MorningStar's Kitten

They arrived at the Inn and the soldiers all climbed down and two assisted Danae with taking the packages up to the room. Cade slid Keira onto the seat, climbed down and then lifted her down. He put his arm around her and the soldiers followed them into the inn. Kelly came rushing from the back as they came in with an older woman following him.

“Lad, what happened?” Kelly asked. “Bess came flying in back babbling about Danae, your soldiers, and the lassie looking ill.”
“Keira and Danae were assaulted by several of the City guards at the market.” Cade said
“They were drunk.” Keira added quietly.
“Oh you poor child.” Exclaimed the woman.

She rushed forward and pulled Keira into her arms, clucking over her like a mother hen. She barked at Leah, who was behind the counter to go to Keira’s room and run her a bath with lavender and chamomile. She was then to get the oils and tell Danae she would be up with Keira shortly. The girl nodded and rushed up the stairs. Kelly and Cade looked at each other and then at Keira and the woman.

“Don’t you worry, lassie. It’s fine now. My laddie will keep you safe.” The woman said.
“You must be Aunt Colleen.” Keira said giving her a weak smile.
“I’m so upset I’ve forgotten my manners.” Colleen said. “Aye, lass, I am. We’ll have you right as rain in no time at all.”
“You don’t to bother. I’m alright.”
“Family is never a bother, you’re white as a sheet and shaking like a leaf.” Colleen looked at Cade “I’m taking her upstairs for that bath, you men go have a drink.”
“Cade…” Keira said a frightened look on her face.
“Only water, Kia.” Cade said, “I promise.”
“That lad loves you a lot to turn down Kelly’s twenty year old whiskey for you.” Colleen told Keira as she led her upstairs.
“Does he often drink?” Keira asked, looking worried.
“Oh, they’ll have a few shots now and again. A bit more on a holiday or at a family party, perhaps. Drunk maybe twice a year or so. They’re both good men that way.”
I’m glad. My father drank a lot. He wasn’t nice when he did.”
“I’m sorry lass, and then you met up with those drunken louts.”
“Commander Iain said that they’d be punished.”
“Aye, they will. Severely too.”

Leah and Danae had the steaming bath waiting and Danae was laying out Keira’s new under things on the bed. Her gown was already out on the stand and Lea was fiddling with bottles on a small tray. Colleen told the girls to take care of Keira and gave her a hug. Keira told her Danae had been wonderful all day and hated to leave her the next morning. Colleen smiled, said she needed to check on supper and left the room. Danae helped Keira undress and pinned her hair up to keep it dry. Keira stepped into the deeper end of the tub and sunk down so the water came up to her chin. She leaned back to find Danae sitting on the edge of the bath behind her.

“Are you alright?” she asked Keira
“Yes, are you?”
“It’s not the first time,” Danae said shrugging, “they usually give the girls gold for their company.”
“But that’s not right. You didn’t want to be with them.”
“I’m only a slave, M’lady. What I want doesn’t matter.”
“I can’t believe that Cade would allow his men to treat even a slave that way.”
“He doesn’t. He is a good man. So are most of the city guards, but when they’re drunk…”
“Yes, that changes a man. It changed my father.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He made that choice, no one else did it for him.”
“We should hurry a bit, M’lady.” Leah said, “Supper won’t be much longer.”

Keira nodded and climbed out of the tub. She lay on her stomach on a large, thick towel that Leah had warmed by the fire. Danae poured some of the warm scented oil on Keira’s back and started to massage it as Leah did her legs. It did not take long for Keira to fully relax and soon she was lightly dozing. When the girls finished Danae gently woke Keira and they helped her dress. Keira sat at the dressing table and Danae took down her hair, unbraided it and brushed it out. She quickly pulled the top and sides back and tied it with a silver ribbon to match the dress. Keira turned on the bench and Leah started to put Keira’s boots on her.

“Oh hell.” Danae muttered. “We forgot shoes.”
“I suppose shoes are important.” Keira said looking down at her boots then back up at Danae.
“Just a bit.” Danae said looking at Keira’s feet. “Try this one.”

She pulled off one of her low-heeled shoes and handed it to Keira. Keira slipped on the shoe, stood and then looked up at Danae and nodded. Keira sat back down and returned the shoe. Danae told her she would be right back and ran out of the room. Danae returned a few minutes later and handed Keira a pair of silver slippers. Keira slid them on and stood, took a few steps and nodded at her. Danae picked up the packages for the family and followed Keira downstairs. When they reached the lobby, Keira hesitated and Danae told her where she would likely find Cade. She told Keira she would put the packages in Kelly’s apartment in back and see her later.
Keira went through the lobby and into the bar. She Cade and Kelly at the other end, Cade with his back to her. She walked towards them, not noticing the heads that turned or that several men tried to get her attention. Kelly saw her and a broad grin crossed his face. Cade turned to see what Kelly was smiling about and when he saw Keira, he felt his heart skip a beat. The blue and silver gown clung to her every curve, her ebony tresses cascading down her back, and the smile on her face was only for him. Cade stood and walked towards her, when she reached him she leaned up and gently kissed him and Cade pulled her close. He stepped back, took Keira’s hand, and turned towards Kelly.

“Uncle Kelly, I’m pleased to present my beautiful wife, Lady Keira.” He said with a grin.
“The lady and I have met,” Kelly said winking at Keira “and alas she refused to run away with me.”
“It was a tempting offer,” Keira said, looking up at Cade “but the thought of being hunted down was a strong deterrent.”
“Aye.” Cade said, “Aunt Colleen can be tenacious and unforgiving.”

The three of them burst out laughing and Kelly gave Keira a hug. Kelly told Cade to take Keira back to his apartment and tell Colleen he would be along in a few minutes. Cade put his arm around Keira and led her through a doorway and down a hallway to the private part of the building. Cade opened the door and they went it. They could hear the voices of children and babies, women giving directions as they cooked and supervised small ones. The men were in the room ahead in the middle of what sounded like a heated discussion. Keira hesitated and looked up at Cade who gave her a quick hug and told her it would be fine.
Cade guided her into the room while loudly announcing their presence. The men jumped up and greeted them as the women hurried from the kitchen. Cade introduced everyone to Keira and the girls dragged her into the kitchen for ‘girl talk’. The men all kidded Cade about finally being trapped and agreed that he’d found a most beautiful ‘keeper’. The men sat down to discuss business and politics until Kelly arrived.
Colleen immediately announced that dinner was ready and they all settled around the table with the children at a smaller one next to them. Keira found herself sitting between Colleen and Cade’s youngest cousin, Arianna. She and Keira took turns holding her infant daughter. Cade sat across from Keira and enjoyed watching her with the baby. Colleen watched too and halfway through the meal predicted that it wouldn’t be long before Cade and Keira had a wee one of their own. Keira blushed furiously as Cade announced they were working on it and everyone laughed.
After dinner, everyone moved out to the back patio so the children could be watched and all enjoy the evening air. Keira gave Cade’s cousins the scarves she and Danae had picked out and they were touched that Keira had thought of them. Cade got up and handed his Aunt a small box. She looked at him, and then at Keira, who smiled warmly at her. She opened the box and squealing with delight, jumped up and gave Cade and Keira hugs. It was a wonderful ending to the night and Cade said they should get some sleep as they were leaving the next morning. They said good-night to everyone and headed up to their room.