Authors note-

Name pronunciation-

Padraig- Paw-rick
Bridei- Bry-day

I'll also include the word "Sassenachs" since it may not be clear. This is a word used to refer to Anglo-Saxons.

Scotland- 804 AD

Darkness had already fallen by the time Tualla and Aedan arrived back home. Instead of sneaking back in like they usually would, they approached the main gates which opened the moment they came into view. One of the watchmen, Branan, rushed over, his face relieved with a hint of concern. "Your father's back and he's pissed you aren't here." 

Aedan rolled his eyes and smirked. "When isn't he pissed with me?"

Branan laughed and glanced at Tualla who suddenly became very aware of how she must look.

"What in the gods' names happened to you?" he asked. 

Aedan shot him a warning glance causing Branan to drop the subject. “He's waiting for you in the Talla Mòr.”

"I'll be sure to take my time then," Aedan said with a wink, patting Branan on the shoulder as he strolled on by. The two had never been close as children but spending time together as mercenaries had changed that.

Aedan and Tualla made their way between the many circular dwellings and workshops. Passing the paddock, Tualla realised there were more horses than usual. The largest, a black steed with a skull hanging around its neck, wasn't one she'd seen before, and neither were any of the men tending to them. Before she could ask Aedan who they were, she recognised the tartan they wore. The mixture of deep russet red and indigo belonged to the Canguss clan. She cursed under her breath. What more could be thrown her way today? 

Sensing her unease, Aedan took her hand. "We need to tell them, no matter what."

"I know," she said, squeezing his hand to muster some courage. "It just took me by surprise." 

As the largest building in their village, the Talla Mòr dominated everything else. The home of the chieftain and his family also doubled as a meeting place and lodgings for important guests. 

Muffled rowdy voices came from inside and she held her breath as they stepped over the threshold. Since Tualla hadn't been inside much, once her eyes adjusted to the smoke from the central fire, she marveled at the height of the beams above her. Drapes of stone-blue and grey tartan hung down from them. Plaques with the clan's crest decorated the walls along with various shapes of skulls, both animal and human; a show of their might.

The round room fell quiet as all eyes turned to them. Tualla caught sight of her aunt Dena. The worry etched on her face forced Tualla to look away. No matter how much she craved a mother's comfort, she couldn't afford to show any weakness now, not in this company. Her uncle Keavy seemed to understand this and gently held Dena back.

“I should have known you two would be together,” a gruff voice said, pulling Tualla out of her thoughts. The voice belonged to Padraig, Aedan’s father, the chieftain of their clan.  He glared at his son, a deep scowl visible through his bushy greying beard. Tualla ignored the many eyes on them and stared at the man beside Padraig. Bridei looked just as she remembered, although perhaps bigger around the middle. His rust-red untamed hair and thick beard brought out the green of his eyes. 

“Now, now, Padraig,” he said standing up, his huge stature dominating the space around him. “We were all young once.”

Padraig grunted, but didn’t say anything. Not many people could speak to him in that manner and get away with it.

With his beefy arms outstretched, the man strode towards Aedan and pulled him in for a hug. “Aedan my lad, it’s good to see yer.”

The display of affection bothered her. She knew Aedan had spent time training with the Canguss clan, but never imagined Bridei to greet someone so warmly.

Bridei slapped Aedan on the back and glanced at the head still held in his hand. “What happened here?”

Aedan glanced at Tualla, his face full of pride as he raised his brows, urging her to tell them. 

“I killed him,” Tualla said, straightening her shoulders and keeping her head high. She heard her aunt Dena gasp but kept her focus on Bridei. “He attacked me so I stabbed him in the neck.”

Bridei stared down at the blood on her dress then looked her in the eyes as though he’d seen her for the first time. “What a fine wee lass you’ve become. Yer mother would be proud.”

“Thank you, father.”

“Yer should take that home and display it somewhere,” he said, pointing at the decapitated head before walking back to his seat. 

Aunt Dena took the opportunity to approach Tualla, wrapping her arms around her tight. “Are you alright?” she whispered in Tualla’s ear as she guided her towards the door and received her answer as a nod.

“Dena,” Padraig’s voice boomed across the hall. “Now everyone is here, the meeting can start.”

“It’s been a long day for Tualla. I’d like to take her home and get her cleaned up.”

Padraig shook his head. “Tualla needs to stay. This meeting concerns her too.”

Tualla’s look of shock mirrored her aunt’s. She’d never been included in any meetings before. Why would it concern her? Feeling flustered, Tualla followed Padraig’s gesture and sat next to Aedan who didn’t seem too happy about the announcement either. Dena positioned herself behind Tualla, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Padraig started by questioning Aedan about his day. The two chieftains exchanged many glances as Aedan recounted their version of events. He didn’t hold back with any of the gory details and Dena squeezed Tualla’s shoulder at the worst parts. 

“Do we have any idea who attacked Dunlaid?” one of Bridei’s men asked.

“This is the work of the Sassenachs,” Aedan said.

Padraig’s eyes narrowed as he considered the possibility. “What proof do you have, lad?” 

“I don’t need any proof.” 

Padraig stood and paced the room.“It could be any number of foes, Aedan.”

“The clans use blood feuds to settle their disagreements. I’ve seen this before," Aedan said, growing frustrated. "The Sassenachs burn their enemies who don’t believe in their God. They call us—”

“That’s enough,” Padraig bellowed, causing the room to fall silent. Aedan’s face turned red as he fought the urge to defy his father. Padraig cleared his throat and continued, “Dunlaid isn’t the only place to have fallen recently. A number of towns in the east have been sacked. With few survivors, we only have rumours to go by. They call them Norsemen; fierce warriors from across the sea.” He paused to stare each person in the eye. “If this is true, then no one is safe.”

A murmur rose from the group as they whispered among themselves. Padraig had never shown caution or fear over an enemy before, but they hadn’t seen what Tualla and Aedan had. 

“Dun-Barnock has never fallen before,” one of the Elders said. “Our enemies know we are strong.”

Bridei scoffed. “You think a palisade and a few ditches are enough to keep you safe?” The Elder shuffled in his seat and Bridei took a swig of his mead. “If Dunlaid can fall, so can the rest of us.”

“We need to set aside our differences and forget our blood feuds," Padraig continued. "It’s time for the clans to come together and unite. To defeat a new enemy, we need to form new alliances." He stopped briefly to allow his words to sink in. "Bridei here has been making progress with the kingdoms of Fortriu and Dál Riata, and I have been in talks with the Lord of Elnwich.” He paused again, glancing at Dena before resting his eyes on Tualla. “He is eager to form an alliance, on one condition…”

Tualla gulped, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

“… that the alliance is bound through marriage.”

Marriage?

Dena’s hand on her shoulder tightened, which helped to ground Tualla. She must have heard wrong.

“You can’t be serious,” Aedan exploded. “You want to marry her off to one of them?”

Padraig stepped in front of Aedan, staring him down. “That’s the second time you’ve spoken out of turn. Don’t think I’ll go easy on you because you’re my son. This is not your decision to make.”

“It’s not yours either,” Aedan spat back.

Without any warning, Padraig reared his hand and swung at Aedan. Although the impact struck Aedan hard, he took it without so much as a flinch. His jaw twitched as blood trickled from his mouth. "I'll never forgive you if she marries him."
 
Despite being ready this time, Padraig struck him again. The force of the blow knocked Aedan to the ground. While Aedan staggered to his feet, Padraig turned to Tualla, his features and voice almost soft. “I believe Lord Elnwich to be an honourable man who is eager to establish peace between us. I wouldn’t have entertained the suggestion otherwise. The decision is solely yours to make and will be respected either way." His gaze lingered for a moment before he stared beyond her. "Dena, you can take her home now.”

***

Tualla spent the walk back reassuring Dena she wasn't hurt. Back home, her cousins were fast asleep, something Tualla felt grateful for as they wouldn't see her in such a state. Finally able to relax, exhaustion soon overwhelmed her.  

"It seems as though the gods were watching over you," Dena said as she warmed some water over the fire.

"About that… there's something we didn't mention earlier." As Tualla told her aunt about the bird, Dena froze at the mention of the crow. 

"Morrigan," Dena whispered, more to herself.

"Morrigan?" Tualla repeated. She knew the name well and Morrigan was known to take on the form of a crow. Now it seemed to make some sense. A goddess had saved her life, and another now guided her. Tualla shuddered, unsure whether that thought gave her comfort or fear. Perhaps both.

"Let's get you out of those clothes," Dena said, changing the subject. She rarely spoke of the gods, not since the day Tualla was born.

Tualla stepped out of her clothes and held the dress out in front of her with a frown. "I don't think we'll be able to get these stains out. It's a shame because it's my favourite." 
"We could dye it," Dena suggested but dyes could be expensive, at least any capable of covering those stains.

Tualla sat while Dena brought over the heated water. She closed her eyes as Dena begun to wipe the dried blood from her face. 

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Dena said as she moved onto rinsing Tualla's hair.

"What do you think I should do?"

"I don't think I'm the best person to ask. I want for you the same as what I want for all my children; to be happy and healthy." 

Tualla glanced at her cousins, Beathan and Elspeth, huddled together without a care in the world. How she envied them at times. Aunt Dena had always treated Tualla as one of her own. She couldn't ask for a better mother figure, but despite that, she couldn't help wonder how different her life could have been… if her mother had survived, if her father had been more involved, if there had been no prophecy.

"I always assumed I'd marry Aedan." 

"It's not an unreasonable assumption. You're a good match and I think you'd be very happy together." 

Beathan stretched an arm out as he slept. Tualla's heart swelled with sorrow as those images from earlier came back to haunt her. She screwed her eyes shut as she imagined his body in that place. Elspeth and Dena beside him. Her father's words echoed in her head— If Dunlaid can fall, so can the rest of us.

If she could spare her family and her community that horrific fate, she would do everything in her power to do so. "But I can't marry Aedan. I have to marry the Lord of Elnwich." 

Authors note-

Thanks again for reading and if you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a vote.

What are your thoughts on Tualla's decision? Is she making the right one?