"You idiot, you miserable sack of shit!" Dougal began screaming before Colum cut him off.
"Must I even ask where you were last night or what you were doing." Colum huffed as he watched the horses ride into the distance.
"No Uncle." he groaned, his head still reeling.
"Yer still drunk, ya daft fool." Dougal began again, wanting to grind some sense into the boys hide.
Jamie couldn't argue, the room was still spinning. Dougal lost all control, grabbed Jamie by the collar, dragged him outside and dunked him into the horse trough until he finally fought back against the cold water.
"Alright! Alright! Stop damn you!" Jamie roared.
"Damn me? No Damn you, you brat." Dougal groaned, throwing his stumbling form into the grass.
"When you have gained control of your senses boy, come find us." Dougal stated, wading off back into the castle.
Jamie napped in that clearing, not wanting to move. The haze of words and forms becoming clearer and clearer until the day's events were crystal in his memory.
Daniea clad in black, Taran's taunting and groping... his fox…. he will take care of them… his hand on her stomach… her fighting spirit, gone... the letter in the room.
Jamie ran full speed, the need to find Dougal and Colum insurmountable. He found them both in the study, slowly sipping on glasses of Rhenish, barely speaking.
"Bout time you dragged your arse out of the hole ye dug. Proud of yourself are ye. Barely married a fortnight and already finding solace in the company of whores." Dougal spat, not wanting to even look at Jamie.
Jamie groaned, looking on at Colum.
"What happened Uncle?"
"Well lad, while you were away being merry in the whorehouse, yer bride was busy saving yer arse from the noose."
Jamie stared in disbelief.
"You might have not liked her history, neh you practically threw her away if what Mrs. Fitz overheard last night is to be held true. You idiot, Taran is the leader of the watch, you know the vagabonds that want your head on a pole for the sake of a sack of gold."
Jamie's breathing began to catch.
"He knew who you were, we tried everything to keep Taran from turning you in but in the end Daniea gave herself over to him, to work for him if he let you go. You might not have liked what she use to do and will most likely do again, but you owe that lass your life ten times over!" Colum yelled, not being able to hold onto his temper any longer. So instead he handed Jamie a sealed paper.
As he looked on it was an official release noting he was excused from all crimes committed against the crown, and was no longer a wanted man. The scorching sting of tears began in the back of his eyes as the paper fell to the floor. She saved him not only from Randall but he was now a free man as well. A task he had been trying to accomplish for years.
Jamie leaned against the wall, gripping the paper tightly in his hands.
"She didn't fight back… she…"
"She is his now Jamie, and she wouldn't do anything to jeopardize your freedom."
"What?.." Jamie began to stutter, trying to ask the question that he feared most of all. "What did Taran mean when...when he said he would take care of them both?"
Dougal downed the whole glass he just poured, and sat the glass back down as to not chuck it at Jamie's head.
"Are you truly that daft? She could be carrying yer child you fool. Or do you not remember how babies come to be."
Jamie sank to the ground, covering his eyes. The thought had never occurred to him that lying with her could produce an heir. Yes, he knew it was still too early to know but he did know that with every release his chances grew.
"I….I….."
"You what!" Dougal growled. "You managed to lose not only yer dignity but wife and possibly child all in one day. That takes some men decades to do…. Get out of my sight!" He screamed pushing Jamie out of the door.
Slowly he made his way to her room, where the last part of her resided. The note that she had placed on the bed. Careful to break the wax seal he removed the heavy letter, a flash of pearl and iron falling from its contents onto the bed. His breath hitched. The scotch pearls he gave her on their wedding day, and her wedding ring.
Shaking, he opened the letter to read.
Jamie,
You're finally free. Enjoy all that life has to offer. I release you from your vows, marry another for I am dead to you.
~Daniea
