A/N: Thanks to my betas ninmesarra and prettyflour. Prettyflour made my letter in this chappy totally sound one hundred times better, so thank you SOOO much- a million orange skittles to you, girl! And Ninmesarra- thanks for keeping my grammar in check! :)
~*HR*~
It took only half a day to reach the burned ashes of Rosalie's former village. Emmett cast his eyes around, taking in the desolate sight of the destruction around him. All because men could not handle being denied. He quickly dismounted and tossed the reins to Jacob. He meandered down what used to be a road. The piles of burned rubble made his heart ache. He stopped before the debris of a small cottage and stared at it. This could be the one that she lived in, he thought morosely.
He knelt on the ground before the remains, and stared at the dirt and grass. A few rocks were scattered about and he picked some of the gravel up. He trailed it through his fingers and let them fall back to the ground. Again and again he repeated the action.
He stood and turned around, meeting the black eyes of Jacob. "I dinnae ken which house was hers, but I can nae imagine living through this horror. Nay one but she survived." He heaved a soul-weary sigh.
He studied the ground around him and noticed a lone set of footprints leading to what used to be the back of the cottage. He followed them, curious as to what would be there. He didn't expect to see a long blond braid lying at the base of what appeared to be a stone memorial. He looked at the braid closely and knew that it was hers. His fingers caressed the shorn ends of it. He blinked rapidly and stood.
Angrily he marched over to Jacob and grabbed the reins from him. He mounted his horse and sat staring at the landscape around him. "Men are evil, Jacob. I dinnae understand how God create such evil beings. He kens what's going to happen, aye? How could allow such a beautiful soul as Rosalie to be so brutally used and abused?"
Jacob mulled the questions over before he answered, "I dinnae ken exactly how God thinks. Most days, I am nay even sure he exists. But it is nae God's fault that men are evil. That blackness comes from within them. They choose nay to be good and so nurture the bad that lurks in each of us. Weel, that is what I think."
Staring at his friend for a moment or two, Emmett finally nodded before galloping off toward Lamburgton where the Kerelaw castle was nestled.
When they stopped for the night by a stream, Jacob lit a fire while Emmett cleaned a rabbit they caught. He spit it on a stick and roasted it over the fire. It was a good thing Emmett had packed two loaves of bread and plenty of salted meat. One small rabbit wasn't enough for one of them, let alone two.
After they'd eaten enough to tame their hunger, Jacob went to wash up in the stream while Emmett pulled the missive from his saddle bag to read it again.
Sir MacCullen,
I have recently found my sister, Rosalie- long thought dead- and she has told me of her history. I can tell that she misses you and cares for you deeply. I can see it in her eyes when she speaks of you. I implore you to come quickly to Kerelaw castle. We will only be staying for two months before returning to my husband- the second born of the Laird Makenzie. Rosalie has not decided whether she will return with us and I fear she may set about wandering again. She believes that her past has marked her cursed. I believe that she is beginning to change her mind about that, but I cannot be certain. I believe I said enough for now.
God Speed,
Lady Makenzie
After reading it through once more, he returned it to his saddle bag and stripped his clothes to dip in the icy water of the stream. He felt as though he'd rolled in dirt and needed to remove it. As soon as he was finished with his quick bath, he spread out his bedroll and lay beside the fire. Emmett wanted to get what sleep he could before they had to be on their way again.
~*HR*~
Rosalie stared into the fire, watching the flames lick the wood. The glow was beautiful in its oranges, reds, and blues. She was trying not to think, but it was impossible to keep her thoughts at bay. Her mind really wanted to replay the conversation she had with the priest that morning.
"Child, I ken some about ye're troubles. If ye e'er want to speak of them, I'd be happy to counsel ye," the aging man had told her.
She sat there for a time, thinking of whether or not she should open up to him. She heard his audible sigh and the rustle of his robe as he turned to leave. "Wait, please," she whispered. He sat beside her quietly, waiting for her to begin.
"I am cursed," came her whispered confession.
"I dinnae believe that. I have watched ye with the village children. Ye are good to them. Ye have a good heart. Tis the men what used ye that are cursed. They have evil in their hearts and ken not how to do good, most of them. Ye dinnae beg them to defile and use ye, did ye?"
"Nay," she managed to garble out.
"Then I dinnae think ye have to confess to anything regarding that. If ye must do a penance, then here is what ye must do…"
She continued to watch to fire consume the kindling. She moved some of the lumber to the back of the fireplace with the poker, when it sparked out toward her. She couldn't let go of the memories. The past had such a hold on her that it was impossible to let go. She'd said her penance, but it seemed like it wasn't enough yet.
She stood from the chair and walked quickly up the stairs to the room she was sharing with Katie. Katie's husband Malcolm was staying with the men in the hall. She shed her dress and climbed quickly between the cool linens. Unable to relax, she began to recite some of the stories that Emmett had told her until she finally fell asleep.
~*HR*~
The morning was cold and bleary. The mist was cold as it fell softly to the ground. Emmett and Jacob were both glad to be almost at the end of their journey. They'd met with bandits the night before that thought they'd like to lift what coin the two men travelled with. They were not expecting to see The Black, as most people referred to Jacob. He was tall, dark, and wolf-like in his appearance and could hunt, track, and kill with the quick efficiency of a wolf. When he stood up out of his bedroll, claidhmor at the ready, the men before him began to quake. Emmett had jumped quickly to the ready, unsheathing his sword. The sight of his boulder-like appearance was enough to have them running. Emmett couldn't help but laugh at the memory.
Jacob quirked his brow at Emmett in curiosity, only to laugh at his antics, "Tis the Black, and a mountain! Away with us, now!" His voice mimicked a lady's voice as he joked with Jacob. "We must need more men to dispatch these two! Why The Black could end us all!"
Cresting a hill, they noticed a castle nestled amongst the rock and trees on the next hill. With a joyful shout, Emmett kicked his horse into a full gallop, yelling over his shoulder, "Last one there has to groom the horses!"
Jacob leaned forward in the saddle, his horse picking up on his silent cue and let the horse have free rein. It was a close call, with Emmett winning by a hair. The men were surrounded instantly by Cunninghams. Emmett explained their business and Jacob lead the horses to the stable. A man that introduced himself as Donald led Emmett into the keep.
~*HR*~
Rosalie heard the commotion in the bailey and glanced through the window. Her breath caught in her throat and she rushed from the room. Flying down the stairs and into the hall, Rosalie knocked into a very familiar back. The muscles were hard and well-defined. She let out an, "oompf!" at the rough collision.
She stepped back and the figure in front of her slowly turned around. Her eyes met the most beautiful blue ever. They were streaked with gray, reminding her of a slightly cloudy day. "How did ye find me?" she questioned.
"Mayhaps I should answer that," her sister Katie answered as she stepped forward, "I sent him a letter explaining where you were. Ye can be mad at me, but I ken that ye need him."
Rose stared at her sister in surprise. Glancing back at Emmett, she gripped his hand again, tightly. "Would ye like to take a walk about?"
"Aye, Rosie, I would," Emmett replied, offering his arm.
~*HR*~
A/N: I've never been to Kerelaw Castle, so I have taken creative license with it. Thanks!
Now, I see all these people reading, and I want to know if you like the story or not. Tell me if there is something I can do better. :) Thanks!