by Ria Cantrell
Kiera looked around and tried to get her bearings as to which direction she should next walk. She heard her name again and this time, she really felt a chill at the sound of it. Pulling the furred hood closer about her face, as if to protect her, she trudged forward. Light did not filter as much through the densely canopied woods and so the shadows played shifting games with her mind.
“Just to the tower and then I will turn back. I can do this.”
Kiera stopped to listen to the sounds and found it to be eerily quiet. There were no more caws of crows or other woodland birds. She did not hear so much as a snap of a twig of any forest animals that may be lurking within the ancient trees. Kiera thought that seemed odd. Normally there would be some little creature that would skitter about in the underbrush. Shrugging to herself, Kiera pushed forward through the trees. She thought she would just go where she felt drawn and after a few more long moments, there camouflaged among vines now greying with the oncoming winter, Kiera saw the shimmer of stone of Derek’s tower. She tiptoed closer and she did not say a word for she was not sure if he could hear her. With the silence of the woods, any sound she made would seem like thunder, she supposed.
Despite the thorny vines, Kiera moved forward and outstretching her arms she embraced the cold granite of the tower. She murmured words of love and tried to will healing and hope beyond the fortified walls. She stayed like that for a few minutes just trying to feel her husband’s life force within, but strangely she did not. As she pushed herself from the coolness of the stone, she stopped dead in her tracks. She felt the point of a blade pricking the back of her neck. It seemed to pierce right through the fur and fabric of the cloak. Her heart almost stopped in fright until she heard the familiar voice of Derek growling behind her.
“Who are ye’? Be ye’ spirit or foe?”
With her hands up she stepped back and looked over her shoulder. There was no tenderness in his eyes. He seemed hell-bent on killing her with one blow. Steeling herself to face him, her hood fell back and she slowly turned to meet his eyes.
“I am neither. Do you not know me?”
Kiera thought she saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes but it was fleeting. The lethal tone of his voice was enough to send her running, if she could. Instead her legs felt weighted down and she was rooted to the spot, with a broadsword jabbing very close to her carotid artery. She gulped and saw how he delighted in her fear. Morag was right. This was not the man who had nearly died to protect her.
“Should I ken ye’, Madame? Who has sent ye’? What sort of trickery is this now that those blasted Ancients set upon me?”
Kiera cringed at his curse. She knew it could only make things worse for him. Kiera said, “Please do not say that. They are only trying to help you.”
Kiera regretted those words the moment they left her lips for they seemed to enrage Derek. Fury smoldered in his dark eyes and for a moment she felt like she was facing the devil himself. How different anger made him look. While he was still her gorgeous Highlander, with the cold ire wrapped around his heart, his visage seemed, well, positively evil. She wanted to tell him to take heart that they would have a great life together, but there were no words that would penetrate the horrible malice that surrounded his heart. If he killed her now, there would never be a chance for him. They would never meet in the future. Oh God, how she wished she had heeded Morag’s warning. What have I done?
Kiera murmured, “Please, just let me go and I promise I will trouble you no further.”
“Why should I let ye’ go?”
If you don’t, you will ruin everything. Not to mention your soul will forever be tormented. Think! What had Morag said about his time in captive suspension!
“Has one been foretold of your redemption?”
If his expression could be any blacker, it surely became so at her words. “What do ye’ know of it? Are ye’ she? Torment me no further, then.”
“I c-can’t, not now. But you must know that killing me cannot help things.”
“I know nothing of that sort. If you were sent by the Ancients, I should like them to see what their folly has gained.”
“Please don’t do this, Mo Anam Cara.”
As she spoke those words, my Soul mate, a strange look broke his features. The hand holding the sword released the hilt and it clattered to the forest floor. He murmured, “I’ve been waiting fer ye’ lass. Ye dunna’ know how long….”
Where had he heard those words before? What the hell was happening to him? He shook himself. Madness was surely a possibility as a result of his punishment. With a hard stare returning to his eyes, he looked back at the woman. She was beautiful. Just as he was about to reach for her, the hag stood between them.
“It is nay time, lad.”
Turning to Kiera, Morag said, “What have ye’ done? Go before he changes his mind and skewers ye’ alive.”
“But….”
“Go, or yer’ future will be no more.”
As Kiera turned to look at Derek one last time, she saw he had disappeared. Swiping at the tears on her face, she trudged through the trees with Morag tailing closely behind her. Mist seemed to be rising and as it swirled at her feet, Kiera felt suddenly very afraid. The thickening fog was preventing her from seeing openings in the woods clearly. She turned to Morag and said, “Please! Please help me.”
“Ye’ did nay heed my warning. There are consequences for yer’ foolish choice. Ye’ have angered the Guardians. I pray it is nay too late.”
“I only meant to be near him. I did not intend to speak to him. I just wanted to feel close to him. I have missed him so much.”
“I warned ye’. Were ye’ nay afraid when ye’ saw what he was here?”
Kiera would be lying if she said she wasn’t. What she saw in Derek scared the life out of her. She could find none of the man that she loved and trusted. This was the deadly warrior that had no heart for love. He wanted to kill her. He would have, too had Morag not intervened.
“How--how did you know that I ….”
“That ye’ were going to be a fool and endanger that fragile destiny that ye’ had fought so hard to attain? Ach, women are such foolish creatures indeed. I knew ye’ would do no less than I had done when I learned my man was going to be harmed.”
“Where is this mist coming from, I can hardly see one step in front of me?”
“Take hold of my hand and follow me. I trust ye’ have learned nay to play with that which ye’ dunna’ understand. The Guardians dunna’ like when their plans are disturbed. I will take ye’ back. Ye’ must go home and I pray that what ye’ have done does nay change yer’ destiny.”
~~~~~
The time ticked by slowly as Tom waited for daybreak. He was having a Night of the Soul, so to speak. It had been an emotional rollercoaster while he weighed out the choices before him. He had so much to think about. He needed to make a decision and he had a feeling it was going to be needed to be done sooner than later.
There were so many things to consider, but every time he had thought he had it figured out, he found another reason to either stay or leave. Tom thought if a person’s heart could actually hurt, his did at this moment. A deep cutting pain kept nudging below his ribs and he just did not know what to do.
It kept coming back to one thing. Jenna! Every time he thought he could return to his life as it was; the thought of leaving Jenna in the past made him feel physically ill. She would not only be dead for centuries once he arrived back home, but she would not even be more than dust. Tom just could not fathom that and when he imagined himself back in the twenty-first century, alone and without her, he pretty much felt like he would die a slow tortured death from having lost her forever.
Tom folded the piece of parchment and he knew what he had to do. His heart ached because either way, he would lose people who he loved so dearly. The letter he had written in the early hours of the morning by the light of a lantern would explain everything. Now, he would have to face Jenna but first he would need to
find Kiera.
~
Chapter Fifty-Four ~
Morag faced the woman who stood with her head hung down. Her lashes dripped with tears that continued to fall because of her encounter with Derek Campbell as he was in this time. Morag’s heart was moved to pity for the woman and she said, “There now, ye’ will be home soon. The full moon rises by nightfall on the morrow. I will take ye’ back and all will be well.”
Morag hoped that those words were true because even she could not tell what the consequences would be after today’s recklessness. She prayed that the Guardians would let it rest so that Kiera could go back to living her life with Derek, where she belonged. She said, “Dunna’ weep, lass. We all have made mistakes. I am the least to chastise ye’. I am only glad I came when I did. I knew ye’ needed my help.”
Kiera wept outright. It seemed she could not make the tears stop.
“It’s not that I am worried about the outcome because of what I had done, for I had only done it with love in my heart. If the Guardians fault me for loving the man they deemed me to love, then so be it.”
“What, then? Why are ye’ so distressed, lassie?”
Kiera sobbed. “Be-because he…he did not know me. Because he wanted to kill me. Because he was so angry. I thought I had seen him at his worst but what I saw today, made me realized I did not even know him at all.”
Morag patted the woman’s arm and she said, “I tried to tell ye’, Kiera.”
Raising tearful eyes to Morag, Kiera said, “Why did you plead for his life? He was a monster.”
Morag sighed. “I know ye’ think that now, but ye’ must forget it. That man is nay the man ye’ wed. He loves ye’ so.”
“You did not answer me. Why did you want to save him?”
“Ach, lass, because I knew there was a part of him worth redeemin’. I felt that his destiny had nay been fulfilled and if the Guardians did nay believe it to be so as well, they would have let him die when he fell that day. Everyone deserves a second chance, love. Ye’ know that.”
“But how…how can I go back to live with him, knowing what I know.”
“Ye’ knew it before I brought ye’ here,” Morag said quietly. “The thing to do, lass is this. Ye’ must fill yer’ heart with forgiveness, else ye’ will nay be able to stay with him. Forgiveness is the only healer now. Can ye’ do it?”
“I don’t know.”
“That man ye’ saw today is nay the man who loves ye’. He had been very damaged. Did ye’ nay beg his sister to forgive him? Can ye’ do no less? Ye’ love him. That’s all that matters now.”
Kiera wiped her nose ungracefully on her sleeve. She said, “I know you are right. I just hope I can get past what I witnessed today.”
Morag thought on Kiera’s words and she hoped so, too. That’s the thing with tampering with what one should not. Mayhap Kiera would nay lose Derek physically but mayhap she would nay be able to put today’s events aside and she would lose him because of that. It was days like these that Morag cursed her Gift. Too many hearts were in jeopardy because of it; including that of her own son. Thinking upon Tavish, though, suddenly made her thankful again for not only the Gift to manipulate time but for the beautiful woman who stood sniffling before her. She had brought her son back to her. Aye, forgiveness. That was the key. Morag knew that was what held the future in Kiera’s hands.
~~~~~
Jenna walked alongside of her mother to the Standing Stones. The moon shone like glass on the frosted landscape. She spoke no words and Bronwyn wished she had something to say to her to comfort Jenna, but she had nothing. So much heartache in so short a time, Bronwyn thought. Her own heart ached with the loss of her father and now she was called to be a strength for her daughter.
Morag had told her that Kiera needed to go home. There was a situation that occurred where she had seen the Derek they had all feared. Kiera had to get back to her family so that the union could be mended and with the moon showing its full face, the time was at hand to return the woman who had come to help them in their time of need. Bronwyn did not like this night any more than the one that had brought the beautiful stranger to their doorsteps. There was something not right in the whisper of the wind. It was as if she could feel the Guardians planning on their retribution for granting the boon in the first place. Maybe the sacrifice of Caleb had been enough, but Bronwyn had learned well from Morag. She was attuned to the shift in the air and it made her feel uneasy.
As they approached the clearing, Tavish was there, amid the stones. He was standing beside Kiera and they embraced. Jenna’s heart dropped and she realized that he had decided to return with Kiera. She had promised to be brave and so she came to at least say goodbye.
As the moon lit the glade, Tom saw Jenna approach. He could see she looked heart broken and so he left the sacred Stones and went to her. He cared not that her mother was close by and he lifted her chin in his hand and placed a kiss on her cool lips. He felt a tear trickle into the kiss and he thumbed it away.
“Ye’ have made yer’ choice, then.” It was not a question, but a statement that seemed burdened with resolute acceptance.
“Aye. Indeed I have, my love.”
“Will ye’ remember me?”
“I think so,” he said with a smile. Though his heart was heavy, he could not help finding her question sweet.
He kissed her again and despite the heartache of her own, Bronwyn found it hard not to smile at the man who had won her daughter’s heart. It was not an easy prize to attain.
“Jenna, I….”
“I know. Ye’ dunna’ have to say anything. I prepared myself for this. Ye’ dunna’ belong here. I understand.”
“My love, but that’s just it. I do. I belong here with you. That’s my decision.”
“What? What does that mean, Tavish?”
“It means I am staying here. With you, if you will have me.”
Jenna’s cry of glee split the silence of the night. She threw herself into his arms and she wept tears of joy now in place of the ones of sorrow only moments ago. She held him tightly and she kissed his face over and over again. “Aye, I’ll have ye’. I choose ye’, Tavish.”
“So, you’ll marry me, lass?”
Without hesitation, Jenna answered, “Aye.”
“The king had said we need to wait a year and a day. Do you think we should push up the date?”
“Push up?”
“Wed sooner, love. Wed sooner.”
“Aye.”
Kissing her again, he set her aside and said, “Despite what the king said, I still need to ask your father.”
“And mother,” Bronwyn interjected.
“Aye, lady. Of course. Will you give me the hand of your daughter in marriage?”
“I will, Sir Tavish. Now ye’ will only need to convince my husband.”
With a wink, Tom said, “I think it will be alright.”
Then, flexing his jaw which still ached from the blow Drew had landed to it, Tom said, “At least, I hope so.”
Putting his arm around Jenna’s waist, they all turned to look at Morag and Kiera. They were both chanting prayers to prepare themselves for their journey back through time. Tom had tucked the parchment into his jerkin and he felt its crinkling presence as he had held Jenna against him. He leaned down and put a gentle kiss on her mouth and said, “Just give me a moment. I need to give this letter to Kiera so she can bring it to my mother and father. I have to send them some explanation so if you would just excuse me. I promise I will be right back.”
Jenna nodded. Her face beamed a bright smile where her tears had formerly been. She watched as Tavish handed the folded sheaf to Kiera and with a final hug he turned back toward Jenna.
With their concluding supplications done, Morag appealed to the Ancients to let them pass safely back to Kiera’s time. Her arms stretched wide under the bright white moon and a streak of lightening split the starless sky. Tom turned back at the sudden flash and he stood rooted to his spot. In a blink of
the eye, Morag and Kiera were no more. Tom felt a quickening in his blood as the moon seemed to rise higher, casting shadows from the stone giants. The penumbra appeared to creep closer and when the darkened silhouette of the stones stretched forward, Tom saw his foot had been within its outline.
He felt a sucking at his legs and as he looked towards Jenna, she seemed to be fading from his sight. He felt like he was falling through the earth and with a loud clap of thunder, everything suddenly went black. The last thing Tom remembered was Jenna screaming his name and she seemed to be racing toward him, but Bronwyn pulled her back, out of the shadows of the stones. And then nothing. No sound except the pounding of his heart in his own ears and complete and utter darkness.
It felt like he had landed with a hard thud and when he could open his eyes, he was flat on his back inside the Stones. He had to get up. He had to get back to Jenna. As he sat up, slowly, his head was spinning. He looked around. Morag and Kiera were standing beside him with stricken looks on their faces. What the hell had just happened?
Tom ambled to his feet, still feeling the sway of the ground beneath his shaking limbs. His head felt like it was about to explode. He stared in disbelief at the two women watching him. He looked all about his surroundings and he could feel the difference in the air. He heard the distant hum of cars and other noises that had been silent in the middle ages. His skull felt like it was cracked but the worst pain came from the one in his chest. He was sure his heart would burst at the realization. He sank back down to his knees and he grasped at the soil. A loud wail-like moan tore from his throat filled with anguish and loss. “Nooooooooo. Dear God, Nooooooo.”
