A Nymph Without Mercy
XIV

Two men conversed inlow tones, though he did not recognise either of them. A lofty maple stoodabove them, and the remains of a smaller, leafless tree was beside it, and thefirst man, taller and more grieved in appearance than the other laid his handupon the ashen bark as he bowed his head. “It has not perished, not completely.Perhaps there is hope.”

The second mansighed. “She might yet live, but she may not return. You know this.”

The taller of the twostiffened. “Forgive me, but I replace it a comfort that my nymphling might live.Even if you shall not allow her to come back to me.”

“It is for the safetyof our people. She is one of them now.”

He shook his head indenial. “Not while her tree lives.”

Garrick awoke slowly,the dream strange yet not as unsettling as many he had experienced. Instead hefound the bed, although not as fine as the feather bed he had in his cottagefar from here, comfortable enough and very warm. He clutched further to thesource, but stiffened when that warmth released a sleepy little sigh andnuzzled back against him.

His mind wasbefuddled and belatedly he realised he should have pulled away—disengagedhimself from the tangle of arms and legs and hair, long luscious hair that henever wished to leave, that held him captive.

She was lying on hisarm, and he cursed the numbness he felt. It was his sword arm, and he scowleddown at her sleeping form. If any had intruded during the night he would havebeen slow and fumbled as he tried to protect himself—protect her—against whatever miscreant daredencroach.

But at the smallcontented smile on her face his own features softened, and he could not helpbut stare in wonder that a lady such as her could replace peace within his arms.

Even if it did subjectone of said arms to complete uselessness.

He thought back onthe dream. He was never one to give much credence to meaning, even as many ofhis own were bits of memory that merged into one steady stream of misery andhatred. But this had been different. In some small way they seemed similar tothe creature in his arms, ethereal and lithe, with garments cut of the samesilks that were impossible to purchase in any of the lands known to his kind.

Could they have beenher kin?

He shook his headbemusedly. So much talk of souls bonding and obscure languages had obviouslyencouraged his mind into a fanciful imagining that had no place in reality.

Mairi’s brow furrowedand a brief flicker of pain shadowed her features, and he noticed with agrimace that she was lying on her injured shoulder—something that would most assuredlycause discomfort and possibly further damage if she was not careful.

Garrick needed to befar away from her when she awoke, not wanting her to think he had takenadvantage of her as they slept.

He chastised himselfthoroughly.

It had been at her insistence that he was in the bed atall. He had tried to keep an acceptable distance—as little as it might be whenthey were travelling companions—but she had pleaded,and he was helpless to do anything but relent. Not when he should be the one tobeg of her for time and concern, not the other way round.

With his lone freearm that was embarrassingly wrapped about her middle he tried to lift herenough to slip free, but the action must have jostled her shoulder more thanshe could bear in sleep for she awoke with a hiss of pain.

And he hated it.

He hated that hewished to wake her with a kiss, gently and sweetly, until her eyes flutteredopen and she looked up at him and smiled.

But instead she triedto quiet her distressed breathing, evidently hoping that he slept on.

“No need for quiet,little nymph, I am already awake.”

She rubbed at hershoulder waiting for the ache to abate, but already a blush stained her palecheeks. “I am sorry for our position. I can assure you, I did not cause itintentionally.”

Garrick scoffed,finally liberating his feeling-less arm and grunting in discomfort as the bloodbegan to flow anew. He bent his fingers to aid the action, even as he wished tosulk away for being in pain at all.

But if numb fingersand the sharp pinpricks of an awakening limb were the only price he paid forthe joy of sleeping beside this perfectly willing angel, he would gladly giveit tenfold.

And he wondered ifsuch selfish thoughts were truly so terrible, not when she made it so perfectlyplain that she desired being with him.

He groaned and rolledover, climbing from the bed as quickly as possible, needing the distance fromher.

“Garrick? Are youterribly displeased with me? I promise that I did not intend for anything tohappen. Have I spoiled your virtue?”

He gaped at her.“What on earth are you speaking of?”

She sighed, burrowingback into the blankets even as she peeped out at him. How could one speaking oftaking someone’s virtue look soinnocent at the same moment? “You said that this was not proper for ones whowere not married. Perhaps you do not think you have a wife yet but I wasworried you thought I had somehow tainted you... that we had done somethingwrong.”

Mairi plucked at anerrant string coming loose from the seam. “It is not as though you would have awife that was not me...”

She looked at himthen, long and pleadingly, as if the thought of him taking another as a wifewas actually painful to her.

His mouth was dry ashe swallowed, trying to form the words. “I have told you that only a fool wouldseek another when you are near. And do you not remember what I said last night?I shall try... am trying to show youthat I can be a proper husband. You have tainted nothing, least of all me.”

“Does that mean youare not upset about holding me as we slept? That you found it as pleasant as I?For I am lonesome now...”

She could not be inearnest.

But one glance at hereyes showed that she was indeed sincere and it baffled him.

“I am... unaccustomedto lounging about after waking. I have... personal matters to see to that makeit necessary to rise relatively quickly.”

He still wondered whyshe had not yet demanded the need for the privy. Even if he had roomed alone hewould not have made use of the chamber pot, replaceing the idea of someunsuspecting maid being force to clean it after him troubling in the extreme.So even if the temperatures were less than hospitable and he required use ofthe facilities he would brave the cold.

But Mairi only lookedat him in confusion, and he had made no further effort to explain his habits toher. If she should need to relieve herself in future she would have to be theone to communicate it to him, for he would cease to enquire.

It was anotherstrange quality of hers that begged continued thought, but for now he pulled onhis boots and fastened his cloak about his shoulders, certain that the coolmorning air would require it. He checked the pocket and found the coil of ropetucked safely within, and decided he could forego taking his sword. It wasbetter for her to have it in any case—even for unpractised hands a broadswordlevied against a villain would do more to intimidate than a mere bit of rope.

“Remain here, I shallreturn shortly. If any should enter go to the window and call out; I will hearyou.”

She looked wary butdid not try to stop him from leaving. He told himself all would be well. Thetavern was empty, and only the occasional snore from another occupant floatedthrough the hall as he stole down the stairs, but that did little to quiet hisnerves.

It was a curiousthing, this urge to defend and protect, even against non-existent dangers. Itcaused his pace to quicken and he could not deny an urgent tug at his mind thatit was important he return to her.

As he expected, themorning was crisp and a fine mist covered the ground in an eerie haze. Aftervisiting the privy Garrick hesitated, torn between his desire to return to Mairiand his inclination to confirm that Callum was seen to properly. Normally he wouldhave done so the night before, to ensure that he was fed and watered, and thathis hooves were free from any debris that could cause discomfort or injury.

He smiled wryly as heremembered how he had done much the same for Mairi only the evening before.Perhaps if he thought of her as a horse, a friend,instead of a potential wife it would be easier for him.

Taking a deep breathhe tried to focus on the small part of him that felt tethered to the roomabove, wondering if this intuition stemmed from any true danger toward her ormerely the perfectly natural desire to be near her—to enjoy her form and hersmiles, which she offered so readily whenever he was not too gruff or surly.

He rather thought thelatter, so he stepped into the stables, the soft breath of the sleeping stableboy barely audible as it drifted from the loft above.

Callum’s headappeared over one of the stall doors, and Garrick rubbed his nose fondly withhis uncovered palm. “You know it is too early for your breakfast, you plump beast.I merely wanted to see that you were well.”

The horse released alarge huff of annoyance at being woken without promise of a treat, and Garrickpatted his neck once more in apology. “We shall leave soon enough, and I amcertain if you are obstinate enough you can ply far too many apple cores fromthat foolish boy charged with watching you.”

Too long he hadlingered but already the unsullied air cleared away the equal measures ofdesire and embarrassment he had experienced, and he felt somehow lighter as hehurried back to his temporary chamber.

Mairi was waiting forhim when he returned, staring anxiously at the door from within her bundle ofblankets, her brow furrowed with apparent worry. “You were gone a very longtime.”

He grunted. A part ofhim bristled at being accountable to another, used to doing what he pleasedsimply because it pleased him to do it. But as he saw her worry, he softened,knowing that without his protection she was vulnerable to all sorts ofatrocities—even in what should have been the safety of a bedchamber.

“My apologies. Callumrequired my attention.” Not true in the strictest sense, but it evidentlyappeased her for she pressed no more about the matter, though his eyes narrowedsuspiciously as he watched her nibble on her lower lip, her gaze settled in herlap.

“Garrick...”

He half waited forher to finally ask him the way to the privy, but the request never came.

“I do not wish foryou to be uncomfortable, but to mend my dress I shall need to remove it. It isunacceptable for you to see a female’s form if you are unmarried, yes?”

He knew that she saidit for his benefit—that to her they were truly one and she bore his reticencewith as much patience as she could. But unbidden came the image of her nudeform reclined upon the bedclothes, smiling as he entered the room as she darnedthe hole in the shoulder of her garment.

And he wanted it.

He wanted the simpledomesticity, the fondness and familiarity that came from married life—or atleast, what he thought must come from such relations.

First he had to showher. He wanted her happiness, but he would not allow her to waste herself upona man that did not appreciate her. As Harold had reminded him, she was agift—one he had neglected.

But no more.

He cleared histhroat. “I shall mend it for you. But first, we tend to our mouths.”

She stared at him,aghast. “Do what?”

Garrick grimaced,realising that he should have been clearer as visions of them kissing flooded his mind, but he pushedthem away furiously. He could not often afford a bath, but if there was onething he could not abide it was the taste of his mouth in the morning, andsurely hers would be feeling similarly.

He rummaged throughhis bag and pulled out a jar, gesturing for her to join him by the washstand.He poured a generous amount of water into the waiting basin before showing herhow to chew and rinse the minty poultice that left his mouth feeling, andimperatively, tasting all the morepleasant.

She seemed unsureabout the process and he wondered if this was yet another oddity about her thatshe did not suffer the same afflictions as he. Her smile was impeccable, sowhatever her usual habit would not leave her with the tooth-rot that afflictedso much of the population.

Mairi breathed outheavily and sniffed the air, and he could not help but watch her in amusementas she caught whiff of the crisp mint and smiled in satisfaction.

“Now, shall we seeabout your garment?”

She nodded andappeared somewhat shy as she sat down upon the bed. “Have you a pine needle? Iconsidered going to look for one but I thought you would be angry.”

Garrick found thesmall pouch that held his own mending supplies. Perhaps some had daughters andwives to tend to such matters, but he had only his own two hands. And he did sodislike holes in his tunics and breeches.

“You were correct.And besides, I highly doubt a bit of dried shrubbery could be as effective asthis.”

He revealed his owniron needle, smooth and sharp and well cared for. He took a bit of bee’s waxand plied the point, wanting to do his best at tending to her gown.

It was his fault itwas damaged, and just as he looked after her wound, he would do his best torepair any remembrance of the unfortunate episode.

“Now, where is yourthread?”

She gestured to oneof the hidden pockets of his cloak, and before long he had snipped and readiedthe needle.

Mairi had alreadyunwound the length of tunic that serviced as a bandage and as soon as hetouched the fabric of her dress it was obvious even the most skilled of tailorswould fail to keep the original integrity of the material. The colour of thethread was excellent, the same port wine that made her skin appear so pale andluminescent...

But it was made ofwool and not the delicate strands that seemed to have been wrought from fairiesinstead of anything possibly human.

He shook his head.Tales of nymphs and wishes had evidently addled his brain. He was not even yetcertain if she was to be believed,let alone introduce all manner of fantastical beings into possible existence.

He eyed the holescritically. The arrow head, while narrow, had caused an impressive gash toform, made worse by his attempt at bandaging. Too frightened had he been to askher to remove the gown so he had tucked compresses beneath her sleeve againstthe injured flesh, only to then dress the wound and hold it fast from theexterior.

But to mend itproperly he should do so from the inside, and he swallowed thickly as he testedthe idea against his resolve to leave her untouched until he could be sure,absolutely certain, that shesubmitted to the idea of him as her mate, her husband, because she cared forhimand not simply his title as such.

If it became too much he would merely flee theroom under the pretence of seeing to their morning meal. He nodded to himself,satisfied that even should he fail to keep to his task, he had a sufficientexcuse.

“I shall have topartially remove your gown.”

She smiled at himsoftly. “I supposed you would, but I thought it better to allow you to come tothat conclusion on your own. Would you like to unlace it, or should I?”

“I will,” he raspedout, then grew embarrassed at his enthusiastic agreement. She glanced at himknowingly, and he was quick to supply a genuine reason. “It would hurt yourshoulder to bend so, and I will not have you straining your injury when I canprevent it.”

She hummed but turnedslightly so that her back and the fragile laces that held the even more fragilegown closed about her were exposed to his view.

Garrick had alwayspossessed nimble fingers. Long and lean, there was no fine task that was beyondhis capability. That particular feature was especially useful when pluckingaway at the strings of his lyre, and he was able to coax many songs andmelodies from the instrument.

But with this hefumbled.

He picked at the knotand silently cursed his incompetence when it refused to yield, and for a briefand terrible moment he considered taking out the knife tucked in his boot andslicing the dreadful apparatus from bottom to top.

Yet to do so wouldleave her unbearably exposed, with nothing but his own torn tunic for acovering, and he would not impose upon her modesty in such a way.

And it would make himseem a brute, incapable of the delicate action required.

So he took asteadying breath and was greatly relieved when the impudent little knot untangled,only to then lose all of his senses as each bit of angel-white, unmarked skinwas revealed.

Except for where itwas not.

Except for when hepulled away the last compress and saw the red and angry mark that he had placed there.

And perhaps some small,possessive side of him liked the notion that even if she could replace a way to befree of him, there was something real and tangible that would remind her ofhim. But the rest mourned for what would never be as pristine as before sheknew him. It would heal, of that he would ensure, but there would always be ascar because of his mistake.

She held the gownclose to her chest even as he eased her arm through the sleeve.

“Do you cover yourbreasts for your sake or for mine?” He said the words before he could considerhow wholly inappropriate it was to enquire.

Mairi stared at himfor a long moment, judging him as surely as he was judging how best to approachmending the torn material.

And to his completeand utter surprise she let the bodice drop, and the silk pooled at her waist.“For yours. I have no shame about being with my mate, but you are not ready toconsider me as such. I am trying to be understanding.” He tried to grimace atthe prim way she spoke to him, but all he could focus on were her newly exposedbreasts, and any thought fled his mind.

His fingers trembledand he clutched them into fists to keep from touching her.

And he realised howimproper he was being and he tried to avert his eyes, to keep to his task, buthe failed miserably until she pulled up her gown once more, leaving only hershoulder and slivers of back exposed. “It pleases me that you think medesirable. But I do not think we should betogether until you are ready to take me as a mate in your heart.”

The whole situationwas ludicrous. She was so clearly ready to give herself to him, wholly andcompletely, if only he would surrender to her charms, her delightful innocence,and the tenuous bits of love that she extended to him.

His head hung inshame, at last beginning to darn the ragged edges of her sleeve.

“I must return to thekingdom that sent me here for final payment. Then we may go wherever youplease.”

He sewed quietly, Mairicontent to watch his work, thought it made him feel all the more inadequate ashis fingers wavered and hesitated. Why had he not allowed her to do it herself?He could have waited outside while she worked if her state of undress had beentoo much for him.

Garrick moved to thesecond split, this one larger than the first. The water that had drenched herdid much to remove evidence of her strange blood, and he was pleased with howit came together.

“You care for me.That is why you feel you must prove yourself a capable mate. If you feltnothing it would not matter to you if I did not care for you either.”

Garrick made noreply.

“That is all right. Iwould like you to care for me, and perhaps you could even come to... love me,with enough time.” She sighed. “I should like that very much.”

“Coming to love youwould be no great difficulty, little nymph,” he murmured lowly.

She raised atentative hand, the other still carefully concealing her tantalising flesh.“And I am coming to realise that loving you shall be no great difficultyeither. You must simply allow yourself to believe that.”