Touch the Sky ON HOLD

The Games

Murdoch aggressively slashed his bed post; very obviously not the first time he had done it before, as evident by the old slashes. Y/n stayed by the door to avoid the blow of his sword, patiently waiting for him to finish before comforting him.

Elinor, though, walked right in and past her son. Hanging onto the posts, he panted, "Mother! Suitresses! Marriage!"

"Once, there was an ancient kingdom," she said instead, gliding across the room. They could only see her backside with two long braids running down her back.

"Ach, Mum." He flopped on his bed, facing upward, letting himself slide off. "Ancient kingdom..." [History class be like:]

Back to the two she went, still addressing Murdoch, with a chessboard in her hands. "It's name long forgotten, ruled by a wise and fair king who was much beloved." She held up a white chess piece, placing it in the middle. "And, when he grew old, he divided the kingdom among his four sons, that they should be the pillars on which the peace of the land rested." She put the board on four pieces to balance it.

-

Three of the sons bowed as their father walked past them, all except the huskiest.

-

"But the oldest prince wanted to rule the land for himself."

They looked at the one corner piece that was black instead of white that held up the board.

-

The prince roared as he held up his weapons, surrounded by fire.

-

"He followed his own path and the kingdom fell!" She removed the black piece and the chessboard went tumbling down, taking the pieces with it. "To chaos, war, and riun."

Murdoch grinned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That's a nice story."

"It's not just a story, Murdoch. Legends are lessons. They ring with truth."

"Ach. Mum!"

"I would advise you to make your peace with this."

He turned away, hoping that she would be quiet. Y/n turned with him, putting her arm around him and leaning over to look at him and silently coax him to listen before he spoke again.

"The clans are comin' to present their suitresses."

"It's not. Fair."

She rolled her eyes and began to leave. "Ach, Murdoch, it's marriage. It's not the end of the world."

Murdoch got up to watch her leave, then slammed his door. He half jumped, half plopped back into his bed, his face now buried in the sheets. Y/n softly began to play with his hair, making his curls bounce.

-

Elinor finished sewing the tapestry that hung on the wall, ironically enough doing Murdoch. On either side of him was Fergus and Elinor and on the other, Y/n, followed by Hamish, Hubert, and Harris. All of them held hands. She muttered as she worked until she heard her husband come in through the door, chuckling, "You're mutterin'."

"I don't mutter," she argued, not turning away from her work."

"Aye, you do." He came in and, coming closer, looked over her shoulder at the tapestry. "You mutter, lass, when somethin's troublin'' ya."

Her sewing became aggressive as she snapped, "I blame you. Stubbornness. It's entirely from your side it the family! And Y/n. She must have influenced him!"