Acts of St. Andrew

Chapter 3

Please God, keep them safe.

It had been weeks since Elinor had heard any news from Merida and Hamish. Hamish had joined Lord Macintosh on the front, but even with their combined forces King Athelstan was pushing them back farther and farther into Strathclyde. Her son could be dead now for all she knew. Merida, at least, she knew was safe for the time being, for she had gone to York to meet with the Norse king. In the last letter she received, her daughter had indicated that the talks were not going well. Although Guthfrithson knew that Athelstan would one day attack, he had not expected it to be so soon and was reluctant to join in the fighting when they were so ill-prepared.

Athelstan's last invasion had devastated them. If the Norse refused to fight, what chance did they have?

Elinor looked up at the heavenly faces of the Virgin and her Son, her lips moving silently as she offered up her plea. Her knuckles had already begun to turn white, her hands clutched fiercely in front of her face, as the fear continued to churn deep inside her. Please God, keep them safe. Every night she dreamt of her children lying dead on the battlefield. She could not let that happen. She did not know what she could do, but she knew she could not let that happen.

Elinor gave a jump when she felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder. She looked up to see the kindly face of Wilburh, the Novice Mistress, smiling down at her. "It pleases me to see you so devoted, but even nuns cannot spend every moment in prayer."

The old queen nodded and slowly rose to her feet, feeling her stiff knees scream at her in protest. Taking her by the arm, Wilburh walked with her through the abbey. The old castle had come so far these past few weeks. No longer a ruined fortress, it had been transformed into great monastery. There were still sections that were closed off; the cracked mortar and crumbling stone made it far to dangerous to venture into, but on the whole the ancient castle of Dál Riata had been restored. Walking the halls was almost like stepping through time. Any moment now she was sure she would see Mor'du rounding a corner, flanked by his brothers.

"A new postulant has arrived this morning," Wilburh announced. She flashed Elinor a secret smile as though she knew a particularly funny joke.

"Oh?"

"Yes, a fine young woman from a good family. I think she will make a wonderful addition to our little community. Let me introduce you to her."

Wilburh led Elinor into an antechamber where she saw a pair of teenage girls sitting around a table, chattering and embroidering. Well, one of the girls was embroidering, the other was stabbing at the cloth haphazardly as though she had never held a needle in her life. As Elinor gazed at the gangly, unfeminine creature before her, the first thing she thought was that this girl was the ugliest woman she had ever seen. Then she noticed the broad smile, the mischievous eyes, and the errant lock of bright red hair that had escaped her white veil. Elinor was on her knees in a second, gripping her son's face in tight hands and kissing him all over. She thought she would never see her Hubert again!

"Mum! Mum! It's alright! You can let go now!"

"Oh, my boy," Elinor cried as she reluctantly pulled away, sobbing and laughing all at the same time. "My son is a nun!"

"But at least he's not a bear."

Elinor looked up to see Merida leaning against the stone wall, looking quite pleased with herself. The old queen was up on her feet, pulling her into a crushing hug before her daughter had a chance to escape. She brushed back her daughter's wild mane and smiled down at her girl. "You brought him back to me."

"Actually it was Hamish and Macintosh who found them hiding in the woods just outside of Galloway. I just escorted them here."

"And it was Hamish's idea to dressed me up like this," Hubert muttered, gesturing to his frock and veil. "Dingwall's men were searching for us everywhere and he said the disguise would throw them off. Honestly, I think he just did it to get a good laugh."

"'Us'?" Elinor mused, suddenly remembering the other girl she had seen sitting next to her son.

The young woman stood up and smiled shyly up at her. Although it had been many years since she had last seen the girl, Elinor would recognize her blonde hair and pale, protruding eyes anywhere. It was Donada, Lord Dingwall's daughter and her son's betrothed.

She curtsied, but said nothing, a hot red blush sweeping up her neck and coloring her cheeks. Elinor had never thought very highly of Donada. She might not have been as simple as her brother, but she was nearly as silent. Quiet and easily startled, she was more like a rabbit than a human girl. Hubert, himself, had apparently thought her lacking as a playmate for his letters home had rarely mentioned her, focusing instead on the games he played with her brothers and the lessons Lord Dingwall insisted he learn. But Donada must have had more backbone than either them had ever thought. She had betrayed her father, after all, choosing to follow her future husband in his flight. Elinor smiled at her, "It is an honor to see you again."

She clasped the girl's hand, thankful that she had been there to help.


Later that evening Elinor listened with a heavy heart to her daughter's account of King Athelstan's march into Strathclyde. He had gained more ground than she had thought and slaughtered so many of Macintosh's men that it was a wonder that Athelstan hadn't yet swept across the whole of Alba. If Guthfrithson and MacGuffin did not join in the battle soon then all would be lost. "What about the Norse king?" Elinor asked. "You told me you had gone to meet with him in York."

Merida gave her a strained smile. "I did. He's agreed to help."

She knew that tone, she had heard it often enough when Merida had been a child. It said, 'I've done something and you're not going to like it.' "But..." Elinor prompted.

Merida flashed her blue eyes up at her, the very picture of innocence. "But what?" She asked.

Elinor sighed. "What was the catch?"

"Oh. That. Don't worry about it." Merida waved her hand like it was nothing. "The point is he's agreed to honor his treaty with you and MacGuffin should be arriving on the front any day now. That'll put us at an advantage."

"Well, that's something I suppose. When will you be riding out?"

"Tomorrow."

"I'll be going with her," Hubert announced.

"You can't be serious!" Elinor looked at her son in amazement.

"What am I suppose to do? Hide behind your skirts? I only came to make sure Donada made it here safely."

"I already have two of my children fighting in this war. I won't risk another."

Hubert looked at her then and for a moment he was no longer a teenage boy, but a man. "I have to help."

"It's..." Elinor stalled, grasping at any excuse that came to her. "It's unwise to put both you and Hamish at risk. Hamish has no children and Harris is unable to inherit the kingdom, which means the crown would fall to you if Hamish is killed, God forbid."

"Then what am I suppose to do then?" Hubert asked. "Take Holy Orders and become a nun for real?"

"We could send you and Donada to France," Elinor offered. "You'd be safe from Dingwall and his men and you might be able to convince the French king to help us. Louis is the son of my sister, Eadgifu, and although he was raised in Athelstan's court, so far he has taken no sides in the conflict. He might still be undecided. You could be our liasion."

Hubert still looked unsure, but with an encouraging nod from Merida, he accepted it with a sigh. "How are we to get there then?" He asked. "Athelstan controls the Channel."

"Don't worry," Merida said with a grin. "I have a plan."