The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (An Outlander Story)

Chapter 38: Lay Up Trouble for Yourself

1954

"Ah, Brian, there you are." Frank greets as the young eight-year-old boy pokes his head around the corner of the door leading into Frank's study. "I've got something for you."

Brian shyly walks over to where Frank sits behind his desk.

"This is a book on Civil War history. It's important to widen your horizons through academia and literature." Frank explains earnestly.

Brian looks down at it blankly.

"Well, come on. Isn't it fascinating?" He urges.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks Dad." Brian mumbles. "What about the Scottish stuff?"

Frank baulks at this. "What do you mean, Brian?"

Brian's face reddens. "I-I might've had a look a-at your documents and I, um, saw you were looking a-at a rebellion in Scotland?" He looks down at his feet.

Frank narrows his eyes at his putative son. "You shouldn't be coming in here without my permission, Brian."

"Sorry." Brian mumbles, looking up. Frank feels the corners of his mouth pinch at that in annoyance. "I just– I-I liked their kilts."

Of all the aspects of history Brian could be interested in, it had to be that.

Frank scoffs spitefully. "A group of men running around in skirts?"

Brian blushes. "Erm... I-I just thought that—"

"Be careful," he can't help but comment snidely, "you don't want people to make any assumptions about you."

"Sorry, Dad."

Frank sighs and pushes the book towards Brian. "This what you should be doing. It would make me proud."

Brian takes the book hesitantly and stands there quietly.

"Yes, well, go on then." Frank waves his hand towards the door.

Brian nods and scurries out of the room.

Frank sighs. He never seems to get it right with Brian. With Ellen, it's easy. He knows that he's the only father she's ever known. But Brian had another man be his father even if those memories have faded at his end, Frank can't help but look at him and see another man's child.

He wants to bond with his son and teach him how to be a man. Brian is very attached to his mother and sister in a way that is unhealthy for a young boy. He is hardly ever interested in making any connections with anyone else except for the Abernathy children. Frank feels his face pinch at that. While he's glad Brian has friends outside of their family, he wishes that they were more socially acceptable ones. How else is Brian going to make his way in the world by associating with that crowd?

——

1770

Eighteen years later (also technically a hundred and eighty-four years in the past), Brian stands in front of his Da as he hands him a kilt.

Brian grips the fabric, staring at it wide-eyed as if it's a mythical unicorn. "I thought these were banned. Where did you find this?" He asks his Da.

Brian softly strokes the distinctive diagonal-weave pattern, the browns and greens woven together. It feels heavy but soft in his hands. He can't help but well up at the sight of it.

"Just because they'd taken our right to wear 'em, dinna mean I wouldnae make preparations to have my own on hand fer when they threaten us." Da declares.

Brian has an idea of what's caused this. He knows Governor Tryon has been reminding Da of his obligation to the crown, his mission to hunt down and kill Murtagh along with raising a militia to quell the Regulators if necessary. He threatens Da with losing the ridge if he doesn't follow through with his vow to the British crown that he made when he was given the land to settle on.

"Then shouldn't you wear it? As our leader?"

"Aye, I ha' another. I kept a spare wi' te thought – te hope – tha'," Brian hears his voice wobble with emotion before he takes a breath and puts a hand on Brian's shoulder, "ye'd return te me again and I could pass on te pride o' our clan, our family name."

Would his Da be proud of him if he knew? If he knew Brian's nature?

Brian's heart clenches with emotion. "Da, I—"

"Son, ye carry my name, my blood. Yer a Scot and yer should wear it proudly."

Brian softens at that. He thinks of the draw, the urge he had felt his whole life towards the highlands and how Dad had always squashed it, criticising him for it and now he has the chance to embrace it.

"Brian, Tryon wants his Scot, let us give him a Scot."

Brian resolves himself and nods.

——

As in keeping with an old tradition of the Highlands, Brian helps his Da build a giant woven cross, one like he had seen at Castle Leoch many years ago. He says they need to be sure of the loyalty of their men if a war is coming. This makes Brian nervous, the thought of war considering all he had done to fight against his country's involvement in one in his own time.

Brian feels his eyes well up at the sight of his Da in his Highland garb as he stands in front of the crowd, thinking of how this is the first time he is legally donning his tartan since he watched his countrymen die for all it stood for. Brian strokes his own as it rests on his body. The history in this one bit of fabric.

The crowd gathers as Da lights the cross on fire. Brian's heart is in his throat as he watches his father. His presence. Jamie Fraser has every eye and all attention on him, which is what he wants. Then, he begins to speak.

"In the Highlands, when a chieftain sets 'imself te war, he'll burn the fiery cross, sendin' a sign throughout the lands o' his clan. It was a call fer his men te gather their weapons, come, prepared fer battle. We are friends, neighbors, countrymen. But we're nae a clan, and I'm nae yet chief. But I hope that if the time comes, ye will all stand by my side."

No one makes a sound while Da speaks, but Brian looks around at the settlers and sees the men are all standing tall, staring unblinkingly at their leader, and it is clear that they would follow him off the edge of the world should he give the order.

"We canna say wha' might befall us. By we must nae only be willin' ye make oaths te our wives and loved ones, but ye our brothers in arms in this new country."

Brian feels himself freeze as Da stops pacing and stands opposite him, making strong eye contact so he, and everyone around him, know what Da says next is directed at Brian. "Stand by my hand." He holds out his hand and waits for Brian to respond.

Brian thinks back to all the anti-war rallies, the destruction of the registration cards, that he had taken part in, and protesting against a war that America had no part in. Is he really doing this? Should he fight for the existence of a country that's eating itself alive?

But then he thinks of the pride on both of his parents' faces as he stood before them in the kilt and the lack of it from Dad when he had gotten into trouble for his anti-Vietnam war activities despite the fact he was fighting against their own government sending their countrymen to fight and die in a war they had no part in being in. Dad's lack of wanting to engage in what Brian was interested in and instead pushed his own views onto him.

With these thoughts in mind, Brian reaches out and grasps his hand. "I will. I'll stand with you. I pledge you my loyalty." His father urges him to kneel. He kisses the dagger Da holds out to him to seal the oath and stands up, going beside him.

"Captain Brian Fraser." Da announces his new title.

Brian clenches his fist, taking comfort in the pain of his nails pressing into his skin, trying to ease the anxiety he feels.

Da continues his speech. "I want ye te ken tha' this act we're undertakin' forms a bond betwixt us, the foundin' o' a kinship in this New World. Just as ye give me yer word, I give ye mine. I will serve ye, as ye are swearin' ye serve me. And I will nae light the cross again until the time has come fer us te do battle."

The oaths go on, continuing with Roger, Fergus and then each man of the Ridge.

It's not total war just yet but it's definitely heading that way.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.