CHAPTER 7

"FAOLIN!" A TWINKLY eyed, middle aged woman met Monika and Hayes at the door.

It took Monika a moment to realize that she was referring to Hayes as Faolin. So, had he deceived this woman or had he instead lied to Monika about his name? She didn't know, and didn't care. Hayes, Faolin, kidnapper, menace. All one, all the same man.

"And who is this pretty young lady?" the woman asked.

Monika suddenly felt shy. Something to do with being called pretty in front of Hayes. But quickly she chastised herself for being silly. If she'd suited his taste and if he'd intended to, surely, he'd have taken advantage of her by now. Yet he hadn't. She would not worry about that.

Or was she blinding herself by trying to reassure herself? One way or another, it was good to be among other people instead of alone with him.

"Abaigael," Hayes said, "this is Monika, my little sister. Monika, this is Abaigael, the best cook in all of Dorchadas."

The lies left his mouth so easily! Little sister? Monika scowled at him and he skilfully pretended not to notice.

Abaigael's eyes sparkled even more at his compliment, although she brushed it off. "Oh, shush, Faolin. You mustn't say such things. Come in, come in, both of you. So good to know you have a sister! We worry about you. We were thinking you were always alone, always roaming. A sister!"

The family welcomed them both warmly. Hayes had stayed with them a few times in the past. He grinned sheepishly, the picture of innocence, and once they'd entered and greeted Ewan, Abaigael's husband, and her two boys, Odell and Kealan, he led Monika back outside.

The people that lived in the Beag cottage seemed to be kind. But they had no idea what Hayes was like. They couldn't, not if they were inviting him into their home.

"A word about where you come from or what has happened over these past few days may not pass your lips," Hayes instructed Monika, as he tugged her along with him to the barn behind the cottage. "You'll find that you regret it if you do."

It was enough to frighten her into silence, for now. But she vowed to herself that she'd find a way to make her situation known to someone, somehow. And soon.

After settling Little One in the barn for the night, Hayes pulled her in through the cottage's back door that led into a tiny kitchen, before abruptly letting go of her arm when they found Abaigael there.

"Monika," Abaigael beamed. "Would you mind giving me a hand with these potatoes? Faolin, you go and talk to Ewan. He is smoking his pipe by the fire," she told Hayes.

For a moment, Monika was sure Hayes would refuse to leave her side. But then he smiled and nodded to Abaigael before leaving, only glancing at her once before he exited the room, a warning look in his steel grey eyes.

"Your brother is a mysterious one," Abaigael chatted to Monika as they chopped potatoes. "Handsome, but he has no sweetheart. Strong, but I see hurt in those eyes. Kind to my sons, but still he wanders without settling. Are you close to him, Monika?"

Monika kept her eyes focussed on the potato in her hand, not daring to look into Abaigael's face and give everything away. "Not really. He's never stays at home with me for long." She surprised herself with how easily the words rolled off her tongue, fitting in with the false identity given to her by Hayes.

"Ah," Abaigael sighed. "That I can believe. Now, tell me why he brings only brings you along now?"

Monika swallowed. Think, she told herself. Think. That Hayes! What a distasteful situation he'd put her in. Forcing her to lie. But thankfully, just when she was going to stammer out a reply about being on her way to meet her betrothed, Abaigael's two redhead boys ran into the kitchen, faces flushed.

"Kealan, Odell! No running in this house. You know that," Abaigael told them.

"Yes mama. But guess what?" the taller, skinnier boy exclaimed breathlessly.

"What, dear Odell?" his mother responded, patiently.

"Faolin said he would teach us to shoot a bow and arrow. Can we, mama? Oh, can we, please?"

"Please?" the younger one, Kealan, echoed his brother's plea.

Abaigael put her hands on her generous hips and cocked her head. "Have all your chores been done, lads?"

They both nodded.

"Alright, then."

They hurried away in a rush, squealing as they ran into Hayes who had just appeared in the doorway.

"Faolin!" Kealan grinned up at him. "Mama said yes."

Hayes smiled his own crooked smile down at the freckle faced boy. "Then what are we waiting for?" He picked Kealan up, swinging him onto his broad shoulders, and put an arm around Odell as they turned to go.

Abaigael laughed at them as they went, and Monika found herself smiling as well. "My boys. Faolin is my boy, too," the kind woman said. "He knows that whenever he is under this roof he is one of my boys."

Monika was still staring at the empty space where Hayes had just been. He'd seemed so big- not just because of his impressive physical stature, but because of the atmosphere he'd brought when he came in. She'd not seen him like that until now, not that they'd known each other long. He'd been smiling so carefreely, warmth radiating from his eyes when he had looked at the young ones.

Who was this man, really?

*

AFTER THEY HAD dined with the family, Abaigael took Hayes and Monika down the tiny corridor of  the cottage to a room at the end. Hayes noticed that Monika's eyes looked droopy. The long day of travelling upon Little One had taken its toll on her.

"I hope it is alright that you two share tonight? Our humble home has but one room to spare," she said.

Hayes' eyes flickered to Monika's face to gauge her reaction. Her own eyes had widened and her mouth had formed a round shape. No, she did not like that idea.

He replied quickly, attempting to fix the situation. "Thank you, Abaigael, you are too kind. We are grateful for all that you are doing for us. But my sister, she's fussy, you see. She likes her space. Would you allow me to take my bedroll and sleep on the floor in the boys' room instead?"

The older woman smiled. "Of course, Faolin. Such a good brother. Good night, you two." She turned, humming as she walked away.

When Hayes looked back at Monika, her expression was almost grateful. Almost. A strand of fine, dark hair hung forward as she lowered her gaze, and he fought to not tuck it behind her ear. She would think him mad.

He was mad.

"Good night, Monika," he said, his voice hoarser than he'd meant it to be. "I'll wake you in the morning."

She nodded, refusing to talk to him. He turned around and stood with his back to her for a moment. "Don't try to run away, Anam Tine," he warned her, using the nickname his father had once called his mother. Fire soul. It suited her because the flame within her was still alive, still burning brightly. He could tell, it showed in her eyes, in her defiance. "It would do neither of us any good."

"I care not what does you good," she responded sharply.

He shrugged. She was an Anam Tine. He expected no less from her. He left as soon as he heard the door shut.

That night, sleep evaded him as he tossed and turned on the floor of Kealan and Odell's room. Every time he closed his eyes, he could only see cerulean blue eyes and ebony hair. What was wrong with him? Finally, when he thought he'd be awake until dawn, he managed to snatch a few hours of slumber before it was time to rise.

He dressed quickly and quietly, making sure not to wake the boys. He snuck outside to load up Little One before going to wake Monika.

When he entered her room, she was still fast asleep, only her face and a fan of long hair peeking out from beneath the covers. She looked angelically peaceful, her thick, dark lashes brushing her smooth cheeks. He reached out a finger, not knowing what he was doing or why he was doing it, and trailed it along her chin. She moaned and stirred in her sleep, making him jump back slightly.

Hayes shook his head at himself. What was going through his mind? He glared down at his own hand, as if it had offended him. Her skin had been so soft against his calloused fingers, but he felt as if he'd committed a crime.

It was time to get going. She had slept long enough. He took her by the shoulders and gave her two quick shakes. Her eyes snapped open and one of her hands came up to push him away, catching him in the chin, where it was rough with early stubble. He grabbed it and pulled it back, his hand closing around her wrist. Her breath was ragged as she looked up at him.

"We leave in the next ten minutes," he informed her. "Be ready."

Realizing he was still holding her arm, he let it drop and walked out of the room as fast as his legs could take him.

Time to get back on the road again.

He was always on the road.

*

THE SUNRISE WAS beautiful and pink, its light falling across the marble memorial stone that was surrounded by red dahlias. Alaster had requested that there be something established in dedication to Monika and his father had readily obliged, providing the materials required. Al had chiselled her name into the marble himself and written the description below.

Beloved Monika

Her laugh sweeter than honey
Her heart purer than gold
To her belonged
A soul full of wild beauty
And a spirit true and bold

If she were there to see it, she'd tell him he was being silly with his words again, making them rhyme so prettily. She loved to tease him about his dreamy writing, as she'd called it, but he'd always known she loved hearing him read his poems to her as well.

He sat on the green grass with his back turned to the sun and his knees drawn to his chin. Was she truly gone? Had she truly left him? Or would she come sit beside him now, tell him he'd been wrong about everything, the way he was always wrong and she was always right, and wrap her arms around him and laugh in delight when he picked her up and spun in circles with her trapped tightly in his embrace?

Then, for a moment, Al believed it was really happening, as a light touch on his shoulder came from behind. Delicate fingers landed on his left arm as someone sat down beside him.

He caught sight of blond hair in the corner of his eye. Blond, the colour of pale wheat, not dark as the night sky. The slender profile of Princess Ciara was to his right.

Gently, slowly, he moved away from her, allowing her arm to fall back to her side. She meant well, he knew. She was trying to be a friend, not trying to snag him as a husband. No, the conniving of that idea belonged to her father and his own parents.

She was innocent. Innocent and young. And he did not love her, did not think he ever would or could, as much as both their fathers wanted them to be together as one, to unite two kingdoms.

"You must miss her so," she spoke softly, breaking through his thoughts.

Al nodded. "More than anything."

Ciara tilted her head to the side, her fine brows furrowing. "What was she like?"

He thought her question over. It was painful to speak about her, to think about her. And it was all he wanted to do. "She was brave. Kind. Beautiful. And so much more. I could sit here all day telling you."

The princess shrugged her slender shoulders. "I have time."

Al remained silent. Did he dare share such precious memories with a girl he hardly knew?

"I understand," she said. "I understand if you'd rather not."

He looked at her then, properly looked at her. She was not looking back at him, but he saw a knowingness in her eyes as she gazed at Monika's memorial stone.

And then he began to talk, telling her of the good and bad times he'd had with Monika, of how they'd met, of what they'd dreamed they'd do together. Ciara listened. She nodded, smiled at the parts of the stories where they got into trouble with the cook for stealing treats from the pantry, turned her eyes downward when he told of Alannah's death.

The more he said about Monika, the more his heart ached. But it ached as if a heavy pressure that had been placed upon it was lifting, ever so slightly, as he reminisced about her and what she had meant to him, what she still meant to him.

I miss you, he thought. Do you miss me, wherever you are?

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A/N: I'm baacckkkk ;) And here's another chapter. Sorry for slacking off. I mean, life has been busy, but if I'm perfectly honest, I've been a slight bit lazy. Buuuutt I hope you enjoyed this. Don't forget to vote and comment if you did!