Alan son of a Tanner moved to mainland Scotland from the Isle of Harris as a young man.  He found work in a small town south of Edzell near the borders.  He met Margaret Melvin.  A son was born out of wedlock and in order to escape the wrath of Margaret's parents they moved north to Brechin in Angus.  Both Alan and Margaret secured work there from Sir Joseph de Brechin as a wood cutter and Margaret as a cook.

After the death of Sir Joseph they both stayed in employment but under the new successor Sir Harry de Brechin.  Alan was trained in the skills of warfare and became a Sergeant of Arms within the Brechin household, where his main duties were to protect the castle and its inhabitants while the Lord was away.  Alan performed this with such dedication that Sir Harry granted him leave with his wife and child and through Sir Harry's connections they were able to travel to Europe and it was in Bavaria where Margaret was able to complete a life long ambition and learn how to create the finest banquets under one of Europe's most established cooks - Emilia Emhari. 

On their return journey home to Scotland, tragedy struck. They got caught up in a skirmish whilst they were in France and in all of the confusion they were parted from their young son.  They searched for weeks for their son but to no avail, he was lost.

They finally returned to Scotland, but quickly had to put their grief aside as aggression grew between Scotland and England and Sir Harry moved his household to safer grounds in the stronghold of Kildrummy castle in the north.  While Sir Harry was away with his comrade Sir Andreas of Thurso he entrusted Alan to safeguard his household as Sergeant of Arms, his main responsibility being to protect the Lady's who had been placed their for safekeeping.

It was whilst carrying out this duty that he was brutally attacked when checking a servant's entrance by Paul Brechin - half brother of Sir Harry.  After a desperate struggle Alan slumped to the floor with appalling injuries and Paul came closer to finish him off when suddenly Paulina Valois burst through the door followed by four Archers who were able to fend off Paul.

It took six months fro Alan to recover from his wounds, after which he was summoned by Sir Harry, to attend Stirling with him prior to the battle of Bannockburn.

Years later and now older Alan was out walking in the wood when he saw Sir Andreas of Thurso riding towards him with his cousin - Michael of Cromarty.  Alan new Sir Andreas well through his many dealings with Sir Harry and he gave the men a warm welcome.  Alan became aware that Michael was staring at him and instinctively he knew that he had seen these blue eyes before, when Michael, with tears in his eyes, approached Alan Sir Andreas with a wry smile stated 'Alan of Harris let me present to you your son'.