A Nymph Without Mercy
XII

She slept in trees.

Like some sort of forest urchin whose parents could not provide a properhome.

Garrick felt guilty the moment such thoughts entered his mind, as he wasno better. She at the very least had been happy and contented with her family,and he could only provide a meagre bedroll—not a manor and servants to dote onher like was befitting her person.

Their conversation had not gone as he had intended, but he was quicklycoming to realise that planning anything at all with this girl—woman—was generally for naught. He wouldperpetually be lost and confused, fumbling about for the proper way to speakand treat her, while she smiled and cried and apologised in equal measure.

It had to end.

For his sanity, they had to come to an accord, one that left him feelingless of a monster and with her relatively satisfied with the arrangement.

Garrick was a creative man. Whether it was allowing himself a few stolenmoments composing on his lyre when none could hear him, or by deciding how bestto dispatch whatever unfortunate soul he was charged with killing, he usuallywas able to ensure a modicum of imagination.

But not in this.

Not when he still found it so incredibly unbelievable that she could want him. Perhaps not in the physicalway, she had not mentioned that, yet he could begrudgingly acknowledge it wasnever far from his mind. But she at least desired his company and that was morethan any other had allowed.

He had promised her a bed—something she claimed never to haveexperienced. She had begged him, or possibly more accurately demanded he make an effort to believeher when she made such curious declarations, and he noted with a grimace thathe was already failing in even that.

What he had not considered was the prospect of her in a bed. All feminine beauty, reclined, vulnerable, and sleepy ashe decided to wake her with the press of his lips upon hers, his body soon tofollow.

Two rooms.

On that he would not bend.

If there were any unsavoury characters he might feel compelled to standguard outside her door, but it was too dangerous, too tempting to even considerthe notion of sleeping in the same room—let alone the same bed as this littlenymph.

“Can we remain here a while? I should like to speak further.”

He grimaced but mimicked her position some distance away, leaningagainst a tree of his own. He unsheathed his sword and lay it on the mossyground beside him, ready to make use of it should any stumble upon theirlocation.

“What else is there to say?”

Too much, he knew, but he thought it best to allow her to guide theirtalk as he seemed to do nothing but cause misunderstandings and argumentsbetween them.

Not that she fared much better.

“Do you believe me? That I am a nymph?” Her eyes were wide and imploringbut she quickly looked away, a sadness setting over her. “Was a nymph. I do not know what I am now.”

Garrick hesitated, knowing he must speak carefully lest he insult her.“I believe you are from a different people, though I do not yet know what thatmeans.”

Her head tilted. “You have heard stories about us, surely.”

“Aye, fantastical stories that you have already stated cannot befulfilled. Which then leads me to consider that you are merely human beings playingin the trees.”

Her mouth dropped open, aghast at his suggestion. “We are not men. We are dryads and dryons, peopleand protectors of the forest. We are born and tied to our trees, and can speakto others.” Her hand reached out to touch a large exposed root at her side. “Imiss that so...”

Garrick’s eyes narrowed. It was simple enough to believe a group of menand women wished to abandon the absurdity of a monarch’s rule and soughtshelter in the trees. It was something else entirely to accept they were not ofthe same kind as he.

Mairi’s brow suddenly furrowed, and he wondered what could make herthink so very hard. “You said that you spoke to Raghnall.”

He huffed, still not liking the way his stomach twisted uncomfortablywhen the man’s name spilled from her lips. “Aye, I did. He threatened to killme.”

She blinked at that, and to his increased ire a sad smile appeared. “Hewas a good friend, though he should not have done so.”

“Was there a reason you brought up the man yet again, or did you merely do so to annoy me?”

She rolled her eyes. “I do not know why hearing that someone cared forme should be troublesome to you. I should like to know that you were loved!”

He scoffed. “Were you not moments ago wondering if I intended to take amistress while bonded to you? I thinkyou quite capable of expressing jealousies of your own.”

Mairi looked properly abashed at that and fiddled with the root oncemore. “Raghnall does not speak the common tongue, only nymphlin. I do notunderstand how you could have conversed.”

Garrick froze. “I can assure you, I did not lie. We didmeet and exchanged words. They wereunpleasant and I might have slightly strangled him, but I am offended that youshould think me deceitful.”

She appeared rather horrified at his confession, and he regretted mentioningthe other aspect of their meeting.

“Why would...”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Did I not already mention he threatenedto kill me? I do not take kindly to such suggestions, as ridiculous as theprospect truly was, yet I would think you would come to my defence.”

He peered at her pointedly and her head bowed. “You are right. Of courseyou may defend yourself against one determined to see you harmed.”

Garrick sniffed, glad of her concession.

“But that does not explain how youconversed! He could not have learned enough of the common words to speak to youproperly!”

“You appear to have little trouble. Perhaps our languages are not asdifferent as your assume.”

She gave him a look of pure exasperation. “Raghnall was a guard. Onlythose sent out to lead away strangers were taught how to speak it, as it wasnecessary to know of their intentions.”

Garrick’s eyes narrowed. “What are you suggesting?”

She tugged at a few errant grasses, her eyes refusing to meet his. “I amsuggesting that perhaps our bonding had unforeseen consequences.” Her shouldershunched and she drew up her knees, and he thought the posture quite like achild—fearful and alone. “I cannot speak it anymore, you know. I try toremember and only a few words come. The rest...it is all a blur. Like I onlydreamed of it.”

He suddenly wished he had waited to provide her the treat, as she seemedin need of its sweet distraction now more than ever before.

But there was nothing left but his own unpractised sympathy, and he feltsorry for her indeed that she only had the likes of him to rely on for comfort.

“What do you remember of home?”

She glanced at him in apparent shock, and he felt a flicker of theever-present guilt at the tears shining in her eyes. “You truly wish to know?You will not ridicule me for them?”

He flinched, resolving once again to mind his tongue around thisdelicate creature. “You have my word, I shall not mock you.”

Mairi stared a moment longer, evidently judging his sincerity. He mether gaze and held it, willing her to understand that he did not wish for hertears— or her unhappiness.

“I remember the sounds of the forest at night, of wild things huntingand pouncing in the darkness, and feeling so very safe for I knew that the HighCity was well protected. I remember my sisterlings, how they used to help mewith my hair since...”

She stopped and her lower lip trembled.

Garrick wished he was seated closer so he could still it with his thumb.

“Since?”

Mairi took a shuddering breath, but thankfully her tears fell no fasterthan before. “They helped me for I had no amé to do so. Adar would haveoffered but...” She blushed. “Only one’s bond-mate is to help with it, not anyother dryon. Not even my father.”

He was not preparedfor that. To hear of the duties of a bond-mate—which he still was not preparedto accept as his own—sent a flare of longing that was decidedly unwelcome.

He wanted to help her.

Garrick wanted tokeep her tangled locks perfectly in place, a glistening sheet of tresses soperfectly managed that his fingers could slip through it like strands of silkfrom the crown of her head all the way to her hip, only to then make thejourney again.

And then possiblycaress that same hip if she should be so agreeable.

“It must lookfrightful.” She pulled a lock self-consciously, the blush never managing toquiet.

“If it does thenapparently that is my fault for not tending to it.”

He did not mean tosound curt, but even as the words escaped he realised how she would perceivethem. It troubled him, for how could it not? Not when he was reminded yet againof her expectations—ones that he would quite willingly perform if he was anyother man.

Any other man who wasworthy of her.

She flinched, much tohis chagrin.

“I do not blame you;that was not why I spoke of it.”

Garrick sighed androse. Perhaps it was foolish of him to choose to be so close to her, but insome corner of his mind he felt an incessant pull that drew him closer to hertree, and before she could protest he was settling beside her, mimicking herposition against it.

“I know. But whetheror not I agree with the practice, you see me as your bond-mate. That means thatyou would like for me to see to its care.”

Her voice was quietand nearly non-existent, and he was glad he moved closer so as to hear hermumbled reply. “Only if you wish to. You speak of burdens as though I would neverfeel similarly, but I assure you I do. I will take whatever part of being mymate you will allow.”

She said this withsuch pure earnestness that it made his heart ache in strange and unknownplaces. She should have all of a man. She should have every bit of her pamperedand adored by someone capable and trustworthy enough for her returned ardour.

And he knew withabsolute conviction that man could never be him.

But instead of sayingsuch things, reminding her of the louse that she had the misfortune of beingbonded to, he rasped out, “What else do you remember?”

She turned, andinstead of the both of them confessing and enquiring to the empty air beforethem, she twisted and adjusted until she could peer at him—and he was helplessto look away. “Humans. I remember replaceing them curious, and wanting to knowthem better. Adar and the elderswarned me of it many times.”

He had not expectedthat. “And what about humanity was so very curious? That it is evil andcorrupted while your people are idyllic and...” beautiful.

Garrick stopped theword before it could escape.

He could not quiteinterpret her expression. There was an intensity to her gaze that unsettled himand before he could move, even think ofmoving, her hands had found the way to his covered face as she knelt closer,her thumbs skimming over what little skin was exposed. “No. That you weredifferent. That you could be so lost and confused when love and goodness werewithin your grasp, yet you were too blind to see it. And I found that verycurious indeed.”

Garrick could notbreathe, not when she was touching him and her eyes were soft and gentle evenas her words conveyed such conviction. And he knew that she spoke of theabstract idea of mankind, but even he could not deny that she equally referredto him—that everything he could possibly have desired was at his fingertips—wastouching him—yet he could not seizeit, cling to it as the first truly good thing that had ever happened in hismiserable existence.

Not yet.

But maybe...

Soon.

Her fingertips sent apulse through his mind and heart that he had never experienced before. It wasas if the bondshe referred to was atangible thing, a part of him that was tethered to her and flared with new lifeat the experience of contact, as small as it might be.

He wondered how itwould feel should there ever be more contact.

Garrick closed hiseyes, willing away such thoughts as he fought to keep his breathing steady.

“Why do you fight me,Garrick? I mean you no harm.”

And for someinexplicable reason, he felt near tears. The old part of him, the one that hadnot experienced whatever incredible reaction he had to her—this creature—wouldhave thought her a demon sent from the very depths of hell to torment him withher sweetness and promise of the love he could never know.

But something hadshifted within him. And he knew that, however unbelievably, she cared for him.

It would be so easy,so deliciously easy to relent.

To pull her to himand to claim her lips and declare to the world that she was his wife, in everyway that mattered.

But as her fingersdelved gently, thoughtfully, under the seams of his mask, he froze.

And she must havesensed his withdrawal for she smiled at him sadly, and he desperately wishedthat he could silence his upbringing that screamed that all of this was atrick—one that he likely would not survive unscathed.

“I am sorry,” hecroaked, and he cursed himself for allowing his emotions to disrupt hiscomposure.

She shook her head.“Do not be, you cannot help it. Someday you will grow to trust me, and I lookforward to when that happens.”

He was saved fromhaving to respond by a dissatisfied Callum coming toward them and nudging Mairiquite forcefully with his nose. She was nearly pushed over by his determinationand she released a cry of alarm, but Garrick caught her before anything seriouscould befall her.

Of course, at mostshe would have scraped her palms on the prickly needles that fell from thepines high above them—hardly some great injury. But he caught himself lookingat her palms and his brow furrowed when he noticed the scabs that alreadymarred the otherwise milky flesh.

“You fell?”

Mairi was stilleyeing Callum suspiciously, obviously waiting for him to harass her once more.“In the stream. The rocks were slippery.”

He recalled how hehad found her in the tavern, soaked to the bone, and evidently hurt.

He grasped her handcarefully with his, ignoring Callum’s impatient neigh. He was a horse used totravel, and he had spent far too much time wandering and waiting since meeting Mairi.

His thumb moved overthe marks gently, and he was glad to see that no debris was visible that wouldimpede the healing process.

Perhaps he shouldinquire as to how she fell in a stream, but he did not. It was either a sorrytale of her wandering in the woods alone as she searched for him and wouldillicit only more guilt, or one filled with embarrassment as she tripped overan errant rock as she knelt for water. The first would cause him only moreguilt, and the second would bring her discomfort.

It was better not toeven pose the question.

“Come, we shall seeabout replaceing you a bed.”

She seemed almostreluctant to leave their little shelter of trees, and now that he understood abit more of her rearing he could easily ascertain why. The forest was a comfortfor her, familiar in its wild and unkempt state, even as it was lonesome nowthat she was disconnected from her people. The cities and villages they passedhoused strangers, and incited a wholly different kind of loneliness.

He knew it all toowell.

After quicklyretrieving his sword and replacing his helm—although he retained the maskunderneath knowing it would be removed again shortly— they continued down theroad until they reached the tavern, smoke beckoning welcomingly from itschimney and bawdy laughter greeting them as soon as the heavy door was opened.

Garrick sniffed atthe lot of them, whiling away the day drinking and playing idiotic gamesinstead of being productive. Did they not have mouths to feed at home?

The wench that hadtroubled him earlier sidled up presently, a bright yet surprised smile on herface. “Back so soon, m’laird! Not many can resist our ale or me fine sweeties!”She winked saucily and bent forward, revealing an ample bosom. Garrick sighed,used to such treatment. They saw a fine and expensive suit of armour andthought to steal away more of his coin, either by a quick flash of feminineflesh or by other pursuits thatgenerally required the use of an upstairs bedchamber.

Or a few propositionshad suggested a stable, as if he would ever be tempted by such indecency.

But when the helm wasremoved and the mask revealed, all such beguiling ceased, and wary politenesstook its place. A few brave girls would still make an attempt, but always witha barely disguised look of fear and curiosity in their eyes that wastremendously off-putting.

“We require lodgingand a hot meal, should you have it.”

Her gaze settled on Mairiand Garrick suppressed the urge to step in front of her, blocking her fromview. She had survived with him, and would certainly continue to do so with aharpy sending her malevolent glares. “Of course, m’laird. Will you be requiringthe entire night or merely an hour?”

Before Garrick couldopen his mouth to hiss his outrage, Mairi clutched at his arm so she couldwhisper in his ear as best she could. “Garrick, I do not know of your people,but we rest for almost as long as the moon is awake. Is that more than anhour?”

She was so innocent,so dreadfully innocent, and he didnot approve of this trollop impugning Mairi’s character. “My wife and I shall require beds for thenight, although if you do not cease with your tawdry behaviour I shall be forcedto seek accommodation elsewhere.”

He would have done soalready except Callum was currently being stabled, and he tended to complainshould his saddle be replaced so soon after his removal.

And although Garrickwas an utter failure as a bond-mate, he would not cause his only frienddistress if he could avoid it.

She sniffed and herchin rose in the air, but thankfully she kept from making any further lewdcomments about either Mairi or himself.

He would not beresponsible for his actions if she had continued, but he did so hate thethought of injuring a woman in front of Mairi. He had killed a few in his time,but as a general rule he did not strike them—and he certainly did not want thelittle nymph to presume he would treat her similarly.

Garrick should notthink of her as such, he knew, not until he could decide if he believed hertale or not. But it seemed to suit her, so perhaps it was not so very horrid ofhim.

Mabel waved towardsthe empty tables and Garrick brought them to the one in the furthest corner. Hekept his back to the wall, the better to keep vigilant in case any showed signsof ill-intent. The few men scattered about seemed to be engaged in theirstories and ale, although each in turn cast appreciative looks at Mairi. He quelledthem all with an answering glare of his own, and they returned to their mugswith sheepish nods.

He supposed if he wasto remain in her company for long, he would need to become accustomed to thestares centring on Mairi’s beauty, and no longer the peculiarity of hisappearance.

Mabel was not the oneto bring out their meal, instead a man of middling years, large and burlybrought out two bowls of steaming stew, a plate strewn with hunks of bread, andtwo cups of ale—long experience making it all possible to carry in one armload.

“Ah, lass! Only yeand yer pretty face could put Mabel in such a dither.” Mairi smiled at himshyly and Garrick was forced to bite his tongue lest he make yet anothercomment about her effect on men.

But she had asked himto cease with such statements, and he would try his best to oblige—as long asthe man left quickly.

Garrick had removedhis helm, it being impractical to eat or drink with it on. None had paid muchattention to it, but the tavern-keep started at his mask briefly when hemanaged to tear his eyes away from Mairi long enough to do so. “Pardon,m’laird. I’ll be leavin’ you and the lady to eat yer fill. Please don’t betakin’ offence to our Mabel—she’s used to bein’ the prettiest thing in theseparts.” He gave a funny sort of bow that Garrick dismissed with a wave of hishand, more interested in his absence than in discussing the wench.

He dug into thehearty stew with a vengeance, the flavour better than he had expected. Thebread was fresh and warm, and he wondered if the owner had enlarged theportions to also excuse Mabel’s unsolicited actions.

“Please do not beangry.”

He glanced up at Mairi,only to see her toying with chunks of potato in the stew with her spoon insteadof eating it. Her eyes were careful as she considered him, and he dropped hisown spoon with a gentle splash. “Whywould I be angry?”

She nibbled at herlip, and this time he was close enough to pull it free, but he was angry—or atleast terribly annoyed, and he did not wish to frighten her.

“You do not like itwhen men are kind to me. You think it means that I shall want them more than Idesire you.”

He grimaced, herassessment far too true for comfort. But as the words fell from her lips herealised their inanity, and that him making her feel dreadful for a man givingher a smile and help when she needed it would only lead to madness and abuses.

And he did not wantthat for himself, and especially not for her.

“It angers me to seethat other men can be so easy with you. It angers me that you should haveneeded to seek their help when I should have provided it.” He sighed,distracting himself by tearing off a piece of bread and dipping it into thedark broth. “That does not mean I am angry at you, or that you should pay meany mind. I am an angry lot, and you will do yourself harm trying to circumventeach of my episodes.”

He realised how itsounded as soon as her eyes widened and she leaned back in her chair. “I will not do you harm, you foolishgirl. But you will be so busy trying to appease me that you will forget to takecare of yourself. You see to you and I will see to me.”

She watched him forfar too long so he tapped the bowl in front of her. “Eat. I will not have youwasting away.”

Mairi obliged, butwith not great enthusiasm. She seemed to like the bits of potato well enough,but when a chunk of meat met her spoon she stared at it in consternation. “Whatis it?”

Garrick shrugged.“Some kind of meat.” He poked at a piece in his own bowl thoughtfully. “Lambmost likely.”

She blanched, pushingaway the bowl. “Is a lamb an animal?”

“Lamb is food. And it gives strength. So eat.”

He should have beenmore understanding with her. It stood to reason that a gentle soul such as shewould replace it difficult to eat meat, especially if she was not used to it. Butfood was oftentimes a luxury for these people, and game could be scarce in theforests. Sheep were lucrative not only for their wool, but also as a foodsource.

Garrick took anotherbite.

Mairi rose swiftlyfrom her chair. “I... I am afraid I cannot... will not eat that, even if you require it of me.”

His eyes darkened. Healmost forced her to retreat. He nearly hissed and bullied until she ate whathe provided, damning her girlish fancies about what made for a nice meal.

But he stoppedhimself.

Acting in such a waywould only cause her to hate him. And while he might be wholly deserving of herabhorrence, he did not wish to actively seek it.

So instead he took adeep breath and released it in a longsuffering sigh. “Sit down, Mairi. You donot have to eat the stew. But you must eat something so have the bread.”

She looked at himsuspiciously but finally sat, tearing at the bread and chewing methodically.

It made him almost, almost go replace that strumpet Mabel andask for another honey-cake.

“After I eat, shallyou take me to bed?”

Garrick choked on hisale, wanting nothing more than to do just that.