Page 119 of Highland Queen

Exhausted, I slumped back in bed while Greer and Morag tended to the baby and me.

“She looks good,” Morag reassured me. “Everything looks perfect.”

I closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks.

After a few minutes, Morag came to me. “Here you are, my lady. A healthy baby girl.”

Inhaling deeply, I opened my eyes and looked at the child. She had a mop of dark hair. Blinking like she was still trying to make out where she was, she looked at me.

“Hello, Aelith,” I whispered.

Morag smiled at us then motioned to Greer. “Let the thane in,” she told him.

When Greer opened the door, Banquo rushed past her to my side.

“Oh, my Cerridwen,” he whispered, forgetting himself at the moment. He sat down behind me and wrapped his arm around me, gently holding on to Aelith and me with his other hand. “What a wondrous sight to behold.”

“Say hello to your father,” I whispered to the baby.

Aelith arched her eyebrows and puckered her lips.

We both laughed.

Beyond all hope, beyond all possibility, there we were: mother, father, and child.

“May the gods be praised,” I whispered.

Banquo leaned forward and kissed our daughter. “May the gods be praised.”

The winter winds blew, snow fell, and Aelith filled our hearts. There was no describing the deep joy our daughter brought to Banquo and me. I recovered quickly, and Aelith was in good health. For once, it seemed like the gods had blessed us.

The whole winter passed, Aelith growing before our very eyes. In March, the chill began to recede, and the winds calmed. The sun woke the land, and as it did, news began to flow north once more.

I was sitting by the fire with Aelith when Banquo came in holding a scroll.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“From the king.”

I frowned. Part of me didn’t want to know what it said. Macbeth seemed so far away. It was like he had nothing to do with me.

Banquo warmed himself by the fire as he read. His countenance growing increasingly dark as his eyes scanned the page.

I handed Aelith a rattle, propping her so she could sit. She immediately stuck the toy into her mouth and started biting. I smiled at her. Her little teeth had begun coming in. She loved to bite to relieve the itch in her gums. Reluctantly, I went to Banquo.

“What is it?” I asked.

“You aren’t going to like it.”

“No doubt. But tell me all the same.”

“Macbeth has talked Thorfinn into joining Echmarach on a raid into Ireland to retrieve Donaldbane,” he said then shook his head. “They are, no doubt, underway already.”

“What?”

Banquo nodded stoically.

“But I told Macbeth I would go with a delegation this spring,” I said.

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