"Maybe to speed things up in my husband's decision about what to do with your husband, we should confront your husband together."
"You mean go to talk to him? No. I do not want to see him."
"He will remain behind bars in the dungeon. We will go with you, my husband and Bran of course. Once they see how your husband is to you, that might make my husband come up with some sort of annulment agreement. I'm just thinking off the top of my head here. But for now, it is all is hear say, we need the evidence. At least that's what I do as a police officer, gather the evidence."
"And my bruised and swollen eye, is it enough?"
"Sadly, I wish it were, but you could have done that by falling or something else. Trust me, I believe you and I'm on your side, I am just thinking ahead."
"I guess I will think about it. Do I have to do it tonight?"
" No, tonight you are going to feast with us in the main hall. You have had enough of the trauma, so you might as well have some fun. You will sit at my side and I can finally introduce you as my cousin to everyone. Just stay as silent as possible when strangers come to ask you questions. But you can talk as much as you want to me, my husband, and Bran who all know the truth. It will do your heart some good and there will be entertainment and merriment."
"Merriment? You can't actually be using that word." Edith smiled.
"I know. It's so weird isn't it?" Maria laughed.
"What feast?"
"The men went on a hunt this morning and had good luck. We usually dine in the great hall together with our people, but tonight is special to celebrate the gifts bestowed on us from the Earth."
"I like the sound of that." Edith smiled.
"And you get to put on another dress." Maria stood up. She walked to the chair and held up a very elegant maroon dress with gold brocade in it.
"It's mine, but I think it will fit nicely with a few adjustments," Maria said.
"It's beautiful," Edith said.
Chapter 15
Edith followed Maria down the corridor of the castle. Sounds of music and commotion of voices echoed off the stone walls. Edith fidgeted with the dress she wore. It was much prettier than the one that she had worn during the day and seemed to be a bit more elegant. Heigl had fashioned ribbons into her red hair pinning it up on her head. Maria used baking flour to disguise the purple bruising on her face and had assured Edith that it was the medieval version of makeup. Looking in the mirror, Edith was surprised at how well she liked what she saw, she felt pretty and something more than just exhausted. In truth she was excited too, and almost thought of it as a dinner theater. She wanted just a few hours of not thinking about the predicament that she was in with traveling back in time and a monster for a husband. She just wanted to put it out of her mind and enjoy herself even for a little while.
They reached the end of the corridor and entered the grand dining hall. Suddenly a tin mug slammed on a table three times. Everyone stood up from their chairs in honor of the Lady entering the hall.
Edith looked on in astonishment. There were rows upon rows of tables, and one elongated table at the head of the long narrow room. She noticed that Maria's husband, Cameron was already sitting with men. One of the men she recognized as Bran.
Edith walked with Maria toward the table and looked around as she did so.
The tables were set with large platters of food. Mutton, potatoes, root vegetables, and pots of stew were served from ceramic platters and bowls. Loaves of bread piled high and added to the scent of delicious food inside the hall.
In the middle of the room, with high timber raft ceilings, was a grand hearth, a fire pit dug into the middle of the floor where a high pile of wood burned. It was one of many hearths around the dining hall.
Edith sat beside Maria who sat beside her husband the Laird. On Cameron's side, was Bran who Edith noticed was looking in her direction. She knew it was simply because he had a watchful eye over her because he still considered her a threat. That was fine, let the brute think whatever he wanted she was going to enjoy herself.
"My people, we have a guest. May I introduce you to the cousin of my wife, Lady Edith Collins," Laird MacLeod said.
Edith felt a job to her rib. It was Maria alerting her that she should stand. Edith did as she was beckoned and stood up and gave a clumsy bow and quickly sat back down.
Edith heard Maria laugh slightly, and then looked over to Bran to see that he was stifling a laugh as well. She didn't like that he was laughing at her and felt immediately frustrated and embarrassed.
"Let the feast begin," the Laird said.
There was a commotion of cheer, and suddenly everyone began to dig in. Edith was astonished by how much food she saw. There were more platters piled high with fresh fish, squid, oysters, and all manner of sea urchins that she didn't recognize. Then there was platters of game hen, and root vegetables, as well as deer meat. Maria informed her that the deer meat was from the hunt and that Bran himself had taken down the animal.
The mead, ale, and wine flowed freely. Everyone was in good spirits and she was glad that most people had their eyes on the food and not on her. She smiled for the first time since she had arrived watching the people light up with happiness at the sight. She realized Maria was right, people were simpler and were happy just to be fed.
"Dig in," Maria said.
Edith didn't know where to start there were so many dishes in front of her, some that she was not familiar with. She put a heap of each on to her plate.
Taking small bites, she was surprised at just how delicious and fresh everything tasted. She drank plenty of wine and had a fun conversation with Maria. It was nice to have someone to talk to that was from her own time. But as she watched the gathered people eating at the tables in the room, she knew that this was not a dream or a trick. No one ever broke character, and their accents were so authentic that she could almost not understand what they were saying, and some words seem to be ancient. No, this was the last proof that she needed that she definitely had gone back in time and her world had been turned upside down. To this, Edith drank more wine to ease her nerves.
"Oh, you are going to love this," Maria said pushing Edith's attention toward the middle of the room.
Musicians had come out skipping across the room playing animal skin drums and flutes. they danced and sang, while the people cheered them on. Edith loved it.
"Sometimes, we even have plays, so much fun. Sometimes it takes place inside and sometimes outside in the summer. I know it's nothing compared to being on the internet or going to see a movie or a Broadway show, but the fact that it is just part of everyday life here makes it something special I think," Maria said.
"I think you might be right about that," Edith said and then held up her cup of wine and said, "To every day being a medieval life."
"Yes, except we just call it everyday life here, they don't know the term medieval." Maria laughed and pressed her cup against Edith's.
Suddenly, Cameron stood up and a quiet commotion came over the room. Edith look to Maria with questioning eyes.
"Enjoy the evening at your leisure," he said.
Then the people nodded in agreement. It was then that people began to stand up and mingle about the room. Some went to sit by the fire, others went to fetch their own refill of drink. Others were standing around the hearth while still casually eating from a chicken bone.
"What's going on?" Edith asked Maria who was already standing.
"My husband has just declared the official dining portion to be over. Think of it as hanging out for drinks after dinner, the bar is open," Maria said. "Now everyone just sort of mingles throughout the room, even spilling outside into the courtyard. It is very informal and fun. Some even take to dance, enjoy yourself," Maria said as her husband took her hand and escorted her away to speak with some people.
Edith sat alone, suddenly felt anxious. She poured herself some more wine and drank.
"I trust the Lady told you not to speak to many people about whe
re you came from. It is important to the safety of everyone that no one knows your truth," Bran said unexpectedly standing beside her.
Edith looked up at him towering over her with a scowl on his face. She did not like it one bit. She stood up, but it did not help much because he was so much taller than she and she was very petite.
"Yes, I was told to keep my mouth shut. You don't have to check up on me all the time," she said putting her hands on her hips.
"I think I must. Considering how much you've had to drink. I assume that you have loose lips now."
"Ugh. You have been watching me? That's creepy. I can take my drink. You don't have to watch over me," she said noticing that her words slurred slightly which made her feel embarrassed. So, there was only one thing to do, push her chin into the air and stomp away with a cup of wine in hand. She didn't know where she was going, but she had to get away from Bran because he always made her feel so small. Therefore, she went directly to the middle of the room where the raging fire crackled. She sat down on the stone ledge surrounding it, taking in the sights, and smiling at those that passed by.
Edith noticed that most people smiled in her direction, but did not talk to her, perhaps that was some sort of formality because she was the cousin of the Lady of the castle. She hadn't seen very many historical movies, but she knew there was something about conversation and how one needed to be introduced. She was glad for it because she didn't want to be tested or asked too many questions and was happy to just watch and observe.
But she found herself watching and observing one person in particular, Bran. She tried not to, but she could not take her eyes off of him as he made his way through the crowd of people conversing as well as squashing small drunken arguments between men. He did have a powerful presence, and that thought would continue even as she went to bed that night and dreamt of his strong arms around her once more.
That night, those thoughts turned into more than just thought, they turned into intense and hot dreams about the Scottish man.
She found herself having the same nightmare that she'd had over and over, but this time in the dream Bran came to her rescue. After he did so, he was carrying her in his arms the way he did when she fainted. Only this time he leaned down and kissed her and carried her off to their bed. Then he pressed himself onto her small body and she could feel the heat of him against her. He kissed down her neck and on to her bosom going lower and lower until he was kissing her thighs. Edith felt burning hot, in fact she was sweating. It was this heat that grew uncomfortable that woke her up. She looked around the room realizing that she was alone. A flash of red moved to her face as she felt so embarrassed that she was having an intensely hot dream about the Scottish man who also seemed to infuriate her all at once. But there was something about him and in truth she was glad that he was able to rescue her in the nightmare.
But the next day, brought more stress than Edith wanted to handle. Maria had talked to Cameron and they all agreed that in order to get on top of the situation that they all needed to go speak to Gabriel together. As Edith followed, she grew nervous not knowing what Gabriel would say. What did he think of all this? Was he told that he had traveled back in time the way she had been told? Or did he think he was still in some sort of medieval play that the tourist groups had put on?
"Do I absolutely have to do this now?" Edith asked Maria.
"It is better to get it over with, don't you think?"
"Yes, I guess so. What has he been told? There's no way Gabriel would believe he has gone back in time."
"As far as I know, the guards have said very little to him, but there are other prisoners being held as well. We're holding a clan of Irish bandits who were terrorizing the village. I have no idea what they've been telling Gabriel. But I would assume by now he knows that something unusual has happened and that this isn't some sort of game or theater production," Maria said.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Whatever it is I can guarantee you that he's going to blame me for all of it. I wish I would have seen what kind of a monster he really was before I married him."
"It will all be okay. We'll just take this one step at a time," Maria said.
"Okay."
"Come on, right this way," Bran said to them as they walked behind him and his cousin Cameron.
Edith grew even more apprehensive. She looked down at what she was wearing and wished that she would have changed back into her normal clothes. Gabriel was going to be irate to see her dressed like a beer wench at a renaissance festival. Her bosom felt very exposed and although she had quite enjoyed it before, simply because of the reaction it got from Bran, now she felt very exposed.
She didn't want Gabriel to see that she was drinking the Kool-Aid and taking part in dressing up with everyone. It would make him absolutely furious and want to hurt her and anyone who stood in the way. This wasn't going to be a good interaction, she absolutely knew that to be the truth. But she knew that it needed to be done so that her new friends could see just how much of a monster this man was and help her to separate from him. They needed to see his dark and evil side so that they did not give him leave to get out of the prison.
If it were up to him, he would take her into the countryside and do vile things to her, keeping her as a prisoner. She didn't have the strength to fight him, she wasn't strong like Maria who had been a cop in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Maria was able to take on this new harsh way of living without modern luxuries, but Edith wasn't used to it at all. She needed to go through with this conversation and the sooner it was over with, the sooner they would see who he truly was.
Chapter 16
It was absolutely horrid down in the dungeons. There was no sunshine coming in through any sort of windows or slits in the stone walls. Smoke and soot from the burning torches seem to make the walls thick with black oil. Edith was astonished at just how much metal there was all around. Large metal gates were lined up in a row one after another and they were headed for the first one.
"Guards, open the gate," Cameron commanded.
Edith watched as it took several different keys to open one metal gate and then another before they entered the dungeon. That gave her some sense of relief. But the horrid smell and putrid air hit her immediately, making her gag. She grabbed the material of her long sleeves and put it over her nose and mouth. A part of her felt dreadful that Gabriel was being held in such horrid condition. He was a monster, but he was a modern man and even in a modern prison it wouldn't be this bad.
"You! Where the hell have you been, Edith? Get me out of this stupid prison cell. Is this your doing? How much did you pay these people to do this to me!" Gabriel shouted as he stood up and started toward the bars of his cell reaching his arm through them as though he was trying to grasp at her even though she stood quite far away.
But the sight of him terrified her. He didn't look like the loving, charming, and attractive man that she married. It wasn't because he was filthy because he hadn't been in the dungeon that long, but it was the dark look that had come over his facial features. He was a completely different man than she remembered. His eyes seemed to take on a dark and evil look. His teeth were gnashed together in anger and all of it terrified her.
"Calm down, prisoner. We will ask the questions," Bran said taking charge.
Gabriel looked at him and gave him a dirty look. "You again. Who the hell are you? I demand I be released from here. I don't know what stupid game you're all playing. The rest of the prisoners here are trying to tell me that I'm in some sort of past time. They have all gone mad."
"It's true Gabriel. I didn't want to believe it to begin with, but we have somehow traveled back in time. I have seen the proof. The modern bridge out front is gone. There are no planes in the sky and no tourist groups. I know you won't believe it, I didn't either but it's true, it has to be," Edith said.
"You stupid whore. It doesn't take much to convince you does it? Of course, you believe whatever these people are selling you. I'm sick of i
t! Let me out of here."
"She does not have the authority to let you out, only I do," Cameron said taking a step forward. His chest heaved out proudly and you could hear the rest of the prisoners whisper the words, "It's the Laird."
"I see what's going on here. Edith is fucking you guys in order to keep me here."
"Don't talk about her that way," Bran said without thinking.
Edith immediately looked at him, surprised that he was standing up for her.
"He told ya, didn't he!" a man in the other cell laughed.
Edith looked to them. They were filthy and had missing teeth. She could tell that these were the Irish bandits that she was told about. They were making fun of Gabriel and only making him angrier. She knew that this wasn't going to end well, just as she expected but she was extremely glad that Gabriel was behind bars.
"Shut up!" Gabriel shouted at them which only made them laugh even more. "Edith, when I get out of here, you'll never run away from me again and you will pay for this humiliation! I'll break both of your legs if I have to! I'm going to beat the shit out of you! How dare you even think of keeping me in this hell hole! I swear you are going to regret this!"
"How dare you threaten a guest of my home. I will not stand for such a thing," Cameron said.
"And unlike yourself, this guest will be protected at all cost while your fate is being decided by my Laird," Bran said.
"I see what's going on here! It's you! You're the one that's in her bed every night. I'll cut your balls off myself for touching my wife!" Gabriel sneered Bran.
"Shut your mouth, beast. If you cause any more problems, you will be the one missing parts of your body. I have heard enough of your monstrosity!" Bran shouted at Gabriel and as he did so, he reached out and clamped down on Gabriel's wrist twisting it.
Kiss A Highlander: A Scottish Time Travel Romance (A Highlander Across Time Book 2) Page 7