Page 13

It was much later and well after the nooning hour when Gwyn and Durell returned to the keep upon their steeds to an unexpected commotion.

As they rounded the bend and gained full view of the upper bailey, she was met with the sight.

It was a fair number of unfamiliar beasts standing untended and much activity spread out before her.

It appeared at least five and twenty unknown horses graced the area with nearly as many clansmen sporting a plaid of very dark blue and black.

While the nameless faces were aplenty, she did not fear because it was obvious by the animated raised voices these were welcomed guests and perhaps even expected.

As the mother and son drew near the base of the stairs and moved their steeds cautiously between the unknown beasts, it was a boisterous voice that called out to Gwyn.

It took her completely by surprise. While his face was so familiar and the one she had only known as her husband, the light air to his words was almost shocking.

"My dearest lady!"

The breath nearly flew from within Gwyn's chest as the voice of the laird of the Chattan rang out. She was at a complete surprise because it actually sounded joyous.

"Please do come quickly! I have some clansmen I am so anxious for you to meet."

Gwyn was momentarily frozen upon her steed and dumbfounded.

It had been years since the last large party of visitors had come to their keep and nearly as long since he had shown such emotion in her presence.

She was also certain it was longer yet since he had addressed her as such or had really spoken to her at all.

His note and manner contained such obvious joy and she found herself only able to stare.

As her eyes shifted and alighted upon the two Scottish men standing next to his side, an odd sensation spread quickly through her.

They were both much closer to her own age than that of her husband's.

The one who was standing the furthest from the laird was a large warrior with bronzed skin and lengthy sandy colored hair.

He had a pleasant smile upon his face and when he turned to greet her, he bowed his head regally in respect.

But it was the dark haired warrior with the sapphire blue penetrating eyes who stood by her husband's side that made her feel a bit unsettled.

He was nearly a half a head taller then her own laird and he was so very well muscled.

Like the lighter haired clansman, he was also bronzed from the summer sun and his exposed chest glistened even now in the lowering sunlight.

Gwyn noted his darkened hair was nearly the color of the midnight sky and hung loosely past his shoulders.

But it was his strong jaw that outlined one of the most handsome faces she had ever had the chance to gaze upon that made her nearly forget to breathe.

Gwyn broke what she realized was her bold stare as she attempted to do her laird's bidding. He had summoned her to his side and that is precisely what she must do even though a strange awkwardness seemed to hang in the air.

As Gwyn stood in her stirrups and made to move from her steed, her beast suddenly spooked.

It jolted her as all the activity and loud voices rose around them.

As his hooves pounded heavily into the dirt, he began to prance sideways and in a tight circle while Gwyn stood suspended in the air half seated and half moving to dismount.

The momentum of the horse nearly made her fall and she clutched onto the mane as she began to lose her grip on the beast.

"My lady!"

The unfamiliar deep voice was spoken in a rush, yet was perceived as calming as the rising sun.

She had not seen him move but he was there at her side and grasping her waist as she fell from the beast. If the large hands had not steadied her in that very moment, she knew she would have landed heavily upon the ground.

Instead, she found herself cradled and safe and in a strong yet tender embrace.

Gwyn had no idea how the dark haired Highlander had made it from standing next to her husband and down the long stone stairway and to her side in that split second. But he was there. And in time before she was sent to do herself harm or suffer a great embarrassment.

"Whoa, beast!Whoa!"

She felt his powerful hands around her waist and a strange fluttering feeling emanated from where he held her.

He guided her to the ground more gently then she ever could have deemed possible for one so large and powerful.

As he held her tightly and steadied her, she looked up into the most captivating blue eyes she had ever had the chance to see.

In that instant, she found herself unable to speak or even utter a word.

It was as if he had stolen her breath away.

"Did you come to any harm?"

Even though the bailey was full of clansmen and horses moving everywhere, it was as if no one else were present.

She felt suddenly shy as the breath caught in her throat for some unknown reason and the moment seemed to extend contentedly onward.

That was until, over the shoulder of the magnificent clansman who held her, she gazed into the piercing dark eyes of her husband.

It was as if she had instantly moved from before the soothing warmth of a fire and out into the snows of the frostiest of winters.

Quickly, she stepped back as she lowered her gaze while speaking hurriedly.

"Yes, thank you. I am well and appreciate your kindness."

Without looking into the face of the powerful warrior who assisted her, Gwyn retreated quickly and turned from his presence.

She moved beyond the back flank of her steed in an attempt to seek out Durell.

When she found her son but a few paces away, she quickly grasped his hand and walked up the stairs to stand by her husband's side as he had commanded her only moments before.

When Gwyn reached the landing above the top stair, she did not look at the Laird Errol or the one with light hair at his side.

Instead, she simply turned to gaze over the crowded bailey below.

When her eyes alighted on the dark haired clansman who now began his confident ascent back up the stairs, she instantly averted her gaze.

For some unknown reason she was afraid of the bewildering feelings his mere presence had evoked.

Gwyn was pulled from her own awkwardness and into the words of her husband as the Laird Errol spoke while the dark haired clansmen once again gained his side.

"Lady Gwyn, this is my nephew, Iver of the McColl."

The laird of the Chattan made a wide sweeping motion of his hand to point to the warrior with the darkened hair and tantalizing eyes dressed in his deep blue plaid.

"He is the third son of my sister Cecilia who is the wife to their laird. She and her clan reside a fair distance away and near the western shores of Scotland. He and some of his own have made their journey here upon my request. I have invited them to grace my halls and fortify my armies."

Gwyn was confused by these introductions and why she had been a part of them. This had never occurred before and she was suddenly unsure of how to react. She did, however, mutter her greeting.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Iver."

"And this is his loyal man, Iver's cousin on his father's side, Donnan."

The laird of the Chattan next moved his gesture to indicate the fair haired clansman. As Gwyn once again nodded her head, she spoke her simple greeting.

"Welcome, Donnan, to the Chattan."

The laird continued.

"You must make them welcome because they will be here for a long while. Times are changing and there is much unrest in the Highlands so we welcome their presence with open arms into our family."

As decorum would dictate, Gwyn could not be rude and ignore the clansman so she turned slightly and lowered her head being careful to keep her eyes averted. For some strange reason, she found this to be easier.

"I welcome you and your men and I am very pleased you have arrived without harm. Now if you will excuse me, I must see to the arrangements for our evening sup since it is nearly upon us."

Without waiting for permission nor looking at either the laird or at the newest of arrivals, Gwyn turned quickly to move towards the keep's entry pulling Durell gently behind her. As she neared the door, her son tugged heavily upon her hand and stopped her from her progress.

"Mother, I wish to stay within the bailey and among the new men that have arrived. There is nothing for me to do in the kitchens and I much prefer their presence. Please?"

Gwyn gazed over his head and back towards the activities down in the bailey knowing she could not deny him the pleasures he sought.

She could clearly see the excitement upon his face and the pleading within his eyes was rare.

It was an eagerness she seldom had the chance to see especially since the keep in which they lived was always such a solemn place.

With a smile warming her heart, Gwyn knew she could never deny him this request realizing he needed the opportunity to be a part of the excitement.

For his entire life he had lead such a sheltered existence.

The laird rarely spoke to him and those all around treated him much the same.

This appeared to be an opportunity he had never had before and she would not deny him this one pleasure.

"Of course, Durell, you may stay and enjoy the activities. But please do not get underfoot."

Gwyn smiled gently at her son as she placed her hand upon his shoulder.

Before she had a chance to speak further or change her mind, he was gone from her side quickly running down the stairs and towards the activity below.

As she watched him disappear behind a horse, she had a warmth spread through her for all that had come to them on this day.

Whether these clansmen who had arrived knew it or not, they had injected excitement into their otherwise lonely keep.

It did not matter if these new arrivals stayed a month, a year or for the remainder of time, she felt herself fortunate.

It already appeared a wonderful diversion from their drab and dismal routine and for both she and Durell.

Gwyn understood the life these new men brought as she saw glimpses of him as he moved gaily among the crowd and could hear his excited remarks.

She had never seen him this way and it warmed her heart as a contentedness filled her inside.

As Gwyn felt the comforted smile cover her normally serene face, she moved her gaze over to the back of her husband as he stood looking over all the activity below.

He was so very different on this day and wondered at his motives for bringing these men here.

While she understood the life within the Chattan was more harsh and stilted than she had ever remembered within the MacLaren, she had to wonder if it was really so dire.

When Gwyn's eyes shifted to the powerful dark haired figure standing just on the other side of her laird, her eyes locked momentarily with those tantalizing blue eyes of his.

As a strange feeling emanated somewhere deep within her and unlike anything she had ever felt flowed through her, she quickly averted her gaze and turned hastily about.

She moved quickly to disappear into the gathering hall of her home.

Gwyn could not understand what was wrong with her.

When she closed the door in her wake, she had to momentarily lean upon its sturdy frame to steady herself.

She could barely catch her breath and her hands were visibly shaking as she thought of all that had occurred.

She shook her head and reasoned to herself.

"It is such a pleasure to have visitors."

These new arrivals, all of these warriors brought with them a hope for a reprieve from the sad and lonely life Gwyn had been living, regardless of the colors they wore.

"Gratitude. That is what I truly feel."