Chapter 35

The group rode just a few miles away before they broke for camp in a wooded glen situated close to a sparkling creek. Dougal was the first to dismount as to roll out his blankets upon the fluffy grass. With Rupert and Angus's help, Jamie passed Daniea down to them and then sluggishly dismounted himself. As his feet touched the ground he fell to one knee, his meager strength all but sapped from the rescue.

"Up ye get Lad," Murtagh declared, helping him back up to his feet. "Remember, ye must take it slow."

He glared at his godfather before brushing him off to go to Daniea.

They had laid her down gently upon the bedroll. Head to toe, her entire form was blackened with ash and her skin was spattered with angry red blotches. Ned hurried down to the creek to fill their canteens while they all gathered around her, lying still as a corpse.

"Is she alive?" Angus spoke, unsure of what to do.

Dougal whipped out his dirk and placed the blade beneath her nose. They waited for a couple minutes but finally the blade fogged over faintly from her meager exhale. The men all sighed in relief. Murtagh signalled for the others to join him by the horses once Ned had scrambled back up the hill towards them; giving Jamie a moment alone with her.

Reaching for one of the canteens, Jamie delicately lifted her head, pouring drops of the cool liquid against her chapped lips. Once the water had made its way to her raw throat Daniea began to cough up fluid that looked like pitch. He urgently scooped her up into his arms, pulling her into his lap to keep her from choking. It took some time for the coughing to subside but once it did she tried to speak.

"Wh..where am I?"

"Safe." He answered, his brough deep as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Who's there?" She wheezed… "I...I can't see."

"Shhhh." He soothed not wanting to frightened her. He poured water onto his loose plaid and gingerly laid the cold rag upon her face, careful to wipe away the thick soot from her eyelids. Once she felt the lovely cold move away from her, she opened her eyes. Jamie looked on in alarm at her eyes, so irritated by the smoke and flame he could barely see the color of her iris for the crimson.

"Please, who's there?" She pleaded again, "I can't see."

"Shhhhh Mo Fiadhaich aon."

Tears fought their way through the swelling, "Ja...Jamie?" She stuttered. "I'm...dead."

"No, yer very much alive."

"Then ye be a ghost?" She shuddered against him.

"No Lass. I'm here, holding ye."

"How?" Her heart began to race but her body felt unmoveable. "Ye were dead!"

"Shhhhh," He soothed again, "That's not important just this second."

"I'm so very sorry." She cried, "Everything...I."

"Dinna fash, let's just get ye tended to."

Jamie mustered every ounce of strength he could to stand, lifting her in his arms. Disregarding his clothing he marched down to the stream and ever so slowly lowered her into the crystal clear water. At first the cool liquid was a shock against her scalded flesh but then it began to soothe her burns.

"How's this?" He questioned as she sluggishly began to allow her tensed muscles to relax.

"It feels... nice." She wheezed, her eyes gazing up at nothing.

"Don't panic but I am going to sit ye down in the stream, I got ye, just relax and let the water cool ye."

She nodded as he settled her down in a comfortable spot.

"I'm gonna put a rag over yer face but first I want ye to try and keep yer eyes open under the water.."

She nodded, grasping on to his arm for dear life as he tilted her head back under the water just far enough to try and flush her eyes.

Daniea sucked in her breath at the sudden pain but trusted Jamie. After a few seconds he pulled her up and laid her head upon the soft creek bank after applying the cloth to her face.

He remained in that frigid creek with her for nearly an hour. The only sounds were the trickling of the water against the rocks and the men communing around a fire upon the hill.

Jamie studied her carefully as most of her inflamed skin began to fade back to alabaster, except for some places on her feet and arms that were in worse shape.

"Alright, let's get ye out of here."

He wobbled upright, his own muscles stiff from the cold water, but a minute later they were back up the hill a bit aways from the others.

"Jamie?" She whispered, her voice painful to use.

"Hush now, ye need to rest. There will be plenty of time fer speaking later." He assured her.

She nodded, struggling to hold back her sorrow. Before she knew it exhaustion had ravaged her body, yanking her back to its agonizing depths; while her fractured heartsong lulled her slowly back into unconsciousness.

Jamie left her in the grass, her body in desperate need of healing sleep. As he rejoined his men Murtagh was the first to check in.

"How is she?"

"I dinna ken," He responded, his own weariness apparent on his face.

"Did she wake?"

"Aye, but...she canna see. Her eyes…"

Murtagh forced him to sit.

"Eat. Ye are still in need of tending as well.. Whether ye agree with it or not." He barked, pushing a piece of roasted rabbit into his hands.

"I've never known a person to live through such Lad, don't really ken whats ta expect." Murtagh added, gesturing towards Daniea.

Jamie sat in silence, mulling over everything. Everytime she began to stir the others were quick to check on her, forcing Jamie to take the break he so desperately needed since he awoke the day before.

It was nearing sundown when she was forced awake.

"Daniea...Daniea?" Jamie beckoned.

Sluggishly she roused. "Jamie?"

"Aye, I just needed ye to know I will be leaving ye here with Murtagh, Rupert and Angus. I have to be returning to Leoch for a time."

Her breathing became uneven as panic set in.

"Hush Lass, no harm will come to just to fragile to move. I will get ye anything ye require just tell Ned and he will write it down."

She managed a nod.

"I'll be back in two days time." He assured her, reaching down to gently brush her hair back.

He waved Ned over but before she could speak to him again he took his leave of her.

As he sat atop Raven, looking on as Ned jotted down the short list Daniea dictated to him from her pallet; Dougal finally questioned him.

"How ye holding up Lad?"

"Fine."

"That sounds like a damn lie if I've ever heard one. Is it yer ailment? Or are ye and the Lass still at odds?" He joked, trying to break the tension.

" Aye I still feel like I was thrashed by the devil himself but…" He looked down, releasing a sigh. "Uncle…. Daniea and I know each other less now... then when we were wed." Jamie admitted.

"Sounds less like a problem and more like an opportunity to me." Dougal smiled.

Jamie cocked his eyebrows in puzzlement.

"Seems to me like ye can either get to know yer real wife and choose to be with her or take the out she gave ye months ago and part ways."

"After everything, I still have to sort through so much."

Dougal cut him off.

"I am going ta tell ye one thing Lad, yer heart already knows what ye mind doesn't...I want ye to think about how ye truly felt when ye heard her dreadful screams as she burned on that pyre. Think hard about that... and ye will know."