Page 4

If Gwyn had not witnessed it for herself, she never would have believed the magnitude of her mother's transformation.

Or that it could ever have happened at all.

Of course, it did not take place immediately.

In fact, the first four days were worse then Gwyn ever could have imagined and she nearly gave up.

Nearly. However, even during the darkest of times and when she would look deeply into her mother's eyes, she understood she was making an effort.

That was all Gwyn needed to continue down this secretive path.

For the full of this last sennight, her mother never left her room on the third floor.

The Lady Morwenna simply refused to return with the laird back to their own chamber for the night.

She had become so ill and her rantings so frenzied, she was hardly capable of removing herself from her pallet.

That did not sway Gwyn. It only made her more resolved and she found herself staying with her nearly every moment of every day.

She would have for the nights, too, except for her father.

The laird of the MacLaren had surprised her the most of anyone.

While she understood there was a tenderness between the two, over the last few years she had nearly forgotten the love they had so openly displayed.

In recent times, it had grown so difficult to see, since the Lady Morwenna simply did not allow it.

It had nothing to do with her father's devotion to his wife, it was because life had just gotten much more difficult.

Each time she was with child there was new hope for an heir.

After the devastation struck, she deteriorated falling further yet into her darkened abyss of obscurity.

And the time to fulfill this part of her duty seemed to be slipping away.

Nearly a fortnight after Gwyn had promised to help change her mother's routine and she was nearly out of hope, the most amazing thing occurred.

It was to be discovered upon that particular morn.

She moved down the hallway and spoke as she did each day to her uncle who was posted outside of the third floor chamber.

"Good morn, Ennis. How are you on this fine day?"

A small smile crossed his lips, which Gwyn recognized immediately as an extraordinary turn of events. He was one who was usually so somber and she knew immediately something had changed.

"While I have been quite peaceful, the brightness of the sun on this day has been exceedingly warm upon my heart."

Slowly, and without any more words, he pressed lightly on the unlocked door as he swung it wide. Gwyn understood with his words and actions, an amazing turn of events must have occurred.

She was standing near the wall on the far side of the room and she was beautiful.

Or at least she looked so in Gwyn's eyes.

Her dark hair hung down the entire length of her back and it was clean as it shimmered in the firelight.

It had obviously been washed since the previous eve and she had been well tended.

Her mother's gown, while serviceable, was spotless and well mended and every lace was drawn and tied.

However, it was the smile upon her face that moved Gwyn deeply and made a tear come to her eye.

"Mother! You are well?"

As Gwyn moved herself further over the threshold, she heard the door close discretely behind her.

As she turned to gaze over her shoulder, she noticed her father standing against the far wall.

He had a gentle smile upon his face and it startled her.

Until this very moment, Gwyn had not realized how long it had been since she had seen such a look, from either of them.

When Gwyn stared at her father with a discerning eye, she realized how tired and extremely worn he had looked all the time. On the other hand, it was the sparkle within his eye on this morn that was unmistakable. As he moved across the floor to join the two women, he spoke softly.

"My dearest, Gwyn. We owe you so very much."

"Whatever for, father?"

"Because you never stopped believing. You listened when the rest of us had ceased all hope. And look at my Lady Morwenna now! Is she not beautiful?"

Gwyn smiled as she turned her gaze towards her mother.

"My lovely daughter, thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to heal. These last weeks have been trying but I now have hope. You have truly given this gift to me and I could never thank you enough. And now, I also truly have fear."

The smile and the warmth Gwyn had felt abruptly washed away as she looked cautiously at her mother.

She suddenly dreaded that this had all been a ruse.

She had sincerely hoped she had healed given that it was obvious her state had improved dramatically.

Now, she was beginning to sound like the rantings were still trapped deep inside of her and she was just speaking in a new tone.

It was her father who interrupted her troubled thoughts.

"Your mother and I have been up all night. For the first time, we have spoken at length over all that has occurred these last many years. Ones in which have been so painful and devastating for us. For all of us."

Unhurriedly, he took Gwyn's hand within his own as he stepped closer to the Lady Morwenna. He continued to speak both lowly and cautiously.

"I have always believed God had His reasoning for all these horrible outcomes.

But seeing your mother now…knowing she is only well because you intervened and took her welfare into your own hands.

What we see now before us disturbs me and makes me truly wonder if someone else has had a calculating hand in our lives. "

Gwyn drew in her breath not wanting to even think of that possibility.

"Father, what exactly are you suggesting?"

"There may be someone here who is knowingly placing your mother's life in danger. And taking the sons I have sired from my life. From our lives and from those of the MacLaren."

When the shock registered on Gwyn's face, the laird spoke blatantly.

"We must speak of it! Please, Gwyn, you are old enough and must understand because this also puts you in danger.

If no heir is ever conceived, there will be a fight for who will be laird when I am gone.

I must protect all those who currently live upon these lands and those of you who I will leave behind after I have gone.

We all know without a son there is no clear path for my successor and a forced change could be brutal.

Even if you are to wed, there would be no guarantee your husband would be accepted as the new laird.

And there is no one to whom I could entrust with the MacLaren's fate. "

As he paused, the Laird MacLaren stared down at his eldest daughter, understanding she was having a difficult time comprehending all he knew to be true.

"If we do not take things into our own hands now, our clan could be strongly divided and all we have built for generations could be lost forever. And there is no other duty that I take more seriously than this!"

"But father, you are yet so young and have so many years ahead of you! So much can change in the time to come. Please do not speak of such things."

"Oh, my dearest daughter, how I wish the burdens of our lives did not haunt us every moment of every day.

It is for you that I speak so plainly and of such disturbing matters.

It is for both your and Enya's futures. And for your mother if I am to leave this earth before she does.

The two of us have been speaking and we know you are both strong and dutiful for you have proven it continually over these last years.

We also know you would do anything to protect your clan. "

Gwyn could only stare at her father understanding whatever he spoke of was of vast importance. In her mind, she could not comprehend it in its entirety nor that her life had changed and everything within it now only spoke decidedly of that which was her duty.

"You must do this for us! The entire fate of the MacLaren now lies only in your hands."