A/N: Sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story (Life and work plus siblings, think you get the idea), but with school and other things in real life, I hope it is understandable. Anyhoo, here is Chapter 4, Dunollie Castle.
"A castle who speaks of power and age, the garden speaks of death and sadness."
Adrienne was nearly falling out of her seat when James decided to stop the horses, about a few hours after the surprise attack. When her horse came to a halt, she had just went to collapse from her seat as he dismounted and caught her in time, "Och lass, can ya stay awake fer a wee bit?"
"Yes, but I feel so... weak?" she whispered and he grumbled as his stallion knew what to do and went to lay down. He mounted with Adrienne in his arms, and lightly nudged the steed with his knees. The heavy horse got back up, turned to the direction of the castle, as it wasn't too far away from their present location. "We aren't too far, lassie." he whispered as she fell asleep in his arms. This feels weird, but ae good sense o' weird, James thought as he tied her horse's reins to his leg. Letting his horse take the lead, he waited before looking down to the innocent girl's face, Can she be really tha daughter o' tha King o' England? She cannae be 'is bairn.
OoO
John sat near the gates of Dunollie Castle as he saw Alex, and the others coming in. "Where's me laird?" he questioned after a few moments of them getting into the stables.
"'E's still out there wit' tha lass." Alex noted and untacked his gelding. "Winnae knew til this eve." he added.
"Will 'e be alright?"
"Aye, Laird knews what 'e's doin'." Alex noted again and then seeing Jamie coming into the courtyard with both Adrienne and her mare, he sighed in relief, "See, John? What did I tell ya?"
"Not much Alex," John grumbled before walking towards Jamie, extending his arms up to take Adrienne. "Tha lass is sleeping, at least let me take 'er fer ya fer a few."
Jamie let him take Adrienne before he dismounted and gave the horses to the grooms waiting for the beasts. John gave her back to Jamie, "a room is ready fer 'er."
"'Ave one of tha maids 'elp 'er when she wakes. I need a bath." He stated but took Adrienne with him, to the room one of the lads had told him was ready for her and placed her on the bed. Taking one quick glance at her, he left, and entered his room to seeing a steaming bath ready for him.
OoO
Adrienne woke up, at first wondering why she didn't feel the cold morning air on her as she slept, then realizing she was in a decent sized room, the curtains on the four-poster bed drawn and she sat up. It wasn't her room back in England, and she had met...
A quick knock and a brisk "come in" from her and the curtain was pulled back and a young girl, from Adrienne's estimation, around the age of thirteen bowing to her, "I am 'ere ta 'elp ya." She said.
"What's your name?" Adrienne asked and then a small answer from the girl was, "'Tis Caroline, miss."
"Caroline, that sounds English to me."
"Me ma was a English governess." she said and it slightly made more sense that Caroline would have been given a name that would remind all that Adrienne was running away from. I hope me running won't cause my 'uncle' to rage war against these people. If it does, I may have to run again.
"Then we can meet up with Mr. MacKenzie after I am properly dressed." Adrienne smiled to the girl and then it fell once Caroline stated, "He's out of tha castle."
"Where did he go?" She asked.
"Trainin' wit tha men." That would make sense, if he wasn't burdened by me, he might've gotten home sooner to train the men, her smile died with the thought that he was being shackled to her because of his uncle, and Adrienne only hoped that he would-
"Miss Fell, are you decent?" she heard John's voice on the other side of the door, and Caroline smiled a bit, "In here, Uncle John." When the old man walked into the room, Adrienne had to ask, "Does everyone call you Uncle John?"
"What's so wrong wit that?" he asked and she suppressed a chuckle, "Well, no matter there, Adrienne, come walk wit me fer a wee bit." With the help of Caroline, Adrienne was following John outside into the garden, her smile hidden within her mask, one that fell upon her once she saw the state of the gardens. "What's wrong, lass?"
"My family, or those who had adopted me had a garden a little smaller than this one, but it was so full of life. Seeing a place that is supposed to be full of beauty filled with death, it reminds me of how much I have lost in the last few weeks."
"Lass, as much as tha last men want ta 'elp tha poor, but 'e canna 'elp tha person that need the help forget 'is worries." John stated and then an idea popped into her head, "John, may I take care of the garden while I am here? Maybe it may bring your nephew a better chance of winning a wife if he can impress her with a garden."
They stopped in front of the area where the men were training with arms and a shirtless James watched once his opponent was on the ground and had called halt, and he watched in amazement as Adrienne, not even five hours ago who was passed out in his arms, walking around with his uncle, talking about gardens and him catching a wife. "Ya must bring that ta Jamie, Adrienne-"
"If she can stoke ma's garden, then tha lass can deal wit tha garden." Jamie walked over and startled Adrienne, who turned red and bowed in front of him. "Just don't buy any seeds from tha minstrel who travels 'ere." And he walked away.
