Chapter 3
After days of preparation and practice, the time had finally arrived for Maggie and Angus to begin their journey.
To suggest Maggie was nervous would be an understatement.
She was anxious, apprehensive and terrified of what might lie ahead.
The one bright spot in all of this, was that she’d have an opportunity to be with Dylan again and she couldn’t wait to see him.
She smiled as she remembered his curly blonde locks, always in disarray, how soft they’d been entwined around her fingers.
He had been so easy to talk to and so much fun, not to mention the most handsome man she’d ever set eyes on.
Maggie had never met anyone like him and she’d known instantly he was the man for her.
As she stood in the lobby waiting for Angus, she released an audible sigh.
“Are ye alright, Maggie?” Edna asked, concern in her voice.
“Aye, Auntie. The thought of what awaits me on the other side of the bridge is a bit overwhelming, but I’m prepared. Both ye and Uncle have seen to it.” Maggie fidgeted with her hair, something she always did when she was nervous.
Edna grabbed her hand. “Enough, my darlin’ girl. Leave yer hair be.”
Maggie laughed at herself. “Bad habit,” she replied clasping her hands together.
“We’ve one last thing to do before ye go, lass,” Edna explained. “As I mentioned to ye before, ye cannot go as yerself, so ye need a disguise.”
“Disguise!” Maggie had been imagining herself dressed in a beautiful medieval gown, with a hooded cape, which she’d draw forward to cover her face. She would be very mysterious, like the heroines in the books she loved to read. “But Auntie, how will Dylan know it’s me?”
“It will be for the best if he doesnae know it’s you, initially.
” Maggie began to protest, but Edna held up a finger to stop her.
“When the time comes, Dylan will look into yer eyes and know the truth, but until then you shall be Alec, a companion to yer Uncle Angus. Now stand still, while I work on yer appearance.”
Maggie did as her Aunt requested and while she couldn’t see anything happening, she could certainly feel it.
Edna was waving her arms to and fro, almost as if she was conducting an orchestra, and with each movement of Edna’s hands, Maggie was pulled and tugged, as little gusts of air blew past her and around her.
“’Tis finished,” Edna finally announced.
“And I’ve done a fine job of transforming ye into a lad. Look fer yerself.”
Maggie hurried across to the mirror behind the front desk.
She gasped when she saw her dirt-covered face and less than flattering clothes.
She turned her astonishment on Edna, not entirely certain whether she wanted to laugh or cry.
She was so shocked she couldn’t speak. This was most definitely not what she wanted to look like, not to see Dylan again. “Auntie, I don’t know … ”
“Don’t worry, dear, I’ve cast a spell that will cause those who see ye to believe ye are a lad and a stranger to them.” Edna made a few small adjustments to Maggie’s new look and then stood back to admire her work.
Maggie turned back to the mirror. She was wearing brown trewes and a saffron liene.
Over the shirt and pants was a voluminous brown cape, the hood of which, along with a cap hid her lustrous red locks.
“If I didn’t know it was me I was looking at, I’d wonder who this lad was,” Maggie giggled, finally coming to terms with her new look. “’Tis a fine costume.”
“I’ve equipped ye with the very best sword, knives and bow. I feel confident ye’ll know how to use them, should the need arise. Yer uncle will look after ye and protect ye to the best of his ability. There will be some things, though, that he’ll not be able to defend against.”
“Ye mean the witch, Brielle,” Maggie stated.
“Aye. Brielle.” Edna seemed especially sober as she repeated the witch’s name, which gave Maggie a distinctly uneasy feeling.
The sound of horses’ hooves approaching and coming to a halt in front of the inn caught their attention.
“Shall we?” Edna escorted Maggie outside where Angus sat astride an enormous bay horse with a black mane and tail. Alongside him stood a petite blue roan mare, perfectly sized for Maggie to ride.
“Look at ye lass. I mean lad,” Angus chuckled. “I hardly recognize ye.”
Maggie rolled her eyes at Angus and followed the uncharacteristic reaction with a bright smile, to let him know she wasn’t offended by his comment. “Goodbye, Auntie,” Maggie said, turning to Edna.
Edna gathered Maggie in her arms and hugged her tightly. “All will be well, Maggie. Dinnae fear. I love ye.”
“And I love ye,” Maggie responded, kissing Edna’s cheek.
“Do ye need help mounting yer horse, Alec?” Angus questioned. It was obvious he was having far too much fun teasing her and Maggie wondered how long it would continue before he tired of the game.
“Nae, Uncle. I can do it meself. How would it look if ye had to assist me every time I needed to do some manly thing?” Maggie questioned, with a touch of sarcasm.
She turned to Edna, gave her aunt one last big hug and another kiss goodbye and then mounted her horse.
She glanced towards Angus with a ‘see-I-told-you-I-didn’t-need-any-help’ look of triumph on her face. “What’s her name?” Maggie asked.
“Blue, of course,” Angus responded, as he effortlessly dismounted and wrapped Edna in a warm embrace. “I love ye, my sweet,” he said as he kissed her forehead. “We’ve nae been apart since we first met. ’Twill nae be an easy thing to do—leaving ye here.”
“I ken it, my love. Come back to me safely. Protect each other and if ye need me, I am here.” Tears formed in both Edna’s and Angus’ eyes and Maggie herself choked up as she watched.
Angus bent low and lifting Edna’s chin with his fingertips, placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
It seemed neither of them wanted it to end.
Maggie couldn’t help but think of Dylan and hoped she’d found a love like the one her aunt and uncle shared.
She’d know soon enough and the anticipation of seeing Dylan had her anxious to get started.
Angus reluctantly let go of Edna and remounted his horse.
“Shall we go, Archie?” he said to his equine companion.
They both turned their horses and headed away from the village and towards the bridge that would take them back to the year 1514—and a less than certain outcome to the confrontation they were heading towards.
***
Approaching the bridge, Angus and Maggie noticed a thick, swirling fog bank which had descended over the bridge, leaving it barely visible to them.
“I believe we’re to go through the fog,” Angus stated. He nodded to Maggie and she nudged her horse, forward into the grey abyss. “Hold onto me hand, Maggie, and don’t let go until we reach the other side.”
Maggie inched Blue closer to Angus and held out her hand, which Angus grasped.
They slowly made their way into the fog, unable to see even each other.
Maggie could feel her horse shaking and quivering with fear beneath her.
She laid a comforting hand along Blue’s neck.
Bright lights flashed around them as they moved further into the mass of grey.
And then, in a flash, it was completely gone and they were being greeted by a handsome, dark-haired man astride a horse that looked very much like the one Angus rode.
“Ye must be Angus. Welcome! I be Ewan, yer son-in-law, sir.” Ewan extended his arm towards Angus.
“Thank ye for awaiting our arrival,” Angus said. “I’m verra happy to finally meet ye.” He pulled his horse up alongside Ewan’s and reached out to clasp his hand. “And where is my daughter, Ewan?” Angus asked as he glanced around searching for Lena.
“Lena is back at home with the boys. We’ll all join ye at Breaghacraig once this business with Sir Richard and the witch is taken care of. I’m here to travel with ye to yer campsite for the night.”
Maggie noted the look of disappointment on Angus’ face. He had been looking forward to seeing Lena and his grandsons sooner rather than later.
“When ye return home, tell them that I’m anxious to see them.” Angus sat a little taller in his saddle, obviously putting on a brave face.
Maggie searched her surroundings for any sign that they were actually in a different time period, but nothing about the forested area they stood in gave even a hint of the past, present or future.
She found herself looking forward to seeing the castle with her own eyes and meeting the people she’d heard so much about.
“And who is this lad ye’ve brought with ye?” Ewan questioned with a knowing grin. “I was expecting ye to be travelling with another.”
“This be Alec. He’s along to give me assistance.” Angus winked at Maggie and she nodded in acknowledgement.
“If Edna hadnae told us who ye be,” Ewan stated, “I’d truly take ye to be a lad. Maggie, isn’t it?”
“Aye. Maggie it was, but from now on I’m Alec.” Maggie experimented with deepening her voice to complete her disguise. The two men chuckled at her awkward attempt.
“Well, Alec and Angus, shall we get started? I will camp with ye tonight and I’ll see ye on yer way in the morn, before I head back home.” Ewan turned his horse to lead them away from the bridge.
“Camp?” Maggie repeated. She’d never been camping before. This was truly going to be an adventure.
‘Aye. We’ll nae want to travel in the dark, so ye’ll have nae choice. We’ll make it quite far before the sun sets,” Ewan explained.
“Alright. We should get going then.” Maggie took one last look back at the bridge they had crossed only moments before, and taking a deep breath, nudged Blue into a trot beside her uncle and Ewan.