Page 50 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)
S ounds of thumping in the hallway gave Sorsha the alert that someone was approaching.
She could think of nothing but the war that was taking place at that very moment.
Prayers had crossed her lips throughout the morning in hopes that everyone would be safe.
She waited with anticipation, hoping that Shaw had returned.
When she saw Walen, her shoulders sagged.
Then she spotted Niahm and was pleased to see her.
“I brought ye some company and thought ye might need a distraction.” Walen supported Niahm as he guided her into the bedchamber.
Sorsha smiled at seeing her friend. “I was rather lonely. My thanks, Walen.”
Niahm’s movements were slow and when she reached the bed, she shifted to sit. Walen helped to lift her so that her back was to the headboard and then he lifted her feet to settle upon the bed covers.
“Have a good visit, ladies. I will return in a wee bit and must check in with the watch.” Walen gave a wave and then disappeared through the doorway.
“I am gladdened you came. How are you?”
Niahm grabbed her hand and held it. “I am ready to have this bairn and I worried about ye. I should be asking how ye are.”
Sorsha wrapped her arm with Niahm’s and sighed. “My leg hurts but otherwise, I feel well. ’Tis remarkable that I didn’t die in that fall. God was looking out for me.”
Her friend nodded vigorously. “Aye, indeed. There are too many people who need ye here. Shaw would have been inconsolable and the children likewise. It would’ve crushed me as well.”
“You are so kind to say so. I am worried about Shaw and the Mackintosh soldiers. They have gone, haven’t they?”
Niahm nodded. “Aye, but worry not because they were meeting several other clans. The Chattans could not defeat all of them. They were far outnumbered. Besides, nothing makes a Highlander happier than wielding a sword and fighting for any cause.”
“I never saw Shaw look so determined and I feel guilty because if not for me, he would not have a reason to go against his mother’s family.” Sorsha detested that and prayed somehow that the battle would be finished before it began.
“Oooh,” Niahm moaned and dislodged her hand. She pressed her fingers on her lower back.
“What is wrong?” Sorsha shifted sideways to search her friend’s eyes and saw the pain in the blueish-green depths.
“My back has been aching for days and ’tis getting worse.” Niahm moaned again. “I fear that this bairn might be coming…perhaps this day.”
Sorsha gasped and tried to sit up straighter, but the cumbersome brace around her leg prevented her from much movement. “Oh, we should call for help but there is no one to hear us.”
Her friend groaned and tried to roll off the side of the bed, but she was stuck and couldn’t get her body to cooperate. “I shall go.”
Sorsha grinned and pressed a hand on her upper arm. “I do not deem ye can make it out of this bed. Someone will come soon.”
“Oh, I remember… Luthor is in the hallway. Aye, Walen gave him a small sack of rounded rocks to play with whilst he stood guard. He told Walen that he would not leave the hall while ye were bedridden.” Niahm continued to rub her back, and although she tried not to show her discomfort, small sounds in her throat signaled her distress.
Sorsha called out, “Luthor, lad, come here.” She waited for him to show himself and within a moment, he didn’t disappoint. His sweet face appeared within the threshold. “Come here, lad.” She waved him forward.
Luthor scurried forth. “Aye, Mama.”
“I need you to go and find Walen. Tell him Niahm needs him. And then go to the midwife’s cottage. It’s the last cottage on the lane toward the bridge. Tell her to come quickly. Can you do that?” She had faith in him but he was quite young. Luthor nodded and turned away. “And Luthor?”
“Aye?”
“Hasten. Do not stop anywhere or speak to anyone besides Walen. Find him and send him to us and then go and fetch the midwife. Do not forget.” Sorsha watched him slip out the door.
Niahm continued to moan but now she flinched and her body tensed against the bedding.
Sorsha felt helpless to give aid to Niahm.
“Luthor is rather young and I hope he does not get distracted. Be calm, my friend, and take easy breaths when the pain comes.” She tried to distract her by making idle chatter.
“I cannot believe Corliss pushed me off the cliffside. She was not a friendly sort but to be so cruel…”
Niahm gripped her hand and squeezed it. “I believe it. Aye, she was never a friendly lass even when she was…weeeeee.” She huffed. “The pains are getting worse. I hope someone comes before this bairn decides to join us.”
Sorsha hoped so too because, in her condition, there was little she could do to help. “I pray that is so. It seems your babe is unwilling to wait.”
Finally, the sound of someone taking the stairs came along with a loud thumping. Walen rushed into the bedchamber and reached his wife. He peered at her and Sorsha gave him a concerned gaze and a small smile.
“Your bairn is coming. I sent Luthor for the midwife.”
A moment later, Edra entered and Sorsha gave a gasp of surprise when she saw who was with her. Aela smiled and approached.
“My Lady, how pleased I am to see you. Edra told me all that happened.” Aela took hold of her hand. “I have worried so for you and am gladdened that you appear well.”
Niahm groaned and Walen gently helped her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her waist and when he tried to shift her to the door, Niahm’s knees buckled. Walen said, “Come, wife, we shall get ye settled in a chamber here. There is no time to get ye back to our cottage.”
Sorsha sniffled. “Shaw found you, Aela?” She wiped at her eyes as happy tears gathered on her lashes at the oncoming birth of the bairn and that Aela had finally returned to her. “I am happy to see you and worried for you too.”
“Edra tells me that you took a great fall. I shall look you over but I see your friend there needs urgent help. Let us get her settled for the midwife and I will return.” Aela helped to hold Niahm’s arm as Walen, with painstakingly slow steps, guided her to the door.
“Niahm, I will pray you have an easy birth. I want to know the minute the baby is born. Someone better come and give me the news.” Sorsha lay back, discouraged that she couldn’t be there with her friend.
Edra pulled the bed cover over her and poured her a cup of water, adding a powder to it and mixing it with haste. “I came to give ye a wee bit of pain relief, Milady.” She pressed the cup into her hands.
Sorsha didn’t want to drink it but there was no disobeying the maidservant.
She drank a good bit and handed the cup back.
Edra set the cup back on the table and pulled the bed cover from over her leg.
Thick planks of wood tied with rope held her leg still.
Sorsha hadn’t yet seen the damage. It seemed to her that the cumbersome cure was more daunting than the pain she endured.
The initial agony lessened and her leg didn’t hurt overly, but ached now, and only once in a while did a more grueling pain twitch there.
Even the tingling in her lower leg and foot had decreased.
“Ye should get some rest, Milady.”
“But I do not wish to rest. I will not do so until I hear a word of Niahm…” But sleep she did when a drowsiness came upon her and even though she didn’t want to fall asleep, her eyes refused to cooperate and remain open.
Sorsha closed her eyes and prayed that her friend had an easy delivery, that Shaw returned soon, and gave thanks for her joy at having Aela there.
*
Grogginess thinned as the veil of sleep abated.
Sorsha used her tongue to wet her lips and took a deep breath.
Her eyes flitted open and she was unsure of the time of day.
The window shutters were closed and two candles were lit on the bedside table.
She pressed her back a bit to stretch but ceased when it caused her leg to shift.
The door opened and someone stuck their head through the threshold. She peered at Aela and smiled.
“Good morn, My Lady.” Aela entered and closed the door behind her. The dear woman crossed the chamber and set her healing satchel on the floor next to the bed. “You slept long. That is good because sleep helps us heal.”
“Aela, I am so happy you are here.”
“As am I. Before I give you a thorough look over, I wanted to tell you that Niahm had a baby boy. She and the babe are doing well.”
“Oh, a son. I am so happy for her. Walen must be beyond pleased.”
“He sure is and cannot cease telling anyone that will listen what his son looks like, the sound of his little cries, and that he is grateful that his son does not have his mother’s red hair.”
Sorsha laughed and pressed a tear away at the happiness for her friend. She couldn’t wait to see Niahm’s baby and her. “That is the most joyous news.”
Aela nodded. “Aye, she did not have too difficult a time. That babe wanted to come quickly. Now, I must say how proud of you I am. Your parents would be too. You married a charming, kind man, and have a lovely family. The Mackintosh clan has been welcoming. You found a place that shines with love.”
“I am sorry…” Sorsha set her hand on Aela’s thigh when she sat next to her on the bedding.
Aela caressed her face and smiled. “Sorry for what, My Lady?”
“I do not deserve to be called ‘My Lady’ because I should have protected you and had Shaw go and retrieve you from the Chattans sooner…”
Aela clicked her tongue. “Bah, I was safe enough there at Tor. I was more worried about you than for myself and was gladdened you were able to flee to Edinburgh. ’Twas difficult though, the not knowing what happened to you.
When Laird Shaw came to retrieve Gillian, my heart nearly burst with happiness knowing you fared well and that he would reunite you with your daughter. ”
“Still, Aela, I did not know that Shaw was going to bring Gillian home. If I had, I would have insisted that he bring you and Lister here too. You both have helped me and I care for you like family.”
“We understood, My Lady, that you were unable to at the time. If you had done so, it could have spurred Geoff’s wrath and we bided our time there. Now, no guilt for either of us. We are all safe and amongst a devoted clan.”
“What did I ever do to deserve you?” Sorsha smiled at her winsome friend pleased beyond words to be reunited with her.