spirited nature.

When the meal concluded Paen, Tavish, Edric and Osgood
stood and presented Ella with a gift, which they had been working on
unbeknownst to Gavin.

Osgood gave the signal for silence, and instantly the
hall went quiet. His usual jovial expression turned serious when he turned to
Ella and said for all to hear, “When the black guard first met ye, we thought
ye the worst kind of hellion from Hades.”

Laughter rippled through the air while a pretty blush
spread throughout Ella’s cheeks.

Osgood continued with a smirk, “But, it dinna take
long to notice yer fiery spirit and courageous heart.”

Even though Osgood was the largest Macleod and one of
the most feared Highlanders in Scotland, he was also complete mush when he
became emotional.

Turning to look out over the crowd, he stated, “All
ken the brave tale of how Lady Ella saved Gabriel, nephew to Laird Macleod, son
to Keir Mackenzie and grandson to Laird Alex Mackenzie. But, most here this
eve, dinna ken that on our return journey home, while on Scot soil, we were
attacked by English swine. And, they outnumbered us five to one.” He paused for
a moment, when he continued his voice choked with emotion.

“We were victorious that fateful day because an angel
chose to bless us.” He turned to face her once again and said, “Lady Ella, ye
will always be our angel, our wee warrior.” He winked at her, knowing how she
hated to be called wee, then cleared his voice and faced his kinsmen.

“I speak on behalf of Laird Gavin’s blackguard when I
say we have ne’er seen such exceptional skill and accuracy with a bow,
especially amidst a battle.”

When the four men of his blackguard drew their swords
then lowered themselves to one knee, Gavin understood that his men had chosen
to pledge their loyalty to his wife. This Highland tradition usually occurs
after the wedding feast of a clan’s laird, but he had postponed it due to the
complications that surrounding his marriage.

He assisted Ella to her feet, and then stood behind
her with his hands on her shoulders while his men continued.

As Paen pulled out a newly carved bow and leather
quiver of arrows, he stated with conviction, “The four men kneeling afore ye,
as well as Laird Gavin and Nicholas, ken the sentimental value of the long bow
ye used to defend us during the attack. Yer uncle, the admirable Sir James,
carved that bow with his own hands as a sign of his everlasting love for ye. It
is our deepest regret that such a fine weapon and symbolic gift was destroyed.
As a symbol of our love and devotion to ye, we recreated the original long bow
made of yew wood, pinion feathered, and sized accordingly to yer stature. The
one subtle difference is the carved inscription. Lady Ella Macleod, please
except this humble gift as well as our solemn oath of loyalty.”

With trembling hands, Ella took the lightweight bow
and read ‘In Honor of Sir James of Greystone, beloved kin to the Macleod Clan.’
As slight gasp passed her lips and tears cascaded down her face as she touched
the words that were carved into the smooth wood shaft of the bow.

After a few silent moments, she lifted her head and
listened to first Paen and Osgood, then Edric and Tavish swear to protect and
honor her all the days of her life. When they finished, each kissed her
tear-stained cheeks, then moved to stand behind Gavin on the dais.

Her eyes returned to the bow, to the magnanimous gift
that left her in awe. When Gavin’s warm hands gentle squeeze her shoulders, she
turned her buoyant gaze to him, but was unable to speak.

“Tis nae over, little one. Allow me to take yer
precious gift, while ye turn yer attention yonder,” Gavin suggested as he
pointed.

It was then Ella noticed all the tables in the hall
had been cleared away to provide space for the horde of people that seemed to
have appeared out of thin air. Gavin’s warriors moved to stand behind Bowen, a
few paces away from the dais. By the time Bowen raised his hand, the men at
arms were in methodical rows of ten, which extended the length of the hall.
Completely flabbergasted, she was unaware that Gavin had taken her bow and
placed in on the trestle table

Bowen faced her as he raised his hand to still the
shifting people behind him, then waited for complete silence before he lowered
to one knee, and was followed by every Macleod warrior in the hall. It was as
if the entire center of the hall dropped at once, and the display was breath
taking.

In a strong, clear voice Bowen gave his oath of
loyalty, which was followed by the simultaneous oaths of all the kneeling
warriors. She knew this was a tradition of the Highland clans, for the warriors
to give their oath to the laird’s wife, but it still overwhelmed her.

After the warriors dispersed to the side of the hall,
the unexpected and uncommon occurred. Led by Colban and his family, numerous
villagers came into the hall to stand before their laird’s wife.

“I, Colban McGregor, come before you on behalf of the
villagers,” he said as waved his hand in the direction of the double arched
doors that suddenly opened to the stone platform of the grand staircase that
looked out over the bailey.

Ella gasped at the number of men, women and children
that filled the large courtyard. Surrounded by darkness, the lit candles in
their hands looked like the stars had descended from the sky.

When her gaze ventured back to Colban and his family,
in unison they went to one knee. The mass that stood behind them quickly
followed, and those without swords placed their hands over their hearts. After
Colban made his pledged of loyalty, the villagers in the hall and outside in
the bailey did as well.

Ella was thankful Gavin stood behind her with his
hands atop her shoulders when she saw Lady Esme, Maeve, Ualan, Fin and all who
worked within the castle kneel and recite their oath. When they finished and
cleared to the side, she assumed it was over, but was proven wrong. The pledges
of loyalty made this night had been made by large groups of people until now.
The last came in a single pair.

The sight of young Leif and wee Thea kneeling and
pledging their honor, one after the other, shattered the last remnants of
Ella’s composure. She cried out as she fell to her knees and gathered them in
her arms.

“Thank you,” she began, then looked up, “all of you.”

The sea of warm faces that surrounded her burst out in
loud cheers and applause. The women wept tears of enchantment, while the men
nodded approvingly at her affectionate nature.

After the children scrambled away, Ella turned to
Gavin and took his hands in hers. She then stunned all watching by slowly
dropping to one knee before her husband and laird.

“Before God and my clan, I, Ella Macleod vow to love,
honor, protect ye, Gavin Macleod. I give ye my heart as I give ye my loyalty,
now and always.” The latter came out in a broken sob.

No words or gesture alone had ever affected Gavin so
profoundly. Without another thought he lifted her to stand, then kept his gaze
locked with hers as he gradually lowered himself to one knee.

“I, Laird Gavin Macleod, take ye, Ella Macleod, into
family and clan, but more importantly, I take ye into my heart and soul. I will
love and honor ye, protect and be loyal to ye, now and always.”

Before his last few words were spoken, she fell to her
knees, and when he finished she was in his arms. The thunderous cheers of the
Macleod Clan vibrated the wall of the great hall as he stood with her in his
embrace and her feet dangled in the air.

The momentous occasion confirmed Ella’s decision to
tell Gavin the origin of her birth, and about the earth-shattering day when she
killed her mother. Still encircled by his strength, she whispered, “’Tis my
greatest wish to tell you this eve about my family and my past.”

He lowered her to the ground, then cupped her face
with love shining in his eyes and said, “Aye, I would like that verra-”

His words were cut short by the ominous sound of horns
alerting the clan that something was amiss.

“Fire, in the village!” Someone shouted from the
doorway.

Pandemonium erupted in the great hall as Gavin grabbed
her upper arms and said, “I must go. Promise me ye will nae leave the castle.”

“I . . . I promise. Please, be careful,” she said in a
shaky voice.

He gave her a quick, hard kiss before saying, “Aye, my
love.” Then he was gone.

As the men of the clan took flight to put out the
fires that threatened to consume their homes, the women busied themselves
cleaning the hall and preparing for the worst. Clean linen strips, blankets,
clothes and buckets of water were set on the trestle tables, while Ella made
large quantities of salve to heal burns and alleviate pain. When the mixture of
barley seeds, anise, and comfrey was made ready and put into jars. She
distributed it to the women in the hall, along with instructions on how to
apply the remedy.

After all was said and done, Ella excused herself from
the hall to change into a more serviceable gown for tending injuries. The
moment she entered her chamber, she saw the rolled up parchment on the bed.
Chills went down her back as she careful opened it and began reading.

Ella,

It was wise for you not to reveal your true identity
and the heinous sin you committed. By the hands of either your father or
husband, you would have been killed. As you well know, your father will never
forgive you for the death of his beloved wife, and your husband would never go
against Alex Mackenzie.

As always, I will help you escape your ill-boding
future. I offer you a chance of redemption, in the eyes of your family.