Highlander's Captive Bonus Scene

It had been about a month since Declan and Catherine had left the McCall castle. The stay with Declan's father had been enjoyable and relaxing. It was a far cry from the life that Catherine had been used to when she lived in her father's estate, which had been so busy and bustling with life. Out here, the world was different.

"It is almost easy to forget that my father is out there, lurking like some wild animal, ready to strike," Catherine remarked one day. She stared out at the horizon, looking at the forests. Here it seemed so peaceful and idyllic, yet there was a shadow creeping across the land.

"I would nae worry about that, lass. Ye cannae change what he will dae. We can only dae what we can dae, and right now we can just be happy," Declan said.

"Oh, I am happy, Declan. I'm happier than I have ever been. I'm happier than I could ever have imagined!" she replied with glee. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a long kiss on his cheek. Declan languidly placed an arm around her and nuzzled into her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the kiss, and tried to drive all the negative thoughts from her mind.

Declan sensed her trying to do this though, and failing.

"Why would ye brood when we are free?" Declan asked.

"Because our freedom is only temporary. At some point, my father will come to these lands and try to take me away. I do not want him to succeed, but I do not wish death upon him either."

"What would ye wish?"

"That he would be content to allow me my freedom, that I would be able to continue living here while he could live his own life. There is still time for him to marry and sire another heir. I used to think we were close as a family, but after having been here and seeing you and your father, I know what a true family is like."

"I am glad ye are liking life here. I was afraid it would nae live up tae yer standards," Declan said with a teasing smile. He always knew how to lift her mood.

The month they had spent together had been far less eventful than their courtship. Neither of them was being held prisoner, and neither of them was yearning to escape. They could simply focus on the land, and Catherine had found that she had a natural aptitude for life in the wild.

"My standards are just for my own happiness," she retorted, knowing that she had surprised Declan with her talents. Declan's father had been impressed as well, and said it was good to have a woman around again.

Catherine hadn't pried too often, but she had been made aware of what happened to Declan's mother, who died shortly after Declan was born. There was a lot of tragedy in all their lives, but it only enhanced the happiness. They spent their days together, tending the land, then enjoying the fruits of their labour at the end of the day, before their aching bodies slipped into slumber.

They had visited the castle a few times, and it was always good to speak with Rosemary and Sarah. She was even getting used to the company of their men. Declan was becoming more like them every day. It was clear that he had great respect for the two of them, and wanted to emulate them as best he could. She knew they noticed it too, and aside from some amicable teasing, they took him under their wing and treated him like a brother.

Rosemary and Sarah had noted how well Catherine was looking. There was a rosy glow in her cheeks and she was rarely seen without a smile. It amazed her how quickly she had adjusted to this life, and how these Highlands had become her home.

"You know, Declan," she remarked one day, "if you had told me a short time ago that I would be happy living in this place, I would have scoffed. I didn't see any future for me aside from the one that my father had deemed fit. I was actually looking forward to it. I thought that even though I may not have a husband to love, I would be able to enjoy my life of luxury. I thought that a fine home with loving children would make up for the lack of romantic love, but I know now how hollow that would have been. Thank you for saving me from that life. I know you did not have to do anything you did."

"Aye, I did, lass. I didnae know why at the time, but I had tae be near ye, and I had tae save ye. I think that from the first moment we met we were tied taegether." As he said this, he took her hand and twined his fingers with hers, letting the passion swell between them, as it did every time their eyes met.

Catherine blushed and smiled sweetly at him. "You say the kindest things, Declan. I don't think I could find a man like you if I searched the whole of England, or even the Continent!"

"There is none like me," he said with a cheeky grin. Catherine tittered with laughter. The hazy delight of being near Declan had not faded. Her stomach swam with arousal and her thoughts often drifted in a strange daze, as though she were constantly in a dream.

"When I think back to my childhood, I am astounded at how different my life has turned out to be. When I was younger, I imagined myself travelling around the Continent, discovering all the new countries and cultures. I wanted to immerse myself in it all and bring back the finest things for my own home."

"I am afraid I cannae take ye there. I can take ye tae a few islands off the coast though, and perhaps one day we can make it tae Ireland," Declan said, furrowing his brow a little as he thought of the possibilities. Catherine realised at that moment that he had misinterpreted her words. She placed a hand on his arm to reassure him.

"No, you don't understand, Declan. What I mean to say is that I am happy here. I no longer want anything that I used to want. You have proven the younger version of myself to be an empty-headed fool. I was too concerned with thinking about material things. I only ever thought in terms of what life could give me, not what I could give back to life, or to the man who wished to share it with me. I was selfish and stubborn, traits given to me by my father, I'm afraid, but you have opened my eyes to another way, a better way."

"I am glad tae see that ye have a clearer mind. Ye tae hae made me look at things a little differently."

"How so?" Catherine asked. She always enjoyed hearing Declan talk about his feelings. He was such a strong, muscular young man, and had been so angry when they had first met, that it was pleasing to her for him to reveal his emotional, tender side. It always took him a little while to work through the feelings in his mind though, to process the thoughts and feelings that careened through his passionate and turbulent heart.

"I was always sae eager and impatient. I wanted life tae hurry up. I was tired of being a lad, sae young and inexperienced. I wanted tae be a hero like my father and my cousins, but it never seemed tae happen for me. I was getting frustrated and angry, nae with them, but with myself. I lashed out, and when I thought they were blinded by yer friends I was certain it was my responsibility tae save the clan.

I was wrong.

I should hae been looking closer tae home if I wanted tae save the clan. I hae learned that a man can only be concerned with his own actions. I will nae be interfering, or impatient again. Ye helped show me that it is important tae enjoy life and the little moments, and that forgiveness is a virtue."

"I am glad that you do not bear me any ill will for what happened."

"I can say the same. We both made our mistakes, lass, and something tells me we shall make a few more before we die."

"But we won't let that change anything between us, will we?" Catherine said, suddenly panicked. Declan smiled, so confident and assured. He had lost the insecurity of youth and had been seasoned by his experiences. His time in the dungeon had made him see the world differently, and his own life. There were times when he murmured in his sleep. Catherine's heart went out to him, for he had been imprisoned in a much crueller way than she had been.

His freedom and liberty had almost been stripped from him. His future had been cast in a gloomy shadow, but she had prevented that from happening, and their actions together had given them both a good chance at a future.

What it meant for the rest of the Highland clans and her father, Catherine was not sure. There would be a war, that was certain, but when and how devastating it could be were unknown. There was little she could do to affect it, however. Even though it weighed heavily on her mind, she tried not to let it ruin her mood or the good days she and Declan shared together.

Sometimes she felt guilty for the part she had played, but then remembered that her father would have fostered war no matter what.

"What kind of future dae ye want now?" Declan asked. The question took her a little by surprise, for she had been enjoying the present so much that she had not stopped to give much thought to what was to come, especially not when it was difficult to think past the war. Still, she tried, for Declan's sake.

"I'd like to be happy. I'd like to do better than my own parents. If I were to have a family, of course, I would like to raise the children myself and teach them how to tend the land, rather than how to be complacent and let a household of servants work for them. I should like my children to have great affection for me, rather than enmity. I would like them to have their own desires and dreams, and for them to feel confident in pursuing them, rather than clinging to a path I have laid out for them. I would like them to have the best of both our worlds. And you?" Catherine asked, almost a little afraid that Declan wouldn't want the same thing, but the fear only lasted an instant.

"That sounds wonderful tae me. I want a strong family tae tame this land. I want them tae learn that there is nae as much difference between us and the Sassenach as we hae always been taught. One day it would be nice if they could play with the children of Blair and Rosemary, and Drew and Sarah."

"Maybe we could even beat them to it," Catherine said with a wink, moving closer to Declan, pressing her body against his. She placed her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss. He murmured in response as they sank to the ground and began to undress each other, taking joy in each other's bodies again. With their bodies kissed by the sun, and the perfect sky overhead, Catherine and Declan lost themselves in their lovemaking. They put all thoughts of war aside and only concentrated on the happy life they would have together.

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