It began that cold, winter night that lava and I entered Castle MacLaaran for the first time. It was dark and eerie as We headed up through the forest to the castle. I could feel her shaking and I knew she was afraid, but I was determined to find shelter and food if possible. ….

We followed the path to the drawbridge that extended over the moat. It was down, so We walked across and found the small entrance door unlocked.

The Great Hall was empty and cold. There was a stack of wooden logs and some small kindling there, along with a flint to strike a spark, so I lit a fire. We huddled up on the soft rugs to get warm…..

There were those typical eerie sounds, the creaking in the rafters and the wind outside, but nothing really frightening. After finally warming up a bit, we lit a torch and ventured into the scullery searching for food.

To My surprise, the scullery was well stocked and lava soon had a fire going and dinner on it's way. While she was cooking, I wandered around the hall, lighting a few of the sconces and studying the various paintings of Lords and Ladies.

I returned to the fire as lava brought out a steaming bowl of beef stew, fresh bread and a tankard of ale. We hungrily wolfed down the food, Our first real meal for several days. That night We made love, and then since We were both dead tired, We just fell asleep on the rugs by the fire.

The next morning, after an early breakfast, We wandered around the second floor hall, but saw not a soul. We left the castle and spent the day touring the local area.

There was a small village nearby, but We chose not to enter in Our bedraggled condition. I decided that there was no point of drawing undo attention. We returned to the castle at nightfall, just as the mist began to encompass the castle towers.

Again there was no one around, so We ate before the fire and discussed Our luck in at least finding food and a safe place to sleep.

It was while We were sitting there talking that she walked into the hall. It was the weaver of dreams, and she told Us we were welcome here and that there were empty chambers on the upper floors that We could use to rest. I said we had no gold to pay for Our keep and she smiled. "You can earn Your keep here, M'Lord."

That night we found an empty chamber on the second floor across the hall from dreamer's and settled in with only a few old woolen blankets.

My mind, constantly on the alert ever since leaving the disaster in My old home in Athelhampton, woke Me that night with a little start. It sounded like a woman crying. I woke lava up and We listened quietly.

It had to be someone roaming the halls. I opened the door carefully and peered out, just in time to see what looked like a filmy white gown as it disappeared, starting down the stairs to the Great Hall. …..

We dressed quickly and followed her. When We reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught a glimpse again of the filmy white gown as it seemed to float out of the Great Hall in the corridor leading to the Entry Hall and the drawbridge. Where could she be going dressed like that??? …..

We followed, just in time to see her turn left and silently walk through the wall. We moved closer, lava beginning to tremble at My side. "How did she do that, Master? Or….. was that a ghost?"

Feeling along the wall, I found what turned out to be a secret door. It was made of stone and looked just like the wall, "She went through here!"

I tried to open the door, but found it locked. I took a small blade from My pocket and expertly picked the lock, a trick I had learned as We struggled for survival on Our way north. The door swung open …. *ccccrrrrreeeeeaaaaaaaaak*

"Well she didn't open that door," lava said, shaking like a leaf now. I knew lava was right. We would have heard the door open. I hesitated, the fear of ghost tales I had heard in My youth suddenly seeming very real, but My curiosity forced Me onward.

It was a long dark narrow hall, so I took one of the torches off the Entry Hall wall and We crept down the hall as quiet as possible.

The hall turned left and led to another door, which again was locked. Using my blade I opened it. Inside was a dimly lit dungeon. ….

As we crept inside, she suddenly appeared, the filmy white gown gone.

"Good evening. I am Princess JoAnna MacLaaran, the daughter of Laird Andrew MacLaaran, the original owner of Castle MacLaaran."

I stared at her, knowing that was impossible. This castle surely had to be over 300 years old.

She turned and pointed at the St Andrew's Cross.

"I refused to marry the man My father chose for political reasons, Lord Winford. My true love, Sir Godfried, had little property left and was deep in debt. My choice angered My father and He restricted Me to the Castle as punishment."

"The first time My father was away, Lord Winford entered the castle and tried to force Himself upon Me. I kneed Him in the groin and ran, hoping to hide in the secret hallway down here. Obviously, I had not hurt Him badly enough. He caught Me just as I entered the dungeon, stripped me to the undergarment You see now, and fastened Me to the cross."

She stared at the cross. "He not only used Me, He forced Me to enjoy the vile act. Then He left Me hanging there. By the time My father returned, it was too late. I had bled to death. Ever since, I am forced to haunt the halls of MacLaaran, hoping to find My lover so We can both have eternal peace."

I just stared, finding this impossible to believe. My lava was trembling at My side. The figure before us seemed to drift into a misty fog and disappeared…..

After meeting the lovely, but haunting Castle MacLaaran ghost, Princess JoAnna MacLaaran, I decided We needed to find a way to help her if it was at all possible.

I visited with Our Friar Henry, discussing various ways to appease a ghost. We agreed it might be feasible, but that we needed professional assistance. The Friar had traveled far and wide and remembered the name of a Mac MacGregor who had resolved ghost problems in several Scottish castles.

With lava in tow, I set off in search of this MacGregor. In several weeks time We picked up His trail and found Him in a small village living with a young servant lass named emma. ….

At first he was hesitant to leave those pleasant surroundings, but as I spent the evening describing the situation, I could see His curiosity increasing about this now famous ghost. He eventually agreed to come witness this ghost Himself, if MacLaaran would provide free room and board for Them both. I agreed heartily and We spent that night there in their cottage with Them.

Upon Our return, I put Them up in the spare chamber next door to Mine on the second floor. That way we could alert each other when JoAnna was up and about.

lava showed emma around and she was soon able to fend for herself and was even a help, offering to serve when the hall was crowded.

Sure enough, we had a full moon on the first weekend that they were here, so Mac and I sat up sipping scotch and discussing previous ghosts with which he had dealt. At midnight I heard the first sounds and raised a hand to silence Mac.

We listened to those soft cries and I could see lava comforting emma, telling her that this female ghost was quite harmless. We waited till the sounds of her movement were right outside.

Mac very quietly opened the door, showing no signs of terror or surprise. There she was ….. she turned and they stared at each other for what seemed an eternity, neither of them moving, as if measuring each other.

Mac spoke first….. "Good evening, I am Mac MacGregor"

"I know …… " I am JoAnna MacLaaran. …. Have you really come to help, or just to stare?"

"That all depends," He spoke in that soft, reassuring voice of His….. "Do you really want My help? … If You do, anything is possible."

"Have they explained My problem, Mac MacGregor?" she spoke almost as calmly as He had.

I glanced back at emma, still shivering in lava's arms. Obviously this was her first direct experience with a real ghost. I wondered if Mac ever told her about some of His past experiences.

Mac smiled, "Yes, I understand You are searching for Your dead lover."

"There is no way I can rest until I have seen Him one more time."

"Have you been to His grave?" He asked.

"His grave? …. I have no idea where He was buried."

Mac never changed the soft tone of His voice, "I found the grave of a Sir Godfried in the cemetery behind the MacLaaran Abbey."

What little color there was seemed to fade from her cheeks, "I have never left the castle."

"Follow Me then, " and Mac just walked slowly out and through Her as if She did not exist. .She turned and followed Him like a puppy trailing behind a parent. I told the lassies to remain, then stayed behind a good ten yards, just as He had instructed Me.

We walked across the drawbridge, turned left and up the narrow road. Although there was a full moon, the hovering mist still made it quite dark.

He led Us across the small bridge and into the Village…..

We turned left and walked past lava's Gift and Avatar Shoppe. The Princess stopped there and with a tear on one cheek stared down at the wedding bands in the window. Mac never rushed Her. She finally looked up and nodded …. We were off again.

The right turn took Us up past the new Abbey and the Recovery Center for the Poor. The old cemetery was on Our left, just beyond the Abbey. The new Abbey had been built further south, to avoid damaging what was perceived as sacred ground.

Mac led the way through the old weather worn crosses and stones. In spite of Myself, I shuddered, but kept walking, remaining the prescribed ten steps behind.

He pointed down to a stone so old and so weathered it was difficult to read. Roughly carved in the stone was the name …. Sir Godfried Douglass.

I could see her begin shaking as She realized for the first time that He was truly dead. I waited, wondering what might happen next.

Mac spoke, this time quite clearly, "Speak to Him…. Tell Him that You are finally here."

The Princess dropped to her knees in the dirt, leaning on the stone in tears, but finally spoke in a trembling voice, "Oh Godfried, I am sorry, so very sorry that I allowed that terrible man to take Me like that…. Can You ever forgive Me?"

To My utter amazement, a mist appeared before the grave …. then He appeared! …. The ghost of Sir Godfried Douglass.

He seemed to reach out for Her as She rose, and the two of them walked off into the mist ….

To this day, we still hear noises late at night that make Us remain in Our beds. Yes, we have seen Her on several occasions here, when the moon is full and the castle is quiet late at night. You might even see Her Yourself ….. later tonight while snug in bed as She roams the castle, although now She often has a satisfied smile on Her face. True Love Never Dies

*smiling and returning to My leather chair*