Maureen travels from the Wycked Aye to the Borderlands in search of her past....

FOR KATIE

A Story by Maureen MacLeod

The Wycked Aye Tavern was busy this night. Everyone had gathered, for Philip
and Maitiu' had just returned from Skye and had many a tale to tell. Philip was
out in the middle of it all, causing a ruckus as he always did. I had been
workin' in the tavern since the day Heber had brought me here. Fillin' pitchers
and cleanin' tables to earn mi keep. I would always be grateful to Heber for
bringin' mi to this place, and to Katie.
Katie was up front at the bar and I was in back drawin' ale from one of the
kegs when I heard Maitiu' speak. I wasn't really listenin' too closely until I
heard mi name come up. I stopped and heard Maitiu say to Katie, "I checked on her
just like ye asked Katie. The old women of Skye, they remembered a MacLeod
girl child named Maureen. They said she be the child of Robert MacLeod and that
they had disappeared years back and had not been heard from since. Seems MacLeod
was a gallowglass. He took the wife and girl child with him on campaign and they
never returned to Skye. ‘Tis all I could find out fer ye Katie." She thank him
quietly and I heard him speak no more.
I couldn't believe it. She didn't trust me. The one thing I knew for sure was
that I am a MacLeod tried and true. But Katie, she didn't believe me. Could it
be that this place was not the home I had hoped for after all. If Katie wasn't
sure about me, then the others were probably askin' the same questions she was.
In all truth, you couldn't blame any of them for their doubts. ‘Tis not every
day when a woman alone walks into your tavern claimin' to be your kin, and not
carryin' a damn thing to her name. And mi name, a Scot with an Irish first name.

Just then I heard Katie call from the bar, "are ye fillin' those pitchers or
drinkin' em girl?"

"I'm bringin' em straight away, Katie" I replied, and hurried
back out into the tavern. Maybe ‘twas time to move on...again.

‘Twas a long night at the tavern. A night of stories, laughter and song...and
a lot of ale. So many goodly people they are, the Highlanders of this tavern. My
heart was heavy with the thought of leaving. Mayhaps if I could find something,
anything, from mi family that I could give to Katie, maybe then she would trust
me.

Heber's sister, Elena, put her arm around my shoulders, "a bit quiet you are
tonight girl, somethin' on yer mind?"

"Nay, Mistress MacPhearson, you know good 'n well that you can't get a word in edgewise with Philip tellin' his tales and Maitiu' singin' his songs."
I didn't want to leave this place. Yet, I wanted these people to know that I
be true to mi word. It would mean returnin' to the border. ‘Twould be wrong to
just leave and not say a word to anyone...I would think on it for a day or two
and talk with Fionnula.
.................................................................
In the two days that had passed from that night at the tavern, I thought long
and hard about traveling back to the border. Back to the hubble where mi Mum and
I had lived when Da had gone off on campaign. Gone off with that wretched
O'Brien. I remember, though I was very young at the time, mi Mum taking the coin
Da had left with us and the few precious trinkets we had and burying them just
up from the hubble. He had insisted that she hide it; I never understood why.
When she died and trouble started, I fled without even a thought of lookin' for
any of it. The hubble would surely be gone by now, but the marker should still
be there. It would be a risky trip but worth it if I could find it. The chest
held a broach with the crest of Clan MacLeod. Our names were engraved on the
back of it. I would find it and bring it back for Katie.
Fionnula MacPhearson was wife to Chieftain Heber. She was also the cousin of
Maitiu', the Irishman. Maltworm they called him for the brewmaster he was. They
had some other names for him as well. Names I didn't care for too much. I liked
Maitiu, a good man, true to heart. Fionnula was very much like him. A kind and
gentle woman, pretty, and a bit of a flirt. But though she still be a young woman,
she carried with her the wisdom of an old Croan.
‘Twas early in the afternoon when I walked into the tavern. Akira was there
keeping a watch over our two little angels of the Wycked Aye. Her own
daughter, Trinity, and little Laurie Elliott. Laurie be the daughter of Cullen and
Gwendolyn Elliott. Cullen sometimes brought Gwen and Laurie to the Tavern when
trouble was about; Elliott land lay very near the English border and times
were not safe right now. Cullen had returned to defend his lands and left Gwen
and Laurie under the watchful eye and ready sword of Chieftain Heber. The two
wee ones laughed and played, happy and content with a world that, in their eyes,
had no trouble at all. Their giggles alone could bring a smile to your face.
There is always hope in the laughter of children.
Fionnula was back behind the bar beginin' to prepare food for the night at the
tavern. She looked up as I approached. "Your early lass but I'm glad to see ye,
I could use the help."

"I've something on mi mind Fionnula, can we talk a bit?"

I shared with her what had happened in the tavern and what Maitiu had said to Katie.

She stopped, put down her knife and let out a long sigh. "It has been a
long time since Katie has been back to Skye and seen any of her Clan. She misses
her own people. When you appeared out o’ tha  blue on that snowy day she was very
happy ta have one of her own Clan with her. Don't be too hard on her lass, maybe
she just wants to be sure. Maybe she doesn't want to get hurt, to get too close,
and then have ye disappear."
I told Fionnula that I would be gone for a short while, three or four days at
the most. That I was going back to the border to bring something back for Katie,
then she would have no doubts. I am Clan MacLeod, of that I am sure and when I
returned everyone else would be sure of it as well.

Fionnula looked at me, crossed her arms over her chest and dropped her chin a bit. There it was... that look. The look of wisdom and disapproval. "I don't think it wise to be goin' off by yourself girl, especially off to the border, not now. Chieftain would not
approve," she said.

"Chieftain doesn't need to know" I replied. " And besides, I've been on my own for a very long time, I can handle myself. I need to go back and get that chest. ‘Tis all that's left of mi family, I should never have left it there."

At that, Fionnula shook her head and said "You're just as stubborn as Katie, you must be a MacLeod. "

I stayed and worked that night at the tavern. I would leave first thing in the
morning.

................................................................................
...............................
I was up early to pack my horse and head out on my way. I was nearly ready to
ride when I heard footsteps in the straw of the stable. I turned and it was
Detta.

"So, riding out are ye?" she said.

"I have some business to take care of Detta and I will be back in a few days."

Detta worked the early hours at the tavern. She was a sweet thing, quieter than most of the women of the tavern. She has a son, Merrick, a handsome young lad. She is by herself with the boy; I'm not sure what became of her man. She has never shared that with me, nor have I ever asked her.

"What kind of business are ye doin' that causes ye ta wear three blades?" she asked. I was carrying my single hand, my dagger and my doe-hoof.
"Can't be too careful these days".  I could tell by the tone of her voice that
she knew this was not a simple ride through the countryside.

"Does Mistress Morna know ye be leavin'?"

"Nay" I replied, "but Fionnula does."

"God's speed girl" she said.

"Gramercy Detta, don't say anything to Katie." And with that I mounted my horse and rode out.

................................................................................
............................................
If I had only known of this earlier I could have asked Cullen for escort to
the border. But he was well on his way and back on his own land by now. The
Elliotts had been kind enough to allow mi Mum and I to stay on their land while
mi Da was away on campaign. Cullen himself would have been too young to remember
us being on their land. But the father had granted us safe keep whilst mi Da
crossed over to England with Shane O'Brien and the rest of the gallowglass. Men
and their wars. What good does it do 'em. I was too young to understand the need
for it all when mi Father left. All I knew was that he was leavin' us behind...
and alone.
I rode out at a good clip, toward Linlithgow Castle. The road would be quite
now. The Queen and her court had moved on to Falkland Palace for retreat. ‘Twas
a place she dost frequent to escape from the troubles of politics, to enjoy the
countryside, and do some hunting and falconeering. With the roads clear and quiet, I
would be back on Elliot land in no time and then back to the Tavern before
anyone really noticed.

................................................................................
...................................................
‘Twas the end of the second day when I arrived at the old path that had led up
to our hubble. The land was as beautiful as I remembered. Years had passed since
I had left.

I first went to the place where, by my own hand, I had laid my
Mother to rest. The fever had taken her one very cold night while Father was
away in England. There was no one to tell, no one to help. I had waited as long
as I could alone in my hubble, hoping mi Da would return...but he never did.
I was surprised to see that a bit of the old hubble had remained. Not much, but
enough to give a landmark to work from. There just off the corner and up the
hill was the marker. A simple stone marker set under the watchful bows of the
Great Oak.

Low and behold the chest was still there, wrapped in oilcloth and fairly well preserved. I quickly opened the chest and there was the broach, also wrapped in oilcloth. There were a few other things as well, another small chest, some coin, and some odds and ends.

I didn't take the time to look closely as the sun was setting and this was no place to be caught at night and alone. I quickly returned the chest and covered it as best as I could. Everything else went in a saddlebag.

I took one more look around, said a prayer to mi Mum and left. I would never return to this place again. There was a pub about 3 miles back down the road. I would take rest there tonight and head back to the Wycked Aye in the morning.

................................................................................
.................................................
‘Twas Mistress Morna who noticed mi missin' that first afternoon. "Where's the
other MacLeod this day?" she asked of Fionnula.

"She won't be comin' in tonight Morna, might be a day or so before she's back" she replied.

"She should have checked with me before leavin'; we have a tavern ta run ye know, and Detta can't stay all night."

"I know Morna, we'll manage" Fionnula replied. "She should be back in a few days, she had some business to take care of near the border and..."

"Near what border?"  ‘Twas the voice of the Chieftain. Katie and Phillip
were behind him.

"She's left?" asked Katie.

Fionnula knew there was no point in trying hide. She had been married to Heber for years and he knew her far too well. Fionnula told Heber of our conversation in the tavern. She told Katie that I knew about Maitiu' and Skye.
"This is all my fault" said Katie, "I'm goin' after her."

"I'll go with ye, Katie," chimed Philip.

Gwen spoke up, "Can we get word to Cullen.."

"NAY NOT, ENOUGH!" The Chieftain had spoken and that was that. He looked toward Braden and said "We'll go after her, she can't be that far ahead of us."

A little smile emerged across Braden's face. Braden was one of the finest swordsmen in the Highlands and a fierce warrior. He loved a good battle of any kind. Heber turned and slapped Braden on the back of the head as he sat at the table and said "get ready".

The men had gathered their swords and as the Chieftain approached the door
to the tavern he turned, looked straight at Katie and said, "If one more MacLeod
woman walks through this door, I'm leavin' for good."

................................................................................
.......................................................
The little pub was busy and many turned to look as I entered. Although many
highlander women carry blades, ‘tis not usual to see a woman traveling alone and
armed. I found a small table back out of the way. It was good to sit and rest.
The patrons of this tavern were a mixed bunch. We were very near the borders of
Clan Armstrong, Clan Elliott, and England.

A pretty young woman moved between the tables, servin' ale and cleanin'. The men would yank her around and pull at her skirts. She looked tired and sad. I knew exactly how she felt.

She approached, and asked if there was somethin' I wanted. She looked down at mi dagger and said, "ye best put those out o’ sight, these men, they be lookin for trouble."

"I'll be careful" I replied. "Mead, and some bread and cheese, if ye please."

The mead and food were comforting. All seemed to be going well when from behind me I heard a voice say "MacLeod, Maureen MacLeod."

A cold chill went down my back. ‘twas Armstrong, a filthy toad of a man. A man I'd had dealings with before.

"I wasn't sure at first if it was you" he said. "Then I saw the doe-hoof."

He walked around in front of the table. His right eye bore a nasty scar, compliments of mi doe-hoof knife. He moved around to mi side, put his fist in mi hair and yanked mi head back. "Have a good look at your handy work, lass" he said.

I said nothing and started to reach for my blade. He yanked my head back further and said,  "Don't, it won't work this time, you owe me girl."

"I owe ye nothin' ye filthy toad, I told you that before." I snapped.

"Your father took something from me and I want it back" he growled.

"I told ye before Armstrong, I don't have anything and he never told mi anything."

Just then there was a rustling of tables and skidding of chairs across the
floor. From the corner of my eye I could just see, there he was, striding
towards us from the front of the tavern straight toward Armstrong;  Lord Cullen
Elliott stood only a few feet from the table. His sheer presence commanded respect. "Release her, Armstrong, and we'll allow ye to live through the night" he said.

Armstrong did not move and did not let go. I heard the familiar singing of swords being drawn from their scabbards. Chieftain Heber's sword was on Armstrong's throat before he could blink an eye. From behind, Braden appeared and his blade was square on Armstrong's back, pointed straight at his black heart. He released his grip and I scrambled from my chair.  Braden grabbed mi arm and pushed mi out of the way. They led Armstrong out of the tavern on the points of their swords.

What was said and done outside the door, I do not know. When Chieftain came back in he simply looked at me and said "gather your belongin's and get your horse. We'll be havin' a talk when we get back to the Wycked Aye."
................................................................................
..................................................
The journey back the Wycked Aye was without incident. Cullen rode along, as
things were peaceful enough to gather Gwen and Laurie and return to their home.
As we entered the tavern, Akira met Braden with a kiss. Fionnula embraced the
Chieftain. Katie and Philip came toward me. Katie had tears in her eyes, as did
miself.

I took Katie's hand and laid the broach wrapped in oilcloth in her palm. She
opened the cloth to reveal the broach with the Crest of Clan MacLeod - on the
back were the names Robert, Maire and Maureen.

"’Tis beautiful" she said.

"I want ye to have it Katie; a gift from MacLeod to MacLeod."

"Ye did na have to go all that way just to bring this to me." she said.

"But I did, you're all I have now Katie, I want ye ta trust me." I replied. And with that I turned to leave the tavern.  As I passed by Heber, he grabbed hold of my arm. I looked up and said "I know Chieftain, we'll be havin' a talk."
When I arrived back in mi little room, I took the saddlebag and dumped it out
on the table. I had not taken the time to look through it until now. Most of it
was as I had expected. A small amount of coin, a ring that was mi mums...but the
other, small chest, I did not remember.

The chest contained two leather pouches. When I opened them I damn near fell off mi chair.

"Mary Mother of God" I whispered to myself. The first was full of gold and second was full of gems.  Red, green and white stones. So this is why mi Da had wanted it hidden away.
Could this be what Armstrong was after? It looked like the Chieftain and I would
be talkin' about a few more things than he expected.

To be continued.