Bethothed.....

[LittleSprite2]

Mora/ Brinna

Mora spent the next few days working with the cloth that had been bought, along with some of the other women and enjoyed listining to them bring stories back from the merchent when they came to the keep from there homes in the village..

She was more than interested and decided once her brother left to return to the Buchanan's that she would invite the Merchent to the keep to tell his tales so that she could hear them first hand rather than from her servents.

.......................

In the mean time Brinna sent a messanger disguised as a simple pesent passing threw to deliver a message to both Andrew and Ian about there sisters dissapearance so that they wouldnt be shocked to discover her gone and know that once Sinclar got the news that he was liable to be to angry at first to consider any arrangment between there clan and the Buchanans.. so there time to win his sister was limited, unless they wished to employ the same tactic that Sinclar had tryed to get Lillith..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew jr contined doing the same thing every day. He bought some things from villagers. At night he would work with them and make some new things. He even sold some of them back to the villagers, often for less than he bought the materials for. He knew that all of this would get back to Mora. He wasn't being fake though, this was how he really was and how he treated his own people. He simply hoped that she would invite him to meet with her alone.

When the messenger arrived, neither of them were worried. It was apparent from what they had learned, that Logan was afraid of their clan. He would not do anything to jeapordize peace. He might even go looking for Lillith himself, and he would also probably try finding Andrew or Ian to meet his sister. Little did he know, that Andrew and Ian were already there.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Logan woke and prepaired to leave reading himself and some of his men to return to the Buchanan holdings and if there luck held he would bring back his bethrothed with him. He bid his sister fair well and told her he would return as soon as he was able..

Mora watched him go and hoped all went well. Thinking it a pitty that her brother was only doing this for peace and not for love because he truly was a good man.. a bit rough around the edges at times but a good man none the less..

 

[Josu_T]

Ian rushed back to Andrew when he heard that Logan was leaving. They watched him go and Andrew smiled. Now was his chance. He had at least two days. One day for Logan to get to the Bucchanon keep and a day back if their father told him Lillith was gone. That was the minimum time they had. They could end up with much more. It all depended on what their father did and whether their mother interfered or not and told Logan the truth.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Mora/ Lillith

Mora did indeed send for the man she thought to be Angus the merchent to join her and the rest of her house hold for the evening meal asking if he would be kind enough to re tell his stories for her to hear as well.. and let him know that his friend was welcome to come as well for Ian had been seen quite often in his company..

The tables were set and prepaired when they arrived.

.........................................

Lillith cursed the fine mess she had gotten herself into.. she had found a lad of no more than 16 sommers with an arrow in his sholder apparently he and some of his other clansmen had gone raiding and had thought him dead.. Truth was Lillith had nearly passed him by for dead as well accept that she had happened to hear him call out for aid..

She had dismounted and checked to see how badly he was wounded.. and begain tending his wound she had the arrow out and had used some of the things she had packed in her saddle bags for bandaging.. when his Kin returned for there dead.. surprised to find the lad she now knew as Rone alive..

Thankfully she hadnt said a word to Rone when she found him and had been smart enough to point at her throat when he tryed to ask her name so that he thought she was mute.. and so he spoke up to his kin on her behalf telling them that this lad had saved his life and that he was unable to speak but could hear.. the next thing she knew she was taken under there wing and ushered to there holdings..

How she was going to get out of this one she didnt know.. but the thought of a bed was too wonderful to pass up even if it were a cot..

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew was happy when, almost as soon as Logan was gone, he got an invitation to dinner in the keep to tell stories of the world to Mora. Ian was invited as well, but he wanted to give Andrew his chance to get to know her alone. he declined and Andrew went on his own. He arrived and was led to the dining hall where he saw Mora there. He smiled at her as he got close. He bowed to her. "Good evening m'lady. It is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you have found everything you purchased and recieved from me to be to your liking." He sat in the seat he was shown and smiled at her once more.

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Robert Campbell was surprised to find his brother alive when he emerged from the trees. He had been mentally preparing himself to have to bury his younger sibling. He was also preparing himself to tell his family. So, finding another person there with Rone was a shock. Rone explainde that the man was mute, but could hear and understand, that Rone had been saved and bandaged by the stranger. He looked carefully at the stanger and thanked them. There was something strange about them. He intended to find out more about them, no matter what it took. He had a feeling that they were hiding something.

He led the group back the their keep and showed the hero to their father. They gave the stranger a room and let them rest. Robert then went to meet with his father. They spoke for a while and his father agreed that there was something strange about the unknown person. They were hiding something. Robert said he would find out about them any way he could.

((As a note, the Buchanan clan lands are on Loch Lomond already. So, I picked a clan north that has part of their territory on an inlet which she might mistake for a loch.))

 

[LittleSprite2]

Mora/ Lillith

( I thought they were further south.. ohh sorry when i was looking at the map it looked like they were closer to Greennock than Loch Lomond but your right *smiles* )

Mora smiled in welcome to Angus glad he had accepted her invatation to join them, and sat with him as she awncered his question about the cloth.. Yes thank you i am almost finnished sewing i am afraid i couldnt wait to get started after you brought them.. she blushed shyly afraid she might boar him with talk of sewing,or going on about such small maters as she had others, who were more interested in her brothers opinon or advice ect..

.....................................

Lillith noticed one man in particular who Rone stated was his brother looking at her as tho he could see into her soul and know everything about her, she shivered for a moment and decided it would be best to stay as much out of this mans way as possable. She didnt yet know his name as Rone hadnt said it nor had he introduced himself to her, but then why should he..

Rones family took over everything from there loading him on one of the litters comoftably to be taken back home in as he had lost too much blood to ride an would likely fall out of the saddle. Lillith stepped back and did only as instructed to do no more no less, not wanting to give herself away.

Once the dead were loaded on the other litter they all mounted up, and Lillith tryed to think of a way to let them know she appreceated there offer of hospitality but that she would only be staying the night.. short of writting it and giving herself away as more than what she appeared she couldnt.. besides there was no garentee that they could read ether.. so for now she was stuck..

Maybe when she got up in the morning and went to saddle her horse they would understand and let her leave.. glancing over at the man she had seen watching her earler she had a feeling it wasnt going to be that simple.. She almost wished Andrew or Ian were there with her so that she could ask there advice in privet or they could speak for her but hind sight was 20/20 ....

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew smiled as she said she was almost done sewing with the fabric he'd given to her. She seemed to blush a little. He wasn't sure what she was embarrased about, but she was cute when embarrased. He smiled at her again. "I'm glad to hear that and glad you like the fabric. I'd like to see some of the things you make with it some time. Anyway, I understand you wished to hear some of my stories about the world, is that right?" He looked at her and admired her beauty in a way that would not look suspicious to anyone who happened to be watching him.

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Robert made his plan. He got everything set up and would put it into action in the morning. Luckily they had not yet said anything about being the laird's sons yet. They had called him sir when in his presence. The stranger would not know Robert was next in line for the leadership role. Once everything was set up, he went to bed. In the morning Robert got up early. He made sure to not let the stranger leave. The moment they got up, they were led into the main hall for a good breakfast. At breakfast, Robert sat across from them. He watched the stranger without it being obvious he was watching them.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Mora / Lillith

Yes i'd like that very much as long as you dont mind the telling. Mora said her eyes lighting up a bit when he mentioned wanting to see the work she had done with the cloth, but said nothing knowing he would see her work soon enough when she brought the clothing, cloaks and blankets out to be passed out to clan members.

.......................

Lillith woke the next morning as unkempt as she had been when she went to sleep that night.. she woke and made her way to the great hall sitting with the only person whos name she knew who waved her over to join him.. Rone.

She acted like any other boy she had ever watched eat including her brothers when they had been away and hadnt had a home cooked meal in awile and dug right in. Letting out a loud belch along with sevral of the other men at the table before picking up her ale and taking a hardy swig..

It almost reminded her of the time she had locked Andrew in his room and dressed up like him to see how long it would take for her parents to notice that it was Lillith insted of Andrew, and mannaged to make it threw half the meal when her dad sent Ian up to see what was keeping Lillith and Ian had come back with an irate Andrew in toe.. god how she had laughed.. the only part she regreted was Andrew didnt talk to her for a full week afterwords..

This time was different however and as long as she remembered not to talk she was doing fine.. Rone then invited her to the yard wanting her/him to test his skills against some of the other lads there age and see how good he was.. Rone said he would test him his self accpet that his arm was stuck in a sling for awhile, until it healed.

Lillith wasnt at all sure about this but went along with it she could hold her own up until a point... and was half decent with a sword but not nearly as good as her brothers but she hoped she was at least up to the lvl of a few of these lads...

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew nodded and smiled and went over some of the stories he'd rehearsed in his mind. He'd worked on them with Ian, turning them into true tales, some that had happened to his fake persona, some stories that he'd picked up along his travels from villagers. He ate and told stories for a few hours. He told her much about the world away from her home. After a few hours he finishde his last story for the night and took a long drink. He smiled at her and waited for what she might say or ask him.

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Robert was annoyed by his brother's decision to take the stranger away. He pulled him aside once they were outside. He explained his plan to the idiotic boy. Then he sat and waited, watching the skill. The stranger had eaten strangely, part of it looked like acting. Robert ate politely, as any man did unless extremely hungry.

He watched the man fight, they were fairly skilled. After it was over they were led back inside where Robert was finally able to initiate his plan. He smiled as the festivities began. "Ok, stranger, our laird wanted to throw a celebration for the hero who helped save one of his people. So, drink up, enjoy the festivities, and thank you, for saving my brother." He smiled at the person. His plan was to get them drunk. Then they would find out teh truth. If they could talk, they could trick them into speaking. If they actually couldn't talk, they would still learn more about their personality. All would be revealed soon enough. Every time they tried to not drink, he would guilt them into drinking more by saying something like how they would not want to dissapoint the laird by not enjoying the festivities.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Mora.... Lillith and Logan

Mora loved listining to Angus tell his tales and thought she could listen to his voice forever on any subject for hours, and also found herself wondering what it would be like to be held in his strong arms and loved.. to see some of the things he had seen..

she tryed not to blush again at her waywerd notions, besides it wasnt for her to chose but for her brother to do so, as he was her Liard and guardian in the absence of there parents..

The evening ended it seemed all too soon, and she asked him to come again the next day if he would. Then she would show him the work she had done with the cloth she had even made enough extra that if he wished she could give him a cloak as well... tho she wasnt sure if he would want it or not as it wouldnt be nearly the quality of one he could purchace elsewhere..

Mora bid Angus good night and made her way to her own chambers for the night
..........................................

Logan arrived that eveing at the Buchanans and was sitting with them now infront of the harth after sharing supper with them.. It was also then that he asked after Lillith.. Liard i ken yer daughter isna happy with these arrangements, but i canna hope ta ally her fears if i doona see her..

........................................

Lillith nearly groaned allowed when the man she had been trying to give wide birth to all day long stood and announced a celebration in her, no His honor.. but mannaged not to give any indacation what so ever at her surprise or dismay.

She drank along with the other lads at the table but any time she tryed to stop she ended up being guilted into having another.. feeling like she might be going to get sick after about the 9th round of ale or was it more than that.. trying to act as tho nothing were amiss she stumbled her way outside..

She put her hands on the wall above her head and puked into the bushes. Thinking herself alone she let out a low grown and a soft string of curses because she knew her head was going to be killing her in the morning

 

[Josu_T]

Andrew smiled at Mora invited him back the next day. He accepted and rose from his seat. He bowed to her and, as a gentlemean, kissed the top of her hand. He then stood straight and left the keep. He returned to his camp where Ian was waiting. Andrew told him what had happened and they discussed it for a while. Later they lay near their fire and fell asleep.

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Robert was quite proud of his plan as the stranger drank quite a bit. When they got up, he followed them silently. Once they got outside, the stranger threw up in the bushes. He listened as he groaned and swore. Robert grinned as he heard the voice, then his face went blank. That was that voice of a woman, not a man. The stranger was no man, he was a she. apparently she was trying to hide that fact by not talking. He did not know why, but he had uncovered the secret. He returned to the keep and waited for her to return. While he did, he spoke with his father and explained wht he'd discovered about their visitor. Robert planned on pulling her aside a little later and talking to her while she was still drunk and hopefully not thinking straight. He'd been drinking water all day, so he was fine. He watched the door and smiled when the strange woman dressed as a man returned.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith

Lillith went back inside the keep and rejoined the celebration but avoided drinking anymore that night feeling that she had had more than enough, and had no wish to lose what little contents her stomach might still hold.

After a bit everyone started going there own ways to make up there pallets for the night and she rose as well to find her own bed only to stop in the walk way as she noticed the man who Rone had said was his brother, but whos name she still did not know waiting in the hall for someone. God she thought dont let him be waiting for me... but she had a feeling she wasnt going to be so lucky... She had to admit he was a handsome fellow tho..

She shook her head and frowned closing her eyes for a moment bringing her hand up to her head because the world was still spinning even tho she hadnt drank any more. She moved her hand from her head to the wall to try and steady herself a bit better.. God she thought i swear i dont care if i am prettending to be a man i'll never touch that stuff again..

She opened her eyes and Rones brother was still standing there she wanted to ask him what he wanted but sence she couldnt she just waited

 

[Josu_T]

Robert stood, waiting in the hallway for the unknown girl. She seemed to take forever to stumble down the hallway. She stopped near him and he moved close to her. He assisted her to the room they had given her and led her inside. He sat on the bed next to her and gave her a serious look. "Ok, I know you can talk and I know you are really a woman. Now I want you to explain who you are, why you are out on your own, and why you are trying so hard not to be discovered as a woman." He looked into her eyes, they were very different from any other eyes he'd seen before. She was definitely an interesting girl.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith looked at him with the combiantation of shock, horror and anger at the fact that he had some how found her out..

She tryed to shove him to knock him off the bed but half drunk she misjudged her momentom and his reflexes ending up missing him and landing on the floor herself the world spun until she found herself looking up at him wondering what happend.. before giving a sigh and sitting up slowly.

Alright i am a lass. i ran away and i am na goin back. She said very seriously altho a sad look came over her features as she thought of how much she did miss her family even if she wanted to go home she couldnt and wouldnt not to wed someone she didnt love.

Violet colored eyes met the mans on the beds and she shurgged before continuing knowing he wouldnt be satisfied with that short criptic awncer she thought about lying to him but something in her warned her against it..

I am running from being wed if ye truly must know... I'll no give ye me name if ye donna kin it ye canna send me back .. as fer dressen like a lad, well now it seemed safer fer a lad ta travle alone rather than a female alone..

Lillith shivered remembering some of the stories her father and brothers told about unclaimed alone women in the highlands and what could happen to them.. Not something she deisered in the least.

 

[Josu_T]

Robert watched as she tried to attack him, but ended up on the floor. He looked down at her and she realised he had her. She sat up and admitted to being a woman. She had a nice voice. She explained she had run away and would not go back. She then, finally, explained what she meant. she explained how she didn't want to marry someone that she felt she was being forced to marry back home. She said she would not give her name and he nodded. She also made sense when explaining why she was dressing like a man. He had just one more question for her. "I can understand acting like a man out in the wilderness, but why act like one here? Did you think we would do something bad if we found out you were a woman? Does it look like I'm planning to do anything bad now?"

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith

Lillith shook her head and groaned regretting the motion as it made the room spin. She rested her head on her knees as she spoke. Nay na now ye donna but i only just met ye and yer clan.. an if ye knew who i am ye would try and return me wether ye wanted to or na.. which is why i'll have ta leave as soon as may be i canna take a chance, i donna even kin yer name ether....

Her words had started to sler a bit and she was figthing to stay awake and aware enough for the coversation she was having with this stranger whos name she didnt even know.. and was afraid come morning she wouldnt remember any of this over the pain she was likely to be feeling.

 

[Josu_T]

He listened carefully to her. She told him if he knew who she was, he would try returning her. She could not take the chance. She then said she didn't even know his name. He smiled at her. "I'm Robert. Oh, and you will not be leaving here any time soon. We need you to stick around. I can't let a woman freely run around on her own. There are many things that could happen to you. Also, do you even know where you are going? I'd think that if you are running away, you should have a destination."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith smiled into her knees before looking up I made it this far, as a lad i've been safe enough.. ye canna keep me here, and i have a destantaion.. simply ta travle, an see what there is ta see.. .. where i'll end up is my choice. she stated not really hearing what ever reply he made tho she thought she heard him say something before she passed out.. she wasnt even aware that she had laid back and passed out on the floor. The last thing she mummbled that was coherant was a vow not to drink so much ale in the future..

 

[Josu_T]

She seemed determined not to stay there. He shook his head at her. He started explaining that he could not let her leave since he knew she was a woman. She passed out and fell to the floor. She mumbled something and he moved to her side. He lifted her up and placed her in her bed. He Kaid her down adn then left. He went and got some maids. He told them to strip her down and wash her and then take her clothes away and leave her some dresses. He had guards at her door and outside to make sure she did not escape again. He also had a hidden guard watching the other guards in case she did something to them. He also told the maids to have some hangover remedies ready for her when she woke.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith

Lillith held her hands to her head the next morning wishing Ale had never been invented and that she hadnt been so foolish as to drink as much of it as she had. Her head felt as tho it were splitting in two..

She the fact that her head hurt as much as it did made her a bit slow to reolize that she didnt have any clothing on and winced as she sat up too quickly to look around the room for her cloths.. only to find... dress's.. Hell.. she'd been found out .. she remembered parts of the converastion she had with.........

Robert.. yes Robert damn.. she got up slowly due to her headache and dressed in one of the gowns provided as she couldnt very well go around naked. She also found the hang over remedies she took them and then survayed the room he had taken her wepons as well and most likely would have her horse guarded too.

She tapped her foot trying to think of a way to escape, because she felt trapped.. she couldnt remember if she had told him her name or not or anything else... taking care of the guards at her door wouldnt be a problem so long as her door wasnt locked, but she couldnt travle the countryside ether until she found some clothing that would make her look like a boy again..

The dresses were pretty but also hugged her curves a little too well.. angry and worried about what she might have told him in her foolish drunkeness she had to leave.. if she could gain her wepons and some clothing she could leave her horse in fair exchange...

That decided Lillith moved to the door and found it unlocked the guards quickly and effencently taken care of. Tho she had to admit they werent exactly expecting her to fight like a man and had probably expected her to talk her way out rather than fight..ahh well

She looked around carfully but didnt see the other guard who now shadowed her movements and sent another to find Robert both surprised at her escape for they hadnt thought they would really be needed to watch over a wee Lass..

Lillith made her way to the stables where she was sure to find some stable hands clothing, from there she planned to make her way to the armory tho she would rather have her own wepons and hated steeling she simply considerd that they would have her belongings and horse as a fair traid..

 

[Josu_T]

Robert had been awake for quite a while when a man came running to him, telling him how the girl had got out of her room. He sighed. He got up from his seat and immediately went outside. He had a good idea of where she would be. He made his way there and had it confirmed by one of teh guards that had been outside that had seen ehr going toward the stable. His hidden guard was just outside the stables and they had people watching every side. He entered silently.

He found her searching through some things and he moved up behind her. "Hello Lil, going somewhere? Oh, yeah, that's right. I know your name, or at least your nick name. It was engraved on a few of your things. You must have brothers or sisters you don't want taking your things. I can't let you go anywhere. You are staying here. You don't have to go home, but you do need to stay here. Please don't try to attack any of my men again."

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith had turned to face him when she heard him approching her eyes narrowing at the fact that he was calling her Lil.. Ye didna hav ta take me things. and i'll no harm yer men tho if its any consolation i only got the drop on them cas they werena accpecting well me..... an i'll make ye a deal.. gi me back me sword and bow.. if ye beat me at archery i'll stay.. if i win ye let me go.. what say ye?

She knew she couldnt beat him with a sword but she was an accelent archer and there she knew she stood at least a chance.. She stepped forward then out of the shadows into some light that was streaming in threw one of the windows higher up in the wall of the stables where he could see her more clearly now.

It wasnt that his offer wasnt good or even kind it was but she didnt have anything left to her accept her freedom and he was going to take that away from her as well, and she just couldnt give it up with out a fight..

 

[Josu_T]

Robert listened to her explaination. She challenged him to an archery competition to decide whether she stayed or went. He made himself look nervous, but he was the best archer in the clan, a clan known for their archery skills. He looked pensive for a minute. "Ok, you have a deal. Let's go right now. I'll get some men to set it all up. The laird will surely give his approval." He left the stable and sent men to get both their bows. He led her toward a field. There was the archery practice range, with targets full of holes allready. He got a new one set up and they got their bows minutes later. He took practice shots and made himself appear nervous and a decent shot, but not great.

 

[LittleSprite2]

Lillith followed Rober to the archery range glad to have the comforting feel of her own bow back in her hands.. she watched Robert take a few practice shots and thought sadly that this was goind to be a bit one sideded.

When the signal was given for the contest between them to begin Lillith forgot everything around her save for the targets ahead it soon became apparent that she would not be an easy opponant to beat as she hit her mark everytime.. and would continue to do so unless distracted some how but for ether of them to distract the other would be cheating and would be forced to forfit should they do so..