Author's Notes: Surprise, surprise! My job has allowed me some time on a computer, and I had this scene bumbling around in my head for a while so here we are! Don't know when the next one will be up yet, but hey, it's not August...yet. :) Thanks for all the great reviews.

The day started like the ones had in the past two weeks. Fergus rose before the sun and escaped to the training grounds, avoiding any lingering awkwardness from the night before. Elinor woke up later, and was both parts relieved and disappointed by his absence. But unlike the past two weeks, breakfast that morning was a hurried affair, as packing preparations were happening all over the castle. The Macintosh clan was leaving.

Elinor traipsed after her mum, helping her pack and half-way pretending that she was leaving as well. But her belongings had long been moved to her new chambers shared with Fergus.

Both of the clans were solemn as they crowded around the docks to ship off. Friendships had been formed, as well as an alliance, not to mention they were leaving behind a beloved young lady. Elinor maintained a dignified expression as friends and familiar faces from her childhood bid her good-bye, or simply gave her a parting smile and a wish of good luck for her.

Ean gave her a bone-crunching hug, and tried to say something but thought better of it. So he simply nodded and boarded the ship, sitting down so he could still see her when they casted off. Col held Elinor for a minute, then stood back to look at her with a watery smile.

"My little one has grown too soon." he said, before he also nodded and boarded the ship, sitting next to his son. They shared an identical expression of poorly hidden sorrow. Kenna was the last one standing near. Elinor lost all pretenses of strength and threw her arms around Kenna's neck, a few tears escaping.

"Don't go." Elinor said. Kenna took a steadying breath.

"None of that now." Kenna forced herself to say. She stood back and cupped Elinor's cheek. "It won't be all bad, you'll see. Just give it a chance?"

At that moment, a loud laugh came from where Fergus and Dirk were saying good-bye. Elinor and Kenna glanced over.

"Give him a chance." Kenna finished, kissing her daughter's cheek as another yell came from the pair.

"So you're finally getting married?" Fergus proclaimed, gripping Dirk's shoulders as he grinned.

"Aye, couldn't let you have all the fun. It'll happen this coming spring. I would have told you sooner, but I didn't want to distract from the wedding..." he trailed off as Fergus noticed Elinor tearfully bidding good-bye to her family.

"I should probably go." Fergus clasped hands with Dirk. "But you take care, and congratulations, my friend."

"Do you think you'll come?" Dirk shouted after Fergus.

"Invaders from the sea couldn't keep me away!"

Fergus slowed as he approached Elinor and Kenna, they were finishing up their good-byes. Kenna pulled Elinor into a hug and then stepped back to look at Fergus. She held out her hand to Fergus, and brought his and Elinor's hands into an embrace.

"You must take care of each other, even if you don't feel any affection now. It will come if you work for it." she said, looking between them. Fergus glanced to Elinor, who was looking to him, and he nodded resolutely. "Let me give you the blessing my mother gave me when I married Lord Col. May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies, quick to make friends, but rich or poor, quick or slow, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. Till we see each other again."

Kenna placed another kiss on Elinor's cheek and then stepped onto the ship, sitting beside her son. The ships heaved off, Fergus raised a hand to Dirk who waved and Elinor's eyes never left her family's faces till they were too small to see. As the ships grew smaller, most of the clan left the docks till soon it was just Elinor and Fergus, standing hand in hand, watching as they disappeared on the horizon.

For a while, they were silent as the sounds of the waves and gulls surrounded them. Fergus watched Elinor, her mother's advice in his mind.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked, quietly. Elinor slowly pulled her eyes away from the horizon to look to her husband, and quickly tried to hide a tear.

"No." she shook her head and extracted her hand, turning for the path back up to the castle. Fergus started following her, but something told him that she would be better off alone. So he watched her go with a worried feeling gnawing his gut.

To Be Continued...