From a Knight to a Laird Chapter 1 The Standing Stones
I woke to a fine mist of rain on my face. "Scotland then." I drowsily think. I open my eyes and see the Standing Stones of Craig Nu Dun. I try to wake up and check on the others. I hear Merlin doing the same.
I see Claire stirring so head to Jamie. He sits up with a groan and I head over to Tianna and Paul. I know, that they will be the hardest to wake being the newest travelers. But, we must get off this hill and down where our friend is meeting us. I get them to their feet and lead them over to where a wobbly Jamie and Claire stand.
"We need to get down their. To the Standing Stones Resturant and Pub. It is where our friend is meeting us." I point down to the old fashioned wooden building. I hear a gasp from Jamie and Claire.
"Aye, tis the place I first laid eyes on ye. Wearing a lot less then ye are now."
The shed. The men. The fear and excitement of running from the English. The pain, the incredible pain. And then I see her. A Sassanech who wears naught but her dirty shift. Her hair a tangle of curles. Her manner, brisk and commanding. The way she pushes through my clansmen to get to me. The way she takes charge. No ordinary lass. And then she meets my eyes and laid her hands on me. She made the pain stop and not just from my shoulder.
"I ken'd from that moment. There would ne' be anyone else for me. Ye were the one."
"All sweet and romantic. Truly. And I want to hear the story. But now, we must be on our way down." Merlin says. I wrap my arm around Claire and guide her down. Paul does the same with Tianna. We are soon entering the Standing Stones. Merlin leads us to a back table and bids us to sit.
"I will go grap a bite and order drinks."
A dirty shed no longer. It is now a thriving resturant. I look around, awed by the differences from the same in my time. A telephone sits on the counter. The people around us are dressed like I have never seen. The music playing, with no visible radio or band, is very different. Merlin returns with a waitress. Her skirt ends at her knees and her legs are bare. She smiles at us and sits a tray with tea service for five on it. Merlin tosses us small bags of crisps. I have never seen them packaged so nor saw the flavor of salt and vinager. I frown up at Merlin.
"Just try them. I have real food ordered. It is on the way." I pull the bag open and the others follow my lead. I recall I am the leader here. It isn't my time but a lot closer then it is to Jamie's and worlds away from Tianna's and Paul's. I gingerly try one. It has a sharp but, not unpleasant taste. The others follow my lead. Poor Tianna pulls a face like she is sucking a lemon and I see Paul has fallen back to sleep.
"I have to make a phone call. I will be right back." Merlin says.
I eat the strange food, following my wife's lead as I try to wake Paul. He grumbles a few times and then resumes snoring. I ken how he feels. I feel I could sleep a week or so myself.
"Does it get easier?" I ask Merlin when he returns.
"A bit. But, I also don't feel completely right until I have had a good sleep. Our guest will be arriving in an hour or so and here comes dinner."
Real food! Haggis and weel as some other things.. My mouth immediately starts to water.
"Haggis, neep and tatties. A good filling meal to help you recover."
"Thank ye Merlin." We all start to eat. I ask Merlin how long he will be with us, in this time. Paul wakes at the smell of the food. He looks at it and frowns.
"It is good. Eat it." His wife instructs. He does.and is soon digging in too. We finish the tea.
"A few weeks. I will make sure you are settled." He raises to get more tee.
"Sorry, not yet. You are still recovering." I make a face at that and they all laugh. In the midst of the laughter, Tianna looks up and gasps.
"Father!" She calls out. She jumps up and runs to him.