Written In Stone

* ~
    "He's dead, Da," Duncan choked out, leaning over his brother some three hours later.
    Fergus leaned over his son and put his hand to his son's mouth and nose, then sighed with relief. "No, he lives." Fergus never felt so relieved about anything in his life. The thought of telling Maud her first-born son was dead was nearly as bad as was his son actually dying. It was going to be just as bad telling her Bettina was no longer with them. At least Muredach was still alive. For now.
    "Muredach, wake up!" Crinan shouted, slapping his brother's face lightly. "Come on, open yer eyes!" He demanded.
    Muredach slapped his brother's hand away and opened his eyes. "What're ye yellin' about? I'm awake!"
    "Come on, brother," Duncan said. "Let me help ye up."
    "I doona need yer help." Muredach growled and sat up. He saw Bettina, and a new wave of grief washed over him. "Bettina," he whispered, lifting her to him. He kissed her lips and held her tightly.
    "Mmm," she moaned against his chest.
    Muredach jerked upright and held her so he could look at her. It was then he noticed the wound in her neck was no longer there. He wiped at the dried blood to make sure — no sign of a wound. He looked down at his belly and wiped his hand over the place where the spear pierced him. It was no longer there, either.
    "Bettina, lass? Are ye alright?"
    "I am." She smiled up at him. "I was havin' the strangest dream…" Then she looked around at Fergus, Duncan, and Crinan. Seeing the shocked looks on all their faces, she looked at the bodies littering the valley. Looking back at Muredach, and the blood covering his tunic, her eyes went wide. "What happened?" she whispered.
    Fergus crossed himself. "Praise the saints," he said.
    Muredach looked at his father, then at his brothers. "What did just happen here, Da?"
    "I have not the foggiest idea. Come, let's get home. We've stayed too long here on Llewelyn land as it is."
    Muredach held Bettina on his lap as they rode back to the castle. Fergus held the spear safely wrapped in the furs across his lap. He would return it to the safety of its hiding place at the abbey. Once returned, Muredach planned to ask the priest about the strange things that happened. As soon as they reached their home, Muredach sent his brothers and father inside while he took the spear and Bettina to the abbey.
    Sitting with Father Mac, Muredach told him the entire story. The priest listened carefully, sat back in his chair and sighed, then began his story. "The legend of the spear 'tis said that when yer family came to have possession of it, it still had the blood o' Christ on it. 'Tis said the blood o' Christ is able to raise the dead. If legend be true, and we are convinced now that it is, when the Llewelyn threw the spear to kill ye, he dinna know that the blood o' Christ heals what the spear destroys. When ye touched yer wife's mouth with yer blood on yer hand, ye touched her with Christ's blood, healing her as well. Then ye kissed her and licked her blood from yer lips. Ye two have exchanged blood. Ye have come back from the dead with the power of Christ's blood. Ye are immortal, Muredach Mor. Both of ye."
    "'Tis impossible, father." Muredach laughed sardonically, shaking his head. "What mean ye immortal? We are not monsters!"
    "No, ye are not. But ye canna die now, except by the cuttin' off of yer heads. Watch," the priest said and held up a knife. Muredach grabbed Bettina to protect her, and the priest plunged the knife into Muredach's heart. Bettina screamed.
    Muredach looked down at the knife handle protruding from his chest, grasped it, and pulled it out. "It did not kill me!" He stared in amazement at the knife, now covered in his blood, then wiped it on his tunic and handed it back to the priest, who refused to touch it.
    "Ye canna die, lad. Neither can ye, lass," the priest said softly.
    "Father, keep this yer secret," Muredach requested.  "I consider it a confession."

EPILOGUE
     
    "From then on, everyone born into this family was like them," Gavin said. "Of course, Muredach and Bettina didn't know the extent of it at first. It took Muredach's father lying near death before either learned it was possible to heal another, and make them like we are. Then Muredach turned his brothers, except Findon who became a priest, and he turned his mother too. His brothers turned their wives, and that's how we came to be." Gavin concluded his narrative.
    "Oh, that's the most romantic story, Gavin." Angie nearly swooned. "So