Happy Monday! I'm hear to tell you more about my trip to Scotland. If you missed the first three posts, here they are:
Day 1
Day 2 -- Part One
Day 2 -- Part Two
I left you on a bit of a cliffhanger Friday... And now I'm ready to tell you about walking Culloden Battlefield at night. We pulled into the parking lot and the last person was pulling out, leaving the lot empty. At first, we were disappointed, thinking that we'd have to wait another day. We hit the ground in Edinburgh running, and our list was so jam-packed full of things we wanted to see, we actually weren't sure when we'd be able to come back.
The sky was turning pinkish grey. Within twenty minutes it would be dark.
I've always loved grave yards. I like to walk through them, look at the names, the dates, the stones. In Ireland, I put my camera in a crypt and took a picture (profusely apologizing to the dead, who happened to be my ancestors). But all of my previous trips had been during the day. Its a battlefield you say--and yes it is, but it is also a mass graveyard.
Scary.
But, when in Scotland... We knew we were crazy. Prayed we'd make it through before it was pitch black. Were pretty sure our husbands would think we were insane.
We stepped out of the car.
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| The first sign we came across. |
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| The second. |
As soon as we stepped onto the battlefield, Andrea and I were both immediately overwhelmed with a sense of calm. We felt...protected. There was no fear. It was almost like our Highlanders were there guiding us safely through the battlefield--I know that sounds whimsical, cooky, but its true. We actually felt calmer. I'm so glad my flash is awesome on my camera... got some amazing shots.
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| Here is the first grave I saw. It says: "Field of the English. They were buried here." |
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| "Well of the dead. Here the Chief of the MacGillivray Fell" |
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| "Clans MacGillivray, MacLean, MacLachlan, Athol Highlanders" |
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| "Clan Mackintosh" |
"Mixed clans"
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| You can't really see it too well in the picture, but the grass had three circular, linked indentations. Just thought it was neat. |
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| And the sun started to set as we encountered the Well of the Dead. Look at all the spots on my camera? There was no debris. I checked... Do you think they were spirits? |
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| The plaque on the well. |
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| "Clan Fraser" |
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| A view of the field as the sun set -- more white dots... |
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| A view of the well in the dark -- more white dots... |
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| Another view of the battlefield -- which is MASSIVE. Would take hours to walk. We only spent about 45 minutes there, before we thought we'd overstayed our welcome. |
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| A view of the marsh. |
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| Looking toward where we'd come from -- another white globe. |
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| A flag in the distance. See it? |
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| The path we walked on. |
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| Heading back toward where we'd come on the path. More globes. |
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| It is REALLY dark. I think its time to go... |
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| Didn't come out. Flash didn't help at this point, but it was a little cottage that had been there since the battle. |
So, once it was pitch black, and there were no lights, we booked it back to our car, climbed in and took a deep breath. Holy cow... Amazing. And sad. We said a prayer for those who fought and died. And for those ghosties that didn't "get" us.
Have you ever been to the battlefield? Want to go at night? Do you think those white globes are spirits?
THE HIGHLANDER'S REWARD
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She belonged to another… But was destined to be his…Lady Arbella de Mowbray abhors the idea of marrying an English noble occupying Scotland. When she arrives in Stirling, she is thrown into the midst of a full battle between the Scots and the English. Besieged by rebels, she is whisked from her horse by a Highland warrior who promises her safety. But when he kisses her she fears she's more in danger of losing herself.
The last thing Magnus Sutherland wants is to marry the beautiful English lass he saved. As the laird of his clan, he has a responsibility to his clan and allies. But when Arbella is attacked by one of his own men, he determines the only way to keep her safe is to make her his. A decision that promises to be extremely satisfying.
Magnus brings Arbella to his home of Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands. And that’s where the trouble begins… Their countries are at war and they should be each other’s enemy. Neither one considered their mock marriage would grow into a deeply passionate love. What’s more, they were both unhappily betrothed and those who've been scorned are out for revenge. Can their new found love keep them together or will their enemies tear them apart?
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