The Lady of the Keep

SUNSET

Several years ago, in a isle of Skye, Scotland…

Fiddle music filled the air, filling the sunset mist with its mellow notes. The fiddler's fingers deftly fell on the strings, bringing forth a melody as old as time, which was passed from one generation to the next. There was no music sheet from which he could guide himself, as he played by heart, a melody that was imprinted in his very soul since the first time he heard his father playing it as he was a little lad.

The sound of the fiddle ruled over the murmur of the talks and laughter in the little pub in the small Isle of Skye, in the North of Scotland. Sometimes, laughter would erupt from one of the several tables, which were covered with delicious bits of fish and other fresh produce brought by the farmers or fishers from the isle.

The atmosphere was jolly, as it was summer, and the long months of winter had given a rest to the farmers and fishers. The moors had flourished, and everywhere the colors of flowers and plants were simply enhanced by the sun shining during the longer days of summer.

Young Donald Mallard, Medical student from Edinburgh University, had been invited by his friend, James McTavish, to a weekend of beer and music and party on the small island of Skye, as they would the following day enjoy the hospitality of the McTavishes during the Highlander Games in a neighboring village.

So, during that lovely summer night, they were just downing some pints and enjoying the vivacious music from the local musicians.

"He's really good," commented Donald, watching the fiddler play on the improvised stage.

"He's been playing here since I was a little lad, and Pa would bring me to the pub to seat while he would talk business to his friends," Jamie raises his pint, and takes a long gulp. He leaves the pint on the table with a thump, and waves for the waiter to bring another one. Jamie's eyes start following two lassies who just entered the pub, and walk to stand by the bar.

"Hey, Don, watch this," Jamie stands up, a little unsteady on his feet, as he had already drunk two full pints, and marches under Donald's careful watch to the ladies. He approaches them with care, stands behind the tallest one, a pretty little thing in a simple blue summer dress and with long blond her rolling in curls down her back. He orders another drink, and just smiles at the ladies, and tries to start a conversation.

Donald just watches his friend's smooth way with the ladies, and he has to shake his head when, after some minutes talking with the tall blonde, Jamie invites her to dance, and brings her to the middle of the dance floor, where the fiddler's music entice people to laugh and dance with the rhythm of the highlands.

Donald looks back at the bar, and the blonde's friend is alone, standing by the bar. Being the gentleman he was, he slowly leaves his table and goes across the sea of people dancing and laughing, trying to reach her.

She's not an Amazon like her friend, she probably barely reached his shoulder. However, her prim flowered summer dress gave hints of a young body underneath, with all the curves in their correct places, and the smile on her face gave hint of the enthusiasm only the youth could show before the chance of music and dancing. She was tapping her left foot on the floor, with the rhythm, and would throw her head back with laughter as her friend dances by her.

"Would you like to dance?" Donald asks as soon as he is standing besides the young lady, and she turns to him, smiling, and Donald feels his hands sweating as her gorgeous green eyes turn to him.

"Excuse me?" she shouts over the noise of the fiddler and the loud conversation inside the pub.

"I've asked," he leans over her so he can speak closer to her ear, and he has to move her black raven hair so he can speak, "if you would you like to dance?"

She bites her lip, and Donald's eyes are attracted to her unconscious seductive action, "but I don't know how!" she shouts back at him, "I've never danced to this type of music before!"

Donald smiles, and stretches out his hand to this raven beauty, "It's not difficult at all, I'll teach you." She still looks uncertain, and she blinks slowly at this gallant Scot who is inviting her to dance. She glances at her friend, who is spinning and laughing so much with her dance partner, and looks back at the stranger, and smiles, "don't complain if I step on your toes."

She puts her hand on his, and Donald smiles, "I promise I won't."

They rush to the dance floor and soon they are spinning, their feet tapping the linoleum floor with the beat brought by the fiddler.

After some backbreaking dances, both couples return to their table, and Jamie orders more pints to come, so they can drench their thirst.

"So, ladies, I'm Jamie McTavish, and this is my buddy, Donald Mallard, at your service," the two ladies laugh, "if you are looking for entertaining and a good time, you found the right company for it." He looks at the blonde, and leans towards her, "tell me everything, anything about you, I'm all ears, my lady."

Donald shakes his head at his friend's boldness, and feels the touch of a soft hand on top of his. He looks at the raven girl, who is smiling at him, "tell me Donald, what brings you to Kyleakyn?"

He tells her then. He was on his holidays from Med school, he was enjoying being able to study how to save lives immensely, and his dreams of travelling the world, seeing different people and places, and using his gifts to bring healing to those in need. She, in turn, tells him that she's a nurse, from London, who somehow was transferred to work for only one year in one of the village hospitals here in the Highlands. Her friend had relatives in a neighboring village, so they decided to come to the village of Kyleakyn to enjoy the Friday night music.

Jamie is whispering in the blonde's ear, and she is smiling at him. Finally he stands up, and says, "we'll be back," guides the blonde back to the dance floor, as the fiddler plays a more romantic song, and they start dancing the mellow tune together.

Donald turns to the beauty by his side, and smiles, "Would you like to take a walk? The temperature is very agreeable and it would be a shame if we did not enjoy the moonlight." She smiles, shyly, and they both leave the pub, where the fiddler still plays a haunting song of love lost, but not forgotten.