After her daughter was born Storm thought collapse was what she did, not rest. She stayed limp, her gaze fixed upon her babies as she was washed, the linen changed upon her bed and a clean nightdress put on her. When they were put to her breast one at a time tears filled her eyes. Her heart was filled with a loving wonder even as it was tattered by the pain loving their father had brought her.
The boy had a thick crop of reddish hair, and she knew she would be impatient to see what color eyes he would have. Her daughter had a mass of black hair and, again, she was anxious to know what color the eyes would be. Although smaller than her brother, the girl looked no less healthy.
" 'Tis like Tavis and I reversed," she said softly as the twins were laid in the cradle, and then she met her father's worried eyes. "Do not worry. I will survive." She closed her eyes with a sigh, feeling sleep come up on her like some unstoppable tidal wave. "God, I could have loved him so."
Lord Eldon brushed the hair from her sleeping face. "You will yet, sweeting. You will yet."
"Do you really think that, Roden?" Elaine asked softly as she moved to his side.
"Aye, and if Storm had not been so blinded by past hurts she would think it too." He shook his head. "He had no chance in hell of softening her the day they wed, for she caught him in an embrace with the woman who had shared his bed before her." He put an arm around Elaine's shoulders.
Elaine's eyes filled with tears of sympathy. "Oh, the poor child, to know that blow so soon in life."
"I could have killed him. Taking her innocence was cause enough, but I knew she spoke the truth when she said he could have had that at any time, with patience could have gained it without even the faintest of refusals, and who am I to condemn a man for taking a woman he desires who does not repulse him? Nay, it was the pain he dealt her that I wanted to kill him for, the pain that she carried night and day. God, e'en then I had no idea of how tortured she was until the ride home the day of her wedding."
"All children must grow, must suffer. 'Tis life. A parent cannot shelter them from all of life's wounds," she said quietly, trying to ease his sorrow. "What chanced to change your desire to kill him, Roden?"
"He was in agony, his soul no less tortured than hers, so much so that he could no longer hide it. It was there for all to read. He could see all that he had thrown away and might ne'er regain. I could not run the man through for not knowing his own heart. He had wounded himself enough."
As they turned to leave the room, Elaine asked, "So what is to happen now?"
"The weather will hold him in Caraidland until Storm's full strength returns, but then I have no doubt that the man will be battering at the doors. There is a son to think on now."
"You seem to think it important that Storm is up to her full strength."
"Aye. 'Twill be no good for either of them if he gains the prize too easily. They must air their feelings and clear up all misunderstandings." He grinned. "Storm shall not be placated easily."
"Why, Roden, I think you look forward to the confrontation."
Roden laughed softly. "That I do. Ah, but Storm is glorious in full battle. Now," he said as they entered the hall, "where is that wretched Scot that has been lurking for near to a fortnight?"
Angus had rather enjoyed his stay at Hagaleah. After a few sore heads and bruised bodies were left behind the men of Lord Eldon's guard treated him like an equal. Though they would probably never fight side by side, he was now rather glad that they would no longer meet sword to sword.
When Roden was able to break free of relatives, friends and men-at-arms Angus was still in a bemused state over the news. A son for Tavis was all they could have hoped for, but two bairns at one go was near to miraculous. Twice he asked for the news to be repeated, only to shake his head.
"Has the lass decided on names for the bairns?" Angus asked at last.
"I imagine so, but she has not told me as yet." Eldon glanced out at the raging storm. "You will know e'er you can set out for Caraidland. I will write a letter for MacLagan that I ask you to give him."
"He will be here as soon as travel is possible."
"Aye, he will want to, but he will wait until her lying in is over."
"Want the lass in fine battle trim, do ye?"
Roden grinned. "Aye. I do not want those two starting out their marriage with all that is between them."
"Nay. The board needs clearing, 'tis sure. Weel, soon as the weather clears I will be away. The lad maun be sairly bedeviled ere now, what with nay kenning what is aboot with the wee lass."
* * * * *
Bedeviled was a mild word to describe Tavis by the time Angus made the difficult trip back to Caraidland over a week later. He had spent the month anxious to hear news of Storm, any news, but when he saw Angus he did not want to hear anything.
Clutching the arms of the chair on which he sat, Tavis waited in an agony of apprehension for Angus to enter the hall. Although men were not involved in the birth of children, they were not ignorant of the process or the dangers. Often the screams of the women could be heard far from their origin. Too often for anyone's liking the mother died, either from an inability of anyone to stop the bleeding
