My New Scottish Novel!

Well, everyone, I am happy to announce that On a Foreign Field is finally available for purchase!! (Even a little earlier than I thought). It's also my first book available in both hardcopy and ebook. And I hope everyone is happy about the ebook because that was the most annoying thing I think I have ever dealt with (there will be a post on ebook formatting later), but I did it for my readers because you're who really matters at the end of the day =) Also, both versions will be on discount for the first month and lasting until the end of my blog tour (the full itinerary of which I will be posting when I have that information). Not only that, but Freedom Come All Ye and Ballad of the Highwayman are also discounted, (even if it doesn't say so, they do have a couple dollars taken off). And remember, ebook versions of those will hopefully be out within the next couple months! I'm working on it, and now that I know what to do, it will go a lot smoother. Also, I want to let everyone know that all my books are now available in the UK and Europe as well!




Here are the purchase links for On a Foreign Field


Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/3882345 (12.00 special right now!!)

Amazon/Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/On-Foreign-Field-Hazel-West/dp/1477493441/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/208817 (2.99 special right now!!)

Slainte, Hazel

Another Liebster Nomination!

Bonnets and Broadswords was just nominated for a Liebster Blog Award by Meg Hoover at Meg's Nature Photography Blog! My other blog, Character Purgatory, was nominated as well. (See here.) So I get to do this all over again.

Rules for the Liebster Blog Award

1. Each person must post 11 pacts about themselves.

2. Answer 11 questions the tagger has given you and give 11 questions for the person you tag.

3. Choose 11 people and link them to your post.

4. Tell them you've tagged them.

5. No tag backs.


11 Facts about Hazel West

1. My favorite writing snack is either cherry sours or animal crackers.
2. I've written three novels and four short stories about William Wallace.
3. I would love to go to Scotland someday.
4. I prefer to go book shopping instead of clothes shopping (in fact, I absolutely hate clothes shopping.)
5.I almost always wear jeans even though I live in sweltering Florida.
6. My favorite kind of shoes are boots.
7. I love hats.
8. I am currently accomplishing a writing goal by writing my first mystery novel.
9. I play piano, guitar, fiddle, tin whistle and bodhran (typical folk musician.)
10. I always wear some kind of ring on my fingers.
11. I shoot and English longbow.

Questions asked by Megan@naturephotographycorner.blogspot.com


1. What is your favorite appetizer?
Chips and salsa

2. If you could so anywhere is the world where would it be?
Scotland, hands down.

3. If you could be transported to a different time period in history when would it be?
Victorian to live in, otherwise, I'd say medieval Scotland.

4. What's your favorite hobby?
Besides writing, I like to paint with watercolors.

5. What's your favorite book?
Something by Rosemary Sutcliff. I don't choose favorites ;)

6. What's your favorite flavor of Ice Cream?
Mint chocolate chip.

7. What would be your idea of a dream vacation?
Going to Scotland, England and Ireland and having unlimited funds!

8. What is your dream job?
Pretty much what I'm doing. Being a writer and a freelance and getting paid for it.

9. What's the worst store you have ever shopped at?
Wal Mart. Does anyone think differently on this subject?

10. What's your favorite smell?
Leather, wood and evergreen.

11. If you were a multibillionaire what would you build?
My writer's retreat!!!


My nominations for the Liebster Blog Award (I hope it's okay that I use the same ones I did on my other blog)

Modern Papyrus
My Dog Ate My Manuscript
Sketch Thief 
Icing on the Cake

My 11 Questions


1. Coffee or tea?
2. What's the best book you read this year and what's the worst?
3. What's your favorite genre to read?
4. What's your favorite snack food?
5. Your favorite movie?
6. What's your favorite candle scent, or what would you love to have a candle scent of?
7. Your favorite vacation spot?
8. Your favorite article of clothing?
9. What's something you have always wanted to do?
10. Your favorite band?
11. What's a book you would recommend to anyone?

St. Patrick's Day 2012

Well, it just came to my attention that, while I have celebrated two St. Patrick's Days on this blog already, I have failed to write something about the history behind it!

Typically, St. Patrick's Day is just a saint's day commemorating St. Patrick who was the patron saint of Ireland. The reason it is quite well celebrated still today and so widely spread, is most likely the fact that it had a certain Irishness incorporated into it, such as wearing green, which started mostly in the 17th century.  This was only heightened during the 1798 Rebellion, where wearing green became more of a thing of patriotic pride than anything else.

Shamrocks were worn on St. Patrick's Day at about the same time green was; leprechauns, on the other hand, never have had anything particular to do with this holiday, and I think that's just some random things the American's threw into the mix. Leprechauns are simply characters from Irish folk and fairy tales. It's odd how random things like this get into the mix...

Here's a webpage that goes into the history of St. Patrick and St. Patrick's Day a bit: http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/historyofpatrick.htm

So, wear green today, do something a little Irish, and Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

Slainte, Hazel

Happy Burns Day! And The Second Anniversary

Hi everyone! I have several things to talk about today; first of all is that it's Burns Day, and I hope all of you having a Burns Night have a wonderful time and eat lots of haggis for me ;)

Here's your Burns Day song from me: Scots Wha Hae sung by the amazingly talented Scocha!

On another note, this is also the second anniversary of this blog! I really can't believe I have been writing for this for two years. It's been a lot of fun, and though I didn't do as much as I had hoped last year, I will not stop writing for Bonnets and Broadswords.

Due to my writing career, I regret to say that my posts will only be about as frequent as last year, but I will endeavor to post at least a couple things each month. This year, I am going to mainly be focusing on writing stories about legends or famous historical events that happened in Scotland. A lot of people enjoyed what I did for my Bruce month last year when I wrote short stories about some of his exploits. I want to do this again for other things, because I have come to a conclusion over my years of studying Scottish, and also Irish, history: The people and things that happened were really too beautiful or heartbreaking, or brave to be written into the typical textbook history format. They need to be told like the bards told them over the centuries. Who could come up with a story as heroic as the ones that Bruce and Wallace lived? Noble characters such as Montrose, and the real life Robin Hood, Rob Roy MacGregor? I love history for the stories and the people, and I want to keep it that way. There's nothing worse than someone beating the life out of history to study it. Do not study history: Enjoy it.

So that said, I hope that everyone has a wonderful year, and I hope to write at least a few wonderful stories that have caught my attention over the years in my own hand and carry on the long lost tradition of the Bards.

Slainte, Hazel

The Taking of the Stone of Destiny

While looking for an historic event that happened on Christmas Day in Scotland, the first thing that came to my mind was that Christmas Eve night in 1950 when four young people broke into Westminster Abbey, liberated the Stone of Destiny, and drove it back over the Border of Scotland.

The Stone of Destiny; the symbol of sovereignty in Scotland. Wherever the stone rested, there would Scotland be ruled, said the old legends. It was taken by Edward Longshanks during the Wars for Independence and brought to England, resting there for nearly seven centuries until a young man, Ian Hamilton, and three compatriots decided to take it back.

If you read Ian Hamilton's biography, Stone of Destiny, you find that he had grown up with stories of Bruce and Wallace and the devastation Scotland had suffered through the ages by many English rulers. Times in Scotland in the mid 20th century were hard, pleas for home rule kept being denied by Parliament; the people of Scotland needed a symbol to bring back their pride and Ian Hamilton and his three companions, Alan Stewart, Gavin Vernon and Kay Matheson decided they were going to take back the Stone of Destiny.

They planned for months, studying maps and layouts of the Abbey and procuring funds and everything they would need to do it. The entire story of the taking of the Stone is something right out of a fiction thriller, in fact, I've read fiction with less exciting plots! Going down to London in middle of winter, sleeping in freezing cars, nearly getting caught on more than one occasion, struggling to drag the stone out of the Abbey into their waiting vehicle... I'm not going to attempt to tell the whole story for I could not do the it justice here, so I would suggest highly that you all go and find a copy of Ian Hamilton's book. There's no better way to describe it than he does, for, obviously, he was there, and he lived it.

When they drove the Stone back over the Border, it was the first time the Stone had been back in Scotland since Longshanks took it in 1296. That Christmas Day in 1950 was one Scotland will remember for centuries to come as the day that true Patriots of Scotland won a victory as big as Bannockburn and brought hope back to the people.

They eluded the police for months, and probably never would have been found by them if they hadn't given the Stone back, putting it in Arbroath Abbey where the famous Declaration of Arbroath was signed by Robert the Bruce and his followers in 1320. The Stone was sent back to England, Ian and his friends were arrested, but never were put in prison, and Scotland was given the hope it needed to thrive once again.

And of course, now the Stone is back in Scotland where it belongs, having come over the Border in 1996 to much exaltation; then 1997 brought the Yes-Yes vote and Scotland's own Parliament.

So at the end of this post, I wish to quote that famous passage from the Declaration of Arbroath:

"For as long as a hundred of us remain alive, we shall not submit to the domination of the English. It is in truth not for glory, or honor, or riches that we fight, but for Freedom alone. Which no honest man gives up but with life itself."


Go read Ian Hamilton's book Stone of Destiny and also watch the wonderful film of the same name. Both are spectacular, and the fact that it's a true story only makes it more so.

Merry Christmas, and a Guid Hogmany to you all!

Alba gu Brath

Slainte, Hazel

Shortbread Galore

I just wanted to post a quick thanks to the people who sent me shortbread recipes, particularly, Karen and Mara who's recipes I tried yesterday and found they turned out quite wonderful! I even tried them on friends and we shared them over hot chocolate. Again, thank you very much! If anyone still has any recopies, you may send them, even any other traditional Scottish/Irish/English desert, especially surrounding the holidays would be a treat. =)

I feel terribly awful for not posting anything historical in a long time, but I have truthfully been so busy I have not had time to research. I usually wrote along the lines of what I was writing in novel form, but I have not been working on any particularly Scottish novels in a long time. However, I am planning a special Christmas post this week about a very wonderful, and amazing true story that happened on Christmas Eve and was to change Scotland forever. So keep a look out for that, and do have a wonderful holiday!

Slainte, Hazel

Wanted: Shortbread Recipes!

It's that time of year again. Autumn, Winter and--baking season! Because everyone needs a little extra fat to stay warm (and as long as you're diligent with your sword practice, there should be no blame!) Anyway, for a long time, I have been looking for the perfect shortbread recipe. I have one that tastes very good, but it's not the right consistency. It's too caky and not crispy or flakey enough. This holiday season, I'm asking everyone to share shortbread recipes or tips that will help me make the perfect shortbread! Because shortbread is at the heart of Scottish tradition and it's also very good with coffee!

If you want to share, just post it here, or if it's online, post a link. I'll be willing to try any suggestions that come in! I might even share a couple recipes this year as well!

Slainte, Hazel

My Own Q&A!

Hey dear readers! I wanted to let everyone know that I just started a Q&A Discussion Board on Goodreads where you can ask me anything you really want about my books as long as it fits under the discussion topics. I heartily invite all my readers to come and visit it, and if you don't have a Goodreads account, get one, it's free! And it's a lot of fun to. Anyone who gets a Goodreads account, has right to get a friend invite from me. (Feel special, people--just kidding!)

Here's the link: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/57625.Q_A_with_Hazel_West

Feel free to invite any of your friends as well. Get as many people as you can! Remember that if you are joining the discussions, check in to the introductions first! 

Hope to see you there!

Slainte, Hazel

Ballad of the Highwayman: ON SALE NOW!!!!

Huzzah, everyone! After a horrid week of editing and dealing with technical (as in technology) difficulties and waiting around for the website to work right, I am happy to announce that, after long last, Ballad of the Highwayman is up for sale!

You can find it here: https://www.createspace.com/3668163

Or down at the bottom of the page with my collection of book links. It will also be available on Amazon within a few days, I'll be sure to let you know when it gets there.

Please at least take a look at it and tell me if you do decide to read it.

So Stand and Deliver your gold and you'll get a good swashbuckler to read in return!

(Learn more at my author's blog: http://hazelwest.blogspot.com)

A Note to Bloggers All

All Right, so I've been trying to get my blogs out there through some of these blogsites like Stumbleupon and stuff like that. Stumbleupon is a good site and I have gotten several people from there already. Last night I tried to Fuel My Blog. As a word of advice, don't. They are "blog snobs" and they won't let you put your blog up for no apparent reason at all. I get the part about them asking if it contains adult content and all that, but they seemed snobby and rude and they don't even have a section for history blogs. They also say they need to review your blog before they put it on like it's some elite group or something and if they see this post, let them, I'm canceling my register. Yah, this is a rant, sorry, I just wanted to let you all know about this if you get the same idea.

Slainte, Hazel

Stirling: Proud Eddie's Army Gets Sent Home

So, aye, everyone, it's once again the anniversary of the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Exciting stuff there to be sure. I did a post on the actual story of it last year, so if you want to go read that, please do!

I still can't believe this is my second year of writing posts for you everyone, and I'm still not giving up, even though I've been a little slow lately. I've started an author's blog now and I've been trying to write for that. If you haven't already seen that, go and take a look, it's good fun ;)

But anyway, the Battle of Stirling. This was the first real battlefield victory in the Scottish Wars for Independence and truthfully the last until Bannockburn almost seventeen years later. Both proved many points. Wallace's victory at Stirling caused men to flock to his banner, hearts warmed to the fact that they could actually win against the English. Unfortunately, the disaster at Falkirk the year after, struck them back down to guerrilla warfare which, again, was not a total loss. Bannockburn, of course, won Scotland's freedom, but if Wallace had never fought on Stirling that day at the River Fourth, the Scots probably would not have had a hero to look up to in years to come. It is still, to this day, one of the Scots' greatest victories, made even more so in 1997 during the Yes-Yes vote that won Scotland a parliament of their own. Odd how history connects itself. This is why you remember your heroes, all my dear people.

So that's all I really have to say for now. Please, my friends, I'm still taking in Thoughts for Wallace so do not think you are too late. At any given moment, I would love to hear what you have to say about him.

Slainte, Hazel

My New AStore

Okay, so my cousin thought I should start an Amazon.com AStore which is something like this:

I choose things I like to put on it from Amazon.com and if you buy them through my store, I get a percentage of the selling. So I've put on some books I have talked about on my blog, and others that are some favorites of mine. There's a Scottish section that has books I recommend in history and historical fiction. I will be adding more things soon too, so there's not a lot on there right now, but there will be more soon. :) Please go and take a look anyway, and if you see anything you have wanted, buy it thorough my store!

Here's the link: Hazel's Picks

So, I'll be back some other time. If you have not looked at my new Author's Blog yet, please do.

Slainte, Hazel

My Author's Blog

Well, since I published my first book, I decided to start an author's blog now! It's mainly just for fun and laughs, but I hope to teach people a little bit about the history surrounding my novels and also share some of my favorite books and authors with you. I am also going to be giving out writing tips on occasion in a fun and very unacademic way.

The really fun part about my blog is that I'm going to be writing some of the posts from the point of view of my characters. I've even had them comment on the posts to make it more fun for you readers. The blog is also for you to get to know the characters more and have a chance to interact with them. (Truthfully, it's not as weird as it seems. It's all just for fun!)

So hop over to by new blog at hazelwest.blogspot.com 

Also, you know what I'm going to say, but I'm disappointed I only got one thought on Wallace for Wallace Day. Very sad about that. So I've decided to be nice (again) and give you another chance. If you can think of anything now, just let me know. Even if you just say something like "William Wallace is really awesome" I'll be happy. Because remember, Wallace is a character I used in my latest book and he's going to be writing in on my author's blog, so he would like to see what you say about him. ;-)

All right, I'll be back when I can think of what I want to write about next. Don't forget that the Battle of Stirling was fought on the 11th of this month! Hey, that's another good chance to write in about thoughts of Wallace!

Slainte, Hazel

Wallace Day & 100th Post!

Well, here's a good Wallace Day to everyone! And also, this is my 100th post on Bonnets and Broadswords! I really can't believe I have written 100 posts, as it's only been about a year and a half since I started. But enough about all my wee sentiments, today is for Wallace, and I think we all need to give a few minutes to remember how he gave his life for the freedom of Scotland.

Last year, I posted a poem I wrote and some of my feelings on Wallace. For want of repeating myself, I'll just suggest for you to look at last year's post and read it for yourself if you have not already.

This year, I have another poem for you. I hope to eventually get together a poem book, and maybe it will be out by Christmas, I don't know yet, but until then, here's a Wallace poem I wrote called Freedom's Champion

It was not for glory that he fought

Our Wallace, brave and true.

For he had only thoughts of freedom

When he stood under the White and the Blue.

Nor was it for fame he risked his life

And fought when no one else would

To free his land from the English tyrant,

For Scotland, he did all he could.

And neither was it for riches he defied

Cruel Longshanks the English king.

He rose and fought for his mother land

Like a valiant eagle on the wing.

Our Wallace was the bravest of men,

He fought with no reserve.

He defied England and its tyranny

For no false king would he serve.

Wallace was betrayed by Menteith

Who prized gold over his native land.

And sad was that awful day

When he was delivered into the Tyrant’s hand.

But Wallace was defiant to the last,

He would never give in.

He vowed to fight to his last breath

Never mind what they would do to him.

It was because of all this

That the men followed him true.

They followed him faithfully to the death

And made the English their deeds to rue.

And it was because of his noble deeds

That we remember him still.

The brave man who fought for his country

And never gave in to Longshanks’ will.

For, William, you were never forgotten,

No matter your thoughts back then.

You’re still very much in Scotland today

And fill the hearts of all the men.

This is a poem that will eventually grace the end of my upcoming novel, Freedom's Sword. If you haven't looked at my recent book about young Wallace, Freedom Come All Ye please do.

On another note, I am still looking for thoughts and I have only gotten one! I want to collect ten by the end of the month, so please tell me what you think about William Wallace. I spilled my heart last year, it's your turn this year!

So at least take the time to read a bit about Wallace today, read some poems, watch Braveheart or something and think for a few minutes about Scotland National Hero.

Alba gu Bragh

Slainte, Hazel

Stuff for Wallace Day

Well, Wallace day is next Tuesday, which for people who don't want to do the math is one week away. And I have still only gotten ONE thought from you readers regarding William Wallace (see post below) My goal is ten, so please don't be shy and tell me what you think!

But besides giving me thoughts, maybe you should treat yourself this Wallace Day with a bit of his legacy. You could buy my new book Freedom Come All Ye for example! (shameless plugging on my part, but hey, we all have to make a living.) If you have read all the other Wallace books like I have, then you should definitely add this one to your collection.

You could also get yourself a Team Wallace t-shirt from my Cafepress store. I just got mine yesterday, and am excited to wear it for Wallace Day. I regret the fact that I was too busy to add any more Wallace shirts, but Wallace never goes out of season, so I will definitely add some later on.

Also, I would like to give you a few book suggestions that are not written by me ;-)

Nigel Tranter's The Wallace for one. If you have not read this yet, go get a copy now, because it is the best Wallace novel ever written. Very accurate, and a good protrayal of the characters.

Another good one, though less known is Jane Porter's The Scottish Chiefs. I read this one a couple years ago and thought it was good. Several flaws: Wallace was blond. (I've nothing against blonds, just when they are William Wallace) Why? I don't know. But the book was written in the early 1800s, and that was the time when Wallace had resurfaced to become the "darling" of the time period. He was thought of more as an epic hero such as Beowulf than a national hero. It was this that bothered Sir Walter Scott. He loved Wallace as any true Scotsman does, but he did not like them practically worshiping him. Wallace would not have wanted that anyway. But the Scottish Chiefs is a very good book, you just have to remember the time period it was written in. Oh, but I did forget to mention that girl who fainted about twenty times...

So anyway, one last suggestion. David R. Ross' For Freedom a lovely combination of Wallace's legacy and David's own together. Talks about the Walk for Wallace in 2005 when David Ross walked from Robroyston to London on the rout Wallace was taken when he was captured and the commemorations the people of Scotland held for their national hero. Beautiful book, and if you don't have this one on your shelf either, you're sadly lacking.

Anyway, remember my dead line for Wallace thoughts is at the end of the month, so give me nine more at least! I write all this history for you and you never thank me! Just kidding (not really) :-)

So I'll be back later, hopefully before Wallace Day, but if not, I will be back then.

Slainte, Hazel

Wanted: Your Thoughts

Okay, everyone, I have to admit that I was very disappointed last year when I asked for your thoughts on William Wallace for Wallace Day and got nothing from you. This year, I hope, will be different (that was a non-subtle hint) My goal it to AT LEAST gather ten thoughts about William Wallace from my readers. I know people read my blog, but you seem afraid to comment. Why? I don't bite!

But getting back to Wallace. Everyone with any poetry in their soul loves William Wallace. He's a hero that has touched not only Scotland, but the world (due in part to Randall Wallace of course). So I want you to help me with my Wallace Day goal this year and tell me your thoughts on William Wallace. Even if it's just a short comment, I would love to hear it! By thoughts, I also include poems, personal experiences, short stories, or even a book review. See if you can find a book about Wallace I haven't read! (Maybe that should be another goal for you!)

I want to hear your thoughts by the end of the month, and if I don't get ANY people to write in, I'm just going to try again next year anyway, so you may as well do it this year! At least comment. But if you do happen to have any stories or poems (which I would really love to read) please email them to me at sirwilliamssquire@gmail.com

I would like to post all the thoughts I get on my blog, but if you do not want your thoughts published, just let me know and I will keep them to myself.

But really, my dear readers, I dare you to think of Wallace not not feel some form of amazement for what he did. He is one of the most inspiring people in history. So you see now why I want to hear what you think about him?

I'll be back later with more Wallace things and, hopefully some comments! ;-)

Slainte, Hazel

Book Update

Okay, I'm going to apologize to anyone who tried to look at my book webpage in the last couple days and couldn't get onto it. I didn't realize that I had password protected it. Not enough coffee in the last few days, I'm afraid!

So that's all fixed now, and you should be able to order a copy of my book if you so wish. You will have to make an account to do so, but it's not really anything different than Amazon or any other website that you order from. Besides, if you do, then you can buy my other books more easily!

So, I hope you're all having a good summer, especially you people who live in places where it doesn't get above 70F. (wish I lived there!) I will be back later to do some Wallace things, so keep checking back!

Slainte, Hazel

Freedom Come All Ye: UP FOR SALE!!!

Well, I am incredibly excited to announce that my first book is now up for sale! (YAY! play a peppy bagpipe tune everyone!) I talked about my book on my other blog The First Scribbles a while ago (too long ago) and now I have finally put it up for sale and before Wallace Day like I promised! This book is about William Wallace as a teenager and it will be a great thing to buy for yourself or a friend for Wallace Day (hint hint) It's really a young adult book, but there's no reason why anyone couldn't read it. There's nothing stupid or childish about it. It's simply my take on Wallace as a young man. A lot of my stuff from it is taken from Blind Harry because he's the only one who really talks about Wallace before Stirling Bridge. I added my own villain though, because I wanted a plot line! I think it's a good story, I'm happy with it, which means a lot, believe me, and I feel strongly about the characters. There's more historical people in it as well like John Graham, Marion Braidfoot and several others. So if you'd like to give it a go, it would make me really happy!

You can get my book from this link off of Createspace where I have it published:

Freedom Come All ye

It will also be available from Amazon in about a week, but it's the same price for you and I make more if you buy is from Createspace! Everyone likes to make money, you know.

So at least take a look at it, and if you do buy it, tell me what you think. If you really like it, maybe you can even go on Amazon and write me a nice review! Don't mean to ask too much, ye ken.

Well, I'll be back soon with some Wallace Day posts, I've been a slacker lately.

Slainte, Hazel

Happy 4th of July

Hey, everyone, here's a happy Fourth of July to all my American readers! Take a look at my post from last year where I talked about the similarities on the Declaration of Independence and the Scottish Declaration of Arbroath. It's always been amazing to see the likeness between the American and Scottish wars for independence. As a treat, I will be posting a short story I wrote a while ago on my other blog, The First Scribbles. Go read it and tell me what you think :)

Happy Independence Day, and let us not forget all those men who fought and died in the American Revolution and who signed their lives away on this back in 1775.

Slainte, Hazel

A Noble Heart

Well, This is the last day of June and thus, I am going to wrap up my Bruce month with one more post. I have been having a very good time writing these story posts this last month, and I think I will do more of these in the future.

Today, I'm going to give you another Douglas story. James Douglas died in Spain on a crusade, carrying Robert the Bruce's heart in a casket as he had asked him to. Bruce's heart now lies in Melrose Abbey where a round memorial stone reads: "A Nobel heart hath no ease if freedom fail."

The Moors had invaded southern Spain, and Douglas had gone to fight. A long time ago, he and Robert, now dead, had talked about going on a crusade. Robert had always wanted to go on one, but he had passed away before he had a chance to make that possible. Before he died, though, he asked Douglas if he would take his heart with him. So Douglas had a small casket made that he could carry with him and he set off on the crusade alone.

They had reached a small town called Teba in Spain where they were supposed to meet with reinforcements, but something went wrong and the Scots were attacked. Douglas thought in those few minutes that he was granted before he had to fight, that it was most likely foul play. But before he could think anymore, he turned to his men and raised his sword.

"Come, let us fight this day, companions. For Robert." He then took the casket from his tunic and, standing in the path, threw it toward the oncoming army. "Go forward brave heart!" he shouted. "Douglas shall follow you or die!"

The men shouted in agreement and they followed Douglas into the charge.

The Scots were horribly outnumbered and before long, James Douglas fell, wounded beyond recovery. He clasped the casket he had found again and sighed.

"It's a good thing we did not do this poorly winning Scotland, back, my friend," he said then closed his eyes.

Douglas's body was taken back to Scotland and laid in St Brides while Bruce's heart was put in Melrose Abbey and is still there to this day.

fin

I hope everyone has enjoyed Bruce Month as much as I have! I'll be back some next month and then I'm going to have to start thinking about August and Wallace again. I'd love to do a story request for the life of Wallace, so please tell me what your favorite Wallace story is and I'll try my best at telling it.

For now, though, I'm going to go back to my novel writing!

Slainte, Hazel