Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
T he following morning, as the sun's gentle rays filtered into the room, Annabelle stirred in her unfamiliar surroundings. For a brief, hazy moment, she half-expected to find herself back in her modern apartment in San Francisco next to Edward, with its convenient appliances and the mundane routines of her time. Yet, reality pressed upon her as soon as she opened her eyes and noticed the castle’s stone walls. A wave of relief passed over her and she smiled.
Her relief soon dissipated as she got up and realized she couldn’t take a shower. Her gaze traveled over to the wash bowl and pitcher. She thought about maybe having that bath that Jen had mentioned, but how she was supposed to get hold of anyone to help her was mind boggling. She couldn’t just pick up a phone and call someone, so what was she supposed to do?
She wasn’t comfortable leaving her room in the nightgown and she didn’t want to put the dress on without bathing. She also didn’t want to put on the clothes she arrived in, so she sat there on the bed debating what to do. Her gaze traveled back over to the wash bowl and pitcher. Was there even water in it? She hadn’t looked last night.
As her feet touched the stone floor, she realized it was slightly chilly, even with the fire having burned through the night. It was basically embers now, but the room was still somewhat warm, so the floor being chilled startled her. Quickly she padded over to the stand with the bowl and pitcher.
It took her a moment to realize the side of it lifted on a hinge and locked into place, making it a small table. She moved the heavy pitcher of water from the bowl and saw a chip of soap, which she moved to the table, then poured some of the water into the bowl. The water was also chilly, she noticed, and she wasn’t looking forward to using it. On the opposite side from the small table was a rod that held two small towels. Picking one up, she dipped it into the bowl and then wrapped it around the soap.
Realizing she’d need to take off the nightgown to get clean, she set the soap and rag down, stripped down to her underwear and then grabbed it up again. It took her a little while to feel like she was clean enough before she used the other towel to dry herself and then turned to the wardrobe.
Taking the dress from the cabinet, she laid it on the bed. Suddenly she was overwhelmed by how to get into it. Not only that, but she’d also just come to the realization that she didn’t have any undergarments that were appropriate for this time period either. Was she supposed to put her bra back on? What was the etiquette here? She wasn’t sure but she didn’t think she was supposed to wear her bra.
She started to undo the ties on the dress so she could put it on and realized it was several pieces, not all one dress. In fact it was five pieces all together. There was an underdress that was all white linen, which she thought went on first, so she put that on. It fell to midcalf. Next, she tried stepping into the skirt, but all it did was bunch up, so she stepped back out and laid it on the bed, found the center of it and pulled it over her head. Settling it around her waist, she tied it in place.
Next, she picked up the stiff top which reminded her of a corset, but it did bend, so she wasn’t sure it actually was a corset. That took her several minutes to get on and by the time she had it the way she thought it was supposed to go, where it pushed her boobs up and sat firm against her frame, she was nearly out of breath, and she missed zippers. She had two more pieces to go. One was an over skirt that was split in the front and lighter in weight than the first skirt. It didn’t take long to get on. And last was a sort of jacket that fastened in the front under her breasts over the corset thing.
The one thing she didn’t have were socks or shoes, somehow Bridie and Jen had forgotten about those. With a sigh, she slid her feet into the black tennis shoes she’d been wearing when she arrived, but without socks.
As she stood there wondering what to do about her hair, Annabelle couldn't help but question her decision to venture into this new life. Had she made a mistake? The absence of technology, or even the smallest conveniences she’d taken for granted which had been so integral to her previous existence, was like a gaping void in this world. Her yearning for the comforts of the modern age gnawed at her, challenging her resolve to adapt.
The stark contrast in culture was another weight on her conscience. The customs and practices of this 17th-century Scottish realm felt like intricate riddles she struggled to unravel. The clash of her contemporary sensibilities against the backdrop of history left her feeling like a fish out of water and she wondered if she’d ever be able to adapt.
Just as she was about to descend into a depressed state, there was a knock at the door. Taking a deep breath she opened it to see Jen on the other side, smiling.
“Well look at you! You managed it all on your own, that’s awesome. I had to have Sally help me forever it seemed like.” Jen shook her head in amazement.
“Did I do it right?” Annabelle didn’t like how much her anxiety showed.
Jen walked around her and checked the dress. “You did perfect. I’m impressed. Are you comfortable?”
“Well,” she lifted the skirts to show her feet and bare legs, “I don’t have any socks and I’m pretty sure my shoes are going to get some looks.”
“Crap, I knew I forgot something,” Jen said, frowning. “Hang on, I’ll get Sally to get what you need.” She turned back to the door and called out to someone passing by.
There were some shouts down the hall and then Sally appeared in the doorway. “Lady Jen, Lady Annabelle, what can I do for you?”
“I forgot to get undergarments for Annabelle and she’s going to need footwear as well, can you get her some?”
“Size six,” Annabelle added.
“So a four,” Jen told Sally, then looked back at Annabelle, “they do it different here.” She smiled.
“I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,” Sally said then scurried off.
Annabelle sat down and pulled off her tennis shoes. “How do you get used to this?”
“I know it can be a bit much at first, but you’ll get it. I promise. It gets easier as time passes, and the dresses really are comfortable. And if you ever want to wear pants occasionally, you can, especially if you want to come out and learn some martial arts with me.” Jen sat down next to her and patted her leg.
“I’ll think about it.”
Sally arrived and handed her garters, wool stockings, and a pair of boots as well as something that looked like bloomers. Annabelle looked at Jen who burst out laughing. “I know it’s not what you’re used to. Bridie can make you some short ones, that’s what I had her do for me, but the bloomers are nice in the winter.”
Lifting her skirts, Jen helped Annabelle put on the garters and stockings and then slid her feet into the boots which fit rather nicely. Once that was done, Jen brushed and braided her hair for her, letting the long braid hang over her shoulder, and then they walked down to the dining hall for breakfast.
Jen showed her how everything was set up buffet style and told her she could have whatever she wanted and eat as much or as little as she wanted. She also recommended that she add honey to the porridge which looked a lot like oatmeal.
As soon as Annabelle had eaten a few bites of everything, Jen asked, “So what do you think of your first traditional Scottish breakfast?”
Annabelle, still adjusting to this new world, cautiously speared a piece of bacon with her fork. "It's...different. I mean, bacon is bacon, but this bread, it's so hearty and dense. I've never had anything quite like it."
Jennifer nodded in agreement, her tone warm and welcoming. "Yeah, that's our Scottish bannocks. It'll fill you up for the day's work, that's for sure. And these eggs? Fresh from our game hens. Nothing beats these eggs."
Annabelle took a bite of the eggs, her taste buds pleasantly surprised. "You're right. They're delicious, different from the chicken eggs I’m used to. And this porridge is great too, the honey makes it so sweet.”
Jen smiled. “Told you it was good.” Annabelle sipped her tea, appreciating its warmth. "And the tea, it's perfect. Although I must admit, I was expecting coffee."
Jen grinned, teasingly. "You’re a coffee girl hmm? Well we can probably get some in trade the next time Eamon and Catherine go traveling, but really, it’s not popular here yet. Tea seems to rule the day.”
Annabelle couldn't help but smile. Despite the challenges of this new world, there was something comforting about sharing a meal and laughter with Jen. "I have a feeling I'm going to learn to love it. And everything else that comes with this place, but I’m sure it will take time to get used to it all."
Jen's eyes softened with understanding. "You will, Annabelle, I promise. It's a different world, but it’s got its own kind of magic. And you'll find your place here, just like I did."
“Thanks, Jen. I’m glad to have you here. Not sure what I would have done if I was on my own.”
“You’d have been fine, I bet.” Jen smiled. “You know, it’s a pretty day, how about we go get some fresh air?”
“Okay,” Annabelle replied and stood up from the table.
The sun bathed the Scottish morning in a gentle golden light as Jennifer led Annabelle outside. Birds chirped in the few nearby trees that stood inside the walls of the fort courtyard, and a soft breeze blew rustling their leaves. The air was crisp, invigorating, and filled with the promise of a new day.
As they settled at one of the wooden tables in the courtyard near the training area, Annabelle noticed Jamie, a striking figure with his thick auburn hair and captivating blue-gray eyes, came out of an exterior building, see her and stroll over to them. Her heart quickened its pace as he approached and took a seat beside her. He exuded an undeniable charm and rugged handsomeness, his features chiseled like a work of art. Jamie's broad shoulders and strong physique hinted at a life of physical labor and outdoor adventure. Annabelle found herself momentarily captivated by his roguish good looks, the playfulness in his eyes, and his warm smile. She cleared her throat, trying to focus on the conversation at hand, but Jamie's presence was undeniably distracting.
“How are you this morn, lass?” Jamie asked, smiling at her.
“That’s a loaded question,” she replied, smiling back. “Overwhelmed to put it mildly.”
“I understand, lass. Dub Sith bringing you here would have to be,” he acknowledged.
“Why does he do it?” Annabelle asked. “I mean why here? Does he take women to other times and places too?” She looked between Jen and Jamie to see who would answer her.
“Go ahead, Jamie, I know you enjoy telling the tale,” Jen replied, a smile lighting her face.
“Aye so tis a tale that goes back nearly a hundred years.” Jamie smiled, getting into his tale. “There was a battle, as there often is in these parts. Clans waring against one another. This one was between the Macleans and the Donalds. As for Dub Sith, he is a mischievous Fae, and he rewards or gets revenge at his will. You must know who was involved to understand what took place.”
“Makes sense.” Annabelle was enthralled already.
Jamie continued, “You see the Macleans wanted our land, claimed it belonged to them. My ancestor offered him half, but that wouldnae do.”
“So the Donalds were already on the land, the Macleans came in and claimed ownership and instead of taking the offered compromise, the Macleans decided on war?”
“Aye.” Jamie nodded. “An’ that is when Dub Sith made his appearance. He offered his services to the Maclean, but Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean who was the leader of the Macleans at the time, was disgusted and refused Dub Sith’s offer.”
“Did he not know who Dub Sith was?” Annabelle asked.
“Is said the Maclean do nae believe in the Fae, which only served to infuriate the wee elf man. He immediately went to my ancestor James MacDonald and offered to side with him, with the understanding that he be the one to kill Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean.”
“Did he?”
“Aye, and elf bolt straight to the temple. After that the Maclean clan fled, though we lost many Donalds in the battle.”
“So Dub Sith brought luck to the Donalds,” Annabelle said, but that didn’t tell her what she really wanted to know. “So how did that translate to him bringing women here?”
“Aye, he did bring luck to the Donalds, in a way, but we paid a large toll for fighting the Macleans. You see King James VI was a friend to the Macleans and even though we won, we still lost our land because the king gave it to the Campbells. After that, the Donalds struggled as nearly all were against us. It t’was nae jest us Donald men who paid the toll. Many of our women were stolen from us and murdered, thrown off the cliffs into the sea. That is when Dub Sith returned and vowed to bless us.”
“The Campbells?” Annabelle looked over at Jen. “You mentioned them at dinner last night.”
“Aye. The Campbells still own the land. They were the ones who murdered the Donald women. Not the current Laird, but his predecessor,” Jen replied.
“That’s horrible, why did they do that?” Annabelle replied.
“The Donalds disagreed with the past and current monarchy. The Campbells, though, have the favor of and support the king and decided to try and rid the world of all Donalds,” Jamie explained somberly, but then he smiled. “It seems we Donalds are pretty resilient though and with Dub Sith’s help, we’re thriving.”
“So he brings women here from the future to be your wives? Is that what you’re saying?” Annabelle couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that she was part of some mystical marriage arrangement beyond her control. With a hint of skepticism, she voiced her concerns, her voice carrying a subtle hint of apprehension. "That's a bit creepy," she admitted, "I don't like that I've been brought here for some kind of arranged marriage."
Jen's laughter was warm and reassuring, her eyes filled with understanding. "Oh, well crap, you've got it all wrong," she replied. "The three of us, Mae, Catherine and I have all made our own choices. Nobody is going to force you into a marriage you don’t want, I promise. Hell, nobody will force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But no matter what, you’re family. You’re part of the Donald Clan now and you have a home here always for as long as you want, no strings attached.”."
Annabelle's fears faded. She couldn't deny the genuine kindness and warmth she had encountered since her arrival. It was clear that this clan valued family and friends over any mystical matchmaking.
She offered Jennifer a grateful smile, her worries gradually dissipating like morning mist. "Thanks, Jen," Annabelle said, her voice filled with sincerity. "I appreciate your reassurance. This place... it's so different from back home."
Jen nodded and patted Annabelle’s hand. “It really is, but I think you’re going to love it here as much as the rest of us do. And I’m not just saying that because we each met someone that we ended up marrying.” She laughed. “The people here are some of the best people I’ve ever met. Everyone works together and takes care of each other. We rely on each other, help each other… it’s really amazing.”
As the conversation continued, Annabelle couldn't help but feel like she had actually found her place in the world. She had never really fit in back home, but here, with these people who were so connected, so friendly and accepting, she thought maybe, just maybe she could really be herself.
"We Donalds each feel blessed by Du Sith to have you here.” Jamie gave her a sincere look. “Each of these women he’s brought us has brought a bit o' their own magic to our lives. They've become part of our clan, and we're grateful to have them. Tis as though they were meant to make us better, stronger as a clan.”
Annabelle loved hearing that. That was what she wanted. To make a difference. To help people be stronger and better and more connected. The idea that maybe Dub Sith had seen that about her was comforting. So not only had he gotten her out of the abusive situation she’d been in, but he’d also brought her somewhere that she could make a real difference and be a benefit to a community.
“Maybe my being here is fated,” Annabelle said, feeling thoughtful.
"Aye," Jamie exclaimed, his Scottish accent dancing through the words, "tis like something out o’ a fairy tale, isnae it? Fate bringing us together from different times and places."
The way he was looking at her, his eyes filled with wonder and something she was afraid of naming, had Annabelle’s heart skipping a beat. She wasn’t ready for what she thought he might be thinking about. She needed to get him to slow down. "I suppose if you're not the one who's been displaced from their world and time, it might seem that way, even if I did chose it, it’s still a huge change," she replied. And then a notion struck her and she said with hint of feistiness, "Do you think you would you find it romantic if you woke up one day in San Francisco in the 21st century, away from everything you know and love?"
Jamie's expression faltered for a moment as he considered Annabelle's question. "Ach, I suppose I had nae thought of it in such a way, lass," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "I reckon I'd be a wee bit fashed, to say the least. If’n you need help findin’ your place here, I will give you my help. I want you to be happy here, lass."
Annabelle couldn't help but smile at his honesty. "Being here is a lot to take in, and there is so much for me to learn how to do that I never had to do before," she conceded. "I appreciate your offer to help me adjust to this new life, Jamie, I do. It’s just going to take some time for me to acclimate."
Jamie nodded earnestly, his blue-gray eyes locking onto hers. “You have my word, Annabelle," he replied, his tone gentle and reassuring. "I'll do whatever I can to make this transition easier for you. You'll see, the Highlands have a way of working their magic on even the most stubborn of souls."
“I hope you’re right considering I can never go back,” Annabelle replied feeling suddenly homesick. There were going to be a lot of things she missed, but nothing she couldn’t live without, she didn’t think. Still, the idea that she’d never drive a car again, she’d never listen to the radio or watch TV or take an actual shower was almost devastating. It was just a lot to take in and all things she’d never considered when she’d made that snap decision to take Dub Sith up on his offer.
“I’m right sorry, lass,” Jamie murmured, picking up on her mood. “I’ll leave you to your thoughts.” He got up and started to walk away.
Annabelle suddenly felt maybe he’d taken what she’d said as a rejection and stood up to go after him. “Jamie!” she called.
He turned back to her, a curious look on his face. “What is it, lass?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m just feeling sorry for myself.”
Jamie took her hands in his. “Tis all right, lass. You’ve a right to how you’re feelin’. If’n I were taken away from here and thrown into a new world, I imagine I’d be feelin’ somewhat the same, so I understand. I promise, I will help you find your place here.”
“Thank you, I really do appreciate that.”
“For now, I have to go see to my duties. Go spend time with Jen, she will help you too, and so will the others. We’re all here for you.” Jamie gave her a gentle smile as he squeezed her hand in his.
Warmth filled her heart. “You have no idea how much that means to me,” she replied.
“I’ll see you later this eve, lass. Have a good day.” He winked and let go of her hand before turning to head off to do his job.
Turning her attention to Jen, who had patiently waited during the exchange, Annabelle found herself eager to explore more of this ancient fortress and its intriguing inhabitants. “So, how about a more extensive tour?” she said, smiling at Jen.
“We can do that, but first, I was thinking you should meet Mae and Catherine.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.” Annabelle nodded. “Do you know where they are? I mean this place is huge. Are they together?”
Jen laughed. “It is huge, but I know they were planning to meet up in the library.”
“You’ve got a library?” Annabelle said with surprise.
“We do, but don’t expect to find a lot of entertaining reads. I mean we have some Shakespeare and if you like poetry, Catherine has a few books she got as gifts from Sir Kellan before he returned home.”
“Sir Kellan?”
Jen paused. “So you need to know that the Campbells send spies to watch us, collect taxes and such. Sir Kellan Campbell was the Laird’s eyes and ears for a while. Let’s just say he and Catherine became friends of sorts.”
“I’m not a huge reader, but I do recall liking some of Shakespeare’s writing.” Annabelle smiled as they made their way up the stone staircase.
Jen pushed open the doors and Annabelle took in the bookshelves along the walls and the large table in the center of the room where two women sat. “Hey girls, come meet Annabelle.”
The two women looked over at them and both grinned and jumped from their chairs, coming over to them. “Hi Annabelle, I’m Mae, this is Catherine, welcome to Fort Donald,” the woman with sparkling green eyes and a mischievous smile said. Her hair was a light auburn and had an almost golden hue to it as the sun hit it.
“Hi, um, thanks.” Annabelle smiled.
The other woman had auburn hair too, but it was a darker shade, and her skin was a little more pale than Mae’s. She smiled shyly and said, “Welcome Annabelle, I bet you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed being here. I know I was waking up here with no warning.”
“Get this, Dub Sith asked her first!” Jen said, looking at Annabelle with amazement and wonder.
“He listened to me,” Catherine replied, surprise on her face. “I’m so glad he did.”
“So what made you come,” Mae asked, sounding curious as the four of them sat down around the table.
“Er, well, it sounded like an adventure,” Annabelle said, not wanting to share her real reasons for coming. Not yet. Maybe once she got to know these women better, she’d be more comfortable doing that, but for now, she kept it vague. Still as she spoke to them, she couldn’t help but think she was finally going to have a group of women she could count as friends who would have her back no matter what.