Child of the Kindred, page 77
part #2 of The Rienfield Chronicles Series
“Yes, I can certainly deny there is any truth in what was said! So now, I need to ask you a question. Can you not see that they are all just petty and jealous? Can you honestly believe I love you only out of pity? I have met many young women who have suffered loss and tragedy. If pity for them were the only reason to fall in love, it would have happened long before Corinn. This is absurd! Which is why I told Murtagh to handle his wife,” Aiden growled back, unable to now hide his anger.
“What do you mean by that?” Marina asked in a shaking, irate voice, standing up from the chair and looking at Aiden in surprise.
“It means exactly how it sounds. He is to keep his trouble making wife in line. I know you are aware that the men of our region do not put up with this sort of behaviour, especially if it causes embarrassment or some kind of scandal. This is not the first time she has created an issue amongst the wives or betrothed of the Sentinels. Murtagh has assured me it would be the last. He has no doubt she was spurred on by her two equally shrewish companions,” Aiden responded back, standing up and walking over to where she stood.
“Why would you say that to her husband, knowing how he would react?” Marina asked incredulously, with wide eyes and trembling lips.
“You cannot have everything the way you wish, Marina. I cannot control how Murtagh will react or handle the situation. Shannon knew what she was doing. I have no doubt she also knew how Murtagh would respond. So how he decides to deal with her is not my concern. Instead, my concern is how all of this affects you,” Aiden remarked, his voice becoming sterner as he was losing his temper.
“Well, it should be! I have had enough of this entire day! I am not going tonight! I will not show my face after all of this,” Marina retorted back, her voice becoming louder with her anger.
“You most certainly are coming tonight after the embarrassment you caused me!
Do you think my position of Sentinel Captain was just handed to me, given to me by birthright? I had to work and earn it like anyone else, even more so, because of what was expected of me. Did you think it was easy for me to come out of my brother’s shadow? I had to not only prove to him but all the other Sentinels as well, that I deserved their respect. I had the honour and privilege of becoming a Captain shortly after I entered my twenty-first season. I went through great sacrifice and hardship to get it. Then, you decide to lose your temper and call me a liar, in front of the very people I had worked so hard to convince. Whatever Shannon has to deal with after her ridiculousness is her own fault, she brought it upon herself,” Aiden countered back, no longer caring if his voice was raised.
“It was not my intention to get Shannon in trouble or have Murtagh punish her in that way. Just because the men here in Heathwin are of that mindset, does not make it right. Do you intend on treating me in the same manner?” Marina questioned Aiden in an angry tone, fighting back the tears.
Aiden did not answer at first. Instead, he looked at her, his eyes intense and penetrating. His gaze made Marina’s eyes go wide as he stepped forward suddenly, grasping both her arms at her elbows, pulling her closer until she was flush against him. He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her even closer, causing her breath to catch slightly. Marina had no choice, but to put her hands against Aiden’s chest to steady herself, as his grasp was quick and surprising.
“Perhaps I should deal with you in the way that most would, after your earlier insolent display. That would at least give you a reason to be angry with me. Maybe I should teach you a lesson. You most assuredly would think twice, before accusing me again of being a liar in front of all the Sentinels,” Aiden remarked, his expression not hiding his temper and frustration.
“You…you do not mean that,” Marina stated in a soft trembling voice, a tear slowly sliding down her cheek.
“Then why ask me such a thing?” Aiden asked, his voice still low but no less irate.
“Because I was angry and frustrated. The entire time Shannon was speaking to me…saying those things, all I could think of was, what else were you keeping from me. All of this that has happened, our relationship, coming to Heathwin, everything I have ever known either taken from me or changed in what seems an instant. Sometimes when my mind is overwhelmed, I wonder, what if I was just the orphan to you? That I was nothing more than a…a pitiful obligation? What if everything they said was true? I do not know anything of what is expected of me, as your intended wife. We…we are not even officially betrothed, as nothing has been announced. They…they all look at me as just a distraction for you. There are days I feel completely lost, as…as I do not fit in here…with your friends. You have taken me to one gathering after another and still…I feel when we are there, I am nothing more than someone to have on your arm,” Marina exclaimed, now no longer able to control her emotions, as she began to sob uncontrollably.
“Dearest, that is not true. I have announced that we are courting, and I bring you to gatherings to introduce you to others. Marina, you are not some mere escort when you are with me,” Aiden remarked, chiding her quietly as he lifted her face to look at him.
“But that is how I am looked at. I have been told more times than I care to think of, how surprised everyone is on your announcing our courtship. How surprised they are that I have held your favour and attention for so long. Lachina laughed, as she told me the tavern wench Elsa must be heartbroken,” Marina explained, as she once again was reduced to tears.
Aiden sighed deeply, taking Marina’s face in his hands and kissing her forehead, then holding her against him as she continued to sob into his chest.
“I am sorry love, that everything has been…so overwhelming for you. I never meant for you to feel so fretful and unsettled. Here,” Aiden said, as he took Marina up in his arms. “let us lie down for a bit,” he expressed in a soft voice, carrying her over to her bed.
They lay quietly for a moment, Aiden allowing Marina to calm her crying and frazzled nerves before speaking. Slowly he felt her body begin to relax, and the trembling reduced to one soft shuddering sob. Aiden smiled at her sadly, lightly brushing the hair from her face, as Marina used the back of her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes.
“Now, mo chroi, I must ask you. Were any of these comments you spoke of, brought up when we were in the company of Sentinels or others we are close to?” Aiden asked in a calm but concerned tone.
“No. Only when we were attending the last few gatherings. Friends you mentioned that you had not visited with for some time. The other wives or intended of the Sentinels did not speak of you that way at all. Only Shannon and she seemed …well, almost angry and agitated as if she resented me for some reason. Even though Shannon said she had ended your relationship before it became too serious, she was still very nervous sounding and flustered when she spoke of you,” Marina answered in a small and weary voice.
“She was nervous and agitated because she was lying,” Aiden replied in a low but angry voice, his eyes once again intense and solemn. “Marina, you must believe me when I tell you, there was never any relationship. We simply flirted with each other from time to time. During the Planting Festival that followed your mother’s marriage to Garron, Shannon came here to the Lodge. We had not seen each other for several months, so we reacquainted ourselves and spent most of the festival together. She came to my room later, nothing more than a bit of snogging and then she left. Nothing more! Shortly before we returned from bringing Laurel back to Gwenlais, Murtagh announced he and Shannon were now courting. Then shortly after bringing Laurel back to Heathwin, to stay, Murtagh and Shannon announced they were betrothed. So, there was never any time for us to have a relationship. During the time before she was with her husband, Shannon was quite lost and wayward. Her mother passed rather unexpectedly and then her father, in a bout of drunken misery, blamed Shannon for it. Shannon never recovered from her loss. She just became very unruly and took to consorting with some, less than desirable acquaintances. Murtagh was concerned about her, as they have known each other most of their lives, and began to reach out to her. After the festival, Murtagh began to invite her over to his family’s home more often. As Murtagh explained to me, it was then, that Shannon became closer to his mother and two younger sisters. He and Shannon grew closer to each other and fell in love. Shortly after their marriage, Shannon’s two former companions latched on to her again, and that is when all the trouble started once more,” Aiden explained, frowning at mentioning Shannon’s friends.
“I was not aware Shannon lost her mother. Nobody has ever talked about this, only saying she was often stirring up trouble. Laurel told me that she did not know her well, having only met her twice. Oh, Aiden, it is no wonder she is heartbroken and bitter,” Marina expressed in a shattered tearful whisper.
“Do not make excuses for her unruly behaviour Marina. As I have explained, she is dearly loved by Murtagh and his family. I do not feel her loss gives her the right to act the way she does,” Aiden replied, frowning and clearly showing he disagreed with her reaction.
“No, it does not. But I do understand how it would cloud her thinking. Especially if her companions, encouraged her to feel and act the way she does. For most of my life, my mother was my closest and dearest companion. She was not a happy woman and did not have many friends. Though she was close to Queen Milna, she did not see her as often as she would have liked. So, she relied much on me, keeping me to herself. I know if I did not have Laurel, Tulla, or Evan and Kerrie, I would feel more lost than I do at times. It is just, my insecurities get the better of me. When I watch you around others, how they flock to you, especially other women, I do not feel I can compete with all of that. How much they all adore you and want your attention. You are so very handsome and charming, I do not blame them. But sometimes, my heart is afraid I will not be enough to keep you from losing interest in me,” Marina revealed, in a shaking, tearful whisper.
Aiden looked at Marina with heartbroken surprise, reaching over to hold his hand to her face as she grasped his wrist.
“Mo stor. I am so very sorry you feel this way. I assure you, my love, there is no need to worry about my losing interest. My dear Marina, you have my heart and my soul. I have only told one woman, beside you, that I loved them in that way, and that was Corinn. There were no others,” Aiden, spoke in a quiet and comforting voice, as he caressed her cheek.
Marina suddenly burst into tears once again, as Aiden looked at her with bemusement and concern.
“Aiden…you have never told me you loved me,” Marina sobbed, her body shaking with her tearful admission.
“No, mo chroi. Of course, I have. I... I must have told you,” Aiden replied in disbelief, his eyes filling with tears.
“No, you have not,” Marina whispered back, through her tears. “Only that you wished to be with me, or that you were happy I was here. When you would come to my bed at night, you would kiss me and whisper sweet endearments, but never that you loved me. I know you have told others that you feel this way for me, but you have never said it to me. That is why…that is why I have been so jealous, so angry when others would seek your attention or speak of your past,” Marina explained in a weak voice, strained from crying.
“I do love you my darling, more than my own life. You have become the world I wish to build my life on,” Aiden remarked, his voice choking with emotion.
“Are you sure Aiden? Are you sure, I am not just filling the space left when Corinn died? If that is true…then I will accept it. For you have my heart, completely, and you always shall,” Marina spoke in a shattered, but compliant tone.
Aiden could no longer control his emotions as he looked into her beautiful emerald eyes, filled with sadness and love. He suddenly kissed Marina with a passion he had never expressed to her. Holding her face in both of his hands, taking her mouth possessively, with an intensity that surprised Marina, as she whimpered softly. She moved her hands through his hair as Aiden continued to kiss her passionately, turning them both so that she was lying beneath him. Aiden began to caress her ardently, her breath catching with surprise.
“Forgive me, my love. Allow me to show you how much you mean to me. I love you so much, my sweet Marina. I want you to have no more doubts about my feelings for you. Yes, Corinn was my first love, but you mo ghra, are my last,” Aiden whispered as he kissed her deeply again, continuing his fervent attentions.
Marina found herself left breathless from Aiden’s passionate kiss, as he began to move his lips to her neck.
“Oh Aiden, please forgive me as well, for losing my temper at the Headquarters. I…I am so very sorry that I embarrassed you. I will get ready to go in a short while, so that I may join you,” Marina whispered in return, as she placed her arms around his neck.
“No, there is no need for you to come tonight mo chroi. You have dealt with enough. Stay here at the Lodge for the evening,” Aiden replied smiling at her. “Shh, just relax my darling. Do my affections not give you pleasure?” Aiden asked in a low sultry voice, as he could feel and sense her holding back.
“Oh yes, they do. I cannot stop trembling,” Marina answered, her voice shaking with her growing passion in response to Aiden’s intimate attentions.
“We will not break our vow dearest. In spite of what you may have been told, I am capable of self-control. Here now,” Aiden directed, as he turned, bringing them both to lie facing each other. “Move closer to me, and I shall rub your back,” he said, as he took her into his embrace, drawing Marina closer against him moving her leg over his hip.
“Alright,” Marina whispered back, her voice trembling with her body, as she felt his hand lightly grip her thigh.
“I love you so much my darling, that just having you lie against me is enough for now. If we must wait for a bit, before we can fully express our love, then I will. I have never loved anyone enough to do this. Trust me, my love. Let what you are feeling just wash over you. I am here, and I will not leave you shaken and feeling compromised. Yes, mo chroi, I am here, just release all the tension from earlier” Aiden whispered, as he felt Marina’s body shudder against him, her hands gripping his shoulders burying her head against his neck.
Aiden then moved his hands to hold her face, smiling at Marina lovingly as he tenderly kissed her face and lips.
“How do you feel?” Aiden asked in a low voice, kissing Marina’s face again.
Marina smiled back with a contented expression, her eyes blinking almost sleepily.
“I feel much calmer now. Thank you, my beloved, for giving my heart peace,” Marina answered in a soft, warm voice.
“Of course, mo chroi. That is all I wish for you to feel. I never want for you to have doubts in your heart and mind of my love for you. I do love you, Marina. I am so very sorry, I have never said this out loud to you, though I have said it countless times in my heart,” Aiden murmured as he held her in his arms.
They lay quietly together, not speaking for a few moments, allowing each other to calm down, from the furore of emotions they had just experienced.
“Mo Marina milis, I will explain everything about Corinn as well as Elsa, in a few days. Then you will have no room for doubt of my feelings for you. There will be no secrets between us mo chroi. In a fortnight, I will be formally announcing our betrothal,” Aiden whispered, as he kissed her temple softly.
“Thank you, Aiden. I love you so very much. I cannot tell you how much joy it gives me to say this to you,” Marina whispered back, as she placed her arm across his waist, gripping onto his shirt.
“I am sorry you felt you needed to hold back. You will never need to feel this way again, mo chroí ar mhian,” Aiden whispered back, kissing her once again. “I need to speak with Caleb, and then begin to get ready for the banquet. I will see you before I leave, and again when I return home. Perhaps this evening you would care to spend the night with me, in my room?” Aiden asked, smiling benevolently at her.
“I would like that Aiden,” Marina answered with a shy smile, as this would be the first time she would spend the night in Aiden’s room since his being ill.
Her mind went back briefly, to the things she had been told by others concerning Aiden’s private sanctuary. She closed her eyes for a moment, blocking out the words running through her mind. Her disconcerting thoughts stopping abruptly, as she felt Aiden hold his hand against her face and kiss her once more, moving his other hand beneath her, pulling her closer against him. Marina whimpered slightly with emotion, as Aiden became more fervent in his affections, his hand grasping the small of her back. He pulled away slightly to look into her face when seeing her lips trembling, he paused and began to relax in his attentions.
“I must go and speak with Caleb before I ready for the banquet. I will come and say goodbye before then,” Aiden said in a warm and loving voice, kissing her forehead once more before standing up. “Rest for a while mo ghra. I will see you later,” Aiden mentioned, before walking out of the room and closing the door quietly behind him.
He made his way down the corridor to the sitting room, conversation ceasing as Aiden walked in the room. Laurel smiled at him sadly, seeing he looked calmer, but a bit haggard.
“So, will things be settled for this evening?” Caleb asked in a relaxed tone.
“I suppose as much as can be expected, though Marina will not be attending the banquet. I suggested she remain here and just have a peaceful evening away from all the drama. I also told her that I will be formally announcing our betrothal in a fortnight,” Aiden mentioned in an uncharacteristic reserve tone.
“Congratulations, old man. I have no doubt it did much in helping the poor girl feel more settled,” Cahir remarked with a kind smile, as the others offered their congratulations as well.
“Thank all very much. Caleb, may I speak with you alone, please?” Aiden requested, in the same reserved tone.
“Of course. Let us go to the study,” Caleb suggested, walking up to Aiden and hitting him lightly on the arm.
