Page 25

It was just three days after the significant ceremony for the McColl when Gwyn went in search of Durell.

They had long since broken their fast together in the kitchens and it was well past their time to depart for the hillside.

He had not yet come down from his chamber and Gwyn became anxious.

She moved up the stairs and in the direction of her son's room to see what had delayed him.

With sadness, she knew all too well what to expect since it had become the way of it as of late. She would find him alone and he would be troubled and speak only of those previous days when Iver and Donnan had joined them on the hillside.

"Durell, what has detained you?"

As she opened the door to her son's chamber and spoke her words, Gwyn was immediately greeted with the silence of the empty room.

"Wherever can you be?"

When she began her search for him, and found he was not anywhere within the keep, she became quite concerned.

With a nagging feeling beginning to grow within her breast, Gwyn moved from the gathering hall and through the heavy front doors and across the bailey in the direction of the stables. She prayed his horse would be there within his stall, signifying he had not gone far. But it was not to be.

"Oh, Durell, where are you? Please tell me you have done nothing foolish."

Gwyn nearly cried out in alarm as she stood within the empty area that normally housed his beast. No pony, no bridle nor was the saddle to be found anywhere.

And definitely no Durell. She knew he would never be allowed to go out on patrol with the rest of their clansmen, so she was greatly concerned as to his whereabouts.

Gwyn was almost in a panicked state and had no idea what to do next. All she knew was her son was nowhere to be found. Quickly, she saddled her horse and was out in search of him in the only place she hoped he would be and that was on the hillside beyond the rear of the keep.

When Gwyn stopped her beast upon the rise overlooking the deep valley below, she found it devoid of anyone.

As far as the eye could see, there was no sign of any life.

No pony and no Durell and nothing that would signify his recent presence.

Quickly and with as much haste as possible, she turned around to head back towards the keep.

Without stopping in the upper bailey, Gwyn made her way to the front grates and the sentries who were near.

"Has anyone up there seen Durell?"

When she was met with only shakes of heads and confused stares, she continued to speak.

"You are certain?"

"Yes, my lady. None of us have seen him since last eve."

Gwyn began to panic and inquired over what made most sense.

"Where might I find Donnan?"

One of the Chattan clansmen pointed out into the grasslands beyond the great wall as he spoke.

"He and a small band are out in the fields patrolling that area near the loch."

Gwyn did not wait for permission or any other words spoken as she pressed her knees firmly into the side of her steed. Her horse immediately surged forward and she was off, not heeding any of the shouted words of the clansmen behind her.

"No, my lady! You must not go beyond these gates! It is dangerous! The laird, he will be angered!"

Gwyn cared little of what he said and nothing was going to prevent her on her mission.

Her own safety meant nothing and it was her son's welfare that was her only concern.

It made no difference when she could hear the thundering of hooves behind her as she continued to race forward through the grasslands of the Chattan.

As she moved over the rise of a hill, she had to rein her horse in hastily because she found herself quickly surrounded by a large number of steeds.

"Oh, holy mother of God!"

She was relieved that the colors they wore were the green of the Chattan.

However, the steed which was directly in front of her held Iver.

He glared at Gwyn with disbelief clearly etched upon his face.

There was no tenderness nor any of the emotions she had recently seen in her dreams. Instead, she saw only anger that was laced with perhaps a bit of fear.

So as not to acknowledge him nor betray the flurry of emotions building copiously within her breast, Gwyn looked beyond him and found Donnan's eyes.

This one was so much easier to converse with and he never extracted the response that the dark one did.

As her eyes locked with his, she nearly pleaded in desperation.

"Donnan? Have you seen Durell? I have looked everywhere over the grounds and I can find him nowhere. And what frightens me is that his pony is gone from the stables."

Donnan moved his eyes quickly to Iver's as they exchanged a concerned glance. When Iver nodded in silent exchange, he returned his gaze back to the Lady Gwyn.

"Come, my lady. I think I have an idea of where he may have gone."

While Gwyn still felt the fear deep inside, she knew she had the aid of this fine warrior. She waited no more and quickly turned her steed to return to the keep. She was quite shocked because when she faced the path she had just ridden, she was looking over a small army of men.

"Oh!"

Not only had the original few sentries she had encountered followed her out past the drawbridge, but what had to be more than twenty Highlanders of the Chattan were near.

However, Gwyn did not care. At that moment, nothing meant more to her then finding her son and confirming he was safe. Without a look back, she pressed her knees heavily into her steed's side as she raced down the hill after Donnan.

When she reached his side and began to edge ahead of him, he looked at her with concern.

"Please, my lady, take care. Our laird will have my hide if you are injured."

It was obvious he held back the pace of his steed as he must have been worried over her abilities to sit a horse. She cared little for his obvious concern and shouted into the wind around them.

"Please, Donnan, do hurry! I am frightened!"

There was nothing holding her back in the efforts to find Durell and she pressed her horse further into a dead run.

Together, Donnan and Gwyn raced over the drawbridge and beyond the gates, through the upper bailey to the rear of the keep.

She guessed at where he was headed and did not intercede even though she had already visited the hillside.

Quickly they crested the knoll and were running down the steep slope and only slowed as they neared the large stand of trees.

"My lady, you must wait here while I search."

"Of course."

Gwyn could do nothing but comply. She knew Donnan's skill at riding was far beyond hers and she was afraid she would only slow him down.

She could not risk placing her son in further danger so she obediently did as she was told.

With anxiousness, she stared at his retreating back as he moved himself quickly into the thicket.

As Gwyn sat upon her steed at the base of the hill, the time seemed to stretch on forever.

The winds as they softly whistled over the lands were of little comfort and brought only further dread to her heart.

Gwyn found nothing could prevent the visions of her distraught son as they rushed through her mind while the pain of the unknowing clawed within her heart.

"Please, Durell, you must be safe!"

In her nervousness, she dismounted from her steed and tied him to the nearest tree as she began to pace through the tangled grass. Back and forth she moved all the while attempting to listen to the wind and look between the aged trees for any sign of their impending return.

Soon, she thought she could hear voices in the distance and emanating from deep within the trees.

She stopped her pacing abruptly and gazed through the tangled brush as her breath held in her throat.

As her heart beat wildly within her breast hoping this was a good sign, she waited in expectation.

As the moment seemed to drag on for a lifetime, Gwyn finally caught a glimpse of Donnan.

Next to him was a pony carrying her son.

"Oh thank the heavens above!"

As they drew near, she released the full breath she had held and fought back the tears of relief.

"Look mother, I have killed a hare! This will be such a nice addition to our table!"

As Gwyn carefully controlled the emotions deep inside of her, she looked at her son with both relief and a sense of pride.

How she wanted so desperately to scold him and tell him how he had made her worry, but in her heart she knew she could not.

He was safe and had no idea of the concern he had caused.

"Yes, my son, you have done well. I am so very proud of you!"

When Donnan drew his steed near and she locked her eyes with his, she knew he understood the way of her thoughts immediately.

While still sitting upon his beast, he placed his hand upon her shoulder in a gesture to provide her strength and much as any brother would do.

In reaction, she reached up to grasp his hand almost desperately as she smiled.

She could hear her son talking behind her and she listened absently.

"I'm going to take this up to the kitchens so we can dine on this with our evening sup. Father!"

Gwyn's heart nearly stopped its beat as she turned hastily to find the Laird Errol and several of his men galloping quickly over the rise of the hill. As they approached, she felt Donnan immediately remove his hand from hers as he snapped his body to attention.

"Look at my kill, father! Will he not be a welcomed change for our table at this eve's sup?"

As Gwyn's eyes settled upon her husband's face, a new fear grew within her understanding the rage present was undeniable.

Not only would everything she had done be revealed, but her son would more than likely feel the full force of the laird's wrath.

She had hoped it would not have been like this.

"What were you thinking to go off by yourself into the forest? There is so much unrest in the Highlands right now and any one of our enemies could be lurking near! You are such a foolish lad to place yourself and your clan in such danger!"

"But, father-"

"Hush! I will not hear your excuses as I am very angry right now!"

Gwen seethed with rage as she watched her son's shoulders slump in defeat.

Only moments before, he had been so proud of his accomplishments.

Now, he was being chastised before this small army of clansmen.

How dare the laird speak to him as such and in front of so many witnesses.

Her fury grew realizing this was the most he had spoken to his son in years.

The words were out of her mouth and a clear reaction to all her laird had done.

"My laird, can you not see he was only trying to do his part to support his clan? Yes, he should have asked for an escort, but his intensions were all good. He knows this now and will always do so in the future. Of that, I promise you."

"He could have cost us everything! I knew he should not be allowed the freedoms you so willingly wish to give to him. And this bow and the blade at his side! Who gave him these permissions? It definitely was not me!"

"It was me, my laird."

The words were spoken from behind Gwyn and as Donnan drew near, she nearly cringed for his admission.

"I gave him the bow he now carries and taught him how to use it. I have also trained him in the use of that sword. I should have been more cautious and I realize now I should have sought out your consent."

Gwyn understood clearly what his admissions now meant.

Donnan was willing to take the laird's anger and draw it in his direction.

What frightened her most was she knew this would cost him dearly.

Her husband was a callous one and more angered than she had ever seen him in the past. She also realized it was too late.

He had spoken and there was no way for her to contradict what he had said.

It had all now been laid down and sadly, there was nothing more Gwyn could do about it.