A/N: In cannon, based on the series, S1E4, written by Ronald D. Moore and Matthew B. Roberts, original story by Diana Gabaldon (their words in italics). What Claire and Jamie might have been thinking in the scenes surrounding Jamie's oath to the MacKenzie.

"Ye dinna have to hit me so hard. I was willing to come," Jamie complained to Rupert as they were getting him ready for his oath taking.

"Aye, but I dinna want ye maiming half the clan while ye were makin' up yer mind," Rupert retorted.

Just then Willie walked into the room. "Got the rest of yer clothes, Jamie," he said, handing over the bundle.

"Thank you," Jamie replied taking it from the lad.

"Well, that should be suitable for the Laird's nephew," Rupert said. "You'll be needing this," he added passing Jamie the Clan MacKenzie brooch.

Claire took it instead with a slight flourish of contempt. She was still angry at Rupert, her 'shadow,' for knocking Jamie over the head. She was fairly certain he did it in an attempt to save face after she had successfully evaded him and Angus that evening.

"Luceo non uro," Claire read the inscription on the brooch, "I shine, not burn."

"Aye, the MacKenzie motto," Rupert affirmed loudly.

Shouts of "Aye," and "Slàinte mhath!" were heard from some of the other men in the room as mugs were raised in salute.

Placing the brooch on the table next to Jamie, Claire said in a low voice, "I'm sorry. I Didn't mean for you to have to stand up for me."

"Don't fash yourself on my account," Jamie replied while buttoning the sleeves of his shirt.

"How's your head?" Claire asked him.

"Fine," he answered, "My sister Jenny says it's harder than an iron pot." Jamie sighed and picked up the brooch, "I canna wear this. I'm not a Mackenzie." Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he dropped the brooch into a box on the table. "Do ye know my motto, lass? My clan's, I mean?"

"No," Claire replied, "I don't even know what clan you're from."

"Je suis prest," he said with a mischievous glint of stubborn pride in his eye. "Find a place in the hall," he told her as he went back to dressing.

Claire walked off thinking to herself, 'Je suis prest - I am ready, but ready for what?'

….oOo….

Refusing the MacKenzie brooch and telling Claire his clan's motto wasn't just an act of bravado. Jamie wanted Claire to know it – he wanted her to know everything about him. But it was also a pep talk for himself. Je suis prest –I am ready. That's what he said to himself. He was ready to take on the daunting task in front of him; to face up to his uncles; declare his intentions. If only he could also declare his heart's intentions. He was ready for that too, but he knew she was not.

After Claire had tripped over him in the stables and confided in him her plan of escape he knew he would have to escort her back to the castle and risk being caught. Now he would have to submit to the oath taking but he wasn't afraid. She had led him to it and if that was the case then he was convinced that only good could come of it. Ever since she entered his life, even the bad things that happened to him turned out good. He wanted this woman by his side, to be always with him.

….oOo….

Claire got to the hall and found Murtagh. Just as she reached him Jamie appeared at the main entrance to the hall.

"Jamie's here," she indicated to Murtagh.

Everyone else in the hall noticed the appearance of the Laird's nephew as well. An anxious hush fell over the crowd. Dougal entered the room just then, apparently drawn by the change of atmosphere. He was rubbing the back of his head where Claire had hit him with the chair. He noticed Jamie and a dark look fell over his face.

"Why is everyone so tense?" Claire asked Murtagh.

"Shh," Murtagh shushed her.

The crowd parted in front of Jamie as he made his way toward the other end of the hall. Dougal also walked forward along the far wall, keeping pace with his nephew.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Shh," Murtagh said again, grabbing her elbow and leading her away from the crowd.

"Why?" Claire persisted.

Jamie took his place at the back of the line. Dougal took his place next to Colum.

"I'll tell ye," said Murtagh, and he explained, "If Jamie pledges fealty to his uncle, Colum, then he'd be in line to succeed as Laird. He'd be part of clan MacKenzie, d'ye see?"

"Why wouldn't Hamish become Laird? If he's too young, then Dougal?" Claire asked.

"That may be the way the English do things," Murtagh cajoled, "But clans are tanist. Jamie has MacKenzie blood. If enough clansmen want Jamie to be Laird, then there it would be, and a terrible thing at that."

"Mr. MacTavish seems like a good choice to be laird," Claire opined.

"His other uncle, Dougal, might disagree with ye on that point, lass," Murtagh pointed out, "He's been holding the honor for himself when Colum dies. If Jamie takes the oath, Dougal wouldna let him breathe MacKenzie air for long."

"So why doesn't he just decline to take the oath?" Claire asked, trying to puzzle this whole thing out.

"Not while he abides at Leoch," explained Murtagh, "As the Laird's nephew and as a healthy man at arms, he has no choice. If before all, Jamie refuses, the maids would likely be scrubbing the lad's blood from the floor at Colum's feet."

Claire looks at him in shock, "So no matter what he decides, he winds up dead? Why stay at the castle? Why didn't he just leave if both his uncles would have his head on a pike?"

"The lad's got a price on his head," Murtagh reminded her, "Would not be long before Captain Randall or the Watch had him in irons. The only safe place in Scotland is here at Leoch, until now. If Jamie had just stayed hidden till the gathering was over, Colum and Dougal wouldna pressed the matter any further."

"He was leaving the stables to escort me back," Claire voiced her realization out loud, "Oh, God, this is all my fault."

"Aye, it is," blunt as always, Murtagh Fitzgibbons was never one to mince words.

….oOo….

In the meantime the queue of oath takers had moved forward and Jamie, the last in line, was now standing in front of his uncle.

Colum was visibly displeased. He did not want for this to happen. There was nothing he could do. He would just have to see how savvy his nephew could be.

Jamie stepped forward and took a knee before the Laird. Colum was staring down at him, stiffly. Jamie glanced up at his uncle. However, instead of drawing his dirk for the oath, as the others had done before him, Jamie stood back up. Both Colum's and Dougal's eyes widened at this seeming act of defiance and they looked uneasy.

Jamie spoke to his uncle, "Colum Mackenzie, I come to you as kinsman and as ally."

Colum nodded to his nephew and relaxed somewhat. He always knew the lad had some acumen. He did, after all, have MacKenzie blood, if not the name.

The lad continued, louder so that all could hear, "But I give ye no vow." Murmurs ran through the crowd and the Laird's eyes widened again. "For my oath is pledged to the name that I bear."

The clansmen began to draw their swords, ready to strike down this youth who deigned to defy their Laird.

However, Jamie proclaimed his own oath, "I give you my obedience as kinsman... and as Laird. And I hold myself bound to yer word, so long as my feet rest on the lands of the clan MacKenzie."

Uncle and nephew stared at each other for a few moments. Then Colum reached for the bowl of Rhenish and handed it to Jamie with a smile. Jamie drank the bowl of wine to the last drop, sealing the oath. The crowd erupted with cheers and applause.

Claire's heart swelled and she looked at Jamie with great admiration for how well he had handled that seemingly impossible situation with such grace and diplomacy. There was so much more to this burly red-headed Scotsman than she knew. And she felt a strong desire to know more, nay all, about him.

Colum signaled for the celebrations to begin. The musicians began to play and the dancers took to the floor. Jamie made his way toward the back of the hall where Claire and Murtagh were standing. They watched as Jamie approached. Claire looked at him with an apologetic smile as he drew near. After all, she had put him in this situation. She glanced at Murtagh behind her. As she turned back to watch Jamie, Murtagh shook his head.

Claire smiled a bit sheepishly as Jamie approached. He smiled and lightly nodded at her. She returned the nod but he continued past her to Murtagh who, shaking his head, said, "I'm getting too old for this."

Claire was disappointed that he didn't stop to talk to her. She wondered if he was upset with her.

Claire's gaze followed him. Jamie clasped Murtagh's shoulder and glanced sideways at Claire then looked down slightly before turning to leave with Murtagh by a side door. Claire looked him up and down. She definitely wanted to know all of him. She was inexplicably drawn to this man. Before Jamie stepped through the doorway she turned her head away. He looked back at her, just missing her eyes upon him.

….oOo….

As he walked through the crowd of clansmen toward Claire and Murtagh, Jamie had to fight back the urge to sweep the Sassenach up into his arms, spin her around the dance floor, and kiss her soundly. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins from the confrontation with his uncles in front of all the clansmen. His successful navigation of the situation had his confidence and his spirits soaring. He wanted Claire to soar with him.

But she was not his, at least, not yet. So he just smiled and walked past her to his old friend, doing his best to reign in his emotions and keep his hands, and lips, to himself.

After he stepped through the doorway with Murtagh he paused, allowing the older man to get some paces ahead of him. He looked back wistfully toward the hall and said aloud, though no one could hear, "I am glad you stayed Sassenach." And he meant that. No matter what it might cost him, he wanted her to stay.

Under good circumstances or bad, Claire Beauchamp always seemed to bring out the best in him. Whatever may happen to her, he considered his heart and soul held bound to hers forevermore.