Days past and she tried her best to keep to herself, a lingering numbness had overtaken her being and she was simply trying to get through the days ahead. Mrs. Fitz soon informed Daniea that a celebration known as The Gathering would be upon them in a weeks time, and how she needed to prepare, Quickly acting on her advice, Daniea wrangled Rupert and Angus to help her collect the extra supplies needed to tend such a large amount of clansmen,

After breakfast, when the kitchen was slow she asked Rupert to help her gather up the unneeded pots, cloth and medicinal herbs that Mrs. Fitz instructed her to take. While sorting through the vials of herbs Daniea heard a faint giggle coming from one of the cellars. As she approached the opening she discovered Laoghaire in Jamie's embrace, her giggles now muted by the kiss they both were consumed in.

Not knowing the reason, the numbness she had let consume her had quickly transformed to sadness. Feelings of betrayal clinging to her heart making the moment stop and last, torturing her, until Rupert loudly cleared his throat from behind her, informing them they had been caught. Laoghaire was the first to look up, smile brightly and brush past them away from the scene. Jamie though stopped in his tracks once he saw Daniea, his eyes locked on her, ignoring the jokes Rupert was berating him with.

Silence. Not a word, joke or warning escaped her lips. She simply looked at the ground and continued on with her work. Hours later she was called from the surgery to Colum's chambers. Nervously she climbed the stairs only to discover the Laird screaming at his tailor, who in turn agreed to whatever was asked of him and ran from the castle fearful for his life.

"What can I do for you my Laird?" She asked, worried she would be received poorly.

"Our old healer use to massage me, made movement easier," He explained, "I hoped you would do the same."

Daniea could see that the man was suffering from his leg disfigurement, and knew well that she could help alleviate some of the pain.

"Of course my Laird, I would be happy too." She slowly prepared himself and allowed Daniea to work her magic along his spine and legs. The tension seemed to flow from his body and a grateful man emerged from the table,

"You work wonders mistress, my pain has eased considerably. Gwyllyn the bard will be singing in the hall tonight, I'd be pleased if you would attend as my guest."

"I'd be honored my Laird,"

That night, as she emerged into the candle lit hall Dougal was the first to greet her, handing her a glass of Colum's rhenish.

"My brother looks very well tonight mistress, he say's its because of you and your healing touch."

"I'm happy I could be of service to the Laird, if you will please excuse me I better be finding a seat."She stated taking her leave.

She spotted Laoghaire but quickly moved to a dark corner of the hall, making sure to nod in greeting to her so she didn't seem rude. The soft melodies that rang through the hall that night soothed her tired nerves, entranced by the Gwyllyn's performance she never noticed Jamie leaning against a pillar behind her, arms cross and paying very little attention to the music. Midway through the performance when there was a short intermission Jamie quickly took the time to maneuver around the crowd and sit next to Daniea.

"Evening mistress." He smiled.

Hello Jamie," she uttered taking a long drink from her glass.

"Colum's rhenish, is it?"

"Aye, this is my third glass, it's very good," She remarked, voice still, void of all emotion.

"Most folks who drink with Colum are under the table after the second glass."

"Well I guess its the mix of Scotch/Irish blood in me, I can hold my own when it comes to drink." She spat, downing the rest of the alcohol.

He could sense the unease growing as he sat next to her.

"This dressing's been chafing me for days, Would you mind helping me with it?" he questioned.

"Now?"

"Well…" he groaned, clearly favoring his arm,

"Fine...I'll have a look at ye." She agreed.

He held out his hand, which she took only so he could guide her through the crowded hall without disturbing anyone. Once downstairs she began to gather her tools for addressing his wounds.

"If it was bothering you that bad why didn't you just rip it off?" She asked as she gently began undoing his jacket.

"I was afraid to." he chirped, her closeness making his heart beat faster. "Thought I'd get my arse skelped if I touched it.

"Aye, but it wouldna been your arse that I smacked, you would have enjoyed that." She retorted with a smirk.

He couldn't help but laugh, nodding his head slightly as he watched her face, calm and her fingers through the layers of clothing, undressing his torso in a matter of minutes. After removing his shirt she gently unbound the bandages, exposing his bruised and scabbed shoulder. As she examined the healing wound, he tried not to stare at her or seem too anxious.

"Well it's healing nicely, I won't need to re-bandage anything unless you get yourself hurt again."

"I'll try my best mistress," he said as he got dressed, "Thankyou Daniea, I don't know what would have become of me if you hadn't of stepped in to treat me that night."

Daniea turned slowly towards him, looking him in the eye. "You would have survived, but im glad I was able to help… it's getting late I best be heading to bed Jamie."

The next morning at breakfast Daniea was invited once again to dine at the main table with Dougal and the Laird, she was ever watchful because she was sure Dougal had plans that he wasn't disclosing. Rupert and Angus joined Jamie and Murtagh at one of the center tables.

"Your lip looks a bit swollen Jamie, did you get thumped by a horse?" Rupert teased.

Jamie rolled his eyes, "Aye.. swung their head when I wasn't lookin."

"That's to bad, those fillies can be dangerous." Rupert snickered as he took a bite.

"Fillies?" Murtagh questioned worried the lad might be overworking himself.

Jamie tried to kick Rupert under the table but missed, yet Rupert returned the favor which ended in the table jostling.

"Hey! What's wrong with you?" Murtagh asked as he noticed the death stare Jamie had fixed on his face.

"Bit my tongue...I best go see if Alec wants anything."He stated, rising from the table.

After he was out of earshot, Murtagh turned his attention on Rupert, "Hey, if you're teasing the lad about Laoghaire… if her father or Colum comes to know about it, he could get more than a bloodied nose."

"Like a wife," Angus chirped.

"Maybe, that's not the wife he should have."

"No?" Rupert questioned, not seeing what was wrong with the young blond girl.

"No. He needs a woman, not a lassie, I've been around long enough to ken the difference very well," he scolded the men, glancing quickly back to the main table, " and so do you two."

Over the next couple days the castle bustled to life with the arrival of clansmen ready to take their oaths. Mrs. Fitz was busy decorating and acquiring all manner of treats and wine, while Geillis helped Daniea overstock the surgery for everything ranging from hangovers to poisonings. After an extremely long night treating all manner of foolish injuries, she slept in past day break and allowed herself to wake up naturally for once in many weeks. It was nearer noon as she was leisurely dressing, disregarding the bum roll which aggravated Mrs. Fitz to no end. As she was brushing her hair, a scream sounded from out the window. Quickly she looked, it was a young boy on a runaway horse. Within seconds she was out of her room running as fast as her legs would carry her to the meadow. The closer she came, the boy's identity became known, it was Hamish the heir of Castle Leoch.

Moments later the massive stallion, blacker than the night sky and meaner than the devil, reared and bucked throwing Hamish a fair distance away. While the men were busy trying to corral the horse back in the pen, Daniea was busy tending to the boy.

"What in the world were you thinking lad, you could have been killed!" She screeched, happy to say he only had minor bumps and bruises along with a nasty scrape on chin that would need a bit of looking after.

"I...If I could ride Raven the other boys wouldn't pick on me no more. No one can ride him, not even Alec."

She shook her head, understanding full well how mean kids could be, "If the horsemaster can't even ride him shouldn't that be enough to say you shouldn't."

Hamish looked at the ground and nodded.

She glanced over at the pen, the hollering of the men was beginning to annoy her and not helping the beast at all.

"Hamish, go find Mrs. Fitz and tell her you're all right and that I will be in shortly to fix that chin of yours, there's something I must do first." She huffed, hiking up her skirts as she stomped over to the horse pen.

Hamish intrigued by her statement found a wagon full of hay and hid there out of sight, waiting to see what she would do.

It was almost like the night when she was first thrust into the cabin, all the men except for Dougal that she had journeyed with surrounded the poor animal, calling to it, throwing stuff at it, anything they could think of to get ahold of it long enough to throw a rope over its head and get it back to its stall. Anger welled up inside her, but she pushed it down knowing it would not help the situation. None of the men knew of her presence but they abruptly stopped and became silent when they heard an angelic voice singing over them. Slowly they turned to look, Daniea was slowly making her way towards the horse, her eyes fixated on the animal. Murtagh couldn't help but smile as he saw her .

Her long ebony hair, flowing behind her in the wind. Her porcelain features and striking voice making her resemble a siren of old.

"May it be an evening star shines down upon you. May it be when darkness falls your heart will be true. You walk a lonely road, Oh how far you are from home….Mornie utulie.." She sang as she neared the pen. Rupert tried to grab her arm and halt her but she brushed it off, never breaking her concentration. She slowly stepped onto the boards and the stallion, who had been rampaging around, throwing his head and kicking wildly, began to settle. The more she sang, the calmer he became and so did the men surrounding them. Finally she ventured into the pen. Her voice lowered to that of a lullaby. The stallion paced away from her, but finally he crept towards her. His eyes, light blue as the Arctic sky, stared her down, his nose inching towards her still form. When he decided she wasn't a threat, he rubbed his nose against her hand, a signal that she had his permission to touch him. The men were stunned by what was happening in front of them. The prized, untamed stallion that no one dared to get near, not even Alec unless it was feeding time, was being gentle and kind as the girl caressed him lovingly. Alec held his breath as the stud wrapped his enormous body around her, in a protective manner as she soothed him.

Daniea was finally happy, her worries drifting away with every stroke of his fur, As she ran her hands over his side she noticed a lump that made him shy away slightly. She hummed to him, calming him back down as she uncovered it gently. It was a thorny burr that had grown deep into his flesh. The most gentle nudge to it, crested waves of agony throughout his body.

"I need a clean cloth." She demanded, all the while stroking the horse's mane.

Angus rushed around locating one, and sat it on the fence next to Jamie.

"Shhh, there boy… hold on." She whispered to the animal as she wrapped her hand around the burr, thorns now burying themselves into her skin.

Blood began to trickle from her fist as she slowly pried it from its resting place. With one strong yank the burr came free, he reared slightly at the sudden pain but soon settled into pawing the ground in relief. She threw the burr as far from the pen as possible, grabbing the cloth quickly to stem the bleeding on his side. Once both of them had stopped bleeding, he began happily trotting around the pen. Alec began to believe this was the end of the show but as he drew near, Raven began backing away and snorting at him once more. He stopped and allowed Daniea to continue on. Moments later he was nudging her arm in a playful manner, thankful to her for her kindness. She slowly moved her hand into his mane and leaned against him, testing her weight on him. He didn't move, just began to nibble on the tiny bits of grass in the pen. A smirk spread across her face as she swept herself onto his back in one graceful motion.

"Mistress I don't think…" Rupert began.

She didn't give him a moment's glance as she gently squeezed his sides, breaking him into a trot and then a brisk canter. Around and around the pen they went. Two beings melding into one. He was as untamed as he ever was, the only difference was Daniea hadn't tried to break his spirit like everyone else who attempted to possess him.

As she galloped around the pen, Jamie couldn't take his eyes off her. It was a pure wonderment what she had accomplished. Murtagh noticed his fixation immediately, Alec leaned over with a crooked smile on his face.

"I'm not sure who's more taken with the Lass... the horse, or young Jamie."

Daniea slowed Raven to a halt and dismounted, stroking his neck while he began to graze.

"Who will be training him?" She asked, expectant of the answer.

"I will." Stated Jamie who had been snapped out of his trance by her words.

"Slowly come in and stand behind me." She said quietly as she glanced over at him.

After what he had just witnessed he was not going to argue with her. So he quietly climbed into the pen and took his place behind her. Raven lifted his head for a second, then lost interest and focused on his lunch once more.

"I need you to get as close to me as humanly possible."

He hesitated, unsure what she was wanting. She rolled her eyes and slowly backed up to him, his chest was now against her. The closest he had ever been to her, "Now wrap your arms around my waist like a belt."

He did as he was instructed, the closeness began to make both their hearts flutter.

She slowly raised his hand like a puppet and began stroking the horse, using him as an extension of herself while protecting him from Raven's temper.

"He is not any different than your spirited mares, he deserves respect not a hard hand."

Softly spoken gaelic flowed from his lips and she withdrew into his embrace, allowing him to take over gentling the horse, while protecting him in the process. His warmth consumed her, his brough deep and melodic next to her ear.

Finally, she stepped away leaving him to fend for himself. The stallion allowed Jamie to guide him and manage him like the others but once he was bored with it, he trotted over to where Daniea was now standing and began nudging her to embrace him.

"You can't blame him for choosing a bonnie lass over you lad." Alec called.

"Well at least you'll be able to work with him easier Jamie, he won't try and kill you anymore, most likely." She joked, knowing that if Jamie respected him, he would return the favor.

"Lass, you will be needing a mount in the morning." Alec reminded her as she was walking away.

"Yes, for the boar hunt, I trust ye will chose a fit one for me." She stated.

He nodded adding, "Would you be willing to come work with this beast every now and again? He's taken quite the shine to you mistress."

"I'd love too," She cheered as she slowly spun towards the castle to tend Hamish along with her daily duties.

The next morning as she stepped out into the morning sun, fresh dew clinging to the trees, clansmen were preparing for the boar hunt. Daniea patiently waited with her supplies for Rupert, who was to be her guardian while in the woods, yet Alec was the first one to greet her.

"Morning mistress," he chimed as he slowly walked a chestnut gelding towards her.

"Good morning, and who might this be?" She inquired, immediately cuddling the horse.

"This is Cobhar, he will look after you."

She snuggled the horses neck, "Im sure he will." She responded as he turned away to tend the hooves of Dougal's mount.

As the drums beat and the men cheered, chasing the boars from hiding, there was bound to be an accident. A foolish young lad cried out when a tusk raked his leg open, but it wasn't five minutes later when the next shout came, except this time it was a curdled scream in agony. Cobhar carried her carefully towards the scream, as she halted him the sight was saddening.

Dougal was on the ground cradling another man, blood stained the leaves around him. Daniea quickly sprinted towards them. First she noticed a very deep gash in his leg which could be treated but the ever growing pool of blood was spreading from his abdomen. Dougal was trying to reassure the poor man that everything would be alright but Daniea knew better, She shook her head showing Dougal that he wasn't going to make it. Slowly she released the pressure she had been applying to his leg, allowing him to bleed out quickly, reducing the agony he would have to linger in until heaven claimed him. As panic took over the man's system Daniea softly began to sing, taking his mind off what was happening, calmer and calmer he became until finally he past.

As the boar hunt came to a close and they headed back to Leoch a hush came over all the hunters. It was a time for celebration but now it had been stained with an unnecessary death of a good man. The festivities were raging on in the form of a game of shinty, the hunting party slowly dispersed. Some joined the game, others went to take care of the deceased man, and Daniea returned to the surgery to finish the work she began in the woods.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon an unexpected guest made his way into the surgery, Dougal.

"You've seen men die violently Lass." He stated as he leaned against the wall.

"Yes." She quietly answered as she began cleaning the blood from her hands, "Many in fact."

"You've done a fine job here as healer, and I wanted to thankyou personally for what you did for poor Georgie up there on the hunt."

"I didn't do anything...I….I couldn't do anything."

" No Lass you're wrong, ye did. You took him to a peaceful place and that's all any of us can ask for when we pass."He convinced her, his walls lowering letting her in.

A tear ran down her cheek, "Aye."

"After the gathering I would like if you joined us on the road ." He asked

"Why…"

"We have to travel throughout the Mckenzie lands to collect taxes, a healer would be an answered prayer to some of the patrons."

"If you wish it," She replied

The day's events muddled her mind as she prepared for the oath taking that night. She tried to be as chipper as all those surrounding her, especially Mrs. Fitz, but knew all the emotions she had been bottling up since she arrived were pushing past her threshold.

After Mrs. Fitz approved of her formal appearance she pulled her around the hall, guaranteeing the beginning of the oath taking was the best part. When they spotted Murtagh on the balcony they rushed to his side to claim a spot. Colum soon made his entrance, grand and formal. Dougal followed and was the first to take this oath.

Man after man stepped up, took his vow, and drank for the quaich. She maintained her resolve to stick around and enjoy the festivities afterward, but the drink that she has been plying herself with was simply making her want to retreat to her room. After she excused herself to Mrs. Fitz she made her way upstairs, trying to dodge as many people as possible. Yet when she came to the next floor, three very drunken scotsman caught sight of her. She began to back away slowly, but they ran towards her. Two caught up to her quickly, she fought against them, kicking and punching her way out of their grasp. Once they had lost their balance she began to run downstairs, towards the hall in hopes of finding help but the third one caught her arm and jerked her to him. Throwing her against the wall he began to kiss her neck as she struggled, he tried his best to wriggle his leg in between her knees but in the process left himself open. She swiftly headbutted him as hard as she could, making herself woozy. Once he was stumbling she kicked him hard in the groin dropping him like a rock. As fast as her feet could carry her she ran downstairs, through the hall and outside, oblivious to resume her search for someone to help. Instead she knew where she would certainly be safe, and that was the only goal in her frenzied mind. Raven's stall.

The cold night air nipped at her bar shoulders and face, hidden branches snagged her dress, but finally after running for what seemed like eternity the stables faint glow was in sight. As she slipped through the door and jolted down the aisle towards the end she suddenly found herself mid air. With a hard crash she was on the floor, and a very confused scotsman pinning her down. She couldn't catch her breath, her heart pounded and the pain from the attack and tumbling to the hard ground was overwhelming her.

Jamie looked down at her, tears silently fell from her eyes. Realization occurred quickly that he was still pinning the poor girl down so he rolled to her side, waiting for her breathing to normalize.

"Daniea, what are you doing Lass? You shouldn't be here."

She didn't answer, she just rose from the ground and made her way to Raven's stall door.

"I'm sorry," She said meekly.

"You should be at the Hall enjoying the celebrations." He pointed out, trying to get her to open up.

She clung closer to the horse, burying her head in his shoulder, finally releasing all the emotions she had let build up for weeks.

"Did I say something mistress? I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" He prattled, thinking that he had reduced such a strong woman to a sobbing mess by some unknown act. When she quieted down he crept closer to the stall.

"What you did with that beast is a wonder. How did you ever learn to do that?" he questioned, very curious of her roots. He expected her to not utter a word like before but to his surprise she began to speak.

"My grandfather." She began with a smile, remembering. "He was a horse master of sorts in the village where I grew up…"

She finally opened her eyes, which were now red as beets and sore but made her green eyes glow even brighter. She took a deep breath and settled back against Raven's neck, all the while never taking her eyes off Jamie. "He taught me many things, one was that horses or any animal deserve respect and love. He use to soothe his horses with kind words, much like you but I always preferred singing and so did his horses" She giggled.

"He sounds like a great man," Jamie stated.

"He was…"

"What about the healing, did he teach you that as well?"

'No, that was my grandmother."She told him, "They raised me with my mother, teaching me all they could. They wanted to make sure I could take care of myself no matter what."

He beamed at her, gently reaching for her hand, " They certainly did a bonny job."

Jamie knew it was getting late, "I'll take you back up to the castle."

Her eyes widened.

"I don't think thats a good idea, I had an encounter with some drunken clansmen in the corridor."

His face grew serious, "They dinna touch ye now?"

Her tears began to form once more, "I can't go back."

He guided her out of the stall, " How many were there?

"Three… I got away but…. I… I can handle myself, I don't want you thinking I'm some damsel who needs to be saved but.." Her emotions rushed through her,

He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"You were out numbered Lass, you're strong, so very strong, don't you ever let anyone make you feel different. Remember, as long as I'm with ye no harm will come to you I promise."

He reassured her, his voice thick and deep. Anger interweaving with empathy.

"It's alright to be scared and to let someone in… to tell you the truth that night when you saved my arse, I was scared."

She slowly withdrew from his chest, looking him in the face.

"I was scared that I wouldn't make it out alive, that I would have to be left for the red coats because I was too injured to go on. But then you came in with your healing hands and sharp tongue."

She laughed remembering her scoldings.

"You took my fear away… I knew that with you looking after me, I was going to be ok and now it's my turn to take yours away... come," He told her, leading her out of the barn and up the dark hill.

"This isn't the way back."

"Naeh, there's an opening to a tunnel over here, brings us out into the cellar."

"Thankyou for escorting me."She said as he raised the opening to the tunnel for her.

"No Lass, thankyou for always fixing me up." He smiled.

Then suddenly a few men crowded around them, two grabbing him, the others Daniea who immediately began to struggle.

" Colum's nephew. Late to the oath taking, are we?"

He struggled against their hold, "Ye don't want to miss you turn." One of them said with a drunken grin.

"Na, let me go and change first." Jamie retorted, "I'm not going to the oath taking like this."

"Don't worry about that laddie, we will outfit you proper."

As they were beginning to drag Jamie to the castle the bigger of the men holding Daniea chirped up, as he began to try and slip his hand down her dress, "Can I keep the Lassie for myself?"

"Let Her Go!" Jamie yelled, escaping his captives grasp.

As he punched the man hard in the face, setting Daniea free from him, the main man smacked him in the back of the head with the butt of his rifle. Rendering him unconscious.

"Jamie!" Daniea screamed, wriggling from the others hands. She couldn't help but follow as they dragged the knocked out boy into the castle and into a side room. Daniea cradled his head, and waited patiently for him to rouse.

About fifteen minutes later he finally awoke, "Ye dinna have to hit me so hard, I was willing to come." he assured them rubbing the back of his head.

"Aye but I dinna want you maiming half the clan while ye were making up yer mind." his clansman half joked, glancing over at Daniea.

A younger man ran in, "Here's clothes Jamie."

Jamie nodded to him, turning his back to the wall. He quickly switched shirts, careful that no one but Daniea caught a glimpse of his back.

"You'll be needing this," Another man stated, handing him a kilt pin.

"Luceo non uro… I shine, not burn." Daniea read outloud,

"Aye, the Mackenzie motto." The clansman answered as he went out the door with the rest of Jamie's captures to wait till he was done changing.

"I'm sorry Jamie,"Daniea pleaded.

"Dinna fash yourself."He smiled.

He then rolled over the clan kilt pin in his hand. "I won't wear this." Tossing the pin aside,

"Do you know my Clan's motto Lass?"

She shook her head,

"Je suis pret." He told her, the words dancing from his mouth.

"I am ready." She translated with a smirk, leaving the room to be escorted to the hall to await Jamie's arrival.

Bagpipes bellowed as she quietly found Murtagh, meaning to remain safe. Moments later Jamie entered and took his place in the line.

"Why's everyone so tense? What's going on? " She asked Murtagh, noticing a hush fell over the crowd.

"Why? I'll tell ya...If Jamie pledges fealty to his uncle, Colum, then he'd be in line to succeed as Laird. He'd be part of clan Mackenzie, ye see?"

It took her a moment, "If enough clansman want Jamie to be Laird, then he would be."

Murtagh nodded, "and being his nephew and here at Leoch he doesn't have the choice to refuse taking it. So either way he's a deadman." She stated knowing that it was because of her.

He had been hiding out in the barn till it was over, they would have let the whole thing go, but now was as tense as the rest of the crowd and without thinking about it, she wrapped her hands around Murtagh's arm. He gently patted one, hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Jamie slowly walked up to Colum and it took many long seconds before he spoke.

"Colum Mackenzie, I come to you as kinsman and as ally, but I give ye no vow. For my oath is pledged to the name that I bear. I give you my obedience as kinsman and as Laird. And I hold myself bound to yer word, so long as my feet rest on the lands of the clan Mackenzie."

Colum accepted his word, and the crowd roared back to life.

"I'm getting too old for this." Murtagh whispered, releasing the breath he had been holding. Daniea smiled widely, gently pecking him on the cheek making the old man blush.

Letitia then checked to make sure Jamie was the last of the clansmen and announced that Gwyllyn would be performing in honor of the Gathering. As everyone found seats Mrs. Fitz grabbed Daniea's arm and dragged her to the middle, while the men stayed but the posts drinking quietly, rejoicing about the day.

Gaelic melodies flooded the Hall for hours, when it came time for Gwyllyn to take a break from singing, Rupert snuck over to Colum and had a word. A minute later Colum stood.

"I have been told that a certain Lass in our presence has a voice capable of calming the most savage of beasts.. Mistress Douglas would you grant us the gift of a song this joyous night."

Her cheeks flushed with heat as she rose, all eyes turning towards here. She whispered to Gwyllyn who quickly smiled and picked up a violin.

"I am very fortunate to be with you all tonight, and very thankful to the Laird and his family for taking me in and welcoming me so fully. This is a song that I hold very dear and dedicate to all of you,"

But as the music began, and she started to sing her eyes locked with Jamie's and to him, it was as if her words were meant just for him, and him alone.

"When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary. When troubles come and my heart burdened be. Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with raise me up, so I can stand on raise me up, to walk on stormy seas. I am strong, when I am on your raise me up, to more than I can be.….." She sang. Her voice entrancing and full of love.

When she finished, the crowd greeted her with massive applause and teary eyes. A warmth consumed her being, and she was finally ready to let the past go and enjoy the here and now. Yet Jamie was discovering something of his own, as long as he had this bounty on his head he could never be truly happy or for the matter… in love.