Highland Fling
- 2 years ago
- 24
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He sat at the table and listened closely. The plan was ludicrous. He knew that. He also knew that if he would be a dead man if anyone ever knew he had any involvement. He watched the pacing soldier with a close eye, and wondered what broke his sanity.
‘What say you, laird?’
‘You do know what would happen to me if I were to go along with you, don’t you?’ he asked the younger soldier. He seemed to think on that a moment before speaking.
‘Aye, it would mean that you would break your oath of alliance with him.’
The old laird nodded. ‘Aye, it would cause a great rift amongst my clan. Many of the women are Frasers by blood, and they’re husbands loyal to he and I both.’ That seemed to make the soldier stop dead in his tracks.
‘So you will not help me, Liam?’ Liam McCullom stood on shaky knees and sighed.
‘Nay Alex, I willna. I canna go against Cien. If you had thought about this before coming to me, you would know this too.’ He shook his old scruffy head and sighed again. ‘I canna believe he would allow a witch into his home. And marriage? The lad is the farthest from it. I donna see him getting married any time in the near or distant future.’
‘I tell you laird, he is going to marry the witch!’ Alex yelled loudly.
‘Enough!’ Liam yelled, making the soldier jump back a step. ‘You disgrace me, my clan and my hall by thinking I would betray my ally so. You have seconds to get off of my land or I shall hang you myself.’
Alex took a step forward, but was suddenly blocked by two warriors that he hadn’t seen before. ‘Leave my hall!’ Liam commanded.
Alex turned and strode quickly, leaving the hold never to return. Liam sighed and sat down slowly in the Larid’s chair.
Glancing up at the two warriors, he motioned to the tallest. ‘Ready my horses, son. Gather a garrison. We leave for Fraser land on the hour.’ Grady stood from his father’s side and nodded quickly.
‘It shall be done, sire.’
~~~~~
It was dusk when the riders neared the gates. ‘Riders at the gate!’ The guards men called. A group of soldiers saddled up and rode out of the gates to investigate. The two groups stopped and spoke quickly, before the guests followed the soldiers in.
‘Laird McCollum!’ One of the soldiers cried out. A soldier hearing the call ran into the hall from the bailey.
‘Laird,’ he said as he bowed at the table. Cien sat at dinner enjoying a delightful conversation with Rose when the soldier interrupted.
‘Aye?’
‘Riders, at the gates,’ the soldier replied. ‘Laird McCollum.’ Cien smiled and nodded to the soldier.
‘My thanks, John. Bring Liam in when he arrives in the bailey.’ The soldier bowed again and left the hall to do Cien’s bidding.
‘Who is Laird McCollum?’ Rose asked politely from his side.
Smiling down at her, Cien couldn’t believe how lucky he was. It was only a few weeks ago when he told Alex he would never wed, that he had no inclination to wed. But now, he wanted to jump up and swing Rose around and around.
‘Cien?’
Clearing his throat, he answered her question. ‘Laird McCollum was my father’s dearest friend. He is my strongest ally, and a good friend. He is someone we can greatly count on.’
Rose smiled and began to talk Tilda of wedding arrangements. Ak, Cien thought. Women’s things.
‘Cien!’ Liam boomed from the entrance to the hall.
Cien stood and met the old soldier in a brief hug. ‘It has been much to long old friend.’
‘Aye, much too long.’ Cien looked to his side and found Grady there.
‘Grady, it is good to see you.’ Grady looked him over with a watchful eye.
‘Yer in a fine mood. Too much wine this eve?’
Cien laughed full and heartily. ‘Nay, Grady. Not the wine. Simply the company of good friends and the company of a beautiful woman at my side.’ Grady lifted an eye brow and glanced at the table.
He saw Rose immediately.
‘It that the Lady Rose?’ He asked cautiously.
‘Aye, it is, friend. She is lovely is she not?’ Rose blushed and smiled up at Cien.
‘Surely you jest, Laird.’ Cien laughed whole and robust again. Shaking his head he looked back at Liam.
‘Why the sudden meeting, Liam? What are the tidings?’
‘Not good ones I afear, Cien.’ Liam said. ‘Mayhap we can speak privately?’
Cien regarded him silently for a moment and then nodded. ‘Up to my chamber. Tilda,’ he called out as he lead the way, ‘bring wine and food for our guests to my chamber.’
Tilda stood and nodded, heading off to the kitchen.
Cien lead the men up the stairs and into his chamber. He had several chairs in the room as it was used for meetings more often than not. When everyone had entered the room and Tilda was gone, Cien closed the door and spoke softly.
‘What brings you to my land, Liam?’
‘Alex.’
The one word sent a shiver down Cien’s spine.
‘What of him?’
Liam spent the next hour filling Cien in on Alex’s activities. How he had come to him begging him to help him get me for war against Cien, and how Cien was about to marry a witch. And trying adamantly to convince him that he needed to help him burn the Lady Rose as soon as possible.
‘Such treachery, and by your own kin. What would cause him to do such a thing?’ Grady asked.
‘He tried to burn Rose for a witch in her own chamber. I banished him from Fraser land.’ He stated in a deadpan voice. ‘The bastard!’ He side gaining furiousness in a matter of moments. He stood and paced like a caged tiger in front of the fire.
‘Is there anything else?’
‘Nay, only that he is looking for a clan to go against you.’
Cien seethed for a few more minutes before finally stopping and gazing into the fire. ‘Will you help me find him? He has got to be stopped. Surely you see that Liam? He will not stop until Rose is dead. And I shall not stop until I see his head on a pike.’
‘Cien, stop.’ Liam said. ‘You sound as blood thirsty as the English.’
Cien only stared into the fire.
Liam sighed and thought. He was not only the boy’s godfather, but his friend and ally. With a sad shake of his head, he sighed. ‘Aye, of course we will stand with you, Cien. But I have one question.’
‘Aye?’
‘Is she a witch?’
Cien turned and gave over the full rath of his fury onto the look he gave Liam. ‘Aye, its understood. She is not a witch.’
Standing he touched Cien’s shoulder. ‘We will sleep for tonight now, and on the morrow we will figure out a plan. We will beat Alex at his own game, Cien. That is a promise to you.’
Cien nodded. ‘I need to speak to Rose.’
He left the room in a huff and after a quick look down stairs he knew she was in her chamber.
Climbing the stairs two at a time, he neared her room quickly. Pounding on it soundly, he wanted to break the door down. ‘Rose, open the door.’
Rose came to the door in her dressing gown and a wrapper. ‘Yes, Cien, what is it?’ Cien stared at her for a minute.
‘You are henceforth restricted to the castle.’ He turned to leave when she caught his arm.
‘Excuse me? YOu can’t do that.’
‘I am Lard, Rose. I can do as I please.’
His harsh tone of voice, made her stumble back into her room and close and lock the door. If he wanted to be a jerk, then fine, she’d let him be a jerk. But she damn well wasn’t going to take it!
The water felt cool and fresh against my feet, making me sigh. Who would have thought, I wondered as I kicked up water, that I would travel back in time and put my toes into Loch Ness? I giggled and opened my eyes. All of the soldiers were staring at me. I stopped and looked at them with curiosity. ‘What? Have I done something wrong?’ They continued to stare at me as I stood ankle deep in the loch. I took each one of their faces in and noticed some were a bit white. ‘Why are you looking at me...
I walked downstairs slowly. I had taken a long hot shower and taken my time getting dressed all the while pondering my dream. It had been a dream. Wasn’t it? It felt so real. I shivered as I thought about how he had touched my skin, how he had kissed me. I was rubbing vigorously as I walked into the dinning room. Henry was seated at the head of a long table with a newspaper held up to his face, blocking my view. Iris was no where to be found, but by the smells of bacon and eggs cooking, I...
It was only a matter of minutes before Tilda had everything going they way it needed to be. I grinned at her as we mounted. She had picked the best guards, and from the expression on the six men’s faces, they thought this was a bad idea. I flashed a smile at them. They all seemed to ignore it. The youngest blushed before he saw the error of his ways, and changed to a frown. It only made me laugh. ‘You are in a fine mood, Lady.’ I glanced at one of the soldiers who’d rode up next to me and...
Cien didn’t see Rose the rest of the day, but looked forward to it at sup. He found himself down at the lake, shaving his scruff off, and bathing in the cold water. As he walked up the hill to the holding, he stopped completely in his tracks when he realized he was whistling. Frowning, he continued on, careful not to whistle or smile anymore. He sat in the lairds chair for Sup and stared up at the steps leading to the great hall. She didn’t appear. He kept staring until he saw Tilda rushing...
Cein returned to the keep two days after the news and was met by three leagues of men. He smiled grimly. Ah so the gossip did still travel at the speed of the wind in the Highlands. He nodded to the men leading the Hamiltons, Buchannans, and MacBains. The three leaders followed Cien and his men into the keep and sat around the table. ‘Hamilton, Buchannan, MacBain. I see you knew to come to me.’ ‘Aye, Cien Fraser. We know of our bonds to you, and have come to reclaim yer lady.’ Davis MacBain...
Cien couldn’t bring himself to go back to the keep. Memories were at the keep. Memories of Regan. Of her smiles, and her laughter and her happiness. Of his happiness with her. Their time together was short, but to Cien, it had been life changing. Instead he begged a few provisions from Maggie, and after a long lecture, she had given in. He collected them and packed his saddle bags up. ‘She wouldn’t want ye to hide,’ Maggie reminded him and he grabbed the blacks reigns. He looked at her,...
Standing up, I began to pace in the small area. The muscles in my back were screaming at me, my legs were hardly able to move at all. I looked a bit like a penguin, shuffling around the crowded area like a caged animal. The airport had delayed the flight to Scotland twice, and now there were rumors that they were going to cancel the flight due to intense weather here. Hobbling over to the windows that separated the general population of JFK airport from the blistering cold. It looked like a...
Cien ground his teeth in frustration. Laird Jeremy Fitzhugh’s son, Colin, did not seem to learn. At all. He was at his wits end after trying to teach the boy for the entire afternoon how to use a sword. Cien wasn’t stupid. He knew he couldn’t teach the lad everything there was to know about sword play all in one day, but he also knew the boy must be slow for he hadn’t learned a thing. Swinging high with his sword, Cien brought it down on the boy’s open spot above his shoulder. A killing move....
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From the window in the tower room that I had been a captive, or at least what felt like a captive, in for two weeks, the loch seemed close. But an hour later as we continued along the bumpy trail that lead to it, I wasn’t so sure anymore. Tilda rode next to me busily chatting away like a little humming bird or something. I wasn’t really paying any attention though. My butt was taking a serious beating from riding. Tilda didn’t seem to notice. I would smile and give a small nod every once in a...
Cien sat astride his horse wearily. It had been a long while, and he was more than ready to be home. They had not found Alex, but there had been gossip that he was dead. Cien felt a pang of regret. He wished he had not been driven to throw his cousin out, but it had come to it, he reminded himself sharply. It wasn’t his fault. Nay, Alex had indeed gone daft. Speaking of elves and witches. The rain didn’t help his mood. It had begun to drizzle a few hours before and was now down to a steady...
The sun was setting in the hills when Maggie finally opened the door to the small cottage. Closing it softly behind her, she looked down at Cien. He sat with his back propped up against the cottage wall. He looked up at her expectantly, like a child. A sad smile eased her lips before she sighed and looked into the distance. ‘How does she fare?’ He asked quietly. Maggie was silent for a long time, simply gazing out into the setting sun. Finally, she sighed and looked at the ground. ‘She...
Cien stayed at her side until Tilda brought Maggie up to the chamber to bathe her. ‘Cien, she is a maiden. Surely you would not disgrace her so.’ Cien shook his head without speaking, and slowly stood up. He still held her limp hand in his, clutching it like a last life line. Maggie was silent as she watched him. ‘Does she know ye care so greatly for her, Cien?’ He shook his head slowly after a moment, never taking his eyes off of her. Maggie smiled a gentle smile. ‘Then I shall have to make...
I was pleasantly surprised how wonderful dinner was. I felt like a pig when I was done, as I ate more than I had in a long time. But then again, I hadn’t eaten the day before except an apple. Cien made great company, and I found myself laughing and making jokes with him. I discovered much to my dismay, he had two wonderful dimples in his cheeks, so that whenever he smiled, he looked like a cherub. It seemed as if he couldn’t take his eyes off of me. I blushed throughout the entire meal as he...
Cien sat atop his mount, and gazed down. They stood on the ledge looking down into the morning mist at the McPhearson keep. It was cold and foreboding in the cool morning, but Cien didn’t notice. He balled his fist at the anger the sight of the keep brought him. The mounting rage had built with in him until he thought he would die from the torture. He wanted to blast into the keep with all his men, and kill anyone who stood in his way of getting to Rose. He knew he couldn’t do that. He let...
The wooden door swung open with a loud thud, hitting the wall behind it. He didn’t see her at first. Stepping cautiously into the room, his breath caught in the back of his throat. She lay on the ground, a crumpled dirty heap, unconscious. A bellow of rage fell from his lips as he rushed toward her, picking her up gently. She sighed gently. Cien took a deep ragged breath. She was alive. He crushed her to him, holding her close and rocking her gently. Guilt rushed over him in a hot scalding...
I knew I was dreaming. Cien stood by my pallet and watched me with those beautiful eyes, his hair falling slightly forward, and I knew I was dreaming. To the future? He didn’t know I was from the future, so this HAD to be a dream. Right? ‘The future.’ I said. ‘Aye, 2007.’ That made me sit up quickly. ‘How do you know about 2007?’ Cien shifted uncomfortably, glancing around him. It was like I’d asked him what was in the secret sauce, and he was going to tell me, he just didn’t feel right...
Cien paced the length of the dining room anxiously the next morning. He’d had lain awake in his bed all night making plans, ideas on how to win his Rose back. He shook his head. How could he win her back, he thought, if he had yet to win her at all? With that thought his head began to pound. All of this time traveling nonsense was much a bother. He’d lain awake most of the night with a pounding headache when he thought about such things. It really didn’t matter to him. If he had won her or...
Cien held his hand out to his cousin and waited. Alex looked down at the hand in front of him and then up at his cousin, confusion on his face. ‘Give it to me, Alex.’ Alex watched him carefully for a moment, the torch in question, burning nearly silently in his raised hand. Finally he must have seen what he expected to see, because he sighed and shook his head at Cien. ‘I canna cousin.’ ‘Give me the torch, Alex,’ Cien commanded softly, anger seeping into his voice. ‘Nay. You still care for...
Cien watched from the stables as Regan walked out of the house and checked her flash light. With a deep breath, she walked forward into the woods. Cien looked himself over, suddenly unsure of himself. His new jeans were in a good clean condition, and the same could be said of his black sweater. He’d allowed Iris to pick out his clothes for this special occasion, and now he wasn’t sure if he should have just worn his torn and burned kilt instead. Taking a breath, he followed after her. She...
It was a long hard ride. Cien kept Regan with him, holding her gingerly in his arms. She was bruised to high heaven, he knew. Subconsciously he tightened his hold on her as he thought of the way she was beaten right in front of him. She groaned in response, and he instantly eased up on her. She’d slept most of the last few days away, and for that reason alone, he’d known she was well and truly hurt. Last night as she’d slept before the fire, he’d checked her for broken bones and bruises....
Cien started the sad task of the burial when he woke. His body was stiff from the exertion, but he wanted no one to help him in the task. He dug the hole deep in the woods beside Maggie’s cottage. Maggie stayed inside, preparing Regan. When the hole was deep enough, Cien climbed out slowly and looked down. He had the most sincere wish that he could burry himself right along with her. For a long moment he couldn’t breathe through the pain in his chest. Would that pain always be there when he...
I held Tilda’s arm as we walked from my chamber down the steps. She kept looking up at me, nervously, I think. I patted her arm, as I straightened my shoulders. As if on cue, she straightened her shoulders and walked the steps by my side like a queen. I was careful not to look over to where I knew Cien would be. At the table in the same spot as the night before. The Laird’s chair. As we took the last step, I forced my head up, and starred confidently ahead. Slapping a small smile on my face,...
In the middle of the night, as all in the MacPhearson keep slept, Cien sent his page out to his men. Be ready at first light, and when everyone gathered in the inner bailey, attack. No reservations except women and children. Frasers never touched the women or children. Cien paced the hall as everyone started to wake. Serving wenches were setting platters of fruit tarts, oat cakes and fresh ale on the tables. Men were scratching their beards and waking up from a long nights rest. Cien watched...
For the past week, Cien had been learning about the future. Somehow there was a very real difference between Regan telling him about it, and being there, living it. He remembered how she spoke of her time as she lay there, fighting to stay awake and smiled. She had so obviously loved this time, this place. And Cien could understand why. Henry had been giving him lectures about the new world he was in. He had discovered hot showers that soothed the body and lasted a long while. He discovered...
Cien couldn’t remember the last time he’d rode as hard as he rode now. The MacPhearson keep was a two day ride. He’d forced his men and himself to make it a matter of hours. Their horses were winded, he knew, and they grew tired. He knew that as well. He also knew if he kept pushing as hard as he was he was going to lame his horse, or that of one of his men, and thus, put them in harms way. But he couldn’t slow down. He kept his eye on the horizon watching in the direction of the keep for...
The keep was quiet for the better part of the day. I sat after Inna and Grace left, listening to the sounds of the keep. It was either that or slowly drive myself insane with escape plans that would never work. I voted for the latter. There was a sudden commotion buzzing around the keep. It was louder and the energy level jumped up to a sudden level high above what it was only moments before. I stood and looked out the small window. I didn’t see anything at first, but then I saw it. A small...
A while later, I didn’t exactly know how long, as my watch had for some unknown reason, died, Maggie had me dressed in a soft blue gown made of what I assumed was wool. It was a beautiful dress, I had to admit, even if it was slightly itchy and a little too short. I glanced down at my toes and sighed. You could see up to my ankles. Maggie said it was considered very improper to see a woman’s ankles, but since I hadn’t any other clothes, she said it would have to do. I stared at her for a...
Kevin Fraser slipped down from the black’s back as the woman toppled backward. He reached out to her, before she swooned, but he didn’t grab her in time, and she struck her head on the small rock that she was now resting on. Walking toward her, he watched her. She was garbed strangely. Blue leggings that seemed to hold her legs tightly and a white tunic with no toggles and strange markings on it. Crouching down he poked her gently in the stomach. She didn’t move or make a noise. What the hell...
I caught up with Maggie as she neared the stairs. I knew I was smiling after my encounter with the Laird. I couldn’t help it. Maggie held her elderly arm out for me as she waited for me to begin climbing the steps. I don’t know if it is because she is elderly, or because she just wanted me to hurry up. I glanced covertly at her as we climbed the steep steps, out of the corner of my eye. How is it that she could possibly have known so much about me? I ‘d heard one of the soldiers whisper to...
It was taking entirely too long. Cien closed his eyes and grit his teeth as he listened to the Buchanan and the Hamilton squirming over some pitiful aspect of their plot. ‘By Saint. Timothy’s teeth!’ Cien roared finally tired of the bickering. He stood from the Laird’s chair and stomped over to the two over grown children. ‘Tis my plan and it shall be carried out to my specifications. UNDERSTOOD?!’ The Hamilton backed a few steps away, knowing what was good for him. The Buchanan scoffed. ...
I knew I was dreaming. Cien stood by my pallet and watched me with those beautiful eyes, his hair falling slightly forward, and I knew I was dreaming. To the future? He didn’t know I was from the future, so this HAD to be a dream. Right? ‘The future.’ I said. ‘Aye, 2008.’ That made me sit up quickly. ‘How do you know about 2008?’ Cien shifted uncomfortably, glancing around him. It was like I’d asked him what was in the secret sauce, and he was going to tell me, he just didn’t feel right...
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The day has come. The day which every demon looks forward to. The day of maturity, being the most important day for a demon of any race, but especially for a demon of the devil race, and even more so for a demon of the caliber of Asmodeus. Devils were known to wield all different kinds of demonic magic, and it was really luck of the draw when it came to what kind. As the son of a high ranking demon, Asmodeus's magic was nearly guaranteed to be far stronger than lower ranking demons' magic, even...
Mind ControlLet me introduce myself, my name is Amanda, I’m eighteen years old, and still live at home with my mother and younger brother Bryan who is seven. This is a story of how Christmas took on a whole new meaning for me. Our Christmas tree was lopsided, with a few bald spots, and even looked more pathetic with the few presents under it. However, it was all my mother could afford. Ever since the divorced she barely enough money to pay bills, let alone buy presents. You see, my dad is a penny...
It was really too easy, I reflected when it was all over. I'd decided what I wanted, and getting it was almost anti-climactic. I say almost, because climaxes definitely weren't in short supply. It all came down to blood magic. When Jowan came to me with a half-assed scheme to learn blood magic from Uldred, I didn't agree to it for power. The fact of the matter was, my harrowing was approaching, and I was terrified. My friend, Neria, had accidentally let slip more information than she...
Conceived as a sequel to the 1977 short story "The Kugelmass Episode" by Woody Allen The Great Persky's Mysterious Box of Metafictional Magic by Pretzelgirl * * * * * Aunt Gladys has died. It wasn't any big deal, really. No one on this side of the family had been that close to her. She lived in the city, pretty much removed from the rest of us. And she had mainly kept to herself, living in a kooky old rundown apartment in...
Impractical Magic Part 1: Halloween has always been my favorite time of year. At first it was because of the costumes and candy and the fun of pretending to be someone else. Not that I ever really wanted to be anyone other than who I am... it's just fun to pretend sometimes. I kept dressing up on Halloween long after all my friends had stopped. Every year I'd find some new excuse to buy a costume. At first, it was taking my younger sister and her friends out trick-or-treating, but...
I've always wanted to have sex with a guy who is utterly gorgeous on every level, but for years I've held off because of my moral principles. I was in a faithful and committed relationship with my boyfriend, Andy for six years. Things were good between us, but kind of tame—I'm not going to lie. Two months ago, however, we mutually agreed to end our relationship after drifting apart.As a 27-year-old woman who was raised in a conservative family, I've never had the greatest sex life. I've...
Quickie SexThroughout history, man has been driven by two primal goals: Getting Something for Nothing and Having Sex with Everything. Every great advancement in human civilization, from fire to philosophy to the electric guitar, can be understood as some combination of trying to fleece or fuck one's fellow man. And no single pursuit has more perfectly encapsulated the meeting place of those two great ideals than that of Magic. Magic, as dreamed by the men and women who slavishly pursue it, is the ultimate...
FantasyThe Only Real Magic By shalimar It was another Saturday night where John and I were hanging out together as usual. We have been best friends since elementary school. I had moved into this suburban community from the city in the second grade. I was shy then and had difficulty getting to know anyone in my new school. John who lived a few houses away from me decided to get to know me better. We've been friends since. Eventually I became more confident. I became the instigator of...