The Taking of the Moon Maiden Ch. 03

She told Hilda, "get to Mother Superior" then slapping the horse's hindquarters she yelled, "ride." The horse started and then bolted, with Hilda and Moira hanging on for dear life. Emmaline spun around and started to run. She ran in the opposite direction of the horse and its two riders. She hoped they would follow her.

The men had ridden with Ronen long enough they did not have to be told what was expected. They split riding to retrieve the horse and its two riders, while Ronen went after the girl alone.

Ronen's sense of possessiveness seemed to have wrapped itself around his loins. Brian had not exaggerated she was beautiful. She raced ahead of him unaware of the picture she made with her silver hair blowing around her and her skirts billowing in the wind. She turned to look and see how closely she was being chased when the wind caught at her hair and whipped it into her eyes.

She could not see for a moment and her foot slipped into a hole, she fell hard and hit a rock on her side. She gasped as pain ripped all around her with every breath she took. She looked up to see the enormous horse and its huge rider looking down at her.

Ronen jumped off his horse and knelt down beside her. His hands running across her form checking for any broke bones, he removed her overly large boots that must have added to the girls fall. Emmaline could feel his hands on her, not knowing what he was doing she began to fear he meant to rape her right then. When Ronen moved to check the girls neck Emmaline spat in his face. She was conscience enough to hear him swear before darkness took her.

Red rage filled his vision, Ronen reached down, grabbing the tiny girl by the shoulders, but her head just lolled back. She had passed out. He pushed her hair further from her face and was stunned at her beauty. Ronen laid her back on the grass barely breathing.

He slowly stood up, stunned for a moment looking at the girl, lying at his feet. She had masses of silvery blond hair that tumbled and curled around her fair face and shoulders. The blouse that the she wore did not hide the full rounded breast; they were small for most but were perfect for her size. Ronen stared down at the small frame for a moment taking in the full shape of her form.

The men rode up behind him. They had where leading the horse with its two riders by the reins. They all seemed to quiet as they looked at the girl lying on the grass.

"I told you." Brians words were the only one spoken, until the old woman on the back of the horse began to screech. "You've killed her" he tore his eyes from the vision to look over his shoulder at her and his men.

"Get away from her you murderer!" Hilda struggled to get off the horse but could not. She had rarely ever ridden and she couldn't seem to get off the horse without either hurting herself or Moira.

Ronen looked at the old woman before his eyes settled on the wee one. This was Matilda's child. She looked back at him not frightened at all. Her hazel eyes flashing when she accused, "You hurt my Mama." The girl's words stunned him.

He knew the child to be Matilda, but he still had not grasped the fact that the lovely blond passed out at his feet could be anyone's mama. The Lady Matilda did not look to be that old. He had not been told Matilda's age when she got pregnant with the bairn.

Good God! He thought she would have had to have been less than thirteen years when she had delivered this bairn.

He looked at his men expecting some explanation only to discover their gazes transfixed to the beauty at his feet.

"Have you ever?" Brian asked? Several of the men unconsciously rearranged their kilts to adjust themselves. Ronen's eyes narrowed to slits at this action and spun to look back down at the still beauty.

Her blouse which had allowed him the pleasure of seeing the shape of her bosom had come apart slightly and the creamy skin of her gentle curves could be seen by all. Her skirts had blown up and were wrapped around her waist. The wool pantalets she wore were snug and showed the curves of her hips and the shapely slimness of her thighs.

When checking for broke bones he had removed her too large boots and where the pantalets ended right below her knees, had afforded everyone the beauty of her silky skin, bare from the knee's down. The calves perfectly shaped, curved into the small trim of her ankles. Her feet were delicate and unmarred, fitting a well born lady that had not known physical hardships. She moved and the pain in her side caused her to moan.

She bent one leg at the knee gasping for air, while the other leg remained straight and slightly apart from the other.

"Looks like she's inviting me in," the crude remark came from Seamus. He laughed and moved to dismount.

"Get off your horse and I will kill you. Do not forget she is to by bride and mistress of the clan." All eyes jerked to Ronen. His voice was as cold as the steal of his blade and his eyes were so dark his pupils were hidden. He turned to the girl and in one fluid movement had her in his arms and on his horse.

No one said anything as Ronen rode silently with the girl, his words and mood defying them to interrupt his thoughts.

Ronen rode toward the cottage. "Wait here" was all he said to the small group when he dismounted with the girl and strode with her inside.

Once inside he looked around. He was surprised at how bright it was. Most of the time these little homes tended to be dark, but not this one.

Every care had been made to make it bright and cheery. The walls had been painted white; he had never seen a cottage that had been painted on the inside. Close to the floor were tiny hand prints with ages beside them. He found it odd, that the mirrors were too high to use to see ones image.

He had never known a female that didn't want to look at themselves, surely one as beautiful as Matilda would spend hours in front of mirrors. He moved towards them when noticed how the sun was reflect from the mirrors into the room. He realized the mirrors were helping to light the cottage. They had been place high on the walls to catch the light and reflect it back into the room. Smart thing to do, he looked down at the girl. A possessive pride thumped in his chest. Not only was the girl beautiful, but she was smart as well.

Emmaline had barely been aware of the man that lifted her onto his horse. The pain in her side was so severe it was taking all her strength not to cry.

Emmaline felt him pull her with him as he stepped from his horse. Every step he took seemed to jar her more until she cried, "please, no more." Her words tore at Ronen.

Ronen laid her on the cot and retrieved a bucket of water and a rag that had been left on the table.

Emmaline thick dark lashes fluttered open, showing Ronen their color for the first time. Ronen's heart missed a beat; they were a deep shade of blue with bright flecks of grey. The pain caught her for a second and her eyes widened. The light in the room caught them and for a moment the grey turned to silver.

Ronen felt as though he was looking into a star filled night sky. The last thing Emmaline remember was looking up to see the most frightening man she had ever seen, "you won't let Duncan hurt Moira will you?" Ronen assumed the girl child must be Moira and before he could answer, she enraged him with her next words.

"You won't let Duncan take us?" Her eyes closed before she could hear Ronen swear that no man under heaven could take her from him. Ronen finished bathing her face and swung her tiny frame up high in his arms. As he walked out of the cottage into the sun, he could hear the other female's voice berating his men. They all turned to him as he mounted his horse and carried the beauty across his lap. "Why did he take her? Why did you let him take her?" When he moved forward to see who was getting the brunt of the older ladies rants it was poor Daniel. Daniels eyes lightened when he saw Ronen.

"There she is. Look, he has returned her unharmed." The woman turned her horse towards Ronen and exclaimed, "Here you take Moira." She started to hand the small child to Daniel, confirming Ronens suspicion that Moira was the child's name and continued on about the female on Ronens lap.

"Give her to me, I will hold her." Her worry over the girl stretched across her face.

Ronen gave a hard stare and looked at the woman and with not a visible emotion. "She is mine." When the old woman gasp, Ronen reinforced his statement except this time he lowered his head and cut his eyes at his men daring anyone of them to argue.

"If she be Matilda she is mine. If not, she is still mine."

The old woman began to say something but Daniel put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "I would not say anything more, until his blood calms." Hilda looked at him in confusion.

Daniel clarified his statement low enough that Hilda and few others could hear, but Ronen lost in his thoughts could not. "I have seen him like this in battle; he will not hesitate to kill any of us if we move to take the girl. Leave him be until his reason returns."

Daniel moved his horse to a steady pace behind Ronens. The others followed as well, this time they were was headed for the encampment. The young child stared at the men with round hazel eyes. Daniel smiled and winked at her; she smiled and buried herself into Hilda.

Daniel noticed how the little the girl did not favor her mother, not just in coloring but in appearance and structure as well. This girl had dimples and was as cute as button, she was not big boned but she certainly wasn't as frail boned as her delicate mother.

They had been riding silently for awhile when Ronen's suddenly halted his horse and turned to the old woman. "What is she called?"

His sudden question startled Hilda and she did not answer quickly enough for Ronen. "Is she the Lady Matilda, the bairns mother?"

Hilda's arms tightened around Moira, never having been comfortable telling lies she gave only a half-truth.

"Yes, Moira calls her Mother." It was part true. Emmaline had been the only mother Moira had known.

Before Hilda could gain her composure, Ronen asked another question, "what are you called?"

"Hilda, I am called Hilda." This question was easy for Hilda and the relief on her face raised the alarms in both Ronen and Daniel. Why was she being so evasive? What was the old woman hiding?

"Why, were you running?" Hilda had not expected this question at all.

"We were not running. We were just trying to escape the clutches of some bastard sent to force Matilda to wed." Ronens eyebrows raised. His first thought was how unconsciously the old woman had slipped and not used the proper title Lady; the second because he realized that he was the bastard from which Hilda was speaking. He gave a sharp look to his men not to say anything.

"Why does your lady fear marriage? I would think a lass that has been ruined such as she, would be grateful that someone would wed her."

His words hurt and Hilda tightened her arms protectively around Moira when she answered with a sharp reply. "I noticed you claimed her fast enough. Do you not think there are others who would want her, ruined or not?"

She smiled when she saw her words hit their mark, he snarled at her and gripped Emmaline higher in his arms.

Hilda jabbed again and retorted, "The Lady Matilda's father has not bothered to find out whether we lived or died for the past six years. Why would she now trust him to find her a descent husband?"

Hilda bit her lip and looked away. No truer words had ever been said. After all the Laird James did not even know his oldest daughter had died five years ago.

"The first contact we have had from him was the rider he sent this morn with his message of weddings. He has set some stranger upon Milady, to have her to wedded and bedded before this spring. We have been alone along time and do not relish being under the heel of someone that calls a man like Laird Earl de la Humes friend." Hilda's answer angered Ronen. He was no friend to Earl de la Humes, but he did plan to meet his requirements if it meant Ronen was to get another peaceful border for his people.

"I am sorry the lass is not happy with her fathers arrangements, but it is not up to her to decide what she can and can not do. She is but a woman and she must have faith that the men in her life will take care of her."

Hilda gave a sarcastic laugh when she replied, "look around you fool. She has not been treated well by any man, father or not. The Laird sent her here with no monies, no help, and not even food. She has worked long hours with little sleep to keep hearth and home for the wee bairn. And she has done it without the help of any man."

Hilda tossed her head and pulled Moira closer. The men looked at each other uncomfortable with realization what the old woman said was true.

A frown marred Ronens head when he asked, "did not the Laird send any help to the lass? How did he expect her to deliver her bairn by herself?" Ronens question alarmed Hilda. Questions like these would lead to answers Emmaline did not wish for anyone to know.

"It was not an easy birth; nor easy times. We do not like to speak of any of it." Hilda did not answer Ronen, she looked away. Anymore answers may cause great suffering for her Lady and she would say nothing more to help the huge Scot they called Ronen hurt Emmaline any further.

Upon seeing the set of her chin Ronen knew that he would not be able to get any more answers from Hilda until he could question her later. But, no matter what the woman thought, later Ronen would question her and Ronen would get answers.

The riders rode towards the camp riding silently as always.

Grothaus nearly fell from his saddle when a little voice started singing a song about a spider. He looked at her harshly "Shh! Girl, do you not know how to ride when there are but a few?"

The slow sweet smile that spread her cheeks would have been enough to melt the man's heart, but when the dimples appeared, she had him for life.

"I have never been allowed to go anywhere but to see Mother Superior." She laughed and clapped her hands. "I am going to have so much fun. We tried to go to a faire once. But when we got there this man tried to hurt Mama."

The little girls excited words were stopped by Ronens sudden question. "How did he try to hurt your Mama?"

The girl looked nervously between Grothaus and Ronen. Hilda went to interrupt but was stilled by Ronens raised hand. "Let the girl tell me, least you try to tell me more of your lies and half-truths."

Hilda blushed deeply; apparently the Laird had known she had not been more than truthful.

"Finish girl, tell me of this man. Did he put his hands on your mama?" The girl started to worry her lip, "yes."

Instantly everything began to darken and a ringing started in Ronen's ears. His focus narrowed down and he moved his horse towards the girl.

"Show me where he put his hands?" He had not snapped at Moira this time, but the anger seeping from him scared her worse than before. "He grabbed her arm here." Her little hand pointed at the top of Ronen's forearm. Realizing he was scaring the girl tried to control his anger and released a long slow sigh. "Continue girl."

This had become too much for Moira. Her lip started to quiver and tears began to pool in her lovely hazel eyes. Feeling like a heel not knowing how to handle small children, Ronen was relieved when Grothaus stunned everyone by pulling the girl off her horse and on to his.

He settled her in front of him and helped her arrange her skirts. She gave him a winning smile that caused him to pat her head.

"Now tell us wee one, what man tried to hurt your Mama? So, we may make sure he does not again." The girl responded better to this line of questioning.

"I don't know who the man was. We were walking looking at the faire. Mama bought me some ribbons for my hair and Hilda got a new pair of shoes. This mean man walked up to Mama. He said he would buy her pretty things if she would show him her pretty....," the girl stopped as she struggled with the word. She blushed deeply and reached up to Grothaus who had to bend down so the girl could whisper in his ear. She cupped her small hands around her mouth so only he could hear what she said. Grothaus's face went flame red to hear such a word from such a wee one.

His arms went protectively around the girl at the idea of her hearing someone speak so to her mother. He looked at Ronen and mouthed the words "pretty pussy."

"What did your mother do?" Ronen issued this question much softer to the tiny lass held on Grothaus's lap. "She dumped a pot of flowers on his head."

Ronen and smiled to himself, while others laughed out loud picturing the silvery angel using a flower pot as a weapon.

Moira unaware of their thoughts continued. "Then we had to leave because everyone said it was Mama's fault the man was mean. Men were not to blame for their actions with a woman was as bonnie as my Mama. Mama told me it was okay and she fixed me my favorite food for dinner. But, later I heard Mama crying and asking God to keep us safe. We have never got to go to another faire again."

The last words were said with such dejection Ronen could not help but say. "I promise you lass, I will take you all to a faire and I will not let anyone hurt you or your mother."

"Yeah!" This pleased Moira a lot and she giggled on Grothaus lap twirling her hair around her fingers before she snuggled down on his lap to take her afternoon nap. The small girls trust that he would not let her fall stunned Grothaus.

He just held her quietly smiling. He did not realize quite how foolishly he had been smiling until he noticed several of the men kept looking at him. He jerked the smile from his lips and glared at them daring any of them to say anything.

Ronen held Matilda closer. Why had she not gone to her father for protection? Surely he would have forgiven her enough not to leave her at the mercy of any man that fancied her? There was much to this story that he did not know. Not yet, but he would learn sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

They caught up with the rest of their group as the evening was approaching. Camp had already been made and the fires were being ready for cooking the early evening meal. Ronen looked to Daniel, who knew immediately what Ronen wanted. Daniel dismounted his horse and from Ronens saddle he; grabbed the McVörss plaid. He moved towards one of the outer camp fires and started gathering some soft rushes and laid the plaid over the top of them. Ronen approached with Emmaline and gently laid her on the plaid, unaware of the stares of his people he motioned for Hilda to attend Emmaline. As Hilda approached, Ronen's words halted her in her tracks.

"Who is Duncan?" Hilda visibly turned white. Visibly shaken at the question she answered "you will need to ask Matilda."

Ronen did not like that answer and grabbed Hilda by the arm, "old woman I ask you again, who is Duncan and what is he to the girl? Is he her husband? Has she secretly wed the father of her bairn is that where she was running, or has she already found another to take his place?"

Hilda's eyes began to tear at the thought of Emmaline being trapped in a marriage bond and fairly shouted, "Duncan is most definitely not her lover, and she does not have a husbane, secret or otherwise" Startled by the look of relief on his face, Hilda worried that it may have been better to let the big scot to think Emmaline married.

"That is a situation I shall soon remedy." Having gotten the answer that at least the girl had not secretly wed, Ronen stunned Hilda as he continued, "I am the Laird Ronen McVörss. I am the bastard sent here to claim the Lady Matilda as my wife."

"That means you are going to be my new da." Ronens eyes snapped to the little girl.