A/N- Just a small bit to tide you over, because I may not have very much time in my schedule next week to devote to writing. And again the dialouge in itlaics is in Gaelic.

Part 3

It was shortly after dawn when Jack trudged up the stairs to his room. He wanted nothing more than to fall face first into bed and sleep for a couple of weeks straight. Maybe a long hot bath too. He had a sneaking suspicion that he smelt very similar to his horse. Not to mention his aching muscles. Oh, he really was getting too old for spending a couple of weeks trekking all over the place on horseback.

"Ui Niall," Seamus greeted him at the landing, looking like he'd been pulled very inconveniently from his bed. "It's good to see you returned to us safely."

Jack stopped glancing up at his friend. Even as tired as he was there was something that Jack had to know before he gave into to blissful sleep. "Seamus, can you tell me why every person I've come across from the stables to here has congratulated me on my upcoming wedding?"

"They have, have they?" Seamus questioned, continuing up the stairs causing Jack to follow.

"You don't think that's odd?"

"Err, not as odd as one might think, my lord," he replied, climbing the stairs a little quicker.

Jack grabbed his arm and turned him around to face him. " 'My lord' is it?" he narrowed his eyes at the other man suspiciously. "Seamus, what have you done?"

"I haven't done anything," Seamus cleared his throat uncomfortably and his eyes refused to meet Jack's. "But my brother may have acquired you a bride."

"May have?" Jack asked very quietly, knowing he was not going to like the answer. "What the hell does that mean?"

Seamus finally met his eye and gave a rather nervous smile. "That you may not want to take her to wife, but that doesn't mean you would want to, ah… take her to bed."

Jack closed his eyes and tried to keep himself as calm as possible because he was sure there was a very logical explanation that didn't include defying one of his most explicit orders. "And pray tell, how did Ailin 'acquire' this woman? Did he kidnap her?"

"Yes, but-"

"Ah!" Jack silenced him . "No buts! What the hell is wrong with him? Haven't I just come back from gathering the hostages to keep the peace among the clans and your brother, one of my right hand men goes out and steals a wife for me? We could have a war on our hands. Where did he take her from?"

"From near the Stargate. She's an offworlder."

"And she could be a Goa'uld for all he knows. Idiot," he muttered running a hand through his dirty hair. "Where is she?"

"In the Lady of the Castle's rooms."

"You gave her Fiona's rooms!" he yelled, his anger fully unleashing. "I suppose so I could sneak into her room at night and have my wicked way with her without anyone being the wiser, huh? What the hell is wrong with you people? I don't want a kidnapped woman for a wife. Hell, I don't even want a wife. And I don't want a mistress either. And if I did want either I could acquire them without kidnapping them." Jack took a deep breath and tried to get his temper firmly under control. "You will have the guards arrest Ailin and his men. I will not stand for kidnapping innocent women."

"Yes, my lord." Seamus replied diffidently and left back down the stairs.

Jack turned to climb the rest away up the stairs. Alma stood at the top. "Surely you don't approve of this do you, Alma?"

She shook her head. "Of course not, Jack. I know what it's like to be ripped from your family. But I think they just want to see you happy again."

He scowled at that. "Stealing me a woman doesn't make me very happy."

"The old ways die hard." Alma shrugged.

Jack followed her down the hall. "I want to see her. To apologize."

"I'll make sure she's up."

Jack nodded and made his way to his room a connecting sitting room the only thing separating it from the stolen woman's room.

"What a mess."