Duncan smilled as she told him of her sisters ways.  He had indeed chosen wisely.  Alana seemed to be the one with the desire to work hard and make sure things were done.  Her sister wanted to always look good and seemed to want pretty things, much like he had been told of Lowlander women.  But he had a feeling that that was only a few, as Cirus' wife and Alana seemed to be the true way the Lowlander women were.  "Oh ye be able to do much as ye please."  he looked up at the sky and the bright colors as the sun began to set.  "Me mother does as she pleases, tending to the garden, sewing, and riding, what ever makes her happy."  As they reached the barn, he looked at her.  "Me thinks ye need to learn the use of the bow.  Like I said earlier, the women of the highlands know how to defend themselves and you should learn that as well.  I will teach ye on the way to the Highlands.  Tis not that hard to learn."  As she said good night to him he nodded and smiled :"Sleep well and I will see you early tomorrow."  he then  entered the barn where his men were laying out their bed rolls on the soft straw..<br/><br/>After laying out his bedroll, he brushed his horse down and talked quietly to him.  He was tired but he did not feel like he would be able to fall asleep for a while.  As his men settled down into their bedrolls he looked out the barn door at the night sky.  The sun had set and the moon was up and shinning brightly.  Not a full moon but a half moon, and it still lit up the night with the soft glow of its reflection.  "Well mother."  he whispered to himself, "Me thinks you will like her."  he chuckled.  She had worried he would not marry, even with several available highlander women that would have loved to be his wife.  He was about to turn and head to his blankets when he spotted the torches in the distance coming their way.  He stood there watching as the line of torches approached.  Who would be coming to the farmstead that time of night he wondered.  As they grew closer, he could tell they were carried by men on horse back.  The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he had a bad feeling about the approaching men.  "Up lads, trouble is a foot."  he called out softly to the others.<br/><br/>They rose to their feet and joined him at the door and looked out.  "English!"  Nathan spat on the ground.  Indeed it was English Soldiers.  A scowl appeared on Duncan's face and he slowly drew his sword.  The English had been raiding and killing along the southern boarder of Scotland for some time, trying to instill fear in the people.  These had come up further then that and it only meant they meant trouble.  The English rode up and formed up by the house.  One of them called out to the others , "Burn it all, and kill everyone.  There be no marriages between clans here!"<br/><br/>Duncan pushed the barn door open hard and began running towards the English with his sword at the ready.  He was followed by Angus and the others.  Halfway to the house, Duncan and the other Highlanders gave out their battle cries causing the English to turn and look in surprise at them.  They had not expected the Highlanders to have arrived so early.  Duncan and the others were among them in no time and five men fell from their horses before they could draw a weapon, their blood soaking the ground.  The horses were startled and moved about nervously causing the English to try and control them.  But most were able to draw swords, but it was to no avail.  Evidently these English had never fought Highlanders before.  They expected Scots that bore pitchforks and the like, not swords and know how to use them.  Some of the English were thrown by their horses and hit the ground hard.