Garreth MacLeod stood with his mother, Julia and his younger brother, Peadair at the battlement wall, watching the birlinns sail out into Dunvegan Bay. Little did they know how life would change, with the events that would soon follow. His father, William, thirteenth Chief of the MacLeod's of Harris and Dunvegan, was setting out to battle with the MacKenzie's, after they had attacked MacLeod clan members along Loch Alsh.
Garreth, only seventeen at the time, wanted to go with him, but was bid to stay and defend the castle. He knew there would never be an attack on Dunvegan, but accepted his position and stood with his sword in hand, holding it high above his head, as he saluted his father and the men on their way to do battle. He watched as the men drew their swords in salute to him.
It would be three days later that his father's birlinn would return with him, an arrow piercing his chest, close to his heart. As William lay in his bed, hovering close to death, Garreth was summoned to his bedside. William held the clan amulet in his hand and a look of great sadness was upon his face. Garreth could see the pained emotion and wondered why he was feeling like that.
"Garreth, my son, take this amulet and keep it close tae ye at all times. Ne'er let it leave ye, till ye are dead or dying. It was my undoing tae leave it behind and now I pay the price fer no ha'ing it's protection tae guard me. Yer forefather, Malcolm, carved this from a piece of the cornerstone and had it blessed by a Fairy Queen. Its magic holds great powers and ye'll be guarded by them, as long as it's wi' ye. Garreth, my time is near o'er, so ye'll be the new Chief of the MacLeod' s. Do us prood, son and keep oor name strong and defend oor honour."
Garreth saw the ashen skin and paleness in his father's eyes, as he held his hand out to him. William placed the amulet in his hand and bade him to guard it with his life, as his life depended on it. Garreth knelt and tears welled in his eyes, knowing that his father would soon be leaving this world, to join his ancestors.
"Father, I will do as ye ask of me, I swear this tae ye."
"I know ye will, son. Make me prood. Hold Fast, son."
Those were the last words Garreth heard spoken, as his father slipped away, holding the amulet firmly into his hand. For all the strength of his character, Garreth couldn't hold back his tears and wept openly at his father s passing. His mother came to him and gave him comfort, as he held his father's lifeless hand and lay his head beside his body. The room was cleared of everyone, except Julia and Peadair. The priest that came from the local church, made a final blessing of the body and gave solace to the grieving family members, before leaving them alone.
Garreth looked into the eyes of both of them and could see the transfer of power had left his father and be given to him. For all that he knew he would hold this position one day, the weight of that responsibility was quickly filling him and burdening his spirit.
The castle was cast into mourning for the dead leader, as his body was prepared for funerary services. William's body was laid upon the cross bracing of his birlinn and then rowed towards his final resting place on the Isle of Iona, where generations of his ancestors lay. McCrimmon pipers played dirge after dirge throughout the voyage, as they sailed the eighty-five miles to St. Columba's Abbey on Iona, where past Chiefs now lay.
They landed on the east side of the island and William's body was carried by his men, led by Garreth and his mother, along the Walk of the Dead, to the Abbey. The priest blessed
William's body and the tomb was prepared for him, while he lay in state. Once finished, the procession made its way to the site and watched, as his father was interred into the holy ground and bade him goodbye for the last time.
He steeled himself to be brave and show no weakness, as he knew he was now to become the fourteenth Chief of his Clan. Julia wept openly and Garreth held his mother in comfort, as the stone door was closed, ending all physical connection to the once great man. The priest gave a final benediction to William and once back in the Abbey, blessed Garreth as the new Chief, granting him the power of the church in his new position.
The sail back to Dunvegan was made in silence, out of respect for William's passing, but it was welcomed by Garreth, as he considered what his new title meant to him. Once the birlinn docked and the procession made it up the sea-wall passage into the courtyard, Garreth knew in his heart, he had to drive away the joys of youth and adopt the ways of a Chieftain of his clan. He looked at his younger brother, Peadair and bade him to walk with him into the lands around the castle.
As they walked, Garreth shared his loss with his brother, but more importantly, made him his captain. Peadair stopped cold and stood looking at Garreth, realizing his brother's new position and now what was being asked of him. With complete confidence in Garreth, Peadair knelt and bowed his head to the new Chief. Garreth laid a hand on his shoulder and Peadair looked up to his face.
"Peadair, as much as I'm the new leader of oor clan, I ask that ye show me yer own strength. Should I fall, ye'll be gi'en the task of being Chieftain and it's up tae us tae lead our people well. Bear wi' me dear brother and do as yer asked and ne'er question my commands. Oor father has taught us well, but standing here wi' ye noo, I ha'e tae admit tae ye, that my heart is filled wi' my own doubts that I'll be as good as he was."
