Chapter 28: The Authority on Abduction
Dhiarmid sat Commodus with him in one of the side rooms. Tormod and the other three brothers were there as well. Two new gentlemen sat at the table with tartans that were mostly blues, while Aislinn's clan seemed to be wearing mostly reds. Commodus bowed to them. The men stood and did the same.
"Commodus, this is Devin MacCreery, nephew of my wife and lord of the western wood.", Dhiarmid said motioning to the older man in the blue tartan. "And this is Iain MacCreery his son." The younger man nodded. Commodus perked up at the name. Hadn't the Boadicae just mentioned that name when talking about Aislinn being married? Dhiarmid noted the concern and confusion on the Roman's face and smiled. "Iain was allowed to propose to Aislinn when she was fourteen, but she 'kindly' refused."
"Kicked me to the ground is more the term, Dhiarmid. I sympathize for you, Accomodate, Aislinn's two hands full of trouble.", Iain said.
Commodus shifted. "I've grown to try to be patient with her and myself, Iain. My name is Commodus, by the way.", he said sitting down.
"What does that mean? Is it Roman for 'king' or 'warrior'?", Devin asked as the servants began bringing food and drink.
"Actually, my mother designed the name. It means 'precious purpose'.", Commodus replied. A feeling of nostalgic affection washed over him. Seeing Aislinn with such adoring parents made him remember his own mother's tenderness towards him and her sternness with his father. "My mother was very much like Aislinn's I suppose. But my mother was not a powerful queen, she was a gentle artist. She loved to paint. She taught me how to use every kind of brush and paint imaginable. I miss standing in front of the canvas with her, singing as we painted."
Dhiarmid smiled. Commodus was trying to make it clear that he was just as human as every other man in this room, and he was not trying to impress anyone with a show of strength. He felt that he belonged here, at least for the moment. Dhiarmid took a drink of the mead that had been brought to him.
"So, lad, you kidnap my daughter from her home. You take her back to your land. You force her into your service and then you woo her.", Dhiarmid said. The rest of the men at the table looked at Commodus. He was surprised to find that the gazes were not hateful, but rather accepting. "Tis a familiar story."
"How so?", Commodus asked. Dhiarmid and the rest of the men laughed.
"Sorcha and I had a similar beginning. She was the rarest and most beautiful girl in all the highlands, Sorcha. But she was as stubborn as an old ewe. I had heard well the stories of her from my kinsmen, but I had never truly laid eyes on her until that first night of Samhain. She was a grand sight. Naked on that horse, riding in the moonlight. The moon glistening against her hair and skin like gems. I was possessed with fervent desire. I wanted her.", Dhiarmid said huskily. "So, I laid in wait a few furlongs ahead. When the horse came near, I jumped on and wrestled her off. She fought me like badger in a rope trap, but I finally got a good hold on her."
"How?", Commodus asked. He was truly intrigued by this.
"Her hair. I wrapped a good lock of it around two saplings. I asked her if she knew who I was. She told me I was a pwca, sent to test her bravery. Let's test it, says I. Then we married. Then we married again. We were married all that night.", Dhiarmid said with a wink. Commodus gulped and turned a little red. The other men laughed. Devin smacked Dhiarmid on the shoulder.
"Enough of your bragging, you jesse. Tell him what happened with the queen and king.", Devin said smiling.
"Well, when the sun kissed us early in the morning, I swept her up into my arms and headed back for my kingdom. I kept her there with me for nigh unto a year before we went and told her family.", Dhiarmid said smiling wickedly.
"Why? You were a clansman, surely they would have accepted your union.", Commodus said. Again the room burst out in uproarious laughter.
"Ah, but lad, I was of the MacTavish. Not one of the royals. And I was a right bit of a rascal in my younger days. I made trouble for the clans that made even the sprites fume.", Dhiarmid said. "I waited a year because that was when Sorcha was fully with Eoin here. Naught could deny a son his father by the laws of the highlands."
"But they can off you once the lad is a full man.", Devin added.
"Aye, that's why I kept on it. Four lads each a good two years apart. That's a twenty-year extension to my life right there.", Dhiarmid joked. The men laughed even louder. "Then came dear little Aislinn. Course by that time I was endeared to the family and everything was smooth. Once Aislinn came to bless our family, I felt complete. She is my pride and my joy."
Commodus smiled. "She is a joy.", he mused.
"Aye, but don't you be forgetting that her father has taken his fair share of heads on and off the battle field. I've defended the land, the clan, and my pretty ones for all of their young lives and mine. So if Aislinn reports once that you've wronged her deeply...", Dhiarmid looked at him squarely. Commodus waited for the coming threat. It would involve some nasty weapon, some delicate part of his body, and some kind of comparison to one of the highland gods. "...then I'll tell Sorcha."
Commodus gulped again. That threat was more severe than anything the old scallywag could have brought out against him. The men looked at one another silently, then laughed heartily again. The meal continued with friendly conversation and many wonderful stories. Commodus was beginning to feel at home here. After a while, Dhiarmid stood and looked at the men.
"Well, lads, the night has fallen and the moon is calling all to sleep. Goodnight, friends.", he said. He looked down at Commodus. "Come on, lad. I'll take you to your wife."
He smiled and followed his father-in-law.
"About what you have said, sir, what should I call you? D-jarmid is a little hard for me to say right now.", Commodus admitted.
"I wouldn't take kindly to a Roman calling me by my name, lad.", Dhiarmid warned. Commodus stopped and nodded apologetically. "So perhaps you should call me Da." He smiled. Finally, at least one of her kinsmen was being accepting and kind to him.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I mean, Da. I couldn't imagine being seperated from Aislinn...ever. It was sheer torture to be so close to her on the journey, but unable to speak to her or hold her. I really do love her.", he said softly.
"I know, lad. I can see it. Sorcha sees it as well, but it infuriates her."
"Why? I'm not going to hurt her."
"Ah, lad, you already have. Just becasue she's soft for you now doesn't do away with the hurt you did her before. Again I say, you kidnapped her, imprisoned her, and forced her into service. Not exactly the kind of affection that is displayed by a husband, lover, or friend. Rome has been a scourge of injustice to our people and you threw salt in the open wound. Aislinn is kind and wise enough to see past that and understand a good thing when it comes to her. You are her soulmate, I can see that. Again that infuriates Sorcha." Dhiarmid laughed and scratched his head. He had gone over all of the things that this one young man had done to incur the wrath of his wife. He had always heard it said of a mother, that she was most protective of the daughter, but he had no idea that a woman could become so violent in the face of her daughter's beloved. "Give her time, lad. Once the threat of the little Roman troll that's out there is gone, you can start winning her mother's heart. I just hope you don't have to break her leg to do it."
"You heard about that?", he asked shamefacedly.
"No. I saw Aislinn walk to me. She's a little off and will be from now on. Tuatha de danan, you've got so many marks against you in front of Sorcha! You are very lucky she didn't end you right there in front of everyone.", Dhiarmid laughed. Commodus laughed nervously and nodded to Dhiarmid as he headed into Aislinn's room. No, it was their room now. He looked around the sparsely furnished room. The enormous bed was the focal point. Aislinn lay to one side of it, under a pile of thick soft quilts. Commodus breathed a happy sigh and climbed in beside her. It was very cold, even with the indoor fires in their respective hovels. He disrobed once under the blankets and snuggled up next to Aislinn. She sighed and held onto him tightly. He had never felt so peaceful before. He literally wanted and needed nothing. He reached down and kissed Aislinn softly.
"I love you, Aislinn.", he whispered.
"I know.", she breathed in reply. "I love you, Commodus."
Those words. He had lived all his life to hear those words. How sweet and perfect they sounded coming from Aislinn's voice. How tender and wonderful the felt coming from her lips and breath. This was heaven. This was home.
As Lucilla started down the path to the fortress, a scout ran back to the army that had wandered around in hiding for weeks. Janus, the captain of the army that was under Falco, waited for the report. Falco had ordered that they stay in the area until Aislinn returned home, then kill her and the clan. Now they had learned that Commodus had survived and come back with them. This would be a rare treat, a double vendetta satisfied. The scout rushed up to his commander and bowed.
"The emperor's sister is headed for the Celt's settlement.", he said.
"Ex-emperor.", Falco corrected as he approached. "So it was Lucius that you saw with them. How darling. All the family in one place. This is too good. Let's allow them some time to get settled. The highlands have hidden us for this long and the Roman encampments are comfortable enough for now. I say we attack them next year at their precious autumn celebration. What do you think, captain?"
"Very good, sir.", he said and dismissed the scout. Falco smiled triumphantly and went back to his tent. If he was lucky, by the time they attacked Aislinn would fully be with child. He could truly wound Commodus by slaying his family instead of simply his wife. Falco seethed inwardly with a kind of foul hatred that had not been present since the earliest jealousy of Cain. He smiled. Soon, he would return to Rome with the head of Commodus. Soon, he would be Caesar. Miles away, Commodus felt his life fill with undescribable joy at the sight of his sleeping bride. Aislinn was completely at peace. Her bed had never felt so soft and warm before.