A Journey Out of Time

by S MacLeod

  "Since we are wed, I must carry ye across the threshold. Do ye ken why?"

  "No, why?"

  "To avoid bad luck. If the bride should trip on her way in it is considered bad luck."

  Sonya laughed. "That would be my luck!"

  They went over the threshold with no tripping! Duncan kissed her & then tossed her onto the bed, pulling off his shirt.

  "You know when you grin like that I worry," she laughed.

  "When I grin like what, lass?" he asked crawling towards her. As he stopped she smiled, staring into his glittering, blue eyes. Duncan untied the laces of her dress, pulling it up, over her head. Sonya didn't move, she just watched him. Watched as the muscles in his shoulders rippled as he moved his tanned arms. She reached for his plaid & he grinned down at her; that mischievous one she loved & she grinned back.

  As he straddled her he pulled her chemise up, holding her hands above her head. Leaning down he put his mouth over her, kissing her hungrily. She responded with her tongue in his mouth just as hungrily. When he pulled away she didn't want him to. He looked at her, slowly moving his hands over her breasts & down her sides. She reached for him, but he put her hands above her head again, kissing her again, deeply. He kissed her neck, biting her lightly. She squirmed, letting out her breath. Slowly Duncan kissed her collar bone, her breast. He sucked on one of the hardened nipples & then the other. He nipped one lightly & she cried out briefly. Duncan grinned up at her & chuckled as her eyebrow went up. As his hands caressed her breast, he moved further down, kissing her side & she squirmed again. He gently bit her hip, one of her tender spots & she inhaled quickly. Duncan took her knees & spread her legs apart. He kissed inside her thigh & then kissed that spot that makes you feel pleasure & pain all at once. He flicked his tongue back & forth & she moaned. He sucked on it & she felt the room spinning above her. She arched her back, crying out. Not only did he make her shudder once, but twice before she begged him, "Please, Duncan, inside me."

  "Why, lass? Ye want this?" he teased, touching his hard shaft to her entrance & she made a face at him. "Now!" she demanded.

  Duncan grinned smugly as he laid his hot, heavy body on top of her. It was like sitting in front of a fire; hot yet comfortable. He slowly slid inside her, taking his time! She cried out grabbing his shoulders, then pulled his mouth as close to hers as she could, kissing him hard, plunging her tongue into him as she wanted him to plunge into her heat. He thrust hard, again & again as she ran her nails down his back until they both came as one, crying out. They lay in each other's arms, bodies intertwined, sated. Sonya inhaled his smell with a deep breath & sighed. Duncan chuckled & kissed her on the head. She hugged him tighter.

  *

  As Duncan & Sonya walked hand in hand through Dunvegan's beautiful gardens she glanced up at him. Here was this man who looked calm & confident, but she saw the furrowing of his brows & knew he was worried about Cullen.

  "Duncan?"

  "Aye, lass?"

  "Why is Cullen the Chieftain & not you?"

  "Our oldest brother, Emrys, became the clan leader when our father went to Ronin."

  "So, Ewan being his son would have been the next clan leader?"

  "Aye. I was already at Ronin & content where I was, I had no desire to be chieftain."

  "And Ewan?"

  Duncan's voice was husky when he said, "His mother made me promise to take him to Ronin." Suddenly, she got it & it must have shown because he answered her next question.

  "I had no idea what love was until I had ye, lass. Only a boys infatuation in an older lass." He stopped & pulled Sonya towards him, looking down at her with tenderness. She nodded just before he kissed her. It was passionate & she was breathless. This man chose me. This man loves me. This man is the only one she wanted to be with ever. Her heart didn't exist before him & would cease after him. Duncan MacLeod was her heart. It was time to set aside jealousy & fear.

  Duncan inhaled Sonya's scent. No matter what he did, this woman that he was holding made heat pulsate through his veins. She was tender & loving, stubborn, & caring. She came from somewhere far away & he knew he would wait until the end of time if he knew he had to wait for her. She was his heart & soul & she was his! He couldn't believe his luck. Luck & a metal, flying beast.

  "I am going to sit with Cullen a while, lass. We have much to catch up on."

  "Go ahead. I will be in soon," she kissed him & continued walking. She stopped when a little hand & a flower came around her skirts.

  "Ewan!" Sonya said.

  "Sonya, is Uncle Cullen going to be okay?" He looked so serious, but she kept a straight face.

  "Yes, I believe he will. Would you like to go see him?"

  "I did earlier. I was just wondering how he was. He is verra funny."

  "Yes, he is." Sonya lowered her voice & said, "I like his nose."

  Ewan giggled. Looking serious again he said, "I have a question about the Clan, Sonya."

  "I don't know much about those things." Ewan placed his hand in hers as they started walking toward the loch. Something was weighing heavily in his heart. "Ewan?"

  "Aye?"

  "Ask me the question & I will see if I can help you figure it out."

  He smiled up at her. "Castle Dunvegan is where the clan chief lives."

  "Yes, it is."

  "My father was clan leader, did you ken that?"

  "Yes, Duncan told me." Sonya had a feeling that she knew where this talk was going & she wasn't sure how Duncan would take it. As for her, she would miss him very much.

  "I ken my parent's asked Duncan to look after me. But now I want to be here & learn about how to become clan chief, like my da & Uncle Cullen."

  "I see." Sonya wondered if that would happen if Cullen & Casia had a child. She knew clan chieftain was not necessarily succession of blood, but ability. "So, what is your question then? You seem to know what you want. You have already talked to Cullen about it, haven't you?" Ewan looked so solemn.

  "Aye. He has told me to speak to my da about it. I ken this is what I want. I ken I will have to live here & learn about the duties. I want to ken all of that. I doona understand why me da stays at Ronin."

  "I don't know, Ewan. I think it may have something to do with your dad's death."

  "Or my ma." Sonya raised her brows. "Aye, I ken he wanted to marry her when he was a lad. Someone said he waited too long & she chose my da instead."

  "Perhaps."

  Ewan looked up at her. "I would say nay. He was just waiting for the right lass." He smiled & Sonya returned the smile.

  "And you think he has found her now do you?"

  "Aye. He has ne'er been happier. I am glad he found ye Sonya & now ye will be my family."

  "I am really glad about that, too. So, I guess that means your dad had to stay at Ronin or we wouldn't have met each other."

  Ewan frowned, thinking this over & then brightened. "Aye! Ye are right."

  "So, when will you talk to him?"

  Ewan took a deep breath. He was so young. Too young to be so mature. "I will go speak to him now." He looked up at her. "Thank ye Sonya. I ken he will be okay when I am gone now."

  Sonya smiled at him & even though she wanted to give him a big hug, she knew this was not the time. She had grown much attached to him. Ewan turned & walked back towards the castle. He didn't run like a little boy, he held his head high & walked proudly, already stepping into the role he wanted to one day hold.

  Sonya was sitting in the solar looking out the window when Casia entered.

  "Casia, hello. How are you doing?"

  Casia blushed, but it wasn't a reddening of her face. It was more like a sheen of gold; A sparkling dust over her cheekbones. "I am doing well," she said sitting down. "Cullen says he has naught seen Duncan so happy."

  Sonya smiled. "I have never been so happy."

  "Will you wed here or at Ronin?"

  "I am not sure. I don't think either of us have even thought about that. It is so beautiful here."

  "Son
ya?" Casia looked down, wringing her hands. "What if I don't conceive?"

  "Does that happen a lot among your people?"

  "Not when we desire it. But that is in Sualtam. Here, I do not know."

  "Well, you love him & he loves you & I think that is all that matters. I know you will never leave him."

  "No," she whispered, "I would never leave Cullen. I could never leave him."

  Sonya took Casia's hand & squeezed it. "I do know one thing from where I am." Casia looked up at her hopefully. "Sometimes when a couple tries to conceive, it puts a lot of stress on the couple. Much of the time the family will adopt a child & since the pressure is off, the woman often times will conceive."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, & if Ewan stays, you will have a son to raise."

  Casia smiled. "Is he going to stay? I wasn't sure, but I would love that. It is far to quiet in our corridors."

  "I expect he will stay. He went to speak to Duncan & he will allow it. I know that much about him."

  "He is a good man," Casia said.

  "Aye, he is that."

  Casia laughed. "You will sound like you were always from here soon."

  "It is hard not too."

  *

  Cullen sat at the high table for dinner. His people were very pleased their Laird was there. There was much well wishing & greetings. Sonya wondered at these people who so easily accepted their leader who was transforming slowly before their eyes. What made some people so superstitious & others so accepting? Especially since Christianity had now been intertwined with the old ways. As for the hands on the stones? Sonya had no idea. Only what she felt when she was there. Maybe not everything needed answers.

  Cullen was very jovial & Sonya laughed so much she didn't think she could eat without choking! Duncan caught her smile as she gazed at he & Ewan talking. He gave her a look that made her blush & then he smiled. Was that a look promising her it would not be too long before they had their own bairn?

  "Sonya, lass, Casia tells me ye & Duncan doona know if ye will be wed here or at Ronin."

  "Well…" she looked over at Duncan, a light in her eyes.

  "I think that has just been decided," Duncan chuckled.

  "I think the when has been decided as well," Casia added, looking at her husband.

  "Oh really?" Duncan raised a brow at his brother.

  "Well, we are nay waiting for my ears to sprout & my nose to be wet!"

  Everyone laughed. "So, brother, when will it be?" Sonya asked smiling.

  "How long will ye lassies need?"

  "I don't need any time at all. I am ready now." Duncan looked a bit surprised. Eyebrow! Sonya expected it was the fact that men usually believe women always need time to prepare for things, especially a wedding.

  Cullen clapped. "Well, that does it then! Casia, you get everything ready & we will have this celebration!"

  Casia smiled. "Oh wonderful!" They loved her enthusiasm.

  "We will have to send on to Ronin for some other people that need to attend though," Duncan said. Sonya smiled so big at Duncan. He knew how much that would mean to her. Could this man get any better? Tears came unbidden to her eyes.

  "And I expect a quick word to our King would be in order," Cullen pointed out.

  "Oh, yes," Sonya exclaimed!

  "Well, I guess that gives us a bit of time," Cullen grinned, his nose wrinkling. Ewan & Sonya looked at each other & giggled.

  After the eating & talking had slowed, Duncan came over & took Sonya's hand. She went with him without a word. There was something tense in his hand & she frowned. Entering the bedchamber she sat down as Duncan stared out the window, over the loch. After a moment she got up & walked up behind him, putting her arms around him. "He will come to visit," she said quietly, "and we will come here to visit him."

  Surprise briefly flashed over Duncan's face. He took her hand & pulled her around to face him. "I am happy I am marrying ye, lass." He kissed her on the cheek. "Ye know me so well already."

  Sonya smiled, "Well, I am happy you are happy."

  Duncan chuckled. "I guess I ne'er thought about Ewan wanting to come here. I should have. His father was the clan chief after all."

  "What about Cullen?"

  "Cullen will let Ewan take the clan head if that is what the clan wants. I have no doubt he can do it. He is a determined lad."

  "Yes, but he is just a lad. Time changes what we want & who we become."

  "Aye. that it does." Duncan held her & she listened to the sound of his heart beating.

  "I will miss him," Sonya whispered.

  "Me too," he said holding her close.

  *

  "Has anyone seen Sonya?" she heard Duncan ask from Cullen & Casia's bedchamber.

  "Nay, brother, I have nay seen her. Did the lassie change her mind & run off?"

  "Very funny," he said, eyebrow raised. Sonya held her laugh. "If she comes up, can ye tell her I am looking for her?"

  "Aye brother," Cullen chuckled, "Aye."

  Sonya heard Duncan as he walked into Cullen's study. The bookcase was moved & Duncan walked to the opening. He stopped & leaned against the wall, smiling at her. She grinned & set the papers she was looking through on the table. In two strides Duncan gathered her into his arms.

  When Sonya awoke in a tangle of sheets, she was alone. Sonya smiled, inhaling Duncan's scent from his pillow. She sat up & realized there was a bath of hot water. He thought of everything. Sonya slipped into the tub, happy & blissful. Who knew that something so wonderful & inviting could turn so strange?

  Sonya had a weird feeling suddenly. Kind of like those glimpses you get out of the corner of your eye when you think you see someone. There was someone or something in the bedchamber with her.

  "Hello? Who are you?" Sonya bent up her knees, pulling them to her chest to cover what she could. "What do you want?"

  There was no answer.

  Sonya kept looking at the spot where she knew someone. Where was her drying sheet? She glanced around & suddenly he was handing it to her. She looked up & there stood a man. He was there looking at her, his head cocked to the side. She grabbed the towel, trying to hide as she stood up. Wrapping it around herself she stepped sideways out of the tub. He was only a few feet from her & she looked at him. What did he want? He didn't seem threatening, more…inquisitive. He was very tall & thin. He had straight, white blonde hair flowing down his back. His clothes were like silver & his skin was pale like Casia's. That was it! He glowed, like Casia!

  "I didn't know more of Casia's people lived here," she stated.

  His expression changed. He was angry. "She is no longer of my people," he spat.

  Sonya raised her brows. "Well, perhaps not, but she was." Sonya was not trying to be rude, merely stating a fact.

  Then he moved so quickly she didn't even see him doing it. How did she know he moved? She was dressed & she didn't do it! She shivered at the thought that this man had touched her, yet he couldn't have, she felt nothing. She didn't like this at all!

  "Duncan!" Sonya cried out at the top of her lungs.

  The man smirked & leaned towards her so fast that she didn't have time to pull her shoulders from his hands & then they were gone. Duncan slammed open the door to the chamber. He bent over, picking up the wet drying cloth.

  "Sonya!"

  Cullen ran in, nearly running Duncan over. "What is it brother?"

  Duncan looked at him. "She's not here, Cullen. I ken we heard her yell."

  "Aye."

  "Duncan? Cullen? What's wrong?" Casia breathed as she ran into the room. Suddenly, Casia came to such an abrupt halt that she almost fell forward. Cullen steadied her.

  "Casia, what's wrong, love?" Cullen sounded grave.

  "Someone has been here."

  "How do ye ken?" Duncan asked, puzzled.

  "I know because it is one of my people."

  Duncan ran to the window, "I see no one, Casia."

  "No," she said quietly, "you wouldn't. He has taken her."

 
; "He?" Cullen & Duncan echoed.

  Casia looked at Cullen. "I think I know who it may be."

  "Torqual," Cullen stated & Casia nodded.

  "Can someone tell me what is going on? Who is this Torqual?"

  Casia moved to the bed & sat down hard.

  "Casia was hand fasted to a man in Sualtam for a long time. His name was Torqual," Cullen explained

  "But we would have passed him on the way up," Duncan declared. "No one could have gone out this window."

  "Nay, Duncan, he would'na have," Cullen answered.

  "What?"

  "Casia's people have certain…gifts."

  Duncan furrowed his brows. Gruffly he asked, "Just what kind of gifts?"

  "All sorts," Casia said bluntly. "One is moving from one place to another by will."

  "Oh, great." Duncan paused a moment, held out his hand & said, "Let's go."

  Casia looked up at him, surprised. "I can't take you. I am not even sure where he went."

  "Okay. So, why has he taken my wife?"

  "I fear it is retribution," Casia said in a quiet voice. Duncan glanced at Cullen, then Casia. He didn't think anyone could be paler than her skin already was.

  "I see. So, now what?"

  Casia stood & then was suddenly gone.

  "What the…!" hollered Duncan in surprise. "I didn't ken she could do that! Did ye ken she could do that?" Duncan's eyes were as round as coins.

  "Aye, Duncan, I did," Cullen chuckled. "Casia will be going home to see what is happening. She will talk to her parents & let us ken as soon as she kens something."

  "Great. So now I am going to sit here & do what? My wife is missing!"

  "I ken lad, but let Casia find out what she can."

  Duncan shook his head & rubbed his eyes. In the matter of moments he had become helpless. He didn't like how that felt one bit. "This stuff Casia can do…"

  "Aye, she rarely e'er uses it."

  "And this Torqual fellow? You stole his woman then."

  "She was naught his woman!" Cullen's annoyance made his ribbed nose wrinkle & Duncan chuckled.

  "Sorry, brother, but it is kind of like when a puppy pulls on a toy." Cullen huffed & crossed his arms. "So, why is this fellow starting trouble now?"