Spring Equinox 1715, Scottish Highlands
Shaw carried Maggie's lifeless body through the keep to the floor below and into the infirmary. Placing her body gently on the rock slab meant for surgeries, he prepared himself for his task at hand. He was going to clean and prepare her body as best he could.
Her lower body was severely burned, her skirts melted into her skin, charred bone showing in some spots along her legs. His hands shook as he filled a basin with water to wash the soot from her face, untouched by the fingers of flame.
"I'll do right by you leannan," he spoke softly to her as he gently bathed her skin, removing what clothing he could. The gasp from the door startled him, causing him to knock the basin to the floor, it shattered spreading water through the reeds at his feet.
"Oh Shaw," Fiona sobbed. "I am so sorry, look at what I have done."
"Fiona, you have not done anything wrong, 'tis me I am jumpy is all." He sighed. "I have failed everyone, father, mother, you and Bran, the whole of the clan."
"Shaw, no you haven't," she said moving to embrace her brother. "You didn't order Cailean to do what he did, you didn't hurt Cole, you didn't kill our mother, she died birthing me, and you didn't kill our father. As for Bran, I can't even think of a way that you could have failed him, you speak nonsense brother."
Shaw pulled back and looked at his sister, gently brushing the wound on her head, neatly stitched, and cleaned, with a bright angry looking bruise. "And this Fiona?" lightly touching her wounded head. "Whose fault is this?" he demanded. "I left you there alone, I didn't protect you or Maggie." his voice hitched on his mate's name.
"This," she replied touching her own wound. "Is no one's fault, but the animal that did it and that is Cailean." She gave him a shake. "You mustn't take on so much Shaw."
He just smiled at her and hugged her tight to his chest.
"I love ye, wee sister."
"I know it, brother, I have always known it, even if you refused to say it." She hugged him back with tears falling down her cheeks. "Shaw, it feels as though you are saying goodbye."
"I am, mo dheirfiur," he pulled back and stroked her hair. "I leave for the MacNary clan in the morning, I must return Maggie's body to her father, and I go alone."
He watched as her beautiful seafoam eyes filled with fear for him.
"But Shaw no!" she cried. "You'll be killed."
"Aye, 'tis likely," he answered. "But I won't risk anymore of our clan members, Maggie tasked me with this, and 'tis my promise to keep, come what may."
He filled the basin with water again and continued his task of preparing Maggie for burial. "I'll not here more on the matter, Fiona."
He knew she was angry and scared, and that this wasn't the end of it. She was likely on her way to tattle to their brother, Bran. But he would not change his mind, and Bran was going to be even more angry when he discovered he would be the new Laird of the clan by morning.
Maggie was washed and wrapped in a burial cloth, and now he would wait with her until morning. To watch her, to hope for life, to keep her safe and allow her soul to leave peacefully.
He had kept his emotions locked away for so long he didn't know how to deal with everything he felt. His mate was gone. She had given a medallion to take to her father, a promise that would likely be the end of him. It pained him that he would be returning her empty body to her father, her soul gone, and her beauty marred by fire. He would not return to his rooms, or his study, he would sit here in a room that was as cold as his own soul felt.
As he sat there with his beloved, he heard the angry steps of his brother coming to confront him. The door crashed open, and his brother was there like an angry squall. Brans eyes were glowing the gold of the wolf and his hair was in disarray as though his own fingers had tried to pull it from his scalp.
"Will you listen to reason?" Bran stormed about the room as he shouted. "Dammit you can't go alone. The witches will destroy you, and you bloody well know it!"
"Aye, I know it," he replied. "It is why I've decided to officially turn the clan over to you. You will lead this clan as, Laird."
"Are ye insane," Bran sputtered his brogue growing stronger in his anger. "I can't lead this clan. I no' you Shaw. I can't even prove my worth to my own mate!"
"I don't need you to prove your worth, Bran." He gripped his brother's shoulders. "I have always known it."
"Jesus Christ, Shaw," he dropped to the floor. "You can't leave me with this mess."
"Aye, I can, and I will." he said sitting in a chair across from his brother. "I'm sorry for it, more than you could possibly know."
"I'm in your head, aren't I?" he remarked. "I know exactly how sorry you are."
"Bran, you need to talk to Syn, I need to know that I am leaving my family whole when I go, that includes your mate."
"Do you understand what you're asking brother?" His brother rose and walked to the small window across the room. "To prove my worth is to prove it in battle, against Syn's mother."
"Do you fear losing?"
"No, I fear winning," Bran turned and looked at him. "It's to the death, Shaw. If I win, I am meant to destroy my mates' mother."
"Valkyrie have no fear of death," he told Bran. "It is an honor to die in battle and be admitted to Valhalla. Don't underestimate the woman, she is a warrior and a great one if her age is any consideration."
"I won't Shaw," Bran smiled sadly. "But I was trained by the best."
"I will miss you brother, be well," he pulled his brother in for a hug. " I-I love you, mo bhrathair."
"I love you to," he said as he returned the hug. "You'll be back, bhrathair, safe with your family."
Shaw just smiled. Not willing to lie to his brother. He knew though it was the last time he would see him. His brother may see him again, but he doubted very much that he would still be alive when he did. He was sure the end would come for him, it was only a matter of days.
"Shaw, can you hear me?" Shaw heard a male voice ask. "You need to come back now, to the present, your clan needs you."
He wanted to listen to the voice, he really did. He wanted to be there for his clan, but Bran was there and he had unfinished business here.