We get more time with Lord John Grey and Jamie Fraser together in The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 28. This gives John time to fantasize.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lord John Grey fantasize about Jamie, or even anyone. He is a man with needs and wants, and each book reminds us of that. I’m glad we get a moment, even if it isn’t the most opportune time.
The chapter ends with John and Jamie back at Siverly’s home. It’s not going to go as smoothly as they hoped, though.
Breaking down The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 28
The chapter starts with John and Jamie heading toward Siverly’s home. John starts to look at the way Jamie looks. It’s such a distraction for John that he trips over a root. Jamie is able to catch him before he falls. This would be such a romantic moment if it was Claire and Jamie. It hits differently with John and Jamie.
After this, Jamie thinks about the past. He tells a story of when he was killing a deer, and just before he was able to say a prayer of thanks, he was alerted to a woman screaming in pleasure. He tells John about the Queen of the Fairies and how the fae are dangerous. There is a mention of 200 years and how the fae will reappear in a time when their loved ones are dead and gone.
We know that Jamie is talking about Claire in this. Lord John Grey is a little confused. For me, I connected back to Jamie and the fae in Scotland. I think we’ve all viewed Jamie as being smart enough not to believe in the superstitions of the fae folk, and yet, Jamie thinks about the Queen of the Faries. Sure, there’s a part of him speaking about Claire, but I think it’s also a reminder that Jamie is also superstitious at times.
When they get to Siverly’s home, there is a light on. Edward Twelvetrees is there trying to destroy Siverly’s papers. John and Jamie manage to salvage what they can and fight against Twelvetrees. Jamie gets a copy of the White Hunt poem and some names. It’s clear that the poem was a way to gather the people of the Rising together. Most of these men didn’t know each other, but would know their commitment to the cause.
With this thought, it did have me curious about Charlie Carruthers. Was he a Jacobite, or did someone give him the poem as ammunition against Siverly?
Could this chapter be used in a TV series adaptation?
This is another chapter that I would expect to be used if The Scottish Prisoner was developed. I’d want to see the whole chapter, including the walk through the night. This is so important for the connection between John and Jamie. John can tell that Jamie is holding something back, but it’s not dangerous. We know that it’s linked to Claire.
The part with Twelvetrees as Siverly’s home is a must. John doesn’t want to believe that Twelvetrees is a Jacobite, but this seems to confirm it. We’d need to see the fight and Jamie finding the poem and the names.
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