Anise

Drustan arrived home three days later, after staying over in Campbell keep to work over the beginnings of a battle strategy with Murray, the Laird, and his captain of the guard Duncan. With the promise to send a missive with the estimates of the amount of men he would need Drustan left and rode hard until he arrived back at the keep.

Cameron had been in one of the shops in town, looking over several pieces of jewelry that she couldn't help but admire when she heard several of the children in the street start to call out. "The Laird is back! The Laird is back!"

She thanked the store keep and promised that she'd be back to purchase at least one of the necklaces before rushing outside with enough to time see Drustan and Murray riding over the hill that laid to the east of the keep. Cameron stood at the edge of the pathway as the other townspeople gathered to watch their laird return home, watching as the two men rode closer and closer.

Cameron decided she'd wait for them to ride past before heading back towards the Keep. That'd give them time to unsaddle the horses and take care of whatever else they had to before she hounded Drustan with her questions of how everything went and what he agreed to. For some reasons, the past few days she couldn't get that nagging feeling out of the pit of her stomach that something wasn't quite right.

Everyone cheered happily and shouted as Drustan and Murray rode by in a flash of brown and black, their horses kicking up a cloud of dirt as they past. The crowd didn't begin to disperse as quickly as she figured it would so Cameron pushed her way through onto the road and began to walk towards the keep.

She'd only just began to walk when Drustan's horse cleared the hill in front of her and made its way back towards her. "What are ya doin' lass?" He asked as he stopped the horse next to her, looking down at her from the great height.

Cameron smiled at him and stated obviously, "I was shopping but decided to head back to the keep now that your home. How did you know to come back for me?"

"I saw ya in the crowd." Drustan offered her his hand and she took it as he pulled her up onto the horse so she could ride behind him.

"How did you even see me?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her hands comfortably on his abdomen, loving the feel of the toned muscles under her hands, "There was like forty other people in that street and I was smashed between most of them."

He chuckled and patted one of her hands that was resting on stomach before stating, "I will always see ya, lass. I saw ya the second I peaked that first hill comin' inta the town. Ya were comin' out o' the blacksmith's wife's shop. Ya see anathin' ya liked, lass?"

Cameron just shrugged laying her head on his shoulder, "It was all very pretty. What did Laird Campbell want?"

"Tis nay important now," he said, keeping his hand over hers. "We shall discuss it later."

"It's that bad, is it?" She asked solemnly.

"Nay, this just nay somethin' I wish ta discuss until I have bathed and had a full meal is all."

Cameron nodded, "Well, when you get home I'll help Bessa make you something to eat."

"Nothin' too much lass, maybe if Bessa has some bread left from this morn', some cheese and mayhap some meats if there is some." He stated, "And I wan' ya ta eat with me."

Cameron smiled and nodded and stayed quiet the rest of the short ride back to the keep. When they entered the courtyard Drustan dismounted and then helped her down, her body sliding against his. Her eyes flew to his when she felt his erection and she blushed to see that he was already looking at her, his gaze burning. They stayed like that for a heartbeat before Drustan leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

Cameron quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with just as much passion, her body pressing against his tighter. She wasn't sure how long they kissed for before Drustan broke away with a growl, "Tis fire we are playin' with, lass." She just smiled at him shyly before he sighed, "I need ta bathe, lass. I smell of a horses arse. Go gather lunch and meet me in the pasture. We shall eat outside but I donnae wish ta leave the grounds."

She nodded, and wouldn't have said something but she couldn't find the words for that, her heart was still racing. They parted ways quickly; he went towards the stables to put up Stomper as she headed into the keep, heading right towards the kitchens to see Bessa already gathering things.

She stopped when Bessa looked up at her, "I thought the laird wished ta have some time alone wit' ya from the look o' things." She winked at Cameron before putting half a loaf of bread onto a large cloth with the accompaniment of cheese and dried meat.

Cameron blushed fiercely before stammering, "I… I don't know what you're talking about."

Bessa laughed, "I t'was young once an' everyone in the keep saw the kiss ya two shared in the courtyard. Tis midday and we're all about doin' our duties. Murray had come through the kitchen to get a quick bite ta eat and I though' ya and Drustan would be in righ' afta. Wen ya two didn't I went lookin' fer ya. I was gonna tell that boy he had ta eat and nay worry afta the care of Stomper but when I wen' out the two of ya were." She cleared her throat and smoothed down her apron before adding, "I decided ta leave the two of ya be and though' ta pack ya a lunch ya could take upstairs."

"We are… We aren't going upstairs." Cameron blushed even darker. "We're eating in the garden once Drustan takes a bath. We aren't gonna… ya know."

Bessa laughed again, "Ya poor lass. Tis nothin' ta be embarrassed aboot. If ya wish fer me to pretend I dinnae know wha' the two of ya are up ta then fine. Have a good lunch in the gardens lass." The older woman chuckled as she grabbed the edges of the cloth and tied it all into one neat little bundle.

Cameron took the bundle and held it, her gaze staying locked on the entrance to the kitchen, "Sit down, lass." Bessa finally stated after she stood there for several minutes. "He takes a verra long time bathin' when he comes back from a trip. Ya should see how long he takes afta he returns from battle. He spends a fortnight in that blasted tub."

"You've known Drustan a long time then," Cameron stated her mind going to all the things that she could possibly know about him.

"Aye, I cared fer the boy afta his ma passed," Bessa said as she busied herself with whatever was bubbling in the pot that was placed in the hearth.

"He goes to war often then? He goes on trips a lot?" The questions being at the forefront of her mind, one of the things she knew she had to worry about when it came to this century. "I just…" She paused before continuing. "I care for Drustan and he's made no secret of wanting me to be his wife and… and… other stuff." She blushed, "The village where I come from there was war but no one I knew was away fighting or in direct danger. I just… I don't want him to get hurt or die."

Bessa nodded before turning from the pot and started to chop up some potatoes. "Aye, he's away a lot but he knows his duties."

Cameron then asked, "What are they?"

"He is laird; he has no wife or bairn yet. Tis nigh time fer him ta settle down an' think o' what tis right fer this clan. He cannae go an' get himself slaughtered afore that." Bessa stated before scoping up the potatoes and dropping them in the pot.

"Do you think that if he and I were to get married and have a baby that he'd go back to fighting? Since he had an heir and everything he wouldn't have to be careful."

Bessa shook her head, "Ya worry fer nothin' lass. Tis his responsibility ta stay and care for the clan from the safety of the keep. 'esides, I donnae see him leavin' ya alone fer more than a handful of nights atta time."

Cameron nodded, a bit of relief washing over her at those words. "I don't want this to all be a mistake. If I were to get involved with Drustan and he were to die this would have been all for nothing."

Bessa clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Tis nay a mistake ta love someone, lass. Ya jus hafta cherish the time ya have wit' him while ya have it 'cause ya donnae know wha' will happen on the morrow."

The kitchen fell quiet except for the bubbling of water and the crackling of the fire but Cameron didn't ask any more questions. Her mind mulling over the wish words that Bessa had given her.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Drustan's voice came from the doorway, "Are ya ready ta go, lass?"

Standing up she smiled at him before grabbing the bundle of food and heading towards him, he gently took the bundle from her hands and placed a small kiss on her lips before saying a quick thanks and goodbye to Bessa before ushering her out of the kitchen.

― ― ― ― ―

They walked at least a mile to the west of the back wall of the keep, picking a random spot on the grass to sit down on. Cameron unpacked the bundle and laid it in the middle of them. "Eat, lass." Drustan muttered as he watched her intently.

"Fine but you've got to eat too. Last time we did something like this I ate almost all the food." She grumbled and grabbed up a slice of the day old bread and taking a bite. When Drustan was satisfied that she was gonna eat too he also took a slice of the bread and began to eat. "So, what did Campbell say?"

"The MacDonald knows yer here."

"What do you mean 'knows I'm here'?" Cameron asked, a feeling of dread churning in the pit of her stomach.

Drustan sighed, "They went to Campbell and the other clans saying yer a witch. They think ya are Anise and they mean ya kill ya, lass."

Setting down her slice of bread she realized she wasn't hungry anymore, nausea sweeping through her. "I… I'm safe here right?"

"Aye, lass, I swear ta ya that I willnae let those bastards lay a finger on ya."

"How do they know I'm here?"

He shrugged, "I donnae know, lass. I can only think that they heard of our trip to see the witch. We made no secret of seeking her out or our identities."

"If they get to me, they'll kill me like they did Anise won't they?" Cam asked her voice quiet. "They'll rape me like they did her and they'll kill me…" Her breath was becoming heavier as panic began to sink in. Her mind became fogged as she thought of the scenario; flashes of what could happen to her went through her mind like a distant dream.

"Calm down, lass." Drustan soothed softly as he shifted closer to her, grabbing her in his arms and holding her tightly against his strong chest. "No one is gonnae lay a hand on ya, lass. I swear it ta my grave. I willnae let another woman I love be taken from me by those bastards."

"Your uncle said no one knows how they got into the castle last time." Cameron whispered, "What if they do that again?"

"Donnae think of it!" He growled, grabbing her roughly by the arms and forcing her away from him to stare into her eyes. "I willnae let them take ya from me. I will do anathin' ta keep ya with me. Do ya understand, lass?"

Cameron nodded, staring directly into Drustan's eyes, "I don't want to be taken from you Drustan." She admitted, "I can't lose what I'm just beginning to accept."

"Never, lass. I swear ta ya the MacDonald's will never come between us. I will go ta the ends of the Earth ta ensure ya will never leave me."

Her eyes stayed locked on his face as her heart beat erratically and her mind drifted over his oath, of how fiercely he wanted to protect her. "Kiss me, Drustan." She whispered to him, her eyes staying locked on his blue ones.

"Anathin' ya want, lass." He gathered her in his arms again and quickly locked his lips with hers. Her arms going around his neck to kiss him back, the urgency in her kiss showing just how afraid she was.

The kiss seemed to last forever as both their hands began to roam the other, savoring one of the first uninhibited feel of the others body.

Drustan groaned when one of her hands went to his hair to clutch it and the other went to his chest, loving the feel of it against her hand. He pushed himself up against her, and when she pushed back he took that as a sign of her willingness before breaking the kiss and laying her back on the grass, using his arms to brace himself above her.

Cameron was breathing heavily as she looked up at him, loving the look of hunger in his eyes. Reaching up she braced her hands on his shoulders and leaned up to kiss him her lips soft on his, unsure as she initiated the kiss. Drustan seemed to enjoy her uncertainty, groaning as he moved one of his arms from beside her head to her waist, using his hand to slide under her. His hand gripped her buttocks, lifting her against him so he could press his erection more firmly against her.

When she gasped and locked her mouth even tighter onto his, he couldn't help but wish they could just stay forever in that moment. Breaking the kiss he looked down at her, "Tis nay the place fer such things, lass."

Blushing she tried to sit up, "You're right. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Tonight after evenin' meal, lass, when we can truly be alone without me fearin' someone may stumble upon us." He told her, as he slowly pushed himself off her, leaning back on his haunches. "I want ta be able ta savor ya, nay rush like a fumblin' lad."

She nodded and sat up, pushing the hair off her shoulder looking up at him with shy eyes. "This isn't something I want planned Drustan."

"Tis nay plannin' jus' good foresight," he gave her a smirk before adding as he stood up, "Let us be headin' back, lass. Tis things I mus' do afore the day ends."

"Aren't you gonna eat?" she asked as she bundled up the food again.

"Aye, on the way back," he took the bundle from her hands and helped her stand before heading back towards the keep, keeping her hand in his the whole way back.