Some of my ancestors....
Fought in quite a special Clan War with their dearest rivals, the unsavoury Clan Keith. It may possibly have been the last clan war ever in Scotland but I can't confirm this either way. What is certain is that the Keiths (boo) and the Gunns (yay), have always hated each other.

So anyway, a fine lass by the name of Helen of Braemore was betrothed (fantastic word!) to Alexander Gunn. She was also known as "The Beauty" of Braemore, and her looks were envied and admired across the Highlands. The insidious Dugald, Chieftain of the Keiths held an incredible fancy for our Helen, and made an unsavoury approach towards her. Upon embarrassing rejection, Dugald plotted revenge. On the night before the wedding the Keiths without warning set upon the relatives of the Bride and Groom, who were enjoying the obligatory pre-wedding celebrations. Alexander was brutally slain, although he put up a brave resistance, along with many family members. Helen meanwhile was abducted and imprisoned in Ackergill tower.

While imprisoned, how shall I put it, she fell victim to the insidious and disgusting Dugulds lecherous and licentious behaviour. In despair the Beauty of Braemore threw herself one fateful night from the tower, to her death.

After further years of conflict following this sad event, it was eventually agreed that once and for all their differences would be decided at a Chapel called St Tears - the Battle of Champions, with 12 horse on either side.

The 12 Gunns first appeared and seeing the lack of Keiths, entered the Chapel to pray. But those dastardly Keiths in a "Usual Suspects" like twist - entered the fray with 2 men per horse-back, doubling their number. Into St Tears they entered, and under the altar slaughtered every one of their foe, although sustaining equal if not more casualties of their own.

But don't worry Gunn fans, one of the relatives later murdered the Chieftain of the Keiths in revenge, piercing his heart with an arrow and uttering the immortal: “Iomach gar n’ Guinach gu Keith;” that is, “The Gunns’ compliments to the Keiths.”

**Edit - *ahem* these are of course distant relatives, with the battle being fought in the 1400's.....
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 15 Jul 2009, 23:03, Reply)