“Ye havenae heard a word we’ve been sayin’, have ye?” Eileen asked, though the answer to her question was obvious.
“I’m sorry, I was miles away,” Olivia said apologetically. She swung around in her chair and looked at her sister enquiringly. “What was it ye wanted to ken?”
“I’ll leave ye to it, Me Ladies, if ye dinnae mind,” Megan cut in. “I promised the kitchen maids to help with gettin’ the food ready for the festival,” she said, hurrying to the door. “I’ll be back later to help ye dress for the party. Och, I’m so excited!” she gushed, before closing the door behind her.
“Olivia, what is wrong?” Eileen asked. “Ye’ve been so preoccupied since the party. I ken something is troublin’ ye. Is it Edan?”
Olivia knew her sister was right. Despite her youth, Eileen often showed a wisdom beyond her years. She already knew all about Nurkirk and the five outings with Edan. So, desperate to unburden herself and in hopes of getting some good advice about what to do, Olivia decided it was time to confess everything to her sister.
With a heavy sigh, she left the desk and went to sit next to Eileen on the bed. “Aye, ’tis Edan.”
Leaving out the more intimate details, she quickly told Eileen what had happened between them on the night of the party.
“I really believed he would change for good after that,” she sighed. “But almost straightaway, he went back to bein’ cold towards me. ’Tis killin’ me, Eileen,” she said miserably. “Every time I think we’re gettin’ close, that I’ve gotten through to him, it just happens again, as though he’s tryin’ to shut me out.”
“Aye, I’ve seen how it is between ye,” Eileen admitted. “He blows hot and cold.”
“Aye, and it really hurts me, because ye see, I’m in love with him.”
“Oh.” Eileen’s eyebrows rose, and she looked at Olivia sympathetically.
“But I dinnae think he loves me back.”
Olivia was surprised when Eileen scoffed. “Ye’re wrong there, Sister. I’ve seen the way he looks at ye. He cares for ye, all right.”
“Do ye really think so?”
“Aye, I do. I’m sure there’s a reason why he shuts ye out. Maybe ye just have to persevere.”
“That’s another thing I’m worried about. I may be runnin’ out of time. Our last outing is comin’ up. And after that, Edan must go away to fight Nurkirk, but there’s nay guarantee he’ll come back alive this time. I’m so scared I’ll lose him,” Olivia told her, her heart aching.
“I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all right for ye, Olivia. But all I can say is if this is yer last outing before he leaves, and ye fear he may nae come back, then ye must make the most of yer time together.”
Olivia nodded unhappily. “Aye, I ken ye’re right,” she agreed. “But I just wish things were different.”
Later on, when Megan had finished styling her hair and was working on Eileen’s, Olivia sat and thought about what her sister had said. She wondered what she and Edan could do togetherthat would make their last outing special and memorable, so it would sustain her if, God forbid, anything happened to him while he was away hunting Nurkirk down.
Eventually, she had an idea, and she resolved to present it to Edan later that night at the festival.
Night had fallen when the sisters made their way out of the castle gates.
“Oh my, what a wonderful sight!” Eileen exclaimed when they stepped out into the pastures to see bonfires burning brightly all over. “They’re like stars lightin’ up the night sky.”
“Aye, ’tis a lovely atmosphere, and there are so many people here,” Olivia remarked as they walked over the grass among the various little encampments gathered around the fires.
Children were running about, clearly excited about being allowed to stay up late. Music was playing, people were making merry, laughing, dancing, drinking, and eating. The scent of woodsmoke and the enticing smell of roast meats wafted in the air.
“’Tis quite magical,” Eileen said, looking around excitedly, the flickering orange light from the fires playing across her face.
“Shall we get some wine?” Olivia suggested, gesturing to one of the many tables that had been laden with food and drink.
As the wine was poured, she said, “Edan sent word to meet him by the big bonfire. He is goin’ to make the libation to the old gods and recite the ritual.”
So, once they had their drinks, that was where they headed.
Things were even livelier once they reached the clearing around the biggest bonfire. Many performers were displaying their various talents, acrobats and jugglers, puppeteers and sword dancers. Eileen lingered to watch some young girls dance, while Olivia made her way to Edan, who was standing by the fire, a tankard in his hand, talking to Zander and some other men who, judging from their attire, were farmers.
She thought he looked very imposing in his full kilt. He saw her as she approached and cut the conversation short to come over to meet her.
