(Callum, Jaimie)

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The feeling of a woman in his arms again for the first time in months was warm and comforting. To hold and to be held.? He had missed those simple pleasures more than he realized.? Without thinking, he held Arowyn closer still, conscious only of the fact that she was alive and there for him when his wife, so lost in her grief, was not.? His thoughts, centered as they were on the moment he was sharing, were suddenly disrupted by the sound of a young voice coming up from behind.

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"Och, thare yer m' laird," Jaimie said, speaking a little louder than he'd intended.? He quickly turned his head to the side, feeling distinctly uncomfortable to have walked up on what might have been an intimate moment between his master and his lady's sister.? Behind him, the large black stallion he was holding by the reins huffed impatiently, while a young dog explored the stones of the ruins, sniffing at them in curiosity.?

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"Ah thought mibbie ye micht be wanting tae tak' a hurl aroond th' estate," the young Scot ventured, keeping a grip on the reins. "Tae... Tae keep an yak yin hings." The boy looked apologetic as he ducked his head towards Arowyn.? "Ah didnae ken ye wur 'ere, mistress arowyn, or a'd hae brought th' mare."

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(Scheherazade, Aroywn)

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She could feel his pain and his hurt and his loneliness. She held him tight to herself. Holding him close, whispering soft encouragement in his ear. Willing strength into him. She knew her sister was hurting. She had held her while she cried. Kirstene had cried so hard that eventually she had no tears left. Aroywn had held her until Kirstene went quiet, sitting limp and lifeless in her arms. She knew they were going through so much. Loosing two babies—one at birth and then the other a few days later was more than any of them could take. But Callum was loosing not only his children, but his wife.

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“I am here. I will not leave you. Neither of you,” she whispered.

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It was then that Jaimie came up behind them. Aroywn did not move away. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Callum was family and right now family was hurting. “Maybe the ride will help you clear your mind.”