Post by King Adam Aberdeen I on Mar 18, 2009 8:32:58 GMT -6
It was a time of war… of strife and stress that tilted the very soul of every man, woman, and child. Still the yearning to be free… to live in peace was strong… never stronger.
It’s a time of commanders, good and bad… of Lords and Knights… of Clergy and pagan… of homesick soldiers and of the too-often forgotten "home front" of worried, scared and proud wives and families. War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. People will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children. War is inevitable that people may live in peace. Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.
Just days before, events would unfold that would change the course of history. The Gaelic Renaissance would gain a boost in acceleration as the unexpected would fill that fateful evening:
Robert the Bruce: The explosion rocked the castle... and feebly Robert climbed from the bed... Supported by chairs and tables, he made small steps to the window... from there he could see the damage... the chaos... he had to stop this... he was no captive... he came upon free will... His feeble ears having heard the shouts beyond the wall... slowly, the now feeble old man made his way out the door and down the hallway... soon he came upon a lad... "Coom lad, support this old man... Ah moost help..." the lad protested but he did as his King commanded and helped the old man down the stairs... "Ah moost stop this... Scot'land cannae fight amongst their selves..."
Step by slow step down the corridor to the tower stairs... then veered by Shaden... where did she come from? Now up...up... up... The Scot King was making his way feebly up to the tower.... to the parapet... then the light behind him took away the shadows... he faced an embattled people... He glanced at Shaden once, then stepped forward to the parapet wall... "Hear me Scotsmen... stop the fighting... tis nae the time tae fight amongst ouselves... Let us heal Scotland..." his voice hoarse but still amazingly strong... He reaches behind him and takes her hand...squeezing it lightly... then his free hand holds the wall... together they hold the torch, waving it... "Scotsmen... stop Ah pray yu... Bound fealty to Scotland... to the Lord of the Isles... to the new High Lord of the Gaelic Nations..."
It wasn't a secret any longer... King Robert had proclaimed Adam Aberdeen as the Gaelic Lord... Would the fighting stop? Did they hear me? Would Scotland be united and free? Could Adam do what he said he would do... for the free Gaelic Nations? He knew he would not live to see it.... He just did not want to die seeing Scot fighting Scot or be in fear of an English King....
Shaden: She stood at his side, for all the world.. He was regal and majestic one last time... her hand squeezed his back tenderly... as she gazed up at him... with tears shimmering in her eyes... "Our daughter would have been proud of you tonight... the True and Rightful King of Scotland... Your Majesty " she bent low and respectful to him... then rose... looking over the stalled battle.. "Look.... what few words from your lips has done… stilled a battle between brothers... and offered a nation.. hope... that is the Mark of a True King... the love of his country and his people... " she smiled sadly as he wavered... so weak.. but she knew he wanted to savor this moment... to look out one last time ... as a King... to his people... her hand slipped into his... as he shuddered softly...
Robert: He looked at Shaden. "Yer a good woman ... and Ah pray tae see yae treated as yae deserve... nae as Ah did yae... and Ah bae glad yae forgave me..." then his knees buckled a bit from fatigue... but yet again Shaden held him firm against the wall so all below could see... Robert just turned back to the crowd... "Scotland is free... rally behind our new Guardian... give fealty tae the High Lord of the Gaelic Nations... and the alliances he has made..." He had made the commitment to Adam and Beathag... and had gotten forgiveness from the woman he scourged... there is but one more he required forgiveness from before he died... his sister. But with a sigh, he figured that day would never come...
Adam: The Lord of the Isles stood near the torn hole in the wall from the explosion... The fighting soon waned... people began to point up... words were faint... and they made their way closer to hear... Adam looked up, moved closer and his sea-green eyes grew large... "That damn fool..." he silently uttered. "He'll nae make it tae morn if'n he dun lay down..." Adam wiped the blood off his sword with a lost shirt, then sheathed it and breathed deep. Listening, he heard the clear words of his new title.... "He dun gone and dun it...." no sooner than the words came from Robert, that people nearby him began to bow deeper than usual... He didn't want to be King... "Words are words... a pig is a swine or a pig no either name."... he thought... But now he had the reins to the wagon... Looking upwards to Robert, he bowed and waved to his King.
Iain: Soon the fighting subsided... Scot fighting Scot was done... He had heard the King... and he glanced across the way at Adam... Crossing the space between them... he bowed "Mo'r Triath, I presume..." he said with a smirk... "I pledge fealty to you and your house... The MacRuaris and Aberdeens shall always be allies to the Robertsons..." he bows again...
Robert: He acknowledges Adam's bow and wave... then he looks to Shaden... "Help mae bak tae mae room lass..." then as the pair walked down the stairs and to the corridor... he pauses and looks to her. "Coom, stay at mae place in Edinburgh... spend mae last days with me... AH shall make it profitable faer yae... jest lemme spend mae final days with a good woman... th mother o' mae daughter... soon Ah bae joining her..." his eyes blurred, and tears rolled down a very wrinkled face.
Adam: Adam stood below the tower looking up at Robert... he was now just short of King. What would his Father think now? Soon they would meet... but albeit with such power as the command of the new Gaelic Nation and its allies... all united under the Gryphon banner. What would his grandfather think??? To his left.... a bit of banter from a familiar feminine voice...he swallows hard.
Beathag: "Come on, c'mon...we're gaein home lasses. This is nay place for m'people." Aye, Kaori, it was an axe, and not just any axe either. It was an axe that carved a literal nation. But her eyes turned from them, the axe low in her hand as the last words of Robert's speech struck the bell in her heart. "This is nay place fer Scotland's people...ye hear it? It's done now. It's...done." Small voice and one would say, almost set free. "Ah'v ewaited..o'er thirty years..." She clutched a hand to her heart. That would be when the last of what lived of the Hound died, and the Griffin could take roost. The voice of her mother, her kindred and his took the place of the rage, the anger, the loss as she walked past them. Startled and confused, they watched as she took up the Brooch of Skye, the sign of the Lord's reign..to give it to Adam as she should have done in Aberdeen. With her two hands. Not in bloodshed.
Adam: As she approached, he shook his head seeing the axe... and smirked. "Nae'r kin yae leave it eh? Afraid yae'd miss out?" his arm wrapped around her... "Did yae hear lass wot the King Robert said...? He dun wot he said he'd dae... Ah bae the Mo'r Triath..." Seeing her with the emblem of his Father, he swallowed hard... The Brooch... the truest form of freedom and reign that any man could have... He took it... held it high, for all those who saw the Brooch, knew what it meant and stood for...
Then he turned to his Bessie Eve, took her into his arms, and kissed her with the love and passion he had since day one... no fear of ridicule for public affections... he loved her... he promised her a home and safety... now he has accomplished all but ending his Father's threat... "Ah luv yae las... always and forever..." then together they held up the bejeweled emblem of Skye's truest hierarchy...
Beathag: "Ah dun want the battle-axe anymore," She surprised even him, hefting it aside as she came forward with the past, present, and future in her hands. "Ah dun 'ave tae fight anymore, they are at rest now n' it's done. Adam..it's done."
The King calling himself King one last time as the sun set on him and was nearing to rise over Adam. As they showed the brooch to the people, against the backdrop of the destruction of his kindred's castle they shown like two immortal creatures of legend that would not be undone. The Hound, The Falcon... Green Knights and Banshees. All that they had been dissolved in the first rays of a sunrise creeping agains the twilight. Lord of All the Celts, bringing of justice and peace. The Brooch glinted on his chest where it should be. "Always n' for'er. Tha' is how legends are, Ahdam. Now..n' fore'er."
Kendrew: Kendrew and the more sensible lot watched, and from his lips would be the shout of "LONG LIVE MO'R TRIATH! LORD OF THE CELTS! "
Now, the day of recognition, was upon them…
Mo'r Triath 'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach..... High Lord o' the Gaelic Nations. That was Adam’s new title… The Scot King had declared it publicly… and Beathag Aberdeen was the Mo’r Oukselo'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach… High Lady of the Gaelic Nations.
Adam, Beathag, and Aimlee, with Davina in her arm, and one hand holding Aodhan’s hand, walked from Griffin Castle to the grand Cathedral. An unexpected entourage soon began to gather and follow… Glancing at her, then back to them, turning, Adam started up the stone steps, his beloved wife upon his arm… Aimlee stood at the base of the stairs near the crowd that continued to build.
The Bishop opened the heavy door and stepped out. Adam bowed his head, and Beathag curtsied in respect.
He was not a religious man… but he was not a pagan as was his wife… His belief was to allow every human the right to believe as they wished… Handing the rolled scroll to the Clergy, Adam stepped back next to his wife.
Father Patrick Dunovan smiled at Beathag and Adam, and unrolled it… the seal of the Pope and the King of Scotland. Having read it, Father Dunovan eyes from the paper to view the pair he had married more than a year ago… a smile upon his face.
In the crowd, at the base of the steps to the left and right of Aimlee and Aodhan, were two important men; Jacques Armand, the leader of the Templar contingent and his High Priest… Peter DeVareaux… As the Bishop received the scroll, the men smiled. Adam Aberdeen now held the much authority and power… all authorized by the King of Scotland, the Pope in Rome, and the Templar contingent.
“Hail the Mo'r Triath i Oukselo 'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach...” {High Lord and Lady of the Gaelic Nations}, Father Dunovan exclaimed in a loud boisterous voice…
Then he took Adam and Beathag by the arms and turned them toward the crowd.
The masses erupted into a roar of cheers that seemed to rock the Earth… people swearing fealty in their own words, yelling back at the group upon the stairs.
The blush was evident upon his face as the crowd roared. He looked to Bess. “Ah luv yae lass… always ‘ave… always shall…” then the pair once again kissed in public… never afraid to show affection toward her to all.
That, in itself caused the crowd to erupt in cheers of huzzahs…
It’s a time of commanders, good and bad… of Lords and Knights… of Clergy and pagan… of homesick soldiers and of the too-often forgotten "home front" of worried, scared and proud wives and families. War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. People will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children. War is inevitable that people may live in peace. Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.
Just days before, events would unfold that would change the course of history. The Gaelic Renaissance would gain a boost in acceleration as the unexpected would fill that fateful evening:
Robert the Bruce: The explosion rocked the castle... and feebly Robert climbed from the bed... Supported by chairs and tables, he made small steps to the window... from there he could see the damage... the chaos... he had to stop this... he was no captive... he came upon free will... His feeble ears having heard the shouts beyond the wall... slowly, the now feeble old man made his way out the door and down the hallway... soon he came upon a lad... "Coom lad, support this old man... Ah moost help..." the lad protested but he did as his King commanded and helped the old man down the stairs... "Ah moost stop this... Scot'land cannae fight amongst their selves..."
Step by slow step down the corridor to the tower stairs... then veered by Shaden... where did she come from? Now up...up... up... The Scot King was making his way feebly up to the tower.... to the parapet... then the light behind him took away the shadows... he faced an embattled people... He glanced at Shaden once, then stepped forward to the parapet wall... "Hear me Scotsmen... stop the fighting... tis nae the time tae fight amongst ouselves... Let us heal Scotland..." his voice hoarse but still amazingly strong... He reaches behind him and takes her hand...squeezing it lightly... then his free hand holds the wall... together they hold the torch, waving it... "Scotsmen... stop Ah pray yu... Bound fealty to Scotland... to the Lord of the Isles... to the new High Lord of the Gaelic Nations..."
It wasn't a secret any longer... King Robert had proclaimed Adam Aberdeen as the Gaelic Lord... Would the fighting stop? Did they hear me? Would Scotland be united and free? Could Adam do what he said he would do... for the free Gaelic Nations? He knew he would not live to see it.... He just did not want to die seeing Scot fighting Scot or be in fear of an English King....
Shaden: She stood at his side, for all the world.. He was regal and majestic one last time... her hand squeezed his back tenderly... as she gazed up at him... with tears shimmering in her eyes... "Our daughter would have been proud of you tonight... the True and Rightful King of Scotland... Your Majesty " she bent low and respectful to him... then rose... looking over the stalled battle.. "Look.... what few words from your lips has done… stilled a battle between brothers... and offered a nation.. hope... that is the Mark of a True King... the love of his country and his people... " she smiled sadly as he wavered... so weak.. but she knew he wanted to savor this moment... to look out one last time ... as a King... to his people... her hand slipped into his... as he shuddered softly...
Robert: He looked at Shaden. "Yer a good woman ... and Ah pray tae see yae treated as yae deserve... nae as Ah did yae... and Ah bae glad yae forgave me..." then his knees buckled a bit from fatigue... but yet again Shaden held him firm against the wall so all below could see... Robert just turned back to the crowd... "Scotland is free... rally behind our new Guardian... give fealty tae the High Lord of the Gaelic Nations... and the alliances he has made..." He had made the commitment to Adam and Beathag... and had gotten forgiveness from the woman he scourged... there is but one more he required forgiveness from before he died... his sister. But with a sigh, he figured that day would never come...
Adam: The Lord of the Isles stood near the torn hole in the wall from the explosion... The fighting soon waned... people began to point up... words were faint... and they made their way closer to hear... Adam looked up, moved closer and his sea-green eyes grew large... "That damn fool..." he silently uttered. "He'll nae make it tae morn if'n he dun lay down..." Adam wiped the blood off his sword with a lost shirt, then sheathed it and breathed deep. Listening, he heard the clear words of his new title.... "He dun gone and dun it...." no sooner than the words came from Robert, that people nearby him began to bow deeper than usual... He didn't want to be King... "Words are words... a pig is a swine or a pig no either name."... he thought... But now he had the reins to the wagon... Looking upwards to Robert, he bowed and waved to his King.
Iain: Soon the fighting subsided... Scot fighting Scot was done... He had heard the King... and he glanced across the way at Adam... Crossing the space between them... he bowed "Mo'r Triath, I presume..." he said with a smirk... "I pledge fealty to you and your house... The MacRuaris and Aberdeens shall always be allies to the Robertsons..." he bows again...
Robert: He acknowledges Adam's bow and wave... then he looks to Shaden... "Help mae bak tae mae room lass..." then as the pair walked down the stairs and to the corridor... he pauses and looks to her. "Coom, stay at mae place in Edinburgh... spend mae last days with me... AH shall make it profitable faer yae... jest lemme spend mae final days with a good woman... th mother o' mae daughter... soon Ah bae joining her..." his eyes blurred, and tears rolled down a very wrinkled face.
Adam: Adam stood below the tower looking up at Robert... he was now just short of King. What would his Father think now? Soon they would meet... but albeit with such power as the command of the new Gaelic Nation and its allies... all united under the Gryphon banner. What would his grandfather think??? To his left.... a bit of banter from a familiar feminine voice...he swallows hard.
Beathag: "Come on, c'mon...we're gaein home lasses. This is nay place for m'people." Aye, Kaori, it was an axe, and not just any axe either. It was an axe that carved a literal nation. But her eyes turned from them, the axe low in her hand as the last words of Robert's speech struck the bell in her heart. "This is nay place fer Scotland's people...ye hear it? It's done now. It's...done." Small voice and one would say, almost set free. "Ah'v ewaited..o'er thirty years..." She clutched a hand to her heart. That would be when the last of what lived of the Hound died, and the Griffin could take roost. The voice of her mother, her kindred and his took the place of the rage, the anger, the loss as she walked past them. Startled and confused, they watched as she took up the Brooch of Skye, the sign of the Lord's reign..to give it to Adam as she should have done in Aberdeen. With her two hands. Not in bloodshed.
Adam: As she approached, he shook his head seeing the axe... and smirked. "Nae'r kin yae leave it eh? Afraid yae'd miss out?" his arm wrapped around her... "Did yae hear lass wot the King Robert said...? He dun wot he said he'd dae... Ah bae the Mo'r Triath..." Seeing her with the emblem of his Father, he swallowed hard... The Brooch... the truest form of freedom and reign that any man could have... He took it... held it high, for all those who saw the Brooch, knew what it meant and stood for...
Then he turned to his Bessie Eve, took her into his arms, and kissed her with the love and passion he had since day one... no fear of ridicule for public affections... he loved her... he promised her a home and safety... now he has accomplished all but ending his Father's threat... "Ah luv yae las... always and forever..." then together they held up the bejeweled emblem of Skye's truest hierarchy...
Beathag: "Ah dun want the battle-axe anymore," She surprised even him, hefting it aside as she came forward with the past, present, and future in her hands. "Ah dun 'ave tae fight anymore, they are at rest now n' it's done. Adam..it's done."
The King calling himself King one last time as the sun set on him and was nearing to rise over Adam. As they showed the brooch to the people, against the backdrop of the destruction of his kindred's castle they shown like two immortal creatures of legend that would not be undone. The Hound, The Falcon... Green Knights and Banshees. All that they had been dissolved in the first rays of a sunrise creeping agains the twilight. Lord of All the Celts, bringing of justice and peace. The Brooch glinted on his chest where it should be. "Always n' for'er. Tha' is how legends are, Ahdam. Now..n' fore'er."
Kendrew: Kendrew and the more sensible lot watched, and from his lips would be the shout of "LONG LIVE MO'R TRIATH! LORD OF THE CELTS! "
Now, the day of recognition, was upon them…
Mo'r Triath 'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach..... High Lord o' the Gaelic Nations. That was Adam’s new title… The Scot King had declared it publicly… and Beathag Aberdeen was the Mo’r Oukselo'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach… High Lady of the Gaelic Nations.
Adam, Beathag, and Aimlee, with Davina in her arm, and one hand holding Aodhan’s hand, walked from Griffin Castle to the grand Cathedral. An unexpected entourage soon began to gather and follow… Glancing at her, then back to them, turning, Adam started up the stone steps, his beloved wife upon his arm… Aimlee stood at the base of the stairs near the crowd that continued to build.
The Bishop opened the heavy door and stepped out. Adam bowed his head, and Beathag curtsied in respect.
He was not a religious man… but he was not a pagan as was his wife… His belief was to allow every human the right to believe as they wished… Handing the rolled scroll to the Clergy, Adam stepped back next to his wife.
Father Patrick Dunovan smiled at Beathag and Adam, and unrolled it… the seal of the Pope and the King of Scotland. Having read it, Father Dunovan eyes from the paper to view the pair he had married more than a year ago… a smile upon his face.
In the crowd, at the base of the steps to the left and right of Aimlee and Aodhan, were two important men; Jacques Armand, the leader of the Templar contingent and his High Priest… Peter DeVareaux… As the Bishop received the scroll, the men smiled. Adam Aberdeen now held the much authority and power… all authorized by the King of Scotland, the Pope in Rome, and the Templar contingent.
“Hail the Mo'r Triath i Oukselo 'dair nan Gaidhlig Cinneach...” {High Lord and Lady of the Gaelic Nations}, Father Dunovan exclaimed in a loud boisterous voice…
Then he took Adam and Beathag by the arms and turned them toward the crowd.
The masses erupted into a roar of cheers that seemed to rock the Earth… people swearing fealty in their own words, yelling back at the group upon the stairs.
The blush was evident upon his face as the crowd roared. He looked to Bess. “Ah luv yae lass… always ‘ave… always shall…” then the pair once again kissed in public… never afraid to show affection toward her to all.
That, in itself caused the crowd to erupt in cheers of huzzahs…