Outlander Book Club: Written in My Own Heart’s Blood Chapter 57 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Ian confused by Jamie waking him up. Ian thought he’d found a good hiding spot to sleep, but Jamie has found him. I think that says a lot about Jamie knowing his nephew well enough to know where he’d sleep.

Ian is awoken from a dream that he can’t understand yet. There was a raven but it turns to a white bird. He knows that dreams have meanings, but he needs to figure this one out. Does it bode well or bad for the upcoming battle?

As he gets into the camp, he sees Rachel waiting to get water. The topic of Ian having to kill people comes up. Ian promises to only kill if he really must, and I think Rachel understands that she can’t completely change him. That doesn’t mean she has to like him killing.

Later, Ian sees Denny and Dottie. Denny would like Ian to come to a Quaker meeting that night in Jamie’s tent, which Ian agrees to. When Ian finds Jamie, the topic of the Quakers getting to be peaceful people only because of men like Jamie and Ian comes up. They both know it, and Denny knows it too. It will take time for others to really understand that.

Ian now uses the chance to ask Jamie about making love to a virgin. This is something that he’s never done, and he wants it all to be pleasurable for Rachel. I love that he’s thinking of it being good for his soon-to-be-wife, and I love that he turns to Jamie for this.

Jamie doesn’t bring up Geneva. He keeps his focus on Claire, who once told him to be slow and pay attention, and we know that’s what Jamie did. Was Claire slow and gentle with Jamie? Not at all, and I can’t help but laugh that this whole exchange.