Free The Faithful Heart by Sorcha MacMurrough

again,
    with you at the head of the family once more,” her father insisted,
    before reclining back upon the pillows, more at ease than she had
    seen him since she had arrived.
     
     
“But my vows, my duty to the convent,” Morgana protested. “Surely
    Finn or Patrick can take my place.”
     
     
“No one can take your place, Morgana, that you know. The clan loves
    you. They will do anything for you. They will even die for you if
    need be.”
     
     
“No, Father, I have left the battles and raids behind,” Morgana
    denied. "I am supposed to be a nun, and bring peace to the land."
     
     
Morgan grasped his daughter’s wrist fiercely and tracecd the sinews
    in her arm with the forefinger of his other hand. “Look at you.
    Battle is what you are made for. You are a warrior, however much you
    pretend otherwise!”
     
     
“No, Father!” Morgana argued. "Not any more."
     
     
"And a worker." He traced the callouses on her palm. "These are not
    the hands of a simpering aristocratic beauty. You are made for toil,
    made to rule, to be a leader of men. For you lead from the front, by
    example. Many might envy you, but most wish to emulate you.
    Strength, intelligence, power, you have them all, and they can yield
    you so much more, if only you will embrace your fate."
     
     
She shook her head. "You tell me this after two years in exile, and
    a lifetime of neglect? Forgive me if I don't trust a word you say."
     
     
The old man smiled grimly. “I understand. Damn my stubborn pride for
    not having told you all this sooner. For not having sent for you
    before things became so dire.
     
     
"You do not wish to hear the truth now, Daughter.But time is running
    out for all of us. You know what to you have to do. I pray God
    you're not too late.”
     
     
Morgana's stout heart began to fail at the enormity of what was
    being asked of her. “Father, please, my duty is supposed to be to
    the convent. If you are feeling better, I will stay a few more days
    to organise things, and then go back for my vows. You shall continue
    to rule as always, and--”
     
     
“Nay, you are deceiving yourself. I have not the heart, nor the
    skill, as well you know. And what of Ruairc! He loves you! Are you
    going to abandoned him to a barren wasteland for the rest of his
    life because of your stiff-necked pride? He is innocent. He loves
    you!The reasons for you going to the convent in the first place no
    longer apply. They never did! Ruairc is innocent. Marry him, for
    God’s sake, and be happy!”
     
     
She shook her head. “It’s not that simple, Father, and you know it!
    I’m not sure I could love him any longer, and in any case he is a
    MacMahon.He could still be the enemy!A copied dagger could all be
    part of the plan to kill Conor.”
     
     
“In that case he would have made sure he married you first, before
    Conor’s murder! He was miles away at the time, with several of the
    servants as proof of his whereabouts. And with you when he came
    back, for most of the time until the hue and cry was raised that
    Conor had been killed.
     
     
"No, the blame lies with someone else. Trust Ruairc with your life.
    He loves you. He would never have harmed Conor or myself for
    personal gain.”
     
     
I’m sorry, Father, but everyone has a price!”
     
     
“Even you?” the old man demanded angrily.
     
     
“What are you saying?” Morgana bristled.
     
     
“If what you say is true, Daughter, it could be you who killed him,
    or poisoned me!”
     
     
Don’t be silly! I love you, I would never! “ Morgana spluttered in
    outrage.
     
     
“You see,” the old man crowed in triumph. “Now you know what Ruairc
    has been feeling all this time, falsely accused by you and me and
    the entire clan.”
     
     
Morgana subsided into silence, her chest heaving with anger.
     
     
They sat mute for a few moments, until Morgan turned his eyes to his
    daughter, and asked quietly, “What will you do now?”
     
     
Morgana outlined the