Alduin stood. "I'm going to go tell Bri an' the others. Magnus...I think ya might want ta explain yer statement 'bout it meanin' more than just Moira - if ya would, brother." "What DID ya mean, Magnus?" Angus stood too. "Well, meybe ya ain't goin' ta much like what I got ta tell ya, Angus - knowin' ya now as I do. But some things ya can't escape. It seems no matter what or where y'are, ya was born ta be a leader. Bein' Brianna's only son an' heir, what it means is: y'are the Laird o' the Mountain-Folk now. Well...soon's yer invested wi' the title. That'll be real soon, I'm sure. Per'aps on the morrow." Magnus laid his hand on Angus' shoulder and squeezed it. "I am? I will? What about Brianna?" Angus looked and felt just a bit panicky. "Oh, she'll still 'ave plenty o' say in things - an' ya should listen to 'er, but ya got the final word now." "I don' know 'ow ta be a laird!" Angus protested. "What ta do. What ta say. What's a laird do, Magnus?" "In my case, I mostly listen ta what Mab's got ta say an' follow 'er advice - 'less tis somethin' ta do wi' fightin' then she defers ta me. You an' I - we're a lot alike. Both got the blood royal but di' nae grow up in it. I know 'ow ya feel about such things but sometimes ya got ta take the responsibility along wi' all the rest. It ain't so bad - most o' the time. Things'll be better once we've settled this problem wi' Mog and 'is kind. Yer Ma ain't gonna like it much. I'll tell ya that right now. She'll be afraid o' losin' ya now thet she's found ya again. Fer her, tis a very real fear - trust me. So, be gentle wi' yer replies on that. True enough, she just lost Colin ta Mog's black army an' y'ed think t'would give 'er a reason ta go arter 'im, but yer more important than Colin was to 'er, if ya catch me drift." "I understand," Angus replied, his stomach churning with all the potential responsibility that would be thrown on him. He scratched at his head and stared at the floor for a long moment, then took a deep breath. "Then, Magnus...there's somethin' I would ask ye. Two things that is." "Ask away, Angus," Magnus smiled, hoping he knew what those two things were. "Will ya teach me what ya know?" "'Course I will, lad. 'Course I will. And...?" "Can I have yer daughter fer ma wife an' ma lady?" "THAT's what I were waitin' ta hear," Magnus chuckled deep in his throat. "Ya think she wants ya, lad?" Angus grinned sheepishly. "I 'ope so! I...I think so!" "Will ya take good care of 'er an look out arter 'er for ever an' always?" "'Course I will, Magnus." "An' will ya do yer best ta be a proper laird?" Angus suddenly had a shrewd look in his eyes. He smiled and poked Magnus in the chest with his finger. "That depends on 'ow good ya teach me, don' it?" "See - yer learnin' already!" Magnus laughed. "Let's go find the others an' tell 'em." "Nooo, nooo...not yet. I wanta ask 'er first...if that's alright." "Ya really are a romantic sot, ain't ya?" Magnus tugged at his chin looking thoughtful. "A'right, but it has ta be this night, Angus." "Ochhh, no problem wi' that!" ***** Oh, poor Angus. The last thing he wanted to be was the chieftan of his village and now he's about to be made the Lord of the Mountain Fey! I think he has a few good teachers though and a little more motivation now. As for Ursala and Beren's parts in this...you'll soon see ;) Enjoy your Sunday friends and thank you so much for your wonderful comments and your time! Rayvn