To help with the understanding of this story, it is set in the North West Highlands of Scotland. The places are real and it is wild, remote, mountainous country. Shenavall is a bothy or mountain hut. Once a primitive old farmhouse now maintained as a basic mountain shelter for hikers and climbers. It is extremely isolated; a day's walk from the nearest road. The story is a sequel to one written a few years earlier which I no longer have a copy of but my princess may. If people like this one I may try and re-write it so apologies for the unorthodox order of events.
Return to Shenavall
She must be mad. . . out of her mind. To have driven the best part of 10 hours only to then walk for a further 4, with a large rucksack on the promise of some vague, half-remembered dream. Yes, she was mad. But the country was still beautiful and even if nothing came of the expedition she would at least draw comfort from the fact that she had remembered. Not only that but she'd committed to that dream and was still true to what it meant. Right at this moment though, she wasn't entirely sure what it meant but at one time it had been powerful enough to move the mountains that now surrounded her and as she looked up at An Teallach on her right, her mind wandered back to the first time she had seen those majestic slopes.
The descent to the old bothy went on a little and she could feel the weight of her sack driving into her back with the steep descent. At times it followed a small stream, at others it simply plummeted through the peat hags. Both jarred her knees and made her more anxious to arrive at the bothy for a rest if nothing else. It was early evening and it was as if the light was descending with her as she watched the waters of Loch Na Sealga darken with the gloom. The weather wasn't great. It hadn't been great then either but none of that had really mattered and it didn't matter now.
The moment she pushed open the rather fragile looking timber door she knew she wasn't alone. There was a buzz of conversation from the main room and as she stepped inside she looked eagerly around. It was strangely hard not to feel disappointed by the 4 unknown faces that greeted her. She knew it wasn't meant to happen like this anyway but somehow she now felt it was even less likely and that the whole undertaking had been a waste of time and emotional effort. It was clear that the 4 ( 2 men and 2 women) knew each other and that they had taken up residence in the backroom. That was good and after saying a cursory hello she immediately headed up the steep ladder stairway to the loft space above the old kitchen. It was empty and that meant, that for now at least, it was all hers. She emptied her sack and spread out her equipment as if laying claim to the space and deterring anyone else from entering. If things were to go right she must be alone.
It was nearly dark outside as she went out to the stream to wash and clean up after the walk in. The midges were as bad now as they had been then and they didn't encourage one to linger and enjoy the washing experience but the water was pure and clean and cold and it brought some life back into her body and skin. Back inside the bothy the conversation quickly turned to mountain stories and she shared some of her experiences with the other guests for whom it was their first visit to these hills. Although she felt much older now she was still aware of the admiring glances she was attracting from the 2 male members of the party. They must have been in their early twenties but once she was out of her water proofs and the cooking had started in earnest she had rapidly stripped down to her tight fitting base layer, which revealed her slim waist and full, round breasts. One of the lads was finding it very hard to look her in the eye during conversation, especially after her return from the stream with slightly pert nipples. It felt good and she could feel herself blushing slightly with the thought.
However, she was keen to retire early and was soon making her excuses to climb up to the loft. Just then the door was opened in a very noisy fashion and her heart skipped and fluttered. Unfortunately, the excitement faded as quickly as it arrived as the inside door flew open revealing a further group of 3 men, all rather tired and damp looking, beating midges out of their hair. She really did not want to be sharing the premier sleeping quarters with these 3 and wormed her way between them to guard her ladder. They all smiled politely at her and confidently strode into the other downstairs room. Once again she could feel eyes running up and down her body but at least the loft was still hers and she sprang up the ladder to her bed.
Once in the loft she closed the door behind her and rummaged through her sack. Now she really did feel foolish, pulling out a pair of silk cammie knickers and silky lace bustiere. Of all the places to bring such items this had to be the most bizarre. Trying not giggle with her own stupidity and not a little annoyed that she could have been so stupid to have brought them she changed into the lingerie and then lay back in her sleeping bag to contemplate the ridiculousness of it all. Now I really am mad she thought to herself. She was placing a great deal of faith in this romantic dream but at least no one else could see her and in the morning she would change back into the nylon and gortex with no one any the wiser. . . . . . . . except herself perhaps.
It was late. The conversations downstairs, which had got considerably more raucous after the arrival of the 3 men, had died out some time ago. She didn't bother putting the torch on to look at her watch. Somehow that would have spoilt things and once again stop it from happening but it must have been the early hours by now. Her excitement, which had originally kept her awake, had faded now into frustration and then weariness. It had always been a forlorn hope perhaps but her strong sense of romance and faith in the past would not have allowed her to just let it go. However, the morning would bring the cold reality of daylight and a 6 hour walk back carrying the weight of a her equipment in her pack and a dead dream in her heart.
She awoke with a start. It was quiet and still completely dark. The only noise being the light patter of drizzle on the skylight above her head. This was not loud enough to have woken her so what had? Straining hard, all she could discern was the gentle breeze blowing through the fir tree outside. Nothing, not a sound from the other occupants, she was alone. Lying back, she realised once more how she was dressed. She smiled to herself. The frustration had gone, as had the expectation. Now she just felt calm and it was still nice lingerie. Her hand passed over the silk knickers, almost frictionless on her skin. She could clearly see what men found attractive about such things. It was working for her right now and her legs parted slightly.
No, that was definitely a noise downstairs now. The outside door had creaked and a body had moved through the passageway. Her whole body was taught and tingly, more so than just through her own gentle stroking. There was another rustle, as if a coat was being removed, and then a very definite tread on the ladder. The climber had taken hold of the chain and was slowly making their way up the short climb to the loft. What if it wasn't him but another random stranger come to ruin her solitude and dream.
She froze. The emotion was tense excitement, fear, terror and desire. It was an intoxicating combination which rendered her mute and rigid, her breath coming in short pants. The door opened. It made no noise and the darkness was still complete but she felt the air move over her and could hear the quiet breathing of the intruder. A shiver wriggled down her body and she was unable to stop it quivering her sleeping bag. The intruder stopped. Silence. Darkness. The slightly louder drumming of a more steady rain on the roof. It was exactly how it should be.