A Journey Out of Time

by S MacLeod

  "I could have been quick, lass," he said softly.

  "Typical."

  "Nay, lass, not typical, I assure ye."

  Sonya checked the hall & they walked down the corridor. At the end of the stairs Duncan headed to meet with Angus & she headed toward the gardens for a walk.

  "Hello, Brenna."

  "Hello, My Lady."

  "Please, don't start calling me that or I will start calling you My Lady. After all, you grew up here too, didn't you now."

  Brenna smiled, "Aye, I did. It all seems so long ago though." Brenna gazed around as they continued walking.

  "That happens after we are all grown up."

  Brenna looked at Sonya a moment. "Ye have enjoyed yer time here?"

  "Not at first. I was furious that Duncan had just left me here! I went to my room & beat the feathers out of my pillow." Brenna looked over at her & laughed. "Well, I did."

  "May I ask ye something else?"

  "Of course."

  "Marrying Rowan…?"

  "That wasn't a question, but yes, he asked me. I don't think it is such a bad idea, do you?"

  "No, not really," Brenna said softly.

  "He is a very interesting man. I like him a great deal."

  "So I have noticed," she said sardonically. Sonya raised a brow, but said nothing. She was glad they hadn't said anything else because suddenly a hand with three daisies came around from behind Sonya. She smiled & turned. Rowan smiled back & pulled out another flower, handing it to Brenna. Brenna looked so stunned Sonya wasn't sure she was going to take it.

  "Thank ye, Rowan."

  "Aye," Rowan smiled & walked away. Both ladies stood there watching him as he walked towards the stables.

  "Perhaps…" Brenna said.

  "Aye." Sonya nodded.

  "Do you ride, Brenna?"

  "I…yes," she smiled.

  "Go on then." Brenna looked at Sonya, confused. "I will look after Ewan."

  "I think I just might. It has been a long time." Brenna raised her head & hurriedly walked to the stables. Sonya hoped maybe they would be late for dinner.

  Sonya was in the sitting room sewing when Brenna returned. She came in looking very serious.

  "Brenna are you okay?"

  The young woman sat down on the floor in front of Sonya. She nervously played with her pale, blonde braid. "Sonya, ye were right. Rowan is interesting. I have seen how loving he is with ye. I have seen his kindness. I fear I have sorely misjudged him." Tears silently coursed down Brenna's face.

  Sonya got down with her & held her, surprised when she hugged her back, crying harder.

  "Oh, Brenna, we all do it. It is just part of being human. Sometimes we mess up. In fact, I think we do it a lot."

  "Aye," Brenna agreed wiping her tears away. She looked tired. The poor girl had years of resentment all taken away. It could leave one drained & bare, open to being vulnerable. As they stood, Brenna held her head up proudly. Sonya admired the young woman.

  "Ye can still be friends, even now, Brenna."

  "Aye," Brenna smiled briefly. "Thank ye, Sonya."

  "Any time." Sonya watched Brenna leave the room. At least something good had come of it all, Brenna no longer disliked Rowan.

  *

  Dinner felt much lighter that evening & Sonya hoped it would stay that way. She went to her room & donned her nightgown, happily flopping onto the bed. Sonya heard a light knock & groaned. Answering the door she found Ewan with an arms full of books & she smiled.

  "Come in."

  "Ye were going to sleep?"

  "Not yet. Come on up." Sonya crawled under the blankets & Ewan crawled up next to her with his books.

  "You have read all of these?"

  He smiled proudly, "Aye, plus I brought a new one. Can I read to ye?"

  "I would really like that."

  Ewan wriggled close under her arm & started to read to her.

  When Duncan knocked but got no response, he eased the door open. He was hoping Sonya had seen Ewan who seemed to have slipped away from Brenna. As Duncan stepped into the room he stopped & smiled. There was his woman, with her arm wrapped around his son, both sound asleep. Duncan went over to Sonya & gently removed the book from her hand. He took the other books that were scattered around the bed & laid them on the writing table. Gently he kissed Sonya & a smile stole across her face making Duncan's heart leap. He kissed his son, pulling a blanket over him. As he backed out of the door he ran smack into Rowan who was about to open his mouth when Duncan put his finger to his lips. Opening the door, he moved aside so Rowan could see in. Rowan smiled, seeing the little boy he considered his nephew sleeping in Sonya's arms. They both backed out.

  As they started down the corridor Duncan said, "I could'na find Ewan. The last time he was in her bedchamber with her dog, Aaralyn."

  Rowan smiled, "Aaralyn?

  "Aye. Ewan named her."

  "How about a drink?" Rowan asked.

  "Aye, that sounds good," Duncan agreed.

  Sonya woke up with a sore neck, an arm that was asleep & a smile on her lips. She was becoming quite attached to this little boy. He barely moved as she pulled her arm out from under him. Sonya thought he would make a fine laird one day. He loved to read, he had a good heart, & he would be well learned. Perhaps she was partial though. She smiled as she grabbed some clothes & got dressed. She wanted to go see how Brenna was faring at her first lesson with Rowan.

  As Sonya listened to the clanging of metal outside the armory, she was almost jealous. Opening the door just a bit she peered in to see that Rowan had Brenna's sword pinned down. Their faces were close & they were breathing hard. Brenna was looking into those bright green eyes. As for Rowan, Sonya saw something she hadn't before. It wasn't that ornery, challenging, look on his face. With Sonya, he had been proud like a teacher with a student. This was something else. It was how Sonya had looked at Duncan when she first saw him. It was a look of…awe. Sonya backed out, closing the door behind her. The lesson was over.

  The day beheld more lessons though & Sonya thought she loved Ewan all the more today! Being a typical boy Brenna found her charge in the library where he had decided to dangle from the upstairs banister. Brenna couldn't reach him & in her panic she ran out to the corridor yelling for help, then back into the library. Just as Rowan reached Brenna the little boy dropped, knocking Brenna back into Rowan's arms, all three of them falling to the floor. Of course, Ewan had the most padding followed by Brenna! They sat laughing on the floor. When Ewan got up, grinning, he kissed Brenna on the cheek.

  "Thank ye, Brenna."

  "Yer welcome, Ewan," she said trying to sound annoyed, but he just ran out of the room leaving Brenna still sitting partly on Rowan. She sat there for a moment unsure what to do next, when Rowan took her around her waist & hoisted her onto her feet as if she were a little girl. She turned around, red in the face.

  "Thank ye. I doona ken what got into the boy."

  "Ach, lassie, he was just being a lad."

  "Aye, I suppose so. Just as ye used to jump out of the trees & land on me?"

  Rowan chuckled & Brenna smiled. "Aye, I guess I did do that."

  "And pull my hair, lift up my skirts…"

  "Okay, okay, I get it." Rowan knelt in front of her, taking her hand. "Lady Brenna, will ye please forgive me for my past offenses on yer person?" He bowed his head & Sonya stifled a giggle from the corridor.

  Brenna laughed. "Aye, ye foolish lad, I forgive ye."

  Rowan kissed her hand & her face froze. Sonya was pretty sure Brenna had stopped breathing. As he stood Rowan declared, "But I am nay a lad any more, lass."

  "Nay…ye are not," she said in a soft voice as they looked at each other.

  Sonya decided to leave. Whatever was said after that, she didn't know, nor did she need to know. She just smiled & went to look for her little co-conspirator. She had to thank him!

  *

  "Good morning, Rowan."

  "Oh, good morning, Sonya," he replied absently from the
dais. "I thought ye were still asleep or I would have come for ye."

  Funny, it never seemed to bother him from collecting her before. Sonya smiled politely.

  "I see ye are ready for a practice?"

  "Aye. I am ready if ye are done eating."

  "Aye, lass."

  Rowan & Sonya walked side by side to the Armory. He didn't offer his arm or take hers. The time was nearing. Something caught Sonya's eye & she glanced down the corridor they just passed. Brenna had just walked by. She looked lovely with her hair flowing & the pale yellow dress she wore. Sonya glanced at Rowan. She saw how his eyebrows briefly rose & looked away. If she had been interested in Rowan, she definitely would have cause to worry!

  As they practiced Sonya knew that Rowan was not concentrating. He had let his guard down & she actually cut his forearm. Claiming that she was done in, Sonya asked if they could cut the lesson short.

  "Aye lass. I will meet ye shortly. Dress to go riding."

  "Okay." Sonya placed her sword in its scabbard & went to wash up. After a change of clothes she opened the door to find Rowan waiting outside her room. There was no smile of anticipation, but a look of concentrated thoughts.

  "Rowan?"

  "Aye," he offered his arm which she took.

  "You know, Rowan," she began, "I am glad I got the chance to spend time with your family."

  "Our family."

  Sonya smiled. "Yes, our family. I am very glad that you & I were able to become friends." He raised his brows, but said nothing. "Rowan, how about we finish that chess game that we didn't finish last night?"

  A challenging grin spread across his face. "What a great idea."

  Like clockwork Brenna was in the library looking for a book. Sonya smiled to herself as she & Rowan sat down at the board & started playing. After a few minutes Sonya said, "Brenna, which book are you looking for?"

  "Karo's Journey. I know I saw it here just yesterday."

  "Ah, I know where it is. Sit here & play for me while I go get it for you."

  Brenna hesitated. "That's okay, ye doona have to fash yerself over it."

  "Oh, it's no problem. It is one of the books Ewan brought me last night. I will be right back."

  Sonya left the room, stopped, & peered back in. Ewan had told her Brenna could play chess. God bless that boy!

  In the first few minutes Brenna took no less than three of Rowan's pieces! Good girl! Sonya smiled & hurried to her bedchamber for the book. She nearly ran! When she returned the pair had started another game & Sonya hadn't seen Rowan so focused or annoyed! Sonya frowned because Brenna looked down right mad. Did she & Rowan have an argument? The game ended with Rowan's win & another game began.

  "Where did Angus send you off to anyway? Before I left." Brenna asked

  "I went to the lowlands to be trained for the guard."

  Brenna's eyebrows rose. "Really? Was it dangerous?"

  Rowan furrowed his brows at her move. "Nay, not really. I was rather bored."

  "I bet," she said sarcastically. He didn't miss the insinuation.

  "You ken, ye doona have to treat me like I was 14, Brenna."

  "Well, ye have acted a bit older since I have been here. Maybe…16."

  He grinned at her. "E'er the hard lass."

  "What do ye mean?"

  "The lass that watched, waited, & then punch you in the nose." Now it was Brenna's turn to smile, but then she frowned.

  "What do ye mean, watched & waited? Waited for what?"

  "Ye were as bold as brass as a young lass, never afraid of anything. Yet ye seemed to always be waiting for something."

  Brenna angrily slid the chair back, standing with her tightened fists on the table. "I will tell ye what I was waiting for, Rowan ye arse!" Rowan's eyebrows shot up. "I was waiting for ye to grow up & take notice of me!"

  Rowan stood now, leaning over the game table.

  "I did notice ye! Every damn day we grew up!"

  "Ye did?" Brenna lowered her voice & then yelled again, "Well, ye had a funny way of showing it!"

  "I did'na think a beautiful girl like ye would want a lad like me."

  "What do you mean a lad like ye?" she hollered.

  Duncan came silently up behind Sonya, scaring her. Placing her finger to her lips, he stopped & they listened.

  "I wasn't a good guard. I wasn't smart like my brother. I hated being at court. I did'na ken how to do anything well. How would I keep a woman happy?"

  "Well, ye did'na seem to have a problem keeping all the other girl happy, including Sonya," she said tartly.

  Duncan & Sonya looked wide eyed at each other.

  "Aye, and that was all I was good at, Brenna."

  Brenna could see the pain in Rowan's face & she rounded the table & stood in front of him. She took his face in her hands. "I thought ye were a fine lad, Rowan, fine. I did'na care what ye did, I loved ye just as ye were." She was talking in a soft, consoling tone.

  "Ye loved me?" he whispered.

  "I have always loved ye, ye dolt. Even after I hit ye."

  Suddenly, Rowan took Brenna's face in his hands & kissed her. Duncan & Sonya smiled. She quietly pulled the door closed, hearing chess pieces hit the floor. Duncan took Sonya's hand & they walked off smiling. Heading out of the castle door, cutting across the field.

  "Where are we going, Duncan?" she asked as he pulled her hand.

  "Not far, lass, I assure ye." Sonya smiled at his grin & they broke into a run.

  Standing together they stood on top of the crest overlooking the loch. Walking into the trees lining the far side, the sun shone, glinting off of the bluest, blue water. Sonya took a deep breath & smiled. Duncan pulled her towards a large, shady tree. He took off his shirt baring that beautiful chest that rippled as he moved his arms up & then down. Sonya could look at him forever. She took a step towards him & to her happy surprise he stripped off his kilt, laying it under the tree. He turned her around in front of him, his hands on her hips, walked her forward until she was in front of the tree. Then he reached around untying her top, slipping it over her head. He deftly unfastened her bra, freeing her breasts. He grabbed them, squeezing, pulling on the hardened nipples. Sonya leaned her head back onto his chest, moaning softly. He moved his hands down her sides & into the front of her pants. She let out a gasp. When she tried to touch him, he moved his hands to her wrists, placing her hands onto the tree in front of her where he whispered, "Keep them there lass."

  She didn't want to hold the stupid tree trunk! She wanted to turn around & kiss him wildly, throwing herself on top of him!

  He pressed himself closer to her as he continued to tease her core, moving his hand up & down. He continued until she cried out, feeling like her legs would go out from under her. Duncan kissed neck, holding her up until she regained her legs. He turned her around in his arms, kissing her heatedly, moving down her neck. Taking one breast into his mouth, he sucked & then pulled away slowly, leaving the nipple hard. As he showered kisses down her stomach Duncan slowly took her pants down with his warm hands. Ever so slowly.

  Duncan lifted Sonya, carrying her to his plaid. She bit his neck & he let out a low rumble. Placing her down, he rolled her onto her stomach & she hardened again at the feel of his body against hers. Her chest heaved as Duncan's breath blew against her neck. Sonya arched her head back & he gently bit the bottom of her neck causing her to moan again, turning her head. His arms continued over her shoulder, down her back, to her butt where he put his hands & squeezed. Slowly his hands moved around her hips to the front where he moved his fingers up & down on her most sensitive spot. Sonya moaned, wanting him inside her!

  "Duncan, please."

  "Please?" he said huskily, "How can I please ye lass?"

  "You know how."

  "I want ye to tell me. I want to hear ye say it, lass."

  Sonya said it & he pushed inside of her & she cried out, "Oh, Duncan!" He rode her until they both cried out.

  As they lay on his kilt with him still inside of her, he put his a
rms around her & she sighed, content. She stroked the bit of his hair that fell down over her shoulder.

  "Are ye alright, lass?"

  "I am more than alright. I am whole."

  "Aye, me too." Duncan kissed her on the back of her head. "I love ye, Sonya, lass."

  "I love you, too."

  Sonya & Duncan rose. He wrapped his plaid around them as they gazed through the trees at the loch. She leaned back in his arms. Sonya knew the moment she said yes, she would never return home. She knew the moment that he touched her, she never could. The moment he made love to her, he became her home.

  "What are ye thinking lass?"

  "That I am glad I am here with you."

  Sonya turned to face him & he lifted her chin, kissing her tenderly. When she pressed into his arms & he held her, she could have stayed like that forever. Instead they dressed & headed back towards the castle. Stopping just by the roses Sonya always stopped to smell, she stood there & hugged Duncan to her. She smiled & he rested his chin on her head. She loved this wonderful, beautiful, caring, sexy man. How did I get so lucky? Duncan made her feel safe & she hugged him tighter & he sighed.

  Brenna came running out of the castle out of breath, concern on her face, her hair disheveled. Duncan & Sonya looked at each other & smiled. She skid to a halt & looked down at their hands as they headed towards her. She let out a big sigh, smiling the biggest smile Sonya had ever seen. Her face was glowing & she was radiant. Sonya understood that glow. Brenna came forward & hugged Sonya, whispering in her ear. She kissed Duncan on the cheek & ran back towards the castle. Rowan was waiting for her, smiling a genuine, happy, yet mischievous smile. He raised his hand to them.

  "What did she say lass?"

  Sonya glanced up at her fine, wonderful man. "She said, thank you."

  Duncan pulled her into his side & they continued towards the castle.

  *

  "Duncan?" Sonya asked sitting on the bed.