* * * * *
Storm studied the women and small children gathered together in the hall. The tension as they waited for the battle to begin was almost a tangible thing. They all struggled to hide their fears and worries for their loved ones facing the army Sir Hugh drew up before Caraidland. Even the children were quiet. Storm found it a painfully familiar scene. So it was at Hagaleah before a battle. On either side of the border it seemed a woman's place was to wait and hope that her man, be he lover or kin, would return alive.
In this instance she knew the fears ran deeper than usual. This battle was at the very threshold of their home. It threatened the children, the innocent and the weak. They must now view at first hand the horror of battle, hear every sound as men tried to kill each other.
"I cannot bear it. I must stop this," she whispered, starting to rise.
Maggie grasped her by the arm and kept her seated upon the bench they shared. "Ye cannae stop this. The swords hae already been drawn and blood spilled."
"I cannot sit here and allow blood to be spilled because of me. I am not worth dying for."
"Weel, I suspicion there be a few what would argue that but, wheesht, lass, 'tis nay longer for ye alone. I am thinking it ne'er was. Oh, aye, ye are a part of it. I cannae say ye arenae. 'Tis also a battle for Caraidland, a fight agin a man who deserves tae be destroyed."
"But Caraidland could fall," she whispered. "All this could be destroyed."
"Aye. We all ken it. We hae but half our men and they are weary. We hae faced that foe afore and God has left us live. Mayhaps he'll look kindly upon us agin. We can but pray 'tis so."
"I have been praying, but it does little to still my fears."
"Lass, that man tirling at the pin doesnae mean tae stop if we let ye go. Ye ken it as weel as any o' us. We hae all heard our men talk. With sae much agin us, they would trade ye if they thought it would save us, save our bairns and women. They ken it willnae. We will still be slain if 'tis possible and so will ye, just not so quickly."
Storm shivered and closed her eyes. She knew all that Maggie had said was true. Giving her to Sir Hugh would not end the fight. She had tried to find an easy solution, a quick end to what she knew was going to happen and a way to stop any pain or loss of life. Although she was still a bone of contention, she was no longer the whole of the reason for the battle, maybe never had been.
"He will offer a chance for surrender," she said desperately, clutching at one last hope.
"Aye, he will. 'Tis the way of it."
"But it will be refused." She sighed, for she knew that was how it would be.
"It will be. There be no honor in surrender."
"There is life."
"Do ye really think so?"
After only a moment of meeting Maggie's gaze Storm looked away. She could not bear to read the truth in the woman's eyes, could not bear to see what she already knew. It was a truth she wanted to vigorously deny but could not.
"Nay," she finally whispered. "Nay, I do not really believe that."
"Guid. Tis nay guid tae try and deceive yourself, lass. Not now. Facing the truth will gie ye the strength tae go on."
"I suppose 'tis truth that has my innards so twisted up that I fear to be ill."
"I ken the feeling weel, lassie. I e'er feel it when my Angus gies tae fight and 'tis worse now, for me bairns face the sword." She shook her head when Storm paled. "Nay, lass, 'tis not your doing. Ken this, I'll nay blame ye, ne'er blame ye, for whate'er happens. 'Tis Sir Hugh Sedgeway I will be cursing an a sword cuts down any o' mine. Him and him alane.
"Lass, we both ken that he wants all we MacLagans deid. Whate'er he offers, unless 'tis death, he'll nay mean tae keep his bargain. He but tries tae make us set down our weapons sae that he can slaughter us like sheep. We'll nay let that happen. If God means tae see us deid, we'll gie down fighting to the last unweaned bairn. Sir Hugh will find victory o'er us one hard fought for. I pray tae God that that beast is the first to die."
"There would be a blessing. I am so torn, Maggie. I have friends on either side of these walls. Some of my father's old guard follow Hugh, though they like it little. They are fighting men and must go when ordered whether they like it or not."
"I ken it. Our laird is a guid man, but he could hae been ane like Sir Hugh. My Angus would hae had tae follow e'en so. He is bound tae Caraidland. He kens naught else. I dinnae either. Ah, lassie, how I wish 'twas your father out there, and I ne'er thought tae e'er be saying that."
A weak smile curved Storm's lips. "I think more than one MacLagan has said the same."
"Aye. Lord Eldon be a man ye can trust, his word be his bond and he would ne'er kill the innocent, the unarmed. This man cares only
