THE KING'S DAUGHTER - Chapter Fifteen (The Convent-Sent Bride)
"Remember my daughter; if there be anything ye need, ye have but to send to us." The Abbess of Saint Celia's Convent hugged the flaxen fifteen year old lass before letting her climb into the rickety cart that was ready to depart. "You be lucky that your bridegroom lives only two days away from us. Perhaps he will allow you to visit us once you have settled in."
The girl leaned over the side of the cart and stretched out her hand. The Abbess held it as the girl asked in a small voice, "What if Sir Keevan does not like me? What shall I do, my lady Abbess?" Tears ran down her young face as she mentally prepared herself to leave the convent for the first time in nine years.
"He will like you my dear, and perhaps grow to love you. Be quiet, generous, kind and loving, and he cannot fail to love you a bit. Give him a son as soon as you can." The Abbess tightened her grip. Serious grey eyes bore into bright blue young ones, as the Abbess continued. "That will bind him tighter to you, for it will be his first legitimate child. Go now, my child, and greet your future with a smile." She released the hand of the girl. "Go with God, my daughter!"
The driver slapped the reins against the mule's rump and with a lurch the cart began its trek to Dunloch, to deliver the bride of Sir Keevan. Thirty holy sisters waved farewell, as the young girl turned on the wagon bench to wave back.
When the cart had rounded the bend in the old road, the Abbess gathered all the nuns, novices and postulants who had collected to see Caitlin Dundonald go off to her betrothed. "Come Sisters, and let us give thanks to Almighty God for ridding us of that troublemaker!"
All the holy Sisters bent their heads in prayer as they hastily crossed themselves with a murmured "Amen!"
"Mam! Mam! Hurry, my bride is here!" Keevan called while trotting into the cozy stone cottage.
Kaila had been working at her loom when Keevan started calling for her. She held a worn rag to her lips to stifle the coughing that seemed to get worse daily. "Aye, laddie? What, she has arrived already?" Kaila smiled up into the face of her son, marveling anew at the change from boyhood to manhood.
"She has arrived! Auld Nana is talking to her now. We must hurry lest we be thought rude," he spoke in a rush adding, "She is quite fair, Mam. I must write to Father MacLlyr and thank him."
She smiled. "Nay, Keevan. If you have anyone to thank, let it be the Abbess, for she chose the lass. Come now, I am ready tae greet my new daughter." Kaila wrapped a heavy shawl about her shoulders. She squinted against the bright morning light, and spotted a wagon in the castle’s bailey. Kaila placed a restraining hand on his forearm, holding him back from inspecting his bride. “Now Keevan, ye are tae take yer belongin’s and bunk in the barracks with all the other ruffians. Yer lass will take yer bed space until yer married. I want nae foolin’ around, for the lass is from a convent, and I imagine that the holy virgins filled her head with nonsense that I will correct. What do nuns know about marriage? About the needs of men?”
Keevan smiled and took Kaila by the arm, leading her out into the sunlight. She looked to the bailey of the castle through the open gate and spotted an old cart hitched to a swaybacked mule. A slim blonde girl gowned in pale grey wool stood next to Auld Nana, with her hands clasped in front of her while the driver unloaded her painted pinewood trunk, holding all her
earthly possessions. Auld Nana smiled upon seeing Kaila and the young knight and pointed out Keevan to the lass. The girl followed the pointing finger and smiled as she spied her bridegroom. He was young, in his mid twenties, with blonde hair just a shade darker than hers. His face was long, graced with wide eyes and a strong chin. A worn tunic covered very broad shoulders… and a crooked smile warmed her heart. Sir Keevan met her approval. She had fully expected an old man to be her husband, not one in the prime of his life. Not one so… virile.
Keevan could barely contain himself as Auld Nana introduced the lassie to the laddie. “Caitlin Dundonald, this is Sir Keevan FitzFergus, yer bridegroom. He is newly arrived from the Munro holding just northwest of here.” Keevan reached out and caught her hand, bowed to the maiden, then kissed the hand before letting go. Caitlin blushed charmingly, having never been courted before. “Keevan, this be yer bride, Caitlin. Be a good lad, and introduce the lass to yer Mam. Go along, you two.” Auld Nana shooed them away with a wide smile on her face. She had noticed how both seemed smitten with each other.
Keevan placed Caitlin’s small hand upon his arm and led her to his mother who stood in the shade of an old wizened oak tree in the courtyard. A gentle wind blew, fluttering the worn hem of Kaila’s dark green wool skirt.
“Ahh, ‘tis a fair lassie ye have been gifted with. Ye had best take care of her, Keevan, else my shoe will find a way to yer head!” Devoting her attention to the bride, Kaila said with open arms, “Welcome, daughter! When shall we expect a priest?”
Caitlin paused a moment before answering. “Father Angus should be here in three days, according to my lady abbess. She does not like being wrong, so you shall be seeing him in two days.” She smiled, thinking that Sir Keevan’s mother was rather sweet in her greeting. “May I call you ‘Mother’, madam? I never had a mother.” Her eyes were downcast, and there was
the gleam of a tear yet to be spilt.
“Oh aye, my new convent-sent daughter! Please, call me Mam. If this ruffian over here gives ye any trouble, count on me to kick his arse back into place.”
Keevan laughed, adding, “She’s a fierce one, alright. When I know I have displeased her, I know tae run!”
Caitlin beamed, a beatific look crossing her delicate features. Keevan could not help but be entranced with the gift he was so graciously given. A horn sounded, blown by the small boy who scrubbed the pots for the cook.
Keevan smiled, and addressed both ladies. “Ahh! ‘Tis time to sup. I am famished, are you?” Both nodded eagerly. Caitlin had never been inside a castle before and was most anxious to explore. Kaila could not wait to show off her new soon-to-be daughter.
As they walked past Auld Nana, she called out to the knight, “Keevan, laddie! I shall need yer assistance after we eat. Can ye oblige me?”
He called back, “Oh, Aye. Just come and get me when ye need me!”
Nana smiled in return, and walked into the Hall after them. She took her seat below the salt, while several young pages walked past with large platters of fresh bread trenchers, hot from the ovens. There was roasted capon and beef seasoned with salt, cracked peppercorns and thyme, crispy brown from being turned on a spit. A pottage of lamb, barley, onion and
rosemary smelt wonderful. There were mashed turnips, dripping butter and carrots with clover honey. Large mushrooms smothered with melted cheese and sprinkled with herbs. Cook had outdone herself with a pear tartlet, seasoned with honey and precious cinnamon from who-knows-where. It was served with thick, sweet cream. There was ale aplenty and wine for those above the salt.
Auld Nana speared herself a trencher, and ladled a bit of the pottage into it. She had some roasted beef, a bit of the honey glazed carrots and a mushroom. She took a mug of ale, setting it in front of her. Below the table, she had her hands clasped, and began to speak softly to herself.
Everyone around her was concerned with stuffing their faces with the delicious repast. Everyone but Caitlin Dundonald. She had been looking about the Hall between tiny bites of capon. There were colorful war banners hanging from the polished oak beams of the ceiling. Some were very old, but the reds, blues, whites, and yellows were all vivid. Caitlin began to look at all the people who had gathered in their lords’ Hall to dine. There were many children, all bright eyed and chubby cheeked. A great deal of the people were crofters and their goodwives, stable boys, maid servants and off-duty men at arms. Then there was Auld Nana. She was mumbling to herself, eyes downcast. Caitlin smiled, thinking that the woman was saying grace before partaking of her meal. Then she noticed the hands moving from beneath the table, one uncovering the other. Auld Nana surreptitiously surveyed the mass of feasting people before sprinkling something into her food and drink. Caitlin was positive that it had glittered like star dust. What was it? What had that woman added to her food? Caitlin looked around, wondering if anyone else had noticed the odd byplay from Auld Nana, but none had. Perhaps she would mention it to Keevan later, if she remembered. It was very easy to get lost looking into the knight’s eyes.
When all had finished eating, Auld Nana rose and went to her chair next to the hearth. She sat down, and arranged her skirts into a semblance of order. She called Keevan over to her side. He bent down so she could speak softly without anyone else being privy to their conversation. Auld Nana looked to Keevan’s inquisitive face. “I would like to broach a tender subject with you. Since yer to be getting married, it seems only right that you and yer bride have a cottage of yer own. I would give you mine, and I would take yer place and care for yer mother. She isna getting any better. Children running amok would only aggravate her condition. You and yer bride have many things to worry about, and caring for an ill woman should not be one of those things. Do you think yer mother would go for this?”
Keevan pondered a moment before speaking his mind. “Aye, I think Mother would appreciate yer company. My bride and I thank ye for yer very generous offer. Would you like me to speak to mother about the arrangement?”
Auld Nana shook her head in the negative. “Oh, no, laddie. Her first reaction would be that yer leaving her again, even if it is for a cottage just down the road a wee bit. I will speak to her of it, and rest assured, she will see my way, gladly. I am glad you are open to my idea. We will speak of it later, laddie. Now sit down and enjoy my tale. “
Keevan did as he was bid, and as if on cue, all but Caitlin gathered about, eagerly anticipating the tale of the Faery Princess Aibell and the Pixxish healer, Sorja.
Auld Nana cleared her throat most delicately and began. “Where were we?” She paused and thought for a moment. Caitlin looked upon her with a small frown on her face, and Nana realized that it would be a wee bit unfair to begin the story where she left off with out giving some backstory to the newcomer.
“Now, the Faery Princess Aibell knew one thing for certain: duty. She knew her duty as daughter of a King. She knew her duty was to wed for the betterment of her people, and Denilus, Prince of Feenoriah was the only eligible bachelor about, since Urlian, the Elf was not what he seemed to be. It was too late for wee Aibell to remedy the situation with the Elf; her
temper had seen him cast out of her homeland. There was but one question on her mind; why? Why did Urlian lie to her? Why did he call her harlot behind her back? Was he trying to ruin the hope of her betrothal to Denilus? She was not of loose morals, for all lasses enjoy a few stolen kisses before they settle down and marry. Is that not so?”
Many heads began to nod in agreement. Most of them were maidservants, with a faint blush staining their plump cheeks. The men winked and nudged each other.
Auld Nana continued in her bards’ voice, “Aibell was not pleased with her proposed bridegroom, either. Denilus seemed to try too hard with his flattery, and seemed amazed that she told him of her request for equality. But Aibell knew that she could indeed rule, for she had been bred to it. Just like her friend, Sorja the healer, who spent her childhood learning to restore health, Aibell had been trained at a young age to shoulder the responsibility of Maicair Caylus. To the Princess, it seemed wrong that Denilus wanted to rule in her stead, but he must have had his reasons, as all men are wont to do. But in her dream, her exiled mother called, and the dutiful daughter came, even though she did not know how she heeded the call. The old Queen wished to partake of the Feast of Ages with her only child, and Aibell, being the dutiful daughter that she was, agreed. But there was another reason Queen Kaelis called her, one reason she had never expected to know of, but there it was, staring wee Aibell right in the face.”
Thank you for reading! If you’d like more of the story, help yourself to the rest of the posted chapters:
Prologue | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen