Chapter 10: Wentworth

We stopped sometime in the afternoon on the third day. Murtagh knew of a little inn out of the way and had insisted that we stop for a decent meal and rest. I had objected, but not being able to recall the last time I had eaten anything substantial and thinking only of the child, I reluctantly agreed, and found myself happily chewing on a slice of roast pork and various vegetables while Murtagh made enquires around the room as to Red Coat activity. Jenny fidgeted uneasily in her seat as I did, eager to get on the road, when Murtagh came bounding up to us, his features relaxed slightly as he shared what he had learned.

"Have they seen Jamie?" I asked, swallowing my latest mouthful.

"No. But I might have something just as good." He remarked, "Dougal was here two nights ago, he's camped nearby raising funds for his Jacobite army again."
"Dougal's here?" I confirmed, "Maybe he can help, he rescued Jamie once before." My heart began to lightening, maybe this was the good luck we had been looking for.

"Aye." Murtagh added,

"I don't trust him." Jenny added sourly, "He always has his own agenda."

"I don't disagree with you, but we could use all the help we can get." Murtagh noted.

"Where is he?" I asked deciding it was worth a slight detour,

"He's close. We can travel there as soon as you are finished."

"Then let's go." I stood up, pushing my plate aside, "No time to waste."

Murtagh took us along a hidden path, covered with dense foliage. It was too thick for the wagon and I almost lost my footing once or twice but with every step I felt one step closer to Jamie. "Not far now." He said as the dirt turned to stone underneath. "Let me go first." He insisted pushing past us as we hung back a little. The path led us into an old carved out cave under the ground, it was dark and moist but there were lanterns along the wall filling the room with a dull glow.

"I never expected to see you here." A familiar voice bellowed from the darkness, "Or you Madam Fraser." His tone stopped me cold in my tracks, and Murtagh held out a hand urging me to keep back.
"We need your help." I began, pleading on his better nature, knowing he thought fondly of Jamie, despite his actions towards him.

"Aye. Jamie. I've heard." He admitted

"What are you doing about it?" I asked stepping forward past Murtagh and closer to him, the light exposing his stone like features. Murtagh took me by the arm to stop me but I shook him off. Leaving him to stand with Jenny behind me.

"There's nothing to be done." He replied coldly and my heart sank, was I too late?

"Is he dead?" I asked him impatiently.

"If he isn't yet he soon will be. He was sentenced to hang three days ago." Jenny and I exchanged agonising glances.
"So he could still be alive." I looked to Dougal and then Murtagh, "We need to rescue him."
"Rescue him, from Wentworth." He scoffed, "I've got a better chance of putting the rightful king on the throne."

"That's my brother you're talking about." Jenny spat at him.

"We need to do something." I begged. "Lend me your men, help us get him out."
"No." Dougal laughed off the idea, "It would be suicide."
"You coward." Jenny cursed him as I reached out and slapped him, and he grabbed my had preventing the second blow. His grip tightened and my arm burned beneath his fingertips.

"Let her go." Murtagh stepped forward, pointing his dirk toward Dougal.
"He's your nephew, why won't you help him?" I asked, tears welling in my eyes. "Please I'll do anything." Dougal paused on this thought, and looked to Murtagh.

"I'd like a moment alone with the lady." Dougal ordered, eyeing my companions off suspiciously. If he wanted something then there might just be a chance.

"Claire no." Jenny cried out.

"Not a chance." Murtagh stood his ground. I don't know why but I felt the fear rising within me, but I couldn't let any chance of helping Jamie go.

"It's all right." I nodded to Murtagh, "I'll be all right." I promised. He stood a moment, before reluctantly grabbing Jenny and making his way to the start of the cavern.

Dougal took me by the arm and led me deeper into the cavern. "Anything." He continued once we were alone.

"Name it." I said, "Help me save Jamie and it's yours."

"What if it's you that I want?" He asked, looking me up and down,

"I'm Jamie's wife and I'm carrying his child." I rebuked him, not unsurprised.

"Aye. But if the lad is gone then the bairn's going to need a father, and you a husband."
"No. Never." I shook my head affirmatively.

"That's my price. I'll let you talk to my men, ask then for their assistance, if you agree to marry me when Jamie dies."

"You can't be serious." How devious did he need to be to ask such a thing? My stomach turned at the thought and I felt faint.

"I've never been more serious." Dougal stepped forward, playing with my hair as it strayed above my shoulders, "Marry me and you'll be looked after, you and the bairn."
"And you'll get Lallybroch." I added coldly, "That's what you've wanted all along." I had known it ever since Jamie had told me, right after we were married. If he died, the estate would go to his wife, and his children. I thought of Jenny, of her family. Dougal would throw her out in a heartbeat and she would be left destitute. On the other hand, if we rescued Jamie then the argument would be void.

"I'll not deny it." He said, waiting for my answer.

"All right." I nodded, "If Jamie is gone. Then I'll marry you." The words tasted vile in my mouth as I spat them out.

"You won't regret it." He promised trying to play with my hair again as I stepped away from him. "Send for Murtagh, we've no time to waste." I insisted as I prayed Jamie could be saved.

JAMMF

I didn't tell Murtagh about my deal, although he questioned me on how I had gotten Dougal to change his mind. Dougal escorted us out to the brook behind the cavern to where the men had made camp. I recognised the familiar faces instantly and for the first time since I had last seen them, I realised that I had missed them dearly.

"Mistress Claire." Rupert grinned as he came to greet us, moving in to give me a bear hug and pausing at the last moment recalling my condition, "You grow more and more beautiful by the day."
"Aye." Angus agreed as he came to join us, "Would ye give us a kiss for old time sake?" He asked.

"Hello Angus, Rupert." I smiled, "I've missed you too."

"Here." They said pointing towards the fallen tree by the fire, "Have a seat."
"There's no time for that I'm afraid. I've come to ask your help." I said getting right down to business

"What can we do for you?" They asked inquisitively, Dougal watching on over my shoulder.

"I need you to help me rescue Jamie."
"Aye poor lad." Rupert bowed his head sorrowfully.

"It's a sad thing for sure Mistress, but there's nothing we can do about it." Angus added.

"But you rescued me." I reminded them, "Please. It's Jamie, he'd be the first to rescue you and you know it."

"We would if we could." Rupert looked towards Dougal.

"I'll not stop ye." He spoke up, "Any man who wishes to go you have my blessing." But none stood forward, I inhaled sharply, receiving a strong kick for my actions. Rubbing my belly I looked around at all the men. I knew it was no small favour I was asking them. Dougal lowered his head, smirking pleased with the result.

"Will no one join me?" I asked looking at their faces. "You'll just let Jamie hang?"

"You don't mean to go yourself Mistress?" Willie asked, Angus looking on wondering the same.

"I'll not leave him behind, I owe it to him to try."

"They'll hang you too." Rupert announced solemnly, "What about the bairn?"
"A bairn needs a father." My determination was clear for all to see, I would go with or without them.

"I'll go." Willy stepped forward, "Jamie has been a good friend." He said, looking to the others. "As have you mistress Claire."

"It's a fools mission." Angus remarked, looking to Rupert who lowered his head in shame.

"Well if the lads going, we cannae let him go on his own." Rupert added.

"Aye." Angus stepped forward, "Someone needs to keep the lad from the noose." He agreed.

"Well god speed to you lads, Mistress Fraser." Dougal nodded,

"You'll not be joining us then?" I asked taken aback a little.

"I told ye, it's suicide. But I wish you all the best."

"So be it." I remarked as we gathered our things and made our way towards Wentworth, three more men than we had started with, and less than was desirable for such a task but at least it was something.

JAMMF

The walls of Wentworth prison were large and uninviting. I shuddered to think what I would find inside as I made my way through the large gates and past the guards. Murtagh came as my escort, while the men and Jenny made camp just up the road, hidden from any patrols. The man in charge of the prison was an older gentleman, grubby and portly with few manners. He spoke with indifference to the men in his care and I wondered what little hope they had If the man responsible for them showed no interests in their affairs.

I introduced myself as a well born English friend of the family using my maiden name of Mrs Beecham. Travelling on my way to visit his family, having promised his mother I had promised to look in on him and give him her thoughts. I had frustratingly been denied any access to the prisoner, but I felt a great sense of relief to learn that his execution had been postponed. Although, the reason behind it was illusive. It took all of my nerve to remain composed and not give away my true reason for being there. After my meeting with the warden, I had been escorted towards the front gates. Taking in every detail around me as I tried to find a way out of here. We were almost at the main courtyard when a fellow guard raised an alarm and we were directed to make our way out on our own. Looking to Murtagh, I turned and ran back to the warden's office, relieved to find it empty.

"What are you doing woman?" He asked, trying to drag me out of the room, "If they catch ye you'll be hanged."
"Help me find it." I yelled at him.

"Find what?"
"The keys, there has to be some keys around here." I said searching hastily.

"We need to go." He said, "We can come back once we've made a plan."
"We're close Murtagh, I can feel it." I begged him, finding what I was looking for as a young guard came in to investigate the noises. Murtagh knocked him out cold and dragged him out of sight. "I need to find him."
"Let me." He insisted, grabbing for the keys.

"NO." I refused to hand them over. "If they catch you you'll be hanged. I can say I got caught up in the commotion, lost my way."
"I'll not let you go in there on your own."
"I'm not asking your permission." I said pushing open the door and making my way into the passage.

"Claire." He called out in one final attempt to stop me but I didn't stop to argue.

"Meet me out by the clearing. I'll find you there." I promised him as I moved out of site.

The smell was almost unbearable as I looked in cell after cell of men, wasting away in their own filth as they awaited their punishment. I dreaded finding Jamie in such conditions, but at least he would be alive. "Jamie." I called out, "Jamie Fraser." Someone told me they had seen him, taken by the guards and I followed the corridor to the end of the line, finding a set of stairs that led down to the dungeons. If they wanted him separated from the others, it was a s good a place as any I thought. Hiding from the guards as they walked past, I made my way to the solid iron door at the end of the room.

JAMMF

I gasped, not prepared for the sight before me. Jamie lay naked and bleeding shackled to the floor in front of me. His body covered in filth and dried blood. This was not the strong fearsome man who had rescued me all those months ago, this was a broken man, tortured and corrupted to breaking point. I ran to his side and gathered him close to me. "Jamie." I cried, "Jamie it's me." He didn't respond straight away and I feared that his mind might be gone as well. Brushing the blood soaked curls from his face I reached down and kissed his lips, my body tingling as he kissed them back softly. "Jamie." I cried again, he was alive.

"Mo nighean donn." He whispered, surprised to find that I was real. "You need to go. It's not safe for you here."

"I'm not leaving you." I shook my head, "I can't."

"You must. Randall will be back any moment." A surge of adrenalin shot through his body as he tried to sit up. His hand twitched as it tried to reach up to my face and I noticed just how mangled it was.

"What has he done to you?" I asked, helping him place his hand on my cheek.

"Sassenach please." He begged, "You need to get out of here before he comes back."

"Well what have we got here?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I felt every muscle in his body tense up beneath me. "You do keep showing up in the most peculiar of places." He grinned sadistically.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked him, lowering Jamie back down to the ground before spinning around to face him, "Have you not hurt him enough already?"
"I'm certain I have no idea what you mean madam." He replied, making his way towards me. I felt Jamie sit up behind me, his hand on my leg urging me to get behind him. I moved back, but there was nowhere to go in such cramped quarters. "I was simply interrogating a prisoner."
"I'm sure your superiors will have something to say about this." If I ever had the chance to tell them I thought.

"And who is going to tell them? You?" He echoed my thoughts, looking me up and down, taking in my swollen belly, "Who's going to believe the wife of a murderer, a wife I might add who has been caught trying to break her husband out of prison. A crime punishable by death." He reminded me, "It would be such a shame, and to think just what will happen to that poor orphan of yours?"

"Leave her alone." Jamie roared to life, finding the strength to stand in between us. "You have me, let my wife go."

"And just why should I do that?" Randall asked, looking at his two captives, pleased with the situation he found himself in.

"You said it yourself, she's with child." Jamie begged, "Let her go and she'll not say anything." He looked to me, urging me to submit, "I promise."

"It's an intriguing proposal." He admitted, "But I could just as easily buy her silence by more…. Forceful… means." He responded, speaking his words more slowly at the end. He pushed Jamie aside, forcing him to lose his balance and threw me against the wall, his hands gripping tightly around my neck as I struggled to breath while he pinned me against the iron bars.

"No!" Jamie screamed, "Get your hands off her." Jamie cried out as he rammed his body into Randall. Winded, Randal released me slightly, then turned to see Jamie, trying to raise himself off of the ground where he had fallen, kicking him in the ribs to keep him down.

"Stop it, stop it." I tried to scream. Content that Jamie was incapacitated, Randall returned his attention to me,

"Shall we continue our previous conversation madam?" He asked, pulling out his dirk and tracing the laces of my bodice. The knife dug into the material and I felt the tip of the blade against my waist as it hovered over my unborn child. I tried not to, but I began weeping hysterically.

"Please." I begged on deaf ears.

"NOOOO! Take me." Jamie cried out, tears streaming down his face as he stared at me, frightened beyond words. "Let her go and you can have me." He offered.

"Jamie no." I objected, as the knife pressed in a little further and I grimaced at the sharp sensation.

"Well this is interesting." Randall smirked considering the proposal, "You would give yourself to me? Freely?"
"To save my wife and child." He confirmed, "Let them go unharmed and you can do with me as you will but please. Don't hurt her or the bairn." He pleaded.

"No Jamie." I begged again,

"Shh mo nighean donn." Jamie spoke to me as if we were alone, "I promised I would protect you, with my body if need be." He reminded me. "If I can keep you safe by giving myself over to this bastard." He swallowed harshly, "Then I beg you to let me."

"Agreed." Randall interrupted, "You drive a hard bargain sir but I accept." He said releasing me from his grip. I ran to Jamie's side, holding him close as he held me back just as tight.

"I won't leave you. I can't?" I come too far, I was too close.
"You must and you will." He said, brushing the hair from my face and gathering me close, kissing me goodbye. I cried uncontrollably, after all I had been through how could I leave him now.

"Go." Jamie insisted, "Go far away from here." I had no words left, shaking my head violently in opposition as I stroked the sides of his face. "See the bairn safe Sassenach." He whispered.

"Enough." Randall picked me up and started dragging me towards the door.

"No." I screamed breaking free, wrapping my arms around Jamie's neck, "I love you Jamie Fraser. You promised you'd never leave me." I wept wildly.

"And I never will." He promised me, taking my head in his hands and kissing me forcefully as Randall pulled us apart. "I love ye mo nighean donn. Take care of the bairn." He called out to me, "Tell him I loved him dearly, and his mother."

My mind numb with grief, Randall dragged me through the passageways, turning left and right till I had no idea where I was then shoved me through an open chute in the floor. I landed flat on my back on the cold ground, surrounded by the corpses of the men hung earlier that day. I don't know how long I lay there, or how far I walked afterwards. All I knew was that Jamie was still alive and I would never see him again.

JAMMF

Dazed and numb, I didn't know how far I had walked and hadn't noticed the figure advancing on me from my right. I barely understood what they were saying as one of them lifted me off the ground and I felt a sense of weightless overcome me.

"Claire? Claire?" Jenny whispered, "What is it?"
"Did they hurt you lass?" Murtagh added. I wanted to answer him, to tell him what had happened but I couldn't find the words. Feeling myself going into shock, I buried myself into his shoulder and wept as he carried me to safety.

It wasn't until much later that I realised that I was seated in an upright position, the warm flames from the fire blowing across my skin as people chatted all around me. "Jamie." I whispered, causing them to turn around in my direction. Jenny came to squat beside my chair, Murtagh standing behind her as I recognised Angus, Rupert and two other men I didn't know in the corner.

"Is he alive lass?" Murtagh asked again,

"You gave us all a fright." Jenny added handing me something warm to drink, "Did you see Jamie?"
"Oh god." I spoke abruptly. "You should see what he's done to him, Oh god Jamie."

"Who, who did what to the lad?" Murtagh inquired further.

"Black Jack Randall." I struggled to say his name,

"That bastard is there?" Jenny asked for confirmation. "With Jamie?"

"You wouldn't recognise him Jenny, he's been so horribly…." I broke down, unable to explain what I had seen.

"How did you get out?" Angus asked, stepping forward.

"Randall let me go." I answered still half dazed.
"He what?" Murtagh shook his head, "That Bastard Randall wouldn't just give up so easily. What aren't you telling us lass?"
"Jamie." I began, "He was going to kill us." I said, feeling my throat still tender, and then playing with the rip in my skirt above my belly. I noticed Jenny cover her mouth in shock as Angus and Rupert cursed something in Gaelic.

"Did he hurt you?" Murtagh whispered hesitantly, his muscles just as tense as Jamie's had been.

"Jamie stopped him." I looked at Jenny, "He traded his life for mine."

"And Randall accepted?" Murtagh shook his head, "Of course he did."

"It was Jamie he wanted. He promised to…" I confirmed, looking at them both, knowing they knew exactly what I meant, "If he didn't harm us. Oh god what have I done?"

"Right." Angus said, looking at Rupert and Murtagh. "We don't have much time."

"If Randall's there, the lad may be better off dead." Rupert added.

"Don't you say that, don't you dare say that." I stood up, chastising him. I had a renewed sense of purpose, shrugging of the blanket and standing my ground. "I need to go back."
"No." Murtagh shook his head, defiant. "You've done enough lass. It's up to us now."
"And me." Jenny added a look of determination in her eye.

"Not you either." Murtagh stopped her, "You need to go home Jenny."

"I will not." Her temper was flaring and I could see her readying for an argument. "He's my brother. I'm coming."

"If we do this, there will be no place in Scotland to hide, we will have to flee." He informed her, and us at the same time. "You need to go back, to your family." He placed a hand on her shoulder, "They need you more than Jamie does. I promise you we'll send word and let you know how he is."
"Damn you." She cursed, seeing reason. "You bring my brother home you hear me." She ordered Murtagh "And you." She said turning to me. "You give him a big kiss from the both of us and tell him to come back as quick as he can."

"I will." I said, hugging her tightly, wondering if I would ever see her again.

There was no time to waste. The owner of the croft we were hiding in, lent Jenny a horse and she headed back to Lallybroch before it was too late. As soon as we made our move the roads would be crawling with soldiers looking for their escaped prisoner. Angus, Rupert and Murtagh discussed their plans and were ready in less than an hour. As they started to leave I stood up, grabbing my dirk and hiding it back in my pocket.

"And just where do you think you're going?" Murtagh asked as I followed him out the door.

"With you." I said, closing my cloak against the bitter cold.

"Not a chance." He stopped me as Angus and Rupert mounted their horses and looked away clearly agreeing with Murtagh. Watching the men, I noticed that I hadn't seen Willy among the men in the croft, who I now realised had been keeping a look out outside while the others had tended to me and made their plans. "You will stay right here and I'll here no more about it."

"You'll not send me away like you did Jenny." I warned him,

"I wouldn't stand a chance if I tried." He scoffed at me, "But ye've risked your life once already and Jamie wouldn't want ye to do it again. It's our turn now." He said, mounting is own horse and turning the horse towards the road, "We'll come for ye once we're done. Be ready." He ordered as he trotted off down the road with the others.

JAMMF

I paced back and forward while I waited, first inside by the fire, then out in the yard watching the road for any sign of them. I had little in the way of belongings, except my medical box that I had brought to care for Ian. I had gathered as many supplies as I could from our gracious hosts, who it turned out had been a friend of Jamie's mother, knowing the extent of his injuries before he had sent me away, and imagining the shocking things he may have done to him after I had left. We had cut up their sheets to make as many bandages as possible, collected as much opium and laudanum as we could find and restocked with what other medicines and herbs they could spare.