Sisters of The Bruce 1292-1314 (Abridged Version )

Sisters of The Bruce Chapter 12.1

                                                                                             I

Scotland

Kildrummy Castle

March 1302

Isa, dear heart,

Despite the wintry conditions, we manage to stay warm. Ellen holds her head up now and takes an interest in her surroundings. A bonny lass indeed - her first smile, as sweet and tentative as a new bud unfolding.

Of late, we have had a sad time of it. Old Aonghas died in his sleep. Silent and pale as a wraith, Mathilda packed away the gaming pieces as if all childhood games were but folly and required burial. Mhairi, too, was red-eyed and distracted. The meals she prepared left a lot to be desired, especially when she mistook the spices: even the guards refused their food and poor Aodh bore the brunt of her temper.

Drustan brought news from the Abbot of Arbroath: a truce has been arranged by King Edward for nine months. Robert and many of the magnates submitted to the English monarch. I knew when our brothers came last year they had had enough. It was not only their wasted bodies; the lingering shadow of defeat was evident in their eyes. After all they have been through, it is devastating. Rob feels it most for the people of Annandale and Carrick, now either slaughtered or starving. Hope is a luxury he can ill-afford.

It is impossible to imagine the dark place in which our brother finds himself and, more frightening still, where the journey might end. England is far too powerful for Scotland to overcome on the formal battlefield – for now. Rob tells me he can no longer countenance sacrificing his followers, his lands and himself for a false ideal: the return of King John Balliol. Rumours abound the latter will return with an army of French soldiers.

At any rate, our country is too impoverished to fight a war. The nobles cannot gather revenue from their tenants; these poor folk are now starving or diseased; their animals eaten in the famine. Fields are burnt; farm buildings destroyed with implements, lost or stolen.

In February, Bishop Lamberton returned from Paris after trying to broker peace for Scotland. The struggle continues, but without any firm commitments. With our brother no longer in the picture, John Comyn was elected Guardian of Scotland.

Despite his laboured breathing, Garnait managed to attend parliament. Upon his return, he took to his bed; frustrated, sore of heart and weary beyond belief. It pains me to see him so unwell. With Robert back in the English king's peace, he received a summons to the royal court in London. King Edward prefers to keep his enemies close and to buy their loyalty. Ever the viper, he entwines and twists his will around hearts and minds. One prize offered to Rob is the hand of Lady Elizabeth de Burgh, daughter of the king's close associate, the Earl of Ulster. The feisty Elizabeth has been in the forefront of our brother's heart and mind for some time.

If Rob is ever to be king, a wife he must have – to bring riches, a powerful bloodline and alliances. In the case of the fair Elizabeth, her family's Irish connections would be advantageous to the Bruce cause; her beauty, a welcome bonus. Rob plans to meet with our lord father at Writtle to resolve the schism within the family. To be sure, our brother will need to be strong ere his spirit will be even more bruised and battered. Our father feeds and cossets his grudges better than a muckle-breasted wet nurse tends a babe.

As things stand, Rob is unlikely to receive any revenue from Father's estates. To survive and rebuild his shattered lands, he will be forced to rely on King Edward's goodwill, especially with a forthcoming marriage and the need to set up a home in London, I expect. With Cambridge so close, perhaps Rob might call to see how Alexander fares. News from our erudite young brother would be most welcome.

I must digress a little. Drustan brought with him a strange tale concerning Robert and the monks of Melrose Abbey. The abbot received a missive from him containing an apology to the tenants of the abbey, for having called them out to fight in his wars when a nationwide call-up had not been issued. He then promised this would never happen again – unless 'it was for the common good of the whole realm'. Is this some ruse on Rob's behalf? Should the English king ask him to rally an army, he will have fewer men to draw upon. It seems to all of us here that Robert seeks to minimise any actions taken by him on King Edward's behalf. Our brother Edward is in an awkward position as well, having been admitted into the household of the king's wayward son. Once more, Isa, our family teeters on the edge of a deeply-shadowed, echoing abyss.

Yours aye

Kirsty