All the Highland clans attend the Earl of Mar’s annual hunting event at Braemar Castle, where the Earl makes an inflammatory proclamation.
Everyone gathers at Braemar Castle. There is going to be a tynchal put on by the Earl of Mar. Nearly all the clans are going to be there.
Ellen’s Decision
To save himself from Colum’s wrath, Dougal let’s slip about Brian Fraser and Ellen. Colum in enraged evoking their father who hated the Frasers. Colum plans to have Brian killed but Ellen assures him if he harms Brian or sets it in motion she will make sure the Grants turn on the MacKenzies. Colum gives his word with isn’t worth much as he still plans to have Brian harmed. Ellen gives her word she’ll break with Brian, which she only does to keep him safe.
Ellen also has to deal with Malcolm’s Uncle threatening her if she’s not true to her soon to be husband.
Ellen joins Julia in what seems to be the woman’s tent. Julia confesses she was forced to marry Simon Fraser. Julia says Brian and Ellen’s love reminds her of her love for Henry. Ellen thinks Henry is her lover, but Julia confides Henry is her husband. They became separated and was forced into her current marriage. She did it all to keep their baby safe. Ellen gets the protecting people no matter the cost.
Ellen and Brian plan to get away to see each other but when she arrives she tells Brian what they have isn’t love. Brian’s heart is breaking but Ellen is trying to keep him alive.
Rebellion
Malcolm is now the laird of Clan Grant. Malcolm and Ellen have a really touching conversation about losing their fathers. They understand each other in this—and it seems possible Malcolm and Ellen could be good together, if only she didn’t love another.
The Earl of Mar brings the heads of the clans together to announce the presence of Rob Roy. The Earl of Mar is basically throwing his lot in with the Jacobites. They are there to pledge to the cause. He’s giving them time to think it over without repercussions no matter what they decide.
Simon Fraser approaches Mar to tell him he’s sympathetic to the cause and plans to introduce his son who they will all be happy to accept. Uncle Mac Grant calls him out as a liar because of all the trouble Simon causes informing Simon Ellen was found to be pure.
Dougal, of course, wants to but Colum is reluctant to make a decision yet. And Rob Roy being excited Dougal was willing to donate a chest of coin informs Colum about what he did.
Uncle Mac declares the Grants Jacobites, which doesn’t make Malcolm very happy.
The Earl of Mar declare James Stuart King James VIII of Scotland and III of Wales, England and Ireland. But the top of the flagpole falls off, which could be an omen of the disaster awaiting this Rebellion.
Brian’s Heartbreak
Brian is struggling after Ellen’s denouncement of their love. When his father lashes out at him, Brian can’t take it and fights back. Simon beats on him and while Murtagh is upset with him, he’s clearly not comfortable watching Brian be abused. Simon denounces Brian and puts Murtagh in Brian’s place at the tynchal.
At the hunt, Brian ends up having arrows fired at him, Murtagh comes to his aid, saving him. Murtagh maybe angry with Brian but if someone’s going to kill him it will be Murtagh. The two ride off to safety.
Henry and Julia
The Beauchamp family is all in one place—well minus Claire who is still in the 20th century—and Henry gets a glimpse of his son under the guise of admiring Simon Fraser’s son because of the prophecy. Simon buys it.
Henry finds out Julia is married to Simon who believe William is his son. Brian sees this interaction and feels for the man’s distress. Brian takes pity on him and give him the truth of what happened.
Henry turns to Ned for help escaping and Ned agrees. Ned gets a message to Julia so the two can meet up and plan. When they do meet Henry assure her there is nothing to forgive as she did was she must keep their baby and herself safe. She tells him to comes to Leathers and she’ll leave a mark for him.
Unfortunately, we see that Seema, the prostitute, was overheard to their plan. Is she going to rat them out? Sadly, I suspect so.
