A HIGHLAND TALE 12/?
BY LEELEE AND SEEKERONE
RATING: NC-17.  Although this chapter is more angst and plot than 
smut, the whole series will steam up the monitor. You're warned. 
CATEGORY: Sc/Sk, Mulder/O.F. 
ARCHIVE:  Probably.  Just ask.
COMMENTS:  First of all, deepest thanks, as always, to our superb 
beta.  Sylvie, you're wonderful.  Happy Birthday.  This chapter is 
also a salute to Leelee's charming Dolly who whelped her first litter 
of puppies.  Eight petite lovely babies, which is highly unusual for 
a little Jack Russell.  Very one is doing fine thank you, even if 
Scully didn't attend the birthing.
SUMMARY: Rhiannon has a surprise for Scully as thanks saving the 
young laird's life.
SPOILERS: Don't think I saw any of this in the seventh season, or 
even before that. 
DISCLAIMERS:  We wouldn't know CC if we met him.  You know who 
belongs to him and Fox TV and a bunch of lawyers.  We're just having 
a little fun with them in an alternate universe.  
FEEDBACK: Worshipped, adored, read and reread again and again.  Drop 
us a note and let us know what you think: clueseek@swbell.net  
Viceyy@aol.com  
And, until we get our long delayed web site up, if you'd like to have 
new chapters of whatever story we're working on sent directly to you, 
subscribe to our broadcast list -- The Southern Ladies Smut Writers 
Association.  Just send an e-mail to: slswa-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com  

Chapter 12
Skinner lay down on the pallet beside Scully and tried not to wake 
her. After his unsettling interview with Rhiannon, he skipped the 
evening meal and chose a long workout with his broadsword instead. 
Now, the hour was late and the smoky fires had burned low, masking 
the hall in near darkness. He could tell Dana was sleeping. Her 
relaxed body lay inches from him. It radiated warmth and her gentle 
breathing was soft and regular. The special female scent that was 
Dana Scully clung to her ragged shift. 

His hands itched to reach out and pull her closer. Not just for sex 
though. For the first time in years, he had no desire to merely fuck 
Dana Scully. He wanted.  He didn't know what he wanted. Making love 
to Dana had been wonderful, powerful and so intoxicating that he 
would never be the same, but how far should he take it? How far would 
she allow him to take it? 

They hadn't talked about this new physical part of their 
relationship. In fact, he wasn't even sure they had a relationship.  
Did she really lov -- care about him, Walter S. Skinner, surly aging 
bureaucrat, scarred Vietnam veteran?

They needed to get back to their own place and time. Not just because 
of the need to get on with their lives - not even because of the risk 
of changing recorded history. Whatever it was between them, that is, 
if there was anything between them, they both needed to figure it 
out. He reached out and touched the sleep-warm skin of her cheek. If 
he wanted to, he knew he could kiss her. It was a new and thrilling 
sensation to realize that he could just reach out and kiss Dana 
Scully, right here, right now. He ran his finger along her jaw line.  
Her skin so soft, it felt like silk. He would kiss her and touch her 
and make love to her and she would kiss and touch and make love to 
him, too.
 
God almighty. They had to get the hell out of here. 

It was too tempting. Here, he knew she would respond. She would give 
him everything. The night before had proved it. That and the sultry 
looks she had given him at breakfast. 

Until he knew the truth, it could never work. Would she be so 
responsive back in Washington, D.C. in 2001 A.D.? Would she be 
willing to risk her career to be with him? Would she love him?

There was only one way to find out and Walter Skinner had to know. 
Staying here would mean never really being sure if they really had 
anything together. Not really knowing if it was time and circumstance 
that gave them opportunity for physical intimacy. Being thrown 
together in another time and place and... Walter sighed. He wanted 
Dana and he needed answers. They had to get back to their own world. 

In order to get back, they had to sneak out and go find that bizarre 
witch Mulder discovered. There would be no better opportunity to slip 
away than tomorrow during the celebrating. He would have to make her 
go along with this crazy plan of Rhiannon's. Hopefully, Scully would 
understand that they had to do what ever it took to get home.

His fingers stroked through her soft hair, brushing out a piece of 
straw from the floor. Giving into temptation, he stretched an arm 
over her and pulled her closer to his chest. Her body was supple and 
warm against him. He nuzzled the back of her neck and felt his desire 
for her grow. After years of wanting to touch her, it felt so good to 
just hold her. His hand slipped down to cup her breast and she sighed 
softly in her sleep. His body responded immediately. His fingers 
searched out one nipple and circled it until he felt it harden and 
she began to wake.

"Dana," he groaned into her neck. 

"Dana?" a voice said above them.

Skinner jerked around to see the maid, Isabel, standing over the 
pallet. She jumped back when she saw him glaring at her.

"I've been sent to fetch Dana, Freesword." Isabel said softly, her 
voice quivering slightly. "Lady Rhiannon requires her services in the 
solar."

Scully's crisp wide-awake voice startled him when she spoke. "Yes, of 
course, Isabel. I'm coming."

Well, goddamnit. She hadn't been as deeply asleep as he thought. He 
watched her rise and follow Isabel, his spirits sinking as he felt 
her warmth slipping away. He wished he could follow to see her 
reaction to the Lady's orders. What would she say? Would she object, 
or just play along with Rhiannon's plan? He hated the fact that her 
reaction was so important to him. It was all a pretense, anyway. It 
shouldn't matter. So why was he dreading her response?

THE TILT YARD  

Jamie knew that it wasn't very wise to be swinging his sword. Someone 
could startle him in the darkness and in the mood he was in, he'd 
slice the whoreson in half, without a second thought.

His 'Lady' had spoken, and on the morrow he would wed Isabel. 

He hated to take the responsibility for another's bastard. He hated 
the thought of not choosing his own mate. Waving his sword powerfully 
over his head, he advanced on a tree and pictured it was really his 
Lady standing there. The desire to cut her down was strong. Desire to 
stop the damning words from coming out of her mouth. Words that would 
unite him with someone he didn't love. Most of all, they were words 
that safely cast him away from her.

And he was in no doubt that that was her intention. By marrying him 
off to Isabel, he would be out of her reach. It showed him like 
nothing else that she was a coward where her feelings were concerned. 

He should hate her for that.

His rational side knew she was right. Isabel should be wed and soon. 
The silly little fool was kin to them all and should be protected 
from the scandal of bearing a bastard. It was not that he didn't feel 
pity for Isabel's plight. He would even allow that he was partly to 
blame for not censuring Donald. It was just that he felt this whole 
stupid plan was less about Isabel and more about Rhiannon and her 
feelings toward him. Last night in her solar was heavily on his mind. 
Churning his gut and hardening his groin.  He wanted her so badly he 
ached with it.

He turned back, taking another vicious swing at the straw dummy with 
his broadsword and felt the satisfying crunch breaking twigs.  The 
noise almost hid the sound of the footsteps behind him.  He spun 
around, sword up and ready.

"Halt!  Who goes there?" he bellowed in the still night.

"Peace, Captain," came a man's voice from the shadows.  "We need to 
talk."  

A tall lean figure with a bandaged hand stepped out of the shadows by 
the castle wall. By St. Ciaphus, it was that damn scribe! Dark 
killing rage swept over Jamie as images of this outlander touching 
his Lady rose in his mind. His hands on her breasts, his tongue 
giving her pleasure, and her head thrown back as she screamed her 
release. Without another word, Jamie charged him, sword raised for 
the killing blow.

When Jamie was nearly on him, Fox moved quickly to the side, grabbing 
his wrist and twisting it hard as he threw the larger man to the 
ground.  The captain landed flat on his back and stared up in 
disbelief.

"Would you like to try that again?" the scribe murmured. The solider 
glared at him. "We still need to talk." he repeated as he cautiously 
reached a hand down to pull Jamie to his feet.

Jamie shook himself and bent to retrieve his fallen sword.  "We ha' 
nothing to talk about, outlander," he sneered as he thrust it back in 
the scabbard.

"We do," Fox insisted.  "You want to get rid of me. And I . . .I 
need . . want to go."

"Go?" Jamie echoed again, his hands on his hips as he stared at the 
younger man.  What kind of fool was he?  The Lady favored him.  His 
place was secure here.  Who would want to leave?  "Why?" he snapped.

"I . . we. . . Skinner, Dana and I. . . we don't belong here.  We 
have to get back. . . to go home." The scribe responded as they 
started walking.  "We can not stay any longer."

"And, why should I help you?" the Captain knew what the answer would 
be, but he needed to hear it.  The only sound for a moment was the 
crunch of their boots on the gravel path.

Fox stared ahead, not looking at the man by his side.  "Because 
without me . . . Rhiannon feels something for you.  I'm . .  just a 
pleasure boy. . . but you . . You're clan.  You belong here.  You 
belong by her side.  Not me," he insisted as they approached the 
barracks. 

"Aye," Jamie snorted. "She feels sa much fer me, that she's marrying 
me ta her maid." 

"She's what?" Fox gaped at him, his eyes wide with shock.

"Isabel is with child by one o' my soldiers. My Lady sees it as a way 
o' solvin' the problem."  The solider paused in the shadow of the 
wall as a sudden thought occurred to him. Isabel needed a husband, 
true.  But every fiber of his being knew that it would be a mistake 
for him to marry her. A bitter mistake all three of them would come 
to deeply regret.  

"Ye want me help, Outlander?  All right, then.  I'll help ye.  Fer a 
boon.  Tomorrow morning, ye'll stand in the chapel door with Isabel. 
Then, I'll help all three of ye to run off."

"I can't marry the girl and then run off and leave her! What kind of 
asshole do you think I am?" came the shocked response. Fox was 
plainly horrified and Jamie's estimation of him rose another notch.

"The bairn she carries will have a name. She'll have the protection 
o' the clan. In time, she kin wed again. Ye want me help to leave. 
Weel, then. That's me price."  Jamie clenched his jaw, staring at the 
outlander, then wheeled around and went inside.

Mulder stared at the Captain's muscular back as he stormed off, 
slamming the door.  Marry Isabel?  He'd never thought about marrying 
again. There were too many emotional scars from the first time.  And 
then to run off and leave the poor girl and her baby?  Jesus. He 
remembered how it felt when his father deserted them after Samantha 
was taken. The lonely nights sitting by his bedroom window, hoping 
that his Dad would come back home, just for a little while.  How 
could he do the same thing to another innocent child?

But damn it, how could they stay? Fox bit his lower lip as he 
pondered. Every minute they were here in medieval Scotland was a risk 
to history as they knew it. They could literally change the course of 
time. Staying could impact millions of lives. It's possible that it 
already had. They had to leave.  

And what about Rhiannon? Be honest you bastard, he told himself. 
Mulder paused in his wanderings around the bailey to consider what 
he'd been trying to avoid for days. He had grown to care deeply for 
the Lady. Headstrong, impetuous, sensual, demanding Rhiannon who 
dared to challenge society's view of who she was and what she could 
do. The woman who deeply loved her son and her clan. The woman who 
laughed as she chased squawking ducklings out of the great hall. The 
woman who adored tying him down, fucking him and sucking his cock. 
The woman who burned her mark on him and whipped his ass. He rubbed 
absently at his bandaged hand again.  

The pain of the brand brought back the brutal reality of his choice. 
He knew that the clan would never follow him as Chief, which by 
rights, Rhiannon's husband would be. He wasn't a medieval solider; he 
was a 21st century FBI Agent. Mulder stared blankly at the moonlight 
tilt yard again. The psychologist in him knew that Rhiannon cared for 
Jamie more than she was willing to admit and Jamie felt the same way 
about her. With him out of the way, there would be no impediments to 
their relationship or eventual marriage.  

It would work out best for everyone if he left. He'd dealt with 
losing someone he had loved before. There would be some very lonely, 
dark nights if he ever got back to his empty apartment. But he 
couldn't stay here and ruin the life of this special Lady.

RHIANNON'S SOLAR.

Scully walked into the Lady's chamber silently. She half expected to 
see Mulder there. Never having seen Rhiannon's quarters, she didn't 
really know what to expect. A medieval version of a harem room 
perhaps? With her partner tied nude to the bed? The woman had whipped 
and branded the poor guy after all. 

What she found was so different from her imaginings that she just 
stood and stared. The room was clean and tidy. A very large and 
comfortable bed at its center, covered with lovely embroidered 
blankets. The walls were draped with tapestries showing scenes of 
animals and the countryside. Thick rugs covered the floor and beeswax 
candlelight cast the room in a warm glow.

If Scully were to stay here, this is exactly the type of room she 
would like.

Rhiannon was sitting on the floor near the fireplace, bent over, and 
softly crooning to something. Her hair was loose and hanging around 
her shoulders. She was clad only in her undershift and Dana noticed 
that she had a worried look on her face.

Scully cleared her throat and announced her presence. "You called for 
me... umm . . . my Lady." 

"Yes, Dana come here and see. It is clear to me now that you are a 
gifted healer and Ione is in need of one."

Ione was a small white dog. Scully had seen her a few times in the 
hall, heavily pregnant and waddling along behind her mistress. As 
Scully stepped closer to Rhiannon, she could see the dog panting and 
her small body shaking.

"Is this her first litter?" she asked and crouched down beside 
Rhiannon. Any anxiety she harbored about meeting with Rhiannon fled 
when she looked at Ione. Despite the fact that she had little 
experience with veterinary medicine, Scully's heart went out to the 
small dog's quiet suffering.

"Aye" Rhiannon replied in a soft voice. "She was a name day gift from 
my husband before he died. I have tried to keep her isolated during 
her heats up until now. A bitch will live longer I think if she is 
not allowed to whelp." She looked over at Scully and her worry was 
plain. "But Lord Bruce let her out during the last one and she was 
caught by one of the huntsman's dogs."

"Was it a small one?" Scully asked.

"Aye. Well, smaller than the rest."

"Then, we shouldn't have any thing to worry about. We'll just let 
nature take her course and keep her company." Scully could see 
Rhiannon relax at her words and they both settled down on the floor 
beside Ione. 

For the longest time, they said not a word to one another. The small 
dog moved into her mistress's lap and began to pant heavily. Scully 
could see her contraction begin and with Rhiannon murmuring 
comforting words to the dog in a singsong voice, Scully helped her 
push out the first pup. 

"It's a girl." Scully said and felt herself answering Rhiannon's 
smile. She wiped the birth sack off the puppy with a rag and helped 
the puppy latch on to one of Ione's teats. Both women watched quietly 
while the small, wet puppy rooted around, lost the nipple and then 
found it again. Ione licked at the tiny puppy fervently. 

"I have never seen a bitch whelp before," Rhiannon said. "My huntsman 
keeps the pack in the kennels."

"Neither have I." Scully responded in a chuckle.    

"Poor little thing to be born a female." Rhiannon said and ran one 
finger over the tiny puppy's back.

Scully looked at Rhiannon and saw that she was serious. "I suppose, 
it is not lucky to be a woman in today's age." she answered 
cautiously. "Although it has its benefits."

"Benefits!" Rhiannon scoffed. "What honors to be a woman?" Rhiannon 
looked at her incredulously. "To have no say in your marriage?  To be 
counted lucky if your husband doesn't beat you?  To starve in a bad 
harvest while he goes off to raid with his clansmen? To hear the 
priest always blame you for a man's sin?"

Scully thought, but could find no reply. In Rhiannon's world, a woman 
was little better than chattel. No rights, no voice, no freedom.  She 
married young, bore children and hoped that they would care for her 
in her old age.  Rhiannon was a unique woman because she had some 
control of her destiny and the courage to seize it.

Scully thought about her life back home. Unlike the women here, she 
had choices. Her family hadn't been excited about her career in the 
FBI, but they couldn't stop her. She could do anything, even join her 
father's beloved Navy if she wanted. Be anything. She had the ability 
to work, have a family, go where she wanted, and be with whomever she 
wanted. 

While Rhiannon resumed crooning to her dog, Scully thought about all 
this. She was free. Free to be anything she wanted. Free to 
be. . .with Skinner? Was that true? Could she ever reach out and just 
accept the fact that they belonged together? 

Rhiannon gasped as the dog began to push out a second pup and Scully 
gave up thinking to help. A second life was born. Small and wet and 
Scully concentrated on helping Ione clean it off. The sight of the 
dog eating the afterbirth was unpleasant, but Scully knew that in a 
time long before Purina dog chow, the protein would help her as well 
as start her milk.

"You are proof of the bad luck of being born a woman, Dana." Rhiannon 
finally said after they had calmed down.

Scully wanted to retort that it wasn't true, but knew that she could 
never explain it to the woman. In Rhiannon's eyes, she was no better 
than a servant. Just one more kept woman whose survival depended on 
the favors of a warrior.
For some reason, the thought was depressing to Scully even though she 
knew it wasn't true. 

Of course, if they didn't get back, it would be true. Or would it? 
Skinner seemed to care for her, to value her common sense.  It was 
more than just their mutual pleasure in bed.  Maybe he even . . . 

Rhiannon sighed and sat back to watch Ione nursing the two pups. She 
looked over and searched Scully's face. "You saved my son's life 
today, Dana. I may be only a woman, but I am also head of the Clan 
McKinnon. And I say you need not be a mere leman any longer."

Scully just stared at the woman. What was all this about? She would 
not reject anything right now, but she felt that this was much more 
than some new clothes or perhaps a better place to sleep as a reward.

"Do ye love the freesword?" Rhiannon asked.

"I. . . don't know." Rhiannon's question took her by surprise. Her 
feelings were. . well, she had no idea what they were. She cared 
about him. Wanted him with a passion that scared her. And even though 
her mind reeled from the thought, she was beginning to see that she 
needed him as well. Not for protection or survival, she just needed 
him, every minute of the day. And the thought terrified her.

Rhiannon reached down to stroke the small dog's back. She seemed very 
deeply in thought about something. "Love and life can be very 
fragile. There are no promises." She said softly.  "I have seen my 
husband die and today, almost lost my son. It is enough to make me 
want to run and hide from loving. To never risk the pain again."

"Yes." Scully replied. She understood. She did. She could love 
Skinner and risk everything, or she could go on with her secure 
sterile life. Alone, but safe from hurt. Was Rhiannon thinking the 
same thing? And if so, about who? Jamie? Or Mulder? 

She had to know Rhiannon's feelings on this. Somehow, it was suddenly 
very important that she know this medieval woman's heart.  "So what 
do you do then? Love the man or hide away?"

Rhiannon gave her a wry smile. "I suppose," she said, "you must 
follow your heart. I've been in this place before. Loving someone so 
much, I was in danger of losing meself."

Rhiannon reached down and pressed her cheek to Ione's small head for 
a moment before continuing. "My late husband was a powerful man. He 
indulged me though, and in that I was lucky. It is a rare thing to 
have a husband who treats you well. But even then, men are never 
constant. There were times when he would remind me of my place. Not 
to be cruel, but to keep me grounded. In the bedchamber, I had 
control. But once I stepped past the door, I was still just his wife 
and with that, I had to abide by the laws of God and man. When I was 
young, it was hard to not hate him a little for that. There were 
times that I did. Age seemed to temper those feelings some what."

"So you accepted this role?" Scully asked. With Rhiannon, it just 
wasn't clear. The woman was head of a clan and seemed to wield a 
considerable amount of power. The vision of a submissive Rhiannon 
just wouldn't gel in her mind.

"For the most part, aye, I did. He was, by law, my lord and master.  
Eventually, I submitted to him the part of me that never wanted to be 
ruled." Rhiannon said with a sigh. Her eyes had a faraway look in 
them. Not sad. More resigned. But then a poignant smile crossed her 
face and she added, "Although he did make it easy for me by allowing 
my forceful side to come out in private."

Scully raised her eyebrows at that and looked Rhiannon in the eye. 
The smiles they exchanged were full of easy conspiracy and 
understanding. This woman branded her partner for Christ sake! 
Forceful? Holy shit! Scully wanted to burst out laughing.

Ione nudged Scully's hand. She had begun to pant again. The brief 
rest between pups was over. Both women where silent as they helped 
the small dog deliver her third pup. Wiping the small male down, 
Rhiannon placed him close to his mother and with her fingers, 
encouraged the puppy to nurse. The puppy blindly reached out and 
forcefully took the teat.

Scully and Rhiannon both chuckled at his eagerness.

They were silent as they watched the three pups nursing. After a 
while, Scully felt compelled to ask. "Were you happy?"

Rhiannon looked into the fire and it was a long time before she 
answered. "Despite it all, aye, that I was. He was a good man. Better 
than most. Looking back, I can see that he brought me much joy."

Scully took a small bowl of water and placed it under Ione's muzzle 
so she could tiredly lap up a few drops. She could see by the soft 
look on Rhiannon's face that she was a million miles away. All her 
thoughts centered on the man she had loved and lost. She knew she 
should just be quiet and allow Rhiannon to relive her memories, but 
she had to know something.

"Would you do it again? Remarry? Allow a man to rule your life? 
Because of your. . er. . our laws, that is how it would be. He would 
be your master."

Rhiannon looked at her sternly. "Dana, a man can rule over women 
because of our laws. This is true, but a very clever woman can find 
ways around this. The danger I am speaking about has nothing to do 
with a man ruling your person. Girl, what's most frightening, what 
you cringe away from, is a man ruling yer heart."

Ione began to pant again and Scully used that as an excuse to pull 
her eyes away from Rhiannon's intense gaze. She stroked the small 
dog's back and crooned to her as the fourth puppy was born. All the 
while Rhiannon's words swirled around her brain. Would she allow it? 
Would she ever feel safe enough, strong enough, to allow Skinner into 
her heart? 

Into her life was simple. Unlike Rhiannon, the laws of her time and 
the way she was raised assured her a measure of control in that 
aspect. She could also very easily allow him into her bed. One more 
area where she felt safe to take or give control with no fear. But 
her heart? 

Scully noted a discharge from Ione that was different than the 
afterbirth of the last puppies. This led her to feel that the fourth 
pup was the last. Gently, she palpated the dog's abdomen, and feeling 
nothing, told Rhiannon that the dog had birthed her litter.

Rhiannon took a small cloth and covered the tired bitch. She stroked 
the dog's back as Ione nursed and cleaned off her newborns. 

Standing up, Rhiannon helped Scully gather the soiled cloths and put 
them in a basket for washing. Despite the fact that the older woman 
stood there in her sleeping clothes, Scully could see that the 
Rhiannon of a few moments before was gone. This Rhiannon looked at 
her with the commanding eye of a woman fully in charge of her world.

"I thank you Dana, for your help. And now I must tell you what I have 
decided. I have ordered the freesword to obey and you will as well."

Scully felt a strange feeling of dread wash over her. Dread and 
excitement. Even before Rhiannon spoke, she knew in her heart what 
she was going to say. 

Holding herself imperiously at her full height, Rhiannon spoke.
"On the morrow, you and the freesword will stand in the chapel door. 
You will say the vows and he will take you as his wife."  

End of Chapter 12