Page 98 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
No, he needed to end it now, and as wild and crazy as his idea was, he was going to see it through.
“Thomas!” Astrid cried out before the peat moss gave way.
Thomas plunged into the murky depths. The icy water poked and jabbed him like a thousand little needles all vying to draw blood. But the cold wasn’t his main concern. The current had been faster than he had expected, carrying him farther than he could have anticipated.
As his lungs burned for air, he drove his sword upward into the moss and held fast to the hilt. The blade sliced through the moss, and for once he wished he had a blunt blade.
The current thrashed him around as he struggled to get back to the surface. Just a single gulp of air—he didn’t care how stale or sour—was all he wanted. It was the drive that pushed him up, clawing and scraping away at the slug that had yet to solidify.
With each swipe of his hand, the water grew darker. His lungs screamed and begged for relief that would never come. The temptation to give in, to open his mouth and let the murky water fill his lungs, was overwhelming.
“Thomas!” Astrid’s muffled cry caught his attention. Her desperation and terror tugged at his heart.
Astrid.
Thomas felt as if his whole life had culminated in this moment. How long had he gone through life following the current and ended up on his feet? Even now, when his doom was so close, his faith was strong.
I will see ye again. Just hold on, Astrid. Hold on, me love.
Releasing the hilt of his sword, he let the current carry him through the bog. Where he would end up, he didn’t know, but he trusted that where he landed would be exactly where he needed to be.
As his chest heaved and trembled, struggling for air that wouldn’t come, his head grew foggy. The darkness was closing in on him. He could see it shrouding him like a veil. But then the icy pricks returned.
“Chalium!” he shouted as he broke the surface and gulped in all the air his body so desperately needed.
Spinning about, he hunted for his foe, but there was no sign of Laird Chalium or Astrid.
His heart sank. “Astrid?”
What have I done?
“Astrid!” he called as he hunted the boggy water for any signs of his beloved.
“Thomas?” Astrid’s voice was like a trumpet from heaven.
He turned to find her crawling over the roots of the tree, blood dripping from her forehead.
“Ye’re hurt,” he groaned as he pulled himself up to the trunk of a tree, using its roots for support.
“So are ye,” she answered.
“Where’s Chalium?” Thomas asked as he lifted his weary head to look at her.
She shook her head. “He went under and hasnae come up.”
“Stay there, I’m comin’ to get ye.”
“Nae that I have a choice. I’ve been bound to the tree all morning,” Astrid said.
“Well, now, who’s fault is that? From what I recall, nay one told ye to leave the castle. In fact, I’m quite sure I told ye to stay put,” Thomas grumbled as he tried to find a way to use the tree roots to get back to her.
Going through the current would take too long and wear him out faster.
“Olivia,” Astrid blurted out, panic lacing her voice.
“She’s fine. I came across her and gave her me horse to get back to the castle. I’m certain she’ll bring reinforcements soon enough,” Thomas reassured her as he jumped over the treesuntil he landed on the mossy island. Moving with caution, he tiptoed over to her.
“Well, that’s good news,” Astrid said.
