Elliotte

Chapter Seven

"My lord liege" Laith called out cheerily as he made his way thrOugh the gathered crowd to embrace his master. " Tis twice good to have you back, my lord"

"Laith" Eòghann, Lord of the Brook, said with a resounding oat on the huge man's back. "A sight for sore eyes, eh."

The men shared a small laugh.

"You look well," Laith scoffed. "It's due to yer care, my liege."

Everyone wanted a slice of the newly returned Lord of the Brook, and gathered around him.

Some wanting to touch. Some wanting to hear his sturdy voice. Some just to set their lonesome eyes on him.

The great hall buzzed with warm welcome.

After all, the great Eòghann, Lord and liege of the Costowold Brook had returned after ten moons and then some.

"Papa!"

The buzz in the hall vanished like it hadn't been in the first place at the shrill ecstatic voice.

Even the air ceased its movements.

But Elliotte picked up her skirts and dashed forth. She had taken her time to hastily scrub her body till it was pink and adorn herself as only a lady should. There wasn't enough time to sport curls, so she sported a flowing cascade instead, complete with jewels. Gifts from around for her birth anniversaries.

None from her father.

The crowd paved a way for her.

In her eyes, one azure and one of the purest of gold, sparkled and glistened in a way a galaxy of stars would envy.

Somewhere in the crowd, many hearts were clutched in wait for what they hoped wouldn't be.

Ailish glanced frantically about but couldn't find Ernice. Where in all the blasted world was she?

Elliotte, wide grin still in place, came to a bouncing halt before the man she looked hard upon, and dropped into a deep curtesy.

"Papa" she said. "You came back." She grinned wolfishly. "t has been -"

"What is this?" Eòghann roared. "Have you been a-stealing, lass?"

The grin vanished from her face and her heart did a double take. "Papa," she whispered. "|never -. I would never take what is na mine!"

Wrong answer.

Eòghann's visage darkened like a storm deep in the night. "The jewels?"

Impulsively, her hands went to the jewels on her head. "Gifts from my birth anniversaries, papa. You know that, papa.!"

"Liege! Liege! Liege, I say!"

Elliotte blinked hard. "My liege."

His nostrils flared beneath his glare and he stormed past. Almost at the stairs, he half turned. "I wager what's so special about your birth that it has to be remembered. You are but a curse to all around you. A curse," he spat furiously. "A curse, I say." And with that, he stormed off.

Ailish rushed up to Elliotte.

She turned her tearstained face to her, and shook with suppressed sobs. "I'm ill fated," she said.

"Hush," Ailish rebuked softly and drew her away. "Come now. Abigail made some fresh tarts. I reckon they would be to yer liking."

"I am but a curse. I shouldna been born."