Winter

I’m sorry for dragging you with me.” The guilt was weighing on me for dragging him with me into this bizarre thing. I should’ve gone alone because what if we never could get back?

“It’s fine, at least we’re together.” I knew he would say something like that because he is just that nice. I threw a quick glance in his direction and saw that he was focused on the road in front of us and I know he saw the same thing as me. There was a huge castle that for some reason looked brand new, as bit dark but still really new, which was impossible as this castle was over five hundred years old. “How is that even possible?” I mumbled but Niall heard me nonetheless.

“I really don’t know but something happened the minute we stepped through that gate.” We stopped walking and just stared at the castle, there was a walking bridge, as the caste was surrounded by water. “Should we?” I gestured to the bridge.

“I don’t know about this Winter.”

“What if we were meant to be here?” I questioned out loud but he shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense, this is just.” He stopped talking and I turned to see what was wrong when I felt it as well. Someone was pointing something in my back and it felt really sharp. “What the?” but I stopped talking when the sting got worse.

“Who are you?” A heavy voice asked us and it was like Niall knew I was going to make a snappy comment, he squeezed my hand a bit harsher then usually. “I’m Niall Horan and this is Winter Blackwood.” He nodded in my direction, not turning around knowing that if he made a sudden move, that thing could pierce through. “Where are you two from?” I heard the footsteps and that’s when he appeared in front of us and I almost did a double take. In front of us stood a guy dressed in fifteen century battle armoury, which could only mean that they just came back from a battle or were just protecting the castle.

I know I must have looked shocked and I quickly dared to look at Niall, who was as shocked as I was. It was Niall who answered for us and that was fine by me. “I’m from Ireland and Winter is from..” that’s when he faltered because I wasn’t from England or Ireland, I was from America but I wasn’t sure if they had discovered it yet but I could put on a fake British accent.

“I’m from London sir.” I quickly added in my British accent, hoping he wouldn’t think anything of it but then I remembered about the war between England and Scotland. I felt the tension in Niall when he as well thought about that. The man was staring at us with narrowed eyes and I felt uncomfortable but not afraid after he told his men to stand down. “What is your business here?” He was still interrogating us and I know he was confused about our clothes. “We just wanted to see the castle sir.” I had finally found my voice and I was thanking myself and my interest in history, as I knew exactly how to address him.

“Are you friends of our lord?” I wasn’t quite sure which lord lived here during that time but I know he was waiting on an answer; Niall beat me to it though. “We haven’t met him yet Sir but I’m from the house Horan and this is my fiancé and we would really love to meet your lord.” He was really certain and when the knight got into his face, he didn’t budge for a second.

“Follow me please.” The guy turned around and walked over the bridge, we followed in his footsteps and I haven’t been this nervous ever, I mean what if they find out that we weren’t what Niall told him we were. I mean he just suggested that we were from noble upbringing, which I definitely wasn’t.

I was like stepping into another world, when we walked through the castle gate. The houses were not solid and had hay as roofs, there was no proper road unless you count mud and dirt as a road, the smell was something I wasn’t happy about. We were definitely getting stared at but to be fair to them we must look like aliens, with our clothes like this, especially when they wore nothing more then cloaks and dresses or kilts. “What the hell is happening?” I heard Niall mumble but I didn’t have an answer because I really didn’t know what or how we got here.

“Just act like we belong here.” I mumbled back. He was holding my hand more tightly and I was grateful for that but then I thought back to what he had said about us. He told the knight that we were engaged, which meant they could force us to marry, as we were traveling alone without a chaperone. And if I learned one thing about history, that was a definite faux pas.

“Niall, you shouldn’t have told them we were engaged.” I mumbled and that made him turn his head towards me in confusion. “Why are you worried about that?” I know he was confused because how could I worry about something as insignificant as that, when were in a mess like this. “They can force us to marry because we are traveling alone.” I said in a low voice, so that only he could hear me.

“They can’t, can they?” I sighed deeply because it was obvious that he didn’t pay attention during his history lessons. “They can Niall and there is nothing we can do to stop them.”

“Shit.” He mumbled “So what now?” he asked but how in the world would I know an answer to that. “I don’t know, just go along with it I guess.” We got led into the Castle and I had to look around, I mean what are the odds that you could really see a medieval castle. The historic side of me was screaming in excitement but the other half of me was terrified for what would happen and a small part of me was thinking of a plan to get back. I mean we had to get back eventually right?

“Wait here.” The knight told us and we did as he told us. We didn’t move a muscle and just huddled into each other, as we were scanning the great hall, we didn’t look at each other because we would see the same thing on each others face and that was fear of what was happening. There was no way we could’ve jumped back in time like this. It must be an imagination or maybe we had eaten something wrong, this just couldn’t be real, although those swords in our backs did feel completely real.

Someone was walking towards us and if I’m correct it was a page but I wasn’t sure because it could also be the right hand of his lordship. “Lord Horan and Lady Winter, if you would follow me?” the man asked and we nodded, a bit surprised to be called lord and lady. We walked through a door, which led us into a smaller room, but there was a big chair at the end with a smaller one next to it and there were two people sitting there, talking to each other.

If I was correct this would be the Lord and his lady. This also meant we had to bow. “Niall we have to bow before them, you know that right?” I quickly mumbled to him and he nodded. “I know, don’t worry.” The lord turned his attention to us when the man scraped his throat letting them know that we had arrived. “Your lordship, I would like to present to you. Lord Niall Horan from Ireland and his fiancé Lady Winter Blackwood.” I curtsied and Niall bowed a bit stiff but it was exactly the way I would think a man would bow. The unknown lord got up from his seat and trotted to were we were standing, he stopped in front of me and was observing my clothes and I know he must think we are crazy.

“Lady Blackwood, what a pleasure to meet you, I have heard of your family, how is mrs. Blackwood?” I was sweating by now because what if she had died or something like that. “She is well my lord.” I could’ve slap myself for this but he seemed to be pleased about the answer. “I’m happy to hear that.” He took my hand and kissed it as a greeting but his lips lingered a bit too long for my liking.

“Lord Horan, welcome to Scotland.” He offered his hand and Niall shook it. We were still helpless as we still didn’t know who this man was and it wasn’t something you would ask a lord. It’s not like you could go to him and say; “I’m sorry man but I didn’t quite get your name”

The thing you could see though is that he was definitely respected by all his people and to add to that, he was looking rather handsome in a very manly manner.

“Thank you for welcoming us in your home lord.” That’s when Niall faltered and I was holding my breath. “Did no one tell you my name?” the man asked and I bowed my head just waiting for it to happen but that’s when he laughed, like really loud. I looked up in shock and that’s when he was in front of me again “Don’t be scared lady Blackwood.” He even went so far as to caress my cheek.

“I’m the duke of Albany, my name is John Stewart.” That when I knew in what century we were and it was indeed the one, that Scotland was still under Mary queen of scots. I almost curtsied again but he held up his hand to stop me. “Really you don’t have to do that lass.” I smiled at him and as I looked past him, I saw the woman approaching us and to be honest she didn’t really look like a lady but more like a hooker.

“James, please see them to their chambers.” He said to a man in a household uniform, which probably means that he is an important member of the staff. Niall had the room next to mine and to my surprise there was even a chamber maid waiting for me when I stepped through the door. I hesitated for a second and watched Niall disappear into the room. I sighed and walked in, making the girl jump a little as I scraped my throat.

“I’m sorry lady Blackwood, I’m Elaine your maid.” She actually curtsied for me, making me feel really uncomfortable. “It’s nice to meet you Elaine.” I looked around and had to contain myself from squeal in delight. This room was amazing, it had a big fireplace and the bed, was something that you would only see in museums. It was big and dark, the rug under the bed was really soft and the room looked like you would expect from an fifteen century room. There stood a bathtub in front of the fire, which had steaming water in it.

“My lord suggested that you would want a bath after your travels milady.” The shy girl mumbled and I was actually grateful for this because it was really cold outside and this would definitely warm me up. “Thank you but I don’t have other clothes with me.” I was already feeling sad that I had to pass up this lovely treat.

“Don’t worry milady, I will measure you and make sure you will have a dress ready before you get out of the bath.” She ensured me, so I couldn’t say no any more and just smiled. I know she wanted to help me undress but I think it was for the best if she let me do that myself. I thanked her and quickly undressed and as soon as the warm water hit my toes I sighed deeply and just closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth and letting it all go.
I didn’t hear him come in but when I felt his hands on my shoulders I opened my eyes immediately but when I saw it was Niall I relaxed a bit but still tried to cover myself up.

“Niall, what are you doing here?”

Notes