From: brlannen@aol.com (BRlANNEN)
Date: 16 Mar 1998 22:48:23 EST
“Briannen, girl............. awake!”
The rotund abbess gently shook the shoulder of the weary girl, whose only answer was an unintelligble murmer as she drew her knees to her chest and continued to slumber. From the doorway of the stark cell a loud snort could be heard as a sharp featured woman with a hooked nose made her way to the bedside, roughly shouldering the tender abbess aside.
“Tis noe wonder yew pious types raise such milktoast women, wha’ wi’ all the mollycoddlin’ ye do! Briannen Fitzhugh, ye’d best waken, if’n ye knoe wha’s guid fer ye!” Stripping the bedclothes callously away, the hawk beaked woman gave a smirk of satisfaction as the blast of cold air successfully brought her unwelcome charge’s mind to conciousness. “Get dressed, now, an’ be quick aboot it, fer yer Da is waitin’ on ye.” With a final prod to the young
girl’s shoulder, the woman spun on her heel, barking out a last order to the abbess, before leaving the room. “See tha’ she’s ready to travel within a half hour.... me’ horses an’ men will be needin’ a bit tae drink afore we set out.”
“A drink, and a bit of rest by the sight of them, “ the abbess muttered under her breath after the odious woman left the room. She still could not quite grasp the reality of the situation, tired horses wheeling into the courtyard, their sides foaming with the exertion of a long hard ride, and worse, the irritating woman commanding her to release her favorite charge, in the middle of the night. Something rankled that begged answers, yet the crest on
the side of the coach belayed any protestations she might have offered.
“Reverend mother, what is the matter?” Briennan sat up swiftly, concerned that something was amiss within the convent.
Heaving a heavy sigh, the abbess sat on the edge of the bed and regarded Briennan solemnly. “I thought there was much more time than this to reveal that which you need to know child, and so you must listen carefully and try to comprehend. For twelve long years you have been with us here. Do you remember the time before that?” At the negative shake of the girl’s head, the kindly woman continued, grateful that she didn’t hold the memories of her
childhood. “Up to this point, you’ve known that your parents fostered you here, when you were but four years of age. You also know that you are betrothed to a fine gentleman, whom you will one day marry.”
“But, Reverend mother, I want to stay and become....”
“Shhhh... I know that has been your desire, but what has been done cannot be undone, Briannen. Such is not your destiny. Without your mother’s intervention in this night’s matter, I know not what your destiny will be. But know this, now. In your father’s house, you must watch your back, carefully. He...” Her words were cut short, the return of the hawk faced woman preventing any further warning. But the abbess’ eyes held a message Briannen could not
ignore. Bewildered, Briannen weathered the long ride home in silence, her many questions to the dour faced woman answered only with stony silence.
As they approached the home she could not remember, she stared around her in fascination. The surrounding fields lay fallow, the few rows of huts in disrepair, hollow eyed scarecrows peering from the shutterless windows as they passed in the dusk of evening. As they drew to a stop, Briannen could barely stifle a gasp at the condition of the castle, it’s battlements all but lying on the ground.
The interior was no better.
Clan MacDonnaugh
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From: jakvaltrds@aol.com (Jakvaltrds)
Date: 18 Mar 1998 23:07:09 EST
Seamus looked up at the rider as he galluped into the courtyard, his horse snorting, it's nostrils flared.
He knew the uniform the man was wearing was that of her royal guard. Lowering the hoof of the mare he was shoeing, he dropped the file into a wooden box and walked toward the rider.
As the man dismounted, he looked to the kilt clad gentleman questioningly," Are ye Lord MacDonnaugh?" As the Scot aknowledged his title, the messenger handed him a note, bearing the seal of Queen Elizabeth,
herself. He summoned a man to tend to the riders horse, and offered him water, seeing he was as tired as the beast. He sat on the edge of the trough which was just outside the barn, slipped the SkainDubh from his sock, and sliced through the seal which held closed the folded parchement.
He pondered the words as he read to him self. The news was not good, nor the timing any better. The missive warned him to go to he home of his bethrothed. Not the abbey where he was originally set to meet her, but the home of her father, in the low country.
Muttering about bargains, and promises made, he rose from his seat and walked to the manor house, motioning for the Brit to follow him as he continued to read the remainder of the note.
"Your intended's father is a Reiver of reknown, a lawless man who cares little for those who depend on him, and less for the welfare of the subjects of the British Crown", were the words of the queen. "Our agreement to join your two houses and stop the poaching on the lowland border is in great peril, Lord MacDonnaugh. It is of the essence, that you travel to
meet her, before her father can unravel our plans." Folding the paper as he entered the house, he went to his study, the messenger in tow. Pointing to the decanter sitting on the secretary, he sat down to reply as the man poured himself a drink.
Dipping the quill into the well, he penned a response to Her Majesty, the Queen. He agreed to make the journey and acknowleged their bargain.
After signing the note, he fanned the air lightly, to hasten the inks drying. Folding it, he set his own signet to the wax he had dripped from the candle on the desk.
Handing it to the rider, he ushered him out saying little more than "fair travels" as he closed the oak door.
"Jae," the booming voice rang through the halls, the need for haste preempting gentility. "Summon the lads, we leave immediately!"
Date: 18 Mar 1998 23:07:09 EST
Seamus looked up at the rider as he galluped into the courtyard, his horse snorting, it's nostrils flared.
He knew the uniform the man was wearing was that of her royal guard. Lowering the hoof of the mare he was shoeing, he dropped the file into a wooden box and walked toward the rider.
As the man dismounted, he looked to the kilt clad gentleman questioningly," Are ye Lord MacDonnaugh?" As the Scot aknowledged his title, the messenger handed him a note, bearing the seal of Queen Elizabeth,
herself. He summoned a man to tend to the riders horse, and offered him water, seeing he was as tired as the beast. He sat on the edge of the trough which was just outside the barn, slipped the SkainDubh from his sock, and sliced through the seal which held closed the folded parchement.
He pondered the words as he read to him self. The news was not good, nor the timing any better. The missive warned him to go to he home of his bethrothed. Not the abbey where he was originally set to meet her, but the home of her father, in the low country.
Muttering about bargains, and promises made, he rose from his seat and walked to the manor house, motioning for the Brit to follow him as he continued to read the remainder of the note.
"Your intended's father is a Reiver of reknown, a lawless man who cares little for those who depend on him, and less for the welfare of the subjects of the British Crown", were the words of the queen. "Our agreement to join your two houses and stop the poaching on the lowland border is in great peril, Lord MacDonnaugh. It is of the essence, that you travel to
meet her, before her father can unravel our plans." Folding the paper as he entered the house, he went to his study, the messenger in tow. Pointing to the decanter sitting on the secretary, he sat down to reply as the man poured himself a drink.
Dipping the quill into the well, he penned a response to Her Majesty, the Queen. He agreed to make the journey and acknowleged their bargain.
After signing the note, he fanned the air lightly, to hasten the inks drying. Folding it, he set his own signet to the wax he had dripped from the candle on the desk.
Handing it to the rider, he ushered him out saying little more than "fair travels" as he closed the oak door.
"Jae," the booming voice rang through the halls, the need for haste preempting gentility. "Summon the lads, we leave immediately!"
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From: brlannen@aol.com (BRlANNEN)
Date: 12 May 1998 00:49:53 EDT
As Briannen mounted the dilapidated steps that led into her home, she was filled with trepidation. What would her homecoming bring? She could remember nothing of her father, the man who now controlled her destiny. The abbess' warning fresh in her mind, her hand shook as she hesitated, her step slowing.
"Move along, girl! Ye dinnae wish tae keep yer father waitin'!" With a sharp poke to her shoulder, the dour faced woman pushed past her and entered. Sighing, Briannen squared her shoulders and followed.
The dim light in the main room cast eerie shadows upon the stone walls and Briannen had to stop to allow her eyes to adjust. When she looked about, it was with dismay. The walls lacked any kind of adornment or protection from the cold, which seeped through the stone like an icy finger. Half filled trenchers still stood upon the tables, the meat they had contained congealing in hour's old fashion. Thinking that this was the reason for the stench that
wrinkled her nose, Briannen pressed a scented kerchief to her mouth, only to catch the eye of a gaunt mongrel rooting among the filthy rushes. As it stepped to the corner of the room, it's lifted leg made her eyes widen and she pressed the kerchief closer, nearly retching.
The human element within the room left as much to be desired as the canine. A group of loud, unsavory looking characters stood or crouched in one corner, a pair of dice the sole object of thier attention. Seated in various degrees of dishabille, bedraggled serving wenches were present within the great hall, partnered and pawed by the remainder of the clansmen.
Briannen raised her eyes to the Great Table.
Seated in the place of honor was the largest man she'd ever seen. Hair as black as onyx cascaded over his shoulder in a tangled mass, almost indistinguishable from his heavy long beard. Bushy brows concealed his eyes from view, at that distance, and his cheeks seemed unnaturally flushed. Caught up in her perusal of him, she was startled when he spoke in a booming voice.
"Come, for'ard gel, an' let's git a guid look at ye!"
Date: 12 May 1998 00:49:53 EDT
As Briannen mounted the dilapidated steps that led into her home, she was filled with trepidation. What would her homecoming bring? She could remember nothing of her father, the man who now controlled her destiny. The abbess' warning fresh in her mind, her hand shook as she hesitated, her step slowing.
"Move along, girl! Ye dinnae wish tae keep yer father waitin'!" With a sharp poke to her shoulder, the dour faced woman pushed past her and entered. Sighing, Briannen squared her shoulders and followed.
The dim light in the main room cast eerie shadows upon the stone walls and Briannen had to stop to allow her eyes to adjust. When she looked about, it was with dismay. The walls lacked any kind of adornment or protection from the cold, which seeped through the stone like an icy finger. Half filled trenchers still stood upon the tables, the meat they had contained congealing in hour's old fashion. Thinking that this was the reason for the stench that
wrinkled her nose, Briannen pressed a scented kerchief to her mouth, only to catch the eye of a gaunt mongrel rooting among the filthy rushes. As it stepped to the corner of the room, it's lifted leg made her eyes widen and she pressed the kerchief closer, nearly retching.
The human element within the room left as much to be desired as the canine. A group of loud, unsavory looking characters stood or crouched in one corner, a pair of dice the sole object of thier attention. Seated in various degrees of dishabille, bedraggled serving wenches were present within the great hall, partnered and pawed by the remainder of the clansmen.
Briannen raised her eyes to the Great Table.
Seated in the place of honor was the largest man she'd ever seen. Hair as black as onyx cascaded over his shoulder in a tangled mass, almost indistinguishable from his heavy long beard. Bushy brows concealed his eyes from view, at that distance, and his cheeks seemed unnaturally flushed. Caught up in her perusal of him, she was startled when he spoke in a booming voice.
"Come, for'ard gel, an' let's git a guid look at ye!"
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From: brlannen@aol.com (BRlANNEN)
Date: 29 May 1998 23:42:32 EDT
"Clumsy oaf!" she murmered to herself as, a short while later, she followed a chambermaid to her room. Her face flushed as she remembered her stumbling feet when called to her father's table. As if that weren't embarrassment enough, the guffaws of his men left her mortified. Surely he should have put a stop to it, at the very least! Rolling her eyes at her misfortune, she shook her head and hurried to keep up with the maid. They were in a
long hall upstairs, now and she feared that, with all the twists and turns, she'd never be able to find her way back downstairs. With that in mind, she tried to look for distinguishing landmarks, yet she became discouraged when she realised that everything looked so very much the same. Everything, that is, except for the door she was currently passing. Curiously, it had a bolting mechanism on the outside of the door. Coming to a stop, she
stared at the door through which a low crooning could be heard, much like the sisters had crooned to her as a young child. Placing her hand upon the bolt, she was startled as the maid reappeared, coming to find her lagging charge.
"Ye mauna touch tha', Lady. His Lairdship would be verra wroth wi' ye if ye di'."
Irritated that a serving girl would deign to give her Lady orders, Briannen ignored the girl's warning and began to draw the bolt back. An ear splitting shreik rent the air, and Briannen jumped back as if her hand had touched molten metal. It took several seconds for her to recognize that the sound had come, not from behind the door, but from the servant. Narrowing her eyes, Briannen turned to face her, fuming. One look at the maid's face made
Briannen's kind heart soften.
"What is it behind that door that bears such keeping?"
"Oh, Lady, 'tis the mad old mother o' the Laird, hisself. We're she tae be gettin' oot, there's nae tellin' wha' damage she could do. Thet, nor the damage the Laird would be doin' tae us!" The chambermaid's fear filled eyes pleaded with Briannen as the girl's nervous fingers twisted in her apron. Briannen patted the girl's arm reassuringly.
"I suppose we'd best leave well enough alone, then." Artfully changing the subject, she allowed the terrified girl to lead her to her room, as if she'd forgotten completely about the bolted door. Which, of course, she hadn't.
Date: 29 May 1998 23:42:32 EDT
"Clumsy oaf!" she murmered to herself as, a short while later, she followed a chambermaid to her room. Her face flushed as she remembered her stumbling feet when called to her father's table. As if that weren't embarrassment enough, the guffaws of his men left her mortified. Surely he should have put a stop to it, at the very least! Rolling her eyes at her misfortune, she shook her head and hurried to keep up with the maid. They were in a
long hall upstairs, now and she feared that, with all the twists and turns, she'd never be able to find her way back downstairs. With that in mind, she tried to look for distinguishing landmarks, yet she became discouraged when she realised that everything looked so very much the same. Everything, that is, except for the door she was currently passing. Curiously, it had a bolting mechanism on the outside of the door. Coming to a stop, she
stared at the door through which a low crooning could be heard, much like the sisters had crooned to her as a young child. Placing her hand upon the bolt, she was startled as the maid reappeared, coming to find her lagging charge.
"Ye mauna touch tha', Lady. His Lairdship would be verra wroth wi' ye if ye di'."
Irritated that a serving girl would deign to give her Lady orders, Briannen ignored the girl's warning and began to draw the bolt back. An ear splitting shreik rent the air, and Briannen jumped back as if her hand had touched molten metal. It took several seconds for her to recognize that the sound had come, not from behind the door, but from the servant. Narrowing her eyes, Briannen turned to face her, fuming. One look at the maid's face made
Briannen's kind heart soften.
"What is it behind that door that bears such keeping?"
"Oh, Lady, 'tis the mad old mother o' the Laird, hisself. We're she tae be gettin' oot, there's nae tellin' wha' damage she could do. Thet, nor the damage the Laird would be doin' tae us!" The chambermaid's fear filled eyes pleaded with Briannen as the girl's nervous fingers twisted in her apron. Briannen patted the girl's arm reassuringly.
"I suppose we'd best leave well enough alone, then." Artfully changing the subject, she allowed the terrified girl to lead her to her room, as if she'd forgotten completely about the bolted door. Which, of course, she hadn't.
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From: jakvaltrds@aol.com (Jakvaltrds)
Date: 03 Jun 1998 19:18:22 EDT
The days seemed to come and go with out notice as the band of men sojourned through the high country and down toward the border. Seamus was growing increasingly angry with each passing hour. He knew his father lay upon his deathbed while he was being forced away by an oath made in his childhood.
"Move along!" he shouted to the driver of the carriage. "We ha'e nae time to waste gawking at the view!" With this, the driver pulled tight against the leather reigns and the carriage slowed to a stop.
Seamus leaned forwad in the saddle and prodded the stallion forward. "Are ye daft man? I told ye we ha'e no time for this lolly gagging" The driver pointed to the wheel and shrugged. "I can go if ye like, Seamus MacDonnaugh, but if'n I do the wheel will be in pieces."
Jae, having been beside Seamus, was now at the rear of the carriage, removing the binding on the tarp which covered the stowage. He dragged out a large wrench and stepped to the wheel in question. Motioning the others to lift, they grunted and took the strain off the axle. Jae swiftly torqued the nut in place and signaled his completion. The carriage rocked from side to side as the men released their load.
Shaking his head at Seamus' impatience as he replaced the tool in it's compartment, Jae secured the cover, stepped into the stirrup and swung a leg over the mount, dropping into the saddle.
"There Seamus, now we can be about fetching yer pretty bride."
Disgruntled still by the delays and the time away from his father, Seamus knee'd the stallion and took the lead on toward Melrose.
Stopping at he abbey for directions to her fathers homestead, Seamus learned of the hasty removal of the maiden from the abbey. The Scots face revealed his concern and a sense of urgency was obvious in his voice.
"Away men, we ha'e nae time to waste here."
Date: 03 Jun 1998 19:18:22 EDT
The days seemed to come and go with out notice as the band of men sojourned through the high country and down toward the border. Seamus was growing increasingly angry with each passing hour. He knew his father lay upon his deathbed while he was being forced away by an oath made in his childhood.
"Move along!" he shouted to the driver of the carriage. "We ha'e nae time to waste gawking at the view!" With this, the driver pulled tight against the leather reigns and the carriage slowed to a stop.
Seamus leaned forwad in the saddle and prodded the stallion forward. "Are ye daft man? I told ye we ha'e no time for this lolly gagging" The driver pointed to the wheel and shrugged. "I can go if ye like, Seamus MacDonnaugh, but if'n I do the wheel will be in pieces."
Jae, having been beside Seamus, was now at the rear of the carriage, removing the binding on the tarp which covered the stowage. He dragged out a large wrench and stepped to the wheel in question. Motioning the others to lift, they grunted and took the strain off the axle. Jae swiftly torqued the nut in place and signaled his completion. The carriage rocked from side to side as the men released their load.
Shaking his head at Seamus' impatience as he replaced the tool in it's compartment, Jae secured the cover, stepped into the stirrup and swung a leg over the mount, dropping into the saddle.
"There Seamus, now we can be about fetching yer pretty bride."
Disgruntled still by the delays and the time away from his father, Seamus knee'd the stallion and took the lead on toward Melrose.
Stopping at he abbey for directions to her fathers homestead, Seamus learned of the hasty removal of the maiden from the abbey. The Scots face revealed his concern and a sense of urgency was obvious in his voice.
"Away men, we ha'e nae time to waste here."