Winter

He touched my ear with his mouth and my knees actually buckled and I was thankful for his support. He chuckled low and opened the door, where Elaine was waiting for us. “Is everything okay Milady?” She asked as I looked flustered and her observation made me blush even more. “I’m fine.” I quickly told her, which made Niall chuckle again at my expense.

I nudged him with my elbow but it didn’t stop him from laughing at me. Elaine looked at us accusingly but still escorted us downstairs until we were in the dining hall. At night this castle had something mysterious with all the candles lit and fireplaces burning, to keep us warm. I sighed whilst Niall escorted me to my seat, I was next to John and Niall, was on the opposite place of me. James was also seated next to Niall, which was good thing I guess.

“Lass, you look absolutely stunning.” John was trying to get my attention and I had to give him that, as he was our host. “Thank you John, you look dashing yourself.” I smiled at him. The food was brought in and I instantly got hungry, it looked really good. They were serving soup, baked bread, deer, potatoes and even dessert.

It looked mouth watering and I was bummed that I couldn’t eat to much because that was not okay according to the etiquette. I sighed and waited for the waiter to put the soup on my plate. The guys got way more then me and I was really bummed out about it. I was first to finish my plate and that actually surprised John, as he probably wasn’t used to women finishing before him. “Were you hungry lass?” I nodded because what’s the point in lying to him.

I observed Niall and James and I noticed the way they were eating, it was almost scary the way they were similar to each other. They were eating in the exact same way, the only thing they did differently was holding the cutlery. James was right handed and Niall Left and they had a different eye colour but apart from that they were the same. “Winter are you still with us?” I quickly turned my attention back to John who was studying me. “Yes I’m sorry, I must’ve dozen off.” I apologized with a coy smile. I tried to be more amicable towards the dinner guests but to be honest it wore me out. I really was ready to go back home were everything was just simple.

I had to retreat for the night before people saw me cry. “If you’ll excuse me.” I got up, followed by the male guests and curtsied before walking straight to my room. The moment my door closed I let myself sink to the floor with the door in supporting my back. I closed my eyes and started whishing that I was back in my own room but of course this was a waste of time, there had to be a reason why Niall and I were both stuck here and I know it had something to do with James and the other lady Winter and there was nothing that could stop me from finding out.

Maybe James needed closure by seeing his love but that didn’t make any sense because why were Niall and I stuck here, what was are part in this story? I let my head fall into my hands and started sobbing, just out of despair, when my door opened and I started falling back but before I could fall back strong arms caught me. “I’ve got you.” He lifted me up in his arms and walked towards a comfy chair, which was in front of the fire. I know it was Niall and I couldn’t help but hide my face into the crook of his neck. He sat down and just held me, while softly rubbing my back, trying to sooth me. “I miss home as well but we will figure this out, I promise you.” He mumbled and I just nodded.

I wanted to believe him so badly but to be honest I wasn’t feeling so good about this all. Tomorrow Niall and I are going to be husband and wife and what would happen after that?
We stayed like this for god knows how long but eventually I stopped crying. I had to address what was going to happen tomorrow, I needed to know if he was really okay marrying me, I know he had told me he was but I just needed to have some sort of confirmation that he really did want to marry me because we could still say no to John. “Niall, about tomorrow, are you sure about marrying me because we don’t have to.” I told him but the minute I looked up to see what he was thinking I saw that he lightly shook his head.

“Look this maybe sounds weird but I feel like this is happening to us for a reason and I really do want to marry you even if we ‘d just met.” He assured me but I still thought it was a bit weird. “That’s my point exactly, we don’t really know each other, how on earth can we make this work?” I pulled away from him but he wasn’t letting go of me.

“I know this is going to work because it feels like I have been waiting for you.” He confessed and that took me back to the real moment we met, which wasn’t my best moment to be honest and I treated him like shit. “Niall I treated you really rude, how is it even possible that you like me after that?” I asked him astound but he smiled gently at me, as if I was stressing out about nothing. “Because I did not even know you were being rude, it was like I could only see you, the real you and after you stormed of I just knew I had to have you.” He was being honest with me and I was really shocked that he saw me like that.

“How is that even possible?” I was highly confused right now. “I’m not sure but I think we are here for a reason and believe me love, the marrying you part is not the worst.” Never had someone been so honest with me and I just needed a few seconds to process this.
“What is the worst part then?” I asked him, when his words hit me. He let go of me and got up. “I will be right back.” He left my room and this gave me time to change in something a bit comfier, I was just done changing my clothes when he walked back in with his backpack. He searched through it and pulled out a small book. He handed it to me and I grabbed it.

“Because love it will get ugly.” He said darkly and I quickly opened the book and I wasn’t surprised to see the history of this castle in it. I scanned through it and what I read wasn’t calming me, it was actually stressing me out because there was an uprising coming and this castle was in the midst of it. A lot of people died except for John an a few of his knights. It going to take place in two weeks from now and it’s say’s here that it was a revenge attack from one of the nearby clans, only because John supported the English throne, which was weird because I thought he wasn’t supporting them at all, so it must be a charade but how come the Scots didn’t know that?

The pictures that they had printed were paintings from the battle that took place here and it was a bloody one. I was about to turn the page when my eyes caught something strange. “Niall, have you seen this?” I asked him and as he took place behind me, we scanned the painting that was printed. I held my breath when I saw myself as one of the knights. I was fighting among of them but that didn’t make any sense because I wasn’t from this time.

“That’s you.” He pointed at the woman in the painting. “Let’s see if they have written about her. We quickly turned a page and yes there it was my name amongst the few nobles that died that night. “Lady Blackwood was one of the hundreds that got killed, she lived from 1640 till 1659, she didn’t leave any children or a husband.” Niall read it out loud and I was shocked because that means I really had a past life and if this was true then the lady Blackwood from this time, would show up within two weeks. That’s when it hit me, I knew why we were sent back.

“Niall, we have to safe Lady Blackwood.”

Notes