twelve
A few days later I found me way back to Armand's hideaway in the woods. The pitiful looks from me Clansmen were too much to bear. No to mention, the tiptoeing me family did around me... Unable to take any more pity, I need to be with someone who willna judge me or look at me differently.
Now I understand why Catriona never left the dugout. It hadna to do with fear. When Thor took her away and gave her a fresh start in a place where none knew her story. He gave her a chance to live again.
'Tis a chance I want too.
As I got closer to Armand's house a friendly, happy tune rang in me ears causing me to smile for the first time in days. Just as fast as it came, 'twere gone.
Armand stood outside the door of his forest-made home happy to see me. If he hadna been there, I probably would've stayed in his place, no particularly caring if he returned. After all, I wanted to escape the pitying mannerisms of everyone around me. Armand accepted me with open arms and a friendly smile.
I had several questions to ask him, but no idea where to begin. Lucky for me, he's a good conversationalist and would talk about anything. It worked out well while I put me thoughts in order. Besides, when the emptiness left by Shawn's absence takes hold of me, I'd rather be listening than committed to a conversation.
“You were too late?” his question rhetorical.
I nodded in response but me head began to spin at the mere mention of it. I lost me best friend and the luv of me life, now I'm told I'll live forever without him. What am I supposed to do without him? Shawny were a permanent fixture in me life since I were born and I'mna ready to discuss him yet, especially no with Armand. I want to feel safe, believe me life will return to normal. In me own deranged mind, me plan is logical. But in the real world, life isna that simple.
“I hoped you would get to him in time. I wanted you to live the life you desire,” Armand fell silent as his expression became distant, lost in thought and sadness. He hid something behind his dark, mysterious eyes. I tried looking deep into them for his secret. After all, he seems to know all of mine.
That day he explained many things about who we are and why we exist the way we do. As confused as he made me, I did me best to listen and pay attention. But with a shattered heart and the emptiness restlessly stirring within me, concentrating on Armand became more difficult as distractions from me emptiness became harder to find.
Shawn's memories flooded me with the sound of his voice, the feel of his touch, and the tingle of our first kiss, which left me wanting more that wouldna come. His wonderful gray eyes and the way his shoulder-length, dusty hair fell around his rugged face... Shawn were handsome.
He were mine.
Now he's gone.
“Rhionan!” Armand barked, demanding me full attention. I turned to face him realising his body structure, although much larger, and Shawny's are the same. The tears began, slow at first, then they steadily streamed me face. “I know this is hard, dear.” Genuine concern filled his eyes and voice. “You have to pay attention. There's much to learn.” Briefly pausing he quietly added, “There will be other boys.”
Anger coursed through me with a violence that shook me to me core. I screamed at him releasing me frustrations, “Dunna speak to me of others! Ye dunna know what ye say!” I couldna stop the tears as me anger burst from me.
Instantly Armand crossed the room grabbing me. Even though I tried pushing him away, boldly rejecting him, he were stronger. Holding me in a tight embrace, he ran a hand up and down the small of me back. Then using the same large hand he pulled me closer to him, pushing me head to his chest and caressing me wild mane. Just like Shawny, the top of me head hit under Armand's chin causing the tears to flow more fiercely. Had he been Shawn, Armand would have kissed me forehead in his attempts to comfort me.
“I know this is hard, I lost my wife. I tried...” his voice broke. “I did nothing, I didn't get the chance. They moved quickly. We were both dead before I knew what happened.” Now he wiped tears from his own eyes. “They took her from me by killing both of us. Then, they tried to take my daughter. My death was not as horrific as yours and neither was Claudia's, but I have been where you are now. I have grieved as you do now. One day, I will find someone who makes me happy again, just as you will,” he smiled comfortingly.
Armand didna say anything else just pressed me to him. Ashamed to meet his gentle gaze, I let him hold me returning his embrace. He needed comfort too. I forgot I'mna the only person to have a bad life and I havena made this easy for him. “I apologise,” I whispered, unsure what to say next. “How long have ye been here?” Me question didna come out the way I intended, but he knew what I meant.
“Much longer than anyone should be, but not as long as the rest.” Seeing me aggravation with his vagueness he replied, “Over one-hundred years.” Raising his hand to me chin, he forced me to look into his large brown eyes. “If there is only one, as you believe, then I am doomed, as are you. We will never love again. I cannot believe that. To me, for everyone, especially us, there are a few true loves and many great loves during our life. One day, I hope you see it the same way.”
We were quiet for a long time embraced in each other's arms. I slowly took in more of the house he built. 'Tis well hid in the woods, made out of logs, tied together with weed roots. The flooring is dirt, but the ceiling is made of branches that were torn down and strategically placed on top of his log walls. The branches are full of leaves helping to cover and hide the small house in the woods.
His bed sat to one side of the room somehow elevated off the ground with three or four animal skins covering it. They were unusual skins I hadna seen before, made from large creatures of bright colors covered in stripes and spots. An exceptionally large tree stump rested in the middle of the floor, it came up about waist high to me, his table, much like ours at me parents. On each side of his table sat an upright, small log, Armand called them chairs. We didna have chairs at home. Our table were closer to the ground and during meals, we sat on the floor. Armand were from another place. A place I'm curious to learn more about.
Armand released me, sauntering to the door as though he heard something or were expecting someone. Poking his head outside he glanced around then shut the door and turned back to me, “I think we should be leaving.”
“Where to?” I had just begun to get comfortable here. “Where're we going, Armand?”
“I have to take you to Meleseus and Arbus, in Atleah. They are the first two immortals. We report to them at the castle we live in. They are dying to meet you.” Noticing his failed attempt to lighten the mood, I giggled lightly. Armand grabbed the animal skins off the bed and walked out the door.
“Why would they wanna meet me?” I followed him.
“You're the first woman to become immortal.”
“What's immortal?” I asked hesitantly, realising he talked about taking me away from the only place I ever knew. I paused, blocking his doorway once his words completely registered. But then I remembered, Catriona's in Atleah.
“We are immortals,” he continued as if I werena blocking his door. “That's what Meleseus calls us because we cannot die.” Trying to keep up with him, I continued walking quickly to the backside of his house where I saw another overgrown brown horse, like Thor's. It were tied to a tree eating various fruits and vegetables from a wicker basket hanging off a limb. Armand threw the animal skins on the back of his massive beast. Then he lifted me on top of the creature, as well. Once the horse were untied, and Armand securely positioned behind me, he jostled the horse into a gallop.
Armand set the horse's pace at a steady run. I didna understand why the hurry until I looked over me shoulder and saw the British foot-soldiers closing in on Armand's forest hideaway. “How'd ye know?” I whispered.
“When you live as long as I have, you learn things.”
We rode long and hard into the night passing Clans and British guard post after British guard post. I grew tired but couldna sleep due to the rough and uncomfort
able horse ride. Becoming sore in several places I didna know existed, I begged Armand to let me off to stretch. He grumbled under his breath about traveling with a wumman. He persisted we couldna stop for any reason. If we dismounted, we were to continue on foot.
Finally, I talked him into it. Bringing the horse to a stop, Armand dismounted, then pulled me off as well, making his discomforts obvious about walking. I didna care. I had to stretch.
Waiting for me legs to adjust, I stumbled over each step. Armand patted his horse's snout while pulling the reins over its head. “That a girl. We'll be home soon,” his voice soft and rich. The horse didna care to be out here either. She were skittish, nudging Armand's shoulder until he patted her again. “Ready?” he turned to me.
“How much farther?” I'm exhausted. Now that I'm off the horse, I'm determined to relax a bit.
“By horse,” looking sideways at me, “We'll be there soon. Before daybreak.” He smiled, a crooked grin making his eyes sparkle and I decided he's cute, but I groaned in response to his answer. “Stay directly behind me and keep your hand on her side. I do not want her spooked.”
“She be, at least, ten of me. How'm I gonna spook her?” I replied sarcastically, under me breath. The stern look he shot me proved I didna say it quite enough. “Aye.” Me response came out acidic, but I placed me hand on her side as he instructed.
Time seemed endless as we trudged forward. The land proved rough and uneasy to move across. Following a stream, the rocky shoreline pressed at me bare feet, making travel slow and painful with each sharp rock I stepped on. When I couldna go no further, Armand placed me back on the horse and mounted himself behind me with a firm arm around me middle. Sleep came swiftly as I leaned against him listening to the soft thrum, thrum of his heartbeat.
When Atleah came into view Armand slowed us to a steady trot. The change of movement beneath us woke me. I sat up straighter, leaning away from Armand to stretch what I could. The sun rose behind us casting pink and orange hues through the clear sky. As me eyes adjusted, I took in the landscaping of the rich, green valley and distant treeline behind the fortress that lay before us.