Once Upon a Duke's Dream

by Ellie St. Clair

  They were well on the road before he finally caught her. “Sorcha, are ye all right, lass ?”

  “Aye,” she said, despite the fact her heart was broken. She lifted her head high and waited until she was back at Fetteresso and alone in her rooms before she let the tears fall, streaming down her face, as she sobbed for all that could have been, for Bryan, and the time that spanned between them .

  She stared at the space in her room, at the place where Bryan had disappeared. The air was still, dusty, as it had always been except in that moment when he had left. She dried her tears and resolved to put her brief love behind her. She must be grateful for having the chance to experience the depth of feeling she had, and now embrace what was to come next .

  13

  Bryan

  T he sickening feeling was the same as he flew through time once more back to the 16th century. Yet when he rose and found himself in the familiar room, the feeling left and all he could think of was finding Sorcha. His head swiveled to and fro, but she was nowhere to be found .

  His heart sank as he wondered when exactly he had returned. Clearly he had not returned to the exact time he had left. If the portal returned him at the same rate of time, that would bring him to about the day of her wedding .

  Glad of the fact he had scoured an Aberdeen costume shop for appropriate clothing before leaving, Bryan raced out of the bedchamber, looking this way and that but finding the corridor nearly empty. He finally found one of the warrior guards standing near the entrance .

  “Where is everyone?” he asked hurriedly, “Is the wedding today ?”

  “Aye,” said the man. “You must go now or ye’ll miss it .”

  Before the man could finish the sentence, Bryan was through the yard, praying his old steady mare had been left behind. He thanked God for all the miles he logged as he breathed through the sprint and finally found the horse, who had never looked so lovely to him .

  He mounted -- noting he was getting better -- and sent the animal out the stable doors and down the road as fast as he could urge her to go. She wasn’t breaking any speed records, but it was faster than he could run, at least .

  He cursed the cliffs of Dunnator as the mare picked her way over the rocky path. He would never get there in time at this rate. Trying to temper his impatience, when they finally crested the hill he saw Sorcha circling Dunnotar’s chapel, and he sighed in relief. He had never seen such a beautiful sight in his life. He raced the mare over, half dismounting yet practically hanging off the saddle as they reached her .

  “Sorcha! Sorcha!” he called as he neared. Wow. She had always been beautiful but in the deep blue of the exquisite dress she wore, she was astounding. The red tinge of her dark hair shone as the sun’s rays hit it. Two tiny, soft braids had been woven from her forehead on each side, meeting in the back where they spilled over her long, unbound hair. It was how Bryan most loved it, and his pulse began to race all over again, for entirely different reasons than his mad dash to get here .

  “Bryan!” she stopped her circle, staring at him in amazement. Why she was walking round and round the church perplexed him, but he figured it must be some ceremony the Scottish had dreamt up. She looked up at him in shock, unmoving. Finally she opened her mouth and the words came spilling out. “Whatever are ye doing here? Why did ye come back? Why now? And why did ye leave in the first place ?”

  Her words tumbled out as he saw her face turn from shock to a sorrowful anger .

  “I know you’re angry. I understand,” he said, holding his hands out to her. “I left you when you needed me most, and Sorcha, I am so, so sorry. I need you to forgive me. Please? I couldn’t live with myself in 2017, knowing that you were here, and living a nightmare. I’ll do whatever I can to help you out of this, but Sorcha, I can’t live without you .”

  “So is this all about you?” she asked him. “You couldna live without me? Did ye ever question how I would feel when you left? Donna do this to me Bryan, arrive suddenly and expect everything to have changed because you made a decision. You want to be the hero, but it’s too late. We canna change this now or we are all doomed -- you, me, my family, and all of my people .”

  “Sorcha,” he said desperately, as he saw her father, who had been waiting for her by the entrance of the chapel, begin to approach. “I love you .”

  Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. “It’s too late .”

  And with that, she kept walking, finishing her circle and entering into the church, to marry another man. Her father gave Bryan a hard stare before settling her hand on his arm and walking her inside. Bryan could do nothing but follow, finally making his way in the doors behind her. He didn’t know why he was torturing himself by being here, but a scan of the crowd led him to an empty space in front of the broad shoulders of Dougal MacGavin and Emilia, seated next to Jaime and Alec .

  “Bryan!” he heard Emilia’s voice behind him as she grabbed his shoulder. “You came back! Oh I’m so glad. But what about Sorcha? You can’t let her marry that man !”

  He turned to her, showing her the side of her face. “She doesn’t want me,” he said. “I was too late. I left her when she needed me most and she can’t forgive that. I get it .”

  “Bryan!” Emilia hissed again. “You did leave her, you ass. She’s just mad at you and doing what she thinks is right. You have to fix this. Why else are you here ?”

  Bryan ignored her, and looked up at the woman he loved, but realized he could not even watch Sorcha make her way through the people to Archibald MacLaughlan at the front of the church. He hadn’t truly realized the depths of his feelings for her. He had told himself he was attracted to her, that he lusted after her, that he couldn’t actually feel something for a woman from the 16th century, who was promised to another. Besides when and where she was from, he detested all things Scottish and historical. Yet here he was .

  He sighed and ran a hand over his face. Should he stop this? Could he stop this? He knew how terrified she was to enter into this marriage, and yet he felt powerless. How could he, a man with no clan, with no weapons, and little hand-to-hand combat experience, make any difference in this ?

  Although if she didn’t break the marriage contract, but he was the one to stop it… he didn’t want to think of what they might do to him, but perhaps she would be free, without putting her clan in danger .

  “Bryan!” Emilia hissed from behind him. “You have to do something .”

  He turned to her. “What do you expect me to do? Have your husband do something. He, at least, has some men here to back him up .”

  “He doesn’t love her. You do .”

  “I know, but she doesn’t care .”

  “Bryan, now is not the time to be difficult .”

  “I’m not being difficult. I’m just saying that I --”

  Jaime leaned forward from her place beside Emilia and interrupted. “Gee, I wonder why the two of you didn’t work out. While you’re busy arguing, you do realize the lady is near the front of the church, looking like she’s ready to pass out as that horror of a man is waiting to marry her and spirit her away to his bed ?”

  Emilia poked him and he breathed heavily. They were right. It was time to, for once in his life, actually make a decision and act on it rather than just let thoughts go round and round his head. As Sorcha stopped at the front of the church, she looked out, catching Bryan’s eye. A tear rolled down her face. That did it .

  As the clergyman began to speak, Bryan stood and yelled out loudly. “Stop !”

  All eyes turned towards him. A few men stepped away from the wall menacingly .

  Bryan didn’t know what to say next. He hadn’t thought this far ahead .

  “What is it, son?” The clergyman finally asked .

  “This wedding cannot go on. I -- she -- she does not love him .”

  After a moment of silence, a large guffaw sounded out from a man in the crowd. He was soon joined by others as the church began laughing at him, with the exception of Archibald
and Sorcha’s father .

  “Get on with it,” Archibald said to the clergyman with a glare at Bryan. Sorcha simply stared, her face white, but Bryan thought perhaps a look of hope had entered into it .

  “No, I mean it,” he said. “She and I -- I love her and, in fact, I have taken her virtue, so she is no longer able to be your bride .”

  Archibald stepped away from the altar now and point to Bryan as he signaled his men. “Remove -- him -- at once. Now!” Bryan cringed as Highland warriors rose from their seats and where they stood guarding the walls of the buildings, ready to physically remove him from the chapel. At that, Dougal stood, ready to defend him, as did Alec after a quick poke from Jaime. They had brought few men with them, however, while the Keiths were well fortified. It would be no contest .

  “Sit down,” Bryan said to them. “This isn’t worth the lives of your clans. Your children need you .”

  Both stood stoically next to him. They were warriors and this was about honor -- it didn’t matter what he said, they would not back down .

  What Bryan didn’t notice as he and the men formed a tight triangle against Archibald’s advancing men was that Archibald had hurried along the clergyman. Suddenly Bryan heard a triumphant shout, and he turned to see Archibald holding up Sorcha’s wrist, despite her struggle against him .

  “She’s mine now, Englishman!” he shouted. “You can no longer do anything about it. I shall now take my bride and claim what rightfully belongs to me .”

  He began pushing Sorcha down off the altar from behind, and as Bryan began moving without thinking toward her, a strong arm clenched around his waist, a soldier keeping him from running forward .

  “Give it up, man,” came the voice in his ear. “Ye’ll never win .”

  Bryan struggled, and found it hard to breathe with the arm clenched around his waist and -- wait a moment -- was that smoke? He whipped his head around, as others began looking around them in similar confusion. The smoke filled the chapel rapidly, and Bryan heard the crack of fire .

  “Fire!” came the shout from a voice near the door, and suddenly the congregation turned as one to get out of the building, stampeding one another when they saw flames around the front altar. The building was stone and wouldn’t burn, but there was much wood and other flammable materials inside, enough to cause significant damage and danger to all those in it .

  The arm around his waist lessened its grip, and Bryan struggled free, as he tried to make out Sorcha through the people and the smoke that was quickly filling the entire room .

  “Bryan!” He heard her cry out his name, and he followed the sound, deeper into the church and closer to the source of the fire. When he reached the front, the first thing he saw was her booted shoe, sticking out from underneath -- Archibald? The man lay prostrate over her, and Bryan rushed over and pushed the bulk of the man of her. As he helped Sorcha to her feet, he made sure she was all right before checking the man. He reached under the beard and felt his neck -- no pulse .

  He didn’t have time to ask what happened as Sorcha sagged against him and he realized the fire was quickly closing in on them. She lifted the cloth of the dress over her face in an effort to breath easier, and her blue-green eyes met his as she gave him a quick nod, telling him she was okay .

  He supported her as they made their way toward the door. Bryan was relieved to see no one else remained, and he hoped that Emilia, Jaime and their families were safely outside. He and Sorcha were the last to leave the church, with the exception of Archibald, who lay at the foot of the altar, his final resting place .

  14

  Sorcha

  S orcha could not stop the coughs that wracked her body as she tried to clear the smoke that had filled her lungs. Bryan’s strong arm supported her outside in the courtyard of Dunnator. She felt a coolness on her lips, and the liquid that someone held to her mouth eased in and down her throat, providing comfort .

  She finally felt well enough to register what was happening around her. The men had developed a system to bring up full buckets from the water reservoir to put out the fire, which seemed to be contained to the chapel, for the moment at least. It had been built of wood and stone, so the exterior structure still stood. Others milled about, unsure of what to do next but grateful to find themselves safe .

  Sorcha finally turned and looked at the man who held her .

  “Bryan,” she said as she took in his face. “I’m so sorry. I never should have spoken to ye as I did outside the chapel. Ye came back and —”

  “Shh love,” he said, tenderly stroking back the hair away from her face. “There are no apologies necessary. You were right. I was in the wrong. I realized that, I’m just such an idiot that it took me so long to understand it. When I returned home, it was no longer home anymore. Nowhere could ever be without you. I decided I’d come back, and whether you were married or not, I’d at least be in a time where you were living, where I could see your face. I thought I could stop the marriage, I really did but --”

  “You tried, Bryan,” she said, smiling up at him with glistening eyes. “‘Tis all that matters .”

  As the fog cleared from her brain she remembered all that had happened in the church -- the agony of walking down the aisle toward Archibald and away from Bryan, the distress that this was all wrong as his vows were said and she held her tongue, and then the terror as the wind rushed through a window, causing a curtain to catch on a candle, sparking a fire that quickly spread. There must have been weakness in a beam, for it fell from above them, allowing her the ability to escape, but leaving Archibald crushed underneath its weight. He had somewhat fallen on her, but she was grateful to be unhurt .

  She felt… relieved, unburdened, and yet horrifically guilty at feeling such due to the death of another person. She opened her mouth to tell Bryan, when he was suddenly pushed aside .

  “Father!” she exclaimed as the familiar face came into view. “Are ye well? Not hurt ?”

  “Nay, daughter,” he said as he crouched low beside her. “All is well. And how do ye fare ?”

  “I am well also,” she responded, adding, “Due to Bryan .”

  Baldwin looked back at Bryan and gave a short, barely imperceptible nod of his head. “Aye,” he said. “I did see him move you to safety from my place across the church. Bryan of Smith -- I am forever indebted to you for saving my daughter .”

  Bryan nodded back. “Of course,” he said .

  “Archibald,” Sorcha cut in. “Father, he’s dead .”

  “I ken this,” Baldwin answered her. “You are fortunate, Sorcha, that other men saw what happened. Otherwise ye could have been tried as a murderer. For all knew ye didna want this marriage, and suddenly he’s dead the moment the vows are said. I dinnae ken what will happen to you and his property since the marriage was not consummated. All will be decided soon .”

  Sorcha hadn’t even thought any of that through. She had assumed she would return to her clan and her home. When she looked up, Bryan had made his way back beside her father and reached down to clasp her hand as her fingers reached out to find his .

  “Whatever happens, Sorcha,” he promised, “I’ll be here with you .”

  Her father gave him a look, his eyebrows raised, but didn’t protest. Perhaps the fact that Bryan had gone in for Sorcha when he himself had fled the chapel had registered with him .

  There was so much to contemplate -- including Bryan himself -- but for now, Sorcha let herself be tended to and taken back to Fetteresso for some time to recover .

  * * *

  The light had dimmed by the time they returned and Sorcha settled in her room. Her father had stayed close by her side, however Bryan hadn’t allowed himself to be far away, keeping a respectful distance, but close enough to watch over her .

  Fiona mysteriously appeared as well after her lengthy absence. Sorcha shrugged, accepting the strange woman’s coming and goings at this point .

  Sorcha had retired to bed, her eyes closing after the day’s many wild even
ts, but her mind moved fitfully, unable to sleep. Her lids flew open as she sensed a presence in the room, much like she had those few weeks ago .

  This time, however, there was no magic portal in the room, but there was the same man from the 21st century .

  “Sorcha,” he said her name, as barely more than a whisper, from his place by the door. “Are you awake ?”

  “I am .”

  “May I come in ?”

  She nodded, then realizing he couldn’t see her in the dark, she managed an “aye .”

  He slowly entered the room, coming down to kneel beside her where she lay in bed. She sat up a bit, making out his face in the dim light. He hesitatingly took her hand, holding it gently between his .

  “Sorcha, I…I’m not a man who makes decisions lightly. I think on things, mull them over in my mind far longer than I should, consider every consequence, every possible outcome of the situation. I talk too much, I don’t act quickly, and I often discount situations or people if I don’t think they’re worth my time. I can be stubborn, and arrogant, and I like to get my way. But I can admit when I’m wrong.” He paused .

  “To go home, to leave you, was very, very wrong. To suggest that you leave your time and all you love and hold dear to come to the 21st century was inconsiderate and I apologize with all of my heart. It shouldn’t have taken leaving you to realize how much I love you. I couldn’t believe it myself before I left. It seemed too soon, that not enough time had passed. But whether you want me or not, Sorcha, I’m here with you now, in this time, for there is no world for me without you in it. I pray you will forgive me, but if you don’t, I understand .”

  He laid his head down on the back of his hand, which rested over her palm. She looked down at him in wonder. She had never known a man who could put such feeling into words. She had never thought she would experience such a love in her life. True, he had his shortcomings, as he admitted to her, but her world was now intertwined with his, their lives intersecting across time to be one forever .