Page 58

It was a nearly a fortnight after the Laird MacLaren had made residence with the Chattan and there was still no news surfacing regarding the wives of Iver or Donnan.

As they did each night, the three great Highlanders most affected stood together before the blazing hearth.

Yet again, it had been a long day of searching the countryside for any bit of news or the chance of finding them.

Defeat was clearly inscribed upon Iver's face as he spoke with the burden of his guilt.

"While no one has said these words aloud, we all must be thinking the same. I have a great fear growing with each passing day. And we have received no communication from anyone! No demands have been made and at this point, I have to wonder if they ever will."

Donnan gawked in anger.

"Iver, how can you speak those words! I will not listen to your foolishness and I will never give up hope for my Enya. And Gwyn, she is strong! You must believe this!"

Iver stood staring at the one he had called friend as the anger played upon Donnan's face. Iver pierced his lips as he stared at the only one he truly trusted without doubt. He also realized they had to face reality.

"So much time has passed and they were taken against their will by men who were sure to do them harm. Even on the outside chance that they had an opportunity to escape, they would be merely two women alone and traveling across dangerous lands!"

Iver would never trust two worthy Highlanders alone during these times, let alone two women. But he would not confirm this aloud.

"I will never give up hope! Gwyn promised me she would care for my Enya and not allow anything to happen to her. Gwyn will do all in her power to carry out that promise, I know this to be true!"

Iver could speak no more and watched as Donnan glared at him.

Suddenly, his friend turned and strode from gathering hall.

It was apparent there was anger upon his face and an uncontrollable rage festering inside of him.

Never before had Iver seen him in such a way.

He also understood the feeling all too well.

Never before had anyone ever touched his own heart as had Gwyn.

'Christ, I would give up all of this and everything I have, including my lairdship, if only to see you one more time!'

In his heart, he had not given up, but he had been left with very few alternatives.

"I have been a fool, laird."

The Laird MacLaren spoke for the first time since entering the hall.

"Why would you think that, Iver?"

"I should have kept Gwyn by my side!"

"How could you have known she would not be safe in what we had all believed were the trusted and guarded lands of the MacLaren? Who would have thought I could not protect my own daughters in my own home with my own clansmen?"

When Iver simply pierced his lips, the Laird MacLaren spoke again.

"None of us could have predicted this! And you know she was safer with us. Had you not sent her away to begin with, I shudder to think how she would have suffered at the hands of the Fraser!"

As Iver stared at the door where Donnan had recently exited, he knew he would go to him and make amends.

However, it would not be on this eve. Tonight he would allow his brother to do as he did each night, standing guard upon the outer walls praying for their return.

The man never slept and had only one objective upon his mind.

As did Iver.

Iver also knew he could not cling to this state of uncertainty forever.

It was his duty as laird of the Chattan to care for all of those around him and ensure they remained resolute.

He could never be allowed to acknowledge his own heart in front of anyone even though he was crushed by her absence.

He could never disclose that his wife was more important to him than any of them.

He knew that no real leader, no worthy laird could ever admit this truth.

Iver stood within his gathering hall and next to the Laird MacLaren feeling both conflicted and defeated. He spoke softly, ensuring he alone heard his words.

"I also want you to know I have not given up hope, laird.

It is quite the contrary. I must share I have sent some of my most trusted men out to search far and wide and much further than the ground we can cover in just one day.

Please believe me when I say the way I feel could not be further from that truth of what I have just spoken.

I simply do not know what more we can do and outwardly, I must show all of my people that I care and am devoted to the Chattan.

If they really understood what the Lady Gwyn means to me-"

"I do understand, my son. You speak with your head and Donnan, he speaks now with his heart.

Neither is completely right, it simply is how it must be.

What saddens me most is I fear it is essential I return home.

I have left my clan unattended and with many unanswered questions.

There were at least four of my own who turned against me.

And they were ones I thought I could trust. As much as it pains me to tell you this, my clansmen and I will be leaving upon the morrow. "

Iver could only stare at the laird and the one he now called his father by marriage.

More importantly, he felt he was his trusted advisor.

While he had not known him long, in the short time they had been together he had grown to respect him.

It was obvious he was a wise and trained Highlander who cared deeply for his family and all those of his own clan.

He knew this is where his Gwyn must have gleaned these traits because she was so much like him.

"And Iver, I will tarry as long as I dare on my journey home and make inquiries along the way. But I do fear for the unrest up here in the north is very prevalent-"

The Laird MacLaren's speech was cut short as the door to the great chamber came crashing open.

Iver turned abruptly as he instinctively placed his hand upon the hilt of his sword as he spun to face whoever had gained entry.

All these recent days of such unrest made him expect to see his latest enemy approach.

Instead, he was faced with something he never dared dream was quite possible.

"Holy Christ!"

Donnan's large frame filled the massive doorway and he held his Enya within his arms. While it was evident she was worn and dirty, she was obviously alive and had somehow made it to the Chattan lands.

Enya's arms were wrapped tightly around Donnan's neck and she was clutched to his chest as if her husband would never let her go.

It did not matter there was copious amounts of dirt upon her skirt and her hair was tangled, Iver knew in that moment she had somehow been spared and was now reunited with the man who loved her more than life.

"Enya!"

It was Donnan's eyes that pulled the breath from Iver's body. He found he could not move nor breathe noticing the look reflecting upon his cousin's face was rather telling. There was no smile nor look of contentment and no understanding of his own Gwyn.

'Good, God, where is she? What had happened and was it only Enya who had survived?'

Iver's heart beat wildly within his chest as the moments seem to drag on for an eternity.

No one moved nor spoke and the echo of the silence was reverberating like a turbulent crash of thunder within Iver's mind.

He could not breathe as what he had recently come to believe bit cruelly at his heart.

That was, until, there was a movement that came from behind Donnan. It was first the darkened hem of a skirt that he spied and as Iver drew in his breath sharply, she suddenly materialized from behind his newest brother.

The world stood still as the Lady Gwyn slowly moved from behind the imposing figure and the one she had always deemed friend.

Iver could not move as his wife stood transfixed to the spot by Donnan's side as her eyes sought out only his.

But it was in that moment when she began to descend down the few steps into the great chamber before him and found himself suddenly moving to her as she was nearly running towards him.

"Gwyn!"

It was just as he had originally dreamed when he had nearly lost his life those many months before.

He had envisioned a very similar day when she would run to him and he, to her…

but he found that none of that mattered any longer.

He could have cared little for how they would come together, only that he knew this was very real and the joy that was emanating from his heart was true.

"Oh, God, my Gwyn! You have found me!"

When their bodies united in a fierce hug, it was a frenzy neither had ever known.

Their lips became one as their hands grasped to hold on as if the other would suddenly vanish.

It did not matter who was present within the chamber because no one else mattered.

They were in each other's arms reveling in the joy of their blessed reality.

As Iver held tightly onto the one woman who had touched his heart, he realized it was not how they had been united but that they were provided another chance at a life together.

Iver would never send her away ever again nor would he ever leave her anywhere other than his home.

Their home. The one Iver knew they would now share together.