Magnus and a Love Beyond Words

by Knightley, Diana

  There were some china pieces, dancing figures, small boxes, a shelf of antique spoons and a box with antique coins. I looked at those for a long time sifting them through my fingers investigating the words on them.

  There was an antique writing desk with paper and a quill pen. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was coming and opened the drawers to investigate and in one drawer I found a book; it said Robert Burns on the spine. I flipped two very delicate pages and found the published date: 1786. Whoa. I gingerly flipped the book open to a poem that read like my husband sounded, so I kept it to read later. Under it was another leather bound antique book, smaller, more ornate. I opened it and saw it was filled with calligraphic handwriting. I flipped through. It belonged to a man, Johnne Cambel, and there was a date: 1558. Double whoa.

  I carried the two books to my room. I lay down to read some poetry finding a wonderful romantic one I loved. I loved it so much I read it, laid the book to the side to think about it, then read it again.

  And that was how I passed some time until Magnus returned before dinner. He sat on the bed again with a groan. I had barely left it all day. He ran a hand down his face, his other hand pressed to his side. “I am verra tired. Twas much tae discuss. My head is spinnin’ from it all.”

  “I’m glad you’re back.”

  He smiled. “Me too, I have a strong desire tae be inside ye.”

  “Well, as you know, we can’t. You were told not to.”

  “I daena care what the nurse said, I want tae. I think I can decide for myself.”

  “Oh really?” I arched my brow. “This is how it is — what about my opinion? You decide for yourself and I’m just supposed to be ready?”

  His smile faded and he looked very tired. “Tis exactly like that. But is also that I love ye and I have proven in another lifetime I canna live without ye. I need ye, and twas a verra hard day. I just want it tae be okay for me tae be quiet with ye for a while.”

  “Oh.” I put my hand on his. “Of course, my love. We can if you feel up to it. We can go slow.” I pushed the books under the pillow and put a hand against his face and kissed him then pressed my forehead to his. “You tell me if you need to stop.” I climbed off the bed, stood before him and dragged the string of my wrap dress out to the side slowly untying it. “Lie back, Master Magnus.”

  I pulled my dress open, slowly away from my body, and let it slide down my arms. The filmy fabric floated to the ground. I was braless, one hadn’t been offered, my underwear was loose and wide-hipped, not at all my style and probably borrowed, which was really kind of upsetting, but there was plenty of fabric to hook my thumbs under. I slowly glided them down my legs. Wiggling a lot.

  Magnus moaned and the moan turned past the moan of being turned on and moved into a groan of pain.

  “Are you okay?”

  He curled onto his side and clutched his bandaged abdomen. His eyes clamped shut. “Aye, I — tis painin’ me.”

  I pulled my panties back up, climbed onto the bed, and wrapped around him. “I’ll call Mrs Johnstone to ask the nurse to bring you more pain medicine, but we can lie here quietly for a while. That’s good too.”

  * * *

  We lay wrapped together until the nurse came. She was kind and never said anything about what we might have been trying to do but instead simply said, “Be careful not to overdo.” Everything checked out when she looked, so we hadn’t done any damage.

  She left and we returned to gentle cuddling. “I am sorry, Kaitlyn.”

  “You don’t have to be sorry. We simply have to wait a week. We’re grown ups, we can make it a week. And we can do other things in bed, like — can I read you a poem? I think you’ll like it.”

  I turned for the poetry book half under the pillows and opened it to the page I had marked with a piece of tissue.

  “This is by Robert Burns. It’s ancient for me but was written after you were born,” with my arms around him I read:

  O, my luve's like a red, red rose,

  That's newly sprung in June:

  O, my luve's like the melodie,

  That's sweetly play'd in tune.

  As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

  So deep in luve am I:

  And I will luve thee still, my dear,

  'Till a' the seas gang dry.

  'Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

  And the rocks melt wi' the sun:

  I will luve thee still, my dear,

  While the sands o' life shall run.

  And fare thee weel, my only luve!

  And fare thee weel a-while!

  And I will come again, my luve,

  Tho' it were ten thousand mile.

  “Och, tis beautiful. I like it when ye talk like a Scottish lass. What did it say of the seas?”

  “Till a’the seas gang dry, my dear, and the rocks melt wi’ the sun...”

  His face nestled into my neck. “Tho it were ten thousand mile?”

  “Yep. We always make it back to each other.”

  “Aye, we do.” His stomach growled.

  “You’re hungry.”

  “At least somethin’ is workin’.”

  “It will all work, my love, give it a few days.”

  Chapter 24

  Mrs Johnstone fed us at the dining room table. Only the king and I across the short sides facing each other. More steak and potatoes, the exact same taste. It was either what she cooked or what Donnan had liked. Luckily Magnus liked it and I was famished enough to eat anything. The steak was tough, the potatoes mealy.

  Magnus ate so fast I didn’t think he noticed but then he groaned. “I miss Chef Zach.”

  “Me too.”

  After a moment I said, “Not to change the subject, but is there something you want to tell me?”

  He chewed slowly, watching my face. “Nae.”

  I teased, “That phrase I just used means I know you have something you should tell me, but you aren’t and I’m about to call you out on it.”

  “I haena any idea what—”

  “You, my love, have been keeping something from me, and because you didn’t tell me you lived for four years thinking I was going to do something awful to you and it almost killed you.” I held up four fingers. “Four years. So here we are, in this lifetime — you’ve already been thinking about it for too long. Now’s the time to tell me.”

  “Already been thinkin’ about it?” He scrutinized my face. “I daena ken what ye—”

  “See, my love, you searched for my future, and you think I’m going to do something. You should tell me what it is so we can pretend like you were being upfront about it.” I took a bite of steak having a little fun.

  His brow drew down even farther. “I canna tell if ye are bein’ funny or angry.”

  “I’m not being angry. But I tell you Magnus, we need to tell each other the truth if we’re making it through this. I have watched a lot of tv and the number one cause of breakups? Not telling each other stuff. So out with it. What did you find out when you looked up my future?”

  He put his forearms out beside his plate. “I learned ye are goin’ tae have a bairn with Tyler. I haena checked it again tae see if tis still true, but it has been true. Twas true when I was preparin’ tae go fight Samuel.”

  “And you fought Samuel knowing I was going to end up with Tyler?”

  He nodded, looking at his plate.

  “I’m glad you won, I’m very glad you didn’t do anything stupid.” I huffed, still teasingly, so he could see my smile, but was mystified by it.

  “I’m going to tell you a lot of things right now, and I want you to listen to me, beginning with this: you should tell me everything you’re worried about so we can work together. Every time always. I’ve always known you to be truthful, but this is one time that telling me what you were thinking would have saved you so much heartbreak. Seriously. So here it is, my love: In another lifetime we arrived at the dock in Florida and a group of soldiers fought us on the banks of the spring. They killed me
. You, devastated, traveled back in time with one of the vessels and tried to rescue me. You were an extra person, Magnus, and it didn’t work. More soldiers arrived and I died again. You did it a third time and more soldiers, a bigger storm, and guess what? The other Magnus died and I died. It was all very tragic.” I took his hand and ran my thumb along his knuckle.

  “How dost ye ken this?”

  “Tyler told me.”

  His brow drew together.

  “And I’ll get to that.” I continued, "So you learned on the banks of the spring, all by yourself, that when you’re time traveling, you shouldn’t loop onto your own life and try to fix things. So you gave up. You said goodbye to Chef Zach and came to the future and fought Samuel and became a king.”

  “I haena ever done this afore.”

  “You don’t remember, but you did.”

  “How can ye ken it if ye were dead?”

  “Bear with me. When you were in the future your son was born. You named him after yourself and he went by the name of Archie. He grew up. You kept fighting the General who sent those soldiers to the dock. For twenty-five years you fought, but you were also Archie’s Da and he loved you very much.”

  “I daena understand.”

  “I know. But this is where it’s important. Archie got married and you told him about me and you told him about that day on the dock and how you hadn’t been able to win against the soldiers. And so he decided to go back in time and help you keep me alive.”

  I watched Magnus’s face for the moment of recognition. I added, “He assumed a fake name, and it was Tyler Wilson. He wasn’t sure of the date so he kept dropping into my life at different times. That’s why he was so weirdly protective of me. Then he was there at the dock and the rest of the story you know.”

  “Tyler is my son? Did ye ken this all along?”

  “No, not at all, I learned it in the usual way I learn everything by being pissed off at someone who’s trying to help me and yelling at them and finding out they were trying to help me and having to apologize profusely. I was so furious at him for dragging me away from you, but he was risking everything for his Da. Because you meant that much to him.”

  He winced. “But he inna born yet...”

  “Yeah, and I don’t really understand where grown Archie went. But recently I heard a theory about time, that the strands of time aren’t one long string, but rather times happening simultaneously so maybe he’s back in his grownup Archie time and we’re here in this time where he’s not born yet and — I don’t know it’s very confusing.”

  “Tis.” Magnus looked at his half-eaten plate of food. “Twas my son and I mistrusted him. I regret the way I treated him.”

  “You didn’t know, you can’t blame yourself for something you didn’t know.” I patted his hand.

  “After he told me the whole story, he gave me his passport and birth certificate, the ones with the name Tyler Wilson on it, so you could use them if you need to.”

  I asked, “So do you see what I’m saying?”

  “That if anyone is Tyler Wilson now, tis me.”

  I nodded and said, “Aye.” I added, “Before he left he gave me a list, all the things you know about fighting General Reyes for twenty years. He thought it might help you begin on a better foot.”

  “Where is the list?”

  “It’s in the safe in Florida.”

  “And we canna go tae Florida.”

  “Exactly. And this is what I’m saying to you Magnus. This is your third lifetime, third try, because first, Archie, your son, gave you a new chance at it, and now I am giving you a new chance. Not many people get to do things over, and while I think you’re perfect in every way, we have to be smart and not squander this chance. And one way we get smart is by telling each other everything, because as you know, if we don’t then evil people will use it against us.”

  Chapter 25

  Mrs Johnstone entered the dining room with Lady Mairead jockeying to arrive first. Mrs Johnstone said, “Excuse me Your Highness, the Lady Mairead is here, she is insisting she would like to see you. Would you like her to come in?”

  Magnus said, “Aye, I have a few things tae discuss—”

  Lady Mairead said, “Daena rise, Magnus. I ken ye are restin’ from your surgery. Are you well?” She ordered Mrs Johnstone to bring her a plate of food and placed a dress box on the table beside me. “A gift for you, daughter, I assumed you would be needing it once I heard you were here.”

  She turned to Magnus. “Your coronation is tomorrow? I have just learned of it and came when I could. I ken ye think ye can do it without me, but I assure you I will be needed.”

  Her eyes rested on me as she sat at the head of the table, of, fucking, course. “Open the box, Kaitlyn.”

  Magnus reached across the table for the box. “I will open it.”

  Lady Mairead sighed. “Fine, if she’s incapable.”

  Magnus untied the string and lifted the lid. He picked up the garment inside, a dress, in pale blue, ornate and luxurious, and very pretty. I really liked it. Magnus said, “Thank you Lady Mairead, I appreciate the kindness greatly.”

  “There are some jewelry pieces in there as well, Kaitlyn. You will want tae look your best on the morrow.”

  I said, “Thank you.”

  She said, “I consider this a peace offering.”

  Magnus smirked. “Tis nae matter if ye consider it a peace offering, tis only if Kaitlyn and I consider it so. Tis just a verra wee box.”

  “True. Either way tis a dress, and she needs one for your coronation.” A plate of food was placed down for her and with very prissy manners she began to eat. “Are ye pleased with your kingdom so far, Magnus?”

  “I have seen the prison cells, a death match, and now Donnan’s secluded safe house. I daena think I have much tae judge. I have been many times almost killed.”

  “That will all change on the morrow. We will go to the palace and you’ll meet your cabinet and—”

  “I met with them today.”

  “Oh well, then ye ken the details—”

  “You intend tae stay here this evenin’?”

  “Aye, I winna be a cause of trouble for ye, I will keep tae myself in one of the extra rooms.”

  “Kaitlyn and I are stayin’ in one of the downstairs guest rooms. If ye want tae stay in a room on the upper floors ye may.”

  “Thank you Magnus, that is verra kind.” We all ate in silence and it was the most freaking awkward shit ever. And then it got really weird.

  “How did you come tae be here, Kaitlyn?”

  I glanced at Magnus.

  He answered, “About four years from now I traveled tae the past tae hide and rest. Kaitlyn found me there. I asked her for help and sent her here tae this time.”

  “What on earth would ye be hiding from, ye art a king?”

  “I was hidin’ from a General Reyes, apparently.”

  She winced. “Oh.”

  There was a look in her eyes — I asked, “You know of him?”

  “Nae.” She shook her head. “Nae, I daena—”

  “It seemed like you did, like you recognized the name.”

  “Nae, maybe the name, but nae a general.” She folded her napkin and placed it beside her plate. “I am finished.” She pushed her chair from the table and forced a smile on her face. “I think I will retire, we have much tae do on the morrow. Get plenty of sleep, Magnus. G’night Kaitlyn.” She swept from the room with her back straight, but I saw a tremble to her hands, held tight in front of her.

  Magnus and I exchanged a look.

  I said, “She’s definitely heard of him.”

  As we passed the living room to go to our room, Lady Mairead was standing in front of the desk, the drawers open, rifling through it. Piles of papers were stacked on top, papers were clutched in her fingers. Her eyes were wide when she asked, “Magnus, have ye removed anythin’ from Donnan’s desk?”

  Magnus said, “Nae.”

  She looked around with a worrie
d expression. “It should be there, has anyone been here goin’ through Donnan’s possessions?”

  “I daena think so, but I was sleepin’ through most of it.”

  “Kaitlyn?”

  Of course, I had gone through that drawer just hours before and I had two books under the pillow in my room. I didn’t know which one she was looking for but I could see from the look in her eyes it was very, very important. “I haven’t seen anyone go through the drawers. Maybe it happened before we got here? What’s missing?”

  She took in the room. “Nothing important.” She directed her search to the small bookcase along the other wall.

  Magnus said, “Then we will leave ye tae lookin’ for it.”

  * * *

  Back in our room I dove for the pillow and retrieved the books. I wordlessly held them out to Magnus.

  “Och,” he said, “Tis what she is searchin’ for?”

  “I think so...” I flipped open the book of poetry. Inside the front cover there was a long looping calligraphic signature: “To my dearest Donnan, yours, Mairead.”

  I turned the book so Magnus could read it. He winced. “She is nae usually sentimental, I daena think that is the value of them.”

  I flipped through the whole poetry book, there was nothing more to it, besides my own tissue paper marker. I opened the second book, the fading handwriting, journal type entries, difficult to read, except the name, Johnne Cambel, and the year, 1558. I turned it toward Magnus.

  He read and nodded. “Tis the one, tis an ancestor, and must be important. We shouldna tell her of it until we ken the value of it.”