Page 44 of The Changeling

‘Aye,’ he said, surprised. ‘He falls in love with the faery queen and goes with her to the Otherworld. And when at last he comes home, he has the gift of prophecy and makes many predictions which come true.’

‘Did you know he met the faery queen under a hawthorn tree? And that she dared him to kiss her lips?’

He looked at me then, a question in his eyes.

‘Do you dare to kiss mine, Robbie Graham?’

His face lit up. He put both hands on my waist, murmuring, ‘Are you sure?’

I nodded.

Robbie gently walked me backwards till we were hidden by the blossoming canopy of the hawthorn tree. Then he slipped his arm about me, cupped my face with one hand, and kissed me. I felt the shock of it all through my body. I responded eagerly, cradling the nape of his neck with my hand, parting my lips so his tongue could dance with mine. He made a small guttural sound in his throat, which pleased me greatly.

‘You taste of honey and flowers,’ he murmured, untying the ribbon that bound the end of my thick plait and shaking loose my curls. My hair crackled with static, and we both jumped and laughed. ‘I’m on fire for you,’ he whispered. ‘Caiti, my Caiti …’

The kiss seemed to go on forever. I never wanted it to end. My limbs were so weak with desire, I could scarcely stand. He drew me down, so that we lay together beneath the tree. As he kissed his way down my throat, one hand fumbling at the ties of my chemise, I untucked his shirt, running my hands down his bare back till I felt the cleft between his buttocks. He went very still, then sat up and turned his back to me, breath coming fast. ‘Caiti … we should stop now. We need to be careful.’

I did not want to stop. I did not want to be careful. Mortal life is short, the faery queen had said. She was right.

I sat up, tracing one finger down his spine. ‘Robbie, do you want to lie with me?’

He gave a grunt of laughter. ‘How can you ask me such a question? If you only knew what pain I’m in! I want to lie with you so much I cannot bear it.’

‘Did you mean what you said? That I am first in your heart?’

He nodded, his eyes intent on my face.

‘I need to ken you mean it,’ I said.

Very gently he cradled my face in his warm hands, and kissed me. I swear the earth shifted below us. I clung to him, dizzy and exultant and afraid.

‘Would you swear to me?’

He drew back. ‘What do you mean?’

‘What if we promised ourselves to each other, for a year and a day, in the old way? Swore to be faithful and loyal and true.’

His face was troubled. ‘Caiti, you know I cannot …’

‘I ken you canna marry me,’ I said impatiently. ‘That’s no’ what I’m asking for. All I’m asking for is one year and one day. Aught could happen in that time.’

As I spoke, a chill of foreboding went over me. I sat up and drew my plaid about me.

Robbie gripped my shoulders. ‘Do you mean it? You’d give yourself to me if I promise to be true for just one year and a day?’

‘We must bind our wrists together, and swear to each other.’

‘Let’s do it! What do we say?’

‘I have no idea. We’ll have to make it up ourselves.’ I caught up the narrow black ribbon that had bound my hair. ‘Do you have any string about you?’

Robbie wrenched a tie from his red velvet doublet and gave it to me. Impulsively I drew the nettle string out of my pocket. I had smoothed it so much with my fingers, it was white as bone. I cut a length from it, then swiftly plaited the three cords together. Then I wrapped the thin braid about our wrists, saying, in a voice that shook, ‘I swear to love you, to be true to you, to never betray you, for a year and a day, come what may.’

As I spoke, I shivered again with sudden cold foreboding. Robbie was smiling, though, repeating the words, tying a knot in the ribbons. He kissed me and laid me down on his cloak. ‘I cannot believe you are letting me. Are you certain?’

I nodded shyly, and he bent his head and kissed me hungrily. I melted into his embrace. Gradually we grew bolder, exploring each other with our fingers and mouths. His fingers slid up my inner thigh and touched me where I had never been touched before. I gasped and jolted.

His breath was coming fast. ‘Caiti … I have to …’