I open my eyes widely. Abortion?
'No, mother, I …'
'Shut up, Kaithria,' she says, her eyes turning red again with rage. 'We both will be thrown on the mud if your father finds out about your pregnancy. He will not forgive us for what we have done.'
'Mother, I do not want to stop the pregnancy,' I say, my heart beating faster. 'It may be dangerous…'
'I do not ask what you want, Kaithria. I have already decided to stop the pregnancy.'
'But mother, it is dangerous, and I can die during the abortion!' I am starting to get hysterical.
'You will drink that concoction, Kaithria, and the pregnancy will be stopped. This is not a discussion, Kaithria. This is what we are going to do now,' my mother looks at me calmly. When she looks at me, it means that I cannot discuss anything with her. It means that everything is already decided.
I turn to leave the room. I do not feel safe with my mother anymore. I know how dangerous it is to stop a pregnancy by drinking a medicine. I can even die in the process! I reach the door, but my mother is faster. She grabs my hand and turns me back to face her.
'Do not dare run away, Kaithria!' She screams at me, squeezing my arm, hurting me. I try to break free from her grip, but she is holding too hard.
'Let me go!' I scream and push her hard. She goes backwards, her foot gets caught between the chair and the dressing table, and she falls down. She hits her head hard on the floor and lies there motionless.
'Mother? Mother!' I run towards her, kneel beside her and check for a pulse. There is no pulse. 'What have I done?!' I scream, realizing that I have killed my mother. 'What have I done?!'
I sit there, beside her corpse, not knowing what to do. I cannot stay here, especially after committing a murder. No one will support me, and no one will help me in any case. I am unwanted in this castle. I cannot stay here. While everyone is busy celebrating Sloan's and Megan's hug, I must take my chance and run away from the castle unnoticed. I grab several of my clothes, quickly put them inside my suitcase, and leave the room. Thankfully, the hallways are empty.
In just a few minutes I have lost everything, Sloan, my mother, and a future as Mrs. Domhnall and the MacKinnons. All because of that woman who has usurped my place.
As I flee into the shadows, I know there is only one place I can go. A place that will allow me to put Megan in her place.
Epílogue
Megan
The carriage is decorated and very beautiful. I wear a beautiful dress made of the finest fabric that hugs my hips. Elsie is also beautiful in her new dress and very excited.
We get inside and start going to the kirk. Sloan's clan members are beautiful and excited. I am so excited myself that I mostly do not realize what is going on around me. All I know is that I am getting married with Sloan, the love of my life. All I can do is go with the flow, do what I am supposed to do and enjoy the happiness.
We are all happy, and none of us ever brings up the topic about Kaithria who ran away or about her dead mother, as we do not want to ruin our beautiful day with their memories. No one speaks about them. We are happy without them.
At last, the carriage stops and we get out. There is a small walking distance to the kirk. Elsie is the maid of honour, and Kam is the best man. The fiddler leads the way, followed by Sloan, who is accompanied by Elsie. I follow them together with Kam. Then Sloan's clan members follow us to the kirk. We cross two small streams on our way, which is a sign of good luck. Elsie and Sloan turn around and smile at me. I smile back. My heart is beating fast from the excitement, and I cannot wait to reach the kirk, which is not far, and I can already see it.
I look at Sloan from behind. He is as handsome from behind, as he is from the front. He is wearing his best tartan kilt.
'I am so happy that you two are getting married,' Kam says. 'And I can say this from the name of everyone in the clan.'
I smile at him. 'I know, Kam, I am happy, too. Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye!' I say. He nods.
The Pipers are already at the doors of the kirk when we arrive. They start playing the beautiful songs until all the guests arrive.
As the ceremony starts, I and Sloan draw a circle around us and stand in the circle for the unity with God.