"You were asking for me?" I murmur quietly, stepping into the open doorway of Symon's study. It's a small, intimidating kind of room- dark all around in color and decorum. He looks up from a weighty book, rubbing his eyes with a nod by his place at the window.

"Yes, come in. Close the door."

I do so, awkwardly and clear my throat. "Uh, what are you reading?"

"I'm studying Gaelic. Three weeks wasn't nearly enough time to know it as well as I should."

"I'm surprised you've gotten it down that fast."

He smiles softly. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"You are right about that."

Closing the book, he stands, towering over me easily. His eyes are dark, tired, his skin paler, probably from being inside all day, cooped up with the other important men of this clan. "How are you holding up?"

I'm surprised by his question. His voice is softer than usual. "Um, I'm doing fine."

"Is that the truth? Have people been treating you well?"

"Why do you say that?"

He rests his hand onto the desk and leans against it, pursing his lips. "I've heard people aren't exactly warming to you here. There's been speculation as to who you are- where you came from."

"I haven't heard it... At least, no more than usual. We expected there to be some for a while, right?"

"I expected speculation- but, um, many of the men are pushing for your departure home, as we told them was the reason for your stay here. Not to mention, the women. We made a mistake telling them it wouldn't be permanent."

"Why the women? Why? I haven't done anything to them!"

He licks his lips, smirking and my eyes grow wide. "Well, Gill, you're considered a rather- beautiful woman. I've watched man after man turn their heads to look at you when you walk by, whether or not their women are present- wouldn't you be upset an exotic, mysterious outsider was attracting attention from everyone, including your spouse?"

"Oh, stop it, Symon."

He closes his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you..."

"Lachlan, I'm sorry," I mutter angrily, rolling my eyes, "They're just unsure of me. That's it."

"Yes, that is also a factor."

I shake my head in confusion. "How can they disregard me before even knowing me?"

"This is a different time than the one you're used to, Gillian."

"So, that's just it?"

"No, that's not it."

I continue on as if I hadn't heard him. "I mean, you're laird! They have to accept what you tell them!"

"Which is why we're going to marry."

My body stiffens at the words and I feel my mouth close tight in shock. "What?"

He crosses his arms, sighing. "It's the only way I can see them finally accepting your place here."

I look down, pressing my lips together. "What about Fiona?"

"What about her?"

With a cautious glance, I look at him. "It's common knowledge that you've made yourself available to her on more than one occasion since we got here... You're interested in her, aren't you?"

"She's interested in me, yes. As are most of the women here- I am their chief," he states bluntly.

"But, are you interested in her?"

"For marriage- no."

"Why?"

He looks down, clearing his throat awkwardly and it finally clicks in. My eyes widen. "You've slept with her."

"I wasn't the first, if that's what you're thinking."

"Sy-Lachlan... if anyone found out, she'd be ruined!"

"No one knows now, expect us and you, Gillian. As long as you hold your tongue, no one will find out."

I find myself pacing, panicking. "So, what? I'd be your wife by day and she'd be yours by night? Is that how this would be?"

"Neither of us want to marry. This is solely to secure your place- so I don't have to send you away with no place to go. I'm trying to do you a favor... But this wouldn't be a marriage of pleasure, as you've made suddenly clear."

"I didn't mean to sound ungrateful or... I'm just scared. I don't want to marry without love. Without knowing, the other person loves me just as much."

"Well who knows- we could grow to love each other?"

I close my eyes and nod, running a hand through my hair, resignedly. "When would this happen?"

"We'd make the announcement tonight, after I have time to explain to my uncle."

I turn, feeling a sharp pain in my throat. Whether it's fear or sadness, it's unbearable. Greer's warning- Greer's message arises like something being pulled from quicksand, tormenting my brain. I'm not meant to marry him- she told me I wasn't.

"A-alright." The voice that escapes through my lips doesn't sound a thing like mine, but someone smaller, weaker.

"Alright then. At dinner, let me address you when you arrive. I will sit you beside me and announce it then."

I nod, watching as he grabs the book again, opening it back to the page he was reading before. Dismissed, I press my lips together and turn, headed for the door. When I hear the click of the door to his study, I lose control of my blistering emotions, dropping my head into my trembling hands.

How can I marry him?

This isn't what Greer said would happen. She said I'd marry once. She said I'd be happy. She said-

"Gillian?"

Recognizing the voice, I wipe my eyes quickly, immediately mortified and look up. MacCallan is standing a couple feet away, a wood box rested against his arm, his eyes cautious as he begins to approach me.

Knowing Symon would be able to hear if one of us spoke, I force a smile, shaking my head and try to get past him. He grabs my arm though, just as I think he's going to let me go.

"I'm okay," I whisper forcefully.

"No, you're not. You're crying."

"Please, let me go, Callan. Please."

Hesitation hovering above us in the air, he finally lets my arm go and nods, clenching his jaw. I hurry forward immediately and turn the corner as quickly as I can, heart beating wildly.

My eyes settle onto the stable outside through the smudged window by the stairs and I don't even think. I run.

...

"Greer?" I bellow, knocking repeatedly on the door to her home. "Greer? Are you home?"

The door opens slowly, revealing an old woman. "How may I help ye, lass?"

"I need to speak with Mistress Neilson. Is she home?"

"She's in the garden."

Picking up my dress, I sprint in the way for the place where she grows their herbs and food. I find her on her knees, her hair untamed and down, hanging over her breasts as she settles carrots into a basket. Seeing me, her eyes widen.

"Gill? What are ye doing here- at this time of day? It's almost nightfall!"

"I had to see you."

She looks over my shoulder, in shock. "Did ye come alone?"

"I did."

"And you didn't get lost?"

"I've ridden here a couple of times over the past couple weeks."

"What do you need?"

I set my hands onto her arms, forcefully. "Symon plans on marrying me. He said he'd announce it tonight. You-you told me we wouldn't, right? You told me to steer clear of him- that he was violent!"

"Calm down, Gillian. Breathe."

I feel tears well up in my eyes. "I'm scared. If I marry him, I can't go back from it."

"No, you can't. Or it would be really hard to... Why are you being forced to marry anyway?"

"They want me gone- the Macintosh clan. I'm an outsider to them."

"Then, he's only trying to help you, it looks like."

I grow angry, very quickly. "You, yourself, told me that he wasn't my future- at least in the romantic sense."

"I did."

"And you told me he would be a violent man- he could hurt me."

"Yes."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't see the small details and that the future is subject to change. I didn't see the suspicion towards ye."

"So, you're saying what, Greer. Spit it out!"

"I'm saying... well, what choice do you have?"

No. "No."

Her lips turn down sadly. "Your only other alternative is to leave. The clans people will make your life a hell until you make yourself a permanent part of them. You've got no family, no money, no idea how to get around or sustain yourself if ye left."

"So, you're saying I should stay for the loveless, abusive relationship instead?"

She sighs. "At least you'll have a roof over your head."

"How could you say this to me?" I gasp in awe, biting my lip in a desperate attempt to control the evidence of my fear. "You brought me to this life! You brought me from my comfortable, happy life to serve a man for the rest of it?!"

She closes her eyes. "I'm only told what to do. What happens after is always subject to change, although it is rare... I told ye this!"

Shaking my head, I drop my head into my hands. "I can't believe this... I can't."

"You need to be getting back... He'll be expecting ye at dinner. I'll have Knox help you find your way back- so ye don't get lost in the dark. It's a miracle ye didn't get lost comin' here yourself." 

She sets her hand onto my back and moves me along, back toward the impatient horse whinnying by the cottage.

...

I drop my hood, entering the castle slowly, at no rush to get inside. I have no time to change so what I'm wearing is going to have to do. I hear people communing already, chatting amongst each other.

I feel a reluctance to enter that I've never felt before- it's strong, almost painful but I move forward anyway, swallowing. The moments blur together as I remove the cape around my shoulders, standing in the threshold of the room.

Eyes pin.

Gazes linger.

Symon stands.