Page 41 of It Began With A Kiss
“I am sure the family will adjourn to Dristan’s solar after we have eaten our fill. There is much news to share,” Patrick said and then began eating his fill once more.
Dristan at last made it to his place at the table. He reached over to Aiden and clasped his arm in a hearty welcome. He reached for his goblet that a servant had just filled with wine and raised his cup in a toast.
“To our family that is once more reunited,” Dristan proclaimed, as he looked upon the MacLaren siblings.
Another loud chorus ofhear hearsechoed in the great hall. Dristan sat and began filling his trencher much as Patrick had done. After he had eaten his fill, he asked his wife and her siblings to join him in his solar. They all made their way upstairs and the door was shut behind Patrick who entered last.
“We have spent far too many years apart and even longer it seems since we have all been together in the same room,” Dristan stated, looking around the room.
“’Twould make everything complete if only Lynet and Ian were here,” Amiria said, clearly upset they were missing their sister and her husband.
Aiden went to Amiria and gave her hand a squeeze. “’Tis a long way for her to come for a visit but mayhap you shall see her soon.”
Sabina took one of the vacant chairs. “Tell us about the news from Bamburgh, Dristan. We have been dying of curiosity since you left.”
Dristan took a chair by the hearth and pulled his wife into his lap, not caring that others witnessed such an open display of affection. “To be honest, I had not thought I would be home this soon. I thought for certain I would be boarding a ship for France.”
Amiria ran her hand over his black hair before resting it upon his cheek. “I am most thankful you are home.”
Dristan took her hand and kissed it. “Needless to say, King Henry has no need of my immediate services, although, as you know, that could change. The rebellion between the king and his sons, Young Henry and Richard, is at an end after the king learned his heir died of a fever.”
“Young Henry is dead?” Aiden asked with wide eyes.
“Aye,” Dristan answered, continuing. “The king plans to name Richard his heir, although I highly doubt Richard will gain any power until the death of his father. There are other rumors floating around court as to what will happen with Aquitaine, but I cared not to listen to idle gossip. The king informed me I could return to Berwyck, and I left as soon as I was given leave to do so, bringing Patrick home with me.”
“I am surprised Riorden did not join you,” Aiden commented, knowing how close the two men were.
“He was just as anxious to return to his wife as I to return to mine. We wasted little time with pleasantries other than releasing Patrick from his oath of fealty to the man he served these many years.” Dristan turned his attention to Aiden. “Amiria told me whilst I supped that you are now wed and hold Dunborough in King Henry’s name. Are you certain you do not wish to hold it instead for the Scottish king?”
Aiden’s eyes went wide that the couple had held such a conversation over their dinner, but it certainly sped up lengthy conversations when all he wanted was to also return to his home. “My sister knows me well. I only wanted to come here to let you know of my decision to remain in Scotland and be loyal to their king since I am now in charge of the Ferguson Clan.”
“You shall be considered a traitor!” Patrick yelled out in anger whilst bolting from his chair.
Dristan held up his hand and Patrick returned to his seat. “Aiden will no more be considered a traitor within these halls than Lynet and Ian. They are family and family will always be welcome here at Berwyck.”
Amiria turned to face Aiden whilst tears began forming in her eyes. “We will miss you, Aiden.”
“Tears for me again, Amiria?” Aiden teased.
“’Tis this pregnancy that makes me so melancholy. I blame Dristan,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest even whilst Dristan laughed.
“I shall gladly accept any and all blame for my dearest wife’s current state of mind,” he chuckled, and began whispering in her ear. Amiria blushed and Aiden could only ponder what had caused her to do so.
They spent the rest of the evening speaking of things that had occurred over the years, each sibling telling their own story in their own way. And when Aiden went to his bedchamber that night, his heart was full of peace knowing his family here at Berwyck was in good hands. With the dawn, Aiden and Finlay left Berwyck and headed north toward home and the new life that awaited them at Dunborough Castle.
CHAPTER 31
Iona clutched the threadbare blanket around her, trying to retain whatever warmth her body still had. She was trembling from the cold and starving. ’Twas no way anyone should die, but she had peace with the knowledge that she would meet the good Lord above soon. She was forgotten in this hellhole. No one had come to save her, and she was beyond the point of saving herself. She just didn’t have the strength to fight anymore.
A flash of light brought her out of her daze, and she had a hard time adjusting her eyes to the brightness. Was it real or just a figure of her imagination? At this point in her imprisonment, ’twas hard to tell. She had given up hope days ago… or was it weeks? In the darkness, she had lost any sense of how much time had passed her by.
The bars to her cell swung open and a bowl of what only could be termed gruel was set down next to her. A cackle of glee left her captor’s lips. Iona could only wish she had the energy to fight her tormentor.
“Come tae gloat, Diedre?” Iona asked in a meek tone through cracked lips. Her eyes attempted to focus once again to see if this woman thought to bring her water, but Diedre’s hands were empty. Iona supposed she should be thankful the woman brought whatever slop was to serve as nourishment.
“’Tis no sense in gloating when ye are not up tae the task of verbally sparing with me, Iona,” her enemy chuckled, rubbing her hands together. “And just in case ye are interested, no one misses ye above. ’Tis as though ye never existed.”
Iona did not take the bait, though she could not believe that not even a single person was searching for her. It made no sense for the clan to forget their lady. Her hands trembled as she reached for the bowl, and she scooped the food into her mouth with the spoon. She tried not to gag. This was not even fit for the pigs! But since this was the only bit of food she would apparently get, she consumed the gruel all the same. She could only hope the food would somehow give her strength to fight this woman the next time she returned.
