Bethothed.....

[Josu_T]

That night was a great night for Andrew. He truly hoped Brinna would have another child so he could be there with her for it. In the morning before they left she was sick, but told him it was ok. He believed her. He just hoped it was not too bad for her and wondered how he could help her with it.

They returned home and things had been going well. The villagers had been busy repopulating the clan and Asher had taken care of things. The construction seemed to be going quite well. Soon they would be well defended. Andrew spent time dealing with many issues and Brinna spent time with the twins. He spent as much time with her as he could.

After speaking with the steward one day about moving all the villagers into the keep he made his way to the village. He walked down the path at a quick pace, happy to spend more time with Brinna. When he saw her standing there she seemed radiant, almost glowing. He ran to her and picked her up in his arms, spinning her around. After putting her down he kissed her passionately. Then spoke softly against her lips. "Has your day been good, my love?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna laughed as Andrew picked her up and spun her in his arms and kissing her passionatly. Some of the other women nodding in approvel of Brinna and Andrews happy love filled marrage. Brinna awncered Andrew breathlessly Aye, and i have some good news as weel... i am with child again.. The midwife says about 3 weeks now..

she beemed up at him already seeing the proud smile on his face so full of love and joy.. she stood on tip toe and kissed him again before feeling a tug at her skirt and looking down to see Lillith holding up a fist full of weeds and saying Our.. ours.. in an attempt to say flowers..

Nay love these are but weeds.. these here are flowers. she said kneeling down and showing her the differance but taking the weeds all the same and thanking her for them..

Just then one of the other mothers screamed. Brinna stood and begain looking around.. a wolf had come out of the trees and had backed one mother and child up against a tree.. Brinna reached for her bow but felt empty air.. she hadnt brought it with her.. Andrew somethin isna right with that wolf none would dare come so close ta tha village and the keep... be careful..

The other mothers and Brinna quickly gathered up the rest of the children and moving them to safty.. as some of the villagers from the fields came forward with a pitch forks to try and drive it off or kill it while Andrew gave them directions..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew smiled as she told him she had good news. He looked into her eyes as she told him she was with child again. His heart skipped a beat. He was very proud. He was going to have another child and this time he would be with Brinna through the entire process. He returned her kiss and then looked down as Lillith held out some weeds for them. Brinna handled her very well and he smiled at the two of them. "Aye, pretty one. They are beautiful weeds. Thank ye."

When he heard the scream he turned quickly. He did not have his sword with him, but the moment he saw the wolf he drew his knife from his sock. He nodded to Brinna and approached slowly. Villagers arrived with pitch forks and started to try and ward the wold away. Andrew made his way behind it after directing them to back it away from the mother and child. He waited for the right moment.

The villagers thrust forward with pitchforks, making the wolf step backward again. The moment it did, Andrew leapt forward, onto its back. He started wresting with the beast. When he got the right positioning, he drove the knife through the neck of the wolf. It fought for a few moments longer before slowing and then collapsing to the ground beside Andrew. He got up and brushed himself off. He only had a small scratch on his leg from the fight. He wiped off his knife and replaced it in his sock. He then went back over to Brinna.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna seeing Andrews leg quickly set him down and asked one of the other mothers to bring a bowl of warm water and some rags and another to keep an eye on the twins incase another wild animal came forward..

She knelt down infront of him and begain inspecting the wound.. it wasnt deep enough to need stitching, but needed cleaned and bandaged.. Yer a fool Andrew love.. ye should na had jumped it with not but yer dagger.. ye got lucky..

she said looking up at him with a frown, but unable to stay mad at him long smiled and shook her head as the women brought her what she needed and she begain cleaning the wound.. she bandaged it up Smiling she finnished her work and stood to kiss him..

I love ye... lets get the twins back ta the keep, and i'll have the women bring the children there as well durning the day ta be looked after for a few days while they work incase there is more than one wolf who is crazed.. well also need send some hunts men out to investagate..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew sat down next to Brinna and smiled as she took charge of the situation. He set a couple men to deal with the carcass of the wolf. Brinna looked at his scratch and then dealt with it. As she did he got the expected yelling from her. He smiled and got up when she finished. He kissed her happily. As she suggested what they do next he agreed.

He then called for the twins. The came over slowly. Andrew smiled and picked up Lillith. He leaned over and kissed Brinna softly. "I agree, we should keep the women and children safe while we can. I will send some of the most skilled men out to search the forrest and see if there are more, and why that one came into the village." He then turned to walk with her toward the keep, his little girl in his arms.

 

[LittleSprite2]

As Andrew picked up Lillith she picked up little Andrew and spoke to the other mothers about bringing the children to the keep as well as working there for now until they were sure that the threat from the wolves and other animals in the area was taken care of... the men could continue working in the fields and on the defences because they had wepons even if it was a pitchfork. where as the women and children did not.

Once they returned to the keep Brinna took charge of the women and children directing them to an area out of the way of the soldjers where they could work and play as well as finding a place out of the way inside for days when it rained, and the weather was poor..

 

[Josu_T]

Once in the keep Andrew called some of the best hunters they had. He explained what had happened and described the wolf and its behavior. They all agreed that it was strange. He sent them off in groups to search the area around the village. They stayed in groups for safety. Once he sent them off he went and put Lilleth down with Andrew so they could play inside, then snuck up behind Brinna. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed all along her neck.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna relaxed in Andrews arms as he slid them around her and begain kissing her neck, she smiled wondering if perhaps they could steel a few moments before dinner, but the tugging at her skirt and the tugging at his leg caused her to sigh knowing that they would have to wait until the twins were asleep..

She looked down at little Andrew and Lillith.. Aye Loves ken i do fer ye ? She asked kneeling down infront of them both smiling and shaking her head as Andrew held up a little wooden sword and started chacing his sister.. Lillith gave a cry and started to run until she fell down and then got up and using a stick started chacing Andrew back..

Brinna laughed as she stood back up and looked at Andrew,, Humm who do ye think they remind ye of ? a little o us both i think..Should we sperate them?. It was then another little boy decided to join the play fighting between the twins on Andrews side and gage up on Lillith but Andrew changed corse and both he and Lillith ganged up on the little boy.. Apparently little Andrew decided he was the only one allowed to pick on his sister..

Brinna moved forward then taking away the wooden sword, and the sticks... That's all of that now children... when yer a wee bit bigger ye'll learn the right way.. all three looked from her to there sticks and sword and then to the ground before running off to see what other mischeif they could get into..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew smiled at Brinna and looekd into her beautiful eyes. Then he felt a tug on his kilt. He looked down and saw the twins. They seemed to be quite inqusitive, showing them everything they picked up or saw. This time Andrew had a wooden sword. The two started playing, pretending to fight, joined by another child. It was quite funny to watch. As Brinna spoke about them he grinned and kissed her cheek.

Brinna broke them up and took their toys. They ran off to play elsewhere. Andrew grinned and moved back to Brinna once more. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. He then spoke softly against her lips. "Well, those two are quite a handful. Just imagine, we will have another one in eight months. We will be very busy then. But, we will do it together and I would not have it any other way. I love ye Brinna, with all my heart."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Aye and I ye as weel.. she said smiling, happy knowing that Andrew would be by her side from now on threw this birthing and helping to raise all their children.

For the next few months there were no more wolf attacks nor did they discover the reasion behind the ones attack save for that it must have been mad.., and they had let the women and children return to there homes but Brinna always carried her bow and arrows just incase...

Brinna kept an eye on Andrews leg as well, and made sure that no infection took and was glad that he was hail and whole and that the wolfs madness did not pass on to him..

Brinna was showing now.. not large but a little rounder in the tummy.. and it was growing cooler out in the evenings they had been able to prepare quarters for the villagers when they all came there for the winter months and had stalked up enough grains and meat to last for them all..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew was very happy and stayed that way thought the next few months. The hunters had not found anything in the forrest. They stayed safe and free of wolf attacks the entire time. Andrew started to think it had just been a coincidence. Brinna still seemed a little on edge though, carrying her bow with her. She also seemed nervous about his leg though he didn't give it a second thought.

Brinna slowly showed her pregnancy. Andrew smiled at her and kissed her jsut as much. Some men did not like how their wives looked when pregnant. Andrew was not one of those men. He found Brinna as beautiful as ever. He would softly caress her belly when he cuddled with her, happy in knowing that their child was in there.

They prepared for the winter and got everything set. The keep changed a lot fairly quickly. It was often more crowded and a lot less private though they had their rooms in a quiet area with the twins' room right across from them. They were old enough thta they did not need to sleep in the same room as Andrew and Brinna. That meant they were able to have much more private nights together.

Their anniversary was approaching as well. It had been nearly two years since they had been married. The first year Andrew had been lost, for half of the second Brinna had been gone. They had only really been together for half a year, but it was still something to celebrate. They'd had two years of being in love. Andrew started on plans for a celebration.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna was trying to figure out how far along she was so that she would know about when her baby was due to arrive.. Andrew had dissapeared in the fall nearly 3 years ago the twins were now 1yr and a half old she had carried them 9 months they had arrived in May....

She had left with Asher after they had turned a year in the summer late May to find Andrew and it had taken 4 months for her ship to get to America.. in which time Asher searched for her and then returned home...and for Andrew sent out inquires about her in Augest... Sept both her ship and Andrews had arrived in America.... 4 more months on ship and land travel had them arrive at home in January.....Some days were warm enough to be out doors others were not quite so inviting she was just glad that there had been only one insadent with the wolf attack and no more had come forth..

Roughly guessing that she was now 4 to 5 weeks along the baby would arrive at the end of September beginning of October.. She was still getting sick to her stomach but not as often now and was it seemed always eating... at times it embarassed her to have Andrew always catching her eating but at other times she just didnt care happy that Andrew was there with her sharing in all of it from the beginning..

Her emotions were also beginning to go up and down and she felt horrable about it.. she hated not being able to control wether she was angry, sad, happy or just a mixture there of... finding herself apologizing alot to nearly everyone.. The women understood and simply kept telling her it would pass wen the baby was born and she would be alright again..

She also had her fears to contend with wich all mothers had wether it was the first or 10th baby.. what if something went wrong, what if Andrew did get called away, she did talk to Andrew about these fears and he helped to reasure her that everything would be alright..

She had noticed he was being secretive about something and had tryed to guess what he was up to but hadnt been able to figure it out yet.. she had even asked him for a hint, but he just smiled at her and said she would have to wait and see.. not even the servents would give her a clue .. they just smiled and went on..

Brinna knew that they had been apart more than they had been together but she knew there annaversery was comming up soon and so to please him and the clan she had a new plad fashioned with both the MacKay and the Buchannon tartens so that it would be even easer for those who had come to join the Buchannan plad to accept there new life and be accepted even more by the Buchannons already there..

One Plad One Clan.... United... Brinna planned to present it to Andrew first as a gift for there Aniversery and to also gain his approvle for it.. she hoped he would like it.. She also spent time making blankets and clothing for the baby to come and witht the twins when her emotions wernt getting the better of her.. she would often take her sewing to the nursery and watch them play..

They had hired a nanny as well to look after the twins a bit more because altho Brinna didnt like to admit it she got tired easly now and in a month or two she would be too big in the belly to play with them... and so they had found someone that both she and Andrew approved of..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew could see the changes in Brinna. They were fairly obvious. She was dealing with a lot of mood changes, but even when she got angry he smiled and stayed calm. She could not help it. He would still love her no matter what, he cared about her. He continued to plan their big anniversary party.

When she showed him the tartan she had been working on, he was very happy with it. It showed they were all one clan. They may be technically the Buchannon clan, but they were now really a mix of both clans. The tartan showed that mix of highland and loch. He felt it was great and got a number of people working on creating it.

She often worked in the nursery with the twins. They both knew that soon she would not be able to do as much, so they got a nanny. Andrew stayed by Brinna's side as much as possible. She talked to him about her worries and every time he explained what would happen in certain situations. He would not let himself get pulled away for any reason. He was not about to miss the birth of another child.

he continued to work hard on the anniversary plans. They were coming along fine. After a while supplies started to arrive from places all over. He had imported things from other countries that he had visited while searching for Brinna. They had even recieved a package from the Rosses in America. They had sent it on the next ship to Scotland after Andrew and Brinna had left. He held that one as a secret until the anniversary. He had a number of surprises for Brinna and he was going to make sure it was one of the best days of her life.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna had already bathed and dressed for dinner in a green velvet gown with long sleves that would keep her warm...her leggings were to tight on her belly for her to wear right now but she knew that after the baby came she would be able to wear them again, and so was ok with giving them up for now..

She looked in the mirror her hands resting on her stomach and slightly rounded belly.. glancing over her sholder at Andrew a worried look on her features asked.. Will ye think me ugly when my belly gets to big fer us ta do anythin? What will ye do when i am to large for us ta share our marrage bed?

She knew that Andrew loved her, just as she loved him and that she didnt really need to worrie about such things but she didnt like to think that he might find comforot else where.. Some husbends she knew did so when there wives were to big in the belly to accomodate the husbends needs..

She wasnt even sure why she thought of it now she trusted Andrew and knew he wasnt the type to do anything like that... I am sorry ye donna need ta awncer that i know ye willna go else where .. tis a foolish worrie... me worries are gettin ta me again.. pay me no mind love...

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew entered the bedroom to prepare for dinner. Brinna was there and already prepared. She was looking into the mirror at herself. He knew she was probably doubting her appearance. He moved close to her with a smile on his face.

As she looked at her belly he stepped right behind her. She glanced at him and seemed worried. As she asked him if he would find her ugly, he already knew the answser. Then she asked what he would do when she got too big to share their wedding bed. He simply smiled at her. Other men might go elsewhere, but not him.

She then said for him to not worry about it and not answer. He moved in front of her and held her close, feeling her belly against him, loving the knowledge that their child was in there. He pulled her in and kissed her deeply and passionately. After a long kiss he finally pulled back and smiled at her again.

"Yes, you are worrying for nothing, my love. You will never be ugly in my eyes. No matter how big your belly gets, you will always be as beautiful as ever. If you get to big for our marriage bed, I will get it made bigger or get them to make a bigger one. We will never be able to do nothing together. No matter what, I will be with you and fulfill every need you have. I do not think that a belly filled with our child is ugly in any way, it is a truly beautiful thing. You are truly beautiful and always will be. I love you Brinna, you have my heart and that will never change."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna tryed not to let the sudden tears that came to her eyes fall as she layed her head on her husbends chest and smiled wrapping her arms around him and holding him close. He made her feel so Cherrished and Loved.

The tears were a combination of sadness that she could ever even think the things that she had and happiness because he understood and was there to help her work her way threw all her fears and worries.. She leaned back and looked up at him then after wiping the tears away and smiled as she asked.... have I told ye yet this day how much i love ye?

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew looked at her and for a moment thought he had made her sad. Then she leaned against him and hugged him and he realised she had tears of happiness. He smilde and kissed her head. When she looked up at him he smiled warmly down at her. When she asked if she had told him how much she loved him yet that day. He just laughed a little and kissed her again.

After another long kiss he pulled back and could not have forced the smile off his face even if he had wanted to. "You say and show it all the time. Now, lets go have some dinner." He kissed her softly before sweeping her off her feet and carrying her out the door and down stairs to the dining hall. Luckily they had large steps so he did not worry about losing his footing.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna gasped with shock and delight as her husbend swept her into his arms.. Andrew are ye daft put me down, i am no so light as i was.. she didnt really want to be put down but she was worried that he might slip and that they would both be injured in the process, but smiled laying her head against his chest when he continued dispite her protests carring her to there places with ease, before setting her down.

She took his hand in hers and sat by his side happly sharring a Trencer.. Have ye thought any on names? fer a boy or girl ? she asked wanting to know his thoughts on names. She had named the twins and she wanted him to have the say on the name of this babe..

 

[Josu_T]

As they sat to eat, Andrew grinned at her and kissed her softly. She took his hands and he looked into her eyes. When she asked about the names he simply smiled for a moment. He had not thought about it too much. "Aye, names, that is a tough thing to decide. I do love yer name, my love. For a daughter we could name her Brinna, or something similar, maybe Brigid. Fora a boy, we could name him after your brother and then maybe it will be as if your brother lives on through him. Our son would grow up to be strong, brave, kind, and caring."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna smiled brightly at her husbend Aye i like the sound o those names and agree whole heartedly, thank ye love.. she said and kissed him much to the delight of there people some cheering others simply smiling in approvel of there Liard and his wife's devotioin and love for each other.

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew saw her smiled at his suggestions for names. She kissed him and he didn't even hear the cheers. All he cared about was the kiss. He returned it with love and passion. He cared about her more than anything. The only things that came close to mattering to him as much as her were their children, they were right below the ammount he cared about her. Everything else did not matter at all compared to his family.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Brinna and Andrew exchanged there gifts and the months passed quickly it was the last day in september that Brinna's pains begain. At first she had thought it regular back pain for it started off a dull achy chramping.. and so she made her way up to there room to rest.

They had, had alot of storms lately and some of the villagers homes were in need of repair from branches that had come down in the winds, Andrew had gone to investagate the damages and see what could be done to begin working on them before the winter snows.

Brinna would have gone along with him if she were not so close to her time.. as her aches and pains begain to grow stronger she reolized it wasnt close to her time but it was time. She called out for one of her maids, to send one of the men to find Andrew, and to get the other women to help her begin preperations..

The maid rushed to do as she was told gathering the women who would help with the birth and sending one of the men to find there Liard..

The women entered Brinnas chamber and prepaired the bed as well as helping her to remove her clothing and put on a gown. They didnt help her into the bed yet but tryed to keep her on her feet and moving until her water broke it would be a few hours yet, the pains getting stronger as time passed..

Enough time for the man to reach Andrew and return in time.

Once her water broke the women helped her to clean up and change into a clean night gown and helped her into the bed the pains were alot stronger now and Brinna was becoming more vocal, and pain filled as they came stronger and faster...

the next few hours were going to be hard.. she called out Andrews name and closed her eyes before giving in to the pain and letting out a scream as the baby begain making his way into the world when she opened her eyes gain she saw andrew there in the door way the women telling him that he needed to leave that this was a place for women not men..

Brinna over road them tho and said.. no.. He.. Stays... before letting out another scream as one of the others was between her legs telling her to push while another was telling her to breath..

 

[Josu_T]

After the great anniversary celebration, the months started to pass. Andrew stayed right by Brinna's side as much as he could. He never even thought about cheating on her. He stayed completely faithful to her. She was the only woman for him, the one who had his heart forever.

When it was nearing Brinna's time, Andrew did not want to leave her side. unfortunately the villagers needed help. He was out helping with the houses and how to repair them. He got a gut feeling that something was happening. That was confirmed when a man came from the keep at full sprint. He took a minute to catch his breath before telling the reason he had come. A moment later, Andrew was sprinting toward the keep.

He arrived and got to the bottom of the stairs. He caught his breath and then slowly walked up the stairs. He calmed himself and stood by the door as she called his name. He smiled and entered, only to be yelled at that men were not allowed in there. Brinna told them he stayed before screaming. He did not like hearing her scream like that. He rushed to her side and took her hand. He leaned down to kiss her softly. With a big smile he watched as she started to give birth to their child. "You are doing great my love."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Hours later a baby boy was born to and exausted and extreamly tired Brinna, who smiled up at her husbend while two of the women cleaned the baby and he begain to cry.. another two begain to help her up in the bed so that they could change the bedding and also changed her clothing one more time so that she would be more comfortable...

I am sorry if i hurt yer ears love.. she said talking to Andrew feeling abit better now that she was clean but still tired as they helped her back into a clean bed and handed her their son. Brinna smiled down at him.. He is a bonnie lad.. welcome ta the world Ian MacKay, Buchannan.. Looking from their son to Andrew she asked.. would ye like ta hold him?

 

[Josu_T]

The hours were tough for Andrew, he did not like hearing Brinna in pain. Yet, he never left her side. He stayed with her for every moment. When the baby was being born he held his eyes on Brinna's face, with a big smile on his face. He turned when the women came up with their new baby boy. Ian started to cry and so did Andrew, a tear of joy.

After they got Brinna cleaned and changed, Andrew sat next to her on the bed. Brinna was handed their new baby and Andrew knew he would be smiling non-stop for a very long time. She asked if he would like to hold him, and Andrew nodded. He reached out and took the small baby boy into his arms. He held him the way he had been shown. He looked into the beautiful eyes of the newest addition to their family. He kissed his forehead. Looking at Brinna he smiled. "He is going to be a very handsome man. He gets that from you. He's as lovely as you."