Chapter 9
Goodbye, My Highlander.
Annabeth and Henry appeared on the edge of a battlefield where men in kilts were preparing for battle. The laird MacLaren stood ahead and Annabeth made her way over to him as the doctor, Jack and the others appeared behind her.
"My laird? I seek Jamie MacCrimmon, do ye Ken where I may find him?" Annabeth said in a broad scots accent.
"Aye, lass. He be o'er there with the pipers- the rocks." The dark haired laird pointed and Annabeth curtsied her thanks before she and Henry ran off in the direction the laird had pointed. Jack and the doctor followed, the others a little slower but arriving moments later to find Annabeth breathing heavily.
"JAMIE!" She bellowed and a dark hair highlander turned to see her and soon he was running down the steep crag he stood on and grasping Annabeth to him.
"Ye should nae be here, leannan. It is nae Safe." The man, Jamie MacCrimmon said in a broad accent, voice husky with tears. "Henry." He added and held out an arm for the boy when he saw him. Henry immediately hug the highlander back, alongside Annabeth.
"I know, but... I had to see ye. To say goodbye, for ye Ken this is where our story ends." Annabeth said through tears, Jack was slightly jealous that she was like this with this man, but he forgave her, partly because he loved her but also because the man was dying- or at least would be dead in a few hours along with his people. He couldn't blame her for being attracted to this Jamie- he was quite a stunning, handsome man- for what was known as a Black Celt, a highlander with black hair and blue eyes.
"Aye lass, I Ken it. Henry promise me, ye'll care for ye mother." The boy nodded. "Good. Take this and see it safe lass, please." From his sporran he pulled a thin piece of tartan.
"Henry will keep it, won't you? It's the MacCrimmon tartan." She handed the tartan to the boy, who was nodding but remained silent. "Noon, Jamie. It's the only thing I can tell you..." Annabeth began to cry some more and Jamie held her once more tightly against his broad chest. "I'm sorry."
"Aye, it's okay, lass. I understand, I do. But if this is the end let it come. I Ken ye've told me it's the end of my peoples way of life, of our culture. But ye did tell me I'd have adventures..."
"You will, but you won't remember them, and for that I am sorry..." Annabeth cried again, burying her head in his neck, her arms around his shoulders, hand buried in his hair.
"Will I remember you?" He asked quietly, holding her close. Annabeth pulled back and looked at him, her hand cupping his cheek.
"Yes, but me alone.. Henry too. But no other adventure, adventures I know we're brilliant and impressive and magical and new. But know this, you were amazing. You are loved by so many and so much.. It breaks my heart to say goodbye." Annabeth had tears rolling down her cheeks once more. Now it was Jamie's turn to cup her cheeks, just as dawn approached.
"Then don't. Say goodbye I mean. We'll meet again, one day and we will be together forever. Tha goal agam Ort, leannan..." He placed a tender kiss to her lips as the english war drums began over the field on the other ridge.
"I love you too. Always." Annabeth said as they broke apart.
"Go now. I dinnae want ye to see me death, lass. Take care of our laddie for me. Goodbye, Henry." Jamie said, pulling the boy close for a quick hug.
"Goodbye, Da. I love ye." The boy sniffed.
"As do I, laddie. Always. Now go." He said pushing the boy towards Annabeth, who grasped him to her.
"Creag an tuire!" Were the last words Annabeth heard as she watched him and the other highlander's run to meet the English in the field. She had tears rolling down her cheeks as she typed in the tardis' access code into her vortex manipulator.
"Goodbye, my highlander... My husband." Then she and Henry were gone, soon followed by Jack, the doctor and the others. One part of Annabeth's story had been revealed. But how many more secrets could the enigma hold?