Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Bright daylight came, and Ivar, Anastasia, and Dunstan continued their weary vigil at Catalina’s bedside. She continued to sleep, which was now worrying him deeply.

“She will wake up, will she nae?” he whispered to Aine, not wanting Anastasia to hear in case the answer distressed her.

But Aine only smiled reassuringly. “I’m certain she will, though she clearly took quite a blow tae her head. It just takes time, and we have tae be patient. Ye should go and have a rest. We’ll call ye if anythin’ happens while ye’re gone.”

“Nay. I’ll stay,” he insisted quietly.

“Very well. I’ll bring ye some more tea. Are ye nae hungry? Ye’ve nae eaten a thing since ye’ve been here,” the healer asked solicitously.

“I’m nae hungry, but I’ll have some more tea if ye can put something in it tae perk me up a bit,” he told her, shifting in his seat and rubbing his fingers through his hair to try to wake himself up a bit.

“Of course. Give me a few minutes and I’ll make a fresh brew fer ye,” Aine replied and kindly went to prepare the special tea for him.

While she was doing that, Haldor and Sofia quietly entered the infirmary. They both saw him at once. Haldor nodded to him, and Sofia smiled, with sympathy in her eyes. But neither spoke to him at first. Instead, they went over to the bed and had a muted conversation with Anastasia and Dunstan as they examined the sleeping Catalina.

After a few minutes, while Sofia remained to talk further with Anastasia, Haldor went over and sat beside Ivar. The unfortunate chair shrieked in protest, threatening to collapse into matchwood as the Viking Laird settled his mighty form onto it. Ivar only glanced at him once before his gaze returned to the bed.

“Fer the sake of the Wee Man, Ivar, what the hell are ye still doin’ here? Arne says ye’ve been here all night since ye brought her in,” he said, his usually deep, raspy voice surprisingly soft. “He was right, ye’re startin’ tae stink. Ye need tae wash and then get tae yer bed.”

“Jaysus! What is it with ye’all? Can ye nae understand that I’m nae movin’ until I ken she’s all right,” Ivar replied testily. The tea had woken him up all right, but it had also made him feel slightly jittery. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep and food. He could not be sure.

“But her sister’s here, and we’re all glad tae take over the vigil so ye can go and rest,” his brother pressed him, his voice laced with concern.

“I’m nae movin’ until she wakes up, and that’s an end tae it!” Immediately, he realized he had almost shouted at his brother and regretted it.

“All right, all right, nae need tae bite me head off. We’re just worried about ye, is all,” Haldor replied, his golden brows raised in surprise.

Ivar frowned to see Anastasia and Dunstan turn in their chairs to look at him curiously. He noticed how exhausted his betrothed appeared, her lovely features pale and careworn, her eyes dull. Forgetting his brother, he got up and went over to her.

“Ye look worn out,” he told her gently. “I’ll stay and keep an eye on her if ye’d like tae go and have a wee rest.”

She gave him a faint smile and shook her head. “I cannae leave her. Why d’ye nae go and rest yersel’? There’s nae need fer ye tae stay while we’re here.”

“But it could be some time before she wakes up. Go on, go and rest a while. I’ll send someone fer ye of she wakes up in the meantime.” Silently, he urged her to leave him alone with her sister. To his surprise, Dunstan came to his rescue.

“Ivar’s probably right, Ana. Let’s take him up on his kind offer and go and get some breakfast and some sleep. Just fer a few hours, eh?” Dunstan cajoled.

Despite her evident weariness, his betrothed looked at him searchingly for several moments before she said, “It is certainly kind of ye tae stay with her all this time, Ivar. I’m very grateful that ye show so much care fer her. All right, I’ll go, but only fer a wee while. And if she hasnae awoken by the time we get back, I’ll be chasin’ ye out of the room.”

Ivar smiled, relief flowing through him. “Ye have a deal,” he replied, although he had no intention of being chased from the room. But he decided he would cross that bridge when he came to it. After a few minutes, as Dunstan steered Anastasia from the room, Ivar shot him a grateful look behind her back. “Thanks for takin’ care of her,” he murmured. The soldier’s response was, as usual, unreadable as he escorted Anastasia out of the room.

Only Aine was left in the infirmary—Broccàn was making his rounds—and she had her back to Ivar. She appeared to be absorbed in preparing some potions. So, even as the door closed behind his betrothed and her protector, Ivar was crossing the room and quickly occupying the chair his betrothed had so recently vacated.

He leaned on the bed and enfolded Catalina’s small, soft hand in his, surprised to find it so warm. Despite her long sleep, she seemed full of life, and if he was not imagining it, there was color in her cheeks. Checking quickly to make sure Aine was not looking he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to Catalina’s lips. They too were warm. He sat back in his chair, watching her closely, squeezing her hand. After a few moments, to his delight, her eyelids fluttered open.

Her green eyes swam as they gradually came into focus, fixing on his face. Then, as he watched, her lips curved into a smile, and he felt her squeezing his hand back.

“Hello,” he said softly, his heart filled with hope. “Are ye awake?”

“I think I must be,” she replied groggily, her voice hoarse. Her eyes flicked around the room and a small quizzical frown appeared on her face. “Where am I? What happened?”

“Ye’re in the infirmary,” he told her, unsure of how to answer. “D’ye remember anything about what happened?”

Her frown deepened as she thought about it for a moment. Then she said, “I think so. We were fighting. Chisholm! I remember. I went after him and he… he…” Her voice petered out.

“He hit ye and knocked ye out. I brought ye here as fast as I could,” he explained.

“Aye, I remember it now. That bastard! Did I hurt him?” she asked.

Ivar, with merciful relief coursing through him, had to smile at her fierceness. “Aye, ye did. He’ll have a nasty scar on his face as a memento.”

Catalina squeezed his hand harder, and her smile widened. “Good. I’m sorry I couldnae kill him though.”

“Ye certainly tried yer best, and ye saw off two of his men all right,” Ivar told her proudly. “Maybe next time, eh?”

The expression on her face softened as she gazed at him, her eyes swimming. “How long have I been unconscious?”

“Since it happened late yesterday mornin’.”

“So long?” she replied, struggling to sit up. But he stopped her, pushing her back down gently.

“Aye, so ye must take it easy. How are ye feelin’?””

“Me head feels a bit sore, but other than that, I feel all right,” she protested mildly. “In fact, I feel good. When can I get out of here?”

“Stay there and dinnae try tae get up. I’ll go and speak tae Aine about it,” Ivar said, reluctantly letting go of her hand and going to tell Aine she was awake. As he crossed thew room, he realized his exhaustion had vanished, and a warm glow had started up in his chest. She’s going tae be all right!

The moment the darkness resolved on Ivar’s face, Catalina felt a deep sense of joy and comfort infusing her bones. The feel of his large, warm hand enclosing hers was wonderful, and she missed the reassuring warmth of it when he let go to go and speak to the healer. Even hearing his voice was like a magical elixir, bringing life back into her and memories flooding back. It was the best way to wake up, she decided.

Hearing she was awake, Aine left what she was doing and came straight over to the bed. She smiled down at Catalina, laying a hand on her forehead for a few moments. “There’s nay sign of a fever,” she said, looking pleased. “How are ye feelin’?” She asked, lifting Catalina’s eyelids as she spoke and peering into her eyes.

“Good, apart from a sore head,” Catalina replied. “Am I goin’ tae be all right?”

“Can ye remember what happened?”

“Aye, me and Ivar were in a fight, and I got hit in the head and knocked out. I mean tae say, I remember bein’ hit but nae bein’ knocked out.”

Aine chuckled. “That’s all good news,” she said, straightening up. “I think ye’ll likely be fine. But just tae make sure there are nae ill effects, we need tae keep an eye on ye for another day or so tae make sure ye dinnae have a concussion.”

Catalina was immediately disappointed. “Does that mean I have tae stay here?”

Aine shook her head. “Nay, but ye need tae have someone with ye tae observe ye. If ye fall asleep, someone should be with ye to wake ye every hour or two tae make sure ye’re all right,” she explained. “Well, yer sister’s been here all night and she only went off a short while ago to get a little rest before returnin’. Ivar here volunteered tae stay with ye while she was gone. Shall I have them call her back?”

Catalina was doubtful. “Nay, if she’s been here all night, she must be exhausted. I dinnae want tae wake her unless it’s really necessary.”

“I’ll look after her,” Ivar suddenly piped up. “She can sleep in me chambers as Anastasia is resting in theirs. I can keep an eye on her while she sleeps and wake her up every hour or so as ye say.” He appeared so eager, Catalina had to smile, her chest filling with warm affection for him. In truth, she could not think of anywhere she would rather be than with him.

“Are ye sure?” Aine asked, looking from one to the other.

“Aye,” Ivar and Catalina answered decisively in unison, and then smiled at each other.

“All right, if ye’re sure, then I think it’ll be all right fer ye tae go. But ye must go tae bed and rest for a few days until I’m sure ye’re completely recovered. I’ll come and check on ye frequently.”

“Thank ye, Aine. I’m very grateful fer all ye’ve done fer me,” Catalina told her. “So, I can go now?”

“I’ll take her tae me chambers right away,” Ivar said, standing up, a big grin on his handsome face. They wrapped Catalina in a warm blanket, for she was in nothing but her grubby shift still. When she was ready, she reached up her arms to Ivar, and he picked her up as if she weighed no more than a feather. Clasped in his muscular arms, she immediately felt protected, and she nestled happily against him, looping her arms around his neck as he carried her out of the infirmary and along the hall to his chambers.

He kicked the door shut behind him and carried her over to the bed, which seemed enormous to her. He laid her gently down upon the fur coverlet.

“Thank ye, Ivar,” she said, moved by his tenderness. Then, she realized she still had on the same shift she had been wearing ever since they had set off on their ride together two days before. “Ivar, I think I need tae bathe and change out of this shirt, but all me things are in the chamber I share with me sister. I dinnae want tae wake her sister just yet. D’ye have somethin’ clean I could put on tae wear tae bed?”

He went to the wardrobe and threw open the door, indicating a pile of clean shirts. “Take yer pick.”

“Grand,” she said, pleased. “And maybe a warm pair of stockings too?”

“Naethin’ simpler,” he told her, grabbing some from another shelf and putting them together with one of the shirts. “Shall I order up some bath water then? I think I need tae bathe as well. Arne’s been tellin’ me I stink.”

Catalina burst out laughing. “I think we both must, so, aye, hot bathwater would be wonderful.”

“And what about something tae eat. I dinnae ken about ye, but I’m starvin’ now,” he said, laying the clean clothing on the bed for her.

“When did ye last eat?” she asked worriedly.

“With ye, at Agnes’ cottage.”

“Why, that was days ago! Ye mean ye havenae touched a morsel since then?”

“I couldnae eat until I kent ye were going tae be all right,” he admitted.

“Och, Ivar, ye daft thing,” she said, deeply touched by his care for her. “Well, I’m starvin’ too. I suppose bein’ knocked out does that fer ye.”

“Aye, I can personally vouch for that. It was nae so long ago that ye kicked me senseless in the woods, remember?” he teased.

Catalina giggled. “I’m sure ye’ll never let me forget it,” she joked. “Then, ye’d best order us up a wee feast as well.”

“What d’ye fancy?” he asked, clearly ready to do her bidding.

She almost said, “Ye.” But she managed to stop herself in time. Instead, after some thought she replied, “Meat pie, gravy, mashed neeps, and whatever else the kitchen can rustle up for us. I feel I could eat a horse.”

“I dinnae think they have horse in the kitchens, but I’ll have someone check fer ye. How would ye like it cooked?”

Catalina snorted with laughter as he winked at her and slipped out of the door to make the arrangements. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

He was as good as his word, for she hardly had a chance to peer about the masculine space before he reappeared. “Hot water and food on the way,” he assured her, coming to sit by her on the bed. “What shall we dae first, eat or bathe?” he inquired.

“Eat. Then bathe,” she said decisively.

So that was what they did. As soon as the food arrived about a quarter of an hour later, Ivar had the servants lay the feast out on the coverlet before dismissing them. Then, he and Catalina proceeded to devour it hungrily, reminiscing about the fight with Chisholm and speculating on what the madman might do next as they ate. Every now and then, they exchanged a glance that hinted at the secrets they shared. But as though by tacit agreement, neither of them mentioned anything about what else had transpired between them during their strange adventure in the wilds. Yet Catalina sensed he was thinking about it just as much as she was.