Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

T he next morning, Mae woke up, her eyes gradually adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the window. For a moment, she clung to the hope that her time travel experience had been nothing more than a vivid dream. However, a cursory look around showed that she was indeed still in the confines of her room in the castle.

Throwing off the covers, Mae swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet resting on the woven rushes of the mat that sat upon the stone floor by her bed. The remnants of dreams still clung to her mind, mingling with the reality of her extraordinary circumstances.

Gazing out the window, Mae's eyes fixated on the breathtaking vista before her. The lake stretched out like a shimmering mirror, reflecting the sky's hues of blue and gray. Drawing herself away from the mesmerizing view, Mae realized she needed to figure out how to do things in this time and place. It wasn't like she could just turn on a faucet and water came out so she could shower. The bath the night before had to have taken a lot of preparation just to have it, which meant she probably wasn't going to have one every night. So, what to do then? She noticed in the corner of the room was a large urn like pitcher and a bowl seated in its own wooden fixture. Hanging on the side was a small cloth and on the bottom shelf sat a pot.

Walking over to it, she recalled seeing something like it in one of those period dramas. Hefting the pitcher, Mae poured water into the large, ceramic, decorative bowl. She splashed the cool water against her face, blinking, she noticed a small bar of the same soap she'd used in the bath the night before in a small dish on the wooden base next to the bowl. She scrubbed her face and then splashed some more water on to rinse it off. She used the small cloth to pat her face dry.

As she finished washing her face, Mae turned to the wardrobe where Sally had hung the clothing that she'd brought her the day before. She'd said she'd come by to help her, but Mae was determined to figure things out.

As a soft knock reverberated through the room, and Mae's heart skipped a beat. She recalled dreaming about the handsome Scotsman who'd rescued her, Niall. She half wondered if maybe he'd come to check on her. With a quick glance down at her practically see-through nightshift, she hastily wrapped a blanket around herself as she approached the door.

With a touch of anticipation, Mae turned the doorknob, revealing Jen standing on the other side. "Good morning," she offered.

Jen smiled. "Good morning to you too, may I come in?"

Mae opened the door wider. "Of course, sorry."

"I thought you might need some help with the dress," Jen remarked, her smile widening.

Mae laughed. "I was just getting ready to try it on my own. Sally mentioned she'd come and help, but I didn't want to wait."

"There are several layers, but you'll get it pretty quickly, I think. This is the chemise, or shift, pretty similar to what you wore to bed." She handed Mae the first layer.

"No bra?"

"Corset, it comes next, but don't worry, it's not tight like they wear in later centuries. You'll be able to move and breath fine." Jen laughed.

Mae switched out the shifts and then put on the corset and was surprised to find that it wasn't too bad. "What's next?"

"This is the first outer layer; it goes on almost like a long jacket."

Once Mae had put on that layer, Jen handed her a pair of wool stockings, an underskirt, and then a plaid skirt to put on. "God, all these layers? Can't I go back to my jeans?"

"All that's left is the plaid. It can be worn in a lot of different ways, but generally when it's fairly nice we just drape it about our shoulders and pin it with a brooch, making it like a cloak."

"Do I have to wear it?" Mae asked, eyeing it.

"It's actually good to have it with you, it gets drafty in the castle and if you're outside and wind kicks up, you'll easily get cold."

Mae nodded and settled the fabric around her shoulders and Jen added the brooch to hold it in place. "Okay, how do I look?"

"Come see for yourself." Jen grinned as she dragged her over to the full mirror next to the wardrobe.

Gazing at her reflection, Mae marveled at the transformation that had taken place. The traditional Scottish dress made her look almost as though she was actually from Scotland with her green eyes and auburn hair. "How do I wear my hair? Do I just leave it down?"

"I'll braid it for you." Jen grabbed a brush and ran it through Mae's hair. Within a couple minutes she had a thick plait that fell over her shoulder and fell just past her breasts. "Now you really look the part."

Mae marveled at her transformation. She smiled. "Thanks. Do I just wear my own boots?"

"For now, they'll be fine. Good thing you weren't wearing sneakers, those wouldn't have fit in here." Jen laughed. "Come on, get your shoes and we'll go on a tour and have some breakfast."

"Sounds like a good plan." Mae did as Jen asked and slipped on her black boots which laced up and had a slight heel to them.

Walking side by side, Mae said, "You know I half thought I'd wake up back home in my apartment. Figured all of this was just some really vivid dream. I was kind of surprised to find myself still here."

Jen laughed. "Yeah, I did the same after that first night, probably for a few nights after getting here. It's really surreal being here, but you get used to it. It's actually almost relaxing. Like a lot of the things that stressed me out back home without realizing it, I just don't feel that here."

As they descended the stone staircase, the tantalizing scents of freshly baked bread, sizzling bacon, and brewing coffee intermingled, making Mae's stomach rumble and her mouth water.

"Oh, that smells so good."

"I'll show you the kitchens and then we can go to the dining hall and eat." Jen led her into the rooms on the left of the grand hallway.

Mae stepped into the bustling kitchens, her senses instantly overwhelmed by the sights, sounds, and smells that enveloped her. The room was a hive of activity, alive with the crackling blaze of the hearth and the enticing aroma of herbs and spices that hung in the air. Following Jennifer's lead, Mae found herself at the center of attention as she was introduced to the busy kitchen staff.

"Good morning everyone, I wanted to introduce you to our esteemed guest, Miss Mae Welles," Jennifer said, her voice warm and pleasant, "she will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. Please, treat her with the same kindness and hospitality that you have shown me."

The kitchen staff each welcomed her with a smile and a polite, "Good morning, Miss," before returning to their work.

"Welcome, Miss Mae, I'm Mira. If you be needing any sustenance through the day, you just come and see me."

"Mira is also very good at making poultices and seeing to any injuries we might end up with," Jen added.

"I'd best get back to work. This food willnae make it to the dining hall in time if'n I donnae." Mira grinned and went back to work.

Mae was fascinated by how well they all worked together. And there was so much food being made. "It looks like you're about to feed an army," she murmured.

Jen laughed. "We kind of are. There's about a hundred or so people who live here or at least live nearby and work here. Our staff feeds whoever happens to be here for the meal, so we always have plenty. At least, we do now." Her voice faltered for a moment and then she shook her head and smiled. "Nevermind about that, let's go to the dining hall. The staff will be bringing everything to the tables for us."

Mae followed Jen across the halls to the largest dining room she'd ever encountered. There were long wooden tables everywhere, a huge hearth spanned the center part of one wall, and toward the far side of the room was a raised area with more long tables. Jen led her to those and a moment later the staff scurried in setting dishes, platters and bowls on the tables.

Jen picked up her bowl and ladled a scoop of what looked like oatmeal into it. "Mira makes the best porridge, I recommend adding just a little bit of honey to sweeten it, but you're going to love it."

Mae followed her example and filled a bowl, then also added eggs, bacon, and homemade bread and jam to a plate. She sat down next to Jen and a moment later, one of the staff set a cup full of coffee next to her plate.

"It's strong, so don't expect to taste Starbucks coffee." Jen picked up her spoon and dipped it into her porridge.

"I've always preferred it strong and black anyway." Mae lifted the cup and took a whiff of the coffee, it smelled good. She took a sip and let the flavor coat her tongue. Jen wasn't wrong. It was strong, but after a moment the flavor settled, and the aftertaste was good. She smiled. "I like it."

"Try the porridge."

Mae took her first spoonful of porridge, savoring the creamy texture and the gentle sweetness of the honey that lingered on her tongue. "Oh, wow, this is great."

As she enjoyed her breakfast, Mae looked around at the activity in the room. She watched as groups of guardsmen came in and settled at tables, loudly partaking of the food that was on offer. Cam and a few others joined her and Jen at what Jen called the high table. It was almost a festive atmosphere. She finished her porridge and turned to her eggs and bacon, devouring them like a starving lion. The food here was so full of flavor, she almost couldn't get enough. The bread too was the most flavorful she'd ever had.

As she sat looking over the room, Mae's eyes landed upon a familiar figure sitting by himself at a table, not joining in with the others. She found it a bit odd and wondered if he'd like some company. She turned to Jen who was watching her with a smile. "Um, would you mind if I went over and sat with Niall for a bit?"

Jen's smile widened to a full grin. "Not at all, I think he'd welcome your company." She winked.

Picking up a bowl and filling it with more of the delicious porridge, and a couple slices of the homemade bread, because she couldn't get enough of it, she carried her bowl and plate over toward his table. He noticed her before she made it all the way there and his eyes lit up as he smiled.

"Good morrow, lass," Niall greeted her, his voice as warm and inviting. "How did you rest?"

Mae's heart skipped a beat at the lilt in his voice. Something about it set her insides quivering and she smiled. "I slept pretty well, considering I've traveled nearly five hundred years into the past." She laughed.

He laughed in response. "I cannae even imagine doing such a thing, lass. You are a brave woman, you are."

Mae shook her head. "I don't think bravery had much to do with it. I was just trying to get away from someone and the next thing I know, I'm in a cab, I fell asleep, and woke up here."

"Still yer handling it better than I probably would've," he replied with a wink.

"Thank you." Mae felt her cheeks heat at the look in his eyes.

Niall leaned forward; his eyes fixed on Mae. "Tell me, lass," he began, "what is yer background? I know you said you were some kind of doctor, but what did you do afore you found yerself here in the Highlands?"

"Yes, a psychiatrist," she said. What I mean by that is I'm a therapist. But I suppose you don't know what that is either, do you?"

Niall's brows furrowed slightly, and he looked uncertain. "Cannae say that I do."

Mae smiled. "A therapist is a professional person who helps other people work out their problems or troubles with their life and guides them to a better path in life. That's a simplistic answer, but that is what I was hoping to do. I had just finished my schooling and I was getting ready to set up a business to start helping people."

"So you help people?" Niall smiled, but there was still something in his gaze that she was unsure of.

"Yes. That's what I want… or wanted to do." She sighed.

"And you said you were trying to get away from someone? What happened, if'n you donnae mind me askin', lass?"

Taking a deep breath, Mae explained what she could without talking about her conning Billy. "There was a man I was involved with. He wasn't a good man; I had thought I'd gotten away from him. I'd moved homes you see. But he found me, and he attempted to break into my home while I was there. So I packed a bag and went out the fire escape—" she paused, realizing he wouldn't know what that was, "that's a staircase that goes out a window and down the side of the building."

Niall nodded, but looked almost angry on her behalf.

"Anyway, just as I landed below, I heard him break through my door, so I ran and found a cab… a vehicle?" She shook her head, not worrying about the details, maybe Jen had explained about cars and such, she didn't know. "And I told the driver, who had a Scottish accent, to get me out of town and the next thing I knew, I was waking up here, in a field not far from this castle."

"If that scoundrel were here, I would give him a proper teachin'," Niall stated firmly, his voice tinged with anger. His protective nature shone through, a stark contrast to the menacing presence of Mae's past.

Mae appreciated his unwavering support and the sense of security he exuded. It was a stark contrast to the world she had left behind. She promised herself she'd keep this new connection between them safe, and far from the misdeeds of her past. "Thank you."

Niall patted her hand and took a bite of his bread. He looked thoughtful for a moment and then his eyes lit up. "Aye, so Dub Sith brought you to us as he did our Lady Jen," he said. "It had to be he who brought you, tis the only explanation that makes sense."

Niall's charming smile and flirtatious banter caused her heart to flutter, yet she couldn't help but wonder about the mention of this Dub Sith again. Was he really a fae who had somehow brought her to this time and place? Before she could inquire further, a commotion erupted in the distance, catching their attention.

A man, visibly intoxicated, stumbled into a nearby table, causing it to wobble precariously. Niall's face contorted in annoyance as he stared at the man. Mae looked over at him, he seemed young, maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. He had the golden curly locks of Adonis and bright blue eyes, but the words coming out of his mouth were nasty.

"Who is that?" she murmured, trying not to draw the man's attention.

"Brian Campbell. The Laird's youngest brother."

"So Cam's brother? Oh wait, no, you said Campbell… Is Cam not the Laird? Isn't that what the leaders are called here?" She seemed to recall that from watching various historical shows back home.

Niall winced and then looked around. "Nae, Cam is the Chief of our clan, but we MacDonalds nae longer own our land. It twas given to the Campbells. That's why that wee brat is here. To report on us to the Laird. He's got himself a bit o' book learning and thinks he's a know-it-all, but he has no common sense, that one."

Just as Mae was about to delve deeper into the conversation with Niall, a voice called out to him from the doorway to the Great Hall. He turned toward the source, his expression a mixture of regret and obligation. With a dashing smile and a farewell that stirred something within Mae, he bid her goodbye and walked away, leaving her to process their brief encounter.

Mae sat there for a moment, her heart fluttering with excitement and longing. The memory of Niall's charm lingered in the air, and she couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull toward him. Yet, with his departure, reality settled back in, and she redirected her attention to drinking her coffee.

When she finished, Mae wandered out fo the castle and surveyed the courtyard. In one corner, a group of men huddled together, deftly tying intricate knots in fishing nets, their hands moving with practiced precision. She walked around the side of the castle and noticed toward the back, off what had to be the kitchens, scullery maids plucked fresh herbs from the garden. She continued around the building, seeing an iron gate that had a path which led down the hill, in the direction of the lake, but she didn't follow it. Instead, she returned to the front of the courtyard to watch the activities. It was all so strange to her.

The sights and sounds that enveloped her were captivating, vivid and alive. But there was a part of Mae that couldn't fully reconcile the notion of being transported through time. It seemed too fantastical, too surreal to be true. As she watched the courtyard come alive with purposeful motion, she couldn't help but question whether this was all a figment of her imagination or an extraordinary twist of fate.

Time became a blur for Mae as she found herself immersed in the enchanting world of seventeenth century Scotland. Over the next several days, every time Mae opened her eyes, her heart would briefly cling to the hope that she would find herself back in the comfort of the twenty-first century. But as reality settled in, the stone walls of her bedchamber and the echoes of the castle corridors reminded her that she had been transported to a different era.

During those first few days, it seemed as if they had begun to blend together, Mae's interactions with the castle's inhabitants provided moments of solace and companionship. She turned to Jen for advice, and found comfort in their shared experiences. Yet, it was Niall who occupied most of Mae's thoughts. The sound of his voice, rich with the lilt of Scottish dialect, grounded her and made her feel more at home than she ever had felt in the twenty-first century.

Their encounters had now become the highlight of Mae's days, the moments she eagerly anticipated. Each interaction with Niall brought a warmth to her cheeks and a flutter in her chest. They were developing an easy friendship and perhaps the beginnings of something more. At least she hoped that was the case.

Niall's genuine interest in her well-being and his unwavering belief that Dub Sith bringing her to this time and place were a blessing, made her feel accepted in a way she'd never felt before.

"Tell me more about this Dub Sith, who is he?" Mae asked.

She and Niall were walking outside of the castle grounds, down among the small village at the bottom of the hill. Nobody paid them much mind, just went about their various tasks as she and Naill strolled among them.

"Ah, now there be a tale, lass. Twas in 1598 prior to the battle of Trai-Gruinard here in Islay that Dub Sith first appeared. Tis said he first offered his services to Sir Lachlan Mor MacLean, who was a superstitious man, but MacLean refused Dub Sith. Now Dub Sith, is not a normal man, not like I am or any of my brothers. As I told you before, he is fae. A magical being; a black elf of the fae. In refusing his help, MacLean became an enemy to Dub Sith."

"A black elf?" she questioned, wondering if that meant he was evil, or if it was just that his skin was dark. She wasn't sure and didn't want to offend anyone, so she waited for Niall to tell her what that meant.

"Aye, one o' the fae who prefers the shadows and darkness because they can blend into it. Days such as this, with the sun shining, they tend to stick to shadows if they make an appearance at all."

Mae was fascinated. "So they use the darkness for camouflage, that's why they are called black elves?"

Niall's eyebrow quirked and he looked at her with confusion. "Explain camouflage, lass?"

"Oh… like a disguise, it hides them. In my time, camouflage is the word we use for that. Our soldiers often use camo, which is short for camouflage, to blend into the scenery and hide from our enemies."

"Aye that is a good strategy," Niall replied looking thoughtful.

Mae smiled. "So how did that guy refusing Dub Sith, lead to him bringing me here?" She figured there had to be some sort of connection.

"Aye, good question, lass. At some point during the battle, Dub Sith approached my ancestor, Sir James Macdonald and offered him his services, since MacLean refused him. Sir James agreed to his help. Once the battle was finished, Dub Sith said he would bless Sir James and his family. We believe he's doing that by bringing you ladies here."

Mae wasn't sure exactly how it was a blessing for them that she was brought to the seventeenth century, but she liked the thought that someone might think of her as a blessing. "Well, that's an interesting theory, though I'm not sure how I am a blessing to anyone."

Niall reached for her hand and smiled. "Knowing you is a blessing indeed, lass."

Mae felt her cheeks warm. "Thanks, I don't think I've ever had anyone think anything like that about me. It's kind of nice."

She found that she really was starting to like Niall and loved when he flirted with her, but he never crossed any lines, nor did he make any moves on her. It was a little disconcerting because she didn't know if he actually liked her or if he was just being nice.