As the hours ticked down to her first night in the castle, the dinner bell rang. Daniea slowly made her way into the main hall. As all eyes turned towards her, Dougal stood up and motioned for her to sit next to him at the Laird's table.

"Thank you Mr. Mckenzie." She smiled taking her seat in between Dougal and Colum.

Colum slowly motioned Daniea to the stately woman sitting on his other side.

"May I present my wife, Letitia? Letitia, Mistress Daniea Douglas, the Irish Lassie,Taran's daughter." He introduced.

"A pleasure to meet you." Letitia smiled, looking her over cautiously.

"The pleasures mine, ma lady."

"I trust Mrs. Fitzgibbons found you comfortable lodgings?' She inquired.

"Yes my lady, your house has been most gracious, I don't know how I will ever repay your family's kindness." Daniea smiled half- heartedly, sadness creeping into her eyes.

Letitia began to speak when a young boy ran full speed at the table, bowing slightly towards Colum.

"Mistress Douglas this is my son Hamish." Colum stated with pride.

"Hello Hamish, it's very nice to meet ye. I'm Daniea."

Letitia quickly called for Hamish to take his seat next to her, scolding him slightly for being late.

"Dougal has informed me that you're quite the healer mistress," Colum boasted, pouring a glass of rhenish for her.

"I do try my Laird."

"It has been so very long since we have had a healer at Leoch, while you're staying would you.." He began, Dougal cut him off, "Of course she would. Wouldn't you Lass?"

She began nodding while she attempted to choke down her rhenish.

"She did a bonnie job on young Jamie on our journey back," He chirped.

Daniea's nerves began to flare. Just a few hours ago Dougal was coarse and rude to her, now he was her biggest ally and supporter. What was he up too?

"It's settled then, while you're at Leoch mistress your duties will be that of a healers."

In a matter of a few days, Daniea's world had been thrown into a whirling dervish. First running for her life after being attacked, held captive, forced to parts unknown and now having a place under a Scottish Laird that she can feel is keeping a secret from her. Is life about to get better or much, much worse.

Near a week went by as she settled into her position as healer, rejuvenating the surgery that belonged to her predecessor and becoming acclimated to the castle grounds. As the noon day sun was rising high in the sky, it dawned on her that Jamie had not been to see her to change his bandages. So she quickly ran to the kitchen, filled her basket full of meats, cheeses and other treats, then began walking through the meadows to the stable.

Approaching the crest of the hill she could see Jamie working with a white horse in the pen. With each step, the soft words of gaelic flowing from his lips became clearer. The horse's stride seemed to beat in time with the rhythm of her heart.

Quiet not to disturb them, she sat on the soft grass to watch him follow the mare around and around. Uttering soft words of encouragement, creating an intricate dance of trust and power. When Jamie finally slowed the horses pace he spotted Daniea patiently sitting in the long grass. He couldn't help but smile as he pulled the mare to him, patting her soothingly as Daniea walked over to greet them.

"She's got spirit." She beamed, gently outstretching her hand to the mare.

"Aye, that she does...much like you Lass." He stated, his voice thick.

Her smile finally reaching her eyes, "I thought it was about time we change those bandages, and by the looks of ya," She raised the basket, "Feed ya as well."

Guiding her into a shaded overhang, he sat down beside her and began enjoying the contents of the basket.

"I'm sorry I haven't tended to your shoulder sooner, but ya been scarce at the castle." She admitted, feeling terribly about neglecting her first patient at Leoch.

"Dinna fash yerself Lass, Dougal thought it best if I stay out of sight for a bit."

"Why's that? If ya dont mind me asking." She inquired before taking a bite out of a piece of fruit.

"I'm a wanted man," he smirked.

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Escaping a prison for obstruction seems a bit much to make ya have to hide."

"No Lass, not for escaping… I'm wanted for murder."

She couldn't stop the look of surprise from reaching her face before he began to laugh.

"I should have ye know Lass that I'm innocent."

"Your a terrible outlaw Jamie." She snickered.

"Nay it's simple really, remember what I told you happened at Fort William."

She shook her head.

"I could hardly move after I'd been flogged the second time. I had fever from the wounds but once I could stand again, though, some friends helped me escape by ways I'd best not go into, but there was a skirmish as we left, and a Redcoat was shot." He explained while finishing his lunch.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous to be out in the open like this?"

"I doubt there are any informers in the castle itself, but the countryside is another story."

"Does the Laird know?"She asked, immediately regretting the question.

"Colum, aye Lass and Dougal. They're my uncles."

Ease washed over her, "Why tell me, you don't know me?" She blurted out, curiosity overwhelming her.

"Well," he began, "The way I see it, anyone who threatens to thrash me if I ruin their tending as much as you do, would be in very poor taste to go and ruin their hard work by handing me over for a beating...and I trust ye."

All of a sudden Alec, the horse master of Leoch and their elder, interrupts,

"The horses are running wild! Quit stuffing your gob and go break that colt?"

"Aye, in a minute," he calls as Alec rushed away, clearly frustrated.

"I best be returning to work," He huffed, "Thankyou for the food and the company."

"Yer welcome,"She answered, suddenly remembering the real reason she came. "Oh, I didn't change your bandage."

"It can wait Lass." He stated, clearly uneasy. Then it dawned on her… his scars.

Is it because Alec doesn't know about your?"

"Old Alec knows, he just hasn't seen it is all."

She looked at him perplexed, not understanding.

"Do you mind me seeing your back?"

"I don't...you have a way about ye that lets me know ye don't see me as any less of a man."

She nodded collecting her things, "Promise me you won't get stabbed, shot or kicked today."

"I promise, but I can't guarantee I won't tomorrow, " he joked, turning away reluctantly to return to work. Yet as she walked back towards the castle he turned, leaned against the fencing, unable to take his eyes off her.

Later that evening it was time for a gathering in the hall of all the castles and nearby villages tenants, in the Mackenzie lands, to come and dispute issues that the Laird would rule upon. Mrs. Fitz kindly found more formal dresses for Daniea to wear to such occasions, ensuring her presence at the Hall by request of the Laird.

Struggling to find a proper spot to stand, a red haired woman quickly pulled her into the front, "I'm Geillis Duncan."

"I'm…" Daniea began, completely stunned by the woman's forwardness.

"I know who you are Daniea, the village has been humming with talk of Taran's bastard since you came to the castle."

Her words sliced her through like a knife. She had never been called a bastard before or even knew that it true for that matter.

"You're a healer aren't ye, I dabble in a bit of healing myself from time to time… people think I'm a witch." She giggled.

Daniea could only look at her, words too far away to reach.

"You should come visit me down in the village, I have cabinets full of medicinals and potions I wager would tickle yer fancy."

Before a response could be mustered, Geillis hooked her arm through Daniea's as Colum entered the Hall followed closely by Dougal. Dispute after dispute was brought to Colum's attentions, everything ranging from fights over property and cows to payment arrangements. Geillis all the while whispering comments in her ear as if they were best of friends. Near the end of the meeting a young blond girl was forced before Colum by her father. He accused her of loose behavior and asked that she be punished by the Mackenzie for disobedience. The girl struggled and fought against her father who kept ahold of her as Colum thought the request through.

Finally he nodded in agreement. Rupert, the scotsman that almost put Jamie's shoulder back in the cabin, stepped in to grab one of the girls arm, as her father held fast to the other. As she screamed and begged a voice rang out from the crowd. It was Jamie offering to take the girls punishment. A stir began in the crowd as Colum and Dougal argued it.

"What is the fool doing? He's still injured." Daniea whispered, trying to think of how far her heart seemed to drop within her chest. Yet Geillis took it as an invitation to converse once more.

"Aye, but they usually stop when they draw blood, most times it's when the nose breaks." She smiled.

Daniea's breath caught in her chest, her heart pounding as they waited for the decision. Colum slowly spoke, announcing to the crowd that he was going to allow it. Daniea frantically looked over at Jamie who was busy arguing with Murtagh.

"He chose fists." Geillis whispered, knowing she wasn't paying attention.

"What?"

"Fists, instead of the strap."

Daniea knew why he chose fists but as Rupert began pounding on Jamie, harder and harder at Dougal's command, all rational thought went out the window. A few minutes of slow torture began to bring out the worst in Daniea. Not only was she going to refuse to treat Jamie but give him a sound thrashing in the process. Or so she thought, until with a simple nod from Dougal, a reluctant Rupert drove his fist hard into Jamie's bad shoulder, making him barrel over in agony.

Geillis held fast onto her arm, not allowing her to run to him. Within seconds Mrs. Fitz was taking over, guiding her down to the surgery to await Jamie and avoid causing a scene.

Daniea waited patiently, bandages and herbs at hands ready to treat his new injuries. Jamie slowly emerged from the stairs and took a seat in front of her by the hearth.

She looked him over closely, his lip and nose has mostly stopped bleeding and his eye was swelling, soon he would not be able to see out of it. He cradled his bad shoulder and tried to smile as she looked at him completely unamused.

"You promised me you wouldn't get hurt today," She stated, her voice soft and solemn.

"Sorry Lass, at least I didna get stabbed." he chuckled trying to make a joke when he saw how sombre she was acting.

She shook her head and slowly began treating his wounds, trying to prevent his eye from swelling shut first of all.

"Why did you take that girl's punishment? Is she your girl?" Daniea asked, puzzled by the action.

"Naye, but I ken who she is. Haven't really spoken to her though." he answered, flinching at her dabbing his new bruises.

"Then why?"She pleaded, needing to focus on something, anything but what was on her mind.

"It would have shamed the lass to have been beaten in the hall, It's easier for me. I'm sore, but nae really damaged I'll get over it in a couple days."

She rolled her eyes and handed a cup she had been mixing herbs into. "Rinse your mouth with this, it will clean the cuts and ease the pain."

Mrs. Fitz reappeared with more herbs as he was complying to her order.

"What you did was kindly meant lad." She turned to Daniea explaining, "Laoghaire is my granddaughter ye ken?"

Daniea smiled and nodded as Mrs. Fitz patted Jamie on the shoulder and scurried back upstairs.

"I'll take the bandage off in the next few days," she told him as she examined his shoulder.

"Are you ill Lass?" He asked standing up to face her.

"No, why do you ask?"

"You haven't threatened me or took pleasure from my griping."

She refused to answer, so he took his hand and gently lifted her chin so he could look into her eyes. He could tell she was upset but was delayed in inquiring as to why when the door of the surgery creaked open, Laoghaire peeking through the doorway.

"I think someone would like to speak to you," Daniea stated, pulling away from his touch. He tried to retrieve her hand but she didn't allow him too, quickly adding, "Alone." to her previous statement.

He huffed, "Aye. Looks like it. Goodnight Mistress."

She smiled slightly at Laoghaire as she exited the surgery, murmuring to herself when the door shut behind her. "Goodnight Jamie."