Chapter 1 – Hell Hath No Fury
It was Yuletide or as she always remembered it as Weihnachten.
The time was always special to Lizzy. She often enjoyed crafting various decorations and other items that delighted the other matrons. Her most famous item were small decorations she made of thread and straw that she cut. Each was as unique as snowflakes that they represented.
Elizabeth was busy decorating the main hall spending her time in equal measure between being with her bairns and helping Mrs. Fitz. Jamie was always about, often using his added height to help put up the heavy garlands about the hall as an excuse to be near Lizzy.
Lizzy was polite and attentive to her husband in public, enjoying meals with him, making conversation, and being with their children. However, as soon as the pair were alone, she hardly spoke to him and refused to bed with him.
Jamie worked in the stables once more finding the work comforting. Though many were fooled by the pair, it was becoming more and more apparent that there was a certain about of strain in their marriage. However, neither seemed to wish to call it quits. Jamie would not divorce her as a Papist and would often sit in the room while the bairns slept reading from a small bible near the hearth as Lizzy did small items to keep busy as the wind howled outside. Though Lizzy refused to allow him to join her in bed, she did at least allow him to be in the room, sleeping often on cot that he kept under the bed to hide it from the children and from others who did not need to know such things.
Janet was nearly weaned, though she did still seem to like suckling, but preferring other foods now, finding using her gums and six teeth. She often would pull herself up using her father's kilt and walked about in the odd jerky way of a toddler. He would at times hunch over and let her hold his fingers to allow her to be steadier, praising her efforts and rewarding her with some sort of fruit, often apples, he had which he would cut up for her with his dirk into small pieces she could not choke on, but gum and chew.
Lizzy had to admit as she watched him with the children, that she loved him dearly, but she could not quite forgive him. Now, even a couple weeks later, bruising remained on her bottom and if she sat wrong, she became aware of it.
Yule eve was a time when Lizzy had made her mark on Castle Leoch. Since her second year there, she had gotten the Scots to put up a tree in the great hall with candles which she lit with all the castle bairns around it, watching in wonder at the winking lights. All received presents from the Laird of Leoch and then were sent to their beds.
She woke early and made ready. It was cool and crisp with snow falling in flakes. Jamie was awake as well. This year they would bring Ellen. Lizzy dressed her in a fur lined coat, a smaller version of her own. Jamie lifted his daughter on his arm as they walked outside. They walked up to the stables.
Lizzy took Ellen from him as he walked into a horse stall, speaking to the occupant softly. Jamie quickly out a rein on a strong gelding. He lead him out to the side of the stable where his wife and elder daughter were waiting. Lizzy looked like a farm wife with her skirts tucked up into her bed ready to ride with the bairn on her hip. He attached a sled they often used for firewood to the strong heavy footed beast.
Lizzy walked to the front of the animal, lifting a small bit of sugar on her palm as she held Ellen on her hip. Jamie spoke softly to the mount in Gaelic as he smiled taking Ellen again in his arms, giving her a kiss, and setting her at his feet. She took a hold of his kilt and looked nervously up at the large animal. lifted Lizzy up onto the strong back. Lizzy settled shifting so she was in the middle before he lifted Ellen before her. He tied rope to the saddle and then patted the horse's neck as he clicked and walked holding the rein. Lizzy held the girl with one hand and the horse's thick mane with the other as her husband walked.
Though not her first time on a horse, little Ellen was having much fun, bouncing in her mother's arm. "Faster momma!" She said.
Lizzy laughed lightly. "We can't. Papa is walking."
At his name he looked back at them as he walked. She waved it off and he turned back, blinking.
The air was still and Jamie's boots crunched on the light snow layer that had melted and refrozen in the night making for a thick crust. The mount crunched through the layer as well, moving powerfully with Jamie walking at his side. Jamie did not seem to feel the cold as they walked along, their breaths showing in the air.
They walked into the woods near the castle, only a mile or so away. Jamie led the way until Ellen squawked. He paused, pulling up the horse to stop as well. He patted the nose gently as he looked back at his daughter who pointed at a lovely Scot Pine that was about ten feet tall, eight inches around, and had several low branches.
He smiled and went to her, lifting her down. "That yin then, lassie?" He asked her as they walked to it.
She nodded and clapped her hands. He looked at Lizzy as she slid off and smiled looking up at it, hands on hips.
"Leave it to your bairn to find the perfect tree."
He smiled lifting a small ax from the saddle bag he had put on. He then began to cut the base with skill after tying the horse to a nearby log. Lizzy then began to chase Ellen about. The girl shrieked with giggles and Jamie looked up, smiling at the antics of two of his three lasses.
Halfway through he looked up to see Lizzy drop back onto the snow. She then moved her arms and legs about. Jamie went and lifted a water bottle before he came over near her and looked down on her. "What are you doing?"
She blinked. "Schnee Engel." She answered. She sat up and then moved, lifting her body upwards so as not to disturb the art she had made. He looked down. Sure enough the imprint her body had made looked like that of an angel.
"Whaur oan earth did ye learn sic hings?"
She grinned. "That one was from my uncle."
"Th' elector?"
"Yes." She looked as Ellen laid down and tried to do it. Lizzy gave he instructions as Jamie squatted down and offered her some water. She took it as Ellen made her own tiny angel. Lizzy laughed and lifted her, hugging her, praising how pretty it was.
There was a thump beside them and both looked over as Jamie then proceeded to make his own, copying the movements he had seen his wife do. He then sat up and rolled to the side and then grinned in satisfaction at the angel.
Even Lizzy's lips twitched as her husband looked at the three angels in the snow.
He then went back to the tree knowing that daylight would soon be expended. The tree fell and he dragged it to the sled. He quickly lashed it on and looked back to see his wife and daughter were now having a snow ball fight. He shook his head. The pair of them would be frozen by the time they got back to the castle.
He walked up and plucked his daughter up walked to the horse. He set her on the broad back and turned in time to hand a handful of snow be shoved into his face. Lizzy laughed and jumped away before he could catch her. He wiped his face, startled at that.
He then narrowed his eyes as she stood, near a tree, forming balls, looking at him, refusing to be contrite. He grunted and leaned down forming a two balls in his hands. He threw one, hitting her dress. However, her aim was more vicious, hitting him square between the eyes. He blinked and then his eyes narrowed.
They traded balls back and forth, laughing as they did. He tripped and landed face first in a snow bank and she nearly fell over she was laughing so hard. He spat the snow from his mouth and looked at her, eyes narrowed, thinking what to do next.
Lizzy for her part leaned wheezing against a tree with mirth. She then beat the trunk with her fist. She then gave a startled cry as all the snow feel from the branches above onto her with a soft whooshing sound.
It was Jamie's turn to laugh hysterically as she fought her way out of the fallen snow. She lifted her chin in a dignified matter, no longer laughing, and shivering. She had gotten a fair share down her back and now she was cold feeling. She mounted the horse with some difficulty since her daughter was there, but also no stirrup for her to use to hop up.
Jamie recovered after a moment and came. She was at an awkward angle so he just pushed her rump up and over. She sat down, looking down at him nastily for it.
He lifted his hands. "Ye did that tae yersel' lass." He said, still smiling.
She shook her head.
Back at Leoch, Jamie put the tree up in the main hall, cutting the ragged top down so it stood now about eight feet near the great center hearth. Lizzy had gone to change. She came back with the box of small silver candle holders, a box of her straw ornaments, and a beautiful metal star for the top. The holders and the metal tree topper had come from Cleves at her request to a smith she well knew there. She had not revealed her name, but the coin had gotten her what she needed.
Jamie and she put the holders about then Ellen and Jamie put he ornaments about away from the candle holders. Flόraidh had come in with small bee wax candles to put in the holders. Jamie helped reach the higher ones.
Lizzy then reached for her metal star. She looked up at the top and looked about for a chair. Jamie, however, had other ideas. Others were about and she was playing nice. He smiled, ducking down as he put his hands on her hips. He lifted her up and backwards, her shoulders finding themselves against his powerful shoulders. He straightened, lifting her upwards.
Instinctively she wrapped her legs about his chest. He lifted his arms up as she balanced there, moving her petticoats away from his face. He looked up at her and smiled, stepping toward the tree.
She would never realize how powerful this man was as he walked easily to the tree and held her thighs as he looked up at her. She realized that she could reach, without hardly trying at all, to put the metal tree topper on the top.
The tree was complete until after the great meal for Christmas Eve. The candles would be lit, presents for the little ones, and then they would go to bed. The adults would then go to midnight mass and then join the children in slumber, after more presents were put out for them.
Jamie seemed in no hurry to let Lizzy down as he walked back a couple of paces, arms still about her. She sighed and then shifted. He took the hint and lifted her by her hips as he bent forward. She landed softly on her feet and looked back at him.
He smiled and bowed a little to her.
Lizzy made one final adjustment. Though pickled cucumbers were not found in the lands of Scotland, a pickled radish was. As part of the fun, the child who found the pickled item would get a special prize. Since the radish was small, she found a wonderful place that was extremely hard to see, even looking straight at it.
Jamie nodded approvingly.
She took a breath and moved to leave needing to rest. He followed her. Ellen was already napping. He reached for Lizzy hand, but she jerked it away to continue.
He sighed and rolled his eyes.
ZzZ
A few hours later, the hall was full of music, food, and laughter. Lizzy and Jamie sat together at a table slightly below the main great table since they were of less status. Everyone ate their fill.
At a nod from Colum, Lizzy called the little ones over to the tree. All of them ran over and sat down, some on their mother's laps.
Jamie stepped forward, taking two reeds he ignited them in the hearth. The candles around the hall were extinguished as Jamie and Lizzy lit the candles on the tree. As she lit the candles, Lizzy began to sing a soft song in Prussian. It was about the evergreen before her and Jamie smiled listening. In the cool hall, the flames danced like moths near a window. The adults clapped as the pair stepped back revealing the beautiful Christmas Tree as she called it. Weihnachtbaum.
Lizzy began to tell the story of Christmas in her native Prussian, something everyone loved because it was foreign and exotic sounding as she told the story moving about, her body telling the story as much as her words.
Jamie listened watching her. The adults were all listening as well. The hall was silent, the only noise the guttural tones of the Prussian tongue.
At the end, Lizzy bowed. The adults clapped.
Colum and Letitia then came forward and gave ever child a present. Then Colum stepped back and nodded for them to look for the radish. So cleverly was it hidden it took a long time for the children to find it. The one who did, a tall lass named Skye,
Colum smiled and give her a kiss and her extra toy, a carved wooden horse he had carved himself. She was most grateful for it.
The crowd dispersed and Lizzy took her bairns to go to bed.
ZzZ
Jamie had noted Geillis Duncan had been there. She was a curious sort and he had seen her moving about in the trees before. He hid himself as the hall became empty. She remained, standing near the tree as the candles began to fizz out.
She was an odd woman. His wife kept company with her, though she was rumored a witch. He wanted to know of her. She had spoken to Lizzy twice since their return. He wondered what they had spoken about. He was not keen on his wife associating with the woman.
"Ye kin come oot noo, Jamie Fraser." She said.
She looked over her shoulder at him as he walked out from near the door from around a corner.
"Ah thought ah wis hid weel enough." He said holding his jacket in his arms.
"Wis yer reek that gave ye awa'." She watched as he pulled on his tweed, smiling as she walked toward him. "A man's sweat. Tells ye sae muckle. Coudnae hae bin Arthur." She stood, hands on her hips. "He's tae prissy tae wirk up awfy much o' a guid lather."
"Aye...well." He said looking about. "He holds a position that does nae require that o' him."
She smirked and chuckled. "He doesn't dae muckle in ony position."
He smiled and then dipped his head, walking by her.
She turned to look at his retreating form. "A clocked yer wee bride earlier." She said.
He froze looking down.
"Dinna fash yirsel, Jamie. She'll recover. Despite yer beating her." She said walking about him.
He looked up sharply at her.
"Elizabeth Is a pure tough wifie." She said, dropping onto a bench, leaning back to look up at him. "Bit if ye ever tan her scouk again or wound her hert..." He watched her, stepping toward her curiously. Just what had these two women discussed. He thought the matter of him being a husband doing his duty had been closed, but here, someone he hardly knew, was discussing it.
"You'd be amazed at whit mah concoctions kin dae tae a body." She said looking away from him, making a face like she was thinking about something especially macabre. He took a breath, watching her, his brow furrowing at the threat. She then rose to her feet, touching his broad shoulders. "It wid be a pity, tae ruin sic a bonny package."
He looked down at her hands and then stepped back from her. "Mah affairs wi' mah guidwife ur na one's business, bit oor ain." He took a breath and leaned closer. "Bade awa' fae her." He said slowly. "Ah wull nae hae ye filling her heid tae notions 'n' lies."
She chuckled lightly moving away. "She awready haes notions." She said. "Even ye cannae boozer her fae daein' whit she wull. Keek even noo, ye act as yin in public, bit yer nae as a mairried tae shuid be in private."
He grunted. "That is none o` yer concern."
"A'm a mukker Jamie. A'm warning ye. She wull eventually taps aff back tae ye, bit she is a delicate rose. Strike her again 'n' she kin prick ye wi' her thorns as ye huv a go tae haud her." She leaned closer. "Mibbie even shrivel 'n' die fur ye picked her fae th' back green whin ye shuid hae left her tae bloom." With that she left him to ponder as he looked after her.
ZzZ
The mass was Catholic and Lizzy followed little of it, but as she often did, she mimicked Jamie next to her. She had converted, if in name only to being a Papist to make Colum and Dougal feel better. Jamie as well, but even still she prayed as she willed to the more forgiving God of Luther and Calvin.
After, Jamie walked beside her back to the room. Once there, he noted the bairns were not there, but with Flόraidh in her room.
He smiled, shutting the door and bolting it shut as he looked at Lizzy as she moved about making ready for bed. It was Christmas Eve. He had suffered more than a week without the touch of the woman he loved. He wanted to feel her, possess her, feel her writhe under him as he pleasured her, and enjoy the bliss of her tight cavern around him as he rode her to his own oblivion.
He stoked the fire to keep out the chill, adding a couple logs.
She tied her hair back to keep it from being too unruly. She turned down the covers as he removed his tweed and undid his cravat.
She seemed to notice he was at the foot of the bed, as she got in and pulled the covers about herself. "What are you doing?"
"Ah thought...being th' fair 'n'..."
Her eyes narrowed as she laid down. "Think again."
He looked at her form as she settled. Startled. He sighed moving to lift shift the cot. He moved it to the side of the bed, near her. If she would not allow him to even hold her, the least he could do would be sleep within feet of her.
He climbed into the the cot after removing his kilt. He put it over the top, looking back and up at her. She was sleeping now, her features relaxed in an odd innocence that masked her true self, an ice queen.
He hissed in Gaelic and rolled onto his side away from her, closing his eyes.
A very merry Yule indeed...
