‘Madelaine!’ Sarah gasped as I trudged back into my rooms, taking my hands and leading me to a nearby chair.
‘Not my blood.’ I sighed, collapsing into the provided chair, ‘Hamish’s. He was attacked last night.’
‘It’s nearly dawn my Lady.’
I looked out the window to watch the light peak through the heavy curtains, as though it too was anxious for the night to be over.
‘I could hardly leave to sleep while Lord Tomas ran about.’
‘He is a man,’ Sarah said gently, ‘and Lord of this city, I’m sure sleepless nights are a normality for him.’
I remembered his gentle eyes, his direct and purposeful questions that eased the men. He was a born leader, a compassionate and concrete man that protected his men and built a trust that I admired.
‘I wanted to be there, his relationship with his men is much different to my father’s, or any other kind of command I’ve witnessed. It’s almost as though… he understands where they’re coming from. He soothes their concerns with logic and promises only what he knows he can achieve.’
‘And Hamish?’ Sarah asked quietly from behind me, a steaming jug of water in her hands.
I felt my insides burn with anger, hiding the fear that curled in my stomach. It spread through me once again, that searing fear that had kept me up all night as he lay bone white on the pallet.
‘A fool.’ I muttered, ‘thinking he could hastily bandage up his wounds and report as though they were scratches.’ My body shook as my mind’s eye conjured up the slashes across his ribs, his life’s blood dripping down his torso like rain. The herbalist’s wide eyes as she took in his injuries, her call for the village physician.
‘Will he live?’ Sarah asked, her voice low and calm. I looked up at her and realised I had gripped her skirts tightly, her body bending over me with a warm, damp cloth in her hands.
‘He should. However his wounds will take a while to heal. He is being called the “unnamed hero,” though I have no idea why.’
‘He is brave.’ Sarah said as she wiped my face, quickly turning the cloth crimson. I nodded and stood, allowing her to help me undress. As the layers fell away from my body I felt more at peace. Sarah’s hair was more dischelved on one side, as though she had fallen asleep on a chair, her head pressed on her elbow. I had found her so on many a morning and felt a stab of guilt. She had waited up for me.
‘Get some rest Sarah,’ I said, ‘we will both rest. Then I shall visit the men again.’
She nodded under the pile of fabric in her arms, neatly folding them on the back of a chair. ‘As you wish, I will be of little use tired anyhow.’
I climbed into the unfamiliar bed, allowing my head to rest upon the numerous pillows. ‘No use tired.’ I agreed softly.
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Hamish:687Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3fDlQwgxH
I watched her flow across to my bed, her eyes wide on her pretty face. The intense need to hold her gripped me so strongly I felt my body try to pull itself up.
‘No don’t!’ she exclaimed, pressing her little hand into my shoulder, ‘if you hurt yourself on my account I don’t think I could stand it!’
Warmth bloomed through my chest, biting through the pain. She’s to be married idiot. The herbs the herbalist had given me made my head seem to float, my thoughts like cotton candy.
Her eyes warmed with amusement and she turned to ask if I was given anything for the pain to the herbalist hovering behind her.
‘I have been,’ I mumbled, ‘stop fussing.’
She laughed then, as though I was missing out on the joke, ‘Hamish, you have the goofiest expression right now.’
Sarah behind her chuckled and I looked out the window, trying to discern what they meant. There I saw the biggest love struck smile I had ever seen. It curled up around my cheekbones and lit the fire in my confused eyes. I met Sarah’s gaze behind her mistress and she grinned, an eyebrow raised as though to say, ‘good to know you’ve worked yourself out.’ I blushed, only causing Lainie is burst out into giggles, a sound like a sparrow’s song.
‘What do you suppose he’s thinking Sarah?’ she asked, turning to include her Lady’s maid.
‘Perhaps the proposal of some bar maid,’ Sarah answered smoothly, an evil glint in her intelligent eyes. Lainie grinned, lighting up her features to a breathtaking glow. Her eyes were bright and amused, her sympathetic nature haloing her face, her rich dark hair curling around her shoulders the way she liked it to. The sunlight through the window glinted off her hair as though it delved into its’ touch.
I watched appalled as my hand reached out to touch it, wrapping the strand that fell close to my bed around my fingers.
‘You’re so beautiful Madelaine.’ I murmured, ‘every inch of you, from your demanding presence, to your perfectly delicate features. Kindness plays around the edges of your vision, your scent lovelier then the most fragrant of flowers.’
A blush slowly coloured from the hollow of her collarbones, rising up to bloom across her cheeks.
‘I’ll have what he’s having.’ A melodious voice laughed, coming by to stand possessively behind Madelaine. His voice was light, but when he looked at me a warning flared up in his eyes. Lord Tomas turned to admire the beauty before him, taking in the rich lilac dress that spiralled down her body and highlighted the fragility of the hollow of her throat.
‘Madelaine, how was your rest?’ He purred, smiling when she glanced at him. Her attention seemed to bring out the light in his eyes, as though she was the candle to his flame. She beamed in his light, gazing up into his eyes. I grunted as pain spread through my ribcage, a dull throbbing that I knew had nothing to do with cuts coated in ointment and bandages. My small sound instantly brought Lainie’s eyes to mine, reaching out to gently trace her fingers over the bandages.
‘Are you okay Hamish?’ she asked, concern lacing her words.
‘Stop fussing,’ I repeated, watching her mouth curve with my own. ‘I’ll heal.’
‘We have the best healers second only to the king himself.’ Lord Tomas said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and making my insides squirm. ‘your man needs his rest if he is to recover and return to your father.’
I glanced at the Lord’s hard eyes. Usually merry with his men, he did not like the familiarity she had with me. He wanted me gone. I fought the foolish grin that wanted to make an appearance. This Lord with his large garrison, his title, castle and land was threatened by me, a mere captain. She placed a hand on my arm protectively, looking up at the Lord.
‘I want him to stay here.’ She said, ‘I want to make him my bodyguard.’
‘My lady I-’
‘these organised bandits seem more like a rouge force than cutthroats.’ She cut in smoothly, ‘I want to have a man with me that I know and trust.’
‘Do you not trust my men?’ he asked incredibly.
She moved her hand away from my arm and pressed it over his, ‘no My Lord, but I do not wish to take any from your hands. Captain Hamish would be under your command of course; I only wish to have a peace of my homeland with me.’
Lord Tomas met her eyes, her gaze turned from me. Whatever her expression, it captivated the powerful man. His brown eyes hazed over under hers, a hand reaching out to stroke a finger gently down her cheek. Such a gentle movement from the impressive man, one that had my body seizing up in anger. I realised I wanted to touch her, to hold her. This man who had not known of her existence but a few months ago was granted the gift to touch her. To marry her. To love her.
My eyes clouded over and I lay down, a hand flung over my face to hide the rage burning inside me. This was too painful to bear. I wanted to tear his arms off his body. I wanted to get out of this castle as soon as possible. I wanted to protect Laine.
‘Well My Lord?’ I grumbled, ‘what will you have me do?’
I could sense his level gaze on me, his voice soft, ‘I shall write to your master and ask for your services in protection of the lady, and in regaining your strength. You shall reside with my men for now. They view you as a hero, so you shall have no trouble from them.”
I moved my arm an inch to meet the warning in his eyes, seeing Madelaine’s delicate hand resting on his.
‘As you wish.’ I replied softly, providing a grim smile.
For now.
‘Come Madelaine,’ he said gently, ‘let him rest and keep me company a while before my next meeting. I have something to show you.’
She rose from her seat, taking his offered hand. She turned her head to watch me thoughtfully, a twinkle in her mischievous eyes.
‘Get better Captain, I have need of you.’
At my grunt her smile turned into a grin before sobering and shinning an alluring smile at the Lord.
As they walked away I found myself wondering just how much Madelaine had picked up. And more importantly, who was playing who?
O.O
Sarah waited for the Lord and Lady to glide out before walking briskly over to me.
‘You’re an idiot.’ She said, crossing her arms, ‘this isn’t something you should be playing with.’
‘With what?’ I asked noncommittedly, ‘I’m an injured hero, allow me my rest.’
‘You know Lady Madelaine has a soft spot for you. Don’t ruin her chance to a good life because your feelings are worth more than her.’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘you’re so beautiful Madelaine,’ she began and I glared at her, daring her to continue.
‘I am drugged woman!’ I growled, ‘do not blame a drugged man for his actions!’
‘You are not just any man,’ she said softly, ‘you can have any woman you wish, why must you demand things that are out of your reach?’
‘I have not done anything wrong!’ I snarled, ‘leave me be!’
‘Captain Hamish.’ Sarah snapped, ‘Lady Madelaine is to be married in less than a month. Do her the curtesy of being her captain, and not an inconvenience.’
I opened my mouth but she silenced me with a look. ‘I’m warning you.’ She said, ‘not threatening you. Do not put her life at further risk for pretty sentiments and daydreams. It will kill you both.’
She rose from the chair and rearranged her skirts, darting between the sick beds after her mistress.
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