Winter

Elaine and I walked through the courtyard and I was shocked by the dirt, which was showing through the snow and it was reeking like crazy. The people were dirty and smelling, which wasn’t crazy because in this era they didn’t have a lot of time to take a bath and the work they were doing it was just dirty.

We passed a butcher who was cutting and cleaning meat and it was such a bad smell that I had to stop breathing for a few seconds, otherwise I would throw up for sure. The part he didn’t use he threw it on the street for the dogs and cats that were wondering the streets. I was happy when we had left the butcher behind that I didn’t notice the little girl that was pulling my cloak next to me.

“Hello, what’s wrong sweetheart?” I asked her kneeling down so I was at her eye level but when she stuck out her hand in a begging manner, I felt terrible because I didn’t have anything. The little girl looked sick and filthy and it took everything in me, not to clean her little face. She looked miserable and it was heart breaking to know that I couldn’t help her in any way. “I’m sorry sweetheart.” I got up again and turned towards Elaine who was watching this from a far. She nodded in approval, when she saw that I didn’t give her anything.

“You handled yourself well, I know it must be hard to ignore that but it’s custom.” She quickly told me, when she saw the guilty look on my face. “I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier.” I told her and she nodded in agreement.

We walked towards the gate but where stopped by a knight. “Were are you going?” he asked rudely and I almost didn’t answer him, just because of it. “We are going for a walk.” Elaine told the knight and as we passed him, I actually didn’t expect him to follow us but of course he did. “We don’t really need protection sir.” I told him without looking back and I thought he would stop following us be didn’t.

“I have orders from milord to protect you no matter what, so that’s exactly what I’m doing and please don’t call me sir.” I heard the warmth in his voice and I couldn’t help but smile at this, at least he didn’t want to kill us right?

Elaine and I were enjoying the nature and I embraced the scents from the woods and the freshness that came from the snow because after staying in a place where everything smelled so badly, this really was a welcome scent. We kept walking till we entered a small clearing where a small arbor was placed, it was absolutely stunning, with all those green leafs laced through the roof and poles even with this snow, it was still green. Elaine put the blanket on the ground of the arbor and started to unpack lunch when I noticed the way they were staring at each other, when they thought I couldn’t see them.

This could be the distraction I needed to get out of here without them tagging along. “I still don’t know your name.” I mentioned to the knight and he was surprised when I put some interest in him. “Oh well my name is Aidan, milady.” He told me and I smiled at him. “You can call me Winter.” I told him and he nodded, knowing I had made him uncomfortable I decided to push my luck.

Aidan, have you met Elaine?” I nudged my head to the girl who was suddenly really busy unpacking all sorts of things. “We have met milady.” Completely forgetting that I asked him to call me Winter. “Where did you meet?” I pushed and Elaine kept her mouth shut, which was a bit cowardly but Aidan didn’t share her shyness. “We met at a ball in the castle, we danced.” He smiled at the memory and I knew this was my chance to disappear for a few minutes.

“How fascinating, if you two will excuse me, I really need to, you know.” I nudged my head towards the bushes and Aidan nodded to indicate that it was okay. I got up and left them together, whilst I started to look for the gate, I knew I couldn’t stay away too long.

I actually started running, which wasn’t easy with this snow and I was frozen to the bone and when I spotted the gate I stopped, because there was something I hadn’t noticed before. There was a little house hidden between trees, this was beyond weird but I had to see who lived there and if maybe that person was responsible for all of this. I carefully walked to the front door, I had to make my way through some bushes but when I reached the door I was beginning to feel a bit scared for what could be inside.

I took a deep breath before knocking on the door and before my fist hit the door, it flew open. I jumped back when that happened because in horror movies this would never end well. I peeked inside just un case there was some lunatic with an axe or something like that but there was no one in sight, which made it even more scary but it didn’t stop me from entering. The moment I was inside the door closed, which made me turn around immediately but the moment I reached for the doorknob it had disappeared.

I gulped and put my hand in my neck and rubbed it. Every horror movie I had ever seen was playing through my mind and I couldn’t believe I walked into this trap, how stupid was I for going inside, damn curiousness. I took a deep breath and turned slowly with my eyes closed, this was ridiculous and I was regretting this so much, why didn’t I bring Niall with me?
I know that there was someone in front of me because I could hear her or him breathe and it was absolutely terrifying. I couldn’t stay here like this though, I had to open my eyes eventually. I counted till ten in my head and opened my eyes, once opened I stared in green once. I held my breath when he slowly caressed my cheek, just out of fear he would do something to me. “Lady Winter Blackwood.” He whispered and that took me back a bit.

“Excuse me?” it was out of my mouth before I could stop it but the guy only smiled gently at me. He did look familiar but I couldn’t put my finger on it. “You don’t remember do you?” he was still talking in that same soft voice and it did calm me down. “I’m sorry, I don’t.” I apologized, feeling sorry for the guy. His eyes turned sad for a few seconds and that did something to my heart. “No, it’s okay. I should introduce myself, my name is James Horan.”

That left me speechless to say the least. Did this mean he was a relative of Niall and is he the reason why we can’t leave this place? “Are you okay Winter, my love?” he was giving me a pet name, which was really weird. I know I must look pale because the worry was etched into his expression. “Here sit down.” He took my hand and walked me to a seat in front of the fire. I did what he wanted and down and just stared at him.

“I scared you didn’t I? I’m really sorry Winter.” I shook my head just to, well I didn’t know what I going for to be honest because nothing seemed a good enough answer. I took a deep breath before attempting a coherent thought.

“What? How?” was all that came from my mouth but let me assure you in my head those were complete sentences. “You’re Winter Blackwood, from house Blackwood, your father is a Count and we are in love with each other.” I shook my head in denial because I really hadn’t seen him before in my life.

“That is not possible.” Was all I could say. He was shocked to hear me say that and he grabbed my hands. “My love, don’t say that, please.” He was pleading with me but I was really telling the truth.

“I’m sorry but I’m telling the truth, I’m not from around here. Maybe she is a relative of mine?” I oppered but he shook his head. “That’s impossible, you look exactly like her and your name is also Winter.” He had a point but it still didn’t make any sense.

“Alright, tell me than, if you two are so in love, then why are you living here, tucked away in de woods?” I asked him because there must be a reason why he was confusing me with someone I wasn’t. “Your parents didn’t approve of me because I’m Irish and not rich.” That did make sense, as status was everything in this era. “How old am I?” I asked because that would probably clarify a lot. “You are 19.” I shook my head because that wasn’t my age.

“I’m sorry but I’m 24, so it can’t possibly be me, that you love.” I told him honestly. He shook his head in denial and let go of my hands. “This can’t be, you look exactly like her.” He was desperate now but he did step away from me. It was devastating to see his reaction to this. He was pulling at his hair whilst pacing through his small living room, when he suddenly stopped. He turned back towards me, his eyes were piercing into mine, which made me highly uncomfortable.

He walked back and stopped a few inches away from me and pulled me out of the chair. I held my breath when he touched my face again. I wasn’t sure why I let him but it was as if my heart was at war with my brains. My heart clearly wanted his touch but my mind kept repeating that this was not normal. “James, what happened to you two?” I asked him curious and that startled him slightly.

“We got separated, when we tried to escape her fathers knight and I have always been waiting for her to turn up.” He said, I could hear the sadness in his voice and I almost felt guilty for turning up like this, scaring the crap out of him but this had to mean something.

“There is another reason why I can’t be her James.” I paused for a second to see if I had his attention and the moment his eyes met mine, I knew that I had to help him. “I’m from the future. I live in the year 2015, so there is no possible way that I could be your beloved Winter, I’m not even from the same continent as her.” I was rambling right now, as he had moved even closer. I know I had to take a step back because I was practically in a relationship with Niall, which was still weird to be honest.

“Maybe you are related to her than?” he whispered and that must be it, what other explanation was there? “Maybe, I really don’t know but if you are James Horan, then I do now a relative of yours, also from the future.” I told him, trying to distract him from me “You do?” I nodded when he asked me this and that made him curious. “Yes his name is Niall James Horan.” I smiled at the mention of his name and he had seen the smile.

“I want to meet him.”

Notes