Chapter 36
Jamie remained silent the whole ride back to Leoch as he allowed Dougal's words to sink in. As soon as they reached the castle each man went off on his own.
Dougal went to inform Column of the developments.
Ned to the surgery to fetch Daniea's supplies.
Jamie to first and foremost speak to Mrs. Fitz about what was to come about.
After much pleading on Mrs. Fitzgibbons's part, the Laird agreed to punish Laoghaire to the full extent of his power but in private instead of the Great Hall. Meanwhile Ned, who had made short work of collecting the odds and ends on Daniea's list, was back on his horse; spiriting away back towards their encampment North of Cranesmuir.
It was to be the next morning when Jamie would be needed at Laoghaire's judgement so he did as Dougal forced. Taking his leave to the room Daniea once occupied to take his supper and rest.
As Jamie laid down upon the bed, waiting for his supper to be brought up. The familiar scent of lilac and black currant wafted towards him from the sheets. Rolling over, he grasped her pillow hugging it close to him. Deeply he breathed in her essence, just as he did the night they were wed, his memories continually fighting within him. Some were real, others were caused by fever but he had yet to try and seperate the two.
There was a rap on the door. Jamie quickly pulled himself together to sit on the edge of the bed when he finally answered. "Come in."
Mrs. Fitz flitted in, setting the enormous platter on the table.
"Ma heart aches something fierce Lad about what my granddaughter put ye and Mistress Fraser through...I never thought she was capable…"
"I know Mrs. Fitz."
"How ye feeling? I know Daniea worked on ye day and night to keep ye with us."
Jamie attempted a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I've had worse. Nothing some sleep and yer fine cooking can't cure."
She saw right through his bravado, her face twisting to that of a worried grandmother.
"Well ye do look like the color has come back to ye. Ye were pale as milk the other night. Though... ye have become a mite scrawny, so ye best eat up. I don't want to find any crumbs big enough fer a mouse when I come back, ye hear me Lad."
"Aye, thankye Mrs. Fitz."
She smiled with a nod, taking her leave of him.
It was the early hours of the morning, the sky still slumbering above when Ned got back to camp. Angus and Rupert were fast asleep by the campfire and Murtagh was watching over Daniea. When we saw Ned, he strode over collecting the saddle bag from him.
"Get some rest." He directed, patting him heartily on the back.
Murtagh took the bags back over to Daniea, kneeling down beside her.
"Lass," He gently nudged her elbow, careful to not touch any remaining red mark.
"Huh.."
"Ned's back, I have yer supplies. What would ye have me do?"
She was silent for a moment. "Ummm the cherry bark and comfrey...boil in water fer tea. The green salve I need to put on any red mark or blister and then wrap them up with the strips of cloth."
"Alright, I will get right on the tea and as soon as the sun rises well do the rest."
Daniea wretched out her hand, trying to find Murtagh. He tenderly clasped it.
"Thankye fer everything Murtagh...I...I'd truly be lost without ye."
"Dinna fash Lass."
"I...I know it's probably not right ta say this but after everything… would ye hate me if I told ye...I care fer ya like a daughter is supposed to care fer her father?"
Even though she couldn't see it, that one simple truth had the usually haggered man beaming with joy.
"I dinna mind at all. Ye have also been like a daughter to me for quite some time."
A painful grin appeared on her face.
"Rest now while I brew yer tea."
She nodded, drifting back into oblivion.
Daniea was on her third cup of pain relieving tea when the dawn began to finally break. Murtagh, true to his word, was right by her side readying the salve and strips of cloth.
"I'm sorry we don't have a lassie to help ye with this."
"I trust ye." Daniea replied as she remained still on the ground.
"So I just put some of this salve on any red mark or blister then wrap it." he questioned, making sure he wasn't going to do anything incorrectly and cause more pain.
She nodded, "Don't worry if I flinch or make a noise, just keep going."
"Aye, Lass. Here we go." He stated starting at her poor scalded feet.
The pain was excruciating as he slathered on the mix and wrapped both feet all the way to her ankles.
"How? How did Jamie?" She began to ask.
"Ye mean he didn't tell ye?"
"No, he didn't want to talk much." She whispered, trying to hold in her gasps as the pain flared.
"Hmmmm, well when ye were dragged out of the tower the Lad was nearing the end, but I suppose ye knew that."
She nodded, remembering his gasping breaths as she was forced away by the magistrates.
"Well not long after ye were gone that wee laddie Fergus came barging up the stairs ranting about an antidote."
Daniea remained still, concentrating on his story instead of the white hot flashes of pain.
"Turns out the lad had been sneaking out of Leoch every night and snooping around the taverns. That night he had overheard a woman discussing Jamie with one of Taran's men and he rushed back to get us to have a talk with the lass."
A smile emerged from Daniea's face knowing Fergus was their savior.
"Now I don't want to upset ye. But we found out, after our query with her, that she had poisoned him on Taran's command the night we were at the tavern before ye left with that bastard."
He took a break allowing her to catch her breath as he shifted from her legs to her hands and arms.
"Which poison was it?" She asked, needing to know if she was anywhere near correct with her guesses.
"Acisate."
"I'm sorry I should of…"
"Oh don't worry yer poor head about it, turned out that was the easy part of our night."
He assured, not allowing her to go down that mental path.
"So we had to rush to yer fathers stronghold, took all of us to sneak in and get that damned antidote without causing too much of a ruckus but thanks to those two donkey's," He gestured to Angus and Rupert with a smirk, " We survived and got back to Leoch. It must have been the Almighty's will or the luck of the devil that the Lad was still hanging on when we returned."
"He shouldn't be up and about." She mentioned while Murtagh worked his way to her chest, shoulders and neck.
"Aye," He sighed, "But when the Lad found out what had happened to ye. No one, and I mean No One! Could keep him in that bed. We all ordered him to stay at Leoch, Colum even assured him that we would handle it but he is as bull headed as that damned horse of yers."
Murtagh had finished binding everything but her face.
"Ye ready Lass?" he asked before he finished.
She weakly nodded, trying to steady her breathing, knowing what was to come.
"Don't let the wee bastard fool ye, he is as weak as a sick kitten but he won't let on. It took a full day fer him to be able to stand up and not fall arse first on the floor, but the need to get to ye…the horror we all felt when we heard ye..." He stopped himself before he thoughtlessly put her through the terror again.
"Yer need fer him gave him the strength Lass. Just as I saw you manage fer him while he wasted away in that bed. Ye never gave up no matter how weary or sad ye were." He finally told her as he finished wrapping her face. Her eyes fully shielded from the harsh elements.
"I wish I could believe that." She admitted. "How's Clau…Fergus?" She corrected herself, still not use to his newly scottish identity.
"The laddie is growing strong, Hamish is fond of him. There! All finished with yer wrappings. Now Lass, it is time fer ye to truly rest.
"Thankye fer everything." She muttered as she tried to get comfortable in her new bindings. Murtagh only patted her gently as he laid down on his bed roll beside her. Minutes later he had successfully lulled her back to sleep with his soft snoring.
Sleep did not come easy to Jamie that night. He tossed and turned unable to escape his thoughts until early morning. When the roosters began to crow he forced himself out of the bed and away from the lingering reminder of Daniea upon his pillow. Once in the great hall for breakfast, Mrs. Fitz forced another enormous meal down his gullet before they were to attend Laoghaire's hearing.
Colum sat in his study, Dougal standing by his side when Jamie entered.
"Uncles." He greeted, taking his place. A few minutes later Laoghaire, who was visibly shaken, was escorted in by her grandmother.
The door locking behind her made the girl begin to sweat and fight to stand still before the Laird.
Colum shuffled through the papers on his desk in silence before acknowledging her presence.
"Laoghaire MacKenzie, do ye ken why ye have been brought before us this day?"
"I….I..." She stuttered as she glanced from face to face.
"Ye, who has a history of disobedience and loose behavior; have now been accused of slander, perjury, tampering, causing injury, and falsely accusing a woman of witchcraft. Before yer Laird and the Almighty himself what do ye have to say fer yerself?" Dougal read from her charge sheet.
"My Laird, I...I did what I had to in order to protect my dear Jamie from that dreadful woman."
"So ye don't deny any of it?" Mrs. Fitz questioned, clutching her handkerchief to her chest.
Jamie turned, his icy stare boring into her.
"Every single charge is true. She spread falsehoods about Daniea all around Leoch and Cranesmuir. She falsely reported to the examiners that she was a witch and convinced the court that Daniea had me under her spell. She claimed... that I was always meant to marry her and that by right I was hers, as if I was no better than a prized stallion" He growled, listing every instance. "She destroyed all of Daniea's mixtures and medicines that were keeping me alive during my ailment… she thrashed me to steal ma blood. And worst of all, she tried to murder my wife by covincing the people of Cranesmuir to burn her at the stake!"
Laoghaire had never seen such pure, undiluted rage within Jamie before. His gaze made her step back, trying to get as much space between them as possible.
Mrs. Fitzgibbon's stared at Laoghaire like she was a rabid animal. Tears spilling from her eyes as the realization of what truly occurred set in.
"Who are ye?" She sneered.
"Grandmother?"
"No, yer not my kin. My granddaughter is kind and sweet, she would never behave in such a way. She would never conspire to get someone...killed."
Dougal helped Mrs. Fitz into a seat before the horror of the situation made her faint.
Before I set punishment, do ye have anything to say fer yerself girl?" Colum asked.
Silence filled the room.
"Well then. I.."
"I did it fer us! Fer you." Laoghaire interrupted darting towards Jamie, snatching hold of his hand.
"I've always loved ye, one day you'll see I was right about her."
Jamie yanked his hand away, swinging it high as if he would backhand her but he caught himself. Forcing his fingers into a fist, he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Ye are mad girl if ye truly believe in such a thing. Laoghaire I want ye to hear this and take it to heart." Jamie began, Laoghaire's eyes becoming bright. "Even if Daniea had never come to Leoch...Even if I never married her. There is no world where I would have ever loved ye or married ye. Never!" He snarled.
Laoghaire's mouth dropped, "No...I...I don't believe ye."
Dougal gripped Jamie's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Laoghaire MacKenzie yer crimes are punishable by death two times over." Colum began.
Mrs. Fitzgibbons crying became louder with each word.
"Yet... after speaking to those in this room and because of our respect fer yer grandmother... I have come to the decision that ye shall receive lashes and be condemned to spend the remainder of yer sentence in the thieves hole."
"How long will that be fer?" Laoghaire asked, her body beginning to quiver with fear.
"As long as I wish. Now get out of my sight!"
Two magistrates then were allowed into the room, where they dragged along a blubbering Laoghaire from the Castle.
"Thankyou my Laird fer showing such mercy."
Colum only nodded, dismissing Mrs. Fitz from his presence.
"Now that that's settled I assume yer biting at the bit to get back to yer wife."
Jamie turned towards Colum. "I have a few more things to tend to uncle. I informed her that I would return tomorrow."
Colum raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Well get on with yer tasks then, and when ye do return please give her our prayers."
"Of course." He replied, turning on heel and exiting the study. Once he was back to his room, he surged to the corner and wretched his guts up. The anger he still held onto making his body quake as Daniea's screams echoed in his head.
