* 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐃 .

From the height of the castle Meabh had spotted a great swathe of open green decorated with three tall hills and deep valleys. She had set her mind to it that she would ride there for the views and for a bit controlled adventure. With the current weather being rather generous, she decided it was the perfect day to saddle her mare and ride out to the green space. She had gone slowly on the steep downward trek through the town, but she picked up her horse's pace as the land around them opened up. Feeling the breeze blowing through her hair, Meabh contentedly made her way towards the vast greenness that seemed to blow with the breeze. She didn't, however, expect to see another woman astride a horse, riding along in the same area. The queen brought her horse to a canter to reach the other rider before slowing her pace as she approached. "You know, try as I might, I almost never find other women who enjoy a quick ride through the hills," she said by way of greeting.

she makes a mental note to pay more attention to her surroundings in the future, the irish woman had certainly snuck up on her . " oh, really ? " she smiles, happy to have at least met one person who enjoys a ride like this . " i come here quite frequently, it is always a good time . " she matches the other woman's pace, " my name is chloé friseal, princess of scotland . pleasure to meet you . "

chloé, in general, did not consider herself a pushy person ... or, at least, not when it came to family matters, at least not any more . this, however, was different . this was eating her alive, suffocating what little family she had left day by day . she thinks if she does not mend this now, then she may as well be already be a viking's wife . if he is heartbroken, aching, filled with pain in every ragged breath, she could take that . the silence is truly the only issue here . silence is the third person in the room . " i have, " she replies, " i suppose ... " eyes are looking at him, still, silently pleading that her brother will come back, " i suppose you won't be joining us for supper, then ? "

" very well . " she hadn't been looking for her betrothed, she had been looking for an escape from the poison that seemed to infest the scottish castle . “ i have no pull with the king currently , otherwise , i certainly do my best to feed said big men . “

Sylvia Plath, from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

he is across from her, but they may as well be worlds apart . it is such a deeply gut - wrenching thing, to watch someone who knows you so well turn into a person you could hardly recognize . if mother were still here, she would be heartbroken -- that was enough to make chloé want to close that gap . turn the worlds distance to a planet, turn the planet to continents, and maybe, eventually, they could actually be in the room together . not just in a room . " that i see , " a slight breath inwards , " i'm just here to check in on you " father is destroying the country one decision at a time, have you noticed ? "i know the circumstances are not ideal, and i want you to know that i am here should you need me . "

lorcan did not expect to run into anybody at this time in the morning, he'd intended to make his way back to his unnoticed after a night out with very little ale given the state of edinburgh's food and drink supplies. he'd made it through town but not to the castle without being spotted. " i uh - i was out exploring and now i need rest. are all you scots this talkative in the morning? "

ah, one of the irish. made sense why he would not want to sit still, then . " apologies, did not mean to interrupt you on your way back to your chambers. though, i will say, if you need any recommendations on what looks pretty this time of year, i am more than willing to provide . " a sip of her tea ( that really had been growing cold. ) " mostly, yes, we're a very loud sort of people. "

under normal circumstances, chloé would’ve let him go . would’ve let him heal on his own — or at least recoup, they could always talk later . these, however, were not normal circumstances . and she was growing quite tired of the four friseals going their separate ways . “ lachlan, “ she says, quietly at first . then, a hand reaches out, gently, so there is no confusion between friend & foe ( friend, always friend. ) “ lachlan, “ eyes meet his, gentle, “ you don't have to be alone, i'm here, okay ? “

nathaniel had never found it easy to hide his anger when it flared so quickly, and the recent situation regarding food and the scottish king favouring some more than others had angered him. perhaps he should have thought twice before approaching the princess but they had a history, he figured he could speak his mind - even if some of the frustration was vented through his words. " i thought the kings children would have more influence on their fathers cowardly decisions. "

" you of all people should know i have zero influence over my father's nefarious dealings and decisions , nathaniel . " the idea of starting a fight right now is not appealing, especially with someone chloé has always considered an ally . " you are more than welcome to speak freely, " she amends, " but do note that i do not take well to being accosted, particularly when i have done nothing to earn it . "

Cathy Park Hong, from "Spring and All"

" i ' ll let you braid mine if i can braid yours , " something almost feels the same then . like the lightness of it all makes some return to normalcy . " what colors were you thinking ? " she asks , this was a good topic to stick to . this was safe & would not leave either of them with a heavy heart . at least , for now it wouldn't . " i think bluebells would look beautiful in yours , but we might have to work to be able to make them stick . " be normal , be normal , be normal . maybe , she can wish it into happening .

SOPHIE SKELTON as BRIANNA FRASER OUTLANDER 7.04 ― "A Most Uncomfortable Woman"

[Text ID: “stop fighting, but I am not / fighting. I am noticing / where I don’t exist. / I should leave.”]