#murdina bug

Jumping right in to episode three. The story is flying along, but with so much to cover I can see why. It makes me glad to know there is one more season on the way.

What a thrill to see Jemmy's box arrive.

The 1980's look really great onscreen. Honestly I don't remember people in the US looking so nice and cozy. My parents forced us into loud geometric prints, but I digress. : ) This show must be a literal dream for the set designers, costume designers, hair, and makeup artists that get to recreate so many different eras.

I'm glad they expanded on the house fire scene. It needed it for clarity as to what exactly happened and as to who exactly died (i.e. all the bandits). The fire itself was a true spectacle, and very moving. It was fitting for the importance of the event in terms of character's lives, story moving forward, and the settling of the newspaper article plot that brought Bree to the 18th century way back in season 4. "Bloody newspapers. Never get anything right." Good job Brianna. Mission accomplished.

The aftermath of the fire is a visual that struck me. Love amidst ruin.

Mr. Bug speaks at last. I am glad that the Bugs were finally fleshed out as characters, and tie-ins to the Rising are always interesting. These connections past to present give the story so much depth. However, they did leave out some of Mr. Bug's personal vendetta against Jamie's family, and I was a little confused about why he thought he and Mrs. Bug deserved the gold.

The moment of Mrs. Bug encouraging and supporting Arch was simply lovely. It highlighted the complexity of the situation and was completely necessary for what comes next to have the impact it deserved.

Ian, poor lad. I'm not getting into the plot holes here. Ignoring "what ifs" for the sake of time and sanity.

The funeral. Caitriona Balfe really did sing the Ave Maria. She has such a beautiful voice!

Mr. Bug's face as he laid Murdina to rest was enough to break your heart; and then moments later, his face as he threatened Ian was enough to chill it. Wow.

It was a minor thing but I liked the slight drizzle throughout the episode, especially the funeral. So appropriate. I wonder if they created it or just went with the weather?

I love Jamie's dream. How special, and this one confirmed he truly has a connection with the future.

Adso, dearest, you represent the Ridge. This made me hate so much that Claire has to leave her home. As excited as I am for what is to come, I was almost angry at Jamie for making her go.

Finally, the little transitional pictures are perfect emotional cues. I know it is a really tiny detail, but I noticed them this episode particularly. They set the scenes, make everything flow, and reinforce the scenic beauty that has been part of Outlander from season one. And they weren't always used, sometimes transitions are fade outs, so very nice.

I like the little moments of domestic happiness woven throughout this episode, which give it kind of an even keel. Yes, there was tragedy, but there was also calm. There was love through mourning. We even see this in the future with Bree and Roger at Lallybroch, longing for their loved ones. It is very Outlander.

For Gotham’s Writing Workshop, Week 7.

Hey guys! This is a continuation of my last contribution to the workshop, set in An Echo in the Bone. 

I’d never expected that I’d write about Arch Bug and that’s why this workshop is amazing. Once again, thank you @gotham-ruaidh for organizing this!

source

Arch Bug was never one to have many friends.

Of the few friends he had, he’d lost the majority in the battle of Sheriffmuir, back in 1715. The rest, he’d lost when he left Scotland forever for a new life in the colonies.

In truth, Arch Bug never thought he’d leave Scotland, just as he could never fathom that he wouldn’t ever go back. However, this didn’t hurt him as much as one would think. He always found ways to carry home with him, just as he’d found how to fight after losing his hand. He loved his bow, but he quickly adapted to an ax and he was rather satisfied with himself. Respectively, he’d left Scotland, but he always carried the most significant part of his home with him. He could adjust to life’s changes, because he always had support. Arch Bug had his wife.

 All it took was an arrow, to steal from him everything he cherished in life. The only person that mattered, the only one that made his every day worth living was now lying on their porch. Arch didn’t trust himself to go closer.

He knew either way that Murdina wasn’t with them now – that was just her body. Her soul, her sweet, kind, pure soul was standing next to him to support him in this tragedy. Stubborn woman.

 ---

“They’ll not harm me, Archie.” She’d said with the smile of a temptress. Murdina Bug could convince him about anything she’d set her mind on. She was his strength as much as she was his weakness. “I’ll just go and search for the gold. We won’t take all of it, just the part that’s ours.”

“They weren’t there. I was there to take the gold for Grant. I was there to risk my life. They didn’t even know about that night until Jocasta told them and they gave us just a chunk of it.” Arch murmured with a grump face.

“Aye, I ken that. A chuck is no little amount, mind ye.”

“No. But we should get more.”

“James Fraser is a good lad, Archie. I still think we should talk to him.” Seeing Arch shaking his head no for the twentieth time, she continued. “Aye, aye… I ken, ye dinna want that. But you shouldna go there alone Archie. I better go myself – it’s safer for me to go. Ye surely ken these people were a family to us for so many years…”

 ---

 And like that, Arch nodded his agreement. This was the last time she smiled to him, kissing him on his old wrinkled cheek. She’d turned to the door and said “I’ll take that wi’me, aye? Just to be prepared.” She took the gun and left their house for the last time.

 Arch Bug thought again and again of this last conversation, blaming himself on letting her go and not stopping her when she took the gun. If she hadn’t shoot first, if she didn’t panic, if he’d kept her safe and sound at their home, if he didn’t get obsessed with the gold… She’d be by his side now. He kept fumbling with the golden brooch he’d made her as a gift. It was new, and it was shining as the moon’s light was reflected by the snow. He rarely bought Murdina gifts and she never asked for them. But it would be her Birthday next month and he wanted something special for her. The brooch he had crafted in Cross Creek was one of a kind. A flying swallow, for she brought spring to his life just as swallows signaled for spring in nature. And Murdina Bug loved spring. The colors, the scents, the fruits waiting to be baked in one for her pies... He couldn’t wait to see the smile in her face when he’d give it to her.

 Arch Bug always kept his feelings in tight reins. He never said a lot and he showed even less. But now, for the first time after decades, he cried. Hot tears left his eyes caressing the cheeks she’d kissed. The cheeks touched tenderly by her hands millions of times. Murdina was the light in his life, the softness in his heart. She was home, for more than fifty years. Now he was left alone, a tree without roots; a creased, empty piece of wood surrounded by despair.    

 Woe is all I possess now that ye left me, a nighean.

 Arch Bug had thought of killing himself after finding out why his wife never returned to the house that cold winter night. He didn’t dare to do so, though, because he knew she’d be mad at him afterwards. No one knew what Murdina Bug could do, when being mad. Well, the Fraser family did know. They’d been there when his lass killed that bastard, Brown.

 His impulsive, brave lass.

 Holding the brooch tightly in his hand, so much that its edges pressed in his palms hurting him, he resolved to do the only thing that made sense to him.

 Take revenge.

 Arch Bug found a way out of his grief and he’d pursue that till the end. He knew this wasn’t fair. He knew they had no intention of killing her, but these people that were like children to her had taken his wife’s life. And now he would take revenge for her, even if that meant he’d die while doing so.