Chapter 2

"Can we stop soon, my bottom is starting to hurt," Adie winned to her father. She knew she was acting childish but she couldn't help it. She hadn't been on a journey this long since she was one and the only reason she didn't remember that was because she was sleeping most of the time on her father's lap.

"Adie we've only been on the trail for at least three hours, we have to make better timing than that. Who knows if they are following or have a spy watching us," he said with a sigh, "How about when we get over that hill top we will have a little snack and then continue on." He was pointing at the hill while he told her of his plan, she nodded curtly, obviously having pain from her saddle.

They finally reached the hill. Adie wasn't acting like a proper women when she stomped off down towards the stream that ran along the trail. She wanted some time to herself even though while on the trail she was pretty alone, since her father didn't talk much.

"Ah, water at last," she whispered as she took some water in her cupped hands and splashed it against her face. She had never felt so refreshed in her life, but she knew this would last a couple more days until they reached the McNamara holding. She would do anything to stay in England but she didn't want to worry her father, so for her father's sake she agreed.

Nothing could be worse than going to Scotland. She had heard stories about the fierce warriors and how they killed each other over land. The people talked about the Scotsman with great venimous in there voice. They hated the Scots, but for what Adie had asked herself, what had they ever done to them? But the hatered was past down to her from those people that spoke such anger.

There was so many things about this trip she didn't like, like the fact that her father was keeping secrets that were tied to this little adventure, that is if you can call it an adventure. Then there was the fact that she hadn't seen her cousin in over two years, the reasons for that, she had no idea. That was one thing that made her heart twinge in pain, her family was the one thing that made her happy and since she didn't have alot of them, the ones she did have she kept them closer than close. If only she had her mother...As soon as she thought that she made the memory fade as fast as it came.

Adie made her way to the brush to look for some wild berries that were edible. She was taught by her father about berries that were poisionous and ones that we're edible and sweet to the taste. There were three kinds of berries that could be harmful and then there was two that were considered edible. That much she knew, she had to remember what they looked like and what they smelled like and ven there texture. Her father was very addamit about keeping her educated about such things. So she used her senses to pick the berries. She finished picking her berries and made her way back towards the horses while popping a berry in her mouth. It was so sweet and juicy she couldn't help but put another in her mouth. As it would be she ate all of them that she had out in her mini pouch. After eating the best snack she could have wished for she went in search for her father.

"Father!" Addie yelled cupping her hands to her mouth to make the words go farther.

"Adie, no need for yelling, I'm right here and get that dirt of your face." Macrae said as he stood up from the fire he had made to keep them warm. Although they weren't making perfect timing he knew that Adie was warn bare from the small jounrey. He didn't want to push her too much because when push came to shove she would end up sick or worse, dead. He didn't want something like that to happen, even if she got sick he would want to be closer to the holding.

"Adie dear, you look weary, how about a small nap before we start again?"

"That sounds like a good idea, I feel a bit drowsy," Adie yawned for emphesis. Her father walked back to the horses to make sure they were ready when she woke once more. Adie slowly sat down near a log and took some leaves and made a pile so she could have something soft to lie her head on. Her stomach made a gurgle noise and she knew when she woke up she would have to eat something to keep up her sleep. Never had she felt this drowsy and so a minute later she was sound asleep.

One hour later...

"Adie you have rested enough, wake up dear," he father said while shaking her gently. But there was nothing from the limp body of Adie.

"Tis' the truth that this is not funny to play games like this Adie, wake up." Still there was nothing. Macrae started to worry when she didn't wake up the second time because sometimes she would play games with him and make pretend she was dead, but she would usually wake the second time he said her name. This time though was a different story, she was barely breathing and she had a high temperature. Macrae started to panic, how on this dear Earth had she gotten a fever in such short of time if she hadn't aten anything. Then he had remembered that she went to go refresh herself down the hill near the stream, was it possible she had aten something there? There was no time to sit there and stare, he needed to get her the McNamara holding fast.

Slowly he put Adie in his arms and walked quickly towards his horse. He put her upon his saddle and brought himself up upon the saddle too. One hand wrapped around her waist so she wouldn't fall and his other hand held tight onto the reins as he had the horse run as fast as it could. He was going to make this two day journey into a few hours. It would be a grueling task, but when his daughter's life was at stake, he would go to the moon and back again.

Rain clouds were threatening to poor upon him when he was crossing the shaky bridge known for being slippery when rained on. He couldn't take the chance of delaying a few more hours so he made the horse gallap across the bridge, this was certainly dangerous. Just as he made it across the bridge the clouds opened up and down the rain fell. This was another delay because if the rain was heavy and thick enough he wouldn't be able to see where he was going. Then there was the thought of Adie getting pnemonia. "You going to be fine Adie, we're almost there, I can feel it in my blood. And you know my instincts, they are right as a bow." Macrae had whispered into her ear the little promise.

McNamara Holding

Darkness was starting to creep upon the Highlands and both Coll and Gaghran waited for the passing days to come. Coll wanted them to come because he wanted both Macrae and his daughter to be here as short of time as possible. But Gaghran wanted to be reunited to his family that he left back in England, but he knew his Uncle, he would take his time because he knew that Adie wasn't that experienced.

There was a sudden knock at the door to the entrance of the holding. Gaghran got up from his sitting postion to answer it. As he opened the door the man began to speak "M 'Lord there was a man spotted on our border and it's looks like he's carrying something in his hands," the young man said urgently. The realization that his Uncle may be here early made him grin. "It's nothing to worry about, tell the stable boy to get my horse ready. I will be riding out to greet out guest." The young man nodded and went to give the orders.

"Seems they are here early Coll, I will go our border to greet them. May it hap you would like to join me?" Gaghran yelled as he opened the door.

"Yes actually I would very much so like to join you, I want to know what he would be carring." Coll made his way towards the door and gave Gaghran a look of disgust and walked out the door. Rolling his eyes Gaghran closed the door.

Both rode along until they seen a horse running through the medow of McNamara's land. The rider seemed like he was on a mission. Gaghran knew it was his Uncle and waved excitedly knowing he was gallaping do get to the holding. But it didn't seem like his Uncle was even going to stop. So he intervened and stopped him.

Macrae was furious. Why in all that was holy would he try and stop him! Didn't he see that Adie was dying in his arms.

"Move you fool!"

"You'd do best to lower your voice," Coll said a little too loudly.

"If it is a fight you want, I don't have time for it. Adie may die! Move now!" Macrae bellowed.

"What?" Gaghran looked at the limp figure of Adie and then looked back at his Uncle's face, there was pure sadness in his features.

"I don't have time for explantions, we need to get moving if we want to save her. Already she has a high temperature and a faint heart beat." Once those words were spoken the three of them were off. Running like bloody hell through the medow, into the village, and then stopping full force at the holding.

Macrae handed Gaghran Adie and then jumped off his mount. He stepped forward and once more took Adie in his arms. He took long strides up the steps to the keep. He turned around and addressed Coll, "Where is the nearest guest chambers?" Coll saw the look of determination of a father and let his guard down and softly said, "Up the stairs, the first door on the left." With that said Macrae walked up the stairs, turned the corner and disappeared.

Coll ordered for a basin filled with cold water up to the guest chamber so it would get rid of the high temperature.

That night Gaghran went up to the room to check up on Adie, but instead found a sleeping Macrae. The poor man was run ragged from his journey and could barely keep his eyes open. Then the movement of something beside Macrae made Gaghran turn. It was Adie and she was fully awake now. Slowly he walked over to the bed and stopped right at the edge. Adie slowly looked up and gaped. Gaghran relaxed and smiled. "Long time since I have seen you."

Adie didn't know what to say. She was in a room that didn't look fimiliar with a man that she didn't know, plus the fac she didn't remember anything from earlier because now it was dark out. "Who may you be?" Addie asked softly but yet nervously.

"It's Gaghran." Then he realized she didn't know the Highlander name.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know anyone named Gaghran, can you please go now."

"Adie, it's me, James," and with that Adie's whole face lit up and she smiled a wide smile. And then made a loud screech. Her father woke up in an instant.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up, I know you haven't slept in a while."

"As long as your healthy, that's all I care about. You gave me quite a scare. What was it that you ate?" he asked while squeezing her hand. Realization spread crossed Adie's face.

"Yes actually I did, I had berries, but I used all the teqniuques you showed me. Oh father look who is here, it's James!" Adie's voice lifted on the last word.

"I see that, but I'm more concerned about the berries you ate. Now that you have had your spell what berry do you think you ate?"

"Maybe they were black snake berries, but it seemed like they were progon berries. Perhaps it was a trick?"

"Since you did come from England and us Highlander's don't like the English only one can imagine." The words were spoken from the entrance of the chamber. Adie tried to look around James, but his bulky figure prevented it.

"Now isn't the time to compare Highlander's and the English" Macrae said gently while rising from the side of Adie's bed.

"Father who may that be?" Adie whispered to her father. But Coll heard her.

"I'm Laird McNamara and you must be Lady Adie."