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Gwyn was reminded yet again that it was a turbulent time both throughout the surrounding clans and even within their own. Never had she been so frightened as she was on this day. It was a clear indication to them all of the acute dissention within the Chattan.

She had been standing by the hearth within her chamber and heard the shouting come through her window and from somewhere below.

"Good heavens, are we under attack?"

She could clearly hear the unsheathing of swords and the angered shouts of men.

"Arm yourself!"

Quickly, Gwyn ran to the window as the shouts grew forceful and found herself peering down into the upper bailey which was doused in the late day sunshine.

There were clearly two men in the middle of the circle of clansmen who had drawn their swords upon one another.

It was not that they were armed and angered, what was most disturbing was they were wearing the same colors.

These two who were clearly about to engage, were both wearing the dark blue and green of the Chattan.

"You fool! You go against our laird and speak such words of treason? He has forbidden all such remarks from his clansmen!"

"No one is to call me a fool and live to tell about it!"

As the clang of the steel resonated loudly in the warm afternoon, the clansmen who stood most near began to circle their brothers.

Even from this distance above them, Gwyn could see the anger and the fear clearly inscribed upon many of their faces.

However, it was the stiffness of their forms and that each had their hands readied upon their own weapons that was most telling.

And of course, no one had interceded to prevent what was obvious to occur.

It was not until the one who was slightly smaller was being pushed back when another of the men stuck his foot out causing the first to lose his balance.

As his momentum carried him backwards, he sprawled upon the ground.

While two went to his aid, there were three more who stood by the other.

In that instant as the scrape of metal was heard when they all lifted their swords into the air.

Gwyn realized with a wretched heart it was now five more who brandished their blades.

"Oh, dear mother of God! Not now, and not against your own!"

While the angered voices now rang out loudly and were aplenty, very few words could be discerned as the shouting continued to proliferate. Gwyn stood in complete disbelief as the clansmen engaged fully and as if they battled a formidable foe instead of each other.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The words were shouted loudly and the bellow came from the direction of the stables.

As Gwyn drew her eyes immediately to that place, she watched as the Laird Errol came from the shadows of the doorway and out fully into the light of the day.

It was Iver and Donnan who followed closely and flanked his sides.

When those who were engaged did not even acknowledge the laird's words, the three men moved quickly towards those within the bailey. They pushed themselves through the circle of men and before all those who looked on.

"Stop this at once! I say put down your weapons immediately!"

Gwyn nearly cried out in horror as no one responded to the laird's presence nor heeded his words as those of the Chattan continued to do battle.

It was then when Iver and Donnan reacted, stepping forward and among the swinging weapons.

It took what felt like a long and drawn out period of time before their pure strength prevailed and one by one, each of the men were disarmed.

Gwyn felt a sigh of relief when all those involved were finally separated and the two who intervened were left seemingly unharmed. While she did notice from where she stood a few cuts upon many of their bodies, thankfully, no one was severely injured nor had given of their life.

It was not the outward signs that concerned Gwyn the most. She knew injuries such as these would heal presently.

Instead, there was so much obvious dissention among their own and it could be felt even when none of the warriors were near.

In turbulent times such as these in the Highlands of Scotland, Gwyn knew their own inner skirmishes could prove to be the most dangerous and telling of all that was yet to come.