Bronwen woke to find herself in a large stone chamber with several windows. She was lying on a soft bed with soft blankets and someone had dressed her in a long white nightshift. She was clean. An old man sat near her. He was dressed strangely, similar to those who lived south of her lands. He stared at her for a moment before speaking. "You're quite ill. How long?"

Bronwen looked at him from defiant eyes. "She's been ill since before my attack. The wound came at the same time." Caity came out of the shadows; her arms crossed over her chest. "We tried many a remedy, yet nothing worked."

"We've cleaned the wound, and applied a salve. I have a poultice to put on your chest, and a special tea. It does not taste good, but it will help you."

"And how am I knowing that ya aren't poisonin' me?" she asked stubbornly.

Caity sighed angrily, "You'll follow Merlin's orders Bronwen McCree. Even if it means we have to tie ya down!" Caity walked closer. "All of you are doin' it. Not just you. Yer just the worst of the bunch."

Bronwen gave her younger sister a half smile. "Well, that's how it usually ends up now, isn't it?"

The door opened and the youngest of her sisters, Kerri rushed in. "Yer awake! Bronny ye should see this place. It's enormous, and there er people everywhere!" Her green eyes sparkled up into Bronwen's blue. Besides the eye color and the few freckles the young girl had, she was just a smaller version of the eldest McCree sibling.

"Is it now? Well, I'm thinking I should get better soon so'n I can see it for meself." she told Kerri lightly. She kept her trapped feelings to herself. Because that's how she felt…trapped. Not well enough to protect her sisters from all of the men within these walls. What if the Roman had brought them back here to face judgment for what they'd done?

"The other clans will be here in a fortnight." Caity said looking out the small window of the chambers Bronwen rested in. Kerri sat on the edge of the bed.

"All of your sisters will be well by then." Merlin said kindly.

"I thank ye sir." Bronwen said stiffly.

"You may call me Merlin." he told her softly. The door to the chamber opened and the dark man, the leader of the men they'd captured strode into the room.

Bronwen stared at him wondering if he'd come to tell her what punishment would be served upon her. Now that she was rested she could tell this man was important.

"I see you're finally awake." he spoke softly but with authority.

"Aye. How long have I been asleep?" she frowned. She hadn't even thought to ask that.

"Two days." Caity told her.

Bronwen's frown deepened. "That canna be."

"But it is." The man assured her. "I am Arthur."

"Arthur?"

"King Arthur." his voice gentled.

Bronwen paled. "Oh Lord." she whispered. "I've gone and attacked the king." Bronwen slid from the bed and onto her knees. She bowed deeply at his feet. "Please sire. Do na take it out on meh sisters. They only follow meh lead. Punish me, but na them."

Arthur knelt and helped her to her feet. "Stop. There will be no punishment for any of you. I understand what it is to want to punish those that have harmed people we love." She felt fragile under his hands and he helped her to sit on the edge of the bed. "I have many questions to ask. You spoke of Saxons attacking your people?"

Bronwen leaned back on the bed against the thick pillows. "Aye. At first there were only a few of the bastards, but more came and they began to grow in numbers. Meh Father and our kin to the east, the McDonnell's, routed the vile men, but we suffered horrible losses. It's sumthin I'll ne'er forget seein'."

"You were there?" Arthur asked through his frown.

"Aye. The women of the Highlands don't just stand by twiddlin' our thumbs while our menfolk fight. We all fought, save Caity and Kerri. And many died. The MacGregors attacked when we were at our weakest. They killed the last of our men, raped and killed many women. They burnt our home, killing the McCree; our father." Her eyes had become haunted. "He sent us out through a secret tunnel, but he died in the fire. We made our way to some caves we'd played in as children. Once the MacGregors had left our lands we went back to our home, hoping to find anything that had survived. There was nothing. Ne'er had I seen such a savage act by another clan." Bronwen could still hear the screams of her brethren.

Caity had come and sat on the bed next to her sister. She grasped Bronwen's hand within her own. "Bronwen, you do na have to speak of this now…"

Bronwen just shook her head. "We lived in those caves for three months. We're the last of the McCree. Our father, two brothers, cousins… they were all killed by either the Saxons or the MacGregors. We started heading slightly south. We were being cautious. I was jumped by two MacGregors while out searching for Caity. That's how I got the wound in me side. I managed to kill one, but the other ran… and then I found my Caity." Tears glistened in the strong woman's eyes. "That was the worst day of my life." Bronwen managed to compose herself and continued. "The news had spread to the north of the new king, and so we decided that it was time to stand before him. It had been something our father and the McDonnell had spoken of."

"So, the McDonnells are your family?" Arthur asked as he tried to separate the clans.

"Aye. The McDonnells and McCree are kin. Our mother was a McDonnell, sister to Douglas McDonnell; the McDonnell. There are…were four large clans; McCree, McDonnell, MacGregor, and McLaren. There are also smaller clans spread throughout. Normally the smaller clans seek refuge with those of the larger. The McLarens, led by Seamus McLaren, were at war for many a year with the McDonnells until a year past when McDonnell's daughter Tabby wed McLaren's son Jamie. Now they live in a tentative peace. The MacGregors are led by Niall MacGregor. The MacGregor is a large bastard of a man. He's lost his mind."

"He's black hearted and would sell his own mother for gold or land." Caity sneered. "It's said he killed all three of his wives!"

Arthur was taken aback by the vehemence in the young girl's voice. "So we'll have McDonnells, MacGregors, McLarens, and McCree."

"Aye, although without a laird the McCree no longer are…we're a dead clan." Bronwen told him softly. "And we'll be considered such."

"With so many of you I fail to see how that works." he told her.

She smiled faintly. "By now the MacGregor will have spread out taking the lands that were once held by McCree. Our herds will be theirs as well. We will have to petition to live with the McDonnell's I suppose…" She shook off the melancholy that surrounded her. "The smaller clans that would show up are probably MacDougal, Pitcairn, Tennant, and Wallace."

"Ah, clans without the Mac?"

"Eventually they'll grow, or be swallowed up by a larger clan." she shrugged. "It is the way it's always been. A clan must have a strong laird who cares for his clan as a father."

"The Pitcairn clan are wild ones." Caity added as she stared out the window into the beautiful day dawning. "At summer festivals they would come, and they were quite the entertainment."

Arthur found himself sitting on the edge of Bronwen's bed listening to both women. They were a fount of knowledge, and though their meeting was unsavory, it was certainly turning out to be advantageous.

"I remember them." The littlest McCree piped in. "They were the lads that threw off their plaids and went leaping into the lake."

"Aye and the one, barely older than Rhoswen and Dierdra, pulling Mother into the lake with him. Da was laughing so hard." Caity remembered with a grin.

"That was the year before she took ill…" Bronwen smiled wistfully.

While the three girls began to reminisce Arthur looked to Merlin and the two men left the room. They walked down the hall in companionable silence, and Arthur looked to find a thoughtful expression on the old Woad's face. Without Arthur having to ask, the man began to speak. "Finding these women will be quite beneficial to you Arthur. My people have not had much dealing with the clans to the north. Instead we've always kept to ourselves, and they've done the same."

"I agree, they do seem quite knowledgeable. The runners we've received telling us of the various clans impending visits seem to verify what they tell us."

"They are very much what Briton once was. A people without a leader, though the girl, Bronwen, tries her best to hold them together."

"A bit of an exaggeration don't you think?" Arthur smiled wryly. "They are but seven girls."

"Yes. Seven. I noticed the significance of that number." Merlin smiled a secretive smile. "I wonder…Did you notice that as well?"

Arthur just stared at the older man. "What do you go on about now?"

Merlin's smile widened. "Just a comment. Seven. Seems to be a lucky number." The two men continued walking. "The girl, Bronwen, she was close to death when you brought her."

Arthur frowned. "I didn't realize she was that ill."

"The wound on her side was quite infected. It is now healing nicely. And this lung affliction that has hit them all; it had progressed to a dangerous point. I go to check on two of her sisters now. The twins. Rhoswen and Dierdra. They are quite…feisty." Merlin chuckled as they stopped outside another door and arguing could be heard inside.

Arthur followed Merlin into the room where the two women were tucked up and shouting at each other across the room.

"Well, if ye weren't as stubborn as a goat then ye'd know I was right, and ye were wrong!" One of the girls snapped.

"I'm as stubborn as a goat? Well, I suppose I'd rather be as stubborn, rather than look like a goat!" The other threw back.

"Girls!" Merlin shouted and both girls immediately snapped to attention. "What have I said about this arguing? Perhaps I should put you in separate chambers…"

"Nay! I'll not be separated from meh sister!" The girl who answered got a mulish look on her pretty face.

"I'd like to see who would try to separate us." The other girl huffed.

Arthur felt a smile quirking at his lips. "My ladies, we just worry for your health. Perhaps if you were less…spirited?"

Instantly both faces appeared contrite. "Of course yer Highness."

"Anything you say yer Lordship." From what he could see the only difference between the two girls was the color of their eyes and their hair. One girl had wildly curling red hair, and bright green eyes. The second girl had the same red hair, only no curl, and dark blue eyes. The blue eyed girl looked at him with interest. "Is it true you could lash us for attacking you and yer men?"

"Aye! Or have us put to death?" The other chimed in.

Both pair of eyes looked at him with complete and utter morbid fascination. Okay. "It is true. For the attack, I could have you killed. Or even punished. However, my men and I have discussed this and we will not be doing either of these things."

"You'll not be punishing Bronwen!"

"Nay! You'll have to go through us first!"

"Be calm my ladies." He soothed. "I have no intentions of punishing any of you, let alone the Lady Bronwen. She is resting comfortably, and as soon as you are all well, you shall all be reunited. In fact, I'm sure Lady Caitlyn and Lady Kerri will be down to visit you." This seemed to appease the girls and they settled down for Merlin to check on their progress.

Arthur left the room shaking his head in amusement.

Bronwen stared out the large window of the chambers she'd been staying in. She watched the people moving around starting the day in the village which sat at the foot of the castle. Never had she seen its like; this castle and that town. All her life she'd lived in the Highlands. The small village that had been watched over by her father's keep hadn't been nearly as bustling as this. There she'd known each inhabitant by name; she'd been able to walk from one end of the village to the other in little time. Here it seemed it would take her the entire day to make her way through what appeared to be a giant maze.

So far in the past week she hadn't ventured out of the large room. Her sisters all came in to visit her often, but she was still regaining her health. Merlin, and the large man, Dagonet, often came to check on her as well, but the King had not made a return visit. Part of Bronwen was glad for that. There was something very sad in his dark gaze, and it reminded her of her Da after her mother had passed away. Being the eldest, Bronwen remembered it all quite well. The grief that surrounded her Da had been palpable. The grief they'd all felt had been thick and painful. Nessa McCree had been both beautiful and kind; warm and sweet natured, but sometimes her temper would show and woe be to whoever stood in her path. Bronwen had inherited her raven colored hair from her mother, but her deep blue eyes were completely Angus McCree. Her mother had always said that all of the girls were the best of both of them. Their brothers had been very much their father's sons; Callum and Brogan.

"I believe you are well enough if you wish to venture into the village." The voice came from behind her, and she managed to avoid jumping.

Bronwen turned to look at the gentle giant of a man. Surprising that Brigid had been able to surprise this man enough as to render him unconscious. "To be quite honest it all seems a bit frightening." She told him and turned back to the view. "There seems to be so much happening at once. The village our clan held would have only fit into a wee section of yours."

Dagonet joined her at the window. "A few years ago we were quite a bit smaller. Now our people are merged with Woad; Some who choose to live here and others who just move back and forth for trade. As soon as this castle was built the village seemed to double."

"Funny to think the Woad are distant relations to my people. They seem smaller, more wiry."

"Perhaps that comes from living conditions. They live in the forest and have adapted." Dagonet noticed Arthur in the doorway.

"Aye. Perhaps." The girl seemed lost in thought.

"There is nothing to fear down there. You will not be swallowed up by it." Dagonet said kindly.

"The MacGregors will come before the others. They will think to gain the ear of the King against their foes. They will na be pleased to see us; witnesses to their savagery. Mayhap ye should warn the King to be on his guard."

"Warning taken."

Bronwen shut her eyes for but a moment and then regarded Arthur. "Perhaps they will na mean any harm to ye and yers, but they are treacherous."

"I believe you." He told her. "You are not the only one who speaks of them and their actions. Lady Kerri assures me they are the Devil's own hounds." He tried to make the comment light, and it did bring a smile to her worried face. Such a young face to be so drawn and pale with tension. Arthur didn't tell her of the other fears the girls had; the fears that they would be given to the MacGregors as spoils of war. She probably knew that already.

"We were not always so innocent in the feud between our clans. The McCree made many raids on the livestock owned by the MacGregors, but rarely did either of the two clans do real harm."

"Your sister said it was believed he killed his three wives?"

"Aye. His first wife died in childbirth with his son, Athol, the only thing that seemed suspicious was the midwife. She said that Meg, his wife, had been quite beaten. His second wife fell to her death from the top window of their keep, and his third wife, Lassie, was strangled to death. Niall did not deny killing her, only said she'd broken laws punishable by death. Only, he didn't wait to bring the charges or punishment in public."

"For feuding families, you seem quite knowledgeable." Dagonet said through lifted eyebrows.

"Oh, aye, the midwife for Meg left the clan, joined ours. The story of the second came with summer festival. And the death of Lassie came to us from Connor McLaren, her brother."

"What could she possibly have done that would have meant death?" Arthur asked.

Bronwen shrugged. "There are very few things. Plotting against the laird, attempting to murder the laird or another member of the clan, adultery…" A scowl crossed her lovely face. "I canna believe she'd take another man to her bed." She missed the fleeting pain that moved across Arthur's face. "And of course there's no asking her now that she's dead. She'd not even been buried and he was looking for a new wife."

Merlin entered the room hearing her last few statements. "Tell us Bronwen, should he have waited for more time to pass?" He ignored the narrowed eyes that Arthur turned on him.

She looked at all of the men curiously. "Well, it's difficult to say. Meh Da remarried a year after meh mother passed, she died fighting the Saxons. He loved meh mother fiercely, but as laird he needed someone to oversee the little things. Run the household, care for the wee ones. Colleen, his new wife, did this for him. She was a kind woman. My brother Callum married twice; when his first wife Moira died he married Keely four months later. It did na make him feel less for Moira." She shrugged. "Sometimes I think, it does na matter how yer heart aches. What matters is necessity." Bronwen looked from Merlin's pleased face to Arthur's stormy expression. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn yer Highness. I've never been wed, or even pledged to a man. I'm sure na every man feels the same."

She looked so earnest, so different from the defiant woman who'd taken them captive. "Don't fret. Merlin is just reminding me that a king needs a queen." It was easy to the uncertainty in the girl. "He feels I let it go too long."

Dagonet snorted and after bowing slightly to Bronwen, left the room. "I merely show you the way Arthur. You must have a Queen. No matter your love for Guinevere, a King must produce heirs to leave his kingdom to."

"And I remind you Merlin what happened to the last woman I got with child." Arthur's lips tightened with anger.

"That is nonsense Arthur! You cannot hold all to that standard." Merlin snapped.

It appeared that Arthur was going to lash out at Merlin, but Bronwen interrupted. "Well, yer Highness, I must agree with Sir Merlin that ye canna think every woman would end up as yer first love. Some women just aren't able to bear children. It's just foolish to think yer to blame." Arthur looked at her with widened eyes as she scolded him, but she continued now turning on Merlin. "And Sir Merlin, it is truly King Arthur's choice on whether or not he takes himself a new wife. Perhaps it is good for a ruler to have the soft understanding of their mate, but with or without does na diminish his ability as leader. Ye canna be forcing that choice upon him. He still grieves for the loss of his lady. Do na ye remember losing yer own?"

Merlin's mouth snapped shut and a gleam entered his eyes. "And you were never…pledged, as you call it?"

"There was a boy that I grew up with; we always assumed we'd marry when we came of age. He died in battle against some Romans who wandered to far North." Bronwen shrugged once more. "After Galen died I never met another. I'm sure eventually my father would have made a match for me, but war came."

Merlin was about to speak again, but squeals and shrieks echoed as Kerri, Neely, and Caity ran into the room. It would have been hard to miss Bronwen's face soften as she looked at her younger siblings.