A Journey Out of Time

by S MacLeod

  He smiled & she thought maybe he did know.

  *

  Day after day passed & Duncan was torn between it being hell & not. It was hell without Sonya & yet, Casia was pregnant & they were hopeful his brother would one day soon return to being his old self. Duncan wanted to return to Ronin, but he would not go without Sonya. He paced & walked the shores of the loch in the middle of the night when he could not sleep, which was most nights. He wanted to know where Sonya was & all manner of bad things went through his mind of what may be happening to her. During the day Ewan tried to talk to Duncan about the things he was learning, but even Ewan was hard pressed to make Duncan smile. The news of Casia's bairn was the only time they had seen him happy.

  Each morning Duncan rode the horse Cullen had given him, hard. It was as if he could run the pain & fear of never seeing Sonya again out of him. Some days he rode his own horse as well. Cullen & Casia were concerned, but didn't know how to help. Casia took several trips back to Sualtam, but even the Queen had not seen her son. She too, was troubled. Her son could shift through any number of times & places. The queen was concerned that Duncan would seek a way to enter their world, which had been done before. All the queen & any of them could do was hope that Torqual would come to his senses & soon.

  *

  Sonya awoke having dreamed of Duncan & Ewan. She smiled until she realized she still wasn't home. She still didn't even know where here was. Sometimes she would yell & scream, but it did nothing but give her a headache. She had gone from being angry to knowing she could be stuck forever. So to pass the time she tried to answer Torqual's questions.

  Sonya could hear the water lapping not far away, but even that brought her no peace. She wanted to be home. Food appeared next to the bed & she absently reached for an apple. The surprise of things appearing & disappearing had faded. She wondered if Sualtam was like this. How did they live in nothingness where anything & everything could come to them in the blink of an eye? Where was the surprise, the suspense? Where was the living? And if they lived so long, what did they do all of those years? Maybe they kidnapped humans!

  Sonya wished herself into clean clothing & waited for Torqual to appear. The best thing she could say, was that he didn't bore her…

  "A hot dog?" she asked. He wanted to know about hot dogs? "Well, you know how they make haggis, right?" Torqual scrunched up his face & she laughed. "It really isn't bad. Okay, the hot dog. Well, they take several leftover bits of meat from animals, grind it up & put it into a long skin. I have no idea why they call it a dog."

  "And you put these things on bread?"

  "In between them."

  "And they are good?"

  "Oh, yes!" Sonya said, wishing she had one. Then she swore she could smell it & then there it was in her hand! "Oh my God!" Sonya took a bite. "Mmm," she said closing her eyes. Sonya looked at Torqual who was inspecting the hot dog in his hand with interest. He took a bite, chewed & smiled! She had three hot dogs & Torqual had 5! It was great until Sonya wished it was Ewan & Duncan she was sharing them with. She sighed & Torqual looked at her. A barely visible flick of his hand & they were sitting at the edge of the water, the waves lapping up their legs. The wind blew just enough to move her hair.

  "You do not like this new place? I thought you said you loved the water."

  Sonya sounded weary as she answered. "It is beautiful Torqual, but being without Duncan does not make it enjoyable."

  "Why?"

  She looked over at him. "Because I love him & I miss him." Sonya looked back out over the water, resting her head on her knees, as she played with her necklace. She gazed at the bright, waters that shimmered, despite there being no visible source of light.

  "Why do you love him?"

  "He is kind, strong, honorable, and caring. There are a ton of reasons. He is smart, handsome, loving & he…He makes me smile even when he isn't around. When he touches me a shock runs through my body. When he looks at me I wonder how I could ever be away from him even for a second & still have a beating heart in my chest." Sonya looked at Torqual. "Torqual, I have waited all of my life & had to travel so far to find him. I never thought I would know all he has already given me & all I want to do is to go back to him." A tear slipped down Sonya's cheek.

  Torqual looked thoughtful. Some times she wish she knew what he was thinking. Was he just processing human emotions or maybe trying to link them to his own. She waded out into the water & turned back.

  "How long have you known Casia?" Sonya asked.

  "Since birth."

  "She is your age then?"

  "Actually, she is older than me, but we grew up together. Her father holds a high position in the council."

  "I see."

  "And when did you become hand fasted?"

  "A very long time ago."

  "And you never once thought you might fall in love with someone else once you were grown?"

  "No. She was the perfect match for me. There was no need to look any further. We do not fall in love like you do." He stated it all in a matter of fact tone. Sonya looked at him. He sounded so logical & the one thing she knew was that love was not logical.

  "If you are so matter of fact about that, then why not be matter of fact that she chose another & just look for another suitable match?"

  Torqual looked surprised. Amazing. Suddenly he was gone.

  Out loud she said, "I really wish you would stop doing that!" Sonya splashed out of the water. "I am sick of this, Torqual! I miss Duncan & Ewan & I demand you take me home! I hate it here! I don't even know how long I have been here any more. Casia could have had her baby for all I know!" Sonya kicked at the water & put her hands on her hips. "I know you are there!"

  He popped back.

  "Baby?"

  "Yes!"

  "How can you know that?"

  "I don't know, I just do," she shrugged. "Just like Cullen knew Casia was there when he couldn't see her. He reached out & grasped her arm when she went to see him one night."

  Torqual looked confused. "That shouldn't even be possible."

  "Perhaps it has to do with me coming from somewhere else? But that wouldn't explain Cullen," Sonya thought aloud.

  "Baby?" Torqual said again.

  "Aye, she is preg-nant!" she stressed the word.

  "How do you know that? She didn't even know."

  Sonya looked surprised. "I don't know," she frowned. "You knew?" She hit him & he grabbed her arm, scowling at her.

  "Come," Torqual held out his hand & she took it. They were gone one second & appeared somewhere else the next. Shifting places. At least it wasn't as horrible as it looked on Harry Potter!

  It wasn't until she squinted towards the bright light in front of her that she realized someone was there. There was a woman, yet not a usual woman, sitting on a throne. She was very beautiful & very bright. Sonya couldn't really look at her. Torqual bowed so she curtsied.

  "Royal Mother."

  "Torqual," his mother said in an even tone, nodding her head. "I am to finally have the honor of your presence, am I? How kind of you. I assume this is the missing mortal?"

  Sonya bowed her head. "You know who I am?" She must have sounded amazed as the queen laughed. A bold, tinkling sound.

  "Yes, Sonya, of earth, I know who you are. I also know when you are from & where you are supposed to be."

  "Where I am from?"

  "Yes."

  Suddenly Sonya felt afraid. These people had power of some sort & she sure didn't want to know if she could send her back. The queen's aura seemed to have dimmed because Sonya found that she could see her kind smile.

  "My name is Queen Ailene of Sualtam. Do not worry, I will not be sending you back from whence you came. You belong in Duncan's time. It is that home of which I speak."

  Sonya let out a huge sigh of relief that got her a look of irritation from Torqual. She gave him an annoyed look back. She wanted to stick her tongue out, but figured she better not in front of the queen.

  "But, you have been a
way from Duncan far long enough. Don't you think, Torqual?" se asked pointedly, as she looked at her son.

  "I suppose mother."

  Queen Ailene narrowed her eyes at her son.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty," Sonya said.

  "I hope my son did not cause you too much distress."

  Sonya smiled kindly not saying all the things she could have. Ailene chuckled as if she could read her thoughts. "Your absence, however, has caused Duncan great sorroq & we must remedy that quickly. Torqual?"

  Torqual stepped to Sonya's side & she hesitated. "Your Majesty?" Sonya asked.

  "Yes?" She looked very regal & calm.

  "May I ask something before I go?"

  The queen inclined her head & Sonya turned towards Torqual.

  "Torqual?"

  He turned towards her. "Yes?"

  "Come with me," she implored. Ailene looked surprised by the invitation. She didn't even want to imagine what Duncan would think!

  "Where?"

  "You know where. Come back with me. Please."

  "What on Sualtam for?"

  She put her hands on her hips & expect she got a little haughty, but he was ticking her off again! She started tapping her foot. The queen was smiling & she wondered which one of them she found more amusing. Or perhaps the queen heard what Sonya heard, that her son was not certain of what choice to make.

  "Why? Why did you take me? You said you were curious about why Casia chose a human. What was it about us humans? Well, come & see for yourself."

  "I will not be welcome."

  "I am welcoming you. I am asking you to come & stay with me & my husband."

  Torqual's mouth was open & his hands shot up in the air.

  "Wait a minute. Husband? I took you before your wedding."

  "Well, son," started the queen in her gentle, yet commanding voice, "they have not had their human ceremony but they have spoken the vows."

  Torqual went white. How was that possible? He was whiter than she was & they called her fluorescent legs in the 8th grade!

  "Our vows?"

  "Yes, Torqual, not only did they say the vows, but they said them inside The Seven Stones."

  Suddenly a chair appeared behind Torqual & he sat down hard. "I…had no idea."

  "You may want to do a little further checking before abducting mortals in the future," Ailene said, sounding amused. Sonya couldn't help but laugh & Torqual gave her an annoyed looked.

  "Why didn't you tell me?"

  "Why didn't you ask?" she blustered back, moving her head from side to side. "How was I to know it made a difference?"

  Torqual stood back up, his composure restored. He tugged his tunic & placed his hands down at his sides. He looked up at his mother & said, "Why can she sense me?"

  Queen Ailene raised a brow & regarded her. Sonya suddenly felt like a specimen in a jar as they both looked at her & then at each other.

  "Can she now?" The queen didn't sound surprised, but interested. Sonya wondered if anything surprised these people.

  "Yes."

  "Well, she also went to The Seven Stones & was granted the ability to read the scroll about Cullen's change," she informed her son.

  "Really?" he sounded almost in awe. That must be a new sensation for him!

  "Granted the ability to read the scrolls?" Sonya queried.

  "They are not in English," Torqual informed her. "They are of an ancient language. Our ancient language."

  "They aren't? What does that mean exactly?" she wondered.

  "How did you get the scrolls?" Ailene asked her, ignoring her question.

  "Well, I got one & Duncan got the other one." Ailene nodded for her to go on. "I had this feeling," Sonya shrugged, "to put my hand on the stone & then place the other one on the other side. When I did, one of the scrolls appeared. When I placed the scroll back, it was gone again."

  "Hmm," was Ailene's reply. "Interesting."

  "Mother?"

  His mother looked at him, but did not say more about that. "It is time to decide, Torqual. You may come back at any time, but the girl, she must be returned. It has been too long. "

  "How long has it been?" Sonya asked frowning.

  Torqual looked at his mother & grinned. The queen let out a sigh, but she evidently wasn't surprised that he hadn't told her how much time had passed. Sonya crossed her arms, narrowing her own icy, blue eyes. He looked at her & held out his hand. Sonya looked at his hand a moment & then looked up at him & smiled. She put her hand in his.

  "Mother," he bowed.

  "Be well, my son." You could hear the affection in her voice.

  Sonya curtsied, "Thank you, Your Highness."

  Ailene smiled a beautiful glowing smile. Suddenly a square box appeared in her hand.

  "This is a gift from my people for your kindness, your tolerance towards my son & for your wedding."

  Torqual scowled at his mother & suddenly the box was in Sonya's hand. "Thank you, Your Highness."

  Ailene nodded. "Would you also extend my pleasure to Casia & Cullen on their soon to be born child?"

  "Of course, Your Highness."

  Torqual & Sonya looked at each other. She had been right about the baby. She smiled. Queen Ailene laughed, the bells ringing from her voice. Then they were there no longer in Sualtam.

  *

  "Bloody hell! Get your hand off of my wife faerie!"

  Duncan froze mid stride & Sonya laughed. They had appeared in the hall just before the dais. Cullen was sitting next to Casia & Duncan had leapt up from his chair in an instant.

  "Torqual, unfreeze him please," she requested, chuckling.

  "As you wish."

  Torqual barely moved a finger & Duncan went forward barely catching himself on the edge of the table. Sonya took a step forward. She knew Torqual could handle himself, but she hoped she could explain to Duncan…quickly.

  "Duncan," Sonya said.

  He went flying around the table & down the step taking her by her shoulders trying to move her aside, "Aye lass, just a moment." But Sonya stood her ground putting her hands on his chest.

  "Duncan," she said again. Torqual stood there looking amused. He was not being helpful!

  "Aye lass?" he said, glancing at Sonya, then looking over her shoulder.

  "This is Torqual. He is from Sualtam."

  "Aye, I ken where he is from & where I will be a sending his body back to!"

  "No, you won't. Well, not yet." Sonya looked at Torqual who had a crooked grin on his face as he looked back at her. At least the man had learned to smile! "I asked him to come with me, Duncan."

  "Ye, what?" he roared, looking at her intently. "Woman what is wrong with ye? Why would ye ask one of the wee folk to come with ye when he took ye like he did?"

  "Duncan! Please, stop yelling at me I am right here! I will explain everything that happened, later." Duncan was still scowling at Torqual, who was still looking amused. Well, at least he should stay entertained here, she thought!

  Cullen had stood when Duncan went roaring over, but retook his seat. Casia had her arms crossed & gave Torqual a look of a mother annoyed with her child. Torqual didn't seem to notice or chose to ignore her. Duncan stood glaring at Torqual, but didn't say anything more.

  "In case anyone was wondering I am fine," Sonya put on a big smile. She looked at Duncan, then saw Cullen's grin & smiled at him. Looking back at Duncan, she continued, "Torqual will be our guest for a time. He is very curious about our people." She tried to look sternly…at the side of her husband's face. Duncan snorted. So much for a welcome home of hugs & kisses, she laughed to herself.

  "Well, I suggest we get on with dinner then," Cullen announced loudly. Everyone in the room had stopped eating to watch. Torqual made a brief nod towards Cullen, but didn't say anything. Swords could be heard being returned to their scabbard.

  Finally, Casia caught her eye & boy did she ever!

  "Casia!" Sonya cried. "Look at you!"

  Casia smiled, glowing with a very extended stomach! How long
had she been away? She turned scowling at Torqual & hit him!

  "Ow!" he grabbed his shoulder.

  "Torqual," she growled. He grinned as she shoved him in front of her toward the dais. Before she could take a step up, however, she was suddenly jerked back by her skirts! Duncan pulled her back up against him, wrapping his arm around her rather intimately.

  "Ye will tell me everything that happened lass," Duncan whispered loudly into her ear. Ah, to feel his breath again! She closed her eyes, wanting to melt, inhaling.

  Sonya smiled. "Aye, husband, I will," she said as seductively as she could.

  Duncan turned her towards him, wrapping her in his arms. He kissed her so hard that she could have cared less that they were in a room full of people. Her arms curled around his neck & into his hair. When he let her go she stumbled back. Eating food sure wasn't on her mind now! Every pour in her body ached for him.

  As Sonya dumbly turned back toward the dais she looked at Cullen's big grin. She was sure she was red & took a deep breath. She started to step up again when Duncan slapped her hard on the backside!

  "Ow!" she laughed at his playful grin, rubbing her back side.

  Cullen motioned Torqual to sit next to him. She wasn't sure if Cullen felt Torqual was safer there or because he was just as curious about Torqual as Torqual was about Cullen. Sonya sat on the other side of Torqual, leaving Duncan to sit at the opposite end next to Casia. She felt that was safest! She would give Duncan her steamiest look & he would stop scowling temporarily & grin back with a look promising to make up for the time they had lost. That was just fine by her!

  "Cullen, I am going to retire to my room, if you don't mind," Casia said. Cullen looked startled & rose.

  "Aye, Casia. Are ye okay, love?"

  "Yes, my love. I am just a little tired right now," she smiled at him tenderly, with her hand on his arm. "Perhaps you would walk me to our chamber?"

  "Aye, lass. Tis always a pleasure." Cullen smiled at his tiny wife & helped her up from her chair.

  "We may have to stop by the garderobe again."

  Cullen chuckled. Sonya heard a barely audible noise issue from Torqual, but when she touched his arm lightly, he turned towards her.