#also featuring: murtagh

[where-dreamers-go]

If requests are open and you don't mind, could I have Murtagh, Roran, Arya and/or Eragon's reaction to a chubby!SO being oblivious to their advances?

Hi there! Here on this blog, I always have whether or not requests are open right in the bio. :)

~~~

Murtagh had returned to your home. Finally. By dragon magic and fire — he missed you. To be comfortable in an environment enough to discard his boots upon entry was still new for the Dragon Rider. Yet he would never complain. Definitely not. He had another reason never to complain.

There, curled up in bed with a book was no one other than his love, you. Nose deep in the book even as Murtagh walked closer.

“You’re early,” you smiled, eyes peering up at him.

“I have my reasons.” He pressed his lips to your cheek, softer than his own. He kissed your shoulder then, hidden by a night shirt.

“Tired?”

“Not yet.”

You turned a page and asked, “Did you want to read with me?”

“Perhaps later?” Murtagh kissed your shoulder again while letting his fingers roam the curves of your hip and thigh. “We could do something else?”

“We could paint.” You suggested, looking over to him.

A frown creased his features.

“What? I liked your last painting. You could be an artist too, Murtagh.”

Sighing, Murtagh flopped onto the bed.

“What’s the matter?” You set the book aside to comb your fingers through his dark locks.

“Nothing…”

. . .

Eragon wiped the sweat from his brow. A common occurrence while tending the crops. More so that he had finished what needed doing. It had been a long morning.

Satisfied, the Dragon Rider stretched his arms over his head. He would do well with a short rest. Some time to himself if he could.

Brown eyes caught sight of his partner sitting under the shade of a tree. His companion and love who he would do practically anything for.

Eragon could rest later.

Walking up to his beloved, he was greeted by your soft smile. A wonderful sight.

“All finished?” You asked, handing over a container of water.

“Finished working in the soil? Yes.” Eragon swallowed a generous amount of water. “Thank you. I needed a drink.”

“You might also need to wash up.”

He hummed briefly in acknowledgement and promptly sat down beside you. Brown eyes roamed over your content expression and down your curves in affection. Still hot from work, Eragon felt a growing excitement in his belly. A thought lingering in passion.

“Are you busy?” Eragon inquired, index finger tracing around your wrist. “You could use water as well.”

“I’m enjoying the breeze.” You stated and closed your eyes.

Leaning in, Eragon lightly pressed his lips to the contour of your ear. “You could enjoy the water,” he whispered.

“I wasn’t digging out weeds and playing with earthworms.”

He nipped your ear.

“Hey.”

“I need to bathe and I think,” Eragon placed his other hand on your thigh, “you should keep me company.”

“You’ve taken baths by yourself before.” You opened your eyes and turned to give him a quizzical look. “Do you need me to test the temperature again?”

Moving his hands to his lap, the Dragon Rider sighed, defeated.

“No.” He pulled at an innocent blade of grass.

“Then go bathe.” You patted his knee.

“Fine.” Eragon pouted.

. . .

I feel like Roran might actually say something or be much more forward. I don’t know how, but he might.

Arya… I don’t really know how she’d react, maybe just really look at her partner. Studying them or something.

~~~

(If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful.

Best wishes and happy reading.)

~~~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: 

Inheritance Cycle Tags: @shewhobreathesfire @emburbaguette

**Let me know if you would like to be tagged in insert readers, either through replies, ask, or message.**

#eragon reaction #murtagh reaction #eragon shadeslayer #murtagh morzanson #eragon x reader #murtagh x reader #arya #roran stronghammer #request #the inheritance cycle #the world of eragon #where dreamers go

[arrthurpendragon]

Wrote a one-shot-ish type thing that may eventually become cannon for Entreat Me Not to Leave

After mustering my best withering glare and directing it in Dougal’s direction.  Not that the insufferable Highlander noticed, he had already begun captivating the murmuring crowd once more with his tale.  Although, I hadn’t escaped the notice of all the Scots of Castle Leoch.  Murtagh, while saying nothing, shook his head at me warning me not to follow.  But I ignored him. 

With a look I hope displayed my indignation, I clutched at my skirts before bending down to pick up the shirt Jamie  had tossed to the floor before chasing after the tortured Highlander into the night.

It wasn’t hard to find Jamie pacing between two trees.  His posture alone warned that he should be left alone. I knew he was angry and that stubborn pride of his hated when people pitied him.  But he wasn’t going to get any pity from me and I silently prayed that his temper didn’t make him forget that.

If he noticed me as I drew nearer, he didn’t make it known to me.  Instead he continued to pace, or rather stomp, between the trees and mutter under his breath.  While I’m sure Murtagh thought I was risking my life by chasing after Jamie in this state, I wasn’t completely insane. So, still clutching his torn shirt, I sat down on the grass several yards away and simply watched him. 

Jamie had every right to be angry and I didn’t intend to stop him in his justified pursuit.  I just wanted to be there.  If by some chance he needed me.  Thus far in our relationship, it had been I would needed him and I just wanted him to know that if we were truly going to make this work, he could depend on me.

After about another half dozen laps between trees, Jamie stopped for a moment and looked at me. The moonlight highlighted his handsome features and I felt my heartbeat begin to quicken.  It had never been like this with Stephen and I wondered if my heartbeat would always betray my desire for him, even in the years to come.

“I dinna ask for your company,” Jamie retorted in a clipped tone.

I nodded in understanding and then tucked a stray tendril of hair behind my ear.

“I dinna require ye,” he rephrased.  “I dinna require anyone. I’m fine.”

I motioned between the trees.  “By all means, carry on as you were.”

He opened his mouth to argue with me, but I held up a lone finger for him to allow me to continue.  His eyes narrowed at me, but he pursed his lips to let me speak.  

I quickly nodded my head in thanks before continuing. “In my experience, when I ask to be alone, I might mean it initially but tend to let stubbornness and pride get in the way when what I really want is someone to simply be there, even if they have nothing to say.  The true weight of being alone rarely brings comfort especially when what we crave is to know that we aren’t alone in our burdens or joys.”

He stared at me, blinking slowly, as he digested my words.  

“Deal with your anger however suits you best.  Just know that I find it justified and that whether you require me or not, I’m here for you, Jamie. Silently or not.  And no amount of your stubborn barking is going to change that.”

He swallowed hard.  I could tell he was struggling with my words.  While everything I had told him since we met had been true . . . or mostly true, I could tell that he didn’t trust easily.  I knew that he trusted me to an extent, but I could also tell he had built stone walls around his heart to protect himself.

I shivered against the wind that had begun to pick up.  I looked up at him trying to control my shivers.  I debated using his torn shirt as a makeshift shawl, but I didn’t want to draw attention to the item and make him start his process of dealing with his anger all over again.

His face softened slightly as he sighed. “Lass, your shivering.”

“I can handle a little wind,” I responded as I rubbed my hands up and down my arms.  I licked my lips before adding in a hushed tone, “Especially for you.”

I assumed he heard my addition because he sighed in frustration before beginning to walk toward me.  “If yer no going to leave, I’ll no be able to think with yer teeth rattlin’.”  

I arched my brow at him as he approached.  But I said nothing.  I simply watched him as he settled down on the grass behind me and pulled me against him, wrapping his arms tightly around me.  I snuggled back against him, immediately feeling the warmth that radiated off him.  

He rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.“Dinna mistake me, Ruthie. I dinna wanna talk . . .”

I nodded my head, acknowledging his demand without further explanation.  I needed him to know that I trusted him and his judgment.  But mostly, I needed him to know that no matter what - I would be there for him.

#oc: ruthie tallmadge #fic: entreat me not to leave #fd: outlander

[modern-inheritance]

Modern Inheritance Cycle Characters: Eragon (pre-Blood Oath, book 1) and Arya (at least an attempt)

I own a copy of Crusader Kings 3, which is PHENOMENAL for character creation/visualization. So I got tinkering and got a fairly okay version of what Eragon looks like in Book 1. Since he's so young his appearance does change through the MIC version of book 2 since he and Co. spend nearly a year in Ellesmera, so this is just the Boi in book 1.

Is babby!

I...don't know why it's so gray now?? Damn it tumblr.

Anyway. He's average! Eragon has always been pretty average in appearance as far as I can tell. I don't see faces when I write, which makes this sorta thing difficult for me, but I did try to give his nose just a little bit of a hook/hawkish look to it. I feel like Eragon got more of his mother's looks while Murtagh got Morzan's, and poor Brom just gave the kid his nose.

I'll do his transformation and aged up version later.

But we also have my attempt at MIC!Arya, sans scars since I can't add those and a little less wild on the hair.

Significantly less 'alien' than the illustrated book has, but I just want my elves to appear just a liiiiiitle bit off. I'll probably go and do more edits later, but most of the time the elves don't look crazy like 'omg that's an elf' beyond the ears, but they all typically have high and defined cheekbones, slanted eyes and defined jawlines. If you stare at one long enough you'd probably go '..........is....is something off?'

It is more apparent as elves get older (typically starting around 4th century or so) that they start getting more and more 'off' looking. Their eyes get a sharper angle, pupils sometimes begin to appear just slightly slitted, jawline becomes just gradually more sharp along with the cheekbones. It's the original dragon bond intensifying, and usually is more apparent in those who can use magic (which is most but not all elves). It doesn't happen overnight but over decades.

There are those features that some elves are born with, and the ones that all elves are born with but are subdued until they can chose to let them be presented naturally or keep them subdued. That's mostly the teeth, while other elves sometimes are born with highly unusual eye coloration ('dragon eyes') or other manifestations of the original dragon bond, mostly mutations that present as physical draconic traits.

....what was i doing again?

#eragon #inheritance cycle #the cyclists #the world of eragon #the inheritance cycle #modern inheritance #ket's modern inheritance cycle #modern inheritance lore #modern inheritance art #technically not art? #iunno. #arya #arya drottningu #eragon shadeslayer #book 1 eragon

[burlveneer-music]

Alison Eales - Mox Nox - chamber folk/pop songs inspired by sundial mottos

Alison Eales is a long-standing member of the band Butcher Boy, playing piano, accordion and other keyboards as well as arranging for choir and brass. The band have made three studio albums: Profit in Your Poetry (2007), React or Die (2009) and Helping Hands (2011). All of these albums have been well-received, with React or Die featuring in The Times’ top 100 pop albums of the 2000s. The band have also released two EPs. A compilation album, You Had A Kind Face, was released on Needle Mythology in 2022, along with three new songs, with tracks mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road. Butcher Boy have supported bands including Belle and Sebastian, Scritti Politti and The Wedding Present. Taking inspiration from sundial mottos, Mox Nox is an album about the passing of time – most specifically, the transition from day to night. Its twelve songs explore experiences of all-nighters, anxiety, travel, frustration, and friendship. The album combines acoustic and electronic instrumentation with samples of environmental sound, resulting in an indie pop record that is by turns playful and melancholy and that is likely to appeal to fans of Saint Etienne, The Magnetic Fields, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stereolab, Jake Thackray and Kirsty MacColl. With support from Creative Scotland, the album was produced by Paul Savage at Chem 19 studios. Cover artwork was designed by Rhian Nicholas at The Passenger Press in Glasgow, using a mix of traditional printmaking techniques. The design represents a sundial and was inspired by the cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, with its stylised Doomsday Clock.

The strings on Ever Forward were arranged and recorded by Pete Harvey at Pumpkinfield and performed by the Pumpkinseeds: Simon Graham (violin), Emma Connell-Smith (viola), Harriet Davidson (cello) and Chris Sergeant (double bass). Strings on other tracks were performed by Maya Burman-Roy (cello) and Cat Robertson (violin). Guitar on The Broken Song, Shadow Blister, A Natural History of California and Goodbye was played by Basil Pieroni. Diljeet Kaur Bhachu played flute on Negligence, Through Hoops, and Mox Nox. Joanne Murtagh played glockenspiel on Rapunzel, Negligence, Fifty-Five North and Mox Nox.

#Alison Eales #folk #chamber folk #chamber pop #scotland #2020 #female vocal #fika recordings

[popentertainment-interviews]

The Academic

Getting Intellectual with The Academic

by Kayla Marra 

From Mullingar, Ireland, The Academic are an indie-rock quartet. The band was formed in 2013 when brothers Matthew and Stephen Murtagh and Craig Fitzgerald and Dean Gavin met at school in Rochfortbridge, a small county in Westmeath, Ireland. Over the new two years, the group got closer and started making their own original music together. They released their debut EP titled “Loose Friends” in 2015, which immediately caught on fire across Ireland. They even sold out at Vicar Street in Dublin, Ireland, which was huge for the guys. 

In 2017, they released the single “Bear Claws” and performed the music video live on Facebook live stream. This went viral on Facebook, bringing in over a million views in less than two days. In 2018, the band released their debut album Tales From The Backseat, which became an instant hit.

Their highly anticipated sophomore album Sitting Pretty was just released, featuring a new, exciting sound and catchy tunes. 

We were lucky enough to attend a press conference with the group and heard them discuss all things from their writing process, how they got together as a group, their upcoming Sitting Pretty album and tour, and more. Fortunately for us, we were able to directly ask The Academic couple of questions that we, and the fans, are dying to know the answers to!

When we asked how the group would explain The Academic’s music in three words to a new listener, Stephen explained, “I think that the three words we would use now are very different than the three words we would’ve used on the first album. On the first album, we probably would’ve said that The Academic is energetic, boisterous, and youthful. Whereas this album is so much more mature. I would say mature, pensive, and older. We’re just a little bit more tired than we used to be!”

The three words that Matthew chose to best encapsulate the group’s sound for a new listener were “earnest, more honest, and grown-up.” Dean went with “colorful, thoughtful, electric, and developed.” Lastly, Craig chimed in saying that he feels that The Academic’s music is “emotional, up, and down.” 

We then asked Dean, Craig, Matthew, and Stephen which song out of “Pushing Up Daisies,” “Don’t Take It Personally,” “Homesick” and “My Very Best” from their recent release best represents The Academic’s new era. Matthew started off by saying that they would “all have very different answers for this.” He went on to share that the song that best represents the group’s new era for him is “Homesick” because the song “shows the most development” in their songwriting and “you wouldn’t have heard a song like that on Tales From The Backseat.”

Matthew explained that this “sad bop” is most representative of this new era because it shows how much they’ve grown up since their last release.

Stephen agreed with Matthew’s answer and explained that the song is “so drenched in reverb” and so “vulnerable” that they weren’t bold enough to go that direction on their first album. Dean and Craig both agreed with Matthew and Stephen’s response, Craig said that it’s his favorite on their upcoming album titled Sitting Pretty. He also shared the fun fact that it was written in Kansas City. Pretty cool! 

When talking about the album, Craig explained that it’s “lively” and back to the band’s “roots as four guys who like to play music together.” Using this free-spirited vibe to get inspired, the foursome hit the studio and began writing and recording the album.

Matthew added on that “musically, this album sounds much more like a band in a room” and that you can “hear every instrument very clearly” without many “frills and production.” The realness and rawness of these tracks is a theme we sensed here, making fans much more excited to listen to Sitting Pretty!  

Though the writing process of Sitting Pretty sounds like a breeze, the group had to overcome the challenge that we all faced (and are still facing) – the COVID-19 pandemic. Matthew explained that their creative process changed substantially over the course of the world-altering health crisis. He shared that, like all of us, the group had to get much better at working remotely together as well as practicing ways to better get ideas across to one another, which in turn helped shape their writing process. 

Through the ups and downs of creating an album during a global pandemic, there were many memories made along the way that will stick with Craig, Stephen, Dean, and Matthew for life. One of these memories included playing Fifa in the lobby of the studio where they wrote and recorded the album, which got them extremely energized!  

When asked which three songs a new listener should check out first when getting into The Academic’s music, Stephen shared his top pick. He chose “My Very Best” because of its vulnerability, and the creativity that went into the creation of the music and lyrics. Matthew chose the energetic track “What’s Wrong With Me” as well as “Buying Smokes” because it shows off a “slightly weirder” side of The Academic. Craig’s choice to play first for a new listener was the ballad “Rain” because of how exposed the actual music is, as well as how strong of a place it holds on the upcoming album. 

Over the years that the band has been together, they’ve evolved both musically and in their relationships with one another. Craig explained that it feels like nothing has changed at all and they are still the same four boys who met in school, but they’ve gotten better at understanding each other as a group. He shared that even though during the pandemic they spent the most time away from each other than they ever had, they got closer than ever before, and their bond continues to grow. This closeness clearly translates through their music.

Make sure to listen to The Academic’s sophomore album Sitting Pretty! The boys also have just hit the road in support of the album. Get your tickets HERE to see the boys live in a city near you this spring:  https://www.theacademic.net/live/ 

Copyright ©2023 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: February 10, 2023.

Photos by Ed Cooke © 2023. Courtesy of Capitol Records/UMG. All rights reserved. 

#The Academic #2023 #Music Interviews #Sitting Pretty #Kayla Marra

[ao3feed-inheritancecycle]

More Overdue Meetings

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/fQ98CYX

by julaiesunny2

Cat Boy gets to meet Murtagh, Brom, and Oromis all in one day (or maybe not, with how long his naps last)! Featuring moody Brom, vaguely-still-pissed-that-he-got-kidnapped-like-a-century-ago Oromis, and a Murtagh that had a SIGNIFIGANTLY better childhood. Also no Garrow in this part bois. Sorry.

Words: 1274, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of Gabby, Durza, Morzan, Selena & Garrow Submit To Caring For Cat-Like Children (And A Cat-Like Elf)

Fandoms: The Inheritance Cycle - Christopher Paolini

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: Galbatorix (Inheritance Cycle), Selena (Inheritance Cycle), Eragon Shadeslayer, except his name is Kottr, Murtagh Morzansson, Cat boy finally gets to meet his big brother, Oromis Thrándurin, Brom (Inheritance Cycle)

Relationships: Morzan/Selena (Inheritance Cycle)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, I reiterate - Freeform, Looks at Canon, fuck u

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/fQ98CYX

#ao3feed #fanfic #inheritance cycle #the inheritance cycle #eragon

[legends-of-time]

The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (Outlander)

Chapter 2: Fist Months

Masterlist

Brian lives in this house for a few months along with Claire, Fergus, and Murtagh, who Claire refers to as being Brian's father's godfather, and servants before meeting his father.

Brian happily engages with his new, strange family. He greatly enjoys pulling on Murtagh's beard whenever it's in range causing the man to grumble and call him a "Diabhal beag", whatever that means. Despite his annoyance, Murtagh is happy with Brian as the new addition and, to his glee, enjoys lifting Brian high in the air much to his mother's displeasure.

Fergus is a lot of fun too. Not only does he play with Brian despite him being much smaller, but he also reads to him and talks to him in French. He says he's trying to teach Brian though Claire keeps telling him that Brian can't speak yet and doesn't know what any of them are saying. Oh, honey...

Brian is constantly trying to make his mother smile. He can see she seems saddened and distressed, particularly after she had returned from visiting the King (probably the French one considering how much the language is spoken around them along with English and that's another thing, it didn't take Brian long to work out that this is back in the past at some point, before the revolution based on people's dress and they way they talk though there's something different about their mother) and Brian has been doing his level best to make her smile and cheer her up. He can't do much as a baby but he can try his best and is pleased to say he's been quite successful.

——

August 1744

Things change when Brian meets his father. He can't tell much from where he lies in his cradle as the man leans over but Brian can see his father is tall, large and broad. His hair is more of a red ginger and his eyes are dark blue and slanted. Brian takes in these features seriously as he had headed his mother say he had gained those features from his father.

"Ah, there's the wee lad." He says softly. His Scottish accent is different from his mother's English one. The man that must be Brian's father, reaches down and picks him up in his arms. He frowns in concern. "He's a wee small. Dinna ken tha' he would be."

"He was early." Claire says. Brian is in his father's arms in a tilted position making it easy for him to see Claire. "But he's been strong and healthy, eating and moving well."

"Brian Ian Fraser." His father murmurs.

Brian can see that while there's a warmth between them, there's an awkward and tense air around them.

Jamie sighs. "I'm sorry I weren't there. Fer the birth. I almost lost ye and I weren't there."

Claire's face softens. "It's alright. I'm just thankful that the two of you are well."

"Will he be fine fer the trip back te Scotland?" His father questions, gazing at Brian, who stares back at him.

"I'm sure he will be. He still sleeps mostly and is the calmest baby I have ever seen." Claire reassures. "Nothing like the horrors I have witnessed with Jenny's brood."

"Let us hope he dinna inherit my sea sickness."

Brian ignores his parents as they talk and instead stares at his father's beard that he'd noticed. It's a different colour from Murtagh's brown one obviously but looks just as pullable. So he leans forward and... tugs.

Jamie lets out a cry of pain, muttering, "Diabhal beag," while Claire laughs at his face.

"Yes, I should've warned you," she says through her laughter, "he has a fascination with beards."

"Aye." Jamie grumbles. He pouts at his son but Brian simply smiles back, happy to have made his parents smile.

——

A/N: Diabhal beag = little devil

Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

#outlander

[tomorrowedblog]

Friday Releases for January 19

Friday is the busiest day of the week for new releases, so we've decided to collect them all in one place. Friday Releases for January 19 include ORIGIN, The Kitchen, Another Code: Recollection, and more.

ORIGIN

ORIGIN, the new movie from Ava DuVernay, is out today.

Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay, ORIGIN chronicles the tragedy and triumph of Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson as she investigates a global phenomenon of epic proportions.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen, the new movie from Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares, is out today.

Izi’s close to escaping The Kitchen, one of London’s last remaining housing estates. But when young Benji enters his life, he faces some hard decisions.

Sixty Minutes

Sixty Minutes, the new movie from Oliver Kienle, is out today.

MMA fighter Octavio (Emilio Sakraya) has one hour to make it to his daughter’s birthday party or he’ll lose custody forever. To reach her in time he turns down an important fight, which puts him in a dangerous position with some even more dangerous people. Suddenly Octavio isn’t only trapped in a ruthless race against time but also a chase through the entire city of Berlin that pushes him to his limits.

Sunrise

Sunrise, the new movie from Andrew Baird, is out today.

When an ex-cop named Fallon returns to the scene of a horrific crime, the residents of a rural town soon discover that this dark visitor is really a vampire who feeds on blood and fear. After he is befriended by a kind immigrant family, the instinctive killer is faced with a choice between revenge and redemption.

Wanted Man

Wanted Man, the new movie from Dolph Lundgren, is out today.

An American police officer must retrieve an eyewitness and escort her across the Mexican border after a cartel shooting leaves several DEA agents dead. When they discover that the attack was executed by American forces, he must decide who to trust.​

I.S.S.

I.S.S., the new movie from Gabriela Cowperthwaite, is out today.

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell

Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, the new movie from Thien An Pham, is out today.

Winner of the prestigious Camera d’Or for Best First Feature at the Cannes Film Festival, this enthralling debut from Vietnamese filmmaker Thien An Pham is a reverie on faith, loss, and nature expressed with uncommon invention and depth. The sudden death of his sister-in-law brings unexpected responsibilities to Thien (Le Phong Vu), who is reluctantly tasked with bringing his five-year-old nephew Dao to their countryside hometown. On the road, Thien is drawn into a search for his long-missing older brother, haunted and spurred forward by a series of sublime dreams that reignite suppressed memories, forbidden desires, and specters of his own youth. What began as a journey home becomes a pilgrimage marked by visual splendor and mystical overtones, a quest for understanding and certainty in a Vietnam that seems unable to provide any clear answers. As Thien battles with the existential question of what is worth living for, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell interrogates the persistence and complexity of faith, not only in the spiritual but in the delicate beauty of earthly existence.

The Woman in the Wall

The Woman in the Wall, the new TV series from Joe Murtagh, is out today.

Lorna Brady (Ruth Wilson) wakes to discover a corpse in her home with no recollection of how it got there. When Detective Colman Akande (Daryl McCormack) arrives he’s drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse as he and Lorna search for answers in a small town full of long-buried secrets.

The Bequeathed

The Bequeathed, the new TV series from Yeon Sang-ho, is out today.

After the death of an unknown uncle, a woman inherits a burial ground and finds herself in the center of a string of murders and dark secrets.

Late Bloomer

Late Bloomer, the new TV series from Jasmeet Raina, is out today.

LATE BLOOMER is a half-hour comedy series following Jasmeet Dutta, a turban-wearing millennial struggling to find his place in life while balancing Eastern roots with Western ideals. Like many his age, Jasmeet feels behind in life compared to his peers, and working as a delivery driver for his mother’s Tiffin business isn't helping. Jasmeet’s video blog sharing his journey leads him to connect with a growing audience, but his increased popularity makes it harder to maintain his commitment to family and culture.

Another Code: Recollection

Another Code: Recollection, the new game from Cing and Nintendo, is out today.

Uncover mysteries and visions of the past in this two-game collection, fully enhanced for the Nintendo Switch system.  In the Another Code: Two Memories game, previously known as Trace Memory for the Nintendo DS system, Ashley journeys to the solitary Blood Edward Island after receiving a letter from the father she thought was deceased. In the sequel Another Code: R – Journey into Lost Memories, previously unreleased in North America, an older Ashley will meet new individuals and unravel the memories of her dearly departed mother.

The Cub

The Cub, the new game from Demagog Studio, Untold Tales, and Gamersky Games, is out today.

From the creators of Golf Club Nostalgia and Highwater. Return to their whimsical, neon-lit apocalypse in a Jungle Book meets The Armageddon fusion. Parkour through the remains of humanity as a child being hunted, while catchy end-of-days tunes and curious survivor stories play on the radio.

#Games #Movies #TV #News

[dragonstepp]

More Outlander Actors

I recently watched The Tudors and recognized Maria Doyle Kennedy as Catherine of Aragon. Now I am watching the series Recipes for Love and Murder, and Maria is the star. I looked her up on Wiki, and discovered I have probably seen her in other things before Jocasta Cameron from Outlander.

I think I know who the murderer is, but am probably wrong. But do not tell me who it is in case you have seen the series. I am on the eighth episodes, and think there are 10.

Now I learn she is an Irish singer, and need to look her up. She is also 24 years younger than I am.

So, now I have seen Sam, Catriona, Ed, and Maria in movies other than Outlander. I am fascinated at who all keeps turning up (yes, I have seen Graham as Dwalin in the Hobbit series).

It was yesterday I watched the Tommy and Tuppence three-episode of their miniseries and saw Ed Speleers (Stephen Bonnet). First time I have seen him in something other than Outlander.

On a side note, this 3-episode series featured Roy (??) who played Adam Dalgleish in several movies from the P. D. James books. It took me a few minutes to realize who he was. I admire him as an actor, and love the James books.

So I am watching Acorn and BBC and Starz and getting quite a lot of information about many actors. I hope I run across the actor who plays Murtagh soon.

Carol in Austin

#Maria Doyle Kennedy #BBC television #Outlander #Sam #Graham #Ed Speleers

[takemeawaytocamelot]

Red Jamie and the White Lady - Part 23

Thanks for sticking with this story even though I can’t update it every week now. I appreciate each and every one of you. This story wouldn’t be here without you guys. I’m honestly so excited to see where this story goes and to finally be able to share it with all of you. 

I couldn’t have made such a great story without my partners in crime @diversemediums and @outlandishchridhe. Ish is faithful with her peanut gallery comments and DM has truly made me a better writer. This story has evolved and developed because of these two.

Read Part 22 HERE and the ficlet about William Fraser HERE

Jamie stared down at the woman in his arms. She slept hard, curled around his arm. Their legs were tangled in the sheets and each other, but he was comfortable. A peace stole over him, suffusing every fiber of himself with her. Claire. His Sassenach. His Sorcha.

“Then let amorous kisses dwell,” he whispered, his breath stirring a few strands of hair. “On our lips, begin and tell.”

She began shifting in his arms, turning her face upward. Eyes still closed, her lips met his in a sweet kiss.

“A thousand and a hundred score,” she whispered back. “A hundred and a thousand more.”

Jamie exhaled slowly, feeling happier than he'd ever been.

“I love ye, Claire.”

Her eyes opened, bright in the early morning sun, and she smiled up at him.

“I love you too, Jamie.”

Lips meeting his again, she began pushing herself on top of him. He’d just taken a delightful hold of her arse when a sharp knock on the door interrupted them.

“Claire. Ye need to pack. We need to leave soon.”

Jamie’s heart ached, painfully reminding him that he’d have to survive another week without her. He wanted to be selfish and keep her there, with him, but she needed Raymond if she was to learn how to use her Gift to its fullest potential.

“I’m not ready to go yet,” Claire said quietly. “I feel like we didn’t get enough time.”

“Twenty-four hours isna much time, Sassenach.”

“I don’t want to go yet.”

Tucking a stray curl behind her ear, he smiled softly.

“Come back to me, Claire Fraser,” he whispered, fingers seeking the silver ring he'd placed on her hand.

That made her smile, despite the tears in her eyes.

“I will, James Fraser.”

“Good,” he said, kissing her tenderly. “Now, we should go and speak wi’ Murtagh or he’ll come bargin’ in here.”

***

They dressed quickly, heading out to find Murtagh. Fergus played with the wooden toy, his dark brows furrowed in concentration.

“Where are yer bags, lass?” Murtagh asked.

“Murtagh,” Claire began. “Do we have to go today?”

“Do ye want to master yer Gift?”

“Of course I do. But… Couldn’t we maybe leave tomorrow?”

Murtagh glared at the pair of them. Jamie looked down at her.

“Claire, ye ken I want ye to stay but I dinna think-”

“Milord and Milady need their time together,” Fergus announced, eyes focused on his game.

“And what the hell would ye ken about that?” Murtagh asked, eyebrows raised.

Fergus smiled.

“More than you. Just let them be. What could one more day hurt, non?”

“She has a lot to learn if she wants to keep the lad alive,” Murtagh said in a grumpy voice. “You, ye wee rascal, havena been around enough to ken what is yer askin’. It's no’ as though they havena had time to…”

Murtagh flushed suddenly. Fergus smirked and said something crude in French. Claire glanced at Jamie, saw his shameless grin, and elbowed him in the side before turning back to Murtagh.

“Please?” Claire asked gently. “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow. I’d really just like some time to talk with Jamie. You have to admit, it's been an unusual way to start a marriage.”

A few breathless moments passed by before Murtagh finally caved.

“Aye, fine. The lad and I will go find a way to discreetly inform Master Raymond that ye’ll be late. Dinna leave for God’s sake.”

“Thank you, Murtagh,” Jamie said, his hand resting on her hip. “I promise, tomorrow we wilna hinder the plan.”

Muttering unfamiliar Gaelic words, Murtagh steered Fergus out of the cottage. Claire absorbed the quiet that filled the house, leaning against Jamie.

“Shall we?” he asked in a wry tone, offering her his arm with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

Claire chuckled, accepting it, allowing Jamie to lead her back to their room. Once there, he turned to kiss her.

“You know,” she mumbled against his lips as he lay her on the bed again. “When I said I wanted to talk with you, I meant it.”

Jamie hummed in amusement and kissed her forehead.

“Aye, I ken. Asking me to keep my hands from ye, knowing you’ll be gone tomorrow, though…”

She laughed and nudged his side, making him settle down beside her.

“Alright,” he said, eyes settling into a natural deep blue. “Where shall we start?”

“Want to talk about the future?” Claire asked, face caught between a sheepish smile and a grimace.

“No,” Jamie replied dryly, tucking her into his side. “But I suppose we must. What is it that’s on yer mind, Sassenach?”

Claire took a deep breath, trying to find a place to start.

“I’m not asking you to Look or if you’ve Seen anything. I was just thinking… I’ve been gone from my job for a while now. I’m not sure… I may not have a job to go back to, once we return to Scotland. Even then… With how dangerous our lives are, I’m not sure I could keep such a steady job.”

Jamie nodded, frowning slightly as he twirled one of her curls around his finger.

“Aye. But a Healer is what you’re meant to be. We’ll find a way to get ye workin’.”

“Are you sure? Won’t it make things more dangerous for you?”

He shrugged a little, his brow creasing in thought.

“Maybe. I’ll get Murtagh thinkin’ about it though. He’s good at thinkin’ of things to solve impossible situations. And ye ken,” he said, a little shakily, “ye can always go back. If ye wish. Might be safer for ye, even.”

Claire froze, eyes meeting his. He meant it, but the tightness of his mouth and the way his hands held her tight gave away his true feelings on the matter. She reached up and stroked his cheek.

“No,” she said, softly but definitely. “I belong where you are.��

Jamie’s body relaxed, the agitated churning depths slowing as he looked at her.

“Thank God,” he said seriously. “And God help you,” he added, smiling when she laughed at him.

They lay for a bit, taking comfort in each other’s presence.

“Sassenach?”

“Mm?”

“Would it ease yer mind a bit to call your friend? Geillis?”

She nodded, sitting up.

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“No’ a bit. I’m going to Look for Dougal, now I have my wee charger back,” he said, patting her thigh.

Jamie laughed as he ducked her slap to the arm.

“Oaf,” she said with as much dignity as she could, while trying not to laugh herself.

After a little hunting, Claire found her phone and dialed Geillis’ number. It rang a few times before she answered.

“Hello?”

“Geillis? It’s Claire.”

“Christ Claire! I haven’t heard from you in ages!”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Geillis huffed in irritation.

“I thought I was your friend. And you won’t tell me where you are or when you’re coming home. Where the hell have you been!?”

“I’m…” Claire looked over at Jamie who still had his eyes closed. “Out of town. I honestly don’t know when I’m coming back.”

The line went quiet for a long time and Claire thought Geillis might have ended the call.

“Claire, I’m honestly worried about you. This isn’t like you. First you break up with Frank and now you disappear?”

“You told me you were glad I broke up with him.”

“And I am, he wasn’t good for you. But… Disappearing like this?”

Claire took a breath, knowing if she didn’t give Geillis something, her best friend wouldn’t let it go.

“Look, I know it’s sudden. But I’ve met someone. I wanted to get away and clear my head after Frank and, well…”

“Ooohhh has this new man cleared your pipes as well?”

“Geillis!”

The other woman laughed.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said. “So where did you meet this guy? Is he just a good time or will you keep him for a while? You know what I would do.”

Claire looked down at the silver ring on her finger and smiled.

“I think it’s safe to say it’s serious.”

One bright blue eye snapped open and met her gaze.

“Will I get to meet this guy? Or are you going to keep him all to yourself?”

“Probably eventually. But for now, I’d rather him be a mystery.”

“Ugh,” Geillis complained. “Fine. I know you well enough to know not to argue once you’ve made up your mind. Just… Please be careful?”

Claire frowned at the last statement.

“Of course. Um… you be careful too?”

“I will. Call me when you think you’re heading home, okay? I’ll make sure no one snoops in your room.”

“Thanks.”

***

While Claire made her phone call, Jamie focused his energy on one name, one face.

Dougal paced in an unfamiliar room. He looked angry, his lips twitching and his face red. A small suitcase sat on the bed, still closed. The phone in Dougal’s hand lit up and buzzed.

“Did ye find anything?”

He waited for the reply.

“What the hell do I pay ye for?”

A second voice came from a corner of the room, making Dougal end his call.

“I have something, brother.”

Releasing his energy, Jamie did a few breathing exercises to relax and settle his mind. He lay back in the bed while Claire finished her conversation. She put her phone down on the bedside table and curled up next to him once more.

"Alright?" she asked, after a few moments.

He tried to look reassuring, despite his underlying concern that not all was right with that vision.

"He's no' close to us, at least. Frustrated and threatening someone over the phone. But he hasna found us yet, mo nighean donn."

His heart squeezed as she exhaled. Clearly, she was worried. If he was being honest, so was he. Something was coming.

#outlander #outlander fanfic #red jamie and the white lady au #jamie x claire #takemeawaytocamelot #diversemediums #outlandishchridhe #also featuring: murtagh #also featuring: fergus

[aeterno-if]

ABOUT

Aeterno: Saavan's Hymn is an interactive fantasy story created in Twine and includes elements of romance, horror, and adventure. (cw: Death, violence, memory loss, alcohol use, smoking, swearing, and suggestive themes.)

SYNOPSIS

There are holes in your memory. Pieces of your life before are scattered, vague, and otherwise out of reach. For the last three years you've lived in a southern province of the realm, out of sight of the High Council and their decrees. A recent loss, however, sends you to the mainland town of Iyre. But, as you know, plans are fickle things.

FEATURES

Aeterno offers readers a customizable experience via gender and pronoun choice, as well as several custom physical attributes. Readers can also investigate and explore the world around them, as well as initiate romantic encounters of their choosing.

COMPANIONS

Rozun (nb) | A curious traveller with an unfamiliar face. Murtagh Doran (m) | A warden of Iyre with anarchist tendencies. Vallan Izarra (f) | A friendly resident of Iyre just trying her best. Radia Sevayn (f) | A dutiful guardsman looking to rise in rank. Alyse Alsan (m/f) | A cool headed Eye bound to the empire. & Pyewacket (cat) | A black cat travelling with Rozun.

[ DEMO ] | [ Q & A ] | @hagrockfiction

#rozun

#murtagh

#vallan

#radia

#alyse

#pyewacket

#aeterno co

#aeterno prompts

#aeterno playlist

#aeterno map

#aeterno lore

#progress update

#aeterno game #interactive fiction #twine game #interactive novel #(and a title change!)

[lady-o-ren]

NEVER WILL I LOVE THEE

CHAPTER ONE // CHAPTER TWO // 

CHAPTER THREE 

(AO3 link HERE)

The King's council room is unexpectedly small and simply furnished, solely meant for conversation and truly nothing more. Yet the crackling fire and floor to ceiling windows brings a warmth to the room, casting a burnished sheen to the gold and silvery embossed armor of the two guardsmen flanking the chamber's door.

At the heart of the room, beneath a large tapestry that hangs on the wall, is where the King of Albion sits.  He's a short and stout fellow with closely cropped hair, gray as the thin smoke that spouts from the fireplace. His face is lined from the years of having to bear the weight of his title alone, with eyes the dusky color of a sable's pelt that peek from beneath his furrowed brow, searching the younger King's own for deceit just as his niece had done.

“Whyever would you come all this way just to break an engagement?” The elder man asks Jamie.

“For one, Your Grace, I think the princess would've thrown any letter from me to the fire before ever reading it, considering it an insult. And two, I didna break the engagement. I simply gave her a choice where there had been none before,” Jamie replies, his voice spiking ever so slightly with hostility that ripples down to his fingertips, tapping against the polished arm of his chair. 

For he too knows what it's like to be betrayed by one's own kin.

But not all of them. . .

He glances over at his captain of the guard standing off by the high windows that overlook the water, reflecting the last glimmering brilliance of the setting sun. He catches the older man's disapproving eye narrowed at his hand. Jamie clenches it to a fist, remembering the feel of a belt against his knuckles that strapped him just hard enough to leave a red sting.\

“I'll break them bones too if I a’ve tae, laddie. All that fidgetin’ let's the other man ken all yer thinkin’. The same as screamin’. And what good will that do ye?” 

And though he hasn't been punished like that since he was a lad, Jamie wouldn't put it past his guardsman to whack him with his leather scabbard right now. No matter that he's inherited a throne and can see far above that dark head of his. He'd always see him as the child he was.

Alone. 

Without a mother and father. 

Ripped from his sister's arms.

But Jamie knows he does so out of love sacred as the vow he'd sworn on his head as a wee babe. For the captain of his guard was also his godfather.

“Till my last breath, when my heart no longer beats, I swear tae God Almighty and yer mother above, tae keep ye from harm. Always, a bhalaich mo ghràidh.”

And Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser was a man of his word.

“But there is another matter I'm most concerned with,” Jamie continues, flicking his gaze back to King Quentin.

“Go on,” he says warily.

“Part of the agreement between you and my uncle was that your kingdom would be joined with ours in peace. It's something I'm still verra much interested in upholding and think it would be to both our benefit. "

“Our benefit.” The elder man snorts humorlessly and leans forward against the table, inlaid with florals and fish hiding between reeds.

“Your uncle said the same when he threatened to invade my land and savage my people unless I gave him my niece's hand. And I did so, not having much choice myself,” he says roughly, giving Jamie a cutting look. “It was either my people's lives or the last piece of my heart and I've paid dearly for it.”

Jamie holds his glare, unflinching. Firelight flickering across his features and thick waves of unbound hair.

“I'm not my uncle. I'm not here for yer land and I've proven I'm not here to force marriage on yer niece, even though I've been advised a union between us would've helped me a great deal better than pleading wi’ ye to take me at my word." Jamie gives a quick glance to his godfather and cocks a half grin at his barbarous scowl. He'd been very vocal when told of the broken engagement and would likely be foul tempered for their entire stay. “ I'm here to amend the reputation of my kingdom that's been tarnished by her fallen King and clear my sullied name.”

A gray feathered brow is raised in challenge.

“Your name, Red King, is spoken in the same breath as the devils. It's said you take great delight in torturing your enemies, even more so when it's the blood of innocents.”

“All lies,” Jamie says resolutely, eyes gleaming bright and true, that doesn't go unnoticed. “I've never tortured my enemies nor have I murdered an innocent. The only blood that stains my hands and soul has been spilt on the battlefield. Nothing more. And done so not out of some misguided loyalty to a King but for the sake of my sister, taken by Dúghall when she was a child barely older than I.”

The King of Albion regards him with a curious gaze that deepens the wrinkles around his eyes.

“I've heard something of that sort too. That Dúghall held your sister captive for years and it was she who poisoned him in the end. ”

“That's gossip fit for chambermaids who've no doubt fancied doing the same to many a man and worse,” Jamie retorts through a tight jaw, and is surprised when the elder man huffs a laugh from deep within his belly.

“And no one would blame them, nor your sister if true. But I do wonder,” he says, serious once more. “If one tyrant was disposed of to make way for an even crueler one.”

“If ye believe me to be as vile as others say, and I dinna think ye do, then let me prove my worth to ye as an ally, one ye sorely need, Your Grace. For I know trouble brews with your borders to the east, with the Wolverton King.”

A fraught quiet fills the air before King Quentin heaves a weighty sigh and rubs the space between his eyes straining without his spectacles.

“I think a drink is needed before we continue. What say you, King of Scotia?”

His tone is almost cordial but only faintly so, just enough for Jamie to crook a grin.

“I'd like it fine. Any whiskey perchance?”

//

They continue to talk for an hour more until Jamie and Murtagh are dismissed by King Quentin, needing to ponder their possible alliance and rest his tipsy mind and even more so tired eyes. 

Out in the grand windowed hallway the torches have been lit along the walls that arch up into a high domed ceiling, it's intricate carvings lost in the flickering shadows. A young faced guardsman, introduced simply as Sir Jeremy, has been waiting to escort them to their private chambers for the night and ends up becoming witness to a verbal brawl.

“So what d’ye think, Ghoistidh?” Jamie asks in the gàidhlig as they walk. “Will the King join wi’ us or has our journey been for naught?”

Murtagh doesn't spare a glance nor a word, but his nostrils flare like a bee-stung bull in response.

Jamie sighs, glancing down  at the white marbled floor and runs a finger down his nose. “Ah, still mad at me then. Would it make ye feel better to bash my face in wi’ yer fists?”

That gets his godfather's attention and he halts his step.

“Nothing would please me more if it meant knocking some sense intae that reckless, empty heid of yers, ye wee shite,” he growls from his scruffy black whiskers, gnarled hands gesturing his thoughts.

“Ye ken ye could'a been thrown intae the dungeon fer approaching the princess wi’out her guard or chaperone beside her. And me being yer sword and shield, I would'a been heaved in right after ye, amongst the fekkin rats and piss, begging yer mam above fer forgiveness fer strangling the bloody life outta ye.”

Jamie, used to being berated by now, simply quirks an auburn brow, mouth twitching.

“Isn't it treasonous to both threaten and insult yer King?” 

Murtagh leans in, breath laced with the king's whiskey and the spiced jerky he keeps in his leather sporran.

“Hang me from the gallows then when we're back in Scotia, my King of fools,” he hawks.

But before anymore is said (before Murtagh is forced to do penance for the murder of his godson who's shoulders are shaking from stifling his laughter), the sound of a door opening has the two men turning back down the hallway where two guards have now appeared along with the princess.

“Seems we had a wee mouse listening in on us. What must she think of ye now?”

“I wonder,” says Jamie softly, switching back to the Albion tongue, and watches as the lass turns a corner, a heartbeat too far. “I think I'll ask her.” 

Murtaugh stares at him as if he's lost all sense. “Ye’re naught tae speak tae her.”

“Is that an order from my guardsman to his king?” Jamie asks, knowing his godfather would be powerless to challenge his title, especially in the presence of a foreigner in their native tongue.

And he's right. 

Murtaugh flicks his gaze to young Sir Jeremy, who's eyes dart nervously between the two men, and sighs. “Pardon me, my King, but it is getting late and I'd rather be sleeping in a bed t’night, no’ shackled tae a dungeon wall beside ye.”

Jamie grasps his shoulder, the whipcord muscles beneath his palm taut as a bowstring. Always primed for a fight. “I'll be only a moment, Ghoistidh.” Then says no more, his feet already propelling him forward, as Murtagh can only look on, muttering incoherently -

"Tha e na iongnadh nach deach mi liath."

//

The princess is still within sight when Jamie calls out to her in the quiet hallway that has her pausing to look over her shoulder, gilded in the moonlight. Still dressed for a tumble through the thistle and grass, she raises a hand for her guards to move aside as he approaches her with a hurried step, loud and eager as his heartbeat.

It had been racing since he first caught glimpse of her running between the green bracken and trees, curls whirling about her like a gale over a stormy sea. Jamie had thought her a nimble, wild thing of enchantment. The kind of tameless creature that lived only in tales of times long gone his mother and father had told him about when he was a child. And for a breath of a moment, he had wondered if this maiden had unwittingly stumbled from her own realm of faerie to his.

But then she had tripped and fallen, graceless as a newborn fawn. 

Had spat out the most wicked obscenities that would've made even his godfather blush. 

Yet when he held her hand in his, small and wounded like an injured dove, Jamie felt something startling, warming him like a golden ember from the breath of a firedrake down to the marrow of his bones.

And his heart . . .

"What is it King of Scotia that couldn't wait for the morrow?" 

Claire asks, voice no longer bristling with the bite of a crocodile but still thickly laced with trepidation, as her guardsmen wait behind her with their halberds raised.

It's enough to make Jamie's gut plummet to his boots.

“I saw ye leave the king's chambers and came to ask if yer opinion of me has changed but I see that even from what ye heard and what we spoke about beneath the trees that ye still doubt the man I am, that I ask ye to trust.”

Her eyes fall down to her hands clasped together, the right still bound with his handkerchief, and gingerly she brushes her delicate fingertips over the fabric. 

"You have given me my freedom, King of Scotia, and for that you have more heart than my former betrothed. But I still have known you far less than a day and now you're willing to pledge your loyalty to my people and king just like that, without a price."

Jamie shakes his head, eyes intent on hers. “I don't make my decisions on a whim, Your Highness. All I want is a chance to hold me heid up high and bring honor to my family name that right now only brings fear to all who hear it, as ye've proven t’day when first we spoke. And I think I can do that by shielding Albion from an enemy like yers . . . And mine."

"Yours?" Claire's eyes search his, a fearful shadow tainting their amber-gold luminescence. "You said no such thing to my uncle, that you know The Wolverton King."

Jamie draws in a hard breath, looking down at his right hand flexed between them, the skin scarred and burning with the crushing echoes from his past. 

 You beauty, let me hear you scream . . .

He clenches his palm shut, before saying roughly. "I've never met the King, but I've had the cruel misfortune of falling prey to his brother years ago. A man I pray ye never meet and would lay my life to keep that so. This ye must believe of me, Your Highness."

His voice whispers off at the end, feeling his heart gallop just as it did in the midst of battle, waiting for her to speak. And she does. A tentative question, hand outstretched to his.

"May I?" 

Claire asks, though Jamie can't fathom why. Not after she recoiled from him earlier. But he nods, heart fluttering, as he opens his palm for her to take. For who could ever deny a princess?

He watches as her fingertips feather across his battered hand, gently tracing the jagged scars gone white as the years of violence dragged on. She grimaces at the once broken bones protruding awkwardly beneath, as if she could truly see how each crooked finger had met the brutal blow of the malicious prince.

And maybe she did.

"You were just a boy when you met him, weren't you?" She lifts her gaze, dark with shock.

"Aye," rasps Jamie, glancing down at his hand clasped between her own. "I was barely fifteen when I was ambushed by a gang of soldiers along the Wolverton borderlands. They tied me up and brought me to their Lord Commander, their prince, for interrogation and I was fool enough to think he'd simply slit my throat. Instead he crushed my hand wi' his boot and carved my back to the bloody bone like he was gutting a fish . . ." 

And for all his days, Jamie would remember the pink flick of the wicked devil's tongue tasting his blood, smeared like rouge across his harsh thin mouth, parted in a lover's blissful sigh.

Jamie grits his jaw, swallowing the bitter bile rising up the straining cords of his throat, and continues.

". . . He would've done far worse to me too if not for my godfather risking his neck to save mine."

Claire tightens her grasp, instilling a steadying warmth into his palm and fingers he badly needed. "Not your uncle? Surely he must've tried to rescue you

He snorts ruefully at the princesses' appalled expression. 

"He's the one that sent me to scout the border, Your Highness. Wi' no sons of his own, he thought my very existence was a threat to his and wanted me dead. Tis why he forced me to soldier for him when I was a child. The bastard couldn'a kill me himself and waited for someone else to." He then shrugs, grinning wryly. "Didn'a work like he planned though. Nor was it the first or last time he ever tried."

There was a thick curved scar along the back of his skull that could attest to that too.

"So do ye see why I'd give my right hand and more to defend ye from men like my uncle and the prince they call Black Jack? Why being compared to them, to ken ye see me in such a way, is a blight on my soul."

He sees her chest heave with unspoken breath as she circles her thumb around a knot of tissue, so very softly, as if his skin would bruise from such attentiveness.

Was it just hours before she threatened to tear him apart? 

"King of Scotia . . ." 

He shakes his head, voice low and heady from her ministrations.

"Jamie, Your Highness. Tis my boyhood name and ye're welcome to call me so, as the last of my kin does, please."

For the first time, Jamie sees a smile bloom on her wine kissed mouth that only adds to her loveliness that glows in the mystic light of the moon and stars, the vibrant flames of the torchlights.

"I suppose if you're to stand between me and all things grisly, a single name would be easier to call upon."

 "Do ye mean that? Truly?" Jamie asks, unaware he's tugged her hand up to his chest, sparking a sudden shyness in the princess.

"There's still much to talk about between us, and with my uncle too," she hastily adds.

"Of course," he grins.

"So until the morrow then . . . Jamie." 

"Until the morrow, Your Highness," he echoes back, reluctantly letting her hand fall from his.

Jamie then achingly watches her walk away, a heartbeat too far again, and slumps his shoulder against the wall. Runs a hand through his curls, down the back of his neck.

"You are a fool." 

Jamie doesn't bother to turn around, merely sighs in answer to his godfather.

"Ye've fallen for a princess. Could've had that princess. But ye've gone and thrown it all away." Murtagh shakes his head, coming up beside him. “Ye're the same heartsick fool yer father was.”

Jamie huffs a laugh and glances to his side. "Do I have nothing of my mother?" 

Arms across his chest, the older man looks thoughtfully at the once wee lad, his grizzled features softening as he does so.

“Tae much heart. Tae much spirit. Tae many good things that will make ye tae good of a king." He then smacks the back of the young King's head, who bunches over and lets out a yelp. "And  a pain in the arse tae serve and protect. Now if yer done fawning over the lass I'd like tae get tae bed.”

But as they walk, and as Jamie rubs the bump on his head . . .

“Ye dinna think she noticed the fawning, d’ye?”

"Ye wee. . . " Murtagh reaches for the hilt of his sword just as Jamie cracks into raucous laughter, running down the hallway for dear life.

A/N:

So the first two parts have been ready since the summer. The third part has been a beast to write.

 I couldn't put Claire in the beginning because she just took over the conversation and distracted Jamie way too much and I needed that place to flesh out Murtagh a bit. I also can't write more than two people in a scene so I had to push her down. But then I had a hard time writing her there. She's listened to Jamie and Lambs conversation and has definitely mellowed out off page but is still cautious towards Jamie. But I didn't know how the fuck to write that tone into her speech. I tried having Jamie joke around with her to flesh her out but after three rewrites it just didn't work. Also it's all written in Jamie's pov cause I felt overwhelmed by all the juggling I had to do and by being so deep into Jamie's thoughts and backstory. I tried mixing in Claire's pov but it was just too much and I ended up with a very stilted Claire at the end which sucks.

Anyways this is the best I could muster and I'm not happy at all about it. Mostly because I did rush through what was left to be written. My grandma is not doing well (I wrote about that in another chapter of another series) and she won't be getting better. I feel like I'm being ripped apart and a thousand other emotions that are driving me mad. But I'm trying to write to keep some semblance of sanity (it's not working). I just don't know how long I can keep doing that.

Thank you to all you readers who gave me some kind words and prayers ♥️🙏♥️

Random Info:

*So Uncle Lamb is very different in this fic compared to how he is in my head (he's like Jane's dad from the animated Tarzan which is very different from how I think of him in canon). And since I don't think he'll pop up again, his back story is that he married. His wife died in childbirth, along with the child, never remarried and is very protective of Claire.

*Murtagh is Jamie's bodyguard. And looking up some official titles the only one I liked was Captain of the Guard. He's also been at Jamie's side since Dougal forced him to be a soldier.

*Claire definitely has thoughts on the Wolvertons that I couldn't flesh out here but it's why she's warmed to Jamie a great deal more than last chapter.

*It's been so long since I've written parts of this fic. If there's anything that sounds like it's from the books I got it from there.

#jamie x claire #outlander #outlander fanfiction #outlander fanfic #nwilt #gobbledygook writing #forgive the mistakes and formating pls

[ivorydragoness44]

Murtagh Morzansson x Reader: Plenty of Time

Word Count: 710

Summary: Murtagh visits the Reader for a short while to see how their magic studies are coming along. (First cheek kiss)

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

“This magic business would be far easier to practice if it were not for the energy bit,” you grumbled aloud.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell whether or not you were talking to yourself or me, your dragon inquired, clawing absentmindedly at the grass outside.

“A little of both, I suppose,” you chuckled to yourself.

There was a book and a few scrolls laid out on the table in front of you. You had not bothered timing how long you had been studying and memorizing various words and spells in the Ancient Language. It was to be an all-day activity anyhow. The practice was meticulous and repetitive, and had soon lost it’s charm and intrigue hours prior.

You were about to review the words alphabetically again when a knock came upon the front door.

Standing, you went over to see who it could be. Also worth noting that you were on the verge of welcoming any of your friends indoors, considering your dwindling attention span for your studies.

Opening the door, you were welcomed by the sight of the ever handsome, Murtagh.

You sighed, “Thank goodness.”

His brows furrowed, “Were you expecting someone else?”

“No,” you gave a light laugh, “if anyone were to be on the other side of this door, I’m glad that it was you.”

His features softened at your words.

“Come in,” you smiled, stepping aside.

“Thank you. I…thought I’d see how you’re progressing with learning the Ancient Language.”

“Slow and steady. A stronger emphasis on slow, the more time I spend on it.”

Leading him over to the seating area, you could not help but to notice that his belt was missing something rather important. You were sure that he took his sword everywhere. To see him without it, was peculiar.

“It’s important to know it…For your own survival.”

“I know, it’s just…doing the same task repetitively is exhausting my mind today.” Plopping yourself down on the couch, you dropped your head back on the cushion as Murtagh sat beside you. “There’s only so much that I can remember at a time, Murtagh.”

Murtagh hesitantly placed a hand over your own. “It’s alright. There is really no need to rush anyhow. You have plenty of time.”

It took you a moment to understand his meaning. Your facial expression giving it away when you did. “Oh, right. Dragon rider longevity. It’s only too bad that you cannot teach me a few things.”

“Because a teacher and student relationship is not what we have,” he said carefully, his thumb rubbing small circles over your skin.

“Yes, but…perhaps as a concerned and fellow dragon rider?”

Murtagh smiled at your words, “Trying to bend the rules?”

“If only a little,” you smirked.

He gave a quiet sigh in thought. “Would you mind if I think it over first before coming to conclusion?”

“Not at all. I’m all too glad to know that you may be considering it.”

“Well…I don’t want to keep you from your studies for too long.”

“I wish you would,” you mumbled.

Murtagh gave your hand a light squeeze before letting go to stand.

You followed after him. Stopping to stretch first before walking him to the door.

At the door, there was a pause. Murtagh went to say something, but closed his mouth.

You could not read him clearly; his face shielding whatever he was truly thinking and feeling at the moment. It was, however, clear to you that he had something on his mind. He always did. So, you waited patiently for him to find the words.

Looking at him with a certain curiosity. How cute you found the way he was looking at you with such adoration. His eyes were the only clue to his emotions. When he allowed it. There was a lightness in those grey pools of his.

Then, Murtagh leaned closer to you. Not quickly or overly cautious, but enough time that you could have stopped him. But you did not. He craned his head over to the side of yours and pressed a kiss to your cheek, leaving a sense of tingling warmth in its wake.

Your smile eased his uncertainty when his lips left your skin.

“I’ll…see you for dinner?”

“Yes, you will.”

~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~

Thank you for reading!

If you like my writing, and would like to support me, feel free to check out my ko-fi.

#murtagh fanfiction #ivorydragoness44 #murtagh x reader #murtagh and thorn #murtagh morzansson #murtagh #eragon #the inheritance cycle #murtagh morzansson x reader #murtagh morzansson fanfiction #murtagh morzansson romance

[fergusandmarsali]

Fergus & Marsali Fan Fiction: A Collection

Welcome to my collection of Fergus, Marsali and Fersali fan fiction featuring:

Fersali (Main) + (Secondary)

Fergus (Main) + (Secondary)

Marsali (Main) + (Secondary)

Other Stories Worth Reading

There are close to 100 stories listed below yet I have no doubt there are some missing or that have been categorised incorrectly. Please feel free to comment on this post or drop a message in my ask box and I will update as soon as possible.

As always, heed the tags but also take them with a grain of salt - quite a few stories have been tagged incorrectly (mixing / with &, for example) so don’t let them put you off. They’re all worth reading!

Enjoy! -- fergusandmarsali

Fersali (Main)

A Risk He's Willing to Take by bella_af

basically a re-imagining of Outlander but from Marsali's perspective. Based more on the TV series and filled in the gaps how I imagine they would go. Also with a less antagonistic relationship between Marsali and Claire from the get-go.

A Sweeter View by @fergusandmarsali

Five times Fergus got caught in the rain alone and one time he and Marsali danced in it together.

After The Storm by @wunderlichkind

World War II is coming to its end but relief hasn't really reached Marsali - until a long awaited return brings with it a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected news.

An Ardsmuir Man Found by @lenny9987 

Prompt: Would love to see Marsali and Fergus finding Murtagh and bring him and the baby home to Jamie and Claire. The old and the new x

Courage by obstinate_as_an_allegory

Fergus tries to do the honourable thing, but somehow he ends up eloping in the dead of night. Missing scenes from book/series 3, Fergus PoV. In which poor Fergus is no match in an argument for any of the MacKimmie women.

Falling For My Father’s Daughter by KMuir90

Fergus gets offered a job as a journalist at his best friend Jamie’s paper in Scotland. That means leaving his mother Claire all alone down in London.

To make things complicated, Fergus starts a secret relationship with Jamie’s eighteen year old step daughter Marsali.

To make things even more complicated, Jamie is also Fergus’ adoptive father. They lost contact when Fergus was a child and when they reconnected, they decided to be friends rather than father and son.

Félicité by obstinate_as_an_allegory

A scattering of missing scenes from seasons 4 and 5, focused on Fergus and Marsali.

Fergus’s Problem by @renee-writer​​

A modern day take on Fergus and Marsali 's romance. A romance complicated by an unintended pregnancy.

Fersali by @ianmuyrray

Fergus/Marsali Modern AU | IN PROGRESS

Ficlet snapshots of what Fergus and Marsali’s relationship might be like in a modern setting. Intentionally written out of order, but assembled chronologically. Can also be read as stand-alone stories.

First Date: how they met

Oversight: Fergus is a romantic at heart

Pictures: Anonymous said: Fergus doesn’t know what to get Marsali for her birthday

Milk and Coffee: Anonymous said: Would love to see a modern Fergus introducing Marsali to his parents for the first time

Paper Cups: Fergus deals with his biological mother's death

The Jacket: Fergus wrestles with the tension between being poor and wanting to marry (and provide for) Marsali.

Cold Feet: Marsali and Fergus recover from a fight that threatens their relationship, just before their wedding.

Airport: Marsali delivers some life changing news at an airport terminal

Why Bother?: “Papa,” said Germain, all of a sudden sounding older than his five years. “What were you and Mama doing?”

Glimpses of a Life in Love by @kattahj 

How Marsali fell in love with Fergus, and how - much later - he came to return her feelings.

Heal You Anyway by @fergusandmarsali

Fergus comes home with self-inflicted injuries and Marsali tends to his wounds - both new and old.

I Promise, Mon Amour by @lordjohnfraser​

A short drabble of Marsali telling Fergus she has a surprise for him!

Kiss It Better by @abbydebeaupreposts 

The MacKimmies moved to Balriggan when Marsali was eight and lived there for nearly ten years before Jamie returns to Lallybroch and is reintroduced to Laoghaire but, of course, Fergus met her long before then.

Nights Like This by @fergusandmarsali 

Five times Fergus couldn’t find his shirt and one time he found all five (in Marsali's bedroom).

Potions and Promises by @fergusandmarsali​

Desperate for something to heal her mother's persistent cough, Marsali seeks out fellow high-school student Fergus Fraser. With the aid of three little sisters they discover more than just the benefits of home remedies.

Promise in the Dark by @fergusandmarsali 

Decades later, Fergus Fraser still bears the mark of Black Jack Randall and Marsali's innocent questions bring forth repressed memories, distressing nightmares and a long overdue conversation.

A book!canon compliant one-shot set at Fraser’s Ridge.

Reconciliation by @wunderlichkind

As @thelallybrochlibrary has stated - June 1st is world parent’s day. Thanks to their prompt I already got to read wonderful (💖) ficlet’s by @smoakingwaffles and @katnoenau and I couldn’t resist to write a little thing of my own. The following is a Fergus/Marsali snippet. Contains minor spoilers for ABOSAA. I hope you’ll enjoy :)

Rock Me Like the Waves of the Sea by LilyFire

Marsali are pledged to one another, but not quite married. Yet she cannot wait another moment to feel the touch of her lover.

Seeing Him in Outlander Drabbles by @lenny9987

Prompt: Fergus meets Marsali for the first time. Either at Lallybroch or Balriggan.

Stars and Shadows by @fergusandmarsali

Prior to the birth of his and Marsali's first child, Fergus worries how he will manage parenting with only one hand. Marsali helps to put things in perspective as they sit under the stars on a warm summers night.

Surprise Proposal by @fergusandmarsali​

Fergus's plan to inform Jamie and Claire of his relationship with Marsali includes good food, even better wine and two little sisters as his witness. What he gets instead is a motorcycle accident, painkillers and a tongue so loose it catches everyone by surprise – including himself. Modern Day AU.

That First Night of Many by TaleNeverTold

- Je t’aime, ma femme!

- I love you too!

... And what came after

The Borders Between Us by @wunderlichkind 

Fergus and Marsali are members of opposing biker gangs, and that's not the only obstacle to their relationship.

The Scars that Bind Us by ShadowOfHapiness

A collection of Fraser family one-shots for Whumptober 2021. Featuring a lot of gratuitous hurt/comfort, angst, whump and, of course, family feels.

Day 3: Who did this to you? Featuring: Marsali and Fergus

The Theory of Fulfillment by ShadowOfHapiness

Marsali has always dreamed of falling in love. It’s just such a pity she’s not whole enough to love the right way. Fergus might disagree.

The Tree by futurelounging 

Fergus tests himself to do something special for Marsali. This is set in the Scalamandre universe after the events of the final chapter.

To Try, And That Is All That Matters by ohhihoney

Fergus kept his promise, his vow and his oath, for a long time and that was the exact reason it hurt so bad when he fell again.

Or, Fergus fights with all of his might but ultimately loses the battle against the drink and he and Marsali are left to pick up the pieces.

Vows by ohhihoney

The door closed behind them and Marsali proposed to Fergus that they should have a talk. Fergus believed he didn't deserve it, he didn't deserve any of this, not his innocent son in his arms or the love and care of his dear wife, but he promised. He told Marsali 'never again'. So, a talk they would have.

Or, the post Episode 3 Season 6 angst, hurt/comfort we all desperately needed.

Part 2: to try, and that is all that matters

Wreck my Plans by @fergusandmarsali​

Faced with the prospect of her mother setting her up on a date with yet another man she doesn’t know (and certainly isn't going to like), Marsali announces she’s handfasted to Fergus Fraser of Lallybroch. Now all she needs to do is convince said Scotch Thistle Inn co-worker to play along and then, together, convince those around them it’s more than a passing folly long enough for her to escape this small town once and for all.

You're Bleeding All Over My Carpet in Outlander Ficlets by @cranesmuir-witch

This past week I posted several ficlet challenges on my @cranesmuir-witch tumblr and asked people to submit one of the many quotes in the list to be incorporated into a ficlet. I hope you enjoy them!

Fersali (Secondary)

Adopted Daughters by @lenny9987

Prompt: Imagine if Joan tagged along with Marsali when she left with Fergus.

Are You Gonna Be My Girl by @whiskynottea

She's there, dancing in the same nightclub with him, and Ian knows that he has seen her before. But now he's not going to just stare at her.

Felicitacions by fardareismai

Love Diana's storytelling but sometimes she skips over details l would love to know like the introduction of Brianna to young Ian, Fergus & Marsai. Imagine how Jamie introduced her and their reactions to this daughter no one knew existed. #Drums

Fergus ( A Jamie and Arabella ficlet) by @renee-writer

Fergus has something important to discuss with his parents.

Nerves by @wunderlichkind

Fergus goes to Roger and Jamie for advice on becoming a father.

Next Generation by HillandGlen

The Fraser Clan grows, and a new Generation begins.

Phantom Hand by @whiskynottea

Fergus contemplates the loss of his hand. Set in 'A Breath of Snow and Ashes', before Henry-Christian is born.

Strength by sbstevenson2

Claire comforts Marsali as she grieves, which brings back memories of Paris and the child she never forgot.

Strength in the Quiet Moments by Entwinedlove

When things are looking bad, Marsali has the urge to stay close by.

The Crux of Siblings by @wunderlichkind

Germain has a crush and his siblings tease him about it.

The Mother's of Fraser's Ridge by @renee-writer

A quick one shot in honor of America's Mother's Day, tomorrow.

Based on an idea from shadowfire here and @farmerscat on Tumblr to honor the mother's of Outlander.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom"s, grandma's, aunties, stepmom's, single daddy's, foster mom's, and, mom's of fur and feathered babies.

The Storm’s Wreckage by Brissy

What happened on the Artemis after Jamie dived overboard to save Claire.

Tilted by RobynTko

Claire is surprised by multiple Christmas guests, though she was expecting a quiet evening with Jamie. But she can't seem to shake the uneasy feeling sitting quietly beneath the joy.

To Have and to Make by @lenny9987

Prompt: Laoghaire dies soon after marrying Jamie. Jamie introduces his two stepdaughters to Claire.

We Need To Talk, Brother by LowlandSassanach

What if Brianna had bumped into Fergus that first night in Wilmington? Would he know her? Would she know him? Had Claire told her about him?

Part 1 of a what if series focusing on the Fraser family. I am open to prompts.

Where There's A Will... by @lenny9987

Another Unrelated Faithlet.

Rebuilding the sibling relationship Faith and Fergus had before Faith left will take some time but she'd more than willing to help him with a problem he has concerning Marsali.

Fergus (Main)

A Birthday by @just-a-kid-at-heart

Sometimes you find family in unexpected places and ways. 

A Blessing in Disguise by @clairecrive​

On their way to meet Claire, Jamie and Fergus come across a damsel in distress. Being the gentlemen that they are, they offer her help. (Fergus Fraser x reader)

A Chuisle by Ealesshar

Jamie returns home and sees Claire tending to Fergus' stitches. He goes to his son.

A Midnight Chat by Judybrandtner

Jamie and Fergus are sharing a late night story.

A Million Tomorrows by @wunderlichkind

They haven't seen each other in seven years, but their reunion sure is one to remember.

A Token of Appreciation by @levisqueaks

When Jamie's birthday comes around, he gets a present from a certain imp. 

A Whole Family Once More by orphan_account

Jamie and Fergus crossed the stones at Craigh Na Dun and now have to adjust to the 20th-century life. Luckily they have the help of Claire, Faith and Brianna.

An Instant Connection by @just-a-kid-at-heart

At a community center event orphan Fergus meets Faith and Brianna Fraser. After a fun day of pay together one little Fraser is not prepared to leave their newfound friend behind.

And a Place to Rest my Head by ShadowOfHapiness

In the aftermath of Wilmington, and with her parents and Roger's fates unknown, Brianna struggles to piece herself back together.

As it happens, a chance encounter with her brother and a little conversation might do her soul some good.

Or: Bree and Fergus get to interact, deal with their own trauma and actually be the found family they're supposed to be.

Battlefield Discoveries by @fergusandmarsali​

When Fergus fails to return from the Battle of Prestonpans it falls upon Murtagh to locate his body and bring him home to Jamie and Claire. A canon-divergent one shot set during Season 2 / Dragonfly in Amber based on the prompt ‘Presumed Dead’.

Being a Man. by @redstarfiction-blog

*Potential spoilers for those who have not read the books*

This continues on from my first work in as much as it further explores Jamie learning to be a father. Throughout the books we see how important his family are to him and how he responds to them but really Fergus was his first experience of fatherhood and responding to children and the only chance he and Claire actually had to raise a child together as a young couple.

Biding Time by @fergusandmarsali​

A canon-divergent one-shot set during Voyager/Season 3 (Episode 7: Crème de Menthe) where Fergus and Young Ian find themselves kidnapped after a sale gone wrong.

Christmas On The Ridge by futurelounging, @ianmuyrray, @theministerskat, @whiskynottea, @wunderlichkind

December 25, 1779 - A collection of moments from Christmas celebrations on Fraser’s Ridge.

Cloudless Skies by @fergusandmarsali

Fergus goes through the stones but comes straight back to his current time... as his one-year-old self, giving Jamie and Claire the chance to provide him with the loving care he so desperately needs. Set during Book 6: A Breath of Snow And Ashes.

Coins and Conversations by @fergusandmarsali​

When Murtagh is mistaken for the kind of man who would pay to spend time in Fergus’s company, he reacts accordingly – with creative insults, much violence and an overdue conversation with the boy himself. A canon-compliant one-shot set during early Season 2.

Come And Sit With Me by LadyBeloe

Fergus comes to visit Claire in the aftermath of season 5, episode 12 "Never my love".

Conflicted Feelings / Certain Feelings by @wunderlichkind

Ian reflects on his feelings for a certain dark-eyed lad after his visit at the Edinburgh brothel. /  Fergus' take on the events in "Conflicted Feelings"

Cry On My Shoulder, I'm A Friend by LadyBeloe

A missing scene in the aftermath of season 5 episode 12, "Never my love": Ian and Fergus share a moment as they try to process what happened to Claire and reminisce their own past traumas.

Desperate Medicine by @fergusandmarsali

What if it was Claire, rather than Jamie, who met Fergus in 1744?

A canon-divergent one-shot set during Dragonfly in Amber / Season 2 (Episode 3: Useful Occupations and Deceptions) where Fergus has a little sister, gets caught attempting to steal from the medicine cupboard at L'Hôpital des Anges and still ends up getting adopted anyway.

Do You Remember by KatysOutlander

Fergus finds Claire in her garden at the Ridge, thinking about someone from her past. They discuss their time together in Paris and one of the painful events that took place there.

Fergus's Edinburgh Adventure by HillandGlen

After Jamie is captured and taken to Ardmuir. Fergus is left behind at Lallybroch. Growing up and a small estate is difficult for a one handed French city lad.

Fergus's Wooden Hand by Claireswildhair

Fergus and claire share a moment on the decks of the Artemis.

Fine Tuning by @ianmuyrray & @whiskynottea

Fergus, running in from the rain smacks into Roger the bloke who sings at the pub on Friday nights …

Fraser Photography Universe by Judybrandtner

School Photos: Jamie has an assignment at a school.

Homecoming: Fergus is coming to live with the Frasers.

Healing a Neglected Fergus by rach2322

In the time in Paris we see fergus eating in the aftermath of that disastrous dinner. He is always trying to prove his usefulness to Milford and milady. We also hear some truly disturbing details about his life at Madame Elise's. Could fergus have been neglected. What can Claire and Jamie do to fix this.

Fergus talks about sleeping under the stairs and SOMETIMES getting food from the ladies. Her heart brakes for the sweet boy. Reminding her of war orphans.

Whilst telling Jamie about the different ladies at the brothel. Fergus let's slip that one used to box his ears. Jamie promises him he will never lay a hand on him.

His Petite Etoile by @whiskynottea

With Milady gone and Milord hiding in a cave Fergus takes it upon himself to take care of Faith.

Imaginary by @crossinginstyle

When a young patient captures Claire’s heart, she finds herself unexpectedly in the position of foster parent. Fergus has been shuffled from foster family to foster family, branded as having psychological issues due to his preoccupation with his imaginary friend.

But what Claire discovers is Fergus’s imaginary friend might not be quite so imaginary...

Imagining by christinawithav

Set a year after Culloden, Fergus goes to see Jamie and they allow themselves to imagine life if Jamie hadn't sent Claire back through the stones.

Importance of Truth. by @redstarfiction-blog 

This is my first work of fan-fic and concerns Jamie and Fergus as the father/son dynamic developed during the period when they returned from France.

La Guérison by @redstarfiction-blog 

Part one of a quick two-shot of Jamie and Fergus healing in the aftermath of Randall back home at Lallybroch and how I imagine it may have effected them both.

La Petite by @bonnie-wee-swordsman

A very short, standalone Fergus ficlet taking place mid Dragonfly in Amber as the Frasers make their way back to Lallybroch from Paris. Paternal!Jamie fluff.

La Responsabilité D'un Frère | Protégé by @writtenthroughtime

Prompt: Hi! Could you please write a prompt where Jamie introduces Brianna and Fergus and they have some brother-sister time? Thank you

Life's Rhythm by futurelounging

Inspired by an OtherOutlanderTales prompt on Tumblr. Anon said: What was it like for Fergus when Milord arrived home to Lallybroch from Culloden?

This is a story from Fergus's point of view after Jamie is returned to Lallybroch, wounded, with Claire missing. He tries to work out his place in the world now that Milord is unwell and Milady is gone.

Lingering Wounds by @fergusandmarsali​

A canon-compliant one-shot set during Voyager / Season 3 where Jamie suffers a flashback, Fergus temporarily finds himself with zero functioning hands and Young Ian gains a whole new understanding as to their father-son relationship.

Loss Makes Us Feel Less by rach2322

A Fergus Centric fic. Fergus looks back on his life and the times he feels less.

Love Made of Iron by @inmyfxith

Fergus x fem!reader

Ma Famille by @writtenthroughtime

Prompt: Pretty please write me a story with Fergus calling Claire and Jamie “Mam” and “Da” because I need these feels in my life like I need air. <3333

Maman's Boy by @writtenthroughtime

Prestonpans: Ferguson making his way from the battlefield, just wanting to see Claire and Jamie. He realizes that he thinks of them as his parents.

Man to Man by sock_bealady

In the aftermath of Jack Randall's brutality, Jamie and Fergus come to an understanding. A gapfiller that picks up in the brothel.

Measure and Man by fluffernutter8

Fergus thinks about being enough. Episode tag for 6x03, featuring flashbacks.

Midnight Illusions by @fergusandmarsali

Sick with fever, Fergus assumes Murtagh's appearance to be a hallucination and says everything he’s thinking out loud. A canon-divergent one-shot set during early Season 4 (because Fergus should have been the one to find Murtagh, not Young Ian, thank you very much).

Milord's Story by Brissy

The story behind Fergus' remark in Episode 9 Season 3 'The Doldrums' - 'You forget I know your story, milord." How and when he heard the story.

Misguided Reactions by @fergusandmarsali​

Fergus comes down with tonsillitis for the nth time, panics, gets into a fight at school and his new foster mother, Doctor Claire Fraser, gets called down to the Principal’s office. A Modern-Day AU where Fergus learns that even the most troublesome of teenagers deserve to be cared for and doubly so when they’re feeling unwell.

Mon Coeur in Outlander Ficlets by @cranesmuir-witch

@atheart150 submitted a prompt to my @cranesmuir-witch tumblr - "Claire and Jamie’s reaction to Fergus calling them Mother and Father."

More Than a Cure by @fergusandmarsali

In 1747, Dragon Pox infection is once again on the rise and St Mungo’s Healer, Claire Beauchamp, isn’t at all surprised when a number of students in poor condition are transferred in from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… until she meets James Fraser, Captain of Scotland’s most beloved quidditch team and adoptive father of one of her most unruly patients.

Mother by PentoPaper23

One shots and a few random short stories about Claire being a mother figure to Fergus.

New Names and Old Habits by @fergusandmarsali​

A canon-divergent one-shot where Fergus's newfound delight in using the Fraser name leads to a chance meeting with Milord and Milady's daughter, him warning her to stay away from Stephen Bonnet and receiving all the motivation he needs to utilise his pickpocketing skills once more.

No Matter the Cost by @redstarfiction-blog

A look at a scene which could have unfolded in the nights immediately before Culloden. Spoilers *sort of* for anyone who has not read the books or is watching the show but still in denial *grins*

As always thank you so much for reading and all of your comments/kudos. I really appreciate it.

Our Own by thatsoccercoach

Fergus was a nearly-forgotten dream in the recesses of their minds that they hadn’t remembered until they held him and suddenly saw it clearly.

Outlander Drabbles by @lenny9987

Chapters 1, 9, 11, 14, 22, 38, 44, & 74

Outlander Ficlets by @cranesmuir-witch 

This past week I posted several ficlet challenges on my @cranesmuir-witch tumblr and asked people to submit one of the many quotes in the list to be incorporated into a ficlet. I hope you enjoy them!

Chapters 6 & 25

Photographs by @adso-fraser

After the twins’ birth, the Frasers have a chat with their oldest son.

Popcorn and Haydust by @wunderlichkind

It's the start of summer vacation when the circus comes to Broch Mordha. It is a bit of a sensation in such a small village and occupies all its young people - especially Ian Fraser Murray, who's fascination is more with a certain artiste than the actual show. 

See also Popcorn and Haydust Outtake:  This is a missing (very explicit) scene from my fic "Popcorn and Haydust".

See also Radio Signal: Fergus sure knows all Ian's buttons to push.

See also Stage Fright: Ian isn't particularly looking forward to holding a presentation in front of a lot of people and his nerves cause a bit of a chaos that turns into steam very quickly.

Reading You by @wunderlichkind

Roger and Fergus first get to know each other through a pen-pals program in school - the relationship progresses when they meet in person as exchange students.

Sanctuary by @written-rebellion

Takes place mid S2 / Dragonfly in Amber

In the midst of all the schemes and intrigue, Fergus has a nightmare and Claire's able to squeeze in some mom practice.

SAWNY by @writtenthroughtime

Prompt: Now I don't remember if you had written something like this before but I was thinking about Jamie's first meeting with Fergus in the tv show where you find out he's the one who took Sawny so I thought a story about Jamie actually giving it to him either just before Culloden or before he arranges to get himself arrested would be really nice.

Shadows Aligning by @fergusandmarsali​

When Jamie turns up at the docks unannounced, Fergus is caught off guard by the men he’s fighting and ends up in the freezing cold basin leading to a moderate case of hypothermia, huddling for warmth and a conversation that he had been hoping to avoid.

A canon-divergent one-shot set during Voyager / Season 3 featuring Vigilante!Fergus (because if his story isn’t a vigilante origin story then I don’t know what is).

Shite Happens by @levisqueaks

When young Ian returns to the family from his time with the Mohawk, he and Fergus rekindle what they had once had in Edinburgh. Overtaken with seeing each other again, they make a choice that has dire consequences. But desperate times call for questionable choices, will they regret theirs? Written for the Outlander Bingo 2020 Challenge for Drivablecar.

Sister by PentoPaper23 

One shots about the Siblings relationship between Fergus and Brianna.

Starlight, Starbright by @abbydebeaupreposts

Anonymous said: Hi, this is a prompt for Abby. Abby would you write a missing scene of Fergus reuniting with Bree after she comes through the stones in DOA? Thanks!

Stay Awake! in Outlander Ficlets by @cranesmuir-witch

This past week I posted several ficlet challenges on my @cranesmuir-witch tumblr and asked people to submit one of the many quotes in the list to be incorporated into a ficlet. I hope you enjoy them!

Stolen Dreams Took Our Childish Days by @ofmermaidsandmarauders

Claire and Jaime Fraser find themselves unable to have a child of their own, instead deciding to explore alternative options to grow their family. A modern AU about foster care and found families.

Sutures by @smashing-teacups​

Canon-compliant, missing scene, 6x03, showverse. Jamie brings Fergus to Claire for stitching after his suicide attempt. Both parents offer comfort and advice to their son, and get to the bottom of some of Fergus's doubts.

The Art Of Waiting by @wunderlichkind

Family dinners can be a tedious affair. Especially when someone's teasing you relentlessly. 

The Attic Room by Judybrandtner

Jamie and Claire are refurbishing their new house, and Jamie has a special thought for one of the rooms.

The Finer Points by @fergusandmarsali​

While Jamie and Claire are off trying to convince Old Fox to join the war effort, Fergus is left in the care of one Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser. Luckily, Murtagh doesn't need to be a genius to see that Fergus isn't sleeping… or to set things to rights.

The Greatest Gifts in Small Blessings by Zoe1078

Claire has a Lump.

The Lady’s Rosemary by antigone_breathes_still

Fergus knows he isn't supposed to go sneaking into guests' rooms, let alone steal any of their things. But when doors are left ajar and perfume bottles are left unattended, things can get very quickly out of hand... / OR / Fergus loves Claire and is not about to let any silly rule about "not stealing" get in the way of impressing her. / OR / A potential alternative to a very upsetting incident from Season 2 (if you've seen the show, you know the one).

The Midnight Kitchen by @thescarlettpeacock

A short fic featuring Fergus, Claire and the midnight munchies...

(This fic is not associated with Just Desserts and acts as a standalone one-shot)

The One Where its Official in Idyllwild by @anoutlandishfanfic

What you need to know: Fergus is officially becoming a Fraser! The how's and why's of this haven't been written yet (including the showdown Claire eludes to) but it should be pretty self explanatory anyway. Enjoy!

The Scars that Bind Us by ShadowOfHapiness

A collection of Fraser family one-shots for Whumptober 2021. Featuring a lot of gratuitous hurt/comfort, angst, whump and, of course, family feels.

Day 2: choking, drowning Featuring: Roger, Jemmy, Germain and Fergus. Set sometime between 5x08 and 5x09.

The Sweetest of All by catrinwrites 

Claire Beauchamp is determined to make her adopted son’s first Christmas with her his best ever; she decides to adopt a dog for him from one Fraser’s Ridge Animal Rescue.

The Tagalong by @lenny9987

Prompt: What if Fergus had gone through the Stones after Culloden accidentally or on purpose and found Claire and Bree?

The Words Get Stuck In My Throat by @abbydebeaupreposts

“They had knelt together by the spring, embracing, wet with blood and water, locked together as though he could hold Fergus to the earth, to his family by force of will alone, and he had no notion at all what he said, lost in the passion of the moment –until the end.” ABOSAA Chpt. 64

Three Nightmares by antigone_breathes_still

After being attacked by BlackJack Randall, Fergus suffers from chronic nightmares. Jamie and Claire do their best to look after him, all the while grieving the loss of their daughter.

To Build A Home by anotherplaceintime (marvelleous)

James Fraser, an inspector for Police Scotland, has his life turned upside down when he is called up as an emergency foster parent, after a child is found abandoned in the streets of Inverness.

Trouble Sleeping by @fergusandmarsali

Fergus follows Claire through the stones to 1948 and learns the beauty of modern medicine including childhood inoculations… and their unfortunate short-term side effects.

Une Nouvelle Famille in Small Blessings by Zoe1078

How Fergus came to live with the Frasers.

Unfortunate Timing by @fergusandmarsali​

Fergus attempts to show off his pickpocketing skills, an unimpressed Jamie gets called down to the police station and Brianna accidentally lets slip a previously well kept secret.

What if Roger Met Fergus in Wilmington by rach2322

Fergus and Roger au in willmington. When Roger asks about bree in willmington fergus takes note and offers to help the frazzled man. By chance leading him to Claire and Jamie who are surprising him and marsali with a visit.

When Home is Lost by gray_autumn_sky

A canon divergent AU set at the very end of season 2.

Instead of letting Jamie take her back to the stones, Claire insists on accompanying Fergus back to Lallybroch. Though Claire promises Jamie that she'll go through the stones once she knows Fergus is safe with Jenny and Ian, she finds that she can't bring herself to do it, even if it means going back on her last promise to her husband.

Which Door? by @thescarlettpeacock 

"He is greeted by his new foster parents in the living room of the Glasgow Fostering Centre, both of them wearing smiles and warm winter jackets. This is the tenth time they’ve met, he thinks, but for the first time he isn’t exactly sure what to say."

Families come in different shapes and sizes. Not all begin the same. He hopes, he wonders if this could be it for him?

(W)hole Again by MxBelle

Young Ian has a dream about Fergus and invites him over for dinner to make it come true.

Without Us by @bonnie-wee-swordsman

A follow up to Season 2 Episode 13 (Dragonfly in Amber), showing Fergus' journey back to Lallybroch

Wrapped Up With A Red Bow by Greens

Jamie is upset when he is unable to find the perfect Christmas gift for Claire.

Fergus (Secondary)

Children of Their Times by @her-majesty-wears-jeans

"Brianna was the spitting image of Jamie, but today she didn’t remind Claire of red curls towering over her and arms wrapped around her waist but of a mop of dark hair tucked under her chin and dexterous, slim fingers fisted in the hem of her skirt."

word: play | setting: historical/modern setting

Daytime Friends (Night Time Lovers) by clairefrasers 

Jamie Fraser adopted Fergus from the children’s home his sister, Jenny works in.

Jamie moves to Boston to set up a whisky business with his God Father - Murtagh FitzGibbons Fraser.

Jamie is in need of a Nanny to take care of Fergus while he is working.

Claire Randall is married to Frank Randall; Claire was a paediatric nurse until her husband asked her to step away from the hospital to spend more time together.

Claire’s fondness for children and the need to care for them sent her in the direction of Nannying.

Her first client(s) Jamie and Fergus Fraser.

His Prudent Heart by LallybrochLoser

Five years have passed since Jamie Fraser, widower and single father of two, fled Scotland in order to give his sons, Fergus and Willie, the best life possible without their mother. He works his way up to become the chief editor of Boston’s premiere weekly newspaper, The Rising Sun Times. When Fergus comes down with a harsh illness, he decides it’s time to give the local apothecary a run for its money. His life will undoubtedly be turned upside down when he meets one Claire Beauchamp, a former doctor with a dark past of her own.

Hogmanay Hauntings by preciouslittleingenue

Jamie is broken beyond repair, even years after sending Claire away with their unborn child. Hogmanay rolls around again, and Jamie cannot bring himself to celebrate with the family he has left...until he is visited by three spirits.

A Christmas Carol/Outlander Mash-Up for 12 Days of OL Ficmas.

Innocent Revelations by @fergusandmarsali​

When young Germain Fraser makes the newfound ‘discovery’ that his Papa once lost a hand to the men in red coats, he seeks the comfort and knowledge he believes Grandpère Jamie can provide. As it turns out his grandfather is the one in desperate need of comfort, still very much affected by events of the past.

Memories of the Moon by @phoenixflames12

Jamie considers the moon and prays for those he’s lost and those who still remain

More Than A Cure by @fergusandmarsali​

In 1747, Dragon Pox infection is once again on the rise and St Mungo’s Healer, Claire Beauchamp, isn’t at all surprised when a number of students in poor condition are transferred in from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… until she meets James Fraser, Captain of Scotland’s most beloved quidditch team and adoptive father of one of her most unruly patients.

Somewhere Only We Know by Psychic101

Jamie Fraser is a single dad raising his 7-year-old son Fergus with the help of his family. After being expelled, Fergus attends a new school with a teacher who specializes in teaching children with ADHD- Claire Beauchamp. Fergus finally gets the help he needs to succeed in school while Jamie gets what he thought he'd never have. True love. Jamie thought being a single dad was the hardest thing in the world but then again, he's never secretly dated his son's teacher either. Set in modern-day Scotland.

Previously named "Nous Sommes Prêts (We Are Ready)"

Sojourn of a Thousand More by JRC10

A sequel to "Journey of a Thousand Kisses."

Jamie and Claire take a sojourn to Paris in the months after their wedding and are surprised by what they find.

Temporary Home by @renee-writer

Claire is a social worker. Fergus an at-risk child brought into protective care. Jamie his foster father..

This will be a very angsty slow burn.

The Scottish Manny by @ladyviolethummingbird

Dr Claire Beauchamp’s life revolves solely around her job, but when a close friend passes away and names the busy surgeon guardian of her six year old son, she becomes a mother overnight.

Clueless about kids and desperate for help, she hires a nanny. Expecting a sedate older woman who spends time baking and embroidering, she’s thrown for a loop with the arrival of James Fraser. Young, fun and carefree, he’s exactly what Claire’s new son needs - could he be just what she needs, too?

Tomorrow, When The World is Free by @thestarrystarryknight

In 1943, Claire Fraser takes in a French orphan named Claudel, who lost his home, family, and all but his name when his village was bombed a year earlier. With her husband away fighting in Italy, Claire does the best she can to maintain some semblance of a home and family for the small child even as everything she holds dear is upended by the war. A modern(ish) au, about life, love, and family during wartime.

We Only Do This For Fergus! by @underthewingsofthblackeagle

“We only do this for Fergus!” is a short Outlander Fan Fiction story and my contribution to the Outlander Prompt Exchange (Prompt 3: Fake Relationship AU: Jamie Fraser wants to formally adopt his foster son Fergus, but his application will probably not be approved… unless he is married and/or in a committed relationship. Enter one Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp (Randall?) to this story) @outlanderpromptexchange

See also Deutsch version Wir tun das nur für Fergus!

Marsali (Main)

A Call to Arms by @lenny9987

Part of my Gaps in Canon series. Set during A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Jamie is looking for Claire when he learns that something happened to her and Marsali down at the brew house.

A Sister's Return in Outlander Drabbles by @lenny9987

Prompt: Marsali breaks down upon Brianna's return.

I Have Another Daughter Now by rach2322

What did Claire think of Marsali and how did their mother daughter relationship develop. I see Marsali as having become really close to Claire eventually seeing her as a second Mother. ONESHOT

Living In The Past: A Story In Four Parts by AuntieCait

A slightly canon-divergent extension of Marsali and Brianna’s late night conversation over a bottle of whisky in episode 504 (“The Company We Keep”), this is a tale of the two women telling tales of their own, each sharing a story about their adolescent years that shaped who they became and their relationships with the men in their lives.

Marsali (Secondary)

Second Wife by @betweensceneswriter

What happened in Jamie's life between leaving Helwater and Claire's return? If you've ever wanted to see more of Jamie as a father, an uncle, a grieving, yet still-in-love widower, this canon-consistent novella explores those years.

Although we see Laoghaire, this is not her story--this is still the story of Jamie and Claire. We see the events and emotions that led Jamie to re-marry, we see him remembering Claire. And Jamie's moments with Marsali and Joanie are adorable!

Other Stories Worth Reading

Starting Young by @fergusandmarsali

When Marsali is too ill to assist Claire in the surgery, Germain decides to become Grandmère’s newest apprentice and, while neither hurt nor ill, Grandpère is the very first patient he tends to. A fluffy one-shot set during early Season 5.

#outlander #fan fiction #fersali #fergus fraser #marsali fraser #a collection

[flyinghome-againstthewind]

the best by far is you: chapter 19

Read on AO3

Previous Chapter

For all the things my hands have held, the best by far is you -  Cecilia and the satellite

————

Summary: An exploration of Claire & Jamie’s story if their firstborn had lived and they had the chance to be parents together of wee Faith Fraser before the Battle of Culloden.

Chapter 19

“‒And so I stole coins from those filthy bast‒”

“Fergus. Watch your tongue.”

Jamie worked hard to suppress his smile as Fergus shot Claire a look that clearly said she’d taken the wind out his sails with her chiding ‒ right at the height of his story. Claire was none the wiser, having hardly looked up from her work to scold Fergus.

“Mind that Faith is listening too, aye?” Jamie added.

Fergus sighed but gave a small nod of agreement before continuing with his story. Faith, while no doubt listening, gave no indication that she was aware of the conversation happening around her. Instead, she was busy trying to climb all over Jamie while he was sitting up in bed.

Not that Jamie minded one bit. He had Faith in his arms and Fergus nearby, talking a mile a minute about his journey from Lallybroch to France. Claire was preparing clean bandages to change the dressing on Jamie’s wound and Murtagh was tucked out of the way, sitting contently in a chair, completely at peace with the world. Jamie had everything he needed right there.

Claire turned and their eyes met. His breath left him in a rush. She was here with him, smiling softly when she found him watching her, and some part of him worried he would wake up any moment and find this all to be a dream.

She came around to the side of his bed and his hand reached out to touch the rounded bump where their bairn was growing healthy and strong.

God, the bairn…

He’d missed the evidence of it in the immediate aftermath of realizing that Claire was very much real and here with him. But when his senses fully returned to him, the proof of Claire’s pregnancy was obvious. And then came the sweeping sense of relief that nothing had happened to her, that she was still with child. On top of everything else he’d gained back, the promise of another bairn felt too good to be true.

Claire paused and let one hand cover Jamie’s. They shared a smile and his heart leapt to his throat. Every look, every slight touch was much-needed reassurance and they were both basking in it.

“Baby’s pretty quiet just now but you should be able to feel her moving soon.”

“Her?”

Claire shrugged almost shyly, and her gaze dropped. “Just… just a feeling. I don’t know. Or ‘him’. Could very likely be a boy.”

He felt the urge to share something but dismissed it — that he’d dreamt of the bairn while Claire was gone, more than once. A nameless child, about a year of age, and he never knew if it was a boy or a girl, only that it was his and Claire’s. But it had felt like a gift at the time, the only way he might know their next child.

Now, his thumb caressed the baby bump through Claire’s layers of skirts. It still hadn’t quite sunken in yet… all that was restored to him.

Jamie inhaled sharply as Faith’s knee suddenly dug into his shoulder, hitting a bruise he didn’t realize he had.

“Faith! Get down.”

Where she thought she was going from Jamie’s shoulders was anyone’s guess, but she still disliked being pulled down by Claire and set back on her feet on the bed. She reached for Jamie and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“S’alright, a leannan,” Jamie murmured into her hair. His gaze met Claire’s, seeing a flicker of something there whenever the attention in the room shifted to Faith. But she smoothed it over with a slight, tense smile and finally began to remove the bandages around his thigh. She had a light touch, but Jamie still tensed up out of anticipation. He’d already accidentally twitched his leg and caused a flare-up of pain.

Claire’s work also drew Faith’s attention and he noticed the way the toddler’s brows furrowed in concern. He forced himself to relax his features and smile. “Yer ma’s just fixing me up so I’ll be good as new verra soon.”

That earned him a pointed look from Claire. “Your infection is clearing up, but the leg will take a little longer to heal.”

Despite the seriousness of her tone and the way she looked mildly upset with him, Jamie felt the small tug of a grin, real this time. He’d missed her scolding as much as anything else. His fierce Sassenach. “Alright, mebbe not verra soon then.”

It struck Jamie that it was suddenly very quiet. He turned to see Fergus still sitting cross-legged on the bed, watching them with an unreadable expression on his face. His heart sank. “I’m sorry, lad, we interrupted you. Go on.”

“Actually, Milord, I wanted to ask you if Milady ever told you about cars from her time. Because if so, I won’t recount that part of our journey.”

Jamie’s eyes widened in surprise and sought out Claire’s. She kept her head down, focused on her work, but cleared her throat awkwardly. “Fergus, darling, we can leave out the discussions of cars this time.”

Fergus continued on without any hesitation, and Claire’s gaze raised to meet his then. “We’ll talk later?” she whispered.

  “So… Fergus knows.”

Claire met his gaze and gave a slight shrug, feigning nonchalance though he could see very well that she was nervous.

Murtagh had volunteered to take Fergus and Faith out for some exercise ‒ Mary had made herself scarce of late ‒ and Jamie couldn’t go anywhere on account of his leg. So it was suddenly just to the two of them, for the first time since the morning of Culloden.

And perhaps there were more pressing matters to discuss first, but the notion that an eleven-year-old lad carried such a secret was still rattling around in Jamie’s brain, leaving him unsettled.

“I suppose now’s as good a time as any to have that conversation.” She pulled up the chair at his bedside and sat down.

“I ken ye had yer reasons, Sassenach, but he’s only a lad and to trust him with something so…” Jamie let the sentence hang, floundering helplessly with all he wanted to say. He reached for her hand and held it tight, still needing any chance to touch her and know she was real. “After Cranesmuir, when ye told me, I kent the weight of such a secret. And while we had tae tell Murtagh and he believed ye, it was still a risk we took. I canna risk yer life like that again, mo ghraidh.”

Claire pursed her lips. “Then you’re not going to like what I have to say.”

“What d’ye mean?”

“Fergus knows… and so do Jenny and Ian.”

“Claire.”

He felt the rush of anger fizzling through his veins and he wanted to move ‒ to get up, to pace, to expel some of this urge to fight ‒ but his leg kept him immobile. Claire’s hand was already pressed placatingly to his chest, as if in warning that he better not move.

“Jamie, it was my choice.”

“Oh aye, and I suppose my thoughts on the matter meant nothing to ye since I wasna around.”

“Of course they matter to me, but you weren’t there and‒”

The crack of her voice rattled his resolve to stay angry.

“You weren’t there,” she said again, a little steadier this time but it still cut him to the core. “And neither was Faith. And I was left to fill in the blanks for our family. There were things that happened when I went back to my time and I needed to be able to talk about that. And it was my choice and I wanted to tell them, Jamie. Do you understand what it’s been like to keep that part of myself cut off from the people that I’ve come to love? Jenny and Ian… well they didn’t understand it, not unlike you at first, but they still believed me. And for the first time in a long time, I felt… I felt like myself. I could be here in this time with you and our family, and I could still hold all the pieces of myself and share about my life before.”

“Claire,” he said her name again with a resigned sigh. His hand covered her own where it still rested over his heart and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm. “Mo ghraidh, if anything ever happened to ye because of someone knowing what ye are…”

“Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m not saying there isn’t a risk ‒ I know there is. But not with our loved ones.”

The notion still left his stomach churning at the thought, but the damage was done. Jenny, Ian, and Fergus already knew. “Aye, well, I’d still like tae have a wee talk wi’ the lad. Make sure he kens the seriousness of being trusted wi’ something so important.”

Claire smiled softly, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“What is it?”

She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. “I’m not trying to suggest that I don’t think it’s a weighty decision. It is. And Fergus should know that.”

“But?”

“But it also brought us closer in a way I didn’t realize it could. I trusted him with something big. And I think he understands that. We were able to talk freely ‒ about cars, yes, but my childhood too, and my parents and Uncle Lamb. And I want… I want that with Faith, someday. I want to tell her and the baby when they’re old enough to understand.”

His head fell back against the headboard with a dull thud. “Sassenach…”

“How would you feel if your parents kept something like that from you for your whole life?”

“I would feel nothing if I never kent about it.”

Claire rolled her eyes.

“Fergus already knows,” she reminded him. “And it wouldn’t be any time soon with Faith and the baby, obviously.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. “It’s no’ that I particularly want tae keep this from them,” he admitted. His thumb traced over the knuckles of Claire’s hand and brushed over the metal ring seated there on one finger. His ring, made from the key to his home. “But it feels terribly reckless tae trust bairns wi’ a secret that could bring harm tae ye in the wrong hands. And I never want tae be reckless wi’ yer life, mo nighean donn. Ever.”

“I know that,” she said with a sigh. Her other hand came up to trace along his jaw, back and forth ‒ a touch so achingly familiar to him that he couldn’t help but be soothed by it. He exhaled heavily, feeling like putty in her hands.

“What if Faith remembers?” Claire added softly. “How else would I explain my absence to her?”

“We could think of something‒”

“But I don’t want to lie.”

He saw the desperate look that overtook her, the tears that filled her eyes and threatened to spill over. Oh, Claire. “C’mere.” He reached for her, fingers tangling in the mess of curls at the nape of her neck as he tugged her close, tucking her head under his chin.

“She already has enough cause to hate me,” she murmured tearfully, half-muffled into his chest. His eyes slammed shut, pushing a tear down his cheek.

“No, Sassenach, she could never hate ye.” He pressed a kiss to her hair. He had known in his heart that tearing them apart, even unintentionally, would destroy Claire. Had carried the guilt from that moment every day for three months. But it was another thing entirely to finally bear witness to the damage he’d done; the hell she’d gone through just to get them back and even still, the work of reconciling lay before them. All because of him.

“I hadna thought that Faith… she’s so like ye, Claire. Past those red curls, she has yer smile, yer kindness, yer mind. And Lord, is she stubborn. She’s yer bairn through and through. It never crossed my mind that she wouldna be able to travel like you. I never would ha‒” He broke off, finding himself too choked up to speak further, his eyes stinging with tears. He swallowed thickly and managed to utter in a tight voice, “Can ye ever forgive me, Claire?”

She pulled back then, watery eyes meeting his own. “I was upset ‒ heartbroken, really. Everything happened so fast at the stones and I was angry with you for forcing me to go. For trying to send both of us away from you.” Her chin quivered slightly and she took a moment to collect herself. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers.

“I know you, James Fraser,” she murmured into the space between them. His heart clenched at her words and his hand found its way to the nape of her neck again, holding onto her, feeling the steady thrum of her pulse just beneath the delicate skin there. His true north whenever he was lost. “There were times in the last few months that I wanted to throttle you, but I never once thought any of this was your intention to hurt me.”

He shook his head against her, unintentionally bumping noses with her. “No, but I still did, didn’t I?” He pulled back only slightly so that he could look her in the eye, their faces merely inches from each other.

She never could hide what she was thinking and he was counting on that this time. Of course he’d hurt her. Beyond anything imaginable, no doubt. And he couldn’t bear it, but that was his penance ‒ to face the extent to which he’d hurt her.

“Just promise me something?” she dodged his question with one of her own. “You can’t ever try and send me away again ‒ even if it’s not through the stones, you can’t‒”

“No, never. I won’t.” He sealed his promise with a kiss. “Christ, I couldna bear it, either.”

There was a slight rap on the door and they pulled back from each other only slightly, both struggling to shift away from the heaviness of the moment.

“Come in.”

It was Brother Thomas bringing Jamie’s supper into the room and asking Claire if she wanted to have her supper brought in as well, or if she’d like to join the others.

“Ye should go, mo nighean donn.”

She glanced back at him, slightly surprised.

“Ye shouldna be stuck in this room all day on account of me.”

Her brows furrowed together in concern. “Are you in any pain? I could make you some tea.”

“Nah,” he lied, capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “Only a little tired. Go and kiss the bairns for me, Sassenach, and enjoy some real company.”

She quirked an eyebrow at that, but still moved to stand. “You should get some rest. I’ll be back to check on you after supper. And we’ll… we’ll talk. About‒”

“Aye,” he said softly, understanding. There was still so much that hadn’t been said between them. So much left to share. “We have time now.”

  Claire found him asleep in his bed when she returned, and was pleased by this. She knew his leg was bothering him but he never let on whenever there was company, stubborn man that he was. His wound should heal up wonderfully, so long as he didn’t push himself, but it would take time. With the emotional upheaval of their arrival, she was afraid he was already pushing himself to be present with them despite how tired and in pain he was.

Supper had been a lighthearted affair, with the children drawing smiles and laughter out of them. Mary had joined them, though she seemed a little withdrawn. And Fergus had of course wanted to return to see Milord after supper, but Claire wanted to protect the little bit of peace that Jamie needed. Instead, she reminded him that they had time ‒ they had the rest of forever together as a family ‒ and he could visit with Jamie in the morning.

She tried to be quiet as she prepared tea for him, but just as she was letting it steep, she turned and saw Jamie’s head tilted towards her, watching her from bed.

“Hi,” she whispered, heart melting under the warmth of his gaze.

He held his hand out to her and she crossed the room to take it between her own.

“Wanted to be sure you were no’ a dream,” he said with a sleepy half-smile. She returned his smile and also felt his forehead. No, no fever. Just in the place between sleep and waking. She leaned down and kissed him, savoring the simple joy in that, before she sat carefully on the edge of the bed.

“If in your dreams, I’m always making you tea, then I’m a little disappointed in your imagination.”

He barked a laugh at that, the first she’d heard in what felt like forever. “Weel,” he drew their clasped hands towards him and kissed the back of her hand with a reverence that made her heart ache, “I happen tae like watching ye do yer healing, Sassenach. Just the sight of ye fills my heart wi’ joy.”

She smiled through the urge to cry. “God. You can’t say things like that to your pregnant wife. You’ll turn me into a blubbering mess.”

He looked more pleased than chastised, the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips ‒ though she suspected that had more to do with the reminder that she carried their child. “Hmm. No, we canna have that, Sassenach.”

She shook her head at him and moved to stand. “I made you some willow bark tea. Should help with the pain.”

It was while she was setting the cup of tea next to him on the bedside table that the unmistakable screams of a disgruntled toddler could be heard from down the hall.

“What on earth?”

The sound grew louder very quickly and by the time Claire swung the door open, there was a harried-looking Murtagh passing Faith into her arms.

“Mary tried tae put her tae bed and…” Murtagh gestured vaguely to Faith in the throes of a meltdown.

“It’s alright, just‒” Claire nodded in Jamie’s direction and Murtagh went without needing further instruction to help Jamie sit up.

She looked down at the wailing child in her arms, red-faced and sweaty with tears spilling down her cheeks. “Oh, lovey…”

Murtagh stepped away and then Faith caught sight of her father. Claire tightened her hold on the girl as she practically tumbled out of Claire’s arms reaching for Jamie.

“Are you alright to take her?” she asked him. A stupid question, really. They had no other option to calm Faith down and they all knew it. Still, Jamie nodded and reached for her.

Faith buried her face into the crook of Jamie’s neck and howled.

“Shhhhh a nighean. Na gabh dragh. Tha mi an seo.”

Claire felt her own racing heart slowing down with Jamie’s soothing words to Faith ‒ Gaelic words she knew by heart now: Don’t worry. I am here.

She turned back to face Murtagh, her empty arms now folded tight across her chest. “Thank you for bringing her. For all your help over the last few days. It’s been…”

Words failed her in trying to sum it up, and instead she shrugged her shoulders. “Well,” she gestured to her injured husband trying to console their screaming child. “You know.”

“Aye,” Murtagh sighed softly, brows raised. “I do ken.”

She thought suddenly of Fergus and the look on his face when she told him after supper that Jamie needed to rest. And now here they were with Faith…

It felt as though she were being pulled in all directions at once and failing everyone spectacularly.

Murtagh reached out and gave her elbow a gentle squeeze. “I’ll look in on the lad tonight.”

Her chin quivered but she smiled and tried to keep it together at least until Murtagh was out of the room. She didn’t know how they would’ve managed without Murtagh and Mary the last few days. “Thank you. For always looking out for him, but especially now.”

Murtagh awkwardly brushed off her words, never one to take compliments, and bid her goodnight before slipping out of the room.

Faith’s screaming had lessened to hiccuping sobs as she struggled to get her breathing under control again. Jamie rubbed slow circles on her back and continued to speak his soft-spoken words of comfort. It was so reminiscent of the difficult nights in Faith’s infancy when she wouldn’t sleep, and Claire wanted nothing more than to settle there in bed beside Jamie and cuddle Faith between them.

Instead, she came around to the other side of the bed and sat there at the foot of it, watching Jamie gently coax Faith out of her stormy mood. Soon enough, that tear-stained face was smiling and Claire watched as Jamie lifted Faith and gently plopped her onto the space next to him on the bed. Faith burst into laughter, bordering on hysterical in her post-meltdown, overtired haze, and pushed herself unsteadily to her feet and launched herself at Jamie. “Again!”

Without any reason, Claire thought very suddenly of Frank... of their conversation when she’d told him the truth. He’d wanted a life with her again, one they could bring her baby into and raise together. But even when given a little time to sit with that idea, her heart had rebelled against it. She’d only ever wanted this ‒ a second chance at raising this family with Jamie.

“Careful!” Claire gasped, heart in her throat as Jamie narrowly avoided a kick to his injured leg and hefted a squirming toddler higher up against his chest.

“Frow me!”

“Throw ye? I didna throw ye. I dropped ye, ye daft wee thing.”

“Aye, again,” Faith agreed, the distinction completely lost on her as much as Jamie’s teasing.

“Aye, one more time‒”

“And be careful of Da’s leg,” Claire interjected.

“‒ and then it’s time for bed, a leannan.” He shifted Faith’s weight onto his hands and winked at Claire in reassurance, and once more plopped her onto the soft bedding. “There, that’s all for tonight.”

Faith stood and wobbled and leaned into Jamie’s shoulder. Claire fought every single urge to grab Faith away from the injured side of Jamie. Toddlers were about as aware of their surroundings as someone who was falling-down drunk. “No’ yet,” she said to Jamie.

“No’ ready for bed yet?” he said in a voice that was clearly playing along with some sort of game Claire wasn’t accustomed to. Meanwhile, he plucked Faith from his side and situated her to sit on his opposite leg. “What should we do wi’ ourselves then?”

“A story,” Faith insisted, leaning her head back against Jamie’s chest to look up at him with pleading eyes.

“Ye want a story?” Jamie teased her, as if it was the most outrageous thing to ask for. Claire was simply transfixed by them. It felt… it felt like home, trying to settle their wild one for bed. She could almost forget that she’d become a stranger to her daughter, being able to witness how easy it was between Jamie and their girl. Could almost imagine a time when it might be like that with her and Faith in the future.

Faith nodded curtly. “Uh-hm. Story.”

Jamie’s gaze was brimming with joy as it met Claire’s. He smiled as he asked, “And what kind of story for tonight?”

“My mam!” Faith cheered immediately.

Her heart leapt at those words and she looked from Faith back to Jamie, silently questioning. Jamie’s expression turned tender, almost sheepish, before he went back to addressing Faith. “Yer mam is right over there, a nighean.”

And then Faith’s gaze was on her, wide-eyed and curious, and Claire’s heart tumbled in her chest.

“Perhaps she could tell ye a story tonight.” Jamie patted the spot next to him at the head of the bed. “C’mon up here, Sassenach.”

Her gaze flickered hesitantly to Faith. “Would you like that? If I told you a story?”

Faith nodded shyly, hiding a smile behind one fist. And that was all it took to send Claire’s heart soaring. She blinked quickly against the sting of tears and offered Faith a wobbly smile in return. “Well, alright then,” she said thickly. “It’s a deal. But Da has to be able to drink his tea so that he starts to feel better.” She stood and moved to the head of the bed, taking the pillow on that side and shoving it more towards the center before she sat down, leaning against the headboard. “And that means you should lay your head here,” she tapped the pillow now situated between her and Jamie, with just enough space for their wee girl to lay down.

“Aye,” Jamie murmured, lifting Faith up for a sound kiss to her cheek before gently setting her down between them. “Time tae lay quietly and listen, lass.”

Faith didn’t need any further prompting and lay curled on her side, face nuzzling into the pillow. This was routine for her, Claire realized, and Jamie’s words from moments before suddenly took on new meaning.

“Jamie…” she breathed out, looking up at him. He had his cup of tea finally, gulping it down since it had cooled considerably. She noticed then how his expression was pinched ‒ he was in pain and struggling even to hide it now.

“What is it, Sassenach? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It’ll keep. Just… what do I tell her?”

He smiled gently then. “Ye could tell her anything, mo chridhe. About yer life before ye came here or about yer parents, perhaps.” His expression turned serious before he added, “you were right, ye should be able to share those things wi’ yer bairns. And when she’s older and will understand, ye should tell her again. The whole truth.”

Her heart swelled at his words. She glanced down to find Faith watching them before succumbing to a yawn. “Alright, sweet girl…” Her fingers began to play with Faith’s silky hair and the girl’s eyes drifted shut. Claire’s smile grew. “How about the time I first went to Egypt with my uncle?”

“My god…” Claire whispered, full of awe, as she watched Faith sleep. “She is… exhausting.”

Jamie shook with quiet laughter, rubbing a hand over his tired face. He’d slid down so he could lay flat on the bed while Claire had told her story. “I thought she’d never go to sleep,” he whispered back.

She looked at him then, half-asleep himself next to her. “You should sleep. I’ll put her in Fergus’s room for tonight. There’s an extra bed.”

Claire slid one arm under Faith’s neck and hooked the other under her knees and very carefully lifted the sleeping girl. Faith hardly stirred.

“Sassenach?”

She was halfway to the door when Jamie’s voice made her pause and look back. “What’s wrong?”

“Ye’ll come back… won’t ye?”

“I…”

Her brain was slow to connect the dots, but after a beat, she realized he meant for her to sleep in here with him. “I can’t. Your leg. I’ll‒ you know how I move in my sleep. I’d be just as bad as Faith when she was jumping all over the bed.”

“I can move tae th’ other side. So my wounded leg is on the edge.”

“But…” She had no real argument, other than her tired brain trying to make the point that that was her side of the bed. But no, that made more sense from a recovery standpoint. Easier to access and clean the wound, harder for Faith to accidentally bump into it.

“Just tae sleep, Sassenach,” Jamie added when she didn’t respond right away. “I only want tae have ye here wi’ me.”

In case he woke up again and didn’t know what was real…

“I’ve missed ye.”

God, she missed him too… and hated the way his injury seemed to keep a physical barrier between them even when they just wanted to hold each other. “Alright, I’ll come back.”

It was a short walk down the hallway to Fergus’s room and she entered quietly, finding the room already dark and the boy fast asleep. With some difficulty, she got Faith tucked under the blankets of the spare bed without waking her.

Relieved, she brushed Faith’s hair back from her forehead and pressed a kiss there. “I love you.”

She stepped across the room to Fergus’s bed and bent down to kiss him goodnight. “I love you so much. And I’m sorry…” She felt her throat clog with emotion and shook her head. Between tending to Jamie and the nature of a two-year-old to demand everyone’s attention at every second, that hadn’t left much time for dear Fergus to receive the same love and care. “We’re going to figure it all out, I promise.”

Claire used a sheet to slide Jamie to the other side of the bed ‒ “Learned that one in my nursing days” ‒ and then began the arduous task of shedding all of her layers of clothing. Once down to just her shift, she breathed a sigh of relief and went to take down her hair next. Everything from her back to her ankles hurt and while she didn’t feel particularly desirable in that moment, she was aware of Jamie’s soft gaze on her, watching the entire process. “Enjoying the show?” she asked coyly.

He smiled at that, but something wistful lingered in his gaze. “Wishing I could help ye,” he admitted.

She set her hair pins down, feeling her own slight tug of longing for that. “Glad to hear it,” she teased. “Because soon enough, I’ll be as big as a house and unable to put on my own stockings.”

Jamie’s brows raised. “Or take them off?”

She exhaled a soft laugh. “Yes, I’ll need help with that, too.”

By the time she slid under the blankets and scooted towards Jamie, she almost wept with relief. “Is this alright?” she asked as her head rested against his chest, her eyes already slipping closed. Jamie had one arm secured around her, and she felt the press of his kiss against her hair in answer. Her hand wandered absently across his chest and along his side, relishing the feel of him, warm and solid and real beneath her fingers, as the sound of his steady breathing filled her ears.

This was a different sort of intimacy, to need someone there with you in order to fall asleep, and Claire felt that nebulous thing that had been off-kilter in her world suddenly right itself. Her heart and soul were finally back where they belonged.

“You told her about me, didn’t you?” The words slipped out as she recalled her realization from earlier when Faith had asked for a story.

“Aye,” Jamie murmured right away, his voice rough. “Almost every night since Culloden. She didna ken who I was by then, nor you… so I shared my memories of ye with her. Told her how much ye loved her e’en when ye couldna be here wi’ us.”

She turned her face into his chest and kissed him there over his nightshirt, leaving a few stray tears in the fabric as well. “Thank you.”

“Oh, Claire.” She felt another kiss to her hair. “She does love ye, I ken. And it didna take verra long for her to accept me again as her da. It willna take long for ye, either. I swear it.”

She simply nodded against him, at a loss for words.

Stillness settled around them and she felt the deliriously wonderful pull towards sleep, only to have that interrupted moments later.

“Jamie? Give me your hand.”

She guided his hand to a spot low on her belly and pressed firmly. Soon, she felt the gentle, answering nudge from within. “There she is. Feel that?”

“Aye,” his voice cracked and a quiet sound caught between a laugh and cry followed suit. “There she is,” he echoed, awe-filled. “Blood of my blood and bone of my bone.”

She tilted her head back and kissed the scratchy stubble along his jaw, his cheek, until he turned to meet her with a shared kiss, born out of wonder and longing and a love that was so much bigger than the two of them.

“‘Til our life is done… Jamie, it’s so far from done. There’s so much‒”

She had more to say, more in her heart to share, but Jamie’s lips cut her off and she found she didn’t need to say those things out loud to be perfectly understood by him.

#jamie x claire #faith fraser #outlander #outlander fic #tbbfiy #the best by far is you #OL fic #my fic