Guardians of the Stones Chapter 16 A Death
A/N Hello everyone, this is ladymeraud from oxford UK. This will be a dark chapter. I have been working in the hospitals in the NHS and we are busy. We are trying to help everyone we can and are not winning. So, I am in a dark mood. Just need to get this out so I can move on. I am not a hero just a woman who can’t do anything else but help sick people feel better. The next chapter will be the wedding. A little flash back.)
Time moves quickly. The twins are soon seven months old. They are crawling about everywhere. With Jenny and Ian's first lad, Wee Jamie, just a newborn, the house is a wonderful chaotic mess. Claire, surrounded by family, is filled with happiness. Even when her son's try to crawl out into the fields to see their daddy. As they are this morning.
“Willie, Robbie, where do you think you are going?” she scopes them up, one under each arm. “Daddy will be back in soon. Come, mam has some bannocks for you.” She sits them back on the floor with a bannock to each. They, with appetites like their da, are happy to sit and gum them.
Fergus comes running in. “Ma, a letter has arrived from the castle.”
She takes it and sees it is in Hamish's hand. She smiles until she starts to read.
“It is with heavy heart that I inform you of the death of my father, Column ban Jacob Mackenzie. His services are in three days. I pray you will all come to see him laid to rest and to see me take his place as Laird.
Hamish ban Column Mackenzie.
Claire is in tears. At the passing of Column and the torment of the new Laird, trying to be strong while still just a child, barely thirteen.
“Column has passed. Please go fetch your Aunt Jenny and Ellen from the kitchen and then your da Uncle Ian, and grandsire, from the fields.”
“Aye ma. Hamish is he..?”
“He is hurting. We will go see to him.”
Jenny and Ellen enter and sees the look on her face. “What is amiss then?” Ellen asks.
“I've bad news. Hamish has written. Column has passed on.” Her strong face crumbles as she collapses down beside her. Claire hands her the letter. She reads over it. Jenny stands in shock.
“Oh my brother! My poor Column!” her wails bring Mrs. Crook and the other maids rushing in.
“Bring Mistress Fraser some tea and the carafe of whisky. We have received some bad news.” They curtsy and run off to do it. Claire pulls her mother-in-law close and they cry together. A still stunned Jenny joins them.
Fergus finds his da, uncle and grandsire and hurries over to them.
“Fergus son, what is wrong?”
“Da, the most distressing news. Uncle Column has passed. Hamish wrote. Ma, grandma, and auntie are weeping.”
“Christ!” Jamie whispers as they all three cross themselves. They hurry back into the house. Jamie and Ian take their wife’s in their arms. Brain pulls a devastated Ellen into his lap.
“Ian, he is gone! My uncle is gone!”
“I know my love.” He sooths his arms down her back. Jamie is doing the same with Claire.
“My Column. My dear brother!” Ellen clings to her husband and pours out her grief.
“When is Hamish having the service?” he asks. Claire fetches the letter and hands it to her husband. He quickly reads it.
“We must go.” Claire adds. “To honor Column and for~ “ her voice breaks again. “Hamish. He ~ needs us.”
“Aye. He does. Jenny, is wee Jamie able to travel?” She pulls herself together long enough to answer.
“We will leave out today. If that is alright da?”
“It is son.” He pours all except the youngest of his grandchildren tea laced with whisky. “Mrs. Crook, have bags prepared for all. We will be heading to Castle Leoch.”
They arrive a day before his funeral. A subdued Mrs. Fitz sees them to their rooms. After they are settled, the men head to see the new Laird and war chief as the ladies take care of the children.
Hamish is trying to be strong. He is glad his uncle is by his side. It is a lot to grief his father and be the Laird at thirteen.
Dougal wishes to return to his own land and marry his new wife but knows his place is by his nephew’s side for a bit longer. He looks forward to introducing his assembled family to his fiancée.
Brain, Ian, Jamie, and Fergus, enter. They bow low, as befitting the new Laird before they hug the grieving men. They drink Column's famous reddish as they toast him.
“Fergus, I know you have a room by your parents but, could you join me tonight. I could use a mate.”
Jamie returns to his room to find his wife asleep with their boys beside her. He smiles, despite his grief. He never tires of seeing the miracle of Willie and Robbie, with Claire. He carefully joins them, Wrapping his arm around Claire.
It is in the dead of the night when Fergus comes in. “I am so sorry da but Hamish, he needs ma.”
Jamie gently wakes her. “Mon gaul, Hamish needs you.” She wakes instantly. Throwing a wrap around herself, she hurries out after Fergus.
Hamish is curled up in the center of the bed, crying his heart out. She joins him and pulls him into her arms. “It is alright. Cry all you need. I am here.”
“I tried to be strong, like a good Laird should but..”
“Shh, you are allowed to grief you father. It doesn’t make you weak.”
“I cried when my first da passed and I waa then the man of the house too. Had to see to my ma and baby sister. Cry cousin.”
With their dual permission, he weeps for hours, soaking the front of Claire’s wrap and shift, until he cries himself to sleep. Claire carefully lays him back down
“You are a good mate Fergus. He should sleep now. Get some sleep yourself.” She hugs her eldest before heading back to her husband and babies.
She finds them all sleeping together. Willie lay across his daddy's chest with Robbie laying against his side, cradled in his arm. Her heart gives a lurch and she wishes for a camera. But, those days are long passed. She just looks at them until the picture is fixed in her heart. She then joins them. She is back to sleep within minutes.
When next she awakes, it is to her husband bringing her breakfast. “I figured after your long night, you could use it.” He explains. “How is Hamish?”
“He is hurting but strong. He will be alright.” She feeds her sons and herself before they dress for the funeral.
Every clan is represented as they lay Column to rest. All the Lairds, minus the Grants and Campbell's( they are guests of the king) are present. He has a full Catholic funeral. His son, stands tall by his uncle and cousins. His eyes are dry, for now. Jamie thinks that his uncle would be quite proud.
He will be made official Laird the next day. For now, the healer, orders a nap for Hamish and all the children as the war chief does hosting duties. Column and Hamish and toasted as Mrs. Fitz lays out plenty of food and spirits. Tomorrow will be the same when the new Laird is recognized and oaths sworn to him.
Claire and Jamie finally make their way up to their room and find their babies all three sleeping together. Fergus has a baby tucked in to each of his arms.
“They are so beautiful.” Claire whispers.
“Aye. Our family. Miracles all.”
“Yes.” She starts to get undressed done in by the long day and night.
“No. Please don’t.” she slips in on one side, Jamie the other. They join hands across their children. “I love you.” She tells him as her eyes close.
“I love you, sae much. You and them are my world.” They sleep undisturbed that night.
Hamish is officially made Laird the next day. Dougal stands beside him in front of the clansmen and declares that,” Hamish ban Column Mackenzie is the Laird of clan Mackenzie after his father. May God grant favor to the new Laird, to clan Mackenzie, and to Scotland!”
A cheer greets this and the oath taken begins. Dougal kneels before his nephew and new Laird and vows,” I swear by my Lord Jesus Christ, and by the holy iron I hold, to give you my fidelity and pledge you my loyalty. If my hand is ever raised against thee in anger, I ask that this holy iron pierce my heart.” Hamish urges him up and they both drink out of the same bowl his father used for such a service.
One after one, the man of the clan did the same. After the other Lairds came up and offered a different vow, a vow to support the new Laird. Finally it is Brian's turn. He kneels before his nephew.
“Laird Mackenzie, I swear to support you as Laird and kin. To be available whenever you have need of me. To honor you as I honored your father.” He is lifted up and a cheer goes through the room. The younger children are brought in As Jenny nurses wee Jamie, the twins crawl eagerly around.
Fergus sees a strange woman by Dougal and asks about her. Dougal overhears and thinks it a perfect time to introduce her to his family.
“Fergus and everyone, this is Geneva Grant. She is to be my wife.” Claire notices her husbands lose his color. Just then Robbie crawls over the lasses foot and she kicks out. The baby cries and Hamish stands.
“Mistress Grant, did you just kick my cousin!”
“No I~ I was just moving him.” Claire has hurried over to her sobbing son and lifts him up. She turns back towards Jamie just as Hamish says,
“No. You kicked him. You also tried to seduce his daddy last night. “ A furious Claire looks from Geneva to Jamie, her eyes spitting fire.
“I was just…” Geneva has no answer. Jamie does.
“The lass tried to make a pass. I rebuked her, most firmly. I swear Claire. I dinna wish the lass when she tried years ago, and dinna now.”
The hall is still as all await her reaction. Hamish is faster. “Uncle Dougal, I want this woman removed from my castle immediately. You may, of course, marry her, if that be your wish, but she is not allowed in Castle Leoch.”
“My Laird, I dinna want her, a lass wanting another.” He turned away as some of his kinsmen escort her out.
“I am sorry Claire. I should have told you last night. It just, the incident nor the lass meant a thing to me.”
“It is alright Jamie. It was her not you.”
The hall settles back down, the party continuing. The Frasers and Murray’s head out the next morning. Fergus had requested permission to spend a week with his cousin.
“Ye may. A week only as the harvest will be coming in. Even with Murtagh there( he was guarding the house in their absence) we will need you.”
“Aye da. I will be back.”
Fergus is shocked by what he finds. A Google search pulls up that Claire Beauchamp was reported missing in 1945 by her husband Frank Randall. Seems Mr. Randall had remarried three months later to a Sandy Duncan. The marriage had ended at his death, by auto accident, a year later, leaving no issue. Sandy had remarried.
Putting this together with Claire's dairy, he is able to piece it together. Frank, a horrid husband, had been abusive to Claire. She had enough, struck back and fled, ending up falling through the stones. Frank had done a token search before moving on. The facts are clear, if mysterious. The questions are many.
Fergus recalls that there is a kirk at the bottom of that magical hill. Maybe they would know more. Determined to find out all he can to help his ancestor, he heads there.
