Page 12 of Cree & Dawn and the Wolf

A knock at the door had Cree getting out of bed.

Dawn understood her husband well. He left her side quickly to be ready to protect her if necessary. She smiled softly, her unease beginning to fade, knowing how capable her husband was of protecting her.

“Enter,” Cree called out.

Olwen entered. “I brought a bucket of water and clean cloths if you would like to freshen yourselves before the morning meal. Lord Tiernan is looking forward to talking with you again and meeting your wife, if she feels up to it. Otherwise, I can have food brought here for Lady Dawn.”

Cree understood it was a summons for him to join Tiernan and he had every intention of doing so, wanting to learn more about his host, as for Dawn.

He turned to her. “Do you feel up to getting out of bed and joining me?”

Dawn nodded her head slowly. There was no way she would remain sequestered in this room all day. She intended to see for certain that the fog persisted and to meet Lord Tiernan to judge the man for herself.

“I will return for you shortly to escort you to the Great Hall,” Olwen said and turned to leave.

“Did they find the young bairn? Tade, I believe they called him,” Cree called out.

Olwen swerved around a bit startled at his question and responded quickly, “Aye, my lord, they did.”

“Was he unharmed?”

“A minor wound, my lord,” Olwen said and hastily left the room.

Cree helped ease his wife out of bed and helped her to freshen her face with a splash of water before he saw to himself. He also examined the wound on her head.

“I believe the swelling has gone down,” he said and was pleased to see her smile.

He watched as she ran a comb that was left for her use through her hair, having offered to help her with it. She refused, naturally, since she could be stubborn at times, doing things for herself since those who did not know her believed that her lack of a voice also left her mind lacking. She continued to prove quite the opposite, having a sharper mind than those who had voices.

He detailed the events of last night to her as he admired the way her long, straight auburn hair began to shine with each stroke of the comb as did her beauty. While some thought herplain featured, he thought them blind since to him she was beautiful.

Dawn heard the concern in his voice as he spoke, telling her of the wolf that passed nearby where he sheltered his horse, the tenacious wolf cub he helped, and of his meeting with Lord Tiernan and a woman named Bridgid. She had missed much and was annoyed that she did. She had much to discover for herself.

After she finished combing her hair, she went to him, rested her hand to his cheek and kissed him gently. Then she pointed to his eyes and turned a seductive smile on him.

He chuckled as his arm coiled around her waist. “It isn’t that my eyes betray how much I want you, it is that you know I always want you.”

She laughed as well, though no sound was heard.

“But you need to heal and since this place makes me uneasy, intimacy will have to wait.”

Dawn pouted playfully.

“Do not tempt me, wife,” he scolded teasingly.

She smiled and they kissed, needing a touch of intimacy.

A knock at the door eased them apart.

“If I must leave your side at any time, you will either accompany me or stay put where I leave you,” he ordered.

Dawn gave a brief nod, and they walked to the door together.

Olwen led them to the Great Hall where Lord Tiernan stood in front of the dais.

Cree was impressed with the sizeable room and how well it was kept. Some Great Halls had onerous odors and lacked cleanliness, not so this room. The floor was clean of debris, tables were wiped clean, and a hint of pine could be detected amongst the delicious scents of the morning meal from the fresh pine branches that had been placed around the room. After hearing his wife’s stomach rumble upon making their way here, he was glad that such pleasant and inviting scents greeted them.

“Lady Dawn, it is a pleasure to meet you,” Lord Tiernan said with a respectful bob of his head. “Tales of Lord Cree’s lovely wife does reach this far north.”

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