Alone in the world

[magiciansfire]

Kallie sat on the bed and looked around her,her eyes glistening with tears. She let her hand rest on the suitcase packed beside her on the bed. Her long red hair was pulled back into a tight braid,her small 5 foot body covered in a pair of jeans and a button up cowboy shirt. Her green eyes moving around the room as if to take mental images of her room.

She slowly sttod and as she neared the door took one last look back behind her. She wiped her eyes and drew her shoulders back as she slipped out of the room and closed the door quietly behind her. She walked down the long hallway and out the front door moving quickly to the awaiting taxi before she changed her mind.

Sitting in the back of the taxi she closed her eyes re-thinking over the last few days. Her grandmother who had raised her since she was 2 had passed awy form cancer and now she was alone with no family left that she knew of. She didnt know her grandmother had lost the house to forecloure and now she had to leave the only haven she knew. She told the driver to take her to the closest motel or hotel he could find. She had to get a room for the night before she could find another form of life.

She was 19 and had no real job training yet,her granny had put her through college for history but now that seemed like a lost cause. She looked up at the seedy otel the driver had stopped in front of and as she paid he gave her a leer that made her skin crawl. Kallie quickly paid and moved away from him and the cab. She walked into the motel office and paid for a tiny room until the end of the month. The few dollars she had saved fading fast. She glanced at the job ad she had found that morning in the paper for a assistant at the local museum. She hoped 2 years of college was good enough. She slid under the covers and let exhaustion pull her down.

*****************

The next morning kallie dressed in her sunday best which was a bit tight on her since she didnt have money to buy new clothes. She took a taxi,a different driver thank heavens, to the museum. She walked into the entrance and went to the front desk. She told the secretary she was here to place her application for the job.

((what I am thinking for this one is she gets hired and the job isnt as tame as she thinks...she is tagging items one night when she opens a crate and the next thing she knows is she is in Scotland,back in the days of lords and such.))

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie got the job and started the next evening,she was excited because she would be dating items from early scotland and such.She showed up for work excited and nervous,wanting to do a good job.She slipped her jacket off and rolled up her sleeves bfore reaching for the pen and paper.Most of the items were simple things like stone carvings and tapestries. One item caught her attention though.

It looked like some type of small hand held mirror,the handle done in silver and the glass itself seemed to ripple like waves as she held it. She peered deep into the glass and watched as hazy images appeared. Faintly at first then more pronounced. She reached a hand to her forehead and felt dizzy the longer she stared into it. She couldnt put it down and finally she felt her eyes roll back into her head as the floor rushed to meet her. her last thoughts were of the scene she would make when the curator returned later on,little did she know she would not be there let alone in this time period.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas couldn't believe the luck this stag had shown. He knew one of his arrows bit well enough to remain in the deer, but it obviously did nothing to slow it down. He was on the verge of giving up on it when he caught sight of it near a small stream.

'This time, I'll get it right,' he thought to himself. He prepared another arrow and crept closer to his quarry. He could see the arrow sticking out of the stag's shoulder, but it was not deep enough to do any serious damage.

He drew the arrow back, sighting the stag's neck. As his fingers left the bowstring, there was a loud crash in the undergrowth near the stag, and it bolted before the arrow could strike it.

Swearing under his breath at his ill fortune, Douglas went to see what had caused the loud noise that made the stag take flight. He arrived to find the body of a woman, garbed in a manner that was totally different to anything he had seen before. He looked at her skin, and her hair. She could pass as one of the locals if she was dressed properly. But what she wore, and her trinkets too, marked her as some lady of standing surely.

He wondered if she still lived, when she moaned and started to stir. Douglas jumped back, reaching for his sword out of reflex more than any real need. He stood ready. For what he didn't know. But he would be ready for it when it arrived.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie groaned and slowly opened her eyes,sitting up she pushed her hair from her face. Her eyes went wide when she looked around her,she definately wasnt back home. She turned slowly and let out a small cry when she spied the large man next to her. She scooted on her bottom backwards,her eyes wide with fright.

"Where the hell am I?"She managed to say as she tripped trying to stand up. She swayed slightly as her head refused to co=operate with her body. She groaned lightly and closed her eyes briefly.

She raised her eyes to the man next to her and was amazed at his size,she had not seen a man this big in a long time. Most men she knew were small and wimps. His body was sleek and muscular and his eyes letp a constant boring into her own. She felt her self blush and looked away trying to figure out where to go.

"Umm..ok..Sorry to barge in on you. I think Ill find a cab and head home."She looked aorund the grassy land around her. "Umm..could you show me where your town is and a phone?"She said softly looking back at him as she walked awayslowly.

 

[marauder13]

Where the Noblewoman's eyes open and she saw him, she immediately retreated from him in mild fright. He was not too offended by such actions, as awakening to an unknown face would be a source of fright. When she spoke, he quickly crossed himself at the mention of 'hell'. Now it was his turn to look scared. Was this Noblewoman a witch?

She stood, and spoke of things that he had no knowledge of. Cab? Phone? The woman spoke the southerner's tongue, which he knew. It was still a slight source of shame to him that he had been rewarded by the King of the low lands by being made a Knight in his service. As long as he remained away from his clan most of the time, he was fine. But still, some of the words she used were unknown to him.

"My clan's home is to far to travel to now, M'Lady. But I can get you to a safe place to spend the night. In the morrow, I can take you to my clan, and they should be able to help you.

"Come, this way. We should be able to get there before darkness falls."

 

[magiciansfire]

Kalie stared at him and the to her surroundings,it was growing darker as they stood there. She kept her distance and nodded. She followed behind him,her steps had to double to match his every one. She watched around them as they walked, her brain told her it was not possible to be here and now. Yet just looking around her she knew she was nowhere close to her own home or time.

"Could you tell me where I am?"She called out to him slightly out of breath as they continued deeper into the forest. Her body letting her know she was slightly out of shape.

She almost rammed into his brod back as he suddenly stopped. She reached out a small hand to avoid colliding with him. She touched solid muscle and noticed the bicep band. Her eyes widen at its markings. She had not seen old scottish marking like this since she had read them in a history book. She couldnt help herself and reached to touch it gently.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas knew that many of the high born were not used to walking outdoors, and would travel either on horseback or by carriage. So he made sure he didn't get too far ahead of her.

He turned his head to better let his voice carry to the Noblewoman. "We're in the lowlands, near what the Southerner's call the Border Marches. How is it that you came to be there, M'Lady? You would seem to be far from your retinue, far enough away that there is no sight or sound of a search party yet."

He heard a faint noise ahead of him and stopped so he could better hear it. The noblewoman walked into his back, but he ignored her as he focused on the sound ahead.

Slowly wandering onto the path was the stag! Without thought, he readied his bow and sent a shaft flying towards it. The arrow took the stag in the neck with a killing shot. It took off down the path, Douglas running after it.

"Wait here, M'Lady," his voice echoed as he disappeared from view.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie looked up at his words. "I have no search party,I am alone."She said and stared as he took off after the stag. She looked around her and the sounds of the woods creeped over her. She jerked one way as the sounds of walking met her ears.

She couldnt see anything and the sounds seemed to fade. She wasnt actually afraid of the woods,she was just disoriented from everything that had occured. She waited for him and after several minutes moved forwards along the route he had gone.

She realised her mistake several minutes later when the woods chased away all the light and darkness seemed to envelope even the smallest of nooks. She turned and all sense of direction was gone. "hello?"she called out softly.

She moved ahead trying to see in front of her as darknees seemed blacker than she ever recalled. She stumbled and hit her knees on a root protruding from the ground. She felt the tears sting the back of her eyes as she tried to keep calm. She kicked herself for not listening to him. She heard footsteps and turned quickly thinking it was him.

She stepped backwards when the man before her was not the man who had helped her earlier.
She let out a cry and turned to run.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas found the stag after a few minutes, the arrow wound bleeding it out quickly. He set to work cleaning the carcass to bring it home. He would have plenty of meat to last him for a week at least.

He heard the noblewoman cry in fear, and he took to his feet quickly, heading back to where he had left her.

-------

Malcolm had been alone to many years since his last woman took ill and never saw through the winter. Here was another, clean, healthy and best of all, alone.

She turned and tried to run, but he grabbed her arms pulling her close to him.

"Scream as much as you want, little lady. No one else is around to save you, except me." He kept one of her arms in a strong grip while he dragged her back down the path away from Douglas.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie yanked trying to free her arms from his brutal grasp. She reared back and landed a well placed blow to his knee like her brothers had taught her to do. His grunt fueled her on and she swung her legs out once more. this time he countered her aimed kick and took them both down in a tangle of limbs.

"Stop!"She cried out as her attacker yanked her up by her hair. Her cries roughly cut off as his lips crushed against hers. She wasnt as weak as she looked. She pulled her knee up and slammed dead center into his groin.

She stumbled as he let loose of her his growled curses met her ears as she turned to flee. She ran several feet before slamming into a solid body in front of her. She landed backwards on her butt and scooted across the ground. She didnt take time to look up at him all she knew was she had to get away.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas heard the sound of fighting, and wondered who else was there aiding the Noblewoman. Then the thought entered his mind that it may be brigands fighting over the spoils.

His thought were stopped when she ran into him, trying to avoid whoever was attacking her. He saw an unknown figure lurching towards them, calling out all forms of threats as to what he would subject the Lady to when he caught her. Douglas dropped his bow, drew his sword and rammed it through the man's chest.

With a cry of surprise that trailed off into a gurgle, the Lady's attacker fell to the ground, dead.

"M'Lady?" Douglas called out, looking around her here in the increasing darkness. "M'Lady, he has been dispatched. You're safe." He walked slowly in the direction where he heard her shuffling.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie finally let her emotions win after he whirlwind day. She shook and huddled in the bushes as she watched. The sword rammmming through the others chest and emerging on the other side made her head reel. The sound of the lifeless body hitting the ground would be a sound she never forgot. Douglas' voice seemed so far away as he called out to her.

Kallie shrunk away from him as he found her amidst the bushes,her eyes wide and her face bruised and scratched. She had the look of a shell shocked soldier. She blinked and in a fit of energy tried to scramble away her mind still thinking he was the other one. Her mutted cries erupted from her throat.

 

[MitsukuniNaito]

((May I join))

 

[marauder13]

Douglas cleaned and sheathed his sword. he heard the woman's cries, and the sounds of her trying to move. Not knowing whether there were more men out there, Douglas moved quickly. He grabbed his bow, unstrung it as he walked to where she was.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. "M'Lady, we must go now, before any other brigands arrive. I have a place where you'll be safe." His eyes had adjusted to the lengthening dark, and he saw the track clearly enough to move down it swiftly.

They soon came across the stag, where he paused long enough to shoulder it. He turned and made sure that the woman was following him still. "Stay close, M'Lady. You would not fare well in the forest through the night garbed as you are."

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie followed close behind him,her body wanting to stop and just lie down,but she kept going. Her eyes wide and looking around her as they moved into the woods. She stopped when he stopped and hefted the stag carcass over his shoulder. She reached out and touched his back as they began to walk once more,touching him makin gher a bit more comforted and safe.

She stumbled once and let loose a string of curses then blushed when he looked over his shoulder at her. "Sorry,I dont usually cuss like that."She said and then sighed when he gave her a look telling her he didnt understand what she meant.

As they walked her feet and legs began to tire and ache,her top riped in several places from being grabbed. She hugged herself tight around the waist with her free hand,her other clutched at his tunic back.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas reminded himself that the Lady was not used to walking such distances, and he had to slow down for her. It was getting late, and colder, and they both needed to get indoors soon. Her stumble almost tipped him off balance, and his look at her was more a function of that than of her profanities.

Finally, they emerged from the woods, and his house was in view. He quickened his pace, as the moon light was strong enough to see by. He got to the door, opening it for the Lady to enter first. Once shewas in, he quickly followed, and closed the door.

He dropped the stag near the door, and went to the hearth and rekindled the flame. After that, he lit a few candles around the room. His entire home was just one room. A sleeping pallet was in the corner furthest form the door. There was an area that looked like food was prepared, and seemed to have several jars, and other cooking implements.

Douglas picked up the carcass, and carried it over to the 'kitchen' area, and proceeded to roughly butcher the animal.

"Would you be needing any food or drink, M'Lady?" He turned to look at her. Her clothes were torn and dirty, and the lady's expression was one of shock. "Forgive my bad manners, I am Sir Douglas, Knight of the Realm, in the service of the Lord of the Border Marches. Much to my Clan's displeasure. Which Duke's court do you belong to, M'Lady?"

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie stood in the center of the large room and hugged herself,she watched as he moved around her. She watched as he stoked the fire and place the stag on a table.

"My name is Kallie,I..I serve noone. I am from Boston,last thing I remember I was on my first day at the museum."She said and the tears began to fall down her cheeks. She wiped at the leaving a dirty streak across her cheek.

She tried to understand the things going on around her. She stepped backwards when he moved closer to her. She felt tiny in the large house and an even larger man in front of her.

"I dont even know where here is."She whispered forlornly looking up at him with large eyes.

 

[marauder13]

"I wish we had met under better circumstances, Lady Kallie. I know a lady of station such as yours would not serve, except as a Lady in Waiting perhaps. Boston? Is that town in the south of the isle, My Lady? I have not heard of such a place.

"Ah, so you were a Lady in Waiting then, for the Lord of Museum? Does he hold the lands of Boston in the name of the King, Lady Kallie?"

He looked down at the confused young lady. "You're in the lowlands of the Scots, Lady Kallie. At least three days ride from the Border Marches. Are you sure you're not wanting for food or drink?"

This woman was far from her home, without any retinue. In the morning, he would make ready to travel, and take her to his Lord that he might return her to her family and Liege Lord.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie looked up at him and then sat down on a wooden chair,her mind awhirl. "Food and drink would be nice. Thank you.'she whispered and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Scots? How can that be I was in Boston in the united states less than 4 hours ago."She looked up at him and took a dep breath. "What year am I in?"She asked wondering if he understood what she was asking.

 

[marauder13]

"Right you are, Lady Kallie," Douglas looked around his larder, and returned with a platter containing bread and cheese and a mug of ale. "This will fill your stomach until the venison is cooked enough to eat." He proceeded to put one of the recently removed legs over the fire.

"What is this 'United States' you talk of? I have not heard of such a place. Is it on the continent, Lady Kallie."

When she asked the year, Douglas started getting nervous. He looked at the woman's garb, again seeing how different it was to anything her had ever seen.

"It is the year of the Lord 1355, Lady Kallie."

He heard the sounds of the wind picking up outside. He took a quick look out the door, seeing the first signs of snow falling. He closed and sealed the door against the weather. He walked over and checked the cooking meat, trying to figure out what was happening to him.

 

[magiciansfire]

"It is the year of the Lord 1355, Lady Kallie."

Kallie heard his words and the plate slid from her fingers to thud to the floor. She stood quickly and the chair fell backwards. "No...it cant be. It is 2009...I..no..'She stammered and shook her head.

The room seemed to tip and spin around her,her vision clouded. She looked like a deer caught in headlights. She turned looking for anything to prove it was a cruel joke. She knew deep in her heart he spoke the truth. She felt her knees go weak and the floor rose up to meet her as she sank to the ground.

 

[marauder13]

Douglas heard the plate hit the floor. He turned to see her start to fall to the floor. He dashed over to her, lifting her off the floor. He took her to his bed, laying her down gently.

"Lady Kallie, you must have hurt your head before I found you. Just lay there, M'Lady, I'll get you something to drink." It could not be possible. She said that the year was 2009! That was nonsense talk. He retrieved the mug he was going to hand her and took it to her. He lifted her head, and gave her a sip of the strong tasting brew.

"You just rest. All will be fine." He walked back to the cooking leg of meat, wondering if he believed what he just said.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie sipped the liquid and cclosed her eyes,still trying to digest the information she heard. She shook her head back and forth on the soft skins under her. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"How can this be,I was in my time looking into a hand mirror. It was so unique with a silver dragon for a handle,then I woke up here."She recounted her tale softly.

She took a deep breath and the loud roaring that broke the night air made her jump. She did not realise she had wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into his chest trembling. Her heart raced and the sound echoed around them.

 

[marauder13]

Kallie jumped at the sound from outside. The winds had picked up quickly, it's passage around the house made it sound like a great beast roaring. The young woman was scared. That was easy to see. Even for a simple man like him.

He put his arms around her, holding her in a comforting way. She was soft and warm against his body. Her perfume mixed with the flora that she had scrambled through earlier to form an enticing scent. He had not been with a woman for a few months and with her close like that, he felt himself stirring.

"Excuse me, Lady Kallie, I need to check the meat so it doesn't burn." He dropped his arms to his sides and took a step back towards the fire.

 

[magiciansfire]

Kallie felt alone when he withdrew from her. She watched as he returned to the fire. She slid from the bed and padded quietly over to him,she touched his shoulder slightly.
Is there anything I can do? I dont want to be a burden."She said softly looking behind her to see the vegetables lying on the table.

She moved over to the table and began to slice the vegetables up. She didnt know if he wanted them done or not but she needed to do something. "If I could have some of the broth from the meat I could make a quick soup."She said hoping she didnt seem to forward.

She was trying to keep her mind off the events that brought her to this moment. She watched as she cut the vegetables into cubes and strips. She was surprised when she looked up to find him watching her. She didnt know if he was amused or angry.