**********Grainne's Tale********** A shout of drunken laughter echoed round the hall, followed by jeering and general commotion. Grainne glanced towards the source of the sound. *Strange what seems to amuse men after a few mugs of ale.* She leaned forward and sliced a hunk of venison, speared it on her knife and raised it to her lips. As she bit into the juicy meat, she huddled back in her chair and drew her shawl closer round her shoulders. No matter how they tried to block it out, the bitter Scottish wind always managed to make its way in. She sipped at her ale and glanced over to where Duncan sat, his arms round the shoulders of two of his fellow hunters, laughing uproariously. When they were first married he would have been at her side, ensuring that she got the tenderest cuts of meat, letting her know how beautiful she was. Now she might as well be part of the furniture. A gust of wind sends smoke billowing through the hall, making Grainne cough. She blinks the sting from her eyes and leans back, a look of discontent on her face. She had been really excited at the prospect of marriage to Duncan. He was a good catch - a toiseach with a small clan behind him and a castle on the shores of Loch Ness. Tall, handsome and attentive too. She had visions of being lady of the house and having servants to attend her. But no sooner was she safely installed in his house than his attentiveness disappeared and he preferred to spend his time hunting with his kin. And she missed the hustle and bustle of Inverness. She sighs and the look of discontent deepens. If only there was someone interesting to talk to. As her gaze wanders idly round the room, Grainne meets the eye of a young man at the foot of the table. He smiles and raises his goblet to her. She returns the gesture, sitting up a little straighter as she does so, then sips at her ale delicately, eyeing him through lowered lashes. She frowns slightly as she tries to recall his name. Somerled, that was it. Somerled Mac Fergus. He was a cousin of Duncan's who had just arrived with his brother Malcolm to take service. Quite good looking too - they both were. She looks along the table to Malcolm and finds his gaze fixed on her admiringly. Well, she was the prettiest woman there, even if her husband did seem to have forgotten the fact. She smiles and straightens the band holding back her long red-gold hair, then reaches forward to lift her goblet again, carefully not looking towards the foot of the table. She was sure they were both still watching her. She smiles to herself again and drains the last of her ale. A voice at her elbow makes her jump. "More ale, my lady?" She looks up into the smiling face of Somerled, with Malcolm hovering behind. Her smile deepens. "Indeed, sir, you come in good time." She holds out her goblet. "I hope that you find our house pleasant and do not pine for home." As expected, he responds to this with a flowery compliment and the three fall into conversation, two heads close together while Malcolm watches and says little, his eyes fixed on Grainne and full of admiration. Suddenly a roar echoes round the hall and the contents of the table go flying as Duncan leaps over it to grab Somerled by the collar and throw him to the floor. "Keep your philandering hands away from my wife." Duncan towers threateningly over his young cousin, fists raised. Somerled attempts to rise, only to be floored again by a punishing blow. "As for you!" He turns his attention to Grainne. She draws herself up haughtily. "We were only talking. If you will not talk to me I must talk to /someone/." She meets his glare with her own, smiling internally. Two men fighting over her! Duncan grunts and turns back to Somerled. "You get yourself out of my sight for tonight, before I do you a real mischief." Somerled gets to his feet and hastily leaves the hall. Grainne watches, disappointed. He could have put up a bit more of a fight. ************************ Grainne sighs as she sits by the window, stitching at a panel of embroidery. The older woman in the room looks up. "What ails you now girl? Bored again?" Grainne scowls and says nothing. "I do not know what reason you have to be bored with a house and husband to care for. What you need is a couple of children at your feet to keep you occupied." Grainne's scowl deepens. Her mother-in-law never missed a chance to rub in the fact that she had not yet given Duncan a son. She tosses the embroidery to one side and gets to her feet. "I have better things to do than listen to your jibes." Ignoring the other woman's affronted gasp, she strides out of the door. Her anger simmers as she stalks out of the castle and down to the lochside, mixed with doubt. Maybe there was something wrong with her - after all, she'd been married for two years and there was still no sign of a child. What if she was barren? The dark waters of the loch stretch out, almost flat calm, as she perches on a rock and stares out at nothing in particular. A small part of her automatically keeps an eye out for the monster, just in case. A small boat approaches the shore slowly, and Grainne recognises Malcolm at the oars. He draws in and drags the boat up the pebble beach, smiling bashfully up at Grainne and holding up a string of fish triumphantly. She laughs. "Well done. It seems we will eat well tonight." He bows, his face reddening slightly, then makes his way over to where the woman sits, a faint frown furrowing his brow. "But you look sad, my lady. It is not right that one so beautiful should not smile." He stumbles slightly over the compliment. Clearly he is not so practised in their use as his brother. She looks up at him through her lashes and smiles. "I was just lost in thought." They fall into conversation, with Grainne exerting herself to draw the bashful youth out and put him at his ease. He's clearly besotted with her; it's obvious from the way he looks at her, from the way he stammers as he speaks and from the blush which stains his cheeks. She smiles inwardly. She might be an old married lady, but she can still make an impact. After a few minutes, the sound of rocks shifting heralds the approach of Somerled. He looks from Grainne to Malcolm, a frown darkening his brow. "Malcolm, you're waited for in the kitchens." He jerks his thumb towards the castle. Grainne inclines her head. "Good day Somerled." Her smile is only a shadow of the one she has just bestowed on his brother. He hasn't been very attentive to her of late; clearly Duncan has scared him off and he doesn't find her beauty enough to overcome his fear. His reply is brief. "Good day my lady." He nods, then turns to retrace his steps, almost hustling his brother before him. Malcolm smiles apologetically and allows himself to be dragged away. A voice floats back. "Keep away from her, I tell you. She's trouble. She'll flirt with anyone, but if Duncan catches you ........." Grainne's face darkens. Trouble, was she? Hmmph!! ************************* The long red-gold hair lay in a shining curtain over Grainne's naked back as she slowly ran a comb through the silky tresses. "Can you not take me with you? It would be wonderful indeed to see the king's court." Duncan makes an irritated sound through his teeth. "God's blood woman, I go to war. There is no place for a woman in battle." Grainne turns, smiling up at Duncan, skin pale against her hair. "I do not wish to go to battle. But could you not take me to Scone and leave me there. You must gather there first." Her voice is soft and seductive. "I do not like to think of you so far from me for so long." She stands and moves close to Duncan, hips swaying enticingly. "Will you not miss me?" As she speaks, she leans gently against him. Duncan's arms come up automatically, his hands sliding over the warm flesh pressed against him. "By God, I will that." He presses his lips to Grainne's neck, breathing in the scent of her, then twines his fingers through the silky hair at the nape of her neck and pulls her lips up to meet his. A finger suddenly intrudes, pressing against his lips and preventing the kiss. "Then take me with you." Blue eyes look pleadingly up at him. He sighs. "Impossible. We must travel fast and hard. And if it is indeed true that Crinan seeks to overthrow the king, Scone may not be a safe refuge. It will not be so long - I do not believe Crinan will find many to rise against MacBeth. He will be quickly dealt with." He smiles. "And the spoils of battle may furnish something to adorn your beauty." A frown mars Grainne's smooth forehead for a second and is quickly wiped away. "Then at least let me go as far as Inverness with you." Her finger trails slowly from Duncan's lips down over his chest and lower. She rises on tiptoe to press a kiss on his chin and then to one side of his mouth. His arms tighten reflexively round her as he pulls her head up to his. Breaking the kiss with a sigh, Duncan gently urges her towards the fur covered bed. Grainne laughs softly as she allows herself to be pushed. "So, I may go to Inverness?" Duncan frowns. "No. I have no time to take you there, and I cannot spare an escort. You'll have to content yourself here till I return. Perhaps we can go to Inverness later in the year." With a jerk, Grainne pulls out of his grasp, stamping a bare foot on the rush covered floor. "But it's not fair! It's boring enough here anyway, but with most of the men away it will be even worse." She moves to the far side of the room, red hair flying as her head tosses with rage. "I think you might at least let me go to visit my father." She picks up the comb and tugs it fiercely through her hair, causing it to crackle with static. "I want to go!" Duncan moves across and lays his hands gently on her shoulders. "Grainne, it isn't possible." His voice is calm, but there is a tinge of impatience in the tone. "Now, come to bed." He brushes the hair to one side and leans over to press a kiss on her shoulder. Grainne pulls away and stalks over to the bed, picking up a warm robe which is lying there and pulling it over her head. "I fear my stomach is misplaying me. I must visit the privy." With scarcely a backward glance, she heads for the door and is gone, closing it behind her with a loud slam. Duncan makes a futile grab for her as she passes, but she is too quick for him. For a moment it looks as if he will go after her, but he changes his mind and vents his feelings by slamming his fist into the pillow with a curse. ************************* The early dawn light gives a blue grey tinge to the world as Grainne watches the men march away down the lochside, mist swirling low over the dark waters. Duncan does not look back to wave farewell, and irrationally, rage rises in her. Even if she did refuse to come down to see him off, he should /know/ that she will be watching from the window. She scowls as the men disappear from sight, Somerled among them. Weeks perhaps months with nothing to do and no-one interesting to talk to. A movement in the courtyard below catches her eye. It's Malcolm, with some logs. The dark expression on her face lightens slightly. Perhaps she will be able to find something to amuse herself with after all. ************************* Grainne sings quietly to herself as she works in the herb garden. She is well aware that Malcolm is watching her from beside the castle wall, but chooses not to let him know that. As she bends and straightens, she is careful to do so gracefully, presenting her curvaceous form in the best possible light. Since Duncan's departure left him one of the few men in the castle, Grainne has found many excuses to enlist Malcolm to help her with various projects. He really is rather sweet - so shy and unsure of himself. Smiling secretly to herself, she picks up the laden basket and heads back towards the house. As she nears Malcolm, she inexplicably stumbles and sends the basket and contents flying. Malcolm is at her side instantly, kneeling to gather the scattered plants. Grainne kneels to assist him, her hand accidentally brushing his as they both reach for the basket at the same time, her hair trailing against his face as she leans close. She hears his breath catch, and smiles inwardly. With all the plants safely back in the basket, Grainne waits a couple of seconds to allow Malcolm to rise first, then smiles up at him and accepts the hand he offers to assist her. She stumbles slightly as she regains her footing and ends up close against Malcolm, her full breasts pressing gently against his chest, one hand on his shoulder to steady herself. She smiles into his eyes, lips only inches from his. "I'm sorry, I seem to be very clumsy this morning." Her blue eyes are wide and innocent. Malcolm freezes for a moment and she can feel the tension in his shoulder. Then, with a faint groan, he leans forward and presses his lips to hers, enfolding her firmly in his arms. Grainne's first emotion is surprise. So he's not quite so shy and retiring as he seems. She considers slapping his face, then decides against it. He really is very handsome. Drawing back from his kiss long enough to allow a shocked "Sir!" to escape from her lips, she allows herself to be pulled back into his embrace. ************************* The sun is sinking low over the hills as the weary band of men return. Servants and family members rush to greet them and the sound of welcome rings round the courtyard. Duncan looks round those assembled with a slight frown. "Where is my wife?" A hush falls over one or two of the women present, meaning looks passing from one to the other. "Where is she?" He frowns again, picking up the tension but not really knowing what it signifies. "I think she is in her chamber my lord", a woman says. Turning on his heel, Duncan strides into the castle. Locked in each others arms, Grainne and Malcolm are unaware of the return of the men, deaf to the sound of footsteps approaching, oblivious to everything except each other and the moment. Realisation dawns only when the door flies open and a roar of pure rage rings round the room. "You sneaking, underhanded ba******!! Is this how you repay my hospitality and fulfil the obligations of kin?" With a metallic scrape, Duncan's claymore is free and poised. "How dare you?" One mighty swing of the blade sends it sinking deep into Malcolm's side before he has time to do more than begin to twist round. Blood spurts over Grainne as she looks up to see a look of mingled pain and surprise in his eyes before the light leaves them and he slumps, a dead weight on top of her. She screams, and screams again, pushing him away, trying to free herself. "As for you, you wh***!" Duncan grabs for the long red-gold tresses now matted with blood and drags Grainne off the bed and onto the floor in front of him. She yelps with pain and falls to her knees, babbling. "Forgive me! I did not mean.... It was him - he forced himself on me." Her voice is cut off abruptly as Duncan lands a heavy backhanded blow to her face, sending her flying across the floor. "B**ch! Slut! Do you think you can talk yourself out of this." He steps towards her, bloodstained claymore held ready. From the doorway, a hoarse shout rings out. "Malcolm!! No!!!" Somerled pushes past the other household members gathered and gawping at the door and falls to his knees by the bed, gathering the limp body of his brother into his arms. "Oh, Malcolm." He rocks the body as if it were a child. Grainne quickly squirms round onto her knees again, oblivious to the onlookers gazing on her naked form. "Please, Duncan. I can explain. I didn't want.... Forgive me!! I'm sorry. Please!" She straightens slightly, hoping to distract him by the sight of her naked body. He grimaces, pain and anger mingled on his face. "B**ch!" He lunges, piercing the skin just below her clasped, pleading hands. Grainne looks down at the blade protruding from between her breasts, her face a picture of surprise. The large blue eyes turn back to Duncan. "I.. I did not..." As she looks up into his dark-bearded face, the edges of the world turn red and then all is black. MACBETH. O, yet I do repent me of my fury, That I did kill them. MACDUFF. Wherefore did you so? MACBETH. Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man. The expedition of my violent love Outrun the pauser reason. -"Macbeth", Act II, Scene III And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. -Leviticus 20:10 ..... 1045 A.D. Loch Ness, Scotland .......... You never learned which way the battle went. Presumably, MacBeth's forces won or else your husband might not have returned home at all. But probably no victory would have been enough to keep him even-tempered when he discovered his wife committing adultury with his kinsman in his own bed. Did you really think your adultury with Malcom would go undiscovered? By the time Duncan returned from Dunsinane, everyone knew about your affair -- it wasn't as if either of you had been particularly careful. So certainly, he would have found out about it... but perhaps if he hadn't found out in such a sudden and unexpected manner, you might have survived his wrath. And so might Malcolm. Awareness returns with a start, and you gasp suddenly, cold air filling your lungs. You clasp your hands instinctively over your breastbone, remembering the pain where Duncan stabbed you. The shock was so sudden, you didn't have time to really feel it much, but there was a sickening moment of realization, when the cold steel of his claymore slid through you, just before darkness swallowed you. Now, according to Father MacAuley, the dour priest who serves Duncan's clan, you should be in hell, for that is where adulteresses go. Hell must be cold and dark. The thought brings panic, and you begin clutching at the shroudlike cloth that covers you. It takes little effort to tear it off, but when you sit up, you cannot see your surroundings. You can sense you are not outdoors. You don't feel dead, either. Touching yourself again where Duncan's sword plunged into you, you feel only bare, unmarked flesh. They wrapped you in a shroud and took you somewhere... where would they have taken your body? And how can you be alive and breathing now? Is this what it feels like to be a ghost, or is it some trick of the Devil, to taunt you before beginning your infernal punishments? The madness of the situation threatens to overwhelm you. <><><><><> [Grainne] Panic strikes through her. Buried alive. They've buried her alive! Surely she does not deserve such punishment. A small part of her mind wonders why there is no sign of the sword wound. She has clear memories of the steel piercing her flesh - she saw the blood welling up around the wound. But mostly she panics. She flails her arms around wildly, looking for the walls, the edges of her prison, for an exit, for any way out. She scarcely heeds any scrapes or bruises she picks up on the way. A low whimpering sound escapes her as she frantically tries to escape. Please God, let her not die like this. <><><><><> <> After a moment of flailing, you determine that you are surrounded by rough stone walls. And you can feel a little breeze -- in fact, it's quite cold -- so you can't be completely sealed in. You can only stand up partway, and nearly hit your head in doing so. Reaching out with both hands, you can touch either side of your rocky tomb. From there, you feel your way carefully down the passage. It turns abruptly only a couple of paces from where you lay, and immediately after that L-shaped bend, you hit a rock barrier. You can see faint outlines around it, and squinting through one such crack, you see a couple of stars. So it is a night sky. And you're entombed in a barrow. There is a set of barrows not far from Duncan's castle, where the unconsecrated dead are buried. Mostly peasants who still follow the old ways and thus were not allowed in the churchyard cemetery, but sometimes criminals and bastards and others deemed unworthy of a Christian burial. You should have been given a cairn next to other members of the clan! Duncan may have been angry enough to kill you, but would he be so spiteful as to deny you a Christian burial? And a shiver goes through you... you shouldn't be alive. You were buried on unhallowed ground, and now you're walking around in your own barrow! <><><><><> [Grainne] The sight of the stars through the cracks in the rocks brings her to a momentary halt, a rush of relief filling her as the endless darkness is broken. Then her mind spins as she realises where she is. Dead!! She must have been dead or they wouldn't have brought her here! So what is she now? She falls to her knees, automatically reciting the familiar Latin of the Lord's Prayer over and over again. The discomfort of the rough stone against her knees gradually penetrates her consciousness. Somehow it seems rather mundane for the punishments of hell. She becomes aware of other discomforts as well - thirst, some hunger and an overfull bladder. Her mind begins to tick over. It must have been a mistake - people do get buried alive by mistake sometimes. She resolutely pushes the vision of the sword piercing her body out of her mind. If she is alive, the first priority is to get out. She gets to her feet and makes her way over to the piles of stones. They had to remove them to bring her in, so she should be able to remove them to get out. She takes a firm grip on one and heaves. <><><><><> <> It is not as easy as you hoped to dig your way out of the barrow. They stacked many smaller rocks on top of two or three very large ones, rocks which probably took two men a lot of effort to move into place. Your digging becomes increasingly frantic. You don't want to be trapped down here. Even if you were buried by accident, you could starve to death, or die of thirst, before anyone comes back here. (And how many people will come to the aid of someone screaming for help from inside an unsanctified barrow...?) Your hands hurt with all the scraping against the rocks. Several times you feel your nails break, and you skin your knees and cut your feet repeatedly as you slip trying to get leverage from behind the stone pile, or fall down from exhaustion. Slowly, your efforts widen the opening, and at last, you manage to give one of the larger rocks a good, hard shove that dislodges it, sending it tumbling down a slight slope with a shower of smaller rocks and dirt. This creates a gap through which you can climb your way out. Now you remember that you are still naked. The only covering available is the burial shroud. Oddly, you don't hurt as much as you expected to, now that the task is done. You are tired and hungry and thirsty, but though your hands and feet must be rubbed raw, they don't feel that sore. In fact, when you glance at your fingers, you find that while covered in blood, the nails you thought broken are quite intact, and you can't even find the cuts and abrasions from which the blood must have seeped. By now the sky outside is turning a little bit paler....it must be approaching dawn. <><><><><> [Grainne] Relief surges through her as she stands in the open air at last, away from the oppressive darkness. Then she shivers as the cold night air hits her skin, making her aware of her nakedness, and she wraps her arms round herself. Behind her, the dark entrance to the barrow looks menacing but she knows that the shroud which is still inside is the only covering available. She doesn't have the courage to set off naked into the night, not to mention the fact that with no protection she may well die of exposure. She has seen too many people disappear on the hills to be sanguine about travelling ill equipped. Nonetheless, she stares unmoving at the entrance for several minutes, unable to bring herself to crawl back into the oppressive darkness. Only the gradually increasing chill and the realisation that dawn is coming finally enable her to pluck up courage and fetch the shroud as quickly as possible. Safely outside again, she wraps it round herself like a plaid. In the absence of a belt, she ties it in several knots to keep it in place. She briefly considers trying to replace the rocks over the entrance so that it is not obvious that she has left, but realises that she will never be able to put the large rock back. Oh well, with luck it will be some time before anyone comes by. A vision of Duncan's face, black with rage as he thrust the sword at her, dances in her head. Going back home and announcing that she was really not dead after all did not seem a very inviting option. His immediate reaction was likely to be an attempt to remedy that situation. It is definitely a good idea to keep him believing that she is dead. She sighs. Still, there seems to be no other option than heading for the castle. She needs food and clothing and ideally some money, and there is no other place in the immediate vicinity where they are to be got. She glances over at the gradually lightening sky. With the coming light, people would be up and moving around soon, so she'd better get a move on. With luck, she'd be able to get in and out with what she needed before the castle was awake. At this time of year the darkness lasted only a couple of hours so folks were not so quick to rise with the dawn - but there was no time to waste. She tightens the knots in her shroud and sets off for the castle, shivering with the cold wind. ooc: She'll stop and look at the castle. If it looks as if people are still asleep, she'll try to sneak in to her room to get some clothes and her jewellery and then to the kitchens to get some food. In and out as fast as possible. If there is visible activity, she'll reconsider. <><><><><> <> You never thought much about when the servants woke up, since you rarely had to get up before dawn yourself, and often slept much later. But when you approach the castle, you can see smoke seeping out of the windows, indicating the cooking fire is lit, and someone is carrying buckets in from the well. It does not appear as if you'll be able to sneak in and out easily without being seen -- certainly not to the kitchens. <><><><><> [Grainne] She frowns at the signs of activity. If she is seen it will cause complete panic. No doubt they'll think she's a ghost at first and probably flee, but eventually someone will think to check the barrow. She sighs. The last thing she wants is to have people out looking for her. The wind bites through the thin material of the shroud and she shivers. On the other hand, she can't go for long without some decent clothing. She makes up her mind and moves slowly towards the castle. She'll try to sneak in to her own chambers and fetch some clothes and her jewellery without being seen. The kitchens looks too dangerous, so she'll forget that and try to pick up some food elsewhere. <><><><><> <> Maybe it's the cold, making you shiver a bit and in a little too much hurry to get inside, or maybe it's the hard stones under your bare feet. But your approach to the castle is hasty, and you've not had much experience at skulking around. You barely set your foot onto the hard packed dirt of the rear entryway when one of Duncan's young cousins comes shuffling into view, scratching at his groin. You can't remember the boy's name, he doesn't even live in the castle. He looks sleepy, and no telling why he's heading outside, but his eyes pop wide open when he sees you. He stares at you for just a moment, then before you can say anything, yells. "AAAAAAAAAAAGHHHH! A GHOOOOST!" <><><><><> [Grainne] She stares in horror at the boy, cursing inwardly. The rest of the castle will be there in a moment. She turns and heads rapidly back out of the building and for the nearest cover. <><><><><> <> You stumble back outside, hearing people stir in the castle behind you. Cover is some distance away -- a castle isn't built where attackers might have shelter conveniently surrounding it. So you hear someone shriek as you run back across the open ground. The sight of a woman, supposedly dead, running away with a burial shroud wrapped around her, in the early morning light, is certainly going to be a tale retold for years to come. Years you won't have if they catch you. No one pursues you before you finally reach the nearest wooded slope. A mile away is the cairn.... it's a few more miles to the nearest village, and many more miles than that to a community where you won't be recognized. And you're cold and very hungry. Your feet hurt too, though when you inspect them briefly, you find no cuts despite all the rocks you ran across. <><><><><> [Grainne] Safe in the woods, she pauses to get her breath back, cursing to herself. "If only I'd got there a little earlier, before that stupid boy was wandering around." She adjusts the bleached linen of the shroud round her, tightening knots and attempting to make a garment which gives some protection from the cold without hindering movement. A nail breaks, and she curses to herself again, then shivers as a blast of icy wind sweeps past her. "Maybe I can find something to wear at the village." Somehow it doesn't seem too likely - spare sets of clothes are not thick on the ground, even among the wealthier of locals. She sighs. The thought of going back to the castle is daunting. At least in the village no-one would be out to kill her immediately. Her stomach echoes emptily and she sighs again. "It's not fair. Why me?" With a final sigh, she gets to her feet and heads off in the direction of the village, keeping an eye peeled for anything edible along the route. Maybe there'll be some ripe blackberries. In the back of her mind, she registers that her feet seem to be undamaged, just as her fingers were after clawing her way out of the barrow, but only as a vague thought. ooc: Hmm. I hadn't thought of a clan. How about MacGillecolm for her husband's clan, and MacRuari for hers. <><><><><> <> You aren't lucky enough to find blackberries en route. After over an hour of hiking, you see the little village of Daibhnál. By now you're feeling weak from hunger, and parched from thirst, and scoured by the highland winds. Natural caution is almost thrown away in your desire to find shelter, and food. The villagers will recognize you. Grainne MacGillecolm walking barefoot into the village wearing a sheet will certainly cause a stir. But it's possible they haven't learned yet of your supposed death. <><><><><> [Grainne] The sight of the village spurs her to new action and she almost marches straight in to the centre of it, ready to grab the first food she sees. However, caution prevails, and she moves to a position where she can observe what is happening, trying to spot any likely sources of food or clothing. <><><><><> <> As you stride into the village, you see some of the villagers going about their morning business. Some have no doubt been up since before dawn. You see an old shepherd ushering his flock, which looks recently shorn, out of a large pen and towards the hillside rising immediately to the east, and women carrying buckets of water from the well. From the blacksmith's shop, smoke is rising as the smith heats up his forge. A trio of children who are probably supposed to be on some errand are playing a rough game of tag, running between huts and shacks and trying to tackle one another. They are the first to see you, and the lead boy stops to stare at you, only to grunt "OOF!" as his friend slams into him from behind, and both go down to the ground. The third boy skids to a halt and looks at you open-mouthed. Then one of the woman carrying a bucket, sloshing as she hauls it with both hands, swinging about her knees, spots the children halted in the street, follows their gaze to you, and drops the bucket with a startled "Oh!" If this keeps up, you'll soon have the whole village staring at you. <><><><><> She pulls her shoulders back, head high, back straight, deciding that the best policy is to pretend that there is nothing unusual at all about her situation. Never apologise. She looks briefly round, then walks up to the woman who dropped the bucket. "I need some clothing, and some food. You will be suitably rewarded, I assure you." <><><><><> The peasant woman stammers, then manages to blurt something coherent -- "A..aye, m'lady!" She stoops over and grabs the bucket with fumbling hands, then rises and says "I..we- we'll see what we kin make do wit'... I- I don't have much, m'lady, no dresses fit for the likes o'ye! Maybe we should go to Eideard's house...." Eideard, you vaguely recall, is the name of the village chief, some many-times removed, distant and impoverished cousin of your husband's (though by the standards of these peasants he is probably regarded as affluent). She starts walking away, then hesitates to make sure you are following. The children are following curiously behind you, and other villagers are either staring or else moving back to their houses and shops, where no doubt word of your strange arrival will spread rapidly. <><><><><> [Grainne] She keeps her head high as she follows the woman, trying to convey the impression that there is nothing at all unusual in her visit. Once they find out that she was really a ghost, no doubt the visit will go down in legend. Look as if you expect to get all you ask for and with luck people will be too taken aback to say no. She smiles inwardly, despite the cold wind that bites through the thin shroud. Soon she'll have some clothing and some food inside her - and she'll face any further problems as they arise. <><><><><> <> The woman leads you to the largest house in the village, which is still a rather paltry dwelling by your standards. Behind you trails the trio of curious children and a couple of other nosy villagers. She calls loudly from a few paces beyond the door "Eideard! M'lord Eideard!" Despite the appelation "m'lord," her tone is hardly very reverent. After a few minutes, a grizzled, middle-aged man appears, wearing just a stained tunic and grumbling. "What on Earth are you screeching about, woman?" he demands. Then he sees you, and does a double-take. "Er, Milady Grainne! Er...what on Earth...?" He just stares at you, so at a loss for words that he doesn't even offer hospitality. <><><><><> [Grainne] One brow arches haughtily as she looks towards Eidard. "I have need of some warm clothing, and some food. And quickly." She maintains a calm expression, refusing to acknowledge by word or deed that there is anything at all unusual about her situation. Inside, she desperately hopes that they will simply do as she asks, and soon, before any word of her death reaches the village. The growing crowd staring in through the door makes her uneasy, but she gives no sign of even noticing them, simply looking expectantly at Eidard. "Some food and drink for now, and some food to carry with me on my journey." <><><><><> <> "Err, ah, of course," Eidard stammers. "Please, come inside. No wait--" he stops, as you start to step forward. Then he steps aside. "Yes, yes, go on, I'll see to it that Caroline gets some food for you. Umm, what trip?" He is flustered and confused, but his mind is working, which might not be a good sign. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne steps forward, head high, looking imperiously at Eidard. "Clothing too. And quickly. Time is pressing." She completely ignores his question, deciding that any kind of explanation is likely to get her in deeper rather than make her situation easier. Her gaze sweeps round the immediate area, looking to see if there is anything in the way of food or clothing she could grab if she suddenly has to make a run for it. She stands, tapping one foot lightly and looking expectantly round, then looks at Eidard again. "How are you and your family anyway?" She does not want Eidard to disappear out of sight to plan who knows what or send someone racing in the direction of the castle. No doubt word will get back soon enough, but better if she is on her way and in decent clothing. <><><><><> <> "Err, I am still unmarried, Lady," he replies. He was beginning to look just a little bit annoyed by your imperious tone -- you don't really have the authority to command him, after all, and he's not *obligated* to give you anything, though he would reasonably consider it in his best interests to do so, considering who your husband is. Your sudden inquiry about his family catches him off-guard. He blinks, looks at you for a moment, then beckons one of the girls hovering nearby. "Helen, run fetch Caroline, tell her to hurry! And tell her to bring one of her dresses and a cloak!" He turns back to you. "Milady Grainne, forgive me, but I'm very confused! And concerned.... whatever could bring you wandering--" he lowers his voice and says "--half-dressed into our village?" A sudden thought strikes him and he says "Did another clan take Castle MacGillecolm? Were you abducted?" A stir goes through the eavesdropping crowd -- everyone knows that Duncan MacGillecolm recently went away to join the army of MacBeth. No one expected the fighting to reach these parts, but the thought of an invading army is always a fearful one to peasants. <><><><><> [Grainne] She smiles, hoping it doesn't look quite as strained as it feels. "I am sorry, I'm not being very polite, am I?" She keeps her tone of voice low and pleasant. "I really am very grateful for what you are doing for me." As the crowd reacts to his suggestion of invasion, she glances round, then shakes her head firmly. "No, all is well at Castle MacGillecolm. There is no need to fear." She meets his eye and smiles again. "This concerns me alone. 'Tis a matter of a holy vow. To go forth as I came into the world, with nothing, taking only what the Lord provides, through His children." She shakes her head, a rueful expression on her face. "I fear I have already failed in humility. But truly anything you can give me will be a blessing." She mentally holds her breath, waiting for a reaction. The Celtic church venerated hermits and women religious, though rare, were not unknown. "I have sworn to stay alone for forty days, but I find that the flesh is weak and I have need of some help." <><><><><> <> Eidard looks shocked by your explanation. "A holy vow?" he says wonderingly. "But...well, that is....remarkable. So.....your husband knows? And allowed you to go wandering like this?" A portly woman is making her way towards Eidard's house, carrying a bundle of cloth under her arm. "I would be pleased to help you on your journey, Lady," Eidard says. "But I fear for your safety. Still, surely the Lord will provide. Forty days in these mountains will be very difficult." <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne nods, following the progress of the woman with the clothes out of the corner of her eye. "Indeed, if we trust in the Lord, He will provide. I hope I will have the strength to do what I have vowed to." <><><><><> <> The woman, Carolyn, brings a cloak and an old skirt, and a basket of day-old bread and some vegetables. She probably has not begun the morning meal preparation yet. She looks at you in surprise when she sees you. Eidard says "Lady MacGillecolm is traveling, on a hermitage quest. She needs some proper clothes and food to go out into the wilds." Carolyn's eyes widen further. "You... I see...." She doesn't, and is probably trying to calculate how she could possibly satisfy her curiousity without being impertinent, which she can't, and guessing how you came to follow this course; penance, perhaps? You don't know how well-known your reputation is here in this village, but you doubt you've been known for your piety. Carolyn goes into Eidard's house to begin putting together some more traveling stores, while you look longingly after her at the basket of bread she carried. You are afraid you may collapse if you don't eat soon. And the sun is rising higher, and with it, the increasing chance that someone will come by from the castle. <><><><><> [Grainne] She can't help fidgeting slightly as she waits for the woman to return with the food, moving from foot to foot. Holding the skirt up in front of her, she assesses it's relative size. Not exactly the latest fashion perhaps, but it's serviceable enough, and the cloak will be very welcome. Tucking the garments over her arm, she smiles at Eidard again. "I am indeed grateful, and I hate to trouble you again, but some kind of blouse would be very welcome." She glances towards the house. "And do you think I could have some of that bread now? It feels like a long time since I've eaten." <><><><><> <> "Uh, yes," Eidard says, blushing a little as he realizes your shroud doesn't even do that good a job of covering you, particularly when the sun begins shining through it. "Why don't you go inside and sit down, and Carolyn will fix you a meal, and I'll see about getting some more clothes for you. Should we send someone to the castle to let them know you were by? Are you sure you want to continue on by yourself? Maybe I should send word to your husband where you're heading." <><><><><> [Grainne] "I don't want to be too much trouble. Some bread and cheese will be fine." The thought of a home cooked meal is very tempting, but the though of Duncan descending upon her spurs her to move on quickly. "After all, the point is not to have too much comfort, is it not?" She moves into the doorway. "If I could just change now..." She smiles up at Eidard. "I shouldn't bother sending word - no-one at the castle will be expecting to hear from me, so they won't be worried. And I don't need anyone with me. This is a journey I have to make by myself." <><><><><> <> Eidard nods, and lets you go inside to change into the skirt Carolyn brought, and throw the cloak around yourself, using your tattered shroud as a gown until some other women produce a blouse or full-length dress for you to wear. Carolyn brings back a basket full of food, and can restrain her curiousity no longer. "It just doesn't seem fitting, you going out into the wilderness wearing a....what is that, anyway, it looks like a shroud!" she says, eying you sympathetically but curiously. "At any rate, hardship is one thing, but going barefoot until you freeze to death does not sound very holy if you ask me!" Which you didn't, of course, but sensing the added humility that cold and hunger has lent you, Carolyn seems emboldened. You can barely restrain yourself from snatching a piece of bread out of the basket and shoving it into your mouth. You manage to start eating it with a bare minimum of decorum, but Carolyn is watching you curiously, and cannot miss how hungrily you gobble it up. "Are you going somewhere where we could bring you more food?" she asks. <><><><><> [Grainne] She chews the bread briefly and swallows, finishing several bites before she answers. "I do not know exactly where I will be. I will come back if I find I need more help." She forces a smile to her lips. "But surely the Lord will provide and protect." She clutches the basket of food firmly, feeling more confident now that she is at least partially clothed. Just a few minutes more, until the last piece of clothing is brought, and she can be safely on her way, and with enough food to stay out of the sight of people for a few more days. <><><><><> <> "If you say so, Lady," the other woman says reluctantly. Eidard returns, with a blouse and a long shift and another skirt draped over his arms. "Ellen says she hopes these will fit," he says, and as he hands them to you, says thoughtfully, "I really should send word to the castle that at least we saw you and you were well. And perhaps one of the local boys should go with you a ways, to guide you? I'm sure you're not very familiar with these parts, and you wouldn't want to fall off a cliff or run afoul of a ketch." <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne gulps down another mouthful of bread and a genuine smile curves her lips as she accepts the clothing. At last, she has all she needs. All that remains now is to make her excuses and leave. She folds the clothes over her arm, ready to take them inside and change, then glances at Eidard. "I am sure that no-one at the castle will be expecting a message, but if you feel that's what you should do..." She lets her voice tail off, chuckling inwardly. Certainly they won't be expecting a message that she is well. "I am planning to head north, into the hills, to find a place to stop and think and consider the next stage in my journey - journey to holiness that is." She smiles, putting a conscious effort into making it charming. "Then I will return to the castle. I still have much unfinished there." She looks round, then back to Eidard. "I think it is best that I travel alone, but I thank you for the offer. No doubt there is more useful work for the boys to be doing. Now if you would excuse me." She holds up the clothing to indicate that she wishes to change. <><><><><> <> Eidard lets you change in private, and then reluctantly sees you to the edge of the village. "Be wary of wights and water spirits and such," he says, "though they should not bother a holy woman. Fortunately there aren't many brigands in these parts. Still, I hate to think of you lying somewhere in a ravine with a broken ankle. I will make sure to say some prayers for you, Lady MacGillecolm." <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne nods solemnly. "I thank you, Eidard. No doubt my soul has need of all the prayers it can get." As she speaks, she means every word. What has she become? Is she even really alive? Perhaps she is damned for all eternity. Now that the immediate needs for food and clothing are satisfied, the questions in the back of her mind are beginning to stir again. She holds Eidard's gaze for a moment. "Farewell - and thank you again." She turns and begins to walk briskly out of the village, heading north into the hills and slightly back towards the castle. Once she is out of sight of the village, she will alter course to head basically east, towards the coast and Inverness, but for now she wants to leave the impression that she does not intend to travel far away from the castle. ooc: I'm assuming I headed basically east when I left the castle, and now going essentially at right angles to that, but slightly back the way I came. <><><><><> <> You can't see anyone following you once you leave the village behind. Soon you are out of sight of even the sheep in the surrounding meadows, and faced with the prospect of walking all the way to Inverness. Your food will last you for a couple of days, and now you have enough clothing to survive the night -- assuming you aren't caught out in the rain. But Eidard's cautions about the terrain were well-founded; there are plenty of ravines and ditches for you to fall into. And then there were the other things he mentioned, and knowing that you are anything but a holy woman, it seems rather unlikely that any evil spirits you meet will leave you alone.... Duncan scoffed at ghost and faerie tales, and most of his men did too, not wanting to seem foolish or less brave than him, but it's a lot easier to laugh at wights and annises and such when you're inside a castle.... <><><><><> [Grainne] Once out of sight she slumps down in the heather, leaning against a nearby rock. What has she become? She looks down at her hands and sees no sign of the scratches she knows she received breaking out of the barrow. Her hand rises unconsciously and presses against her breast where the sword entered. She was dead! She must have been dead after that wound! And they buried her! She shivers, her hands twisting nervously in the thick material of her cloak. She stares unseeingly into space for a while. Was she a ghost? Was she condemned to wander the earth for eternity, her soul denied access to heaven? She pinched herself firmly. She /felt/ solid enough - and surely ghosts didn't feel cold and hunger. She shook her head briskly. Whatever she was, she was, and it would be stupid to die here on the hills. She pulled herself to her feet and started to make her slow way through the heather, doubling round to head due east rather than continuing in the direction she originally went in. As she tramped, she kept as far as possible to areas with rock among the heather or where the ground was dry, but inevitably she had to make her way through watery semi-streams and swampy ground at times. She tested each foothold carefully for solid ground below, danger bells ringing. Many a person had vanished in the hills never to be seen again, sucked down into one of the many bogs. Slow and insidious they were and a man could walk a hundred yards into one before realising it, only to find himself trapped and doomed to a slow death. She shuddered. Such brief testing as she could do was not enough - the deadly ground would seem firm enough at first. She climbed to higher ground were possible, where the ground was drier, but avoided silhouetting herself against the skyline just in case someone should be looking for her. Once clear of the village, she would make her way down to the lochside again and see if she could find a boat to take her to Inverness. She sighed. At least one night out in the hills seemed inevitable though. <><><><><> <> The hike to the lake is enough to make you miserable and cold again, and dreading another night out in the open. Perhaps you were righter than you knew, and this is some sort of test from God. Your priest would say it was a fitting punishment for adultery. Of course if you only had some money, you could easily make your way to another town far from here -- but when you see the tiny huts along the shores of the loch, you are very much aware that all you have is the clothes on your back and a basket of food. The peasants here won't even recognize you, which means you will have to rely on wit and charm to persuade someone to take you across the lake. <><><><><> [Grainne] "Well, if wit and charm are all that's needed, I should have no problem." Muttering to herself, she pauses to dust off the worst of the dried mud from the clothes she wears and stoops to splash water from a peaty pool over her face and arms. Reaching round behind her head, she unplaits the long red-gold hair and runs her fingers through it as best she can before weaving it back into a long tail. She pulls her shawl decorously over her head, but is careful to allow the occasional red-gold tendril to escape fetchingly round the edge. A few final adjustments to her clothing, a rapid pinch on her cheeks to bring up a blush and she is ready. Deciding that to appear directly out of the hills might look strange, she skirts round and cuts down to the road just out of sight of the village and then walks confidently towards it. She keeps her eye out for anyone on the loch beach, with a boat. Preferably someone young and handsome, but beggars can't be choosers. <><><><><> <> You can see a couple of men working on a boat on the lakeshore, neither young nor handsome. Some other villagers are bustling about, going about their daily business. The men with the boat don't see you, but as at Daibhnál, a few children are the first to spot you. They are standing near the road, taking turns throwing stones, and one of the younger ones seems to be looking at you speculatively with a stone in his hand. An older boy hops off a rock and walks bravely over to you, though, staring at you curiously and then executing a clumsy bow with a grin, while his friends giggle. "Good day, lady," he says, and his friends giggle some more. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne smiles at the boy, deliberately making it as charming as possible. "Good day to you too, sir." She keeps her attention on him, ignoring the other children. "Perhaps you can help me. I am on my way to Inverness and I was hoping to find a boat heading that way. Could you introduce me to those two gentlemen over there?" She glances over to the loch shore. <><><><><> <> "Inverness?" The boy sounds both skeptical and impressed. "But you can't take a boat all the way to Inverness!" He looks over his shoulder. "That's Lain and Robert. C'mon, I'll introduce you. What's your name?" He asks the last somewhat impertinently, as he begins leading you down towards the shore with great self importance. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne smiles again as she follows the boy. "My name is Eilidh Nic Callum Mac Lachlan. You can call me Eilidh if you like." Better to give him permission to make free with her given name than have him do it anyway. "What's your name?" She picks her way carefully over the stony beach. "I know I can't go all the way to Inverness by boat, but I can get fairly close. My father lives there." <><><><><> <> "My name's Angus. Why are you walking by yourself?" He waits just long enough to hear your answer, then suddenly runs up ahead and shouts "Lain! Robert! This lady here wants to go to Inverness!" Behind you, the other children continue following you curiously. After Angus's shout, the whole village will probably be curious. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne allows a look of sadness to appear on her face for a moment, then puts on a brave smile. "I'm trying to get back to my father in Inverness. My husband was killed a couple of weeks ago and our croft burned, so I have nowhere else to go." She follows the boy, gathering the cloak round her as she goes. <><><><><> <> "Oh," he says, and looks slightly abashed. More somberly, he introduces you to the two curious men who have risen to meet you. "This's Eilidh Nic Callum Mac Lachlan. She says she needs to go to Inverness." The men nod and the older one says "I'm Lain Mac Donnel and this is my cousin Robert Mac Mearny. We weren't planning to take the boat out until tomorrow. If you can stay 'till then, my wife can probably make some room for you at the table." He offers this in a friendly enough tone, but with a neutral expression. <><><><><> [Grainne] She allows a look of disappointment to show on her face. "Not till tomorrow? I was hoping to get at least partway down the loch today." Looking from one of the men to the other, she smiles hopefully. "I don't suppose you would consider changing your plans?" Her smile deepens as she looks at the older man. "It's very kind of you to offer hospitality Master Mac Donnel, but I fear it would put your wife to a great deal of trouble. And I would like to be on my way as soon as possible." She waits, her gaze fixed hopefully on the men, her mind sending out "Please, please, please" vibes as strongly as it can. <><><><><> <> The two men shift uncomfortably. "Well, we could..." one mumbles, his voice trailing off, and the other says "Still got a fair bit of work on the roof...." Neither seems like they'll be able to stand up to your concentrated charm, as they shuffle their feet reluctantly. The boy says "I'll ride with you!" as if it were a command and not a request. <><><><><> [Grainne] She smiles with a slight tremble in her lips. "Oh, you are so kind." She dashes a hand across her eyes. "It means so much to me to be able to get home as quickly as possible." Her smile widens as she looks from one man to the other. "Thank you. Thank you indeed." She glances towards the boat. "When do you think we can leave?" <><><><><> <> They look at one another helplessly, sighing and resigning themselves to carrying you across the lake. "It'll take some time to get the boat into the water, and I've got to tell me wife," the first man says. "He's got to tell his wife before he pees," the younger one says, provoking laughter from the boy. The first man glares at him and stalks away. "You don't look very dressed for long travel," comments the younger, looking you up and down as he starts rocking the boat in preparation to flip it over. <><><><><> [Grainne] "I really am very grateful." Grainne smiles again as she watches the boat being prepared for travel. As he mentions her clothing, her expression becomes solemn. "I..I'm afraid I lost almost everything .. all I have is what people were able to give from the kindness of their hearts. That's why I'm going to Inverness - back to my family." <><><><><> <> "Hmm," the younger man grunts, as he flips the boat over with a heave. Leaning against it to catch his breath, he regards you with a smile. "Well, you're still young and pretty, aye? I s'ppose you'll have no trouble finding another husband." "Tch!" the other man scolds him, smacking his arm. "She just buried one husband!" he hisses at him. But Robert doesn't look too chastened. They begin pushing the boat towards the water, then the older man, Lain, says "We'll be off shortly, I'm going to get something to eat from me wife." He trundles back up towards the cottage, leaving you alone with Robert and the lad who brought you to them. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne looks away slightly, wiping a hand across her eyes, then turns back to Robert and the boy, lips trembling as she puts on a brave smile. "We were so happy. I can't believe ..." Her voice trails off and she bites down on her lower lip, then straightens up, pulling her shoulders back. "You must think me a whining baby. I do know I have much to be thankful for." She glances round briefly, looking for signs of anyone approaching the village, checking to see where Lain went and if there are any signs of his return. Then she smiles at Robert again. "It's so kind of you to help me. I hope your wife appreciates what she has in you." <><><><><> <> Robert's face softens a little. "Ach, no, forgive me for bein' so careless wit' me tongue." He grins and shuffles a bit. "I 'aven't got a wife, not yet," he says. The boy, Angus, snickers. <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne pays no attention to the snickers of the boy, keeping her gaze fixed on Robert, looking up shyly with a slightly bent head. "Some local lass will think herself lucky one day then." She smiles, glancing round to see if anyone is coming. "Do you think it will be long before we leave?" A faintly anxious expression crosses her face. "It's a long way to go." <><><><><> <> Robert blushes and tries to hide a spreading grin. "Not so long," he says. "Lain'll be right back." He then stands there looking a little uncomfortable, but eyeing you whenever he thinks (incorrectly) he can cast a glance at you inobviously. The boy starts humming a tune and tossing rocks against the side of the boat to occupy himself, until the older man, coming back down the hill, shouts at him to stop. "Don't think you're comin' with us, Angus MacFearaid, and don't you have chores to do?" "No, I do not!" he declaims, "And I promised the lady I'd come with her!" He sticks his jaw out petulantly. "There's plenty of room in the boat, and I can help you cast lines out too!" <><><><><> [Grainne] Grainne is carefully unaware of the scrutiny of the man, a faint smile curving her lips as she looks round. She turns slightly so that her delicate profile and long red hair are displayed to best advantage, raising a hand to push a few stray red-gold tendrils away from her face. She straightens in some relief as Lain returns, taking a few steps towards the boat, ready to climb into it. She glances at Robert, a smile lighting up her face. "Indeed you were right - it was not so long." She feels a large weight lifting from her shoulders - surely once she is a boat trip away she will be out of range of any who might come seeking her. And as for how to live - she glances briefly at Robert again - there will always be those who can be sweet-talked into providing what is needed. She looks from Angus to Lain and smiles. "Let the lad come. I'm sure he will be no trouble." <><><><><> <> Lain looks from you to the boy with an unhappy frown, clearly not wanting him to come. But Robert waves a hand. "Oh, let Angus come. He's bored and this is the most excitement he'll see for many a month." "Most excitement any of us will see," Lain grumbles, but with a half-smile at you. "Pretty ladies don't come skippin' down from the hills needing a ride to Inverness every month, now do they?" Angus is already running ahead and hopping up into the boat with the nimbleness of youth, causing Robert to cuff him as he pushes it from the shore. "Ach, ye worthless bairn, if'n yer goin' to ride wit' us ye can help push the boat, aye?" But this is a token remonstration, since the boat is already sliding into the water. Robert turns around and offers you his hand to help you up into the boat, while he stands ankle-deep in the water. <><><><><> [Grainne] "Why thank you." Grainne returns Lain's smile, head slightly tilted to one side. "I'm lucky to meet such gallant men" Her smile deepens, then she turns and walks towards the boat. Strands of long red hair are whipped across her face by the breeze and she pushes them back before reaching out to rest a slender hand lightly on Robert's as she prepares to step into the boat.