Greylen also sent word to the elder MacFale, requesting a private meeting. He needed to understand the reasons that Gavin made the choices he had. Now, ’twas up to him to end the bitterness that had plagued their families for years.

His men had orders to bring Gavin home. The message passed to each laird throughout the land, as well as a personal word to their ruler, should Gavin be at court. If he was, Gavin would be instructed to return to Seagrave by command of their king.

Gwen insisted that he recuperate fully before he took action. And though he knew she meant well, she didn’t understand his strength—or maybe she did. Whatever the case, he’d heed her words. He needed more than anything to return her vitality to her. For someone with so much courage, his wife had a fragility that truly scared him. He had no desire to be apart from her anyway, and in fact didn’t let her from his sight. The time they had now, he’d take and cherish as never before. Life could indeed be too short, and he’d live in the moments, not for them.

Compounding everything, his head still throbbed, his leg pained him, and he was weaker than ever before. But he was doing everything in his power to return to his usual physical self, and he knew that began with the right mental outlook.

The tasks he set before himself, however, left him exhausted just thinking of them.

He ordered the table from his study to be brought to his chamber. ’Twas placed to the left of their doors, across from the sitting area by the window. He’d confer with his men there, not from his bed. His wife had smiled at his determination and made a few changes of her own. She had a table brought up as well, one she placed in front of the window where they would take their meals. She also had weights fashioned, as she called them, so he could exercise his arms, and crutches to support himself until his leg healed.

He gave her no arguments, nor did she argue with his demand to resume his rule.

Their chamber became a central meeting place for his men, their family meals, and what would be some of the most incredible days he and Gwen would have together.

From the morning after he awoke from his battle with death, he moved as much as possible. At first ’twas only to the bathing chamber, Gwen taking as much care with him as he had with her when she’d been the one recovering. The crutches were his savior, and it eased his mind that he didn’t have to lean on his men or his wife. He relished her care, though. She helped him bathe, shaved his beard, and assisted him with his dress before his men gathered in the mornings.