A Nymph Without Mercy
XV

Travelling was notwhat Mairi expected.

She was more sorethan she had ever thought possible, even though she relied mostly on Garrick tokeep her on Callum instead of utilising her muscles as he seemed to do. Hepromised her more than once that she would become accustomed to it, but now, a sennightinto their journey to Calidore, she was beginning to doubt his word.

Things had changedbetween them over the course of their travels. Garrick made valiant attempts tomind his tongue, and took excellent care of her wound—which hardly gave hertrouble anymore. He always situated the bedroll for her at a respectabledistance to the fire and offered his cloak when she was cold. He also hunted,citing the need for meat for himself, yet she was glad when he returned,grumbling and cursing about a lack of game.

She only nibbled on abiscuit and hid a secret smile—though evidently she failed to conceal itcompletely for he glared at her indignantly.

“A man requires meat,Mairi, not only hard biscuits and bits of cheese.”

She could not helpbut roll her eyes, knowing she would be far away from their camp if ever he did manage to procure an animal forfeasting—manly needs or no.

But what changed mostof all was their conversation. It was clear he did not yet fully believe thatshe was anything but a human female, but he still prodded and kindly enquiredas to her past. Some days she remembered more details than others, and when hisquestions were met with only befuddled memories that she could not access, hewould murmur apologies and sometimes offer his arm for her to rest her headupon—a small show of comfort that she held onto covetously.

Their only truecontact with other people had been the few travellers they met on the road,though many kept a wide berth and paused, lowering their heads until Garrickand Mairi had passed.

“Why do they dothis?” she finally asked, wondering if perhaps Garrick was of higher standingthan even she had considered.

Garrick grunted. “Myarmour; they have heard tales of it in this land.”

“Tales? Like theyspeak of my people, with wishes and beddings?”

He grimaced at that,and his arm about her waist tightened. “In a way. Although they believe that Ibring death in my wake. I am certain seeing a beautiful maid upon my steed doeslittle to allay their fears.”

He did not look ather as he said this, and she wondered if it bothered him—that they would be sofearful merely at his coming. And some tug at her heart made her feel the needto offer him reassurance. “I am not afraid of you.”

His eyes crinkledslightly, and she knew that he was pleased. “I should hope you are not. Ofcourse there are advantages to their fear. I am respected and few try tochallenge me unless I openly threaten something they care for. I make it ahabit not to do so.”

Perhaps what Mairiliked best about their trek was when Garrick would stop along the river andallowed Callum to rest. He only did so when there was a heavy covering of treesto ensure their privacy, so it was not every day—but often enough that Mairifound herself looking forward to denser parts of the forest that loomed ahead. Theywould picnic at the bank, and on one particularly exciting day, he began toremove his armour.

She watched himcuriously as he turned away, replacing his helm with his mask before removingthe rest of the metal coverings. “Would you care for assistance?”

He fumbled with agauntlet and it dropped to the ground with a clamour, apparently not expectingher offer of aid. “If you would like; though I am perfectly capable of seeingto it myself.”

She sighed and rosefrom her seat on a rather large boulder, approaching him. “I am aware of that,but that does not mean you must do ityourself. You do not protest when you have helped me with my laces. Perhaps Ilike to help you as you like to help me.”

He remained silentbut did not complain as she unbuckled and made a neat pile of his armour,leaving him in his tunic and breeches.

“Are we to make camphere? We usually ride until dusk.”

Garrick removed hisboots. “We are nearly to Calidore. We shall rest here and I shall bathe beforewe procure the rest of my payment.”

She had never seenhim bathe before. He would take acloth—she suspected he had pilfered it from the tavern before they departed—andwet it before wiping down all the bits of exposed skin that he could reach. Shehad offered to help in that as well, but he had merely stared at her for a longmoment before giving her a curt, “Thank you, but no.”

Whoever had employedhim must have been very important to demand a full bath. Mairi nibbled her lipthoughtfully. “Would you be terribly upset if I joined you? I promise I shallkeep my gown on.”

She had meant itteasingly, though she truly did wish to experience the brisk water for herself.But Garrick released a rather choked rasp, and she worried that she hadoffended him. “Forgive me, I should not have spoken.”

He shook his head andstepped into the water swiftly. It was deeper now than when she had first experiencedit, and he dove headfirst beneath the surface. He stayed under for longer thanshe anticipated, and before long she crept forward, the water rippling againsther toes as she peered into the depths. “Garrick?”

He rose up with agasp, shaking the water from his hair as he did so. “You may certainly join me,Mairi, if that is your desire.”

There was somethingcurious about the way he was behaving, and she looked at him warily for amoment before relenting. It was cold, but not as icy as before, the warmth ofspring continuing to brush away the last remnants of winter. She walked forwardcarefully, acutely aware this time that slippery rocks could foil even thesurest of footsteps.

Garrick watched herwith apparent amusement as she crept forward. “Aye, it is bracing. You shallgrow used to it more quickly if you hurry.”

The water was up toher thighs, but before she could decide if she should leap into it as he haddone, Garrick came closer and tugged at her hands firmly, pulling her furtheruntil her toes barely skimmed the bottom.

She panicked.

Garrick seemed so atease in the water, kicking and floating about as he pleased, though now hisfeet were firmly planted on the murky floor, his shoulders not even submerged.

But for Mairi thewater came nearly to her nose and she had to tilt her head just so to keep the ability to breathe, andshe clung to him fiercely, afraid at any moment he would release her and herhead would disappear into the depths with no way to reach the shore.

“Hush now, littlenymph. There is nothing to fear.”

He held her up alittle higher, her head completely out of the water, and she scrambled forwardso that she could cling to his chest, her arms wrapped tightly about his neck.“Do not let me drown.”

His arms held herfirmly against him, and she briefly wondered if it was simply to encourage herto release the tense grip she had about his neck, as his breath was rathershort.

But then his lipswere at her ear and suddenly she knew that he liked having her close, needinghim. “Never. You are far too preciousto succumb to a watery grave, not while I can help it.”

He walked back towardthe shore yet she did not release him, enjoying the closeness they shared andthe way she felt so safe in his arms—strong, capable arms and a broad chestthat made her feel small and protected as long as he was near.

“Why will you notmarry me? You must know that I care for you.”

She should not havespoken of it. She had told herself she would wait for him to broach thesubject, giving him time to grow accustomed to the idea of her as his wife. Butthey had grown so easy in their manner, and being in his arms, so very close made her begin to yearn forother things—things that she could only pursue when he acknowledged the truenature of their bond.

And although she knewin her heart that they were one, if he wished to perform the ceremony of hispeople, she wished he would be ready for it soon.

He groaned, buryinghis head in her wet tresses, holding her impossibly closer. “I do not know, Mairi.At this moment I truly do not know.”

Her fingers found hishair, brushing through it softly. She wondered at its texture, dripping littlestreams of liquid that pooled upon the collar of his tunic. “Why do your peoplekeep their hair so short?” It was long enough for her to play with, but justbarely. Hair this length was kept for seedlings, not fully grown men.

He nuzzled into herneck, and she smiled, thinking it almost how Callum would seek out her hand fora treat. “Hair that is long can be used against you in a battle—one firm graspand you are incapacitated.” He paused, and she thought he placed a kiss againsther throat. “Does it displease you?”

She ran her fingersthrough it once more, contemplating. She could not picture him with it anylonger. He was not fair like her kin, and it suited him somehow. “No, it doesnot. And I should not wish for you to be hurt because of it.”

He pulled back fromher then, releasing his hold on her back and she slipped down to stand beforehim in the shallows, her arms still about his neck, though not nearly sosecurely. “That would trouble you? If I was to be injured?” He huffed andclosed his eyes. “Me, and not merelyyour mate.”

“Oh, Garrick...”

Mairi sighed andfiddled with one of the lacings on his tunic, struggling for the words thatwould soothe the wounded part of his heart that made him worry so.

She brought his handto her chest, placing his palm above her heart as she stroked and quieted witha touch of her sensitive fingers, holding fast as he made to pull away. “Youcannot feel it? I care for you, Garrick.Not simply because you are my mate but because you are capable of greatkindness, great love. You wished to show me that and you shall continue to doso—even though I am only an ignorant little nymph who follows you about andsays all the wrong things. I look forward to the day when you will call me yourwife, for it is then that I know you have accepted me, not merely fromobligation but because you want for me to be yours.”

Garrick swallowedthickly, brushing his thumb against her collarbone. “I wish for nothing more.But it is so unfair to you...”

She scoffed. “You seeme as a victim—as though you have thrust yourself upon me, a poor innocentyoungling that is coerced into caring for you against my will.” He hung hishead shamefully, and she coaxed him to look at her with a gentle touch upon hismasked cheek, a teasing smile on her lips. “I believe it is I who has pursuedyou, m’laird. You wished to set me free, to allow me to plead before my eldersfor leniency yet I would not go. It was I who wooed you into my bed, if onlyfor sleep.” She went up on tiptoe, mindful of the slippery riverbed beneath heras she whispered in his ear, “I hardly consider that the part of an unreceptiveparticipant.”

He kissed her.

His hands found herwaist as he pulled her closer, his mouth melting with hers in a way that was sounlike anything she could have expected. For a moment she was frozen,unresponsive in her surprise but soon she wove her fingers in his hair, urginghim all the nearer.

Some part of herheart leapt toward his, and was met and mingled and she had never felt morecomplete in all of her life.

And it ended far tooquickly.

As soon as he pulledaway, gasping for breath and looking nearly terrified, she felt as if a part ofher soul had taken residence within his, leaving a dull ache in its wake.

But all the morecurious was a new presence, a new awareness of the man before her, wrenchingaway and wading back to shore as she stood there, utterly drenched and bereftof his sudden absence.

“Garrick, wait!”

He shook his headfuriously, tearing off his own soaked tunic and wiping down his exposed skinroughly with his cloak before donning a clean one. “I should not have donethat. You must forgive...”

“Garrick, stop.”

She said it was suchferocity that he did indeed cease his frantic movements, and instead blinkedback at her.

Mairi waded forward,her skirts clinging to her legs as she tried to keep from slipping, knowingthat she simply had to reach him before this too was allowed to fester. “Do notapologise for that. Never apologisefor finally allowing yourself to...”

She took a deepbreath, willing down the tears that threatened to fall. “It is as it should be.And I will not have you tainting it with your doubts. I would not kiss you if Idid not care, did not love you.Please do not hurt me by continuing to mistrust it.”

Perhaps it wasdifferent for his people.

Perhaps they tooklonger for love to grow, to replace its way into their hearts and minds beforethey were willing and able to express it to their mates.

But for her it wassimple—so deliciously simple.

For a piece of himwas lodged deep within her heart from the moment he touched her.

With every evidenceof his care and attention it began to flourish.

And now she wishedfor nothing more than for him to confess that he felt the same, and consummatethat knowledge with another of his delightful kisses.

Garrick stared downat the pile of armour beside him. “I do not wish to hurt you,” he murmured.

She drew closer,urging him to give in to the growing bond between them. “Then marry me. Bywhatever means are important to your people, I wish to be your wife.”

He looked up at herthen, his eyes blazing and so very dark and she shivered as he pulled her intohis arms and kissed her. Once, twice, thrice more before pulling away, her lipstingling and her heart pulsing rapidly at his exuberance. “There is no goingback. Once I have called you mine and made you my wife, I shall not offer you aseparation as I have done.”

She shook her headdeterminedly. “I would not ask for one.”

His lips curved in anall too brief smile. “Then we shall be late for our audience with the king.”

Despite how hetwitched and sighed impatiently as they lazed about in the sun waiting to dry, Mairifelt a peace like she had never known. Something had altered—somethingfundamental to their very beings now that he had accepted her. She wondered ifit would be even more different when they had pledged themselves to one anotheras he had explained, but she could not imagine feeling any more contented thanshe did now.

Garrick took a pinchof her gown between two fingers, rubbing it thoughtfully. “It appears dryenough.”

She giggled. “Youseem anxious, Garrick. Do you worry I shall change my mind if you do nothurry?”

He hung his head ashe reached for his boots, pulling them on with far more focus than wasnecessary. “Nay, not for that. I must hurry before I give in to the voice thattells me I must show you my face before I allow you to bind yourself to me.”

Mairi sighed inexasperation. “I have seen your face, and I am already bound to you. You should not be so troubled, not when allis well.”

“What if...”

He fiddled with anerrant buckle, and she crept closer, to soothe however she could. “I wish foryou to be happy, Garrick. What worries you so?”

His eyes shut firmlyhe turned away, already his jubilation at her feelings for him fading with selfdoubt. “What if, after you have married me, you think me too hideous to callhusband? I cannot... I will not...” He growled and rose, reaching for eachpiece of armour and clapping it on roughly, even as she felt through their bondthat he was shuttering away pieces of his heart.

“You may show me, ifyou like. Or you may choose to wear a mask for the rest of our days. As long asyou are happy to call me wife and I have you as my mate, I shall be satisfied.”

Garrick sighed, aweary sound that sent a sympathetic surge of awareness through her. “You saythat now...”

“I say it always. Asoften as you need hear it.” Only barely did she resist the urge to stomp herfood. They were so close, so terribly closeto being happy, and he with all his boorish determination would keep it fromthem as he tried foolishly to keep her away.

“You have been theone to keep us apart, Garrick. Not I. I may understand your reasons but knowthat I have been willing and agreeable to our union since I first awoke in yourbedroll. I will not part from you whether you agree to our marriage or not, butI should very much like to begin loving you properly, but first you must allowme to do so.”

She came closer andlaid her hand gently on the firm muscle of his back, making soothing circlesupon it with her fingertip. “You are not ready to remove your mask. To do sonow would only cause you pain. So marry me now, and trust that I shall be faithful to you, continue to care for youeven after you have shown yourself to me.”

His shoulderstrembled and she wondered if he suppressed tears, but he turned and gatheredher into his arms, holding her so close it nearly kept breath from entering herlungs. “I want to trust you. But so many have...”

She silenced him byplacing a kiss upon his chest, where the undone laces of his tunic exposedslivers of supple flesh that she longed to explore. “Yours are a stupid people,who do not know goodness when they see it. But I do. You are safe with me, justas I am safe with you.”

They departed quicklyafter that. Even Callum must have sensed their urgency for he made no protestto the abrupt end to his grazing, nor did he object to the steady pace Garrickset. He led her to a stone building, tucked away in a thicket. Moss grew andthrived over most of the structure, save a small patch on the roof where thesunlight warmed it.

He dismounted firstand helped Mairi down before hurrying them both into the aging edifice. A stoutlittle man approached them, and after Garrick, dressed completely in hisarmour, commanded that they be wed, he ushered them to the front and bid themrepeat the vows that Garrick had once spoken of with such derision.

To Mairi it was allvery strange, but she held his hand and murmured the words she was bid, andloved the way his eyes burned with pleasure as she pledged herself to him. Foralways.

But most of all sheliked when the cleric pronounced them man and wife, and Garrick pulled her away,back to a waiting Callum, who cared little for the now married state of hismaster and the creature he had collected.

She expected Garrickto help her back onto the saddle but instead he pulled her further into thetrees, ensuring their privacy from even the dark and placid eyes of Callum.

He took a steadyingbreath before taking her face between his palms. “I wish to show you. To trustyou. To kiss my new wife as she deserves.”

Mairi nodded herconsent, and with a shuddering sigh he removed his helm, this time not turningaway to fumble with replacing it with a mask.

He was not as sheremembered. She vaguely recalled flashes of scars, ribbons of puckered tissuewhere smooth, pale flesh should have been.

She reached up toskim the smooth cheek, trying to recall why she had thought him so ill to lookupon.

For he was lovely,and so very fair, even if his features were darker than most of her kin.

And when hersensitive fingers made contact with the perfectly formed skin he gasped, hiseyes widening as his own hand reached up to cover hers, his face contorting in shock,and... fear?

“Mairi, what have youdone?”