“You shall be safe. Godric will watch out for you .”
He looked at her skeptically, but didn’t say anything else as he followed her through the yard, getting closer to where they could hear sounds of swords clanging and the shouts of men .
When they rounded the corner to where men were training for battle, he watched, wide-eyed, as Sorcha searched out the man she was looking for. Finally one of the warriors extricated himself from the group and came to greet her, a wide smile on his face .
“Sorcha,” he said with a bow over her hand. “A pleasure .”
“Godric,” she responded, with an incline of her head. “I have a favor to ask of you. This is Bryan. Bryan is a… a man of books, of which you know there is little use for here. He is a friend of our family. Will you ensure no harm comes to him during his stay ?”
Godric looked at her with question in his eyes. She knew he wondered who this man was that was apparently a friend and yet he had never met before. However, he wouldn’t question her. He had always been loyal to her family, and even more so to her .
“Aye, that I can do,” he said with a slight bow to her, then led Bryan away. Bryan looked back over his shoulder, raising his eyebrows at her and shrugging his shoulders, in an attempt, she supposed, to tell her he was fine .
She turned back to the castle to find her maid .
* * *
“Fiona!”
She wandered into her own rooms. She had searched for Fiona in the servant’s quarters, but hadn’t found her. Now she tracked her here. There she was, preparing Sorcha’s garments for the evening dinner .
“Fiona! Where did you disappear to this afternoon?” Sorcha entered the room and looked at her maid with her arms crossed over her chest. Fiona had only recently begun attending her. For the past two months, nothing had seemed untoward, but she had been much more familiar with Bryan than a maid ought to be .
Bryan. His name gave Sorcha a little tingle. What was that supposed to mean ?
“I decided to go run to the market. It seemed ye would be better without me present .”
“Fiona, it is not proper for Bryan and me to be unattended .”
“What does it matter? Yer going to be married to that dreadful man soon anyway. Would it be so bad to be caught with the handsome man from the future ?”
“That’s another thing!” Sorcha threw up her hands. “Handsome, aye, but Fiona, the man is mad .”
“Why do you think so ?”
“He thinks he’s from 500 years in the future .”
Fiona smiled a little as she came over and untied Sorcha’s gown .
“Sometimes, dear, things aren’t exactly as they seem .”
Sorcha swirled around to ask her maid what she meant by that, but Fiona was gone, the ties of her dress now hanging undone down her back. It was as if she had simply disappeared. Sorcha was incredulous. What was going on here ?
7
Bryan
F rom head to toe, Bryan’s entire body ached with an intensity unparalleled by any workout he had completed in the gym. For two days, Godric had thrown him into the training exercises with the other Singleir men, telling him that while he may prefer his books, a strong body like his should know how to defend itself and its clan .
Bryan certainly had a newfound admiration for the men. Hefting one of the mighty swords -- claymores, he thought they were called -- was a workout in itself, let alone swinging it at another man while defending himself. Hand-to-hand combat was another story. They had been impressed with his taekwondo moves, the likes of which they had never seen before. But his experience wasn’t particularly well matched with this type of training. For these men, a fight was quite literally life or death, and training exercise or not, they did not back down .
When Bryan had thrown himself down on his mattress the past two nights, it had been with utter relief and his eyes had closed before any thoughts had overtaken him .
He had managed to spend some time with the lovely Sorcha. Each day she spent time inquiring on his training, making sure that all was well. He had stolen her away a time or two for a short walk or a few moments of conversation. She seemed fascinated by his musings, and he had never met anyone with thoughts and opinions like hers. When she spoke to him, he felt like he was drowning in her eyes, which were a curious mix of blue and green. When she left him, he felt rather bereft .
He took any opportunity he had to get close to her. He would hold his arm out to help her down a step, even though she didn’t need it. He’d take an imaginary twig out of her hair, or pull her plaid tighter around her shoulders in the chill. He wanted more, wanted to be able to kiss those rosy lips or even just take her hand in his, but she was to be married in two weeks and where would that get either of them ?
He woke that morning to Fiona’s face, bordered by the red frizz, staring down at him .
“Ah!” he gave a shout as he came back to the land of the living .
“Time to rise,” she said cheerfully. “Sorcha would be pleased to have you come search for this portal today. I will accompany you, as will Godric .”
Bryan rolled his tired limbs off the mattress. He had managed to salvage the plaid pajama pants he had arrived in, and was thankful he had pulled them on last night to save Fiona from seeing much more than she should. He dressed in the leine and some tight pants Godric had found for him — he called them trews — and followed Fiona down the hall. They were soon joined by Godric, who nodded to him, although he looked quite perplexed as to what they were currently doing .
When they arrived at Sorcha’s room, Fiona knocked quietly and entered, bading the two men to remain in the hall. Godric stared at Bryan, his arms crossed over his beefy chest, and finally asked, “What are we doing here ?”
“I, ah, I need to look for something .”
“In Sorcha’s chambers?” His eyebrows rose high on his prominent forehead, questioning the truth of Bryan’s words as well as the appropriateness of what had led to his statement .
“No, no, nothing like that,” Bryan responded. “I’m searching for a… passageway that I believe to be in her chamber. It’s part of the reason I came here -- to find this passage and what lies within it. I must get to the other side. It’s why you are here, as well as Fiona -- to provide chaperones for me to visit her bedroom .”
Godric nodded, not entirely convinced but apparently not caring enough to question Bryan any further .
Fiona opened the door and bid them to enter. They found Sorcha, dressed in a simple cream gown, standing to greet them .
“Bryan,” she said with a nod and a smile at him. “You may search as you must. Godric, thank you for accompanying us today. I donna believe this should take more than a moment, but I promised Bryan he could search, and so we will allow him to .”
Bryan nodded at all of them who, with the exception of Fiona, looked at him like he was from another planet. Which, he thought, he basically was. No matter -- if he found what he was looking for and returned, disappearing into thin air, then perhaps they would finally believe him .
He closed his eyes and thought back to that night. He remembered falling, and bumping into something, which must have been the end of the bed. Sorcha had risen and spoken from directly in front of him. He moved over to the foot of the bed, felt the air for a change in temperature, or feeling. His hand didn’t slide through silk or anything like he recalled from that night .
He cursed under his breath. Nothing. What the hell was he supposed to do now ?
Sorcha must have seen the look of dejection on his face, for she stepped forward and put her hand on his arm .
“I am sorry, Bryan, that ye have not found what you are looking for .”
He looked up at her, catching her eyes. He hated the look of pity he saw in them, but appreciated the kindness she portrayed. She may not have said it, but he hoped part of the feeling she showed was care for him. He nodded, mumbled a thanks, and then strode out of the room to try to determine what he should do next
.
He waited for Fiona. He had so many questions for her -- who was she, why was he here, and what was he supposed to do now -- but she didn’t emerge. Sorcha and Godric did, but when he asked where Fiona was, they said had thought she left before them. He shook his head in frustration and continued on .
* * *
Bryan struggled with his great plaid that evening. Godric had earlier arrived to tell him that he was to join them for a dinner at Dunnator Castle. Sorcha had asked that he receive the invitation. He wasn't sure what else to do with himself, so he had agreed .
He looked down at himself and felt ridiculous, but when in Rome -- or, Scotland in this instance, he thought. He let himself out of his room to meet Godric. They were to follow Sorcha and Fiona as their guards. He laughed at that as he wasn’t sure he would trust himself to guard anyone, but he wouldn’t give up the chance to spend time with the lovely Sorcha .
She greeted him with a warm smile outside the castle entrance. It lifted him somewhat, until he noticed she bestowed the same smile on Godric. Fiona accompanied her, and while Bryan itched to question her, he didn’t want to do so in front of Godric. The man already thought him kooky; he didn’t want to add to his suspicion as he was basically relying on him for survival at this point. He and Godric remained behind the group, which also included Sorcha’s father and their host -- Fergus, Bryan thought was his name .
Dunnator Castle wasn’t far, and it was impressive. Bryan could dimly remember Emilia waxing on about it, but as far as he could remember the castle was currently -- or, in 2017 -- in ruins. At this point in time, in the 16th century, it was something to behold, although it didn’t seem to be the big palace Emilia had talked about. Maybe that would be built later in time. Now, there was a tall towerhouse standing on it, but it was the fortress on the rocky headland surrounded by ocean that made it so imposing. Today it was much more social and welcoming, as people milled about the courtyard in preparation for the dinner, which was to be held in the great hall. It was another celebration of Sorcha’s upcoming marriage. Bryan looked over at her. She didn’t look particular pleased about the occasion, but rather wore a grimace on her usual peaceful face. He felt for her but wasn’t sure what he could do at this point. As ridiculous as it was, this was the way things were at this point in time and how was a clanless stranger supposed to do anything about it ?
Entering the hall, Bryan was assaulted with a symphony of smells unlike any he had ever encountered before. The spiced food, the ale and wine, and, most of all, the many people who likely hadn’t had a bath in some time. He had seen the wooden tub at Fetteresso, and upon asking he was told the nobles could use it whenever they wished, but for everyone else the schedule was much less regular. He tried not to show any outward reaction to the various smells in this hall full of people, but he was nearly floored by it all. Had he any remaining doubts of what time period he was in, there was no arguing with it here .
Bryan continued to follow Sorcha, but Godric put an arm out and stopped him. “This is as far as we go with the lady,” he told him. “She will sit with her intended while we shall find our place amongst those of our station.” He led them to a place tables away from Sorcha, but Bryan’s eyes found her at the front of the room. She looked uncomfortable, her face void of almost any emotion as she seemed to be trying to ignore the man seated next to her and her father .
Her eyes caught Bryan’s, and held for a moment as if connected across the room .
“Who is she sitting with?” he asked Godric. “That can’t be the man she’s going to marry .”
“Aye, ‘tis him, Archibald MacLauchlan,” Godric replied. “He’s not the best sort I’ve ever encountered but she could do worse, I suppose .”
“He must be older than her father !”
Godric nodded, but didn’t seem surprised. Bryan realized it was common in these times, but seeing it first hand was much more shocking than he would have thought. The man, this Archibald, seemed to be positively leering at her, as if trying to place her in a feeling of discomfort. Bryan felt helpless. He couldn’t explain the protective feeling that came over him, but he longed to do something to try to save Sorcha from the life that awaited her, despite the fact that he realized when he got back to his own time, this would all be far in the distant past .
Another man, who must have been one of the Keiths of Dunnator, addressed the crowd once the meal was complete. Everyone quieted as his voice boomed over them all .
“Tonight we have a special treat for you! A band of actors has come to Dunnator to entertain you all. They will tell the tale of an evil sorcerer, a fair maiden, and the prince who has come to rescue her !”
With that, he returned to his seat and a rag-tag group of men and women entered the room. They were ill-suited to their roles, the “fair” maiden a far cry from her promised description, the evil witch seemingly bored with her role and the prince over the top. Bryan felt embarrassed for them, and the crowd soon grew restless with the portrayal .
Suddenly the “prince” was hit square in the face with a tomato .
Bryan’s head swivelled to see where it had come from and he caught Sorcha’s look. She stared at her fiance in horror, as the man cackled. He shouted out a boo, “Get off the stage you filthy animals !”
He picked up a roll of bread and threw that too. One thing Bryan could say for the man -- he certainly had good aim. This time it hit the old woman playing the young maid. Bryan looked around the room. Some people seemed unsure of how they should react, but others began to get an idea, following the cousin of the Keiths. Bryan knew the mob mentality would soon begin to rear its ugly head. Food began to fly through the room toward the actors, until suddenly one of them went down, evidently having been hit by something much harder than a vegetable .
Bryan rose from his seat with the intention of finding Sorcha and helping her to safety, but when he looked back to her place, she was gone. He scanned the room for her, finally finding her, to his dismay, flying into the middle of the fracas. She made her way to the fallen actor, trying her best to revive the woman as she warded off the food that was now coming towards her .
“Stop!” she shouted, rising with her arms in front of her face, though she could barely be heard over the din and no one seemed to be thinking rationally anymore. “I said, stop this instant! What is wrong with you all ?”
While not a selfish man, Bryan also would never have been mistaken in the past for a knight in shining armor. Yet, he instinctively ran towards Sorcha, not away, and when he reached her, he felt something hit the side of his head, then a trickle of liquid roll down his face. He wiped it away as he bent beside her .
“Sorcha!” He attempted to be heard over the noises surrounding them. “Let’s get the woman out of here .”
He lifted the actress and nodded his head at Sorcha to follow behind him. “Stay close,” he said. “Hold onto my dress, or whatever you call this thing .”
He felt her hand grip a bunch of fabric, as he began pushing his way out of the hall and into the courtyard beyond. He had known Sorcha was kind by the way she treated him despite the fact he must seem like a crazy person, but her reaction to the assault of these people tonight increased his admiration of her tenfold .
He was so focused on his thoughts of Sorcha and his determination to extriacate them safely, that what he saw next almost didn’t even register .
They were nearly out the door when the side profile of a woman in front of him nearly had him drop the actor in his arms .
“Emilia!?”
8
Sorcha
S orcha held on tightly to the back of Bryan’s plaid. She hated playing the role of damsel in distress, but while strong for her size, her petite frame would never have been able to move the woman alone. She was grateful Bryan had come along when he did, and that she could rely on his lean but strong build to get them out of here .
They were almost out the front gates when he stopped so abruptly, she ran right into his back.
She hit her nose on his spine, and was trying to rub the pain away when she noted that the actress had stirred, and was now pushing away from his chest. Bryan seemed to set her to the ground mechanically, as his gaze was focused on a woman in front of him .
The blonde woman also seemed to recognize him, her voice incredulous as she couldn’t tear her face away. “Bryan? What -- how -- that cannot be you !”
The woman rushed towards him, enveloping him in her arms as Sorcha took a step back, seemingly forgotten. Bryan slowly put his arms around her, returning her embrace. They stood like that for a few moments, oblivious to the commotion around them. Sorcha briefly remembered meeting her, but hadn’t paid her any particular attention. Now, she noted the woman’s beauty. Her fair hair had a tinge of red in it, with freckles that added to her looks covering her nose. She was much taller than Sorcha with a strong build .
Sorcha felt a twinge in her stomach -- what was this -- jealousy? Surely, she wasn’t jealous of Bryan. Aye, he was handsome and she enjoyed their conversation and his serious good looks, but she was doing her best to distance herself from him and her attraction to him. No good could come of it. She was engaged to be married, and very soon. While she hated her intended, to fall for someone she could never have would make everything all the worse .
Sorcha was bumped from behind, and she fell forward into Bryan, who had now released the blonde woman .
“Ouch -- sorry,” she mumbled. “I’ll just -- find me way --”
“Sorcha!” he said, remembering her. “No, don’t go on alone. Let’s all go outside and find somewhere we can talk .”
He put a firm arm around her waist, and her heart seemed to flip in her chest at his familiarity. She knew she should tell him to remove it, but she told herself that this was for her protection, and so she let it stay, as much as she knew she was lying to herself .
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