Page 7

"We must now begin!"

Gwyn stared across the darkening chamber and into the cold eyes of the Laird of the Chattan. It had been he who had spoken harshly as his words hung ominously within the air.

"Come here and do be hasty about it! If you will remember, I am acting only as your father has insisted."

The wedding was held immediately and attended by few.

Those details mattered little but what Gwyn found more devastating was she was not even afforded the opportunity to change from her well traveled gown.

Neither was she able to wash the dirt from her face and her arms.She was not even provided this one and smallest kindly gesture before she took her vows.

As Gwyn stared across the vast chamber, she noted the gathering hall was huge.

Its massive walls rose high into the air and the cold stone surrounding them was adorned by next to nothing.

There were no warm tapestries nor other type of ornamentation gracing the gray stones.

The tables upon the floor of the hall were plentiful but were haphazardly strewn about with benches toppled and in disarray.

While the room was rather cold and dreary, Gwyn noticed it was also quite sullied.

As she looked upon the floor, she could see the piles of dirt that had been dragged in from the bailey and trails of it everywhere.

Upon closer inspection, she could see the tables were also heavily laden with grime.

It appeared as if the place had never been cleaned.

As Gwyn walked tentatively across the gathering hall to stand before the priest and take her rightful place next to her betrothed, she felt afraid and almost numb.

Desperately, she had wished she could have felt a tenderness or some kindness from the man who was to be her husband.

Deep down within her heart, she had hoped for even the warm feeling of that which was her duty.

Instead, she felt neither that nor any type of contentment. And it was devastating.

"We are gathered here on this eve to unite before God and man this woman and this man."

As Gwyn stood next to the Highlander she now knew to be the Laird Errol of the Chattan, she looked up to his face.

This was the man to whom she would willingly marry and stand with for the rest of her life.

Even though her duty was wholly dependent upon her own clan, it was in that telling moment she grasped the entirety of the situation.

While Gwen conceded the laird's looks did not really concern her, it was the coolness to his gaze that mattered to her most. And the sternness that surrounded his body.

Yes, she completely understood that this was all beset upon him, but did he not realize it was also a shock for her?

She had hoped he would understand her young life had suddenly taken this altered course, too.

By the look within his eye, it was apparent he was not caring at all about her sorrowful fate.

The room remained overly quiet as the clergyman continued to lead them through the ceremony.

"Be attentive to our prayers, O Lord, and in your kindness pour out your grace on these your servants coming together before your alter that they may be confirmed in love for one another."

'Love?'

Gwyn nearly gasped audibly at the words and her eyes flitted almost guiltily towards those who stood in witness of the ceremony.

Those few in attendance were mostly those clansmen from the MacLaren who stood in the shadows of the gathering hall.

From their agitated stance and the uncomfortable looks upon their faces, Gwyn determined all those of her own were overly impatient for the ceremony to conclude.

It was their duty to stay and ensure the laird of the Chattan had fulfilled this part of his obligation.

"May they grow in the faith they profess and enrich your Church with faithful offspring…"

All Gwyn could do was to swallow uncomfortably as she wished the priest's words would cease. She could not bring her eyes to his or she was afraid the clergyman would see the pain and the misgivings she held deep inside.

It was in that moment as she moved her eyes across the nearly barren chamber to the only other person in attendance.

Gwyn did not know why she was here, but it was the same woman who had been near to the Laird Errol's side upon the stair.

From the first moment Gwyn had spied her upon the landing, nothing had changed.

It appeared as if her jaw was clenched and a near rage within her eye so apparent. Gwyn had to wonder at her identity.

The remainder of the words the priest had spoken did not register at all with Gwyn and she was quite surprised when she heard him mutter into the otherwise silent room.

"You are now pronounced husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

The breath caught in Gwyn's throat as her eyes immediately went to the laird's own.

She had prayed she would see but a small bit of kindness or warmth.

Instead, when she was met with a cold stare from the darkened depths of his eyes, she knew it would never be.

Her quest here to fulfill her duty was obviously more of a burden upon her new husband then she ever could have imagined.

As the moment stretched awkwardly onward, all eyes seemed to be trained on the Laird Chattan.

When he did not move or react to the instructions of the clergy nor did he immediately perform his duty as a new husband, the warmth began to rise upon Gwyn's cheeks.

She feared that he not only was now angry with her, but he was intent upon humiliating her in front of the MacLaren clan.

She feared this simple kindness was not to be nor would he follow the directives of the priest. It was clear she repulsed him.

While Gwyn completely understood she would never be called beautiful, at least she had thought she was acceptable to gaze upon.

Gwyn was willing to concede the blonde of her hair was not the purest of shades and the green in her eyes was peculiar.

Neither did she think her looks would sour the feelings of men.

Finally, the laird began to move and lean downward and Gwyn reacted with her duty. She raised her chin slightly and closed her eyes to accept the kiss that was directed by the ceremony.

"The deed is now done and I have fulfilled my duty."

Gwyn's eyes flew wide as she stared into the unforgiving face of the Laird Errol. It was obvious he had no intention of going anywhere near her. The ceremony was over and by the tone of her new husband's spoken words, so would she assume to be any hope of an affable life.

What was rather distressing was immediately upon completion of the ceremony, Gwyn heard the noise of the hinges upon the great door to the upper bailey.

She drew her eyes upwards and noticed sadly those of the MacLaren had already left the gathering hall.

She was not allotted any time to speak to them nor send her greetings back to her family nor wish them a fond farewell.

All she heard was the devastating echo of the door slamming sharply in their wake.

"You will follow me."

Once again, the gruff words came from the Laird Chattan.

Gwyn found herself trailing behind her new husband up the stairs and in what she learned was to be her own chamber.

She was a bit startled as they crossed the threshold and found it was rather sparse of furnishings.

There was a simple bed and side table on the far end of the room.

The only other furniture was a small trunk along the wall and a lone chair by the hearth.

There were no curtains upon the window nor any soft skirting upon the bed.

Only a worn blanket with the dark blue and green plaid of what she now knew to be of their clan.

"Your chamber, my lady ."

Her new laird and husband had stiffly made the comment as he walked into the cold room behind her.

"Mine?But-"

When he stopped and stared back over his shoulder, he simply pointed at a door she had not noticed in the wall.

Quickly, Gwyn averted her gaze as she clearly understood they would not reside in the same chamber as had her parents ever since they had spoken their vows.

It was clear her marriage had been something entirely different.

Quickly, she pushed those thoughts from her mind as she realized she had much to say to the Laird Errol.

She was alone with him now and needed to disclose all she must as her father had instructed.

"My laird, the clan of the MacLaren thanks you for your service to us."

It was clear by the piercing of his lips he was not going to make this very easy for her to reveal what she needed to disclose.

All Gwyn wanted to do was to run from the pain building within her breast and hide from all the responsibility that now weighed down profoundly upon her.

Then again, she knew she could not and she must now be strong if for no one else, then for herself.

Slowly, she pulled a medallion from within her belongings and placed it within her palm. As she extended it outward and moved to stand before the Laird Errol, she continued to articulate her words with as much dignity as she could afford.

"Before we speak further, my father asked me to give you this."

As Gwyn handed the small coin to the Laird Error, his eyebrows rose slightly as a hardened look passed his features. It was obvious he recognized the small token. She was just unclear as to what precisely was its significance.

She spoke again when he gave no indication he would.

"You are not aware of this, but my father wishes for me to say it is your protection that is needed for my safety. There is much unrest to the south and our clan's future is in jeopardy."

Gwyn paused, hoping he would say something or ask a question of her. When he simply stared at her with his stern glare, she continued.

"He has two provisions he has asked me to share with you. My father wishes me to say he is certain you will comply because of what he had done for you those many years ago."

By the obvious scowl immediately crossing the laird's face, it was apparent of what she spoke had not pleased him. Gwyn quickly continued with the words that were dictated by her father.

"First, he asks that you do not consummate the marriage as of yet."

When Gwyn had first heard from her father what he wished her to say, she was so very shocked and embarrassed.

So as not to falter upon those words she knew he wished her to speak, she had practiced them over countless times within her mind.

She had done so very often during her journey to the point where she was certain she could speak them with only mild indifference. At least that had been her intention.

However, it was clear she had been completely wrong.

Immediately after she finished her short recitation, she could feel the heat rush to her face and knew the color rose heavily upon her cheeks.

She looked away knowing she was shaming herself miserably by her reactions and showing her immaturity.

When the laird cleared his throat loudly and her eyes were drawn towards his once again, he spoke callously.

"And?"

Gwyn swallowed uncomfortably as the thundering of her heart rose heavily within her ears. She breathed in deeply and resolved steadfastly to continue.

"I should be receiving a summons within a short while and I will be leaving for three months, four on the outside.

Most should be lead to believe it is to visit my family.

Even though I am not and will not be before I go, we are to tell all I am with child.

It is imperative everyone thinks I am carrying your bairn and the heir to the Chattan.

When I return, I will have a child which you will then claim as your own. "

Gwyn had spoken these words as she had focused down upon her twisting fingers before her. When nothing was said upon her completion, she gazed up into the enraged face of the Laird Errol.

"Your father does not expect much, does he? It would have been easier if he would have just left me for dead on the battlefield those many years ago!"

When Gwyn could not respond and truly had no idea in which she was expected to do so, she watched as he simply pierced his lips and shook his head bitterly.

She looked down in fear at her own hands fearing she was truly horrific and that much of a burden.

She spoke once again as she quietly attempted to explain away her presence.

"I am very sorry, my laird, for this intrusion upon your life. I promise I will try to not be a hindrance to you. I am no trouble and will work hard in your household if you will simply provide me the opportunity to understand your ways."

Gwyn was not certain why she spoke these words, they simply seemed like the appropriate thing to say under the circumstances.

It was quite clear to her while she had been stunned by all that was being asked to do for her clan, he had also been astounded by her presence.

As she raised her eyes to see how her words had been received, she was dismayed to see the door to her room stood ajar and she was all alone in the vast chamber.

The laird of the Chattan had left Gwyn completely and entirely alone and to her own devices.