In Regards to Spending New Year’s Eve in a Haunted Scottish Castle?

One Comment

1. Lady Ettejin of Wern says:

   July 21, 2009 at 6:14 am

   “Oh, I’m just too excited to breathe!” I gasped as my two sisters and I stepped from our boat on to the rocky ground of the Isle of Skye. Teresa laughed and helped me tie down the boat. “Absolutely right, Jeanette!” My youngest sister Daphne stared up at Dunvegan Castle, her eyes glistening in happiness. “Who would’ve thought,” she asked, “that we’d be here at the family castle for New Year’s Eve?” “I certainly wouldn’t,” Teresa answered as we took our bags and walked up to the castle. “Let’s not forget that the Chief is being incredibly generous in letting us stay here overnight,” I reminded them. Daphne chuckled. “The Chief of the MacLeod Clan is just the nicest man I’ve ever met in my entire life. I guess it’s all because of that time honored tradition of highland hospitality.” We entered the castle and gasped in awe. “It’s beautiful,” Teresa spoke. Daphne and I just nodded mutely. “Aye, ’tis,” a voice spoke from behind us. We whirled around to see a trio of women coming in through Dunvegan’s door. “We thought ye might want some looking after,” the woman who had spoken earlier supplied. “And some company,” another added. The only one with black hair closed the door behind them and the three walked toward us. “My husband Aidan and his friend Sean will be bringing the food soon,” the first woman said. “But until then, we’re on our own. Let’s get the introductions done with. I’m Tara MacLeod.” The second woman did a little curtsey and told us, “I’m Rosaleen MacLeod.” The raven-haired one smiled warmly at us and said, “Though my name may be Kiara McDonald, I come as friend.” We three smiled warily. “Do you think the clan warfare’s over?” Daphne whispered quietly. Teresa answered, “I sure hope so.” Abruptly the door behind us swung open, and two tall bearded men in kilts came inside, bringing with them bags of supplies and flurries of snow. “Lucky you made it,” Tara laughed, hurrying to help them. “Looks like the snow’s finally come.” She kissed the man with the brown beard, and I realized that that one was Aidan. That meant that the very handsome one with the black beard was Sean. I wondered vaguely to myself if he was married, and also if there was any mistletoe anywhere around here. Aidan nodded in reply to Tara, brushing the snow from his beard. “I hope we brought enough,” he said gruffly. “Hope you Americans like haggis.” I refrained from making any sort of reaction, but Daphne’s whole face contorted in a grimace. “It’s fierce out there,” Sean told us. Kiara shuddered and said, “Just as on that horrible night, we were having a blizzard.” I didn’t know why, but the massacre at Glen Coe kept coming to mind. Try as I might, I couldn’t remember what had happened. The way she said it, I knew the McDonalds took the worse end of the fighting, but I couldn’t remember who the other clan was. I hoped it wasn’t the MacLeods. I didn’t think it was, though I knew the MacLeods had done some treacherous things in their time. “You know,” Aidan said, “They say that at midnight, the ghosts will replay the massacre…” I shivered. That kind of killed the holiday mood, and as for me and Sean… so much for a little kiss under the mistletoe! “Now, now, Kiara,” Rosaleen told her. “This is Dunvegan. Not Glen Coe.” Kiara sighed. “Yes, true. But every time I look out into a snowstorm like this one… I see the ghosts of the Campbell Clan… coming up to destroy us.” I vaguely realized that I did remember what Glen Coe was, and the MacLeods had nothing to do with it. I felt better, but Daphne didn’t. “This whole thing,” as she put it, “is creeping me out. Oh, to be back in my cozy bed in America!” Teresa and I rather agreed. But, when the Scots smiled and started passing out the food (he had only been kidding about the haggis, praise be) the mood lightened up, and we managed to have fun. I always seem to think, that just as we were finishing, I saw a wispy figure walk across the room… But of course I’m not sure.