Chapter is rated M for sexual content.

Chapter 35: Mercy

Arthur stared at his hands for a long time after Patrick had left the room to go find Lilly and the kids. His hands...God, he wished he could cut them right off. What had he done? He got off the bed eventually and went to the sitting room. All he could do was drink some more and pack up Lilly's and the kid's stuff for their journey to Scotland. As he went about his chores, Arthur kept drinking. He packed up the bassinets clumsily but managed to set them aside. Occasionally he'd feel intensely angry at Lilly but then he'd calm himself down and have another drink. At this rate, he was hammered by the time evening fell and he just sat in a chair waiting for someone or something. Finally, someone did enter. It was Patrick, Dutch and Hosea. They all pulled up chairs and sat in front of him.

"...Is she okay?" Arthur asked quietly, as if he had no right to ask about her well being. "Are the kids okay?"

"They're fine, son," Dutch said. "All of them are fine."

Arthur sighed and rubbed his chest. "I take it she told you what happened?"

"Yes." Hosea leaned forward and slapped a hand on Arthur's knee. "Based on the description, we all think that wasn't you at the time."

"It wasn't. My eyes were...something similar happened to Lilly when Willow attacked her with one of them...orb things."

"Yes, and if I recall correctly, Willow attacked you with one of those things too."

Patrick cleared his throat as he looked at Arthur. "Yeah, we think it was dark magic that made ya go after Lilly."

"And what does Lilly think?"

The men looked at each other. "She's mad...but she's also worried about you, Arthur," Dutch said softly. "So we thought it best that we come see you to make sure you're okay."

"I'm not okay," Arthur said with his voice breaking. "I tried to choke my wife to death."

"That wasn't yer fault," Patrick assured in a calm tone, but Arthur could tell the Irishman was upset.

"Do you really believe that?"

"Of course. Look, Arthur, I may be mad about what happened, but if I'm bein' honest, Lilly's tough. She can handle this. So if yer worried about her not forgiving ya, then ya havena anything tah worry about because she will."

Arthur sighed and lowered his head. "I don't deserve her forgiveness, and I won't forgive myself, neither."

"She won't see it that way, will she?" Hosea said. "Look. Forgiving someone is never a matter of what is deserved, at least not with you two. It's a matter of, well...a matter of mercy. And you, son, are fortunate enough to have a very, very merciful wife."

Arthur rubbed his face and sighed. "Yes, I suppose she is merciful. So what do I do now? Will she talk to me?"

"Not just yet. She and the kids will be staying with us tonight."

Arthur nodded. He knew it was for the best. After the men left, Arthur went to sleep. Or tried to, at least. He found it difficult. He tossed and turned throughout the night, but at some point his door opened. He sat up and turned on the nightstand lamp. It was Lilly.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she replied.

"I thought you was stayin' with Dutch?"

"Can't sleep."

"Me neither."

Lilly slowly walked to the bed and sat on it, her back to Arthur. "I think we need to talk."

Arthur wanted to touch her but he thought better of it. "Okay."

"...I know it wasn't your fault, but for the first time in my life, I was terrified of you."

Arthur lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Lilly. I'm so, so sorry."

Lilly turned her head to look at him. She huffed and held his hand. "I know, mo chuisle. And...no matter what you do, I will always forgive you."

Arthur gripped her hand and kissed it. "Ní thuigeann tú do mhaitheamh." [I do not deserve your forgiveness.]

A soft smile formed on Lilly's face. "You really do remember everythin'."

"Tá." [Yes.]

Lilly turned to face him and put a palm to his cheek. "Tá athas orm." [I am happy.]

Arthur kissed her palm and held her hand to his face. It was a relief to make her happy despite what he had done. It was also a miracle to him that she could forgive him. Still... "I'll never forgive myself for what I did."

"Ná cuir an milleán ort féin. Rinne Willow seo." [Don't blame yourself. Willow did this.]

With a deep shuddering breath, a tear fell from Arthur's eye. "Is fear céile dona mé." [I'm a bad husband.]

He hated being this vulnerable and he hated crying, but this was his wife and she deserved to see his weakness. Lilly leaned in and kissed his tear. "No you're not. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and kiss me."

Arthur gave her a small peck on the lips. "Tá grá agam duit." [I love you.]

"Tá grá agam duit." [I love you.]

Lilly started undressing herself and soon she was naked. As she turned off the lamp, Arthur pulled back the covers and Lilly crawled in next to him. Arthur held her from behind and kissed her shoulder a few times. Feeling her bottom against him made Arthur hard but he refused to have sex with Lilly. He would only hold her. However, Lilly seemed to have other plans.

"Oooh, tá tú griogtha," she cooed. [Oooh, you are aroused.]

"Tá." [Yes.] He felt Lilly spread her legs open and Arthur guided himself in. A small wave of pleasure hit him and he groaned into her neck. "God dammit, you're so hot."

"You make me hot," Lilly moaned out.

Arthur thrust in and out of her slowly. A hand slipped down Lilly's stomach to her clit and he started massaging it gently, making her moan again. He buried his face into her neck and kissed her skin gently. "Is tusa an rud is fearr a tharla domsa riamh," Arthur growled. [You are the best thing that ever happened to me.]

Arthur felt her melt in his arms and he smiled into her neck. As he nibbled on her earlobe, Lilly bucked her hips in unison to his thrusts. Arthur felt her pussy twitch and he chuckled. Lilly was going to come soon. He massaged her nub harder and she started breathing harder and faster. Listening to her moans brought him closer to his own climax so when Lilly finally came undone, so did he. He growled and kissed her neck as she relaxed against him. As his member slid out of her, Lilly's legs closed and Arthur pulled up the blankets. He covered them up and repositioned himself behind Lilly.

"Good night, mo chuisle," Lilly uttered. [my pulse.]

"Good night, mo grá." [my love.]


Lilly opened her eyes slowly. It was morning. She felt warm arms around her and grinned happily. As she rolled over, Arthur made a grunt. Lilly snuggled into his chest and let out a deep sigh. "Good morning," she said.

Arthur held her tighter and kissed her head. "Good morning."

"You ready for our trip to Scotland?"

"Yes. I packed up all our stuff yesterday."

Lilly nuzzled his nose with hers and kissed him softly with a smile. "Thank you, mo chuisle."

While wrapping his arms around her, Arthur returned her kiss. "Mmm, you're welcome."

Lilly's hand grazed his stomach as she kissed him and it made Arthur growl into her mouth. An amused giggle escaped her lips. "Mmm, is somebody frisky?"

"A little bit."

Lilly looked under the covers to find Arthur's hard erection. "Mr. Morgan," she cooed. "I'd say that's more than a little bit."

Arthur chuckled loudly and yanked her to sit on him. "Ride me, you little vixen."

Lilly positioned herself over him and Arthur poked her entrance. It made her gasp and smile. Her eyes shut as she lowered herself on him and her head lifted back. She felt Arthur knead her breasts as she went up and down. As she really got going, there was a knock on the door but she kept going.

"Yes?" she called out.

"It's Hosea. The kids want their mommy and daddy."

Lilly groaned a little and Arthur laughed. "Okay Hosea, we'll be out in a minute," answered Arthur.

They got out of bed and both got into their personalized gunslinger attire. Lilly brushed her hair and braided it before donning her bulldogger hat. She hadn't worn it in a while. It felt good to wear it. The couple walked hand in hand to the door and opened it. Hosea was standing at the door and he smiled brightly.

"Did you two make up?" he asked.

Arthur smiled devilishly. "Several times, yes."

Hosea laughed. Lilly smacked Arthur's arm and he pretended that it hurt. "Arthur!" she yelped.

Both the men laughed and Arthur flung his around Lilly. "Come on, let's go see the kids."

All three of them walked down the hall to Dutch's room and Lilly knocked. Dutch opened the door with a grin. "Ah, you two look happy now. Did you make up?"

Arthur clicked his tongue and was about to talk but Lilly covered his mouth. "Yeah, we did," she said.

Arthur laughed into her hand and the couple walked in with Hosea. They found the kids on the floor playing with Brian and James. The wolves looked up at Arthur and growled, but Lilly held her hand up and shushed them. They relaxed and Arthur sighed on relief. The kids looked up and smiled at their parents.

"Mummy! Daddy!" they both said as they got up and tottled over to Arthur and Lilly.

Arthur picked up Aoífe and Lilly picked up Junior. They gave them hugs and kisses all over their faces, making the children giggle. Arthur bounced Aoífe up and down and she squealed with delight. "Hey, we better get goin'," Dutch said. "You got a long road ahead of you."

"How long is the trip to Edinburgh?" Hosea asked.

"Five days," Lilly answered.

"Holy hell," Dutch said.

Lilly sighed. "I really wish we could bring the bairns with, but I was told it's very dangerous up there right now."

Arthur kissed Aoífe's head. "This is for the best, sweetheart, but we'll see you soon, okay?"

Aoífe merely gurgled at Arthur and made the adults laugh.


After spending time with the children, the Morgans and Patrick put their chests in the wagon. Dutch and Hosea had all their stuff loaded up in a carriage and were ready to head back to Ireland. Lilly kissed her babies once more and hugged them.

"You be good to Grandpa and Seanathair, okay?" she said to them both.

Aoífe whined and reached her arms out to her father. "Daddy..."

Arthur awed and grabbed his daughter. "I think we have a daddy's girl on our hands, Arthur," said Lilly with a smile.

"I think so too," Arthur commented as he gave Aoífe kisses on her cheek. "Don't you worry, baby girl. We'll be back before you know it."

The couple handed their kids to Dutch and Hosea, and they both gave the grandfathers hugs. Lilly watched as Dutch and Hosea loaded themselves in the carriage and took off. Lilly waved them off then she started to cry. Her husband looked at her in shock.

"What's wrong, darlin'?" he asked her.

"I already miss them," she sobbed.

Arthur wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Oh, darlin'...it's okay. We'll be back before you know it, too."

Lilly wiped her tears away and chuckled. "I want to know when I'll be back. I hate bein' away from them."

"Me too."

"Hey guys, are you ready?" Patrick said behind them.

"Yeah, we're ready."

Lilly mounted up on on Liath while the men had Prasutagus and Seamus pulling the wagon. The wolves walked alongside Lilly as they left the hotel tp head north of the city.