Winter

It was snowing by the time I got up from my spot. I had to get back to our camp even if that meant I had to face Niall. I had to tell him that I loved him more than life itself but that this was necessary for us to go back to our time, without them pulling us back again.

When I entered the camp there was no sign of Niall, this made me worry but I knew he wasn’t far, as his horse was still here, so I decided not to go looking for him and just give him his space for now. I sat down and not long after James was sitting down next to me. “I’m going to miss you Winter.”

“Why?”

“There is just never a dull moment with you around.” I turned my head to look at him and I was surprised that he was sitting this close, how did I not notice this? I tried to move away but he quickly put his hand on my knee, making me stop and as my eyes fell on his hand, I already knew what he was thinking. “Get your hand off of me James.”

“Technically your mine.”

“Did you hit your head or something because in no universe can I be yours.” He chuckled at that “When you married Niall, you became mine, you’re wearing my last name and I look just like Niall, so if I decided to take you instead of lady Blackwood there is nothing you can do.”

“You did hit your head. I mean Niall would immediately notice the change. I maybe look like Lady Blackwood but there are obvious differences.”

“Maybe but I would get away with it.” I shook my head in disbelieve “I thought she was your soulmate?”

“That was until I saw you.”

“That just doesn’t make sense. If you really wanted me, you wouldn’t have brought Niall along and if I really have to choose between Niall and you, I would choose Niall every single time and would you please get your hand off of me now?” He didn’t and that’s when I got sick of it and jerked my leg away from him and stood up.

I looked up and met Niall’s eyes and I know he heard every single word and there was a small hint of a smile on his face but it didn’t reach his eyes, which were still looking hurt but nonetheless he motioned me over. I quickly made my way to him and without saying a word he dragged me with him into the woods and I couldn’t help but think about what he was planning. I looked around and smiled at the white world around us. It was quiet and cold but I didn’t care as long as Niall held my hand in his.

Niall wanted to have privacy as we walked for quite some time. I wondered if he ever was going to stop but when he did, he immediately pushed me against a tree and he made me jump up and wrap my legs around his waist, which I did without question. There was no gentleness, this was pure rage and I understood it. This was my fault and I know this was his way to say goodbye, so I let him, a few bruises wouldn’t bother me and as he pushed in and out of me, I could hear him chant my name as if he needed to remind himself. I know I was crying but not because I wasn’t enjoying this but because I felt the desperation of it.

The need of being together one more time. He pressed his fingers into my hips and I know his fingerprints would be showing. This was making love in the rawest form.

He held my glance and with his right hand he swept the tears from my face. I broke down when there fell a tear from his eyes. I pulled his lips to mine and kissed him. I know he had reached his high point but we stayed liked this for a while. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered against his lips and I felt him nod. “I know, me to but I know that I will love you forever.” I smiled at him with tearful eyes because there was a big chance that he wouldn’t remember our love.

The sun was setting, which meant we had to prepare to go home. He put me down and made sure everything was in place. He pulled his hands through my hair and pulled me close one more time. He pressed a kiss against my forehead and together we walked back. I felt my heart beating like crazy and I know this was because Catherine and James were already busy performing their spell. “Ah there you two are, we need your help.”

“What do we have to do?”

“We need your blood.” This made me inhale some air because that was not what I expected but then again, this was the middle ages right and spells usually paired with blood.

We stuck our hands out and James took mine and Lady Blackwood took Niall’s hand. They both cut us and we had to cut them, which felt really morbid but apparently this was necessary. “Tell me again why we need real blood?”

“We are linked by blood and we can only be unlinked by the same blood.”

“Okay but how did you get our blood in the first place?” Niall asked and that was also what I wanted to know.

“You really don’t need to know that, believe me.” I winced when the blade cut into my flesh but other than that I didn’t pull a muscle and as soon as the blood was flowing Catherine came back with a bowl, she held it under us and made sure the blood was caught into the bowl and when she had enough, she walked away. Niall grabbed my hand and ripped a piece of clothing and wrapped it around my wound, he did it to himself and as we walked to the gate, it was just a matter of time.

The moon was now high at the sky and to our surprise it was a clear sky, the stars were endless. Catherine and James were chanting and as they suddenly stopped I knew that they succeeded. “Winter, would you please walk towards the gate, just to see if you’re still affected by it.”

I walked towards the gate but nothing happened, the tightness on my chest, wasn’t there this time and I reached out but was stopped by Catherine. “James open the gate.” James walked up to the gate and touched it. I heard him murmur something and soon enough, the wind stopped blowing and the animals around us fell quiet. It was like the time we entered the first time. I grabbed Niall’s hand and walked with him towards the gate. “Thank you Catherine.” She nodded and I know that it was time to help her with the chant but before I helped her I needed to say goodbye to Niall.

“Niall it’s time.” He nodded and pulled me into his arms and kissed me one more time on my forehead and as stood there in the door opening, I turned and focussed my eyes on James and Lady Blackwood. Catherine had lit a candle and as she nodded we began to chant.

“As this paper burns, so did their love, as this paper blackens, so will they forget each other, as this paper dissolves, so mote it be”

The moment the spell began to work, Catherine blew out the candle and with the winds began to pick up and that’s when everything became black.

Notes