A HIGHLAND TALE 14/15 BY LEELEE AND SEEKERONE RATING: NC-17. Although this chapter is about half angsty plot, there's smut. And certainly, the whole series will steam up the monitor. You're warned! CATEGORY: Sc/Sk, Mulder/O.F. ARCHIVE: Probably. Just ask. COMMENTS: Leelee did a lot of the writing on this one. When the girl is on role, the smut just flows like butter on hot biscuits. Hormones forever! Most humble thanks as always to the most superb beta ever to critique coitus, the incomparable Sylvie. The following information is added for its redeeming social and historical value. The herbs and plants mentioned, like mistletoe, mint, meadowsweet and vervain, were actually sacred to the Druids, as were the oak and elm trees. Now back to the lust. SUMMARY: The Druids assemble and Rhiannon revisits the dungeon. SPOILERS: Don't think I saw any of this in the seventh season, or even before that. DISCLAIMERS: Guess what. They don't truly belong to us. I know, I know you're shocked. FEEDBACK: Worshipped, adored, read and reread again and again. Drop us a note and let us know what you think: clueseek@swbell.net or 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 14 THE GREAT SOLAR Something woke her. It wasn't the noise of her clan's drunken revelry coming from the hall. Lady Rhiannon had slept through that many times before. They would celebrate until dawn. Finally, they would go crawling back to their cottages or pallets to sleep a few hours before repenting their actions at an early mass. No, it wasn't the noise of her people that had awakened her. Rather, a sense of disquiet, an unease that had her getting out of bed and walking on stocking feet to her open window. Ione paused in nursing her pups to stare at her mistress in puzzlement. Something had happened. Something was on the breeze that blew into her chamber. It was a cold breeze, and she shivered, reaching for her heavy fur overmantle and pulling it on. She dressed quickly and briefly checked on her son before walking downstairs to investigate. Something was wrong. The clan members were singing a merry tune about a lonely widow and a lusty soldier. Those not singing were tumbled across tables and chairs with eyes glassy from the strong mead. A few forgot their place and called out for her to join them, but she ignored them as she silently slipped by. The minstrel was casting up his dinner in the corner. Rhiannon wrinkled her nose at the stench of smoke, burned meat, spilled ale and human excesses. This place would need freshening again and soon. Easing out the front door, she noted with satisfaction that her guards seemed sober enough. Obviously, Jamie had taken care of that at least. The men stood at attention when they saw who she was. But there were nervous looks on their faces in the dim torch light radiating from the hall. "All is well then?" she asked of one guard. He quickly nodded his shaggy head and answered, "Aye, my lady." But the man's response was too quick, too suspicious. Rhiannon drew herself up to her full height and stepped closer to the man. She was tall for a woman and she stood straight, using her to intimidate the soldier. She kept her tone steady and demanded, "And where is your captain, then?" The guards shuffled their feet and lowered their heads. Rhiannon felt anger grip her. Th' bastard Jamie has done something. Something he didn't want her to know about and these guards were fools to think she couldn't find him out. "Find your tongue man and answer me question." She growled in a threatening voice. The look of panic on the large guard's face was extremely satisfying. The sound of horses' hooves on the draw bridge was all that saved the man from his Lady's ire. Rhiannon looked up to see Jamie riding into the courtyard trailing three more horses behind him. She knew immediately who had ridden out on this night. So this was what Jamie was about. She watched Jamie dismount and toss the reins of the sweaty horses to one of the guards. His defiant stance as he stood before her, told it all. He had helped them escape from her castle. Taken them away from her justice. Taken Fox away from her, forever. Thoughts of pursuing them didn't even enter Rhiannon's mind. By the Virgin's Blood, Jamie would pay. It was his doing and he would pay the price. "Guards, take Jamie McKinnon to the dungeon!" She all but yelled. The sound echoed off the granite walls. The guards looked nervously at their captain, but they knew to whom they owed allegiance. Taking their captain by the arm, they silently walked him into the keep. Rhiannon stood stock still with her fists clenched at her side. Jamie's soft chuckle as he passed her made her want to shriek. NESSA'S HUT Nessa showed the three of them into her small cottage and ordered them to take off their clothes. The old woman silently worked by her fire mixing something in a wooden bowl while the three off them looked nervously around and began to undress. Scully, fighting down a sudden attack of shyness, positioned herself in a dark corner and pulled off the beautiful dress Rhiannon had given her. Too late, she realized that she should have given the dress to Jamie to return to the Lady. Of course, she might yet have the opportunity to return it, herself. All the doubt she felt about them putting any faith in a ceremony like this kept rearing its ugly head. All her life had been devoted to science, to facts, the real and the explainable. Yet, here she was, stripping in a self-proclaimed druid priestess' cottage. Preparing herself for a ceremony that would take her back to her own place and time in the world. It was almost too much for her rational mind to wrap around. She looked over at her partner. Now nude, he was squatting beside Nessa while the old woman dipped an ancient finger into the bowl and swirled patterns of a dark red substance on his chest. Of course, this was Mulder's thing, not hers. He believed all this crap and she didn't. Couldn't. But then her eyes traveled to where Skinner stood across the cottage. He seemed not to be embarrassed in the least to be standing there gloriously naked. She felt herself flush to see him watching her intently. His eyes traveling down the length of her body, making no attempt to cover his arousal of seeing her. Scully was shocked to feel her instant response to him. Even here in these bizarre circumstances, she wanted him. She wanted him in her mouth, between her legs, pounding her into the hard packed dirt floor. It was her response to him that made her forget her past teachings of the laws of nature and cast off any remaining rational thoughts. They had to get back. She had to explore this connection that she now had with her boss. After being with him, tasting him, loving him, she had to have more. And, if that meant she needed to forsake everything she believed before, then so be it. She gave Skinner a warm smile and felt a delicious shiver pass through her at his answering one. Holding her head high, she walked over to Nessa and knelt down beside her partner. The pungent scent of herbs and burnt sheep fat were heavy in the air. "I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille." Scully said and almost laughed at Nessa's confusion. Mulder looked over at her and gave her a huge playful grin. This was going to work. THE DUNGEON Rhiannon had paced outside the door to the dungeon for about half an hour, her soft leather slippers sliding on the wet stones. Her strong hands were clenched into fists. Occasionally clan members would walk up to her and drunkenly offer her a pint. She waved them all away impatiently. Her mind was in turmoil over the man she had ordered chained below. She knew she should wait until she'd calmed down to confront him. A small voice kept telling her that if she saw him now she'd lose all control. But, equally strong was the desire to . . . to what? Confront him with his disloyalty? To see him in chains like Fox had been? To touch him again as he twisted under her lash? To demand that he submit to her now and in the future? Dear sweet Mary, what did he want from her? She was The McKinnon, at least until Bruce grew of age. She was The McKinnon and any man could be dangerous to her standing, if she let him. This one certainly was. He could ruin everything for her. Make her surrender. Make her obey him. There was no man alive who would accept to her on her terms. Any sense of sympathetic support that she had gotten from Jamie was gone with those damn runaways. He'd lied to her. He'd betrayed her. He would be just like all the rest if she let him into her heart. She would send him far away from here. For all their sakes. With legs that shook slightly, she descended into the dungeon to tell him her decision. THE GROVE Nessa walked them into the woods. A large sprig of mistletoe was tied to her dark elm staff. The cold night air forced them to cover their breasts with their arms and move quickly. Scully could just make out the drawings on Skinner's large back in front of her. Strange symbols whose meanings she may never know. Her own breasts and torso were covered with them too. She had stood silently while the old woman had decorated her, feeling nothing as Mulder and Skinner had looked on in wonder. They came to a clearing in the woods. It looked familiar, but in the darkness Scully couldn't tell if this was where she and Skinner had awakened after leaving their own world. Certainly, her friend the red squirrel was gone. Firewood was piled high in an open circle and all around it were dark figures robed in unrelenting black. Their faces were hidden in the folds of their cloaks, but Scully didn't feel threatened by them. They seemed to be waiting passively while Nessa lead them to the inside of the circle. Rocks and sticks in the shape of a triangle made a crude border around a small fire already burning. Strange figures hung from the trees. Sticks fashioned as human figures that blew softly in the night air. There seemed to be a soft humming noise. It wasn't coming from the people gathered in the clearing, but rather from the huge oak trees themselves. The fire blazed bright as sparks floated upward like fireflies. Nessa came to Scully first and placed her at the top of the triangle with muttered words that Scully could not understand. Uttering the same arcane phrases, Nessa led Mulder to one of the triangle points, then moved Skinner to the other. Without Nessa saying anything, they grasped each others hands, Scully in the north point of the triangle. It was if they suddenly understood what they must do. The old woman threw handfuls of mint, meadowsweet, vervain and other things Scully couldn't identify into the fire. As the old witch walked back to the circle, someone hurled a torch onto the dry kindling. Now there was fire behind them and fire in front of them. Scully took a deep breath and gripped the strong masculine hands holding hers. This would work. It had to. The huge yellow moon hung just over the edge of the trees bathing them all in a surreal light as the humming grew louder. THE DUNGEON Rhiannon sent the guard away with a dismissive gesture. She walked purposely over to where Jamie stood chained to the dungeon's wall, his arms fastened above his head. His face was a mask of arrogant boldness as he stared back at her. Courage, girl, Rhiannon thought. Without pause, she tore into him. "You have taken the freesword, Dana and Fox and aided their escape! You have defied me!" Jamie nodded his head solemnly, his gaze unwavering, the glint still in his eyes as defiant as ever. "Aye, my Lady. They ar' gone and will never come back." "What hav' ye done?" Rhiannon tried to keep the panic out of her voice. She would see him shamed, cowering before her. He would not affect her. He would not. "Fox is now Isabel's husband. You have gone against their holy vows and sent him away." "Nay!" Jamie growled. "Their union was a farce of your making. Isabel is safe from scorn. The babe will have a name. The maid will know no disgrace, only pity to be abandoned. And knowing Isabel, she will revel in it." Rhiannon tossed her head briefly in agreement before clenching her jaw tight again. No doubt the little blonde would do just, never missing her sweet Fox. "And, due not ever speak of holy vows to me, woman! Not when your fear and pride stand in the way of what we both want!" Jamie's voice rose until the last of his speech was a shout. Rhiannon's hand flew without warning and she struck him across the face. The crack of her open palm against his cheek echoed in the silence. She stood with breasts heaving. How dare he speak to her in this manner SHE was The McKinnon! Her handprint was a red slash on his cheek, but still he glared at her. The desire to punish him, to make him yield, to make him hers, was so strong she grabbed his arm and roughly turned him to face the wall. The chains holding him above clanged at the movement. By the Magdalene, she'd make him pay. Rage made her reach up and tear his shirt down the back. Rage at him and at herself for her weakness in loving him. His kilt was yanked until it fell to the floor in a dejected pile. She would beat him until he had lost his pride. Until he had lost his power over her. The implements hanging always on the wall for whippings looked terrifying. Snatching a strong leather whip down, Rhiannon raised it above her head and prepared to lash his back to ribbons. "Why do you not fight me?" She shouted at him. The chains were old and with Jamie's strength, he could easily break them. Jamie stood stock-still and said not a word. His muscular body bare and tense. Rhiannon used all her strength to whip the lash over his back. Jamie didn't even flinch. The evil welt left by the whip taunting her. "Why do you submit to this? To ME?" She yelled as she raised the whip again and cut it down in a fury. The sound of it hitting his flesh made her want to scream. She raised the whip a third time, but was stopped suddenly by Jamie's soft words. "I submit, because you are not whipping me. Yer punishing yourself." Rhiannon could not move as the whip slipped out of her hand. Jamie's words had stopped her heart. She grabbed her gut and fell to her knees. The honesty of his words made her ill, forcing a low wounded moan from her throat. She heard the chains breaking, but could not raise her head to look at him. She kept her eyes tightly closed as he touched her chin and raised her face. She couldn't look at him. The accusation she knew she would see would be the end of her. She gasped when she felt his lips gently covering her own. Soft and sweet, they molded against her. Drawing all of her out until her hands had raised, the whip forgotten on the floor, and pulled him closer. A tender tongue licked away the salty tears that slipped down her cheeks. She kept her eyes closed as she felt him gently removing her clothes. The cold air of the dungeon forcing her nipples to pebble painfully hard until his warm hands cupped and held them. His mouth slowly traveled the length of her neck and slower still, he took her nipple in his mouth. His tongue warmed it. It was hot and it stirred a longing in her that burned. The burning went straight down between her legs. He pressed her back onto their clothing. Silently kissing and caressing every inch of her body, while she kept her eyes closed tightly and moaned his name. A nudging between her legs had her opening for him. She was dewy and swollen and so ready for him. She rubbed the angry welts on his backside gently, while Jamie drove home deep within her. His movements sparked fires that burned hotter and hotter until she was arching her back and tightly clutching him to her. "Hold me tight, Rhiannon. Hold me tight, my beloved and I'll bring us both there." He whispered into her hair. She wrapped her legs around him and let him lead her to a place of fire and stars and passionate chanting. THE GROVE The fire, so close all around their nude bodies, heated their flesh quickly. Standing so near, it should have hurt. But Scully felt its warmth, not as a painful burn. It was more like the sensual heat of a lover. Hot and naked and pressed against her. Making her breasts tingle and her sex wet. She looked at the two men and realized they were feeling the same thing. Both Skinner's and Mulder's cocks were erect and throbbing. She moaned to see them and clutched their sweaty hands. She felt Mulder jump as her thumb brushed over the brand on the back of his hand. The others stood just outside the larger ring of fire with Nessa, now hidden by a dark cloak. The humming from the trees was getting louder. Washing over her like a silken wave. Coursing through her body like electric fire. THE DUNGEON It was when Jamie's shudders over her body had ended, when he lay still and gasping, still buried deep inside her that Rhiannon finally opened her eyes and looked at him. The tenderness she saw in his face terrified her. "Why?" She asked in a voice that shook with her emotions. "Because Rhiannon, I love you. And what's more, I understand you. The old Laird, your husband, could na' see it, but I do. Your strength should not be squashed under a man's thumb as most women are. You must stand tall. All I'm asking for is the chance to prove that I will stand beside you. Na' in front of you. I want nothing more in life than to be with you. Your husband, your companion, your lover." Rhiannon hated tears. Tears were weak and she had always fought against them. But the tears coursing down her cheeks at Jamie's words did not bother her in the least. She cleared her throat and looked up into his dear face. "If you do not behave, I will be forced to tie you down here again." Jamie threw back his head and laughed long and loud. "My Lady, I will accept your punishments gladly. Provided I am also allowed to drag you down here on occasion." It was Rhiannon turn to laugh and she continued to laugh as they got up and dressed. Then taking him by the hand, she led him up out of the dungeon, past the drunken revelers, up to her chamber and tucked him firmly into her bed. THE GROVE Mulder's head was thrown back, a look of ecstasy on his face that made her shiver. Skinner was looking at her with eyes so hungry she felt her juices weeping down the inside of her legs. Chanting from the others began. Softly at first, then growing louder by the minute. She felt the chants touching her. Like a hundred hands stroking her body. Building her excitement to a fever pitch. Mulder and Skinner were moaning and she joined in. She saw a thread of precome oozed from Skinner's erect cock. The power of all that was happening formed a knot in her belly. Building and building to a familiar crescendo. Wanting to explode. Fingers of desire that stirred in a place that was so basic, so primal that she felt a scream of release on her lips. And then the world went black. End of 14