Feb 22, 2020
jamie fraser.
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jamie fraser.
“You need my help...I always have and I always will.”
‘Claire Beauchamp...Murtagh found her.’
outlander | 1x2 | snapshots
What's your absolute favorite interaction between Jamie and Claire?
hello there!
oh dear friend. how on earth do i decide?????? ye ken well enough, i am going to pick two because i can never settle on just one hehe.
over time, i find myself consistently gravitating to jamie and claire’s “first” interactions whether that is back when they first met in 1x2 “castle leoch” or after twenty years apart in 3x6 “a. malcolm”
there is a pure, timid, innocence bewteen them. an effortless magic to both of these encounters.
in the first, they did not know one another at all. thrown together by the string of destiny, they literally collapse into one another’s arms as they realize: you are what i have been aching for all of my life.
in the second, they went from being complete lovers, to strangers as the whims of fate ripped them apart. yet, as if nothing as changed, they melt into one flesh. and they realize all over again, you are what i never stopped aching for all of my life.
bottom line: i love watching them love one another.
Jamie x Claire
Outlander Moments of Impact: I Decided to Trust You Instead
When one falls in love, there is a desire to be known. You not only seek to be intimately aware of your beloved, but you yearn for the reciprocity of knowledge:
That you would be seen as you are for who you are.
But in order for this to be possible, there must be a transfer of trust. A moment when you choose to expose yourself—in your rawest form. For only then can you know that the love returned is true.
Jamie Fraser makes such a declaration of self to Mistress Beauchamp in 1x2 “Castle Leoch”
Let’s break down this scene for some context, shall we?
Claire seeks Jamie out during the day to bring him some bandages and a wee bite to eat.
As she approaches the stable where Jamie is working, she pauses and smiles at the young lad training the horses. He is mesmerizing to watch.
Accidentally knocking into something, Claire startles the horse. Helpless to stop the creature, she stands there terrified.
Spooked, the horse lunges into the air violently at Jamie.
Startled and to avoid a nasty kick, Jamie falls against the fence.
Jamie yells in Gaelic and rips the sling off his injured arm. Turning around to see what caused the ruckus, the second he spots Claire, his entire demeanor changes. Claire begins to apologize, “I’m so sorry about that.”
And an earth-shattering grin spreads across his entire face. Jamie quickly excuses the horse, “She’s just a girl with spirit is all…and that’s always a good thing.” (I have a wee inclination to believe Jamie is referring to more than just the horse *cough Claire cough*)
Then inquiring, “What can I do for you, Mistress Beauchamp?”
Smiling, Claire gestures to the basket she holds, clarifying, “It’s what I can do for you. Some fresh bandages and some lunch.” Face shining, clearly delighted with the idea, Jamie agrees, “Aye.”
And they sit, sharing each other’s company.
Practically inhaling his meal, Claire teases him a bit pointing out, “Quite the appetite. I should think you’d eat grass if there was nothing else.”
Jamie concurs and then states he reveals, “I have. Doesna taste bad but it’s not very filling.” Slightly shocked, Claire incredulously asks, “You’ve actually eaten grass?”
Eyes lit up with humor, Jamie can sense Claire is waiting to hear the story behind such a claim. So he shares: “Mhmm. The winter. Year before last. I was living rough ye know, in the woods wi’ a group of lads, raiding cattle. We’d had poor luck for a week or more and no food among us left.”
Shaking her head, her voice laced with a hint of judgment, Claire responds, “One might ask why you were raiding cattle and living the life of a thief instead of tending to your own farm.”
This comment stops Jamie cold for a second. It’s clear her opinion matters to this young lad—and she doesn’t express a very high one of him just then.
Making a deliberate choice to be honest, Jamie states, “There’s a price on my head. 10 pounds sterling. A farmer’s whole year in these parts.”
He owns the fact that he is a criminal bearing an exorbitant price on his head. Claire sits quietly yet the surprise creeps into her face. Perhaps she’d misjudged him. “Seems excessive for a single escaped prisoner.”
With a wee grin, Jamie continues, “No, not for escape. For murder.”
Delving in further, “But I didn’t actually kill the man I’m wanted for.” A bit bewildered, Claire reacts, “You’re a very complicated man, Mr. MacTavish.” Watching her intently he laughs denying it.
Jamie then shares the necessary details of another part of his story with this englishwoman, a stranger.
Piecing things together, “I take it your real name’s not Mr. MacTavish.” Jamie confirms, “No. No, it’s not.” Smiling to herself, Claire offers, “A ‘nom de guerre’ as it were.” A name of war. Chuckling Jamie affirms, “Aye, if ye like.”
When he finishes, he elaborates to her the gravity of what he has just revealed—it is worth the protection of his own life.
Acknowledging this, Claire seeks to know why Jamie shares this with her then; he could have simply lied. “Why did you tell me?” Why of all people would you trust an english-woman whom everyone assumes to be a spy?
As if he could do nothing else, Jamie says, “Ye asked.” Not letting him off that easy Claire contradicts, “That’s no answer. You could’ve lied. Or told me it was none of my business.”
Responding in candor he says, “I decided to trust you instead.”
Suddenly interrupted by Alec, Jamie realizes he must part from Claire.
Needing to return to tend to the horses, they bid farewell. “Thank you for the food and the uh—” Thank you for be trustworthy; for being here with me.
Poking at him a little Claire retorts, “Just try not to get flogged it’s stabbed today. That’ll be thanks enough.” Playing along, Jamie offers, “No promises, Sassenach.” They stand there basking in their own private joke and the budding intimacy growing between them.
This revelation of “life on the run” leads to a fork in the road—Jamie can either share with Claire or he can shield himself away.
Jamie’s life truly hangs in the balance. If the wrong person were to attain information of his true identity or his location, it would be catastrophic.
He would be sold for a price.
He would be captured.
And the rest of his fate is left up to the horrors of the imagination of Black Jack Randall…
And yet, on a rainy day, in the middle of a barn, Jamie offers the most valuable thing he can to a enigmatic Sassenach:
THE TRUTH.
He tells her the truth.
He does not hide behind a veil of mystery.
He does not lie to project a false-self.
He shares details about his life that are not only difficult to swallow, but incriminate him.
Why would Jamie do such a thing?
Why would he subject himself to the mercy of an Englishwoman?
Why would he place his own safety in the hands of a person everyone deems untrustworthy?
Because love does not withhold from the beloved.
Does he share everything? No…not yet. But that is simply a matter of timing, not vanity. However, Jamie does make himself known. Exposing himself to not only the dangers of being captured, but also the risk of being rejected.
Jamie has no assurance of how Claire will receive this secret. He has no comprehension of how she will react. He has no security of her sentiments.
He genuinely is choosing to believe the best of her having no guarantee of how this will affect their relationship moving forward.
But love does not conceal.
To love is vulnerability. Love is willing to let the dark part of the human heart be exposed because we can only be as fully loved as we are fully known. This is exactly what Jamie chooses to offer to Claire: the raw reality of who he is and his circumstances.
This young lad offers his story to a young woman hoping, trusting that she is indeed worthy of it as he believes with every fiber of his bones her to be.
There is all manner of risk in choosing to love.
Outlander Moments of Impact: So Long As I’m With You
(If you missed part 1 of this scene, here it is )
What makes someone fall in love with another? Is it the crinkles around their eyes when they smile? Is it the way they toss their head back as they laugh? Is the set of their shoulders as they walk? Is it the tone of their voice when they say your name?
No one can articulate the exact components that encompass love. It is too reductionistic to even try.
However, regardless of the mystery surrounding attraction, there is a point where you find yourself experiencing an irrevocable warmth towards another.
You look upon them and suddenly like a bolt of lighting: you are love-struck.
Jamie Fraser’s lighting bolt moment takes place in 1x2 “Castle Leoch”. He is bewitched beyond measure, never to be the same again.
Let’s break down this scene for some context, shall we?
After sharing himself fully with her, scars and all, Jamie and Claire enjoy a moment of silence in front of the fire at Castle Leoch. However, after moving his arm too quickly, Jamie winces, groaning in pain. Despite his practiced cool demeanour, he is suffering.
Claire cautioning, “Don’t do that. I’m going to strap that arm to your side.” Breaking away from him, she leans down to grab the cloth to finish bandaging Jamie with.
Jamie’s face communicates so much in this moment. Such frustration by his own injury, limitation, yet also, so thankful for this woman’s help.
Ordering him yet again, “Hold still.” Taking the fabric, Claire wraps it around his body.
As naturally as drawing breath, Jamie blesses Claire with words of affirmation, “You’re a kind woman, with a good touch.”
Choosing not address this, Claire just glances at him while continuing her work.
Almost as if she’s putting him in his place, she ties the bandage and jerks it tight causing Jamie to chuckle and smirk in acknowledgment. Yet he continues to admire her anyway. With a sly smile, he adds, “Your husband is a lucky man.” What is so lovely about this is that Jamie is acknowledging his attraction, yet also respecting the fact that she is married. He is honoring her in this moment.
However, the second the word “husband” is spoken, Claire crashes into reality. Full of fear, confusion, and doubt, she panics. Backing away from Jamie, she sits staring blankly into the fire remembering Frank.
Immediately, Jamie notices a shift in her disposition. Attuned to the slightest change, he knows that something is causing Claire pain.
Gently he asks, “Mistress? Mistress Beauchamp, what’s wrong?” Barely holding it together, Claire explains, “I’m fine. I was just thinking about my husband.”
Jamie, full of loving-kindness, responds, “Oh...Lass” Inquiring further, “Is he not alive?” Jamie is so sensitive; even the way he asks the question is gracious. Instead of phrasing it by “death”, he frames the question in terms of life.
In response, Claire answers, “No, actually. He’s not alive.”
And then she completely falls apart, sobbing. (This is purely my interpretation, but I believe this moment of brokenness is not simply about Frank. I assert that Claire is just beginning to realize that she is lost in time and she is paralyzed by the notion that she many never find her way back. Her grief is for the fear of the unknown)
Without a second of hesitation, he rushes to Claire’s side.
Kneeling down with her, Jamie puts his arm around her and pulls her into his lap.
Softly whispering gaelic into her ear, he brushes back her hair. And for a few brief moments, Claire clings on. She melts into Jamie and he holds her against his chest.
As Jamie feels this woman go to pieces, his face shows equal anguish. A muscle jerks in his jaw and his eyes fill with compassionate empathy. He is sharing in her grief.
Claire calms in the sheltering arms of this unknown man.
Perfectly in sync, they both draw back. And then, their eyes lock on one another. Holding their breath, seconds pass that might as well have been hours. There is an unspoken electric current between. The sexual tension tingles in the air, sharper than a knife.
Suddenly, Claire feels Jamie’s desire for her through his kilt. Terrified, she immediately jumps up.
She moves away from him to put distance between them. Despite being drawn to this highlander, she has no idea what he’s capable of...Standing far away from him, she says, “I am sorry; I didn’t mean to...”
Following suit, Jamie directly stands up. He senses her fear.
Waiting for a moment to collect himself, there is a sense of shock from Jamie that this just happened; perhaps even a slight embarrassment that he put her in that position.
Still quiet, nervously, Claire looks at Jamie, watching him.
Fully aware of the emotions she’s experiencing, Jamie then reciprocates, looking at her dead on. Without wavering and full of conviction he says, “You need not be scared of me.” Even in his hunger for her, he explicitly states she has nothing to fear; he would never use his power against her.
He extends this promise further, “Nor anyone else here so long as I am with you.” Claire, moved by his generosity, allows her guard back down.
But then she inquires, “And when you’re not with me?” To this question, Jamie’s face subtly, but noticeably darkens. In his eyes creep an awareness of the reality of who Claire is and where she is: and that alarms him for her. He cautions, “Just never forget that you are English in a place where that’s not a pretty thing to be.” The irony in this statement is piercing. Although others find Claire to be “ugly” due to her origins, Jamie finds her beautiful.
Stepping towards Claire, he lightly takes her hand in his own, charging her, “Watch yourself.” Taking him at his word: “Thank you, I will.”
Not wanting to leaver her, or release her hand, Jamie knows he must do both. Excusing himself, “Now you sleep a bit. You’re worn out.”
Collecting his things, Jamie makes his exit.
And Claire stares after him as ha walks away.
Jamie looks upon this outlander and he sees her for who she truly is.
As everyone around her assumes wickedness, Jamie calls her “a kind woman.” As everyone around her questions her ability to actually heal, he states she has “a good touch.”
Jamie does not choose to affirm Claire’s physical beauty despite his longing for her.
He affirms her CHARACTER. All around her fly slanderous accusations, yet Jamie highlights her kindness. He also praises her healing abilities; something Frank internally resented and everyone else is highly suspect of.
But without even knowing her full name, Jamie knows Claire. He is drawn to this woman for her heart, her soul, her goodness, & her healing nature.
As he watches this precious, dear woman break over the loss of someone, his beckons her into the safety of his affection and holds her there.
Sitting in agony from his injury, he puts his pain aside and leans down to tend to her.
He cares about her suffering even more than his own.
Her expressed emotion did not startle him, confuse him, repulse him… it wooed him.
He fell in love with this woman as she wept in his arms.
It was her humanity that sealed his fate. Her grief, her feelings, her love: all culminated into a gift of stunning brilliance that James Fraser simply could not resist.
In an exchange of hearts, Jamie realizes his love for Claire Beauchamp. Shocked by the electricity of attraction, his fate is sealed and never to be broken.
Despite this revelation, he does not use it against her in that moment. He does not put his feelings before her. He does not let his desire of her supersede her. And so he yields when she pulls away.
From the minute she arrived, she was threatened with abused power from a man. And thus every other man is seen as a threat of rape, harm, and manipulation to Claire.
Jamie sees this trepidation in her eyes. And so with his simple words, he shatters her fear:
“You need not be scared of me, nor anyone else here. So long as I’m with you.”
With this covenant, he says: though others seek to abuse you, harm you, use you, hurt you, abandon you, I will never do the same. You are protected and you are SAFE with me.
His perfect love casts out all her fear.
Although Claire thinks these words are momentary as she is not planning to say, Jamie means them for eternity. His love for her is everlasting.