Mairiana rushed to Darack and grabbed his hand. 'Twas warm, thank the saints. Kneeling, she burst into sobs and pressed her forehead against his knuckles. She prayed with all her might that God would heal him.

"Shh, 'tis all right." Lady MacGregor rubbed her shoulders, embracing her. "He will live."

Mairiana nodded. What must they think of her? She didn't care. In a short time, Darack had come to mean everything to her.

"Speak to him," Lady MacGregor whispered.

"Darack," she said, her voice a bit unsteady. "'Tis me, Mairiana. You must promise me you will get better."

He swallowed hard and his lips moved. "Mairi…" he rasped.

"Aye."

He squeezed her fingers, then appeared to drop off to sleep, his breaths deep and even.

"He's resting better now," the healer said.

Within the next few minutes, nearly everyone left the room.

"Come," Lady MacGregor said softly and squeezed her shoulder. "You must get some rest. You're exhausted."

"I don't want to leave him," Mairiana confessed. "He didn't leave me in my time of need."

His mother blinked back tears. "He is a good and honorable man."

Mairiana nodded. The best she'd ever met.

"There is a small room off the solar with a cot." She tilted her head toward the corner. "You could sleep there for a few hours. I'll sit here by Darack's side and let you know if his condition changes."

Mairiana didn't want to, but she also shouldn't argue with Darack's mother. "Very well." She doubted she could sleep, but she would try.

A maid brought her a light supper and then she lay down to sleep.

When she awoke, all was quiet and dark. Darack? She leapt up from the cot and stumbled into the main room. A few candles lit the room and Darack still lay on the bed, his mother by his side. Her eyes met Mairiana's.

"How is he, Lady MacGregor?"

"Please, call me Nora. And all is well," she whispered. "He seems to be resting. The healer has given him willow bark and poppy tea. And changed the poultice."

Mairiana moved forward and observed him. He still looked too pale by her estimation. "He lost a lot of blood."

"Aye. What happened exactly?"

Mairiana sat down on the chair beside Nora. "In the stables at Lenor Castle, I heard my betrothed, Alec Lindsay, admit to stealing my brother's jeweled dagger, then kill the man who sold it for him—one of his own guards. I knew then I couldn't marry him—a murderer." She relayed the rest of the story, a brief version of it, leaving out a few choice bits of information.

"Why on earth was Darack at the Lindsay clan's castle, working in the stables?" his mother asked.

Should she tell Nora that it was because he was on a mission to retrieve her brooch? She wanted him to tell her when he awoke and presented her with the piece of jewelry.

"I would rather wait and allow Darack to explain it. He will recover, you know," Mairiana said, trying to gather all her courage.

"Of course. He simply has to—for the two women who love him most." Though she smiled, she blinked back tears.

A disturbing heat rushed over Mairiana and she glanced away.

"You do love my son, do you not, lass?"

Mairiana bit her lip. She could not admit to such a thing before she had even told Darack. He should be the first to know.

"You don't have to say so, but I ken you do." She patted Mairiana's hand.

 

***

 

Darack lay in bed for ten days, his fever worsening each day. Mairiana prayed and cried until her eyes were swollen and scratchy.

Three of the clan elders, the healer, his mother, and a priest stood around his bed.

"You ken what we are going to have to do, don't you?" Osgar, one of the elders with a long white beard, said.

Mairiana's stomach knotted as she awaited the answer.

"Nay, what?" Nora asked.

"Immerse him into the waters of Loch Gheasaibh. 'Tis the wee enchanted loch up in the hills."

Father Bhradain stiffened as he swiveled his head toward the man who had spoken. "What?" he snapped.

"Aye, 'haps you have nay heard of it, Father, since you're new here. Legend says 'tis enchanted by the fairies. My grandfather told me that, long ago… before my time, the first chief was near mortally wounded in battle near there. He begged them to put him into the water at the loch's edge. When they did, he was miraculously healed."

"'Tis the work of the devil," the priest said.

"Nay," Osgar said, his dark eyes widening. "The Almighty created the loch and the water in it, so it must be His own work."

"You already said 'twas a fairy loch. That means 'tis heathen."

"Whatever works," another elder named Reas said.

"I will not risk the lad's immortal soul because of your heathen customs," Father Bhradain griped.

Mairiana looked to the healer who stood nearby. Would she be the voice of reason?

Gertie finally said, "I agree with you, Father. Taking him outside and putting him into ice cold water could kill him in this state. He is burning up. Surely, it would be too much of a shock to his system."

"I have heard of someone else being healed in the loch," Nora said.

Mairiana rose to stand with them. "You have? Who was it?"

"A friend of mine," she said vaguely, "from the next village."

"Anything is worth a try, is it not?" Mairiana asked.

"Who are you?" Father Bhradain asked in a stern tone, surprising her. She'd met him days ago. Did he not remember her?

"Mairiana MacKerrick, Father." She curtsied. "My brother is chief of the MacKerricks."

"Well, I suppose that makes you an expert on matters of healing the body and preserving the spirit."

Mairiana felt as if she'd been slapped. Bitter cold mortification ran through her. She had never run afoul of a man of the church. She always did what she was supposed to, but the life of the man she loved hung in the balance.

"I agree with Osgar," Mairiana said firmly. "God created the loch and filled it with water. There is no such thing as fairies. 'Tis only a legend of the old ones."

"I believe it could work," Nora said.

"You're all mad! And I forbid it!" The priest stormed out.

Mairiana searched the stunned faces of those around her. She could not believe Father Bhradain had just forbidden them to take Darack to the healing loch. Well… on second thought, aye, she could believe it.

"'Twas not just the first chief who was healed at Loch Gheasaibh," Reas said. "When I was a lad, one of my cousins was cured of a disease after going in the loch and he lived more than three score years longer. There is something special about the water. It tastes different. We used to drink from it all the time. 'Haps that's why I'm still healthy at my age. Most of the water of the Highlands is dark because it runs through the peat, but the water of Loch Gheasaibh is crystal clear. It comes from a spring."

"'Haps it isn't pagan magic," Mairiana said. "It could be the stones and minerals in the water which gives it healing properties."

"Mayhap." Reas nodded.

"How far away is it?" Mairiana asked.

"Two or three miles," Osgar said.

"If we can find a couple of men to carry Darack, we could take him there tonight," Nora whispered.

"Aye, and what of Father Bhradain?" Osgar asked.

"He need not know," Nora said. "We'll slip Darack out after the priest retires for the night."

"Do you think this is wise?" Gertie asked. "I have never known the loch to heal anyone."

"You are new here, too," Osgar said.

"I've lived here nigh on ten years!" she exclaimed.

"You consider that a long time? Try eighty years," Osgar said. "And aye, the loch has miraculous healing powers. I don't ken how, but it does work. I didn't tell Father Bhradain the whole story, but when I was young, many were healed there. In fact, we did not even need a healer in those days."

"You are a mad old man," Gertie said.

Osgar cackled.

"Let me know what you decide." Gertie stormed out.

"Are you certain this will help Darack?" Mairiana bit her fingernail.

"Nay, child," Osgar said in a somber tone. "Naught is certain. If 'tis his time to go, then he will. But only the Almighty knows that."

After the elders wandered out, Mairiana turned to Nora. "What shall we do?"

"I believe we should try it. My friend swore to me 'twas the loch which healed her. She had been sick for a long time. A female problem. She had an infection and could not have children. Since then, she has borne two bairns."

Mairiana frowned. "Is it some sort of fertility loch?"

"Nay, 'tis for any health condition. My friend told me of two other people she knew who had been healed. One had a sword wound."

"In truth?" Mairiana blinked back tears as hope filled her.

Nora nodded. "They swam in the loch and were cured."

"If more people knew about it, more people could be healed," Mairiana said.

"Aye, but we rarely speak of it publicly for fear someone will accuse us of being heathens."

Mairiana shook her head. "If it truly works, I believe it is a gift from God."

"As do I."

Nora clasped both her hands, sudden tears glimmering in her eyes. "More than anything I want Darack to recover, you two to marry and have ten bairns."

Ten bairns? Shock went through Mairiana and it must have shown on her face for Nora chuckled, despite her tears, and embraced her. "I will see you tonight." She kissed Darack's forehead, then hurried out.

"Good heavens!" Mairiana whispered, then drew in a deep breath.

Of course, marrying Darack was what she wanted, too, but who knew if he would want the same thing once he got better. Posing as Darack's wife during their travels had felt good—right somehow. And he hadn't seemed to mind; in fact, 'twas his idea. Approaching the bed, she leaned over and kissed his overheated cheek. He was still far too feverish. Her stomach ached with worry.

She forced herself to imagine him healthy and recovered, smiling at her. Teasing her. Kissing her. Aye, it had to come to pass, for she loved him.

 

***

 

After dark, Mairiana, Nora, Ewen and four of his cousins slipped Darack out of the castle through the postern gate. Eight guards also accompanied them. Mairiana was amazed so many men could slip silently through the darkness. They did not wish to alert the priest or anyone else of their plans.

Moonlight peaked through the clouds from time to time, enough for those in front to see the trail, so familiar to them they could probably follow it in full darkness, for it led toward the field where they practiced almost daily. Once out of sight of the castle, the guards lit two torches.

They walked for an hour or longer up the wee glen between hills, the men taking turns carrying Darack between them. The hills grew taller the further they walked. They crossed through a gap between mountains and below lay a small loch.

"Is that it?" Mairiana asked, marveling at the beauty of the loch reflecting the moonlight and stars above.

"Aye," Nora whispered.

Ewan led a prayer, then he and three other men carried Darack into the loch. They held him just below the surface, keeping his face out of the water.

Nora stood by Mairiana on the grassy bank as they watched. She was thankful it was a warm summer night, for she did not wish Darack to become too cold.

"How long does it take?" Mairiana whispered, softer than a breath.

"I have not heard."

Clasping her hands together, Mairiana pressed them against her lips and prayed Darack would awaken. Never had she wanted anything so much in her life. She now knew Darack was her soulmate.

The longer they waited, the more she started to wonder… was this loch truly blessed or was it just an old wives' tale?

Ewan talked to Darack, but he didn't respond.

Mairiana's heart sank. It wasn't going to work. She lowered herself to the ground and cried quietly. Although she still tried to pray, but she was unsure whether it was helping. She had so wanted to spend her life with Darack. She loved him.