Author's Note: Some of you wanted a bit of a longer chapter than the one you got last time, well here you go. Happy Reading!

The summer continued to press on with sunny days and sporadic showers. The same could be said for Elinor and Fergus as they grew slowly but surely more used to the other. Seeing them share smiles and whisper conversations became commonplace for the members of the tribe. But none was so happy to see the improvement as Betha, who could swear that she felt her heart lifting every time she saw them. Elinor herself also felt much happier as the days went on, though occasionally she would be reminded of her home and a twinge of sadness sprung through her heart.

As she sat taking down notes of the clan's expenses, Elinor was musing about what her family would be up to. She had sent a letter to the Macintosh clan not long after they left, so she hoped to hear news from them soon. But her thoughts were interrupted when two large hands dropped over her eyes.

"Guess who?" a feigned high-pitched voice asked. Elinor rolled her eyes, but pretended to think.

"Hmm…could it be the dashing young lord with great skill in combat whose deeds are known throughout the land, Dirk of MacGuffin?"

The hands disappeared and a mock angry Fergus appeared around the desk. She smiled at him as she dipped the quill in the ink.

"Oh, no. It's the even more handsome and fearsome, Lord DunBroch." She smiled broader as the tips of his ears turned pink.

"Can I borrow you for a minute?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck.

"I really need to finish this."

He looked a little disappointed, but pressed, "You need to come see this." Elinor raised a brow but laid down the quill.

"Alright, just for a moment though." Fergus smiled broadly and took her hand and almost dragged her out of the castle. Out in the courtyard, a small crowd gathered as a group of wagons had pulled into the area. She looked up at Fergus, and he simply smiled back. A man approached and knelt at the couple's feet, then looked up and smiled.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, milady, and in such fine spirits." He stood and held out a parcel to Elinor, who recognized him as one of the merchants who travelled between her clan and DunBroch. She grabbed the parcel and tore it open, several large scrolls falling out, three in her mother's hand, one in her father's, and even one from Ean. Elinor bit her lip but couldn't contain the smile.

"There's more, m'dear." Fergus said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder and pointing towards the edge of the caravan. She looked and couldn't believe her eyes or ears as Angus whinnied and pulled against his ties.

Elinor dumped the parcel into Fergus's hands and rushed over to Angus' side, tears sliding down her cheeks as the familiar sounds and scents of home washed over her. She petted his velvety nose as Fergus slowly approached.

"How is he-" she looked to her husband, and noticed the twinkling in his eyes. "You did this?"

Fergus nodded slightly. "Ean mentioned you loved to ride, so I had him send Angus to us."

"But we haven't seen Ean since the wedding."

"I know." Elinor's eyes widened as the realization sunk in.

"Oh, Fergus." She jumped and wrapped her arms about his neck, and he grasped her tightly. "Thank you." She whispered, still holding him and pressing a kiss to his cheek. When she reached the ground, she noticed that his entire face had gone quite red. He coughed and asked,

"Well, would you like to go for a ride?"

When Fergus had asked Elinor for a ride, he had imagined a docile walk through the forest edge, stopping for a leisurely meal, and plenty of conversation. What he got was a heart-stopping race through the depths of the forest, in which he could barely keep up and he thought that he had lost Elinor on more than one instance. Luckily he could yell quite loudly, and she would come cantering up behind him, breathless and windswept and ask,

"You're not getting tired yet, are you?" And then she'd be off again. While it certainly wasn't what he had imagined, that didn't mean he didn't enjoy it. Eventually he caught up to her and they slowed, he couldn't help but notice how free she looked. She would throw her head back and bask in the sunlight shimming through the leaves. He thought that she had never looked more beautiful.

They approached a clearing with a small raised hill, and tall stones in a circle atop it. Elinor dismounted and walked amongst the stones, a solemn feeling settling over her. There was deep magic here, she thought as she stopped to study one of the stones. Movement at the edge of the forest caught her eye and she left the circle. Fergus remained on his horse, watching her and feeling very uneasy about the whole place.

As Elinor neared the forest edge, the movement tumbled out and looked up at her with small dark eyes.

"Look, Fergus, a wee bear cub." She called, kneeling on the ground. "Are you lost, dearie? Where's your mum?"

"Elinor!" Fergus said with a low tone, panic in his voice. "Get away from it!"

"It's just a baby." She insisted, not even bothering to look at him. The cub sniffed tentatively at her, not coming any closer

"Elinor!" His voice was barely above a whisper, but intense.

"Oh, stop it, Fergus." She returned in normal speaking tones, as she held out her hand. The cub stepped closer.

"Elinor, please. Get back on your horse." Elinor didn't move, till she heard his sword being unsheathed and she turned to look at him. His face was white, but his eyes were wide with fear and determination, the sword was held ready to strike. She slowly stood and mounted Angus, and followed him as they quickly left the clearing.

Neither spoke as he led a direct path back to the castle, and it was dark when they finally reached home. She stayed behind to brush down Angus; her thoughts were full of questions. When she opened the door to their bedroom, he was still awake, sitting on the side of the bed with his head in his hands.

She sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder,

"Fergus? Are you alright?" He lowered his hands, but didn't look up.

"I hardly know myself."

"Fergus…it-it was just a cub." She attempted, but he sighed heavily and looked at her.

"Do you know the story of how my father died?" She shook her head. He sighed again and looked away.

"When I was young, my father would take yearly hunting trips for sport. The men of the clan would go with him, and I looked forward to it with as much zeal as a boy could muster. It was there that my father taught me how to track and fight and kill with mercy.

"In the winter of my fourteenth year, we went deep into the forest, further than we had ever been before. My father and I separated from the rest of the group, he said that he saw a Will of the Whisp and I blindly followed him.

"After almost a half-day's ride, and finding nothing we stopped by a stream. And in the underbrush by the water, I found two bear cubs that were very young and crying. I started to pick one up when I heard a great growl behind me, and I heard my father shout my name. Their mother had returned.

"My father pushed me out of the way and attempted to scare her off, but she was enraged and would not stop. He fought bravely, but the bear broke his sword. He kept shouting for me to run, so I did. Like a coward, I hid in a tree. But I could still hear him, until he was silenced.

"I know not how long I waited there. It wasn't till the men of the clan found me did I come down. We returned my father's body to my mother, and I will never forget the look on her face. Nor do I want to."

Fergus rubbed a hand over his face and looked up at the moon through the window.

"He was a fool for believing in magic, that the vain hope would lead us to anything but destruction. And I was a fool for leaving him."

Elinor took his hands in hers.

"Fergus, you were only fourteen."

"Aye, old enough to know better."

Elinor shook her head, but felt that it was better to let him alone. So she rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm about her.

"I can't imagine what your mother went through." She murmured.

"I hope you never have to." Fergus replied, looking down at her.

"You know, it's not your fault." She said, looking up at him.

"I didn't help protect him either."

Elinor was quiet for a bit, then said,

"I know I won't change half a lifetime's worth of thinking, but you should know, I think no less of you for this. You are very brave to go through this suffering, and to take on leadership of your clan at such a young age. And," she paused but continued on with sincerity, "I'm proud to be your wife."

Fergus laid a gentle kiss on her cheek and they shifted so that they could lie down, yet not let go of the other. Eventually, Elinor drifted off to sleep in his arms but Fergus remained awake long into the night.

To Be Continued...