Punished in the moment
Of love
I looked back
And saw the jealousy of
The gods
Overflow the milky way
Baba Akiko
"Try to murder a McCrimmon, would you? Well, I'll show you! Creag an Tuire!"
Before the swinging sword of the highlander, the redcoat ran in a desperate flee, only to be brutally pinned down on the soaked ground of the moor. Struggling, his eyes fell into those of his assailant, and the fury he saw in his gaze them was enough for him to close his eyes in a last, silent prayer.
But a clattering sound, and a harsh voice replaced the expected blow.
"Go away."
Feeling his body freed from the weight of his assailant, he dared to open his eyes again, and was treated with the sight of the young highlander throwing his musket next to his own sword, and scattering the powder in some sort of raged frenzy.
Gathering himself, the soldier however stayed still, his eyes full of questions to the young man who so carelessly turned his back to him.
"Go away. This game is over for me."
Brought down to himself by the snapped order, the redcoat finally left, glancing behind his shoulder as he ran faster and faster without further ado.
Rain began to fall on the moor.
Chapter One: Sweet Dreams.
Like an automaton, Jamie McCrimmon walked his way through the muddy battlefield, stumbling over corpses, startled by distant firing or shouting. He had to find a shelter from the rain, from the dirt, from the vaguely familiar face of the redcoat who fled before him. From whatever his blurry eyes could be laid upon.
Some hours later, he stumbled at the entrance of a hidden cave, hungry, wet and cold, but soon deeply asleep in his unbelted plaid kilt.
However, his blissful rest came to an end when, in the darkest hour of the night, he felt something tickle his ear, as two small voices drew him from his numb senses.
"Come on, Jamie."
"Come on, mate, we wouldn't let you all alone to handle this, wouldn't we ?"
And his state of slumber didn't last long when he realized what was standing, or rather flying, in front of him.
It was two fairies, a male one and a female one it seemed. The female one wore a sort of striped, figure-hugging dress. For the the male fairy, the triangular collar of his outfit was the only noticeable detail. They were very similar from what he figured from the old tales of his childhood, except that on their heads, no features were to be seen where they should have been, only some sort of… blurry mist, or snow, seeming to fall permanently in the tiny space of their faces.
"Come with us, Jamie !"
"Who are you ?"
"Oh, don't fuss over the details, come on, you have a date with a gorgeous crow and you don't want to miss it, believe me ! said the male fairy in a joyful, mocking tone."
No more willing to pay attention to his questions than his companion, the female fairy drove him gently by the hand to the exit of the cave, so clouded in mist now that none of the landscape outside was ever visible.
…apart from a long, wooden bridge, overhanging a deep chasm, that was very not here the day before.
By this point, Jamie established that all of this was just the dream of a very tired highlander and that the best he can do was to obey and wait for his awakening to come. With this in mind, coupled with a craving curiosity, he dressed hastily, and took boldly a first step on the bridge.
A strange bridge indeed ! As he walked the edifice, the surface became slippery, as it was made made of ice, and shrieked under his feet to the point Jamie was forced to advance one foot before the other like an acrobat. Sometimes, it also bent up and down, so brutally that he would have surely fall to a certain death if his two guides hadn't hold him back (strong little chappies, really !). And it occurred more and more clearly to Jamie that the distance to cross grew as his steps were supposed to get him closer to what looked like the most tremendous castle he had ever seen.
"It's a trick our mistress keeps to test the valour of all her visitors, but do not worry, you will do it ! said the female fairy in a cheerful tone."
Even without her small friend encouragement, Jamie would not have stepped back. He wanted to know, wanted to see. After all, it was just a dream, wasn't it ? And a dream so much more interesting than what he left on the moor.
He was exhausted when he finally reached the castle, whose doors opened all by itself. There, his little companions took his hand again, and escort him through dark, shadowy ramparts and corridors, until he found himself driven to a small room, lit by candles and torches that seemed to struggle against the darkness around.
However, the most remarkable element in this room was a standing silhouette, cloaked in a black cape with a white horned horse embroidered on it, topped with a great black hat, who was looking at what seemed to be a large rectangular mirror. When Jamie's reflection appeared in it, the silhouette turned back to face him, and revealed itself to be a woman of majestic, almost supernatural beauty.
"Good night, James Mac Cruimen, I was waiting for thee", she greeted him with a smile.
"Er… Good night. Who are you ?"
The woman did not answer immediately, but Jamie found that it was not necessary. Her black armoured attire, her pale face, the strange bridge he had just crossed… All these details made suddenly sense in his mind, even if it didn't nothing to temper his astonishment. He didn't really mind, though: after all, it was nothing but a dream, wasn't it ?
"Wait a minute ! I know who you are ! You are Scàthach, the Shadowy ! The magician who trained so many great warriors !"
She smiled fondly.
"I'm glad these old tales are still told and kept in humans memories. But thou and I hast no time for this. As if peculiar wars were not enough, my beautiful island is now roamed and ravaged by countless monsters. And look at those two poor fellows who lead you here, they have lost their faces ! Something needs to be done."
"You want me to fight those "monsters" for you ? Why me ?"
"Because thou hast very personal motives to accept my request. Motives that make of thee the only reason of my presence here, and the only one that can restore what had been torn. Nevertheless, it is true that the ultimate choice resides in thy hands. Rapunzel or The old man on the moon ? Thy soul is the only judge. But whatever thou decide, I would be glad if thou accept this wee artefact from me."
Besides the witch, the two fairies that guided Jamie reappeared, carrying a casket of a vibrant blue.
"Will you give me some weapon for this quest ? Like you did with your former pupils ? Jamie asked, raising an eyebrow before the box."
The magician chuckled.
"A weapon ? Not exactly. But it will be of great use to recollect what thou hast so mindlessly scattered."
Not daring to ask for the meaning of these last words, Jamie opened the casket the two spirits now handed to him. It contained nothing but a small, white-furred sporran, lined in bright blue.
More amazed and perplexed than ever, Jamie put on himself the garment, and not knowing what to do or say next, chose to simply kneel respectfully before the witch.
"It suits thee well. Too bad thou wouldst not enjoy the friendship of my thighs to the fullest…- she sighed in a little, impish smile – But enough talking! It's time for thou to begin thy travel, James McCruimen."
She moved aside from the strange mirror and invited him to come closer. The only thing Jamie could see was his reflection, clouded in the same sort of snowy mist that covered the faces of the two fairies, who were now settled on each of his shoulders. He could also hear some faint, indefinable rumbling, coming from behind the surface. He reached out, and saw his own hand engulfed behind it, like in a pool of cloudy water.
More worried than he would like to admit, Jamie turned towards the magician. Then, the warm smile she gave him, and, most of all, her blue, twinkling eyes filled his heart with some reassurance, and… nostalgia ? She talked again, her voice this time less cheerful, and more sympathetic.
"Goodbye, wee thistle shoot. I sincerely hope thou wilt find what thou art looking for."
Jamie waved timidly at her, and without elaborating further, bravely entered the mirror.
