Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 23 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
Claire gets a taxi to the bottom of the stones. Naturally, the taxi driver is worried about her. It’s a long walk back to Inverness, and he doesn’t really understand why she’s up here. However, Claire makes it clear that he can turn back and leave her be. I’d love to know what the driver was thinking. Had he heard the stories of the people who go missing at the stones?
On the way up to the stones, Claire isn’t really sure what to do. She’s come all this way, but part of her still considers remaining in the 20th century. However, she also wants to see Jamie again. He is her heart and soul.
It’s not easy knowing that the trip is going to be painful. The first time she went through, it was all unplanned. The second time was for her and an unborn Brianna’s safety. This third time, she’s doing it all by choice. There’s nothing driving her but her pull to James Fraser, who may not even be Alexander Malcolm the printer. She doesn’t know at this point.
It’s going to take one thing to convince her that going through the stones is the right thing to do.
By the time Claire gets there, others are already waiting for her. Brianna and Roger are there, and Brianna is dressed as if she’s ready to go through the stones. It’s an awful color on her, but that doesn’t matter. Bree makes her intentions known.
If Claire can’t go through, then Brianna will. She will try to find Jamie, even if she ends up failing. She knows that Jamie deserves to know that she lived. But Bree would prefer it for Claire to go through knowing her mom isn’t happy without Jamie.
It’s a big moment for Brianna. This comes back off her comments about being selfish in wanting Claire to stay. Her thoughts weren’t really that selfish. They were understandable for a 19-year-old (she’s not 20 yet!) who had lost her dad just two years ago. She never made those feelings known to her mom, never prevented Claire from going.
This moment is huge. It’s a chance to show that she’s a grown-up. She’s going to miss her mom, but there are other people out in the world that need Claire. She also wants Claire to pass on a kiss to Jamie, her father.
And that’s it. Claire takes a step through the stones.