Am fear eile ~Outlander~

~Chapter twenty-three~ Skye

The next day as I walked down for breakfast I smiled in the first time what felt like forever.
I saw Jamie quickly jumped up and walk in my direction.
"Goodmorning Mister Mctavish," I smiled as he smiled back.
"Goodmorning Mistress," he said. "As ye will excuses me, the horses needs breakfast,"
He walked past me as I looked around to sit somewhere. None of the other men looked really invited so I decide to sit down with Ned who smiled friendly at me and continued to write.
Suddenly the men started to laugh and said something in Gaelic. Ned looked disapproved.
"Why did you make me think you where tieves instead of raising money," I blurted out and he looked suprised at me.
"How did ye ken?" He asked suspicious.
"Dougal speech, I'm around here long enough to know Long live the Stuart in Gaelic now," I smiled friendly.
"Well ye ken to much Lass," he looked back on his paperwork.
"And what if I told you this is all a lose couse," I said quickly. "The British Army is the most powerfull army around the world."
"Well that is a know fact, Why?" Ned didn't looked impressed.
"Your raising money for an army that is destined to lose," I answered.
"And that is worrying you?" Ned looked curiously at me.
"You should be worried," our conversation was shortly interrupted by a man calling something in Gaelic.
"Ye talk like the future is already writen, outmanned we are," he looked at the table behind him. "But that would match up against their fighting heart against the best army in the world,"
"Fighting hearts don't stand a chance against cannons," I snapped. "You are going to lose."
Ned laughed a little. "That is your opinion and you're entitled to it." He continued his writing.
"It's a fact Ned, you have to believe me,"  Ned looked up. "History would never record a Stuart on the throne, but it will recors the names of thousands of highlanders who've died needlessly for a doomed course."
Ned kept looking at me. "History be damned."
Another think was called in Gaelic and Angus stood up and smashed the Guy into the table.
"Here we go," I sighed as the men behind me started to fight.
I quickly stood up and pushed myself against the wall with Ned as they continued to fight in front of me. Well even history couldn't change the way men reacted as someone said something mean.

"What was the excuses of the fight?" I asked as I desinfected a small cut on the hand of young Willie. The only thing I could do.
"Ye where the excuses," Murtagh said and I turned around suprised.
"Me?" I asked as he sat down.
"'twas yer honor we wur defending. Th' lout cried ye a whore." He explained as the rest of the men fell silenced. "Ye'r a guest o' th' Mackenzie, we kin insult ye, bit god hulp ony ither men that does."
I didn't know what to say, but I didn't had to as the men continued to chatter away.
Leaving me in a sort mixed stated between guild, shock and thankfulness.

"There is a hard ride ahead," Jamie said as we made the horses ready. "Three days until we cross Culloden moor."
I froze by that name and let everything drop. Culloden moor, before my eyesight appeared the stone in which engraved the text that the last battle was fought there on the 16th of April.. 1746.
2,000 men. Highlander men would die. The end of the clans and the tradition.
As I came back in the past I saw the men ascend their horses. How much men was there in the 2,000. How many would survive.
It was indeed a hard journey and as we stopped in the camp I quickly descended my horse.
"I'm going to the river to fresh myself up," I said as the others started to make camp, only Angus stopped and wanted to go with me.
"Let her go!" Dougal yelled and I looked suprises at him since he always wanted to let me go with someone.
Taking this opportunity, I rushed towards the river, where I sat down on the banks washing my hands and face in the cold water. Enjoying my moment of silence.
"Who are ye?" I heared Dougal ask and as I looked up he walked towards me.
"Not this again Dougal," I sighed and stood up.
"A dutch wifie wha survide a ship mishanter, that's whit you'd hae us believe," he walked towards me and I felt busted. "Bit ye wid seem tae be a lassie wi' strong tough political opinions,"
"There is no harm in opinions," I defended myself.
"Ye'v seen hings oan th' road, ye tell th' redcoats. 'n' we bounded tae th' crosses juist lik' th' men we cut doon," I swallowed.
"I'm not a spy," I said speaking the truth.
"Mibbe not," he agreed. "Bit ye'r sowing th' seeds o' doubted in oor mids,Workin' behind th' covers o' yer woman's skirt "
"I'm a Dutch citizen, what kind of use would I have to tell on some Highlander men," I crossed my arms. "The only agenda I have is to go back on my journey to Spain."
Dougal wanted to say something but was interrupted by someone. "Madame?" As I looked up I saw a group of English soldiers on top of the hill.
Dougal wanted to grab his sword but by the look on the number of the soldiers he changed his mind.
"Pleasure to see you again," I recognised the man who was talking as the blacksmith of fhe first village we stopped in, he descended his horse and walked towards the edge of the small hill. "Once more I ask you." I quickly noticed we where in circeld by the redcoats as he walked towards me. "Is everything alright?"
It took all of my might not to scream no and beg them to take me with them. Instead I composed myself.
"Hello again, officer," I smiled with pain in my cheeks.
"Lieutenant Jeremy Foster of his Majesty's army," he introduced himself as the look of Dougal burned my left cheek. "And this time I do mean to ascertain the lady's well being."
"The lady is none of yer concern," Dougal walked up towards him.
"And you are?" Jeremy fired back not impressed by the big Highlander man.
"Dougal Mackenzie, War chief and Brother to Colum, Laird of the MacKenzie Clan and the lands upon which ye stand." Dougal said threatening.
"MacKenzie or not, your holding this Lady against her wishes. You'll be dealt with," Jeremy spoke back and I felt a glimpse of hope. "Tell me madame are you here by your own choice?" He asked directly at me and Dougal also looked at me.
Technically no if you look at the way how I came here, I did not travel back in time on my own will. But I knew he was not talking about that but about the fact that I was with the Mackenzie's. I tought deep before I gave my answer.