The English Rose

Chapter Three~ The Inn

When I woke up I was cold, if it hadn't been for the brown cloak that was over me I had no doubt that I would have frozen alive. I hadn't fallen asleep with it over me last night. It was the same cloak Jamie had worn yesterday. It was thoughtful of him.

I got up and looked out into the camp poking only my head out. The fire was out, but had a small stream of smoke coming from it meaning it had only just been smothered. I carefully took myself out of the small tent. At least they had given me that courtesy. I would be happy when I could sleep on a bed again though. I stretched out a bit, making the left side of my body sting, the side that I had landed on when Jamie threw me off the horse. I lifted up my skirt to see a large black and blue bruise had formed on my upper thigh. There was no doubt that my ribs also held the painful marks.

I looked around for food. None of the rabbit was left after last night. Looking for a bit of help, I peeked into each tent to see that three of the four men were sleeping. I peeked into the first tent to see Jamie sleeping alone. He was wrapped in his kilt his face, looked more peaceful than what I had seen the last two days. I let up the tent and looked into the other. The gray bearded man and the larger one were sleeping in a tent together. They were close enough to take in each other's warmth. No more than that. So where was the blonde headed boy?

I looked up, there was a mist on the ground making the forest look like a mythical land. Filled with dread but if you stepped in far enough you would find a wise woman who would tell you to go on a great Journey. I turned around to find that was surrounding us, but keeping its distance. That was when I saw the young blonde child. He was sleeping against the base of a tree with his kilt around him, mouth wide open snoring, but quietly. A sword stretched the length of his leg. If need be, he was ready to attack. Too bad he would have been dead by the time he had the chance to draw it. I walked over to him, bent down, and softly shook him. He woke up and gave me a soft smile. With a realization, he jumped up and looked around "Oh man! I cannae believe ah fell asleep, please tell me that nae one else is about." It took me a moment to realize what he said.

"Keep your voice down. No, no one is awake. I do need help though. The other men are asleep and I want to make sure breakfast is made before they wake. I sat by a stream last night, maybe there are some fish there. Will you come with me?" I stood there hoping he would say yes quickly. He looked around. It was all quiet. Birds sang, rabbits hopped and the wind blew. Much to my dismay. The cloak that Jamie had given me wasn't much of a barrier.

After thinking for a while he looked at me straight in the eye like he was off to battle, "Aye, ah will." We started walking toward the stream stepping over the fallen logs and ducking under low hanging branches. "What is yer name?" I looked at him "I donnae want to call you lass the entire time." I smiled at that. He was the only one who had asked. The second Scottish person to know.

"Heather, and yours?" We reached the stream and he pulled out a few lines and hooks.

"Alistair. Ah do nae like it. It is the last name of another Clan, the McAlister's. They are part of the McDonald Clan." I cast my hook into the middle of the stream where it wasn't frozen. Almost immediately I got a nibble. I waited for the right time to pull my hook. Alistair was having a little bit of a harder time. He didn't wait for the fish to nibble he just pulled it straight out of the river only after a minute. I pulled the hook on a tight tug and soon the fish was flopping on the ice. Threatening to break it with every attempt to be in the water and breathe once again. "How did ye do that Heather?"

I looked at him and smiled "I waited." He threw his in after a few seconds I saw the line tighten in his hands. He was ready to pull. I set my hands on his hands to stop him. "Alright, you felt the nibble right?" He nodded "They are just testing out the line making sure that whatever is on the line is truly dead. There will be a hard tug." He pulled with a hard tug on a nibble. Only a hook with the lips of the fish came out.