Chapter Thirty-Two

Alaric paced outside the healing chamber. His father sat in a chair not far away, his leg propped, his brother next to him.

"It's not the same, Alaric. She landed on softer ground and not on her head like Els did. I saw her land. She'll come around." Jowell did his best to convince him, but he couldn't hide the worry etched on his face.

Alaric paced and paced.

Torrian handed him a cup of ale. "This is the best place to be. Ye have all the best healers tending her. Brenna, Aunt Jennie, Brigid, Jennet, Tara, and yer mother are all here. The best of the best ye have in there. Have faith in them."

"Verra true. I must apologize for all the trouble we brought to ye, Chief. We had no idea he would follow us here." Alaric took a mouthful of his drink. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was. He'd had nothing since before his training bouts.

"I knew he was naught but trouble, Alaric," Brin said. "Eli will come around. She had no wounds, no visible bump. Mayhap not right away. Some like to sleep for a while. Helps them heal, my mother always says."

Ceit sat not far away twisting her gown in her lap, and Brin moved over to massage her shoulders.

The door opened and Gracie came out, a smile on her face. That alone settled Alaric a bit. She came straight to him and clasped his shoulder. "She is awake and talking. She was wiggling her toes. These are all good signs. Now I've come to sit with ye while the experts check her over from head to toe. I think she'll be fine, Alaric."

He let out a breath and said, "Thank the Lord above. May I see her, Mama?"

"Wait until Aunt Jennie and Jennet take a good look. Aunt Brenna says they are the best because her eyes are no' what they used to be. Come sit with me."

He nodded. "Ye are right. Did she know where she was? Did she recognize ye all?" He remembered that from somewhere. Someone who woke up and had no idea where they were. All the conversations they'd had about his brother had stuck in his mind.

"She did. Asked if ye were hale, so her mind is working well. Give them another hour with her, and then I'm sure ye can see her. Why do ye no' go clean up and find a tunic? Ye look like ye rolled in the mud." His mother kissed his cheek. "Ye fought well, son."

He glanced down at his chest and belly, just noticing he was covered with dirt. "I guess I could use a quick clean up. I'll jump in the loch later."

Heather came down the stairs, and Torrian called out to her. She motioned to Alaric and led him up the stairs to a chamber, sent a maid to retrieve a basin of fresh water, and asked, "Do ye have a clean tunic? If no', I can find one for ye."

"Nay, I have one in our chamber, Heather. Many thanks to ye. The water would be appreciated."

Heather patted his shoulder and said, "She's in wonderful hands, but ye know that."

"Aye. I'll be just a few moments. In case Eli calls for me."

She nodded and left, closing the door behind her. He flopped onto a stool and let his head fall into his hands, so grateful that Eli would be fine. Once he was able to slow the fast beating of his heart, he cleaned up what he could, then donned the fresh tunic. He didn't have a clean plaid, but he'd get one later.

When he made his way down the stairs, the mood of the group below had changed from fear and sadness to one of joy. Aunt Jennie and Aunt Brenna stood just outside the door of the healing chamber.

Heather raised her arms for everyone's attention "Come, we have much to celebrate. Join us around the hearth, and we'll have the lasses serve the evening meal. So many have arrived, and we are ready for ye! Plenty of food and drink for all."

The group moved away, their happiness glowing on their faces. Alaric spotted many good friends and family who he couldn't wait to greet, but Eli came first. As he watched the group, he was pleased to see Jowell had already seated his father in a chair near the hearth, propping his leg.

Gavin came over to him. "Many thanks for what ye did. 'Tis an honor to have ye as a part of our clan and as a son-in-law. I know ye will take good care of my lassie. Ye fight like Alex did. In fact, if not for the fair hair, ye look much like yer grandsire."

"Many thanks to ye, Gavin. May I see her? Have ye seen her?"

"I told Merewen ye get first rights to our lassie, and she agreed. She's speaking with Aunt Brenna. Go on in. Take yer time. We'll enjoy our guests."

He stepped past so many people that they all began to meld together in his mind. So many claps on his back and words of congratulation, but his mind was only on the lass behind the door.

He'd had such a fear when he glanced back over at her grandparents leaving and saw Eli on a horse alone and suddenly grabbed by one of Egan's friends. He left Egan to the Ramsays and grabbed the nearest horse to go after her.

The bastard had taken a treacherous path. He knew any jump or fall as they raced along the ravine could have been dangerous for either of them. But they were both here safe.

Aunt Jennie approached him when he neared the door. "She's fine, Alaric. I know Eli to be a tough lass, but she's pretty shaken up by the entire situation. She sports a few bruises on her body so do be gentle with her, but she'll have no lasting issues from her fall. Ye did a fine job saving her from that fool.

"I swear that my mother was the wisest woman on earth for telling all of us that we had to allow our bairns to choose their own partners. Yet some fools persist in this ridiculous bride-stealing practice." Then she leaned in to whisper, "I dinnae think Eli believed they would dare try to steal her away, but 'tis now in her past. Fear no'. She'll be up and walking in no time. She's asking for ye. Jennet is helping her to change out of her torn clothing into a clean gown just now."

"Many thanks to ye, Aunt Jennie."

She patted his cheek and said, "Ye look just like my brother except for that light hair on yer head and those blue eyes. Yer mother passed her beauty on to ye."

He blushed a bit at that comment, but the door opened and Jennet and Brigid both came out, Jennet coming right over to him. "She's asking for ye. I told her to rest for a wee bit. She is exhausted and a bit bruised. But the bride stealing attempt has thrown her off kilter."

"Do me a favor, Jennet," Alaric said. "Keep the others out for a wee bit? I'd like to be alone with her."

Jennet patted his forearm. "I'll send Ethan over as guard. No one will dare question him."

"Many thanks." Then he moved over to the door, took a deep breath to steel himself for any bruises or scrapes on his dear wife, then opened the door.

The room was dim, and Eli lay on the bed in the back of the chamber. "Eli, ye are hale? Please tell me so, love."

"Alaric? I'm so glad ye are here." She held out her hand to him, a silent request for him to come closer.

He stepped over to her side, pleased when she moved over in the bed and patted the spot next to her. That was all he needed to see. He dropped his dirty plaid and slid in next to her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to breathe in her essence just for a moment.

"I was so scared when ye flew off that horse, lass."

"I was so scared when that bastard kidnapped me. He wanted me to take on all five of them, and he told me I'd never wear leggings again, and…"

"Hush, I'm here now. Ye know I will always protect ye, do ye no'?" He leaned back and lifted her chin up to look at him, dropping a quick kiss on her lips.

She nodded, her eyes damp. "I do. I nearly jumped off into the ravine, but I told myself I had to wait until ye followed. I knew ye would. I love ye."

"I love ye too. And I love that ye are a strong lass, wife of mine. I counted on ye being strong, and ye were."

"Make love to me, Alaric."

"Och, naught would please me more, but I can see a bruise on yer cheek and a cut under yer chin. Jennet said ye are bruised elsewhere from the fall. I fear I might hurt ye because my need for ye is so bad. We should probably wait."

"Nay. Now, Alaric."

"I know ye wanted me before we were rudely interrupted, as I did ye, but much has changed."

"Aye, that was a desire. This is a need for ye, husband. A need that I have to know that we are still us. That those fools didn't change what we have."

"Promise me that ye will stop me if I hurt ye?"

"Ye cannae hurt me."

Alaric slid his hand under her gown to feel her soft skin, moving his hand down to part her curls, teasing her to prompt her juices to flow. He kissed her neck, played with her breasts until she moaned a bit too loudly, then pressed on. When she spread her legs, she was already slick with her need for him.

"We will do this slowly, lass."

"Aye. Please. I need ye inside me, Alaric. Ye and me together forever."

He did his best to settle her on her side so he could slip inside her, pleased to find that it was easier than he'd expected.

"Ye did need me, lass of mine." He slid in as deep as he could, his hand going to her bottom to pull her against him so he could fill her.

She moaned and he set his lips on hers to catch the sound. Ethan was out there, and he knew how loud his wee wife could be when their lovemaking turned wild. He vowed that this would not be wild, but slow.

He moved inside her, gauging her need, thrusting in and out until she caught his rhythm and they danced together, slipping in and out in a slow beat unlike their usual, a feeling so powerful that he feared he'd go before her.

"Ye arenae hurting anywhere?"

"Hell, nay, ye brawny brute."

He grinned. "Yer wish is my command, my queen. Tell me what ye want."

"Faster. I need ye faster and harder."

He did what he could under the circumstances, but he decided to reach down and help her peak faster, finding the spot that would propel her over the edge.

As soon as he found it, she moaned again and spread her legs wider and he moved her onto her back because he could no longer restrain himself.

When he was finally settled above her, his weight on his elbows to protect her, he whispered, "Look at me, Elisant."

She opened her eyes and gazed up at him, a look of sheer desire on her face. Her hand cupped his cheek, and she said, "Finish this now."

"I'll always protect ye, Eli. I will always be there for ye."

"And I for ye."

His lips melded against hers, and he pounded into her, needing to finish quickly. As soon as he heard her go over the edge, her contractions seizing him, he followed, holding his yell inside as best he could as he finished.

Gazing into her eyes, he saw the same sense of awe he felt.

"Och, but ye are a fine bull, husband. Slow was better than fast mayhap."

He chuckled and rolled off her, tugging her with him. "I'm so grateful ye are hale."

She leaned up on her elbow so she could look at him. "I worried about ye a wee bit in the sword fight, but as soon as I saw ye trade blows, I knew he didnae stand a chance against my big, strapping man. Yer weapon is such a delight."

He had to laugh at this, glancing over at her with a smirk then kissing her fingertips.

"Alaric, do ye wish I would stop cursing? I could, if ye truly want me too. It might take a while though."

He grinned and said, "Nay, I love ye just the way ye are, Queenie. I dinnae think I've ever been so proud as when ye told the bastard to shut his mouth. I nearly dropped my sword to kiss ye, but I couldnae."

"I love ye just the way ye are too. Now get yer arse out of this bed. I need some food."

He climbed out of bed and helped her out, finding a basin and ewer of fresh water on the table. He washed and helped her to wash up, then donned his plaid and dressed her in a night rail over the gown Jennet had provided.

When he opened the door, there stood Ethan, his arms crossed in front, guarding the door.

A dozen of their cousins stood facing him: Braden, Roddy, Rose, Daniel, Constance, Wulf, Reyna, Broc, Paden, Cadyn, and behind them all, John and Coira.

Alaric and Eli froze for a moment, surprised by the gathering, then they broke into laughter and stepped out. When Alaric regained his composure, he held up his hand.

"She's fine now."

Daniel stepped forward to greet them. "We heard. We're happy for both of ye."

Ethan took a step toward Daniel, and Alaric grasped his shoulder. "Thanks, Ethan. Ye can go back with Jennet. Ye did a fine job."

"My honor, Alaric. I hope ye enjoyed yer reunion."

"We did," he replied.

Ten voices called out, "We know!"

"Well, if ye thought my wife would blush, I'll tell ye she'll no'."

Eli grinned, and Alaric couldn't resist—he gave her a smacking kiss for all to see.