Heart of Glass

The Hunt

"Tis a braw day for a boar tynichal, is it not?" Alana watched as Rupert proudly sharpened his spear.
She looked at him skeptically, clutching onto her basket full of medical supplies that matched Claire's. Before she could say anything, her friend cut in.
"It's quite the show of force for a pig hunt."
Rupert stared at her, slightly surprised.
"It's a boar."
"Oh, of course! Twenty men armed with spears and muskets,...seems about right to kill one hairy pig." Claire scoffed.
Alana snickered at her. The look on Rupert's face was priceless. The poor man only shook his head.
"You've plainly never seen one then. Get yer mount. Time to go." He then walked away from them.
Alana and Claire shared a dubious glance, both laughing quietly. Claire's fingers wrapped around her horse's rein. They both had decided it was better to simply share a horse. Joining the trail of men in front of them, they made their way into the thick scottish woods. They kept right next to each other, engaging in light conversation.
"So,..." Claire started, looking at the woman next to her.
Alana tilted her head to the side curiously.
"So,....what?" she asked.
"How does it make you feel when I say,....Murtagh?" Claire had a sly grin upon her face.
A dusting of blush covered Alana's face, instantly smiling.
"Shut up, Claire! And how dare you and Jamie spy on us last night! Tha' was creepy." she laughed, Claire joining her.
Alana kept the smile on her face as she recalled the final moments of her and Murtagh's night together.

The hour was late, the clock reading almost one in the morning. They had insisted that Alana and Claire go to bed, for they were to join the hunt at first light the very next morning. They both couldn't help but to agree. Alana and Claire had gone their separate ways, Jamie escorting Claire to her room, and Murtagh to Alana's.
Holding Alana's hand, Murtagh helped her walk up the many stone stairs up to her room. Alana still had a hard time seeing anything, even though the halls were now dimly lit for the event of the gathering.
"We need to get yer eye trained, lass. You'll never survive iffen ye ever get lost in the scottish woods." Murtagh teased lightly.
Alana sent him a small smile.
"I'm assumin' that's another thing you can help me with,...next to my combat trainin'?" she laughed, Murtagh joining with a quiet chuckle.
"Aye,...I suppose I could."
Stopping in front of her bedroom door, they stood across from each other. Murtagh folded his hands behind his back, watching Alana keep hers in the front. A short moment of silence passed between them, not either wanting to say goodnight to the other. Neither wanted to leave. Sighing, Alana shifted her eyes to connect with Murtagh's. A soft smile formed on his lips. Alana gave him one back.
"Thank you, Murtagh. I had a wonderful time tonight,...especially with you." Her last words were quieter than the others, her shyness breaking through and showing.
She then looked down at the floor in an attempt to hide it.
Smiling down at her, Murtagh slowly brought his hand to gently tilt up Alana's chin, then moving it to softly rest upon her cheek. His heart started to beat faster.
"I should be thankin' you, M'eudail. I havna been this happy in a verra long time." His voice was low, though laced with sincerity.
Alana felt the butterflies rise instantly in her stomach. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around Murtagh's middle, trapping him in a hug. Though surprised, Murtagh hugged her back gratefully. Resting his head on top of hers lightly, he closed his eyes, savoring the moment. God, he didn't want to move.
"Christ, please be careful on tha' hunt tomorrow, lass. I ken what they're like. Iffen ye dinna pay attention for one second, ye could be dead on the ground wi' a boar at yer throat." he told her, his hold around her tightening slightly.

In truth, he didn't know what he would do if he found out that Alana had gotten hurt.
Alana pulled away slightly. Only enough so she could look him in the face.
"Y..you're not coming with us tomorrow? Where will you be?" she asked.
Murtagh shook his head.
"Nae, lass. I willna be joinin' ye. I'll most likely be joinin' the shinty game wi' young Jamie. Angus will be too, iffen he's sober enough. Rupert will be with ye though. Jes,...keep close to him and Claire." he said regretfully.
He hated not being able to join her. So, he would just have to trust the lardbucket to protect her.
Alana nodded.
"I'll see you there afterwards then." She hesitantly pulled away from Murtagh, smiling at him.
"I look forward to it." he responded.
Giving him a small nod, once again Alana reached up and kissed Murtagh on the cheek.
"Goodnight, ye stubborn scot." she said playfully.
Murtagh let out a small laugh.
"Goodnight, lass." he gingerly took both of her small hands in his large ones and brought them to his lips.
Closing the door behind her, Alana leaned up against it with her eyes closed. The grin on her face was wide, unfaltering. She listened as Murtagh's footsteps became farther and farther away. Though the sound of another's voice reached her ears. Confused, Alana swung her door back open. Peering over the railing and scanning the area down below, she strained her eyes to make out the figure of a woman. They were failing miserably to hide behind a corner. Alana quirked an eyebrow with a sigh.
"Claire,...I ken tha's you down there. Come out." Alana watched as Claire shamelessly appeared, a sly grin smirk on her face.
Alana tilted her head.
"You too, Jamie." The curly haired scot appeared, the complete opposite of Claire.
He was shameful, his hand on the back of his head nervously as he let out a small laugh.
"I apologize, Miss Irvine. I will,...uh,....jes be goin' on my way now." With that, he swiftly walked away.
Claire laughed at him, turning back to face her friend.
"I'm not sorry. The both of you are so cute together." she teased.
Alana shook her head, a playful smile on her lips.
"Go to bed, Claire, ye sneak. You're truly awful."
Claire gave a friendly shrug.
"You still love me."

Alana was quickly pulled out of her thoughts, the obnoxious sound of the men banging their spears against their shields loudly. Supposedly, the sound was to attract a boar, in spite of it sounding like it would rather scare them away. Soon enough, the sound of gunshots rang out as their game was in sight. The hair on Alana's arms stood up uneasily. The scream of one of the men reached her ears.