"Great! Then shall we start to work according to plan?" Lachlan said as soon as he was released from his brother's embrace. He opened both of his arms sidewards and looked at the other people from the Maclean Clan.
"He's still a child in the heart. Forgive him, he's great too. Well, his playfulness is the biggest downside," Fergus said beside me while shaking his head.
I let out a low chuckle. "Let him be, at least he is also good at taking over the clan. I highly doubt that he inherited some leadership skills from you." I poked his waist to tease him, earning a hearty laugh as he tried to dodge my finger.
After all the meetings that happened that day, we finished the day with a heavy and noisy meal. The guests from different kingdoms have joined us, as well as some from the Maclean clan. Some of the clanspeople took all the time to rest, which is why a few joined us. Nevertheless, it was such a lovely and lively atmosphere.
I also now have the answer to the alliance in which we talked earlier that day. None of the representatives gave a no for an answer. All of them promised several forces and planned to return to their own kingdoms immediately to take some measures and to widen the scope of their help.
"The training will start tomorrow. Lachlan and I met after supper earlier and made some plans on what exercises and activities to give them as a starter," Fergus said as he placed his right arm under his head and made it something like a pillow.
After that lively atmosphere, all of us decided to return to our own chambers to take a good night's rest. All of the representatives will still travel back tomorrow so they really do need all the rest that they could get.
I sat at the bed after putting out the fire from the torches. "I really do hope that all of the armed forces will participate. I also have sent out the letters asking for the participation of every man to join and train. Be it of noble status or a commoner."
"You should also take a good rest. You have a bigger workload for tomorrow. You need to oversee the alliance." I slowly slid under the sheets. Facing my back against Fergus, I heard his even breathing and mumbled a soft good night before dozing off.
"Check the quarters, see to it that no guest is left. Help them with their luggages as much as you can and make sure that they are comfortable when they leave." I ordered the servants around. The sun is just halfway rising in the west yet the Duncan Manor seemed busier than ever.
"Thank you for the hospitality, your highness. Rest assured that as soon as I step foot in our kingdom, I will immediately inform the royal highnesses about the alliance and will surely provide all the reinforcements you need. Also send my best regards to the duke, may you both have a long marriage," an old man said while holding my hand.
"I will, thank you so much." I smiled and walked him towards his carriage.
I watched as all of the carriages and chariots disappeared before I went back inside the manor. The servants are still in such a haste and no one even dared to stop before me. They are occupied in fulfilling the tasks assigned to them.
I saw one elder woman from the Maclean Clan waving at me from upstairs. I recognized her as the elder woman whom I saw taking care of Fergus' manor when I first arrived at their clan.I immediately went to her. "Hello, Nana. What can I help you with?" I asked her gently.
She waved her hand at me as if I'm asking a ridiculous question. "My child, you seem to be tense. Relax a little bit. The servants are under your command, they are now preparing the herbs and other ingredients used to create medicine later. Some are also preparing all the clothes we need to stop some bleeding for wounded soldiers."
Understanding her point, I heaved a deep sigh. "I am trying to relax, Nana. Unfortunately, I just can't sit around while a war is about to break out. I just feel like I really need to oversee everything so we won't fall short at the time of the dreaded day."
"I know that dear, but you must also learn to ease the tension on your shoulders a little." She went to my back and massaged my shoulders gently. "Both Fergus and you are doing great. You are here overseeing everything we need. From the medical supplies to food, up to the mini training you are planning for women to learn self defence in any case some enemies will enter and attack us. Fergus on the other hand is giving additional training to the soldiers while waiting for the other kingdom's forces with Lachlan by his side teaching some men who are new to the battlefield."
"I watched those two kids grow. They may have lost their parents early, I assure you they grew up as fine as a young gentleman. Especially Fergus, just like his father. A great laird, a leader with compassion, and surely a great husband. Now worry not, the clanswomen are ready, all we need to do is to wait for the servants to finish gathering everything."
I nodded at her statement and smiled. The way he described Fergus, is indeed the way I see him. As great as he can be. I let Nana pull me somewhere as I tried to follow her advice to relax a little.
She brought me in one of the guest chambers offered to them. She pulled me again inside only to find two women, a little younger than me, standing there.
"Now, your highness, we would like to offer you a little appreciation. You have let us stay here and even made remarks of our importance on the upcoming war. It is such a huge thing for us to be included in the making of Scotland's history. Our clan has long been forgotten by many, but you are kind enough to consider us to join your forces."
She made me sit comfortably on the edge of the bed as she went to my back. "If you would permit your grace, we would like to do your hair so it won't bother you for the rest of the day."
I murmured the grant of permission and they happily did my hair. My hair is parted in two ways, Nana was combing the right part while the first woman was busy tucking in my hair, giving it a dutch braid perhaps. The second woman is busy plucking little white flowers on her basket giving it to the first girl. I actually don’t know when they had plucked the flowers from the garden. It is not a big deal though, I am just surprised because I have been in the garden but the flowers still seemed intact, without any trace of being plucked.
A few moments later, my hair is successfully done. The dutch braid ran from the edge of my right forehead down the middle bottom, while the other side was the same. They then tucked in the edge of each side. Tracing the edges of my hairline, forming something like a circular braid around my hairline. With two thin strips of hair on the parted part of my hair falling loosely on both left and right. The little white flowers the second girl plucked earlier was placed in between the spaces whenever the braid is crossed.
I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. "I extremely love it, thank you so much." I looked up at them and gave them a big smile. They smiled at me in return.
"Now that we are done, I think the others are done preparing as well. Let us go out and check," Nana told the three of us. We all agreed to her and went out of their chamber. We saw no one around the hallway so we walked towards the staircase.
There below, we saw the numerous servants pacing back and forth as well as other women from the Maclean clan. I went down the stairs, with Nana and the two girls following me. I looked around to find someone to ask but everyone seemed extremely busy. I caught the arm of one maidservant passing in front of me.
She yanked her arm in surprise. I retracted my arm, surprised with her reaction. She looked at me with wide eyes and then immediately knelt with both knees on the ground. The cloth she is holding in both of her hands fell on the ground as well.
"I am deeply sorry, your grace. I have not expected you to come out at this time now. It is never my intention to yank my arms from you. Please, I beg your pardon." The maidservant almost bowed to the floor when I stopped her.
"No, it's alright. You may stand up," I ordered in which she immediately followed. "How may I help you, your highness?" She is still looking down at the floor while asking me.
I shrugged it off and asked, "How is the preparation for the training going? Is everything set for us to teach basic medication?" She nodded.
"Yes, your highness. These are the last batch of cloth. As per the medicinal herbs, some servants are still finding the missing ones but they may arrive a few minutes from now. The apparatus and other things needed are also ready, your grace. All have been set in the house."
I nodded and dismissed her. The house that she is talking about is the one farther from Duncan. It is located near the entrance of the woods. A small house that usually serves as a post for the soldiers roaming around, but now have been used for the upcoming war.
"Alright then, shall we start the training?" I asked Nana and the two ladies. The maidservants also joined us as well as the other women from the Maclean clan.