Light of the Moon

         Light of the Moon

Suzanne Marsh

The old crone cackled as the cauldron began to bubble; soon she would seek revenge on the bonny prince. She had eagerly awaited this time; she had come close to being burned at the stake but fate had transpired for her. The light of the moon was full; as she cast the spell:

“Charles Stuart, I cast this spell to keep you safe until we meet again.”

The highlands of Scotland brimmed with heather as Charles Stuart walked casually toward the tryst he was sure would be something special. Lady Elsbeth Campbell awaited his arrival with bated breath. Charles Stuart pretender to the Scot throne, dark and handsome. Elsbeth, was more than willing to sacrifice her honor, for Charles. Lady Elsbeth was a woman of darkness. She had long awaited her revenge on Charles Stuart, for having deserted her. Her beauty was that rare type of red hair, alabaster skin and blue eyes. Charles was smitten with her.

The cauldron continued to boil, as Elsbeth thought about what she was going to do to Charles, for his not desiring to wed her. He had her pleasures, now he needed to do the respectable thing. The wolves began to bay at the full moon. She waited patiently for the sound of Charles stomping through the heather. Finally, she heard his footsteps, her heart lightened. The cauldron continued to bubble, as she transformed from the ugly old crone to the beautiful Lady Elsbeth. Gone were the wrinkled face, the gray greasy hair, the beautiful red hair cascading down her back, a slim waist, and alabaster skin. Charles, smiled as he saw her standing there waiting for him. He drew her into his strong arms, she began to whisper the chant:

“You are mine Charles Stuart, and mine alone.

You will marry me.”

She continued to repeat the chant as she walked slowly toward him. He was in awe of her beauty. Elsbeth handed Charles a glass of wine. Charles gratefully chugged it down. Elsbeth smiled demurely, as she watched Charles drink the wine. Soon bonny Prince Charlie fell into a deep sleep; Elsbeth began her preparations to lay beside him. Just as she was about to give him a kiss, she felt herself turning into the crone again. ‘What went wrong?’ she thought, her blue eyes widened as Charles began to age just as she had. What had she done? She ran over to the cauldron, hoping to see in the liquid if there were something she could do to repair the damage. What a wild ride this was turning into.

Later that evening, Charles awakened next to Elsbeth, both were disheveled. Elsbeth had somehow managed to return them to their former selves:

“Charles, is there really going to be another uprising; the English are very jumpy at

the moment.”

“Elsbeth, that is the reason I am here in Scotland to rise up the clans and fight

to the finish. Scotland is mine not theirs.”

Those few simple words made the hair on Elsbeth’s neck stand up. Her clan, led by her father Lord Thomas Campbell was loyal to Charles Stuart or so she thought. She had no idea that her father was a turncoat and had been giving information to the English.

“Lady Elsbeth, has yer father decided which side he will take in this battle that is coming?”

“I believe he is loyal to you and only you Charles.”

“Och, wonderful, then I can count on the clan Campbell?”

Charles stood, kissed her farewell and began to stride back toward Culloden. Once he returned, he began to formulate a plan in his mind, he never would leave anything to chance. He sent for the MacDonald, Campbell, Cameron, and the Mackenzie, the leaders of the revolt. Charles, paced on the parapet as he awaited their arrival. As he paced, he attempted to remember what had taken place last night with Lady Elsbeth Campbell. He also thought about who was giving information to the English. That had to be one of the clan chiefs which one was the question that haunted Charles Stuart.

There on the horizon rode the MacDonald, who had left earlier than the other clan chiefs. Charles wondered what was on the MacDonald’s mind, he would not have to wait long. The MacDonald dismounted and was shone into a small anteroom of Culloden House. The MacDonald did not have to wait long, Charles Stuart strode into the room, the MacDonald bowed to him:

“Och, Angus, tis good to see ye man.”

“Good to see you too your majesty.”

“Please simply call me Charlie, I don’t stand on protocol at least not at the moment.”

“I am hopin you brought me news of the who the traitor might be. We must take

kill him now before the battle begins, if not we shall be defeated.”

“I am thinkin, it may be the Campbell, one of my spies saw him speaking to an English

General not two days ago.”

“I see, is he going to be here for the planning today?”

“Aye, he is. I don’t trust him or his daughter for that matter.”

“Let us devise a plan on paper, leave it and see where it goes.”

“Aye, but what about the real plan?”

“I have drawn up plans but the only place they are is in me head.”

The MacDonald was not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry at this crazy plan, but if they were going to rid Scotland of the invasive English, then so be it. Charles began:

“As the clans gather for this battle Angus, we are foraging ahead. I plan to escape to

Skye if the battle goes sideways.”

“There is no doubt that it will, unless we determine who the traitor is. The moon is

full, we attack.”

They could hear horses approaching; grumbling among the head of the clans as they dismounted from their long journeys across Scotland.

16 April 1745

The full moon shone brightly as the rebel fires burned. Bagpipes began to skirl on the wind. All the clans were gathered there. Shortly before the battle, Lady Elsbeth made her way to bonny prince Charlie:

“Charles, please don’t’ send me away, you must listen to me! My father is the traitor,

he has been dealing with George to defeat the Scots. I couldn’t stop him, Charles.

Please stop the battle before it begins, you will always be King of Scotland in my

heart.”

“That was quite the speech Lady Elsbeth, I know your father is the traitor, my question

is, are you loyal to me?”

“You know I am.”

“Very well, you must leave now.”

The boom of the canon made Lady Elsbeth scream. Charles, grabbed her, put his hand over her mouth and motioned for one of his guards to take her:

“Put her below ground where she will be safe.”

He turned then to be sure his escape route was finalized. He would continue to fight until he could fight no longer; “Scotland the brave, Scotland the free.”

Charles inspected the carnage early the next morning, there was not a clan that had not lost men in the battle. Charles escaped to the Isle of Skye where he boarded and boat and returned to France. However, whenever there is a full moon, Lady Elsbeth returns to Culloden in search of bonny prince Charlie.