INHERITANCE

 
Rescued from a life of Roman slavery under the whip
Strongly he picked up her weakened an injured body  
He takes her up in his powerful arms and cradles her
He pushes her matted hair away from her blackened
And muddy face takes the tartan rebel flag soaks it
And starts to clean her face, he is stunned by her beauty
Underneath all that blood and muck her eyes flicker open
She should be scared starring into the eyes of this bearded
Warrior; all the stories she had heard about the Scots and
Their rough and ready ways, but somehow the fear was
Absent or maybe it was because she felt so near to death
Her breath shallow scared to close her eyes in case it was
Going to be the last time they would be open ever again
She forces a smile at her tartan and leather-clad warrior
In his beard, he smiles back "You'll be fine lass just fine"
He rides through the night and by dawn he is at the castle
He carries her over the threshold into his chambers and lays
Her on the bed, his servants run around fetching things
Trying to help he tells them to leave and tends to her himself
He tends to her needs as fever grips her, day and night he
Cares for her moping her brow and her tears, he is slowly
 Falling in deeply in love with her, he holds her hand and
Prays. Despite convention, the Warrior breaks down and  
Weeps: His tears seal her wounds as she wakes and stokes  
His hair etching the start of their story into her whip marks
 
Love blossoms: As a couple they are inseparable,  laughing,
Playing  and loving, going everywhere together  and hibernating
In front of a huge log burning fire, lovemaking is gentle and tender
She is in love with her gentle warrior "I love you, you saved my life"
"Aye an Ah'm sae glad Ah did petal." Her heart melts into his hug
As he succumbs to her beauty and with passion they make love
This becomes their life they marry and have a son that they adore
For three years all is perfection: On a dark night outriders arrive
Looking for volunteers for a rebel army to repel the Roman advancement
He feels the pull of loyalty to his nation and countrymen  and he knows
He cannot reject this request and as she sleeps on as he readies himself
Claymore, dagger and shield, armour of leather hide: He watches her
Sleeping,  and kneels to kiss her goodbye; she wakes looking into his
Eyes and she knows and he knows that she knows "Ah'm awfy sorry lass."
"Please tell me you are coming back to me my love." " Aye lass I will be
With you in this lifetime and the next petal." Time for that last embrace
Strong, tight and warm she tries not to let him go but she must, they lovingly
Look into each other's eyes "I will wait for your return, my hero."  She can see
The glassiness of his teary eyes, "Aye lass tae be sure Ah will come back tae ye
Petal." With military precision, he about faces walks to and mounts his horse
He rides of at speed and doesn't look back, she weeps for her tartan warrior  
 
The battle rages for seven long hours, lots of blood and severed heads and limbs
Deliberate torture of the Roman captured all will die by the sword this day
Her warrior's face has been lance slashed, he carries two crossbow bolts, one
Through the thigh, the other through leg at the calf his legs and feet stained red
He staggers from fight to fight slashing and stabbing like a mad man on a blood
Spree. He takes a sword stab to the shoulder and a dagger thrust to the belly
He screams in pain as he continues his blood lust, killing, even more, reinforcements
Of the clan Macgregor and the clan Macdonald and a band of crazy Irish thugs
Yet again the Romans shite their skirts and run back over the wall. Her warrior
Stands claymore in the air he shouts "Men of the clan Macleod stand with me!"
Only a few left, a handful; but they come to be by his side they raise their bloody
Shields and claymores and at the top of their lungs they scream "MACLEOD!"
Her warrior falls to his knees, he has lost so much blood they pick him up and
Put him on his horse "I huv tae get back tae ma petal." They let him ride off
Fearing his death. He rides through the night to get to her and arrives at the
Castle slumped over his horse barely alive, he falls with a clatter on to the stony
Ground. Awake she hears him an runs to be by his side she nurses his dying head
Screams for the servants to attend, one goes to fetch the shaman, the rest carry
Him inside and put him on the table, his breath is shallow and slow she hugs him
Tightly and prays for him not to die she whispers "I love you to the moon, please,
Please come back to me, you promised." Still weeping she sees him whispering
"Aye petal A'm here, just like Ah sade I wud be." She holds him tight still crying
For her warrior.
 
The shaman arrives and goes to work, she looks on "is he going to live?" the
Shaman answers in the negative, "Ye dinnae  waant tae be here the now. Go!"
She runs in slow motion covering her ears but can still hear the screams, through
The halls and throws herself on the bed sobbing, the screams continue as they
Saw off both of his legs above the knee, they apply a poultice  to both stumps and
Wrap them tightly with muslin.  They mend his other wounds applying a poultice to
Those as well. His screams turn to whimpers, she rushes to his side she takes him  
Up tenderly into her arms and cradles him. She pushes his matted hair away from  
His blackened and muddy face, takes the tartan rebel flag soaks it and starts to clean
His face, she is stunned by his courage. Underneath all that blood and muck his eyes
Flicker open, "Ah luv yea sae much ma petal."Her servants run around fetching things.  
Trying to help she tells them to leave and tends to him herself He tends to her needs  
As fever grips him, day and night she cares for him, moping her brow and his tears,  
He is slowly healing. Six months pass like a heartbeat, but he has come back to her
Just not all off him. He puts his armour back on as memories cloud his vision. He
Want to fight, but he can't. Her hugs and love cause more healing, though half a
Man she helps make him whole again, completes him
When the warrior takes off his armour, her tears
Seal his wounds etching their story into his scars
 

we are all
the sum of our parents’
mistakes
victories
ungranted wishes
 
choices
made or unmade
silently influencing
our own
a tiny urging voice
whispering inside our heads

but finally
it’s up to us
to make that final call