On the Highland Duchess - Alone at Last

[King Adam Aberdeen I]

Beathag: The Vindication of the Aberdeens was a tale that was talked about in loud voices. No hushed tones, for the excitment was too near and dear to the people starved for it. Always on the cusp of the newest bit of what the story went as this: The Duchess, having escaped from Aberdeen castle burned a path through the North until she could give her ladies unto the sea for safe keeping. Commending herself to the cause, she rallied a town with a harp's song, and quelled the rising war by exposing the beauty of a sculpted breast, and body upon the back of a horse. All that could be said after was that somewhere between his anger and the respect the found for the venerable woman who presented her own neck to replace Adam's, he granted the man his freedom. That had been a pair of days agone now, and the land grew still. Where they had been commended to death only an hour seeming ago, now they were free persons making their way home

Adam: Adam stood upon the railing of the Highland Duchess... Skye... and Turas Lan but a thin line at the horizon... the sun burning low upon it... his hand wrapped about Bess' as they know Aberdeen was a bit of history now past... Once again his beloved wife had saved him from death... it was as if he would never die... as long as she was with him... an invulnerable pair they were... His hand released hers and went to her lower back and rubbed slightly, as his mind had processed what occurred... and what shall occur in the future... Their people asleep, or settled in the holds... the Black Prince was fast asleep in his favorite hammock in the hold... With no reason, he leaned to her, and kissed her cheek... "Thank yae... faer all yae dae..." the brogue came natural now... to use the English, he had to force it... he was no longer the young man that came to the lands before him... now he was a learned leader, a seasoned politician, and still in love with the golden haired woman, he met in the market not so long ago...

Beathag: The key to immortality wasn't an elixir. Nor a stone, nor the ambrosia of myth - only the love of a man or a woman, so steadfast that it could conqueror all set before it. Beathag didn't claim to be a member of the places beyond sight but some part of her was immortal long before she met Adam. It was natural in handfast they should share what each made them. The Harper of Scotland watched the sea sway under the influence of the moon. It was so beautiful, so clear that the plight that was at their backs stood a chance of being forgotten. A kiss drew her from her thoughts to forge a smile, "A duty and a pleasure m'laird." He was so: her husband, her Duke, her Lord… Guardian of Scotland…. High Harper. In the end they were only words. It was the actions that meant more. She left Scotland assured of her place while needing nothing. She left, with a knowing of where her new field of destiny lay; under the banners where words of court are writ. A harp could sing as sure as the whistle under the axe blade, and with it she could too. So that would be how the White Hound went to bed and the Lady Griffin rose her head. "Does nay the sea look like dark glass?"

Adam: The Guardian of Scotland... Lord of the Isles... titles... words... but to him it was more than that... it was a legacy left to him to inherit... His mother... "Oh Davena MacRauri... Does Grandfather know what I do?" he pondered... then he looked at Bess and smiled... "Aye... it daes..." his hand cups her chin and edges her to him... then a slow passionate kiss is enjoyed by both... those on the watch that saw... would have ahhh'd and coo'd should they wished and neither would had heard a sound other than their own heartbeats... Now enveloped in strong arms... soft baritone words are gifted unto her... "Ah knaew Ah dun say it much... nor Ah act it as much as Ah wanna... but m'heart belaengs tae yae... nae'un else... Ah knaew much was said in Aberdeen that hurt yae... and Aodhan... but that tis wot ignorant people dae in retaliation... Knaew dis... Ah luv yae... always 'ave... ev'n wit our marbles matches..." he smiles... "Aye... Ah remember lass... yae wanted tae fight... Ah jus wann'ed yaer attention..." he nudges her... "An' yaer marbles..." Laughing he bumps her with his hip... "e'n naew, Ah want all yaer marbles... 'specially after yae dun showed all yaer wears tae the whole city..." he teased her.

Beathag: "Me marbles.." She murmured, laughing in spite of herself. The tease made her mouth pull open to the highest corners before eyes turned a circle similar to the marbles in mention. If the mind were a sack of the colored orbs from a children's games they'd emptied long ago across the plains with only a small, scant hope of recovery. It was a slow process, but time found that as she aged what was lost was found in the company of others. Shaking her head from side to side, "Remember, the marbles beh sae fine it ended a war." Gruff brogue subsided to a tender tone. She captured another kiss to hold captive, sighing soft. The low sounds. How like it was to the fields they had sojourned in! Before they left, she was determined to show him what she might never have a chance to again. The paths of her childhood. The home of her birth. Battle grounds, proving grounds, and sacred places besides. He loved her in places that bore no name save to the Aberdeens who had walked there, and now he had a name for them too. Reflecting on a discourse of hard times she said, "Ah am nay a simple woman tae live with, n' Ah know there have been prices ye have paid for your choice. E'en in the moments o' anger, Ah ne'er stopped lovin' you Adam."

Adam: Calloused hands, fingered the golden hair, course fingertips played with her ear... "Ah ne'r doubted mae choice... ne'r... an' if'en we anger, tis but a fleeing heartbeat of time... and poof, tis gaen..." he smiled, his fingers tracing her chin... "But, Ah gotta ask yae... next time we make love... can it bae in a good solid bed... like the one below..." his knee nudges hers... "Ah dun mind takin' yaer marbles in yaer old house… but..." It was then he had to laugh... remembering a quick session of lovemaking they did on one of their trips thru the buildings of her past... and in that quick intercourse, the behemoths broke the rickety old bed... then both sprawled out on the floor and laughed til they sparked the interest again... Now aboard ship, he winked at her... his seductiveness a bit rusty...still he tried.

Beathag: The air of Scotland eased the ice that had begun to build around their marriage and all elements of it. They would return, renewed. Aye there would be worries to arise but in his arms she would know a certain measure of peace enough to say that with him she was happy. At this juncture she leaned into his touch, smoothing back his hair as she tilted her head at his request. She let out a laugh, a touch of a snort! Blushing at the vigor they knew, they were as terrible as young lovers with no sense of restraint. "Aye, Ah agree with ye. Och, such thinggs 'ave nay 'apened in tha' home fer many years. Until ye. But, it would make a fine sense. An Aberdeen daughter n' one with such blood themselves, consumatin' afection in an Aberdeen 'ome. Mayhaps the ancestry will forgive us tha' much." A bed that did not break, bend, or one that needn't shift. "Yer tryin' tae hard. Ye eye..it's twitchin.” His wink became the source of her own tease, but she leaned her body close. "When we gae 'ome, we should make time for our family aye..Aislin, n' Eamonn. Our niece n' nephew."

Adam: Leaning close to her... "Sumthin' other than mae eye bae twitchin'... Aye Aye... spending time wit the family'll bae goot... but right naew... Ah feel like spendin' time wit mae wife..." his hand goes to her stomach... "Ah tell yae... tis a chance faer a bairin... e'ryone put yae daewn... but Ah 'ave faith... til nay dead there... AH knaew it... just gotta keep plantin'..." he pops her buttocks... "Git yaer fine arse below lass... prepare tae walk funny tamorra... for tanite... yaer man 'll wear it out... Naew GIT !!" he swats her once more... and laughs.

Laughing, giggling, she appeared as if she was a young lass, as she scampered below; occasionally looking back to see if her beau was hot on her heels… to which Adam was… Disappearing down the stairs and into the Captain’s quarters they went… with a slam of the door, the latch secured to prevent entry, the Lord of the Isles would soon seduce the Lady…