Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
A s Catherine walked alongside Mae on the top of the wall, they heard horse hooves approaching. A moment later the massive gates of Fort Donald creaked open, and Eamon and his men on horseback galloped through them, returning from their mission. The sight of them entering with a sense of purpose filled Catherine with awe and trepidation. As she stared down toward them, Eamon's eyes found hers, a fleeting connection that sent a warmth coursing through her veins. He waved and a warm smile curved his lips.
“I see Eamon’s returned,” Mae said, something akin to teasing in her voice.
Catherine barely heard her as she watched Eamon guide his horse over toward the stables. The play of sunlight on his rugged features seemed to accentuate his charisma, his presence of strength and assuredness captured her attention. She couldn’t take her eyes off him until he disappeared into the stables and was out of her view. “I should go say hi,” Catherine murmured, turning for the stairs.
“Oh you definitely should,” Mae said with barely contained laughter.
Catherine didn’t know what Mae found so funny about her wanting to tell Eamon hello, but she didn’t let it bother her. She moved swiftly down the stairs to the courtyard and started toward the stables.
Halfway to them, Eamon emerged and met her and Mae in the midst of the courtyard. "Catherine, lass, you are well?” he asked, greeting her.
“I am, thanks. You?”
“Aye, I am quite well. I must say, the dress suits you. You look bonnie, lass," he remarked with a twinkle in his eyes, his brogue imbuing his words with a musical cadence that enveloped her in warmth.
"Thank you," Catherine replied graciously. She couldn't deny the unspoken connection danced between them. It was almost tangible.
“Has Mae been showing you around the fort?” he asked as they walked.
“I have,” Mae answered. “I’m wondering though if I should have waited for you to do it.” The grin on her face was mischievous.
Eamon cleared his throat and then said, “I’d have liked that, if I hadn’t been seeing to a task for the Chief.”
“It’s okay. I had a good time with Mae,” Catherine replied feeling like she was missing something in the conversation.
“I wondered if you would care to join me for a mid-day meal? I’m famished and thought I’d take myself off to the dining hall. Have you eaten?”
Catherine found herself nodding, her curiosity mingling with a growing sense of comfort in Eamon's presence. "Yes, I am hungry," she admitted. “All this walking has really increased my appetite.” She smiled at him.
“I think I’ll go see if I can track down Niall, you two have fun.” Mae’s smile was wide as she skipped away.
Together, Catherine and Eamon made their way to the dining hall. “This smells good in here. I thought Mae said all there’d be was sliced meats and cheese?”
“Sometimes Mira will heat up any leftovers from last evening’s meal. We had a hearty stew last night, which is what you’re smelling. There must have been plenty leftover.” Eamon led her to a table where the each picked up a plate and filled it with stew, and some bread.
With their laden plates in hand, Catherine followed Eamon to a wooden table.
"So, lass, have you come to realize I spoke the truth to you?” Eamon asked, a twinkle in his eyes.
Catherine sighed. “Yes, I don’t know how, but you appear to be correct.”
“I understand.” He gave her a gentle smile. “I’m very curious to know what your world was like. Will you tell me about the place you come from?"
Catherine took a sip of her drink, her gaze sweeping over the dining hall before settling on Eamon. “I’m not even sure where to start.” She took a look around again, and then began, “Take this castle for instance, we don’t have many of them in our time, most are gone now. People live on their own, either in homes or in apartments, which I guess is kind of like here, but on a larger scale? I mean modern apartments have a couple of bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. God I’m going to miss indoor plumbing.”
“You have a room just to bathe in?”
Catherine laughed. “We do. We like things convenient in the future. We do our own cooking or go out to restaurants, we drive cars, which are motorized carriages, we have things called airplanes that allow us to travel great distances over land and water in a matter of hours. Everything is very fast paced. We carry phones which allow us to physically talk to people who are thousands of miles away, but mostly we watch videos and play games on them. We can see and know everything that is going on in the entire world, or near enough with just a tap of a button.”
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at his lips. "Aye, that does sound like a world far different from here. Was this in American?”
Catherine smiled. “I am an American, our country is the United States of America, but from what Mae has told me, we’re currently in the mid-1600s?”
“Aye, there abouts,” he replied.
“Well, it seems my country hasn’t even begun yet. People are there, it’s been discovered, but they are merely just getting established. In a hundred or so years from now there will be a war with England and my countrymen will win, which will establish us a country of our own.”
“Your country beats England?” A wide grin spread over his face. “I’m glad to hear someone does.” He chuckled. “I recall you saying you were a scholar?”
“Yes. I study history. I came to Scotland because your culture is fascinating to me and there is so much rich history here. I attended the University of Edinburgh.” Catherine paused and her eyes widened. “The college was built in the late 1500s, do you know it?”.
Eamon shook his head. “I know Edinburgh, but the only college there is Tounis College.”
“I know that name… Oh, yes, that is what it was first called, and then the English king… James VI changed the name to King James' College in 1617, I think that’s right.”
“T’will never be King James' College.” Eamon smirked. “No true Scotsman would call it that.”
Catherine had to grin. The animosity between the Scots and English was renowned. “Well, it will soon change its name again to the University of Edinburgh and the name will stick.”
“And they will allow women to study there?” Eamon asked.
“Do you think woman shouldn’t be allowed to study there?” Catherine asked, her tone was a clear warning that he’d better watch his step.
Eamon smiled widely. “I’ve no doubt woman are fully capable of learning anything they put their mind to, lass, I am just aware that currently Tounis College is a place for young men to take on scholarly pursuits.”
“Well, that is true. It’s not until 1869 that the first group of women will be allowed into their hallowed halls. Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Edinburgh in the first place. And to think, she’s not even been born yet.” Catherine shook her head in wonder.
“What is it about her that drew you?” Eamon asked as he ate.
Catherine set down her fork as she thought about it. “She’s an amazing woman. Well educated for a woman of her time, a rebel in a way, which speaks to my American spirit.” Catherine grinned. “She went to college in England, despite her family’s wishes, and worked in mathematics, but her father wouldn’t allow her to accept a salary for her work. She traveled to my country after the civil war for more schooling and then returned to Great Britain where she campaigned to be allowed to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh and won. It didn’t end well though, sadly. A certain group of men decided to harass her and the other women who she’d recruited to join her in her scholarly pursuits to the point the University ended up removing them and withdrawing their degrees.”
“Why? I donnae understand,” Eamon replied, his brow furrowed. “Couldnae they do the work?”
“Oh, they could, and very well too, but egos were involved. So the women left and went to study elsewhere in Europe and earned their degrees. Sophia eventually became a doctor and established the London School of Medicine for Woman.”
“And do you wish to become a doctor as well? Is that what you were studying?”
“No, not at all. I was a history major. I love studying about the past and I have a passion for sharing things that have long been forgotten and helping others become fascinated in it as well.”
“I can see how passionate you are about it, your eyes brightened when you were speaking about this Sophia woman.” Eamon smiled.
Catherine blushed and looked down at her plate. “Enough about me. Tell me about your life here in this time. I know a lot about history, but to actually be here now, well, I’d like to know what you think of your life here.”
Eamon chuckled. “I suppose from what you’ve said that our life must seem a struggle to you. We cannae travel great distances in hours, it does take many days even just to reach Edinburgh. To be able to travel to other countries would take a long time indeed, so we donnae travel very often. Not that we feel the need to. Everything we need we have here. The clan is nae just a family, lass, we are a community. We are proud of our country, our family, our traditions. We may live a simple life in comparison to the life you came from, but we are hardworking and are bonded to one another.”
“I have noticed that, Eamon. Even just being here for a couple of days, I am amazed at how everyone works together.” She couldn't help but admire the strength in his words, the pride he held for his way of life.
“Donnae they do the same in your time?”
“Not really, no. I mean people are generally proud of their countries, American’s especially, but it does seem as though most people are more concerned with getting themselves ahead rather than working for the good of the community.”
“Aye, we have those that do the same in our time, but they are few and far between.” Eamon nodded.
Catherine finished eating and then sighed. “I just can’t believe I’m actually here. I mean it seems like I’m in the middle of a dream and I’ll wake up any moment and be back in my apartment at the university. It’s very surreal. I mean how does this even happen?”
Eamon's eyes held a hint of mischief as he leaned forward, his voice lowering. “You see, lass, tis magic. Fae magic.”
Catherine chuckled softly, amusement in her tone. "Yes, as you have said before and now Mae said the same, she mentioned Dub Sith? She told me he is a Fae. but honestly, it sounds like something out of a child’s tale."
He chuckled in response, a hearty sound that warmed her. "Aye, I suppose it does. It tis nae often the wee folk show themselves to us, but Dub Sith made a promise to our ancestor, and it seems he is determined to see it through.”
“A promise?”
“Aye, though now is nae the time to go into what that promise was, for I donnae believe you are quite ready to believe it, so I will save that for another time. What I will tell you is that Dub Sith is very powerful, and he assisted my ancestor in battle. A pact was made and now Dub Sith is doing what he can to restore Clan Donald.”
Catherine arched a brow. “And somehow I’m involved?”
“Aye, lass, that you are.”
“And you’ll tell me at some later time when I am ready to believe?” she said skeptically.
Eamon chuckled. “That I will, lass. Come, let us finish our meal before I fall asleep in my stew.”
Catherine giggled. “We can’t have that.”
“Nae we cannae. I must get some rest before I set off on my next patrol.”
They quickly finished their meal and carried their plates to the kitchen.
“This has been nice, thank you for sharing a meal with me.” Eamon said, gazing into her eyes, a smile on his lips.
She returned his gaze, her voice sincere. "Thank you, Eamon. You've made this... transition much easier."
They exchanged a lingering look before Eamon turned to leave. Catherine watched him go, his figure receding down the hallway toward the staircase, and then she sighed softly.
Later that evening she took supper with Mae in Mae's bedchamber, an idea that Mae had as to not overwhelm Catherine by having supper in the dining hall with everyone. Catherine felt it was a good idea as well and enjoyed the quiet company of Mae and Niall, hearing all the stories of Mae's life from back home. Her story made Catherine feel less alone.
Heading back to her bedchamber that evening, Catherine's mind was awash with thoughts and emotions. She sat down on the edge of the bed to think. As she undressed the layers of clothing, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of connection to the past. Almost as if she actually belonged here.
As she put on the nightgown, Catherine's thoughts returned to Eamon, his warm smile, and the way his Scottish brogue rolled off his tongue. It was an odd feeling, this attachment she was forming to a man from a time so distant from her own.
Catherine lay down, her gaze fixed on the stone ceiling as the flickering light from the tallow candle she’d lit when she’d arrived back in her room danced across the stone walls. There was also a fire in the hearth that warmed the room nicely. Sleep didn't come easily, her mind churning with questions about the mysterious Dub Sith and the possibility of being trapped in this time. Yet, as the night deepened and the castle settled into its quiet rhythm, Catherine felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could find her place here, and the bonds she was forming would lead her to answers and, perhaps, a way back to her own time. But, she wondered, would she want to go if there was a way back? She wasn’t actually sure of the answer to that at the moment.
Days melted into one another as Catherine adjusted to her new life within the fortress walls of Fort Donald. Each morning, she would rise with the sun and set about finding something new to learn.
Her days became a whirlwind of activity. She assisted Mira in the kitchens, learning the art of preparing meals and what went into each one. She spent a day with Bridie learning how she and her daughters sewed every dress by hand, how to stitch the intricate designs into the bodices, and how they were able to make such beautiful attire out of the bolts of cloth. Catherine had read about these things, but it was quite different getting firsthand experience in doing them.
She’d also watched the guards doing their training, helped in the stables caring for the horses and pulled weeds in the garden. Anything to keep busy. It seemed there was always something to do, and she was never bored. She barely ever had time to feel melancholy or miss home.
Her evenings too were somewhat busy as she joined Mae, Niall, and Eamon in the dining hall for supper. There were often festivities in the evenings, music and dancing, story-telling of battles won and lost. She met so many new people it was hard to keep them all straight, but it was enjoyable, and she often went to bed exhausted from everything that had gone on that day.
One morning, sitting by her chamber window, Catherine pondered her situation. The Donalds' generosity had saved her from a life of uncertainty and peril in this time period where anything could have happened to her had Eamon and his men not stumbled upon her in that field. Her heart swelled with gratitude for the Donalds. She was now doing something that scholars the world over had probably dreamed of. Getting to live in a time long past and experiencing things firsthand.
Catherine's journey had taken her from a university campus in modern times to the heart of 17th-century Scotland. Though uncertainty still loomed over her, she wasn’t alone. She had forged bonds with the people here, and as the days turned into weeks, she realized that perhaps her place wasn’t in the modern world, but here, helping to create the history of this amazing place.
Three weeks after arriving here, Catherine found herself navigating the labyrinthine corridors that wound their way through Fort Donald. She knew them almost by heart now, she’d traversed them so often over the last several weeks. It was a familiarity that brought comfort to her and made her feel as though she belonged here.
As she reached Mae's door, Catherine hesitated for a moment before giving a gentle knock. She had a favor to ask, but she didn’t know if she should be bothering Mae about it. Still, she wasn’t going to accomplish anything if she didn’t at least speak to her. The door opened and Mae smiled.
“Catherine, hey, I wasn’t expecting you this morning, come in.”
Catherine stepped through the entrance into the front room of Mae and Niall’s rooms. Theirs had a receiving room and a bedroom, unlike Catherine’s smaller room that was just a single bedchamber.
“Thanks, I’ve been thinking.”
“What about? I hope you’re not trying to find your way back to our time. I mean Jen and I both have looked, but there’s really no way back there, and really, now that we’ve been here a while, we wouldn’t want to go anyway and I’m pretty sure you won’t want to either—” Mae rambled.
“It’s not that. I mean yeah, if there is a way home, I’d like to find it, but that’s not what I’ve been thinking about.”
“Oh, okay, so what is it?”
“You know I was at the university, studying history, right?”
Mae nodded. “Of course.”
“Well, I’d like to keep up my studies, so I wondered if there was pen and paper somewhere?”
Mae smiled. “Oh, yeah, that’s an easy one. Though, you’re probably going have to get used to it. No ball-point pens here, just quills and inkpots. But we’ve plenty of parchment.” She walked over to the desk under the window. “Here, you can take these.” She opened a drawer for Catherine.
Catherine looked in the drawer and saw several quills and a couple of inkpots, as well as parchment paper. She lifted them out reverently, as if she were touching prized things of the past when in her current reality, they were normal and not relics to be treasured.
Niall stepped out of the bedchamber. “You know where you should take her?” he said, grinning at Mae.
Catherine looked between him and Mae, who suddenly nodded and gave him a grin. “You’re right. She’ll love it.”
“Go on then.” Niall laughed.
"Come with me. I wanna show ya something," Mae said, excitement in her voice as she headed for the door.
Catherine's heart quickened as she followed Mae out of her room and down the corridor, then up the stairs to the highest floor. Mae paused in front of two wooden doors and then flung them open. She and Mae then stepped into an expansive room that revealed itself to be a library, a treasure trove of knowledge and history. The air within was musty, yet carried the scent of well-preserved parchment and leather-bound tomes. Sunlight filtered through small windows, casting intricate patterns on the floor and illuminating the rows upon rows of rolled parchments and books that lined the shelves.
The sheer volume of knowledge contained within these walls was staggering, and Catherine's excitement was palpable as she scanned the book titles and felt the weight of history in her hands. Mae's eyes twinkled with amusement as she watched Catherine's enthusiasm unfold.
“This is amazing, how did I not know this was here?” she asked in wonder.
“Well, I didn’t think to show it to you. Not many of us have a reason to come in here very often. Hope you can read Latin and Gaelic, because a lot of this is, unfortunately, in those languages.”
Latin had been one of the languages Catherine had studied in high school since she’d known she’d wanted to study history. Gaelic she’d only started learning after coming to the university, but she’d picked up a lot of it pretty easily. She was fluent in several languages in fact.
“That’s not going to be a problem.” She smiled brightly. “Can I read any of these? Can I take notes and study them?”
“Sure, I don’t see why not. Cam’s not going to mind.” Mae smiled. “I’m going to go grab some breakfast with Niall before he has to go to training. I’ll see you later, okay?”
Catherine nodded, but her mind was already busy scanning the texts to find one she wanted to start with. “Yeah, bye.”
Mae giggled. “Have fun.”
Ten minutes later, seated at one of the desks that stood amidst the sea of books, Catherine felt a thrill of anticipation. She opened one of the volumes she’d chosen to start with before her, its pages brittle yet brimming with wisdom from ages past. As she began to read, the quill in her hand scratched against the parchment as she meticulously translated passages that piqued her interest.
The tome she was currently transcribing passages from was on the history of the area surrounding Fort Donald. Reading about some of the bygone battles had her mind turning to Eamon and his visage floated through her mind. He was rarely far from her thoughts these days, but reading about his ancestors and some of the things they’d been through had her thinking more about him and she couldn’t help but be awed by how strong they were as a family.
As Catherine continued writing, she added her own thoughts and commentary on the passages, relating them to the current occupants of the Fort, mainly to the one Highlander who’d captured her attention. She’d even sketched a small portrait of Eamon into the margin of her paper, from memory. The likeness was pretty good she thought as she looked it over. It had been a while since she’d done any sketching, and doing it now with a quill and ink and having it come out properly made her feel good.
Lost in her thoughts, Catherine hardly noticed the passage of time as the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the library. She was too taken with her studies to even consider stopping for the day. She had an insatiable appetite for learning and these tomes were the best meal she’d had to satiate her appetite in a very long time.