3 Chapter 2: So We Meet Again

Fort MacDonnell was a fortress stretched upon the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by evergreen mountains, long rivers and an endless forest. The massive castle stood tall with high walls and towers, each with never-ending staircases.

Anya was climbing one of such staircases on her way to the Great Hall, which was great in every sense of the word. The Great Hall, the largest room in the castle, was filled with treasures the clan's founder, grandfather to the current clan chief, took from his conquest around the Highlands.

However, the main showstopper in the hall was the giant bear head that hanged at the very front of the room above the high table. She heard rumours that the current clan chief himself fought and killed the bear when he was just a young lad—impressive but also terrifying, just like the man himself.

Anya had only seen the clan chief once. The day when she was captured and never again. As she was either busy working in the kitchen or plotting her escape. Oh, how she yearned for freedom, her kingdom and her father.

Lost in thought, dreaming about escaping, she did not realize a person stood on top of the stairs till it was too late.

She bumped into the person so hard that she was shocked that the tray in her hand did not fall to the ground. Only until Anya heard a husky voice asking her whether she was alright did she regain her composure.

She slowly raised her head to answer yes, but then she saw him.

Those eyes!

Anya would never forget those dark midnight eyes that had looked down on her with arrogance and disdain as he ordered his men capture her.

"Are you alright?" He asked

"Yes, m'lord" Anya replied in shock and awe not because he asks her how she was but because he was even talking to her at all. This was the first time he ever spoke to her.

The only words she ever heard him speak about her are when he told his men to "Tie her up."

Caelen was infamously known as the Silent Wolf, as he could go for months without utter a single word.

As Caelen looked on at Anya, he recognized that she was the sassenach (foreigner) they captured from the English bassas (bastards).

This was the first time he saw her and actively looked at her face. She was surprisingly very beautiful for a mere handmaid. She had long gorgeous blonde hair and a lovely oval face, but her eyes stood out the most.

Plain brown eyes, however, they seemed very intelligent, somewhat noble even and something else he couldn't quite place.

He was so engrossed at examining her, he took a while to even register her response. Her voice was low and carried a clear but sweet tone.

"What's your name?" He couldn't help but ask.

"A..., Maggie, m'lord" Anya was still in shock that he was still speaking to her, that she almost blurted out her real name.

"Maggie" Caelen repeated very softly.

"It suits you" he added.

Anya did not know to respond to that, so she could only mutter a "Thank you."

Caelen took one last glance and continued down the stairs, leaving Anya no choice but to look back at his descending head trying to process what the hell just happened.