Highland Fling
- 2 years ago
- 13
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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 smoke. His rational mind told him they would wait to burn her, as it was raining like all the Saints were tearing. Mayhap they were, he thought bitterly. He had shed his share while he rode.
With single mindedness he rode. He had to reach the keep. He had to save her.
~~~~~~~
They’d thrown me in a chamber up stairs, though quite honestly, I didn’t know why. Tilda was dead. I closed my eyes, and could see them again. What they did to her.
Bile rushed up my throat and I heaved up into the rushes. I heaved until my sides were sore and my body exhausted. I leaned back, pulling my legs up to my chest and cried. Why had he done that to her? I wanted to scream. Why had he killed his own cousin, and them let them befoul her in such a way.
Exhausted, I lay back on the straw pallet and replayed the scene in my mind.
When I hadn’t given them enough pleasure, kicking and stomping me, they turned to her. She lay motionless, dead, behind the horse, who was anxiously prancing about. One of the soldiers, the dirtiest one with the scraggly beard, untied her hands and I thought briefly that they were going to bury her.
I was wrong.
They untied her arms from the horse and let her body drop with a sickening thud on the ground. It was then that scraggly beard dropped down on top of her and assaulted her sexually. I felt my stomach lurch again in protest, but had no energy left to vomit. Had nothing left to vomit.
Tilda’s lifeless eyes stared skyward, unmoving in her head as he assaulted her. Her face was unrecongnizable, so cut up, bruised and swollen it had become since her cousin had her dragged behind him.
Everyone was cheering on the soldier. And when he finished, abusing her once virgin body, another fell atop of her and ravaged her. None were looking at me, as all were too occupied with Tilda’s body. And they called me a witch and the scum of the Earth.
I stood as best I could. Not feeling any pain for the rage I felt. No one looked away long enough to see me stand. Too preoccupied with raping a corpse were they. I wanted to scream, but that would get me no where.
The men were shouting up a storm, cheering their lecherous friend on. I could have thrown up on them all, the scum. Reaching out to the man closest to me, I pulled his dagger out of his belt. He did not even notice me removing it.
And then I pushed my way forward.
Slipping the dagger in my sleeve, none could see it. They were all amused as I pushed my way to the front. Amused I could walk maybe, or amused that I wanted to see such a sacrilegious event. When I stood over the man heaving above her, I kicked him soundly in the head.
He rolled off of Tilda clutching at his skull. There was a bloody imprint of my boot on the side of his skull. I smiled in self satisfaction.
He stood quickly and yelped. ‘The witch as tried to fell me!’ All of the soldiers backed away from me. I felt it more than I saw it. They thought me to do black magic right there in front of them. Black magic, no. But modern day justice, the best I could dish out.
I smiled wickedly at Tilda’s assaulter and fell into a fighting stance.
‘Come to me, you chicken shit mother fucker. Come on!!’ I screamed at him. ‘What, you can rape a dead girl but a live one is much to frightening to you?’ He bellowed in rage and rushed toward me.
Oh this was going to be too easy.
A mere second before he was to plow into me, I stepped aside and let him fall into his own friends. They pushed him back, causing him to fall to the ground. I threw my head back and laughed. I laughed long and hard.
‘Stupid. You are all so incredibly stupid!’ I taunted them. Not the wisest thing to do, but I wasn’t exactly in my own head. If they wanted a witch. A witch I would give them.
He rushed at me again, and this time, I was done fooling around. I slid the dagger out and he saw it just as it came to rest in my palm. But he had to much momentum behind him and couldn’t stop. I slid the dagger easily into his neck and watched it slip out the other side. His blood began to spill over the blade and onto my hand.
I didn’t care.
I shoved it in to the hilt and watched his eyes widen with pain. ‘Ah, Karma is a bitch isn’t it?’
I twisted the blade.
He made was sounded as a gargled noise, but it must have been an attempt at a pain induced scream. He fell to his knees with me still holding the blade. I leaned down and whispered into his ear. ‘I condemn your soul if you should prove to have one, to hell.’ For shits and giggles as I was hardly in my own mind. I kissed his temple.
‘Say hello to the devil for me.’
I pulled the knife free.
The man fell to the ground lifeless, blood still pooling around his body.
‘Anyone else?’ All of the men were staring at the dead man. ‘Aye, he’s dead. Good and dead. Worry not, the devil will welcome him into the gates of Hell.’ I threw my head back and cackled. I laughed hard and sarcastically.
‘I know I’m going to die,’ I announced watching them all. ‘Whose going to come with me?’
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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(Note: The story of Deirdre of the Sorrows is part of the Ulster Cycle. She is considered the most tragic heroine in Irish mythology. Of course the song "Bonny Portmore" should be well known to any fan of either the movie or TV versions of "Highlander".) Duncan blinked. "Ah, your daughters?" he asked as casually as he could manage. "Yes," smiled Deirdre. She looked closer at the Highlander and giggled. "Close your mouth Duncan. No one has repealed anything concerning ... us. I'll...
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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...
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...
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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...