I, Immortal Chapter 1

I was born in the Highlands of Scotland. My mother, God rest
her soul, went into labor on the road and my father was unable to find anyone
to help. My mother could not wait for the next town, so she had me on a blanket
under a tree.
Sometimes I wonder if it would have make any difference if my mother
could have given birth in a bed with a midwife present. It is best not to think
such thoughts; the end could have been the same.
When I was five my father told me that my mother held me before she
died. At any rate, my father drove on to the next town where he gave me to a mother who had milk to spare, arranged burial for my mother, and also planned the trip back home to Ireland. They had travled to Scotland because my mother wanted to have me in the same room she was born in. Although her family had been killed in a clan war, the clan that lived there agreed to her wish.
My father never forgave himself for not making the journey sooner, but how could he have known? I was born two weeks early, there should have been pleanty of time for my mother to get the help she needed. But, like I said, it may not have made any difference either way.
My childhood was filled with laughter and freedom. My father, who had no idea how to raise a daughter, allowed me to run around with my brothers and their friends. I had four brothers and since I was the only girl, also the youngest, my brothers took it upon themselves to protect and watch over me. This always amused me since I was the best at swordfighting and could even best them in a fist fight at times.
My nursemaid, God bless her, was normally seen chasing me about, trying to get me to settle down, to act and dress like a lady. Unfortunetly for her, I thought it was more fun to dress and act like a boy and my father was not inclined to change my behavior. So I grew up wild and by the time I was 10 the local boys were terrified of me. I might have been able to keep my freedom, even after I started my monthly cycle, except for a cruel twist of fate.