Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

M ary was sad on the short journey back to the castle. She had tried so hard to defeat Nellie and gain her body back, but in the end it hadn't mattered. She had defeated her, but she had gained nothing. She was still going to transform at night. A tear slid from her eye as she road with Hamish upon one of the guard's horses.

What bothered her the most was that she wouldn't be able to marry Hamish. How could she when she was a goblin all night long? They wouldn't be able to do the things that normal couples did. They couldn't have a family. How could she allow him to marry her when she couldn't provide him with a family? She couldn't hold him a night and love him whenever she wanted.

They arrived back at the castle with the rest of the guard. Hamish wanted to send her up to her room to dress, but Mary wasn't having it. If she only had the daylight hours with him, she'd spend every waking second she could by his side.

"Very well, lass, but keep that cloak closed. I'd rather not have to punch the Laird in the eye for seeing you in your shift." He smiled.

Mary blushed and clutched the cloak closed tighter.

Hamish knocked upon the Laird's door.

"Enter," he called.

Mary and Hamish stepped through.

"All is well? Has the sorceress been caught?"

"Aye, she is on her way to the Seelie court with Maggie as we speak."

"And what of the rat?"

"Some of the guard are tracking him down. He ran off into the forest, after having seen Mary wielding her powers," Hamish said with a grin. "They'll route him out and send him back to through the burgh.

"Did you have to deal with any others?"

"Gray Mick will not be bothering us anymore. I saw to his demise."

"Good to know. Any other injured?"

"Mary healed the guards and horses who were injured by one of Nellie's spells."

The Laird smiled at her. "I owe you my thanks, Lady Mary."

"It was the least I could do considering all of this trouble was because of me," she said softly.

"No, you are wrong there." Laird Donal shook his head. "None of this was your doing. This began because the goblins got it into their heads to come after ours. Grimtooth found that out and now so has his sister. She's lucky to get the chance to go to the Seelie court for imprisonment. I'd have seen her locked in an iron cage until the end of her days."

"I told you, love. This wasn't your fault."

"Thank you." Mary smiled, feeling grateful that they saw it that way.

"Was the spell lifted?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, no."

"Well that is unfortunate. Still, you are welcome here, Lady Mary, no matter your form."

"Thank you, Laird Donal."

"Now, I expect you are both quite exhausted after your eventful evening. I don't want to see either of you for at least forty-eight hours." He smiled.

"Aye, we will see you much later then," Hamish replied as he steered Mary out of the door.

Together they headed upstairs to her room. When the door closed behind them, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. "Mary will you still marry me?"

"I want to, Hamish, but the curse, it's not broken, how can I?" Mary felt her heart break in her chest.

"I don't care about the blasted curse, love. I love you. I want to be with you. I don't care if you turn into the Loch Ness Monster at night, I just want to be with you always. I want you to have my name."

"Oh, Hamish, you really do not care? Really?"

"Really, love."

"But, what about a family? If I'm a goblin half the day, I don't think I'll be able to have a child. Don't you want a wife who can give you one?"

"I want you. If we can't have a child then we'll just have to make do with spoiling all the nieces and nephews and cousins. Marry me, love. Please, say you will." Hamish held her close.

"Yes, Hamish. Yes, I will marry you. I love you so much." She pressed up on her toes and kissed him hard.

Hamish lifted her and carried her over to the bed, laying her down. She struggled out of the cloak and pulled off her shift as he stripped out of his kilt and plaid and laid them over the back of the chair.

He came to her then, her warrior, her hero, her love. She could not wait to be with him again. He leaned down and kissed her as he stroked her body. She arched her back into his touch, feeling heat pool in her belly.

They made love for hours, and just before the sun was to set, Hamish headed down to the kitchens for a feast to bring up to her. Mary put the shorter shift on, knowing her transformation was probably going to happen after he returned.

Hamish returned to the room with a huge platter of food and a new bottle of whisky for the two of them. "Here we are, love."

"Hamish, what did you do? This could feed an army!" she laughed.

"Blair sends her love and a massive amount of shortbread."

Mary giggled.

"You're dressed," he pouted, looking at her.

"The sun is going to set in a few minutes." She picked at the hem of the shift.

"Might we still enjoy the meal together?" he asked.

Mary nodded and smiled up at him.

Hamish pulled her to her feet and held her tight as he kissed her soundly. Then just before the sun dove past the horizon for the night, he stepped back and Mary shifted.

Together they moved to the table and ate and talked for hours. Not once did Hamish look at her with pity. Every time their eyes met his were full of love for her, that made Mary happy. Still, there was no way she was going to go to sleep with him while she was in this form.

"Must I leave?" he asked.

Mary nodded. "Maybe I'll be more comfortable with you staying once we're married, but this body… I could hurt you without meaning to and I wouldn't be able to stand that."

"Alright, but we are marrying soon, my love. Very, very soon."

Mary laughed. "If that is what you want, then yes, Hamish. Very soon."

"And I'll be back here as soon as the sun rises."

"I'm counting on it."

True to his word the moment the sun was over the horizon, Hamish was entering her room. She'd just finished transforming back to herself when the door opened. She smiled at him as he locked the door.

"Good morning, love."

"Good morning." Mary pulled the shift from her body and stood before him naked.

"A very good morning." He chuckled as he lifted her up and carried her back to the bed.

They spent the whole day locked in her room making love once more.