A Highlander's Promise

The Guests

MacAlister was awakened by a servant in the middle of the night. After processing what the servant had said he got up and dressed and left his bedchamber. He met his younger brother in the hallway as they both descended the stairs together. The siblings made their way towards the front courtyard and then to the gate.

Before them stood a group of men mounted on horses with a few carts. All notably strong and fierce, as well as exhausted.

"Welcome to MacAlister," the Laird said.

"'Tis good to see you," a ginger haired man said as he got off his horse and faced the Laird.

"I see travel has done you and your men weary," Aodh said.

"Aye," the man said in agreement.

"Come on in. We have prepared for you," MacAlister said. "Rest and we shall speak tomorrow, my friends."

The ginger haired man guided his men and the woman beside him to settle their horses in the stables and bring the contents of the carts inside. MacAlister led them through the entrance of the castle where Caitir was waiting. She had dressed up properly, but the loose braid and half closed eyes told that she had rushed and was still half asleep. Yet, she had woken up to play the role of the Lady to her guests and here she was.

"Welcome, friends," she said with a smile. The ginger haired man gestured and nodded to display his respects as his men followed as well. The woman who was beside the ginger haired man shared her respects with a proper curtsy.

"Your bedchambers are ready, please follow Sorcha, as she will be attending to you and lead you to your halls," Caitir said showing the way to their staircase. That night Caitir was just happy that everything had already been taken care of. She didn't think they would come this early but she would have been embarrassed if she had to wake up the maids to make up the guest chambers.

The men followed Sorcha as MacAlister, Aodh, and Caitir stayed behind.

"Thank you. Good night," the ginger haired man and his woman companion said as they followed his men.

"Good night, MacDuff," the trio replied.

~*~*~

MacAlister bid goodnight to his brother and sister-in-law as they stayed behind. The noise that had just filled the castle had left and silence had returned. Caitir let go of her Lady façade and sighed loudly, she was exhausted. Aodh knew it, he put a strong arm around her waist and brought her head to rest upon his shoulder.

It had been a long night, and they surely lacked sleep, but he knew his wife. The way she woke up early every morning to attend her duties and go beyond them to make sure that the castle was in order and that everyone was doing their part. The way that she helped cook and clean just like any other woman. He wished that, for once, take a step back and let others do the work. She held the highest position, but never once used any of its advantages, Caitir never held her nose higher than the rest. She had been prepared for the surprise arrival of their guests and she would have to attend to them for as long as they stayed. But she never once complained.

He was proud of his wife, the woman who bore and raised him two children and kept his heart in place every day. After all these years, he ought to still show her, for if a moment not that she doesn't believe it herself.

"You did well, wife," Aodh said, "Come let us retire."

She looked up into his eyes and he caressed the small frame of her face with his index finger, and brushed the loose hairs on her face to the side with his other hand.

"I'm so proud to have a strong and beautiful wife like you," he whispered in her ear.

"Pfft, husband you do not need to pay flattery to me. I was already yours more than twenty years ago," she said with a slight laugh and ironic look as her eyes darted away from his.