Faith Unbroken, an Outlander Fanfiction

The New Man

The next morning, Gray was set to depart. Unfortunately for me, he'd come down with the measles, sending William and Jamie off. Murtagh and I stayed with Claire. I mostly worked on the chores with Murtagh as Claire cared for Gray. When Claire needed a break, I would go sit in the cabin, making sure he didn't die.

"Faith, could you sit with Lord John while I take a short walk. I need to stretch my legs and gather more herbs." Claire asked from the porch. I nodded in agreement.

"Stay within shouting distance in case something goes wrong?" I asked, patting her shoulder gently. She nodded in agreement before walking away. Today was a dress day as I was supposed to go into town with Ian. Instead, I was here. Chopping wood and cutting deer, in a dress. I walked into the warm cabin as Gray lay in the bed, his face splotchy and red.

"Hello, Lord John." I smiled slightly.

"Ah, a lady you are indeed." He joked.

"Watch it. I'm the one who's making sure you don't die, sir." I sat in one of the chairs pulled up next to the bed. He laughed in response before gripping his head slightly.

"I had the measles as a child. You'll be alright." I reassured him, leaning back into the chair.

"Ah, yes. Your mother assured me of the same." We sat in silence most of this visit. When we did speak, it was short quips. A game of the mind. It seemed to be what suited us best. He thought me unladylike. I thought him pompous, arrogant, and a little judgmental.

Claire finally arrived back, letting me return to my chores. After a few hours, I was right back in the seat across from Gray.

"You're back so soon?" He asked.

"You're still alive?" I retorted. Gray laughed again.

"So tell me more about yourself? Why has Jamie never spoken about you?" Gray asked. 

"He thought me dead at birth. Both Claire and Jamie." I responded. He cocked his head to the side in confusion. I briefly explained what had happened at my birth.

"Oh my God. That's horrible that a nun would do that." He gasped.

"She was my mother. She wanted a daughter." I shrugged, accepting the pity I knew was coming.

"Tell me more, if you don't mind. It's keeping my mind off this pounding in my head." Gray begged.

"At age 10, the nun passed from the fever. I was sent to the orphanage then sold to a captain of a ship. He hid my girlish features as well as he could. I was cheap and he needed the hands. By 15, I was a skilled seaman. By 20, I was the most experienced on that captain's boat." I stopped talking.

"Well, what happened after that?" He asked.

"A woman came aboard our ship. She was seeking passage and we gave it to her and a few others who paid. One night while a sea, one of the crew had it in his mind to take advantage of the woman. I stopped it, beat the crewman." I paused, reliving the lashes that came across my back. "I received 20 lashes. They found out I was a woman and threw me into a cell..." I stopped, looking away from the man in the bed. His hand touched mine gently. I retracted my hand against my chest quickly.

"I apologize for pushing for the story." He spoke softly. His eyes kind, smile small. He genuinely looked apologetic for whatever he thought he did.

"It's not your fault. It's my past." I sighed. "Anyways, the captain sold me when we reached port in Wilmington. At 21, I was a slave to Murtagh Fitzgibbons. He treated me well, freeing me after 6 months. Said he didn't feel right about owning someone. Since then, he's protected me, fed me, housed me, all around everything a father would do." I smiled slightly. "Never figured out who's child I was. Which is surprising because everyone says I look like the perfect mix of the two." I laughed slightly. Gray was listening intently.

"You have his eyes and hair. But you have her smile and curls. The kindness and compassion behind your eyes are also hers. His attitude and stubbornness." He laughed slightly. "Probably his temper." I knew this was not how a friend talked of someone, but I left my mouth shut.

"Does William have his temper too?" I interrupted. He sat and stared long at me.

"He does."

"I've stared enough at my own reflection and at portraits of Claire and Jamie to know that's Jamie's son you call your own. Do you care for him like your own son because he was your wife's nephew or because of your love for Jamie?" I now accused the sick man in front of me.

"I beg your pardon. I don't know what I've done to upset you in this way but I apologize. I care for William because he is my family. While I care about your father, it is not in the way you would think." He snapped back. "I did my duty as a husband, and now I do it as a father to my son." Claire appeared in the doorway.

"Faith, it's getting dark. I think you and Murtagh should eat and retire for the night." I nodded, rising from my chair and walking towards the door. Claire grabbed me by the wrist and whispered into my ear.

"We need to discuss this." She said. I only nodded as I left, towards the shelter where Murtagh already begun cooking.