Authors: Cherime MacFarlane
Highland Light (29 page)
On the second day of the battle they emerged from the cover of the woods. As a man, they knelt and prayed for strength and God's grace. It was a bloody battle with many of the English nobility killed or wounded. As the English line began to break, all of the small folk and camp followers charged forward. Ailene was among them. The King had ordered the charge with the intent that the Sassanech would think reinforcements had entered the battle. The battle turned into a rout and it was over.
Ailene waited at the area where she and Gideon had passed the first night. She started a fire as she waited. Slowly MacGrough men began to wander back to the gathering spot. Ailene saw to each one as they fell exhausted to the ground. She supplied water and a cup of porridge to each one. Gideon was the last to make his way back to the fire. He was supporting Ainsley who had injured his leg.
Ailene ran toward him. She took Ainsley's other arm over her shoulders. When all were accounted for, wounds treated and each had eaten, they fell asleep. In the morning it was decided that no one was too injured to ride. They mounted the horses, which had been waiting in a small meadow under the charge of Dallas.
Ailene and Gideon rode at the end of the group that was slowly traveling home. Hand in hand they rode along.
"Did you keep your promice Ailene?"
Gideon asked.
"I did. Until ordered ta charge by the King. It wa horrid Gideon. I ha never seen so much blood. Da ye think the Sassenach will leave us alone now?"
He rubbed her fingers.
"Aye, that is the way of it Ailene. Wars cause people to bleed. As to the Sassenach, who can tell? Only God knows. I know I am hopeful that we will now be able to have a bit of peace. You are my love and I wish to be allowed to live in peace with you and my family."
Ailene thanked God for the man at her side.
Gideon smiled at the woman he loved more than life. His thoughts wandered to the glen and Gideon pictured it in his mind. He had come to it a stranger. He had been welcomed and the glen had made him its own. God was good.
Glossary
Bairn-babe
Barmkin or Bawn-defensive wall
Braw-fine looking, brave
Dagger-gearra-sgian
Harling-surfacing a stone wall
Lover-gradh
Sassenach-English
sgian-knife
uisge beatha - whiskey
Wean-toddler
wheesht-hush
~~~~~~~~~~
Hamish MacGrough is a descendant of Gideon MacGrough and Ailene. A musician with a successful rock band in 1988, he is faced with a mystery that he feels he must solve. The lead singer of the band is murdered. Hamish is terrified that his wife is involved or may be implicated by curcumstantial evidence. Read his story in Wired For Sound.
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