by Jane Stain
But oh, how wonderful it had been to be here for a short time. She looked all around her at the courtyard and imagined everything she had seen stretching out for miles and smiled to herself.
And then she remembered that he hadn’t said aye yet, that he would come. Her heart grew anxious, and she looked up again into his eyes with the same beseeching look that he had used on her, bless the man.
He grabbed her in his embrace roughly, taking charge once more, which made her smile — but she kept the smile to herself, hiding it by putting her head on his shoulder and putting her arms around his neck and drawing his head down for a long kiss.
The kiss was all-consuming, and it lasted much longer than she’d intended. But it might be their last kiss, and so she lived in it. She threw everything she had into it, throwing caution to the wind and even pressing the rest of her body against his in blind uninhibited passion.
This is a bit too much for his sensibilities, and he drew away from her, albeit reluctantly.
She swallowed. Was this it? Slowly, she dared to look back up in his eyes again.
They were soft and tender, and her heart leapt with hope.
When he spoke, it was resignedly, but also determined.
“I will come with ye. I dinna want tae live withoot ye, Sasha. When will we go?”
She hugged him in glee, and he hugged her back, tentatively at first, and then with strength, reclaiming her as his own. Again, she hid her smile.
“We’re leaving in the morning, first thing.”
“How will we go?”
“We go intae that one corridor in the underground castle, and there, Tavish can use his ring tae take us back tae my time.”
He nodded.
“I did hae my suspicions about that place, but whenever I thought about it, my thoughts were redirected somewhere else. A bit o the sorcery that protects the place, aye?”
Was he testing her? She looked into his eyes and asked him that question with her own.
Seeing only acceptance there — well, acceptance, a bitter reservation, and a huge amount of resolve along with love for her — she continued on. She’d told him this much. She might as well finish. If he was to be coming along with her, he needed to know, after all.
“Aye, it probably is sorcery. But 'tis na Tavish's nor mine nor Kelsey’s. The magic belongs tae the Druids who run the institution where Kelsey and I studied. They’ve enslaved Tavish’s family for generations, mayhap the verra same way Brian said he wished he could enslave me. They send him back in time tae collect artifacts, and this last time 'twas that sword Deirdre found and calls Galdus.”
He nodded, and then he looked at her with concern.
“But we canna just go in there after we tell everyone goodbye. We need tae go north toward yer clan’s land — either by foot or by ship.”
This time it was her turn to nod.
“Aye, that’s what we’re gaun'ae dae. And then we’ll sneak doon tae the corridor and go back tae my time.”
He pulled back from their embrace so that he could see her face and she could see his smile.
“Tavish and I did some aught a few years ago which might make that a little easier than ye would think.”
And with those cryptic words, he swung her around so they were walking together back into the great hall. This time, his arm was around her shoulders, and he was holding her close to him. Yes it was a possessive hold, but she also felt such warmth from him that it radiated through her whole body, making her a bit dizzy.
As soon as they stepped over the threshold of the great hall, he raised his voice to be heard above the musicians and all the chatter.
“Sasha and I are to be married!”
Everyone took up their tankards and raised them in the air, shouting a cheer.
“Huzzah!”
Seumas waited for the cheers to die down.
“We will be going with Tavish and Kelsey in the morning, back tae their clan’s land tae start oor new life together. And sae this is goodbye this evening, but dinna make it a sad one, for I am a verra happy man indeed.”
And with that, he shocked Sasha by turning and kissing her soundly in front of everyone.
The hall erupted in cheers again, and everyone came to shake their hands, even Laird Malcomb. He seemed a bit flustered and about to say something a few times before just giving them a smile and hugging both of them together.
“Wull, may ye both be verra happy. I ken ye wull live long lives and be verra good tae each other and hae many many bairns.” With that last line he laughed, and everyone else laughed with him.
~*~
Sasha didn’t get the chance to speak privately with Kelsey until that night in their dreams, but then they had plenty of time. After a lot of laughing and congratulations and ‘I told you so’s, finally Kelsey got serious.
“Yes, it’s so much safer back in our time. Can you imagine childbirth in this time? And Sasha, you want kids. It’s so obvious.”
~*~
Eileen held out Sasha’s suit, and she gingerly accepted it. Determined to keep a calm face, she looked the garments over, bracing herself for the damage. Not finding any, she turned toward Eileen’s bedroom, eager to go change. And then remembering her manners, she turned back to thank Eileen and was overwhelmed with just how much the woman had done for her.
“I thank ye, Eileen. Na just for laundering my suit, but for allowing me tae bide here and taking me in as part o yer family — na tae mention as yer apprentice at the weaver shop. Ye hae made my time here feel like home, and I dinna ken how I wull ever repay ye.”
Eileen smiled a mischievous smile and stroked a tapestry that Tavish and Kelsey had brought her from Turnberry Castle.
“Surely ye jest. Ye are the one who convinced Kelsey tae bring me this. This is far more payment than I deserve.”
They laughed together, and then they hugged.
~*~
Sasha and Seumas walked arm in arm behind Tavish and Kelsey to the sendoff Laird Malcomb had prepared for them at the east gate out of the castle town. Alfred and Eileen walked arm in arm behind them. The sendoff was a nice touch. The dance band from the night before was playing.
Seumas and Alfred at first just clasped forearms, but then they hugged.
Alfred gave his younger brother a stern look.
“Take good care o Sasha, now.”
Seumas nodded upward with his chin at his brother.
“Aye, and ye take good care o Eileen, now.”
They stood hugging each other for a moment and then they both nodded and separated to put their arms around their loves, the new guardians of their hearts.
Laird Malcomb shook forearms first with Seumas, then with Tavish.
“Remember, ye can come back anytime, if there is a need. Dae not burn the bridge behind ye, aye?”
Seumas nodded.
“Aye, Uncle. We thank ye, and we will remember that. Ye never can be sure we willna take ye up on that sometime.”
~*~
For Sasha, it wasn’t soon enough when they started on their way, but she knew Seumas needed time to say farewell. She could barely believe he was coming with her, and she squeezed his hand that was over her shoulder every time she remembered just how lucky she was that he cared enough to turn away from everyone else he loved and come with her.
There was no reason to speak Gaelic now, and Seumas had assured her he did understand English, thank God. At least he didn’t have a language barrier to contend with when he got to the twenty first century.
Once they were out of earshot, she asked the question she’d been wondering about all morning.
“Is there another place Tavish can time travel? I thought we had to go back into the underground castle.”
Tavish turned around and walked backward in front, and he and Seumas smiled huge.
“We need to go back down into the underground castle, all right, but we’re going to need this rope.” He held up a length of rope about 100 feet long, and he and Seumas laug
hed heartily.
Sasha put her hands on her hips, and as she did so, she had a pang of grief that she wouldn’t see Deirdre again.
“Okay, obviously the two of you know what you’re talking about. Would you please enlighten the rest of us?”
Kelsey already knew, though. She excitedly explained.
“As soon as we go around those trees and can’t be seen anymore, we’ll turn left and backtrack along the cliffs to where we can lower ourselves over. Tavish and Seumas know of a way in down there. They were supposed to block it, but they had a feeling they might need it one day, so they left some wiggle room.”
The prospect of lowering herself over a cliff terrified Sasha, mostly because she was wearing her good suit again and didn’t want to get it all scuffed up. But she didn’t say anything. She was determined to be a good sport. In the light of Seumas having to leave his whole life behind, ruining her suit was more than trivial. She kept telling herself that.
When they got to the spot, Tavish tied the rope around a big rock, and then Seumas held it.
Sasha had a terrible thought.
“Who’s going to hold it when the last one of us goes down — and more importantly, are we just going to leave it there? Let Malcomb know we’ve gone down there, once he finds it?”
Tavish stepped forward.
“I’ll go last. I’m lighter than Seumas, so the rock should hold me, but I’m still strong enough to assist you ladies after he goes first.”
Seumas nodded and took position with his kilted rear hanging over the cliff and holding the rope to repel down to the hidden cave.
But before he could start, Deirdre came running out with tears streaming down her face and grabbed ahold of Sasha by the waist and held her tight.
“Take me with ye.”
Sia Deug (16)
Sasha’s arms automatically wrapped around Deirdre. And then Sasha was kneeling so that she could be face-to-face with the little girl whose face was red with tears because she was sobbing and gasping for breath. Tears dripped down Sasha’s face too.
While she held Deirdre close and rocked her in her arms, a fierce feeling of protectiveness came over Sasha, unlike anything she had ever experienced. She opened her watery eyes and looked at her best friend, pleading for some kind of answer.
Kelsey came over and knelt beside them for a moment, clearly thinking things through.
And then she hugged Sasha.
“Stay here. You have made more of a life for yourself here in seven days than you did at Celtic in seven years. You’re already an auntie to this little one, you have a future playing flute with the dance band — and besides, Seumas shines here. His strength and fighting abilities would wither in our time. You can tell me in your dreams if you need emergency medical care or something — and I have a feeling our masters will be in touch with you. They won’t let all your training go to waste.”
On hearing Kelsey’s permission to stay, such a feeling of relief washed over Sasha that she cried all the more, but these were happy tears. How silly she’d been. She didn’t need Kelsey’s permission to stay, not when Seumas had already invited her. His was the only opinion that mattered, and he wanted the two of them to stay here.
Sasha stood up, holding Deirdre’s hand and seeking out her love’s eyes. When she finally found them, they looked hopeful again, and all trace of fear was gone. Confident this was the right decision, she spoke, and all doubt was removed from her mind when she saw Seumas’s face light up with joy.
She addressed Deirdre, but she kept looking at Seumas.
“Seumas and I are staying here, Deirdre. We are na going with Tavish and Kelsey. Na tae bide, anyhow. We may visit there someday sae I can show him a few things,” Seumas beamed at her and nodded, “but we wull live here, and I’m gaun'ae be yer auntie.”
Seumas hurried over, and he and Deirdre both hugged Sasha fiercely, and then he hugged Deirdre too, and they were once more like a family.
Kelsey laughed and pulled the rope back up from where Tavish had thrown it over the cliff.
“We wull go with ye back tae the weaver shop tae take Deirdre home. That way, we wull be here for ye awhile, in case ye hae need o us.”
~*~
When they all entered the weaver shop, Eileen looked puzzled — and then cross when she saw her daughter with them.
“Deirdre! Ye canna be sneaking off like this. What am I gaun'ae dae with ye?” She sighed heavily and looked at Sasha apologetically. “I’m sae sorry she ruined yer trip.”
Sasha took both of Eileen’s hands in hers.
“I am na sorry at all that she ruined oor trip. In fact, I’m pleased as punch. She’s made me realize — we’re gaun'ae bide!”
Eileen hugged her.
“Yer sure?”
Sasha hugged Eileen back and nodded against her face.
“Aye, we’re sure.”
Eileen backed away and held onto Sasha’s hands, then looked around at everyone.
“Then I had best get ye tae Laird Malcomb straightaway.”
Keeping hold of Sasha’s hand, she turned and hurried toward the door, dragging Sasha behind her. Deirdre held on to Sasha’s other hand and went along too, with Seumas and Tavish and Kelsey following close behind them.
“What’s going on?” Sasha called out as they rushed through the castle town with everyone looking at them curiously.
But Eileen didn’t answer, just laughed and hurried her.
“Quicken yer step, will ye?”
At last, they were inside the castle.
A woman who was scrubbing one of the tables in the great hall looked up and saw them all and called out to a man passing through, and he ran out of the room — and returned shortly with Laird Malcomb.
The laird looked puzzled and slightly worried.
Seumas allayed the man’s fears.
“Uncle, we hae decided tae bide. I hope that is wull with ye.”
Laird Malcomb broke out into a large grin and held out his arms.
Seumas took Sasha’s hand away from Eileen and brought her forward into his uncle’s presence. Deirdre still clung to her other hand.
Laird Malcomb embraced them all.
“Aye, ‘tis more than wull with me. Much more than wull. I was utterly forlorn when ye told me ye were leaving. Ye see, I had already decided tae ask ye tae represent me oot at the surrounding castles — a different one each year – tae discuss with them what happened with Brian the Druid and what we all might dae in order tae protect ourselves. A lot o travel, and much time away from home. Dae ye wish tae take it on?”
Did they ever!
This was exactly what she and Seumas had talked about on their two journeys together so far. Their eyes met, and he looked just as excited as she felt about the prospect of traveling to all the surrounding castles together.
Her smile faltered when Deirdre squeezed her hand and took in a big breath to start talking. Sasha could guess what the little girl was going to say. She’d only just won her back, and now Sasha was rushing off without her again.
Sasha spoke to Eileen, but she held Seumas’s eyes while she did, pleased to see that he agreed with her and would support her in this, as he had in everything.
“We will only gae if Deirdre can foster with us and come along.”
Eileen looked to her daughter, who nodded yes vigorously.
“Aye!”
Seachd Deug (17)
~After Alfred & Eileen and Seumas & Sasha’s double wedding at the castle~
Seumas laughed his hardest as he followed Sasha, Kelsey, and Tavish up the familiar stairs into a place that was completely unfamiliar — even though it was on the same land as his uncle’s castle.
Betting he would shock them all, Seumas spoke to them in English (with his Scottish accent).
“Will ye look at that? Even though ye telt me about the trailers and the cars — and the fact that Uncle’s castle is gone and the ruins o a newer tower house stand in its place… even with the telling, ye hae the ri
ght o it.”
Speaking quite a different English, Sasha put her arms around him and leaned her chin on his shoulder.
“If it’s too much for you, we don’t have to visit. We can go back right now.”
Quick as he could, he leaned down and looked into her eyes.
“Ye must be jesting. I canna wait tae ride a wave on a surfboard!”
She laughed and tugged him over toward one of the cars.
He went willingly, but to himself, he could admit he was a bit afraid.
Tavish shook his hand.
“Congratulations again, and I know you’re going to have the most wonderful honeymoon ever.”
Kelsey looked at Tavish wistfully then.
Feeling like an intruder into their private business for noticing, Seumas turned away toward the car. He was on the passenger side, of course. Sasha had offered to teach him to drive, but for this first trip into the great unknown, he figured he’d have enough to do just looking around.
She got in on the other side and reached over and pulled up a little part of the inside of the car.
“Pull on the handle and open the door and get in.”
Bless the lass, she covered her laughter as he tried to find the handle. Soon, he was inside the car with her, and she put her hand on his leg while she fastened a strap over his chest.
“Are you sure you want to leave for Hawaii right away? Kelsey will let us use her trailer. We can spend the night here and…”
After she fastened a strap over her own chest, he gently took her chin and turned her face toward him.
“Ye wanted yer wedding night tae be in Hawaii, and ye already let me hae the wedding with my family. We’re gaun'ae wait till we get there.”
As nonchalantly as if it was something she did every day — which he supposed it was, come to think of it — she put what she’d explained was a key inside the neck of the machine and turned it, causing a great rumble that made him try to jump out of his seat even though she had warned him it was coming. She pulled on something and pushed on something with her foot and pulled on something else, pushed on something else with her foot, and the machine took off at an unbelievable speed, making his knuckles turn white on the arms of the chair he was sitting in.