Dunluce by Lori Imdad (readict txt) 📕

Idea

When I began this story more than 2 years ago, it was just a dream really. I still haven't progressed much, but thought I would share for commentary what I have written so far. Below is the history of Dunluce Cast for your reference. When the idea for the story came to me, I did a little research on the castles of Ireland before selecting Dunluce. Also, I did some checking on the overall geographic area as well for the some of the travel that takes place in the story. I have not travelled to Ireland or Dunluce, so please forgive any errors that I may made unknowingly. 

Why Ireland?

You may wonder why I chose to base my story someplace I have never travelled to, but I have had a facination with Ireland for many years. In fact, although I have never been their my great-grandparents were born there. 

History of Castle Dunluce (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

In the 13th century Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, built the first castle at Dunluce.

It is first documented in the hands of the McQuillan family in 1513. The earliest features of the castle are two large drum towers about 9 metres (30 ft) in diameter on the eastern side, both relics of a stronghold built here by the McQuillans after they became lords of the Route.

In 1534, one of the child members of the McQuillan family claimed to have seen a woman in a white dress standing at the edge of the cliff, looking out at the ocean at sunset. He said he watched her fade into the wind. No one believed the child so he retrieved his eldest sibling out the next night to watch for the ghost, but it did not appear. Then in the early 1550s, many people claimed to see a woman in a white dress walking down the shore below Castle Dunluce at sunset until finally one day the McQuillan boy, now in his 30's, walked down to the shore and tried to speak with the ghost. After that, it stopped. No reports have ever been made of seeing the woman again.

The McQuillans were the Lords of Route from the late 13th century until they were displaced by the MacDonalds after losing two major battles against them during the mid and late-16th century.

Later Dunluce Castle became the home of the chief of the Clan MacDonnell of Antrim and the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg from Scotland. Chief John Mor MacDonald was the second son ofGood John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, 6th chief of Clan Donald in Scotland. John Mor MacDonald was born through John of Islay's second marriage to Princess Margaret Stewart, daughter of KingRobert II of Scotland. In 1584, on the death of James MacDonald the 6th chief of the Clan MacDonald of Antrim and Dunnyveg, the Antrim Glens were seized by Sorley Boy MacDonnell, one of his younger brothers. Sorley Boy took the castle, keeping it for himself and improving it in the Scottish style. Sorley Boy swore allegiance to Queen Elizabeth I and his son Randal was made 1st Earl of Antrim by King James I.

Four years later, the Girona, a galleass from the Spanish Armada was wrecked in a storm on the rocks nearby. The cannon from the ship were installed in the gatehouses and the rest of the cargo sold, the funds being used to restore the castle. MacDonnell's granddaughter Rose was born in the castle in 1613.

At one point, part of the kitchen next to the cliff face collapsed into the sea, after which the wife of the owner refused to live in the castle any longer. According to a legend, when the kitchen fell into the sea only a kitchen boy survived, as he was sitting in the corner of the kitchen which did not collapse.

Dunluce Castle served as the seat of the Earl of Antrim until the impoverishment of the MacDonnells in 1690, following the Battle of the Boyne. Since that time, the castle has deteriorated and parts were scavenged to serve as materials for nearby buildings.

Thank you

My sincere thanks for reading my small story (so far) and I hope you enjoy it. 

Lori Imdad

High above, as the ocean swirled and churned, crashing against the rocks that made up the shore below Castle Dunluce of North Antrim in Northern Ireland, Lady Evelyn stood looking out over the expanse of the sea. The view from the top of the towers was as breath-taking as the view of the castle itself. The castle stood strong crowning the basalt cliffs that made up its foundation, an outcrop from the White Cliffs that also formed a wall of protection around the castle. She recalled her grandfather telling her how the Normans came to Northern Ireland many years ago and it was they who had built the oldest part of Dunluce. Later our family came and completed the Castle for our residence.

This morning the clouds were spinning overhead and the winds were fierce which somehow matched her spirits. Her capes billowed while her golden curls blew in every direction as she stood stoically. The dark sea seemed to throw wave upon wave against the rocks, each crashing more violently than the last. It was as though it was taking out its grief on them knowing that she was leaving and were fighting against it.

Right now, she could find no other solution to the problems she faced, and that is why she knew she had to leave and today was the day she had chosen. Her husband, Colla, had died nearly six months ago now. She missed his support and now that their enemies were all lining up to vie for their lands, she felt the pain of his absence even more. She missed the quiet rhythm of Castle Dunluce and their comfortable life together. As had happened in the past, she knew that nearby clans would lay siege to Castle Dunluce in hopes of winning the coveted title of Lord of the Route and the lands that accompany it. She knew that the Castle was not prepared for a siege. Firstly, a siege could go on for years and she and Colla had not built up their food stocks nor the supplies that would be needed to survive an extended siege. Of course, the losses they would sustain would be senseless, since none of it really mattered, unless Queeen Elizabeth agreed to appoint the winning clan as Lord of the Route. Moreover, the Queen wasn’t likely to permit her to retain Castle Dunluce in her present, unmarried state as it was a strategic point of defense for the crown.  Her father had been able to keep Dunluce in the family only through her marriage to Colla and now he was gone.

For Lady Evelyn, Castle Dunluce wasn’t merely her marital home and that’s why it tore at her insides to leave, it was the only home she had ever known. She had grown up inside the many rooms of the Castle -- playing with her brothers, learning her lessons, and being trained by her mother to manage a household. In her mind she knew it was simply a building made of stone, wood and sand, but her heart still ached.  Leaving Castle Dunluce meant leaving all her memories behind.  How could she leave the home where she had been born, as well as where, her father, Edward, and his father before him had been born?

Her mind reeled when the thought that soon she would walk out the castle doors, perhaps forever hit home. She closed her eyes breathing in deeply, memorizing the smell of the air here, the feel of the mist blowing off of the sea below, and the booming sounds of the waves below.  "Everything would be alright", she told herself. She breathed in again steadying her churning emotions. 

She pleaded with Lord Colla to fight to live, but she could see that he was losing the battle even then. He would nod and whisper words of comfort to her. “Aye there, lassie, Colla will be with you forever, don’t worry.” or “Tsk, tsk you’ve gotten dark circle ‘neath your blue eyes, go take rest”, she couldn’t leave his side. Each day he grew weaker and frailer. She called the village doctors and they had given him brewed herbal remedies and applied poultices, but none of these had helped. One day he didn’t awaken and his breathing became raspy, she knew then that he was leaving her. Within days he was gone from her forever. His death nearly killed her as well as him. She was so distraught she wouldn't eat and couldn't sleep. do so.  She was glad he had insisted, especially now

In the days following his death, the castle routine went unchanged. While she grieved his men continued the routine he had put in place. After a few weeks, she began taking on Colla’s responsibilities. None of their army felt his absence because she maintained everything just as he had, just as they had together.

Night time was the hardest for her. She would climb into the huge bed she had shared with Colla and stare at where he used to sleep next to her. Just before sunset she would sleep for an hour or two before the trumpets sounded at dawn. She was shattered and lonely; only the daily routine of the castle kept her going.

After seeing to her morning tasks, she would spend a few hours in the chapel; praying and seeking answers from God. On days when she could she would travel to St. Cuthbert’s Church nearby to meet with the priests or to request the Monks to offer special prayers for Colla. The rest of the time she trained with the men, met with the castle administrators and saw to all the matters that pertained to the castle running smoothly.

As days passed her sleeping pattern improved, but she still felt very connected to him. Some mornings she would partially awaken, turn towards him reaching out to touch him. When her arm encountered the coldness of the bed beside her, her eyes would open and her heart would remember he was gone. He would visit her in her dreams and she still had discussions with him in her mind, though one-sided. He was still very much a part of her. She knows heart will never forget him and she couldn’t imagine any other life than the one she’d had with him. She is thankful for the time she spends training with the men as this has provided a comforting, routine distraction.  

Lady Evelyn of Dunluce knew she was no weakling. Even though the loss of Colla has made her sad, she is still a strong and determined leader. Her father and Colla had made certain that she had all the skills necessary and the respect of their army. It was frustrating, that although the Castle had been given to Colla by the crown, now that he was gone she had no right to it. Irish law dictated that a widow could not inherit her husband’s property and she knew the crown wouldn’t accept a woman as the Chieftan of the Route due to it being a strategic defense point. She also knew it would