This is the fifth chapter of A California Girl in Nottingham’s Court. Lady Jeannie’s story of a time traveling woman from the 21st century. Seems like things are heating up for Guy, Robin and the gang as the sheriff has returned and is hitting them with all he’s got.
Just a reminder. Jeannie’s stories can be found at http://www.wattpad.com/user/JeannieGisborne
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile
This day shall gentle his condition
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.” Speech made by King Henry V at
Agincour Courtesy of Shakespeare
Chapter Five
At the castle gates I could see that many soldiers had pulled back or were dead. Robin was standing on a barrel, facing the men of the villiage. He called out,
“In the name of King Richard, I charge Isabella of Gisborne with high treason and crimes against the people of Nottingham!”
Everyone‘s eyes were on him. He went on to say,
“The castle, and everything in it, belongs to the people!”
There were resounding cheers from the crowd. I was so caught up in the moment that I raised my sword and let out a Marine Corp “Whoha!” No one seemed to notice, so I kept it up as long as everyone continued cheering.
Guy took Isabella to the dungeon, and when he returned, Robin gathered us all around.
Robin began to speak. “We must be on our guard. Prince John will surely hear about this and will send soldiers to try to take back the castle.”
We all agreed and took his warning very seriously.
“We must have around the clock guards posted along the castle walls.” He turned to Much.
“Find out how many able archers we have.”
He directed John, “Get some men to stand guard up on the ramparts. The rest of you, gather all the weapons you can find.”
To me he said, “Aylaina, get some men to help you move the supply train back to the kitchen and get some food together. I think everyone could use a meal.”
“No problemo,” I replied.
“What did you say?” Robin asked with a quizzical glance.
“I said that will not be a problem.” and smiled at him. Shaking his head, he walked off toward Nottingham village.
I recruited some men to help with the food until everybody had been fed.
That night Guy was standing watch along the top of the castle wall. I brought him a tankard of ale, which he seemed very grateful for. Then I sat down on the wall, leaning against a pillar.
“Guy, hast thou gazed at the many stars in the sky?”
“There was a time when I didst quite often. After thou hadst been taken back to Scotland, I couldst not bear bear to gaze upon them without thee.”
Once again, my ‘cousin and I shared a similar trait.
“Didst thou know that God hath hung the stars and knows the count of every one?”
“Yea, for thou hast told me many times.” He was beginning to sound annoyed.
“And He knoweth the count of every hair on our heads!” I continued.
“Aylaina,” Guy said, turning his gaze at me, “Where art thou going with this?”
“Thou shouldst know.” I replied. “Because I’ve spoken with thee about this many times.”
He sat on the wall with me, and putting my legs across his, he leaned against the opposite pillar.
“Please continue with thy soliloquy, Aylaina, for I knowest I canst not stop thee.”
He had a look of amusement on his face now, which gave me the feeling he was not taking me seriously. However, I remained diligent.
“Didst I tell thee the story of King David?”
“Yes, Aylaina.” Guy spoke in a deep quiet voice.
“He didst send one of his soldiers to the front line of battle that he may be killed, for David wanted the man’s wife.”
Uhum.” Guy assented, still amused.
I continued, “And yet, God said he was a man after His own heart.”
“Dost thee compare me with a king sent by God?”
“Nay, I returned, “just that David had committed evil and still God loved him.”
Guy was silent for a few moments. “So thou sayest God still loves me?” he quietly asked in a most serious manner.
”Aye,” I said, taking his face into my hands. He was looking down but soon raised his head to look me in the eye.
Letting out a heavy breath, Guy said, “Someday I mayst believe what thee dost say is truth.”
“That is my greatest wish.” I breathed a sigh of relief, for his peace was all I could ask for.
“Now,” he said in a teacher-like fashion. “What is the name of that constellation?” He pointed to the stars so clearly visible in the night sky.
“Orion!” I quickly replied. “The warrior!”
Laughing softly, Guy said, “Thou still hast mind of the stars!”
“Most assuredly.” I replied with confidence.
A man from Locksley came up behind me and said, “You should get some rest m’Lady. Your watch is just a few hours away.”
We were changing watchmen about every four hours and mine was just before dawn.
“Aye,” I replied, “I shall lay my head down for a while.”
As I made my way down the stairs and into the castle, I heard a man speaking to Guy but couldn’t hear what he said.
Isabella’s former bed chamber had a nice, big, soft bed. I hadn’t slept in a bed for months. The bunks we slept in were better than the ground, but not much. Removing my armor and dress, I put on a nightgown I had found in a chest. I pulled the velvet cover back and lay down. Very soon I was asleep.
Soon I was dreaming that Guy and I were married and on our honeymoon, but it was taking place in the 21st century. From the window of our hotel room, I could see the gently rolling ocean, a sea of the bluest-green, rushing over white sand. I felt Guy’s strong, masculine arms around me, but as I turned to put my arms around him I woke up with a start.
Guy was in my bed!
I motioned to him to get out of the bed, but he held me closer saying, “No, Aylaina, I want to stay with you.”
His voice was so silky and soft, that I melted in his arms. I shouldn’t do this, I thought. I will be leaving soon. I should not have let him fall in love with me or I with him.
“I want to be with thee.” he whispered. “Thou art my wife. Twas so all those years ago when first we were together.”
His body covered mine,and I couldn’t stop,even if I wanted to. We kissed, long and deep, our bodies moving as one. There was no going back,and I didn’t wish to. I had never been loved like this before. He kissed every inch of my face, down the curve of my neck. I adored every touch of his strong, but gentle hands and I, in turn, felt pure joy in touching him.
We peaked with such pleasure that it was like those waves I had seen in my dream, caressing the sand with each ebb and flow.
Now Guy lay next to me, his arms encircling me in his safe harbor. As our breathing returned to normal, Guy caressed my cheek. “Thou art most lovely.” he proclaimed.
“Surely, not ‘most’ lovely,” I returned.
“Yea, Thou art.” Guy said with great affection. “I love thee to distraction!”
I never thought of myself as unattractive. I had long, soft hair, with tresses of gold, brown and red running through it, that most people thought pretty. My eyes were a deep green and my nose was a bit big but suited my face, which was not quite oval and not quite square., ‘Most lovely’ had never been applied to me, even by my most ardent admirers, Though I had many suiters, none kept my attention for very long. That is why at 35, I was still single.
“Thou art most handsome!” I replied with enthusiasm, thinking, in this time period and in mine.
Guy laughed, softly. Snuggling close, we fell asleep.
What seemed like much too soon, a knock at the door woke me.
“Time for your watch, m’Lady.” came a voice from the other side. I began to think last night had been a dream, but I saw Guy still sleeping next to me. He looked so peaceful, sleeping there, that I didn’t have the heart to wake him.
I got out of bed carefully, put on a shawl and went to the door saying softly,
“Thank you. I will be right out.”
Getting dressed and putting on my armor, I went to the bed and gently kissed Guy’s cheek. He moved toward me and pulled me to him.
“Come thee back to bed,” he said sleepily.
“Nay, alas I canst not, as it is my turn to be on watch, but please be careful when thou dost leave.”
“Of course, my love. I shall be most careful of thy reputation.” he said with that now familiar half smile of his
I opened the door, stepped out, closed it and ran down the hall to the stairs.
The sun had not yet come over the horizon, but the sky was brightening with red, orange and pink hues. I could see something to the west. Just as I was about to get a better look, Much ran past me, shouting.
“It’s Allan!” He took the stairs that led to the castle gates.”
I told the men who were standing guard to stay where they were, and I went after him.
Guy was coming down the steps from the castle keep, and Much continued shouting,
“Open the gates!”
Robin was there in an instant, as Tuck and John were opening the gates. Allan ran through but fell as he made it just inside. There were three or four arrows in his back. Tuck pulled them out, and then Robin turned Allan over.
“Th..the…Sheriff…he has..” his breathing was labored “…returned! He’s…not dead.”
Guy and Robin looked past the castle gates. Guy yelled, “Man the battlements!
Then he shouted to the villagers, “Move!!”
Robin stood outside the gate as if he could not believe his eyes. He stared out past the courtyard.
“Robin!” Guy called, “Come on!”
John picked up Allan and carried him further inside the castle walls, just as Allan was breathing his last breath.
Allan looked at his friends and smiled, then he was gone.
I could not contain my tears. A real friend of mine had just died.
In my thoughts I was shouting,’ NO! NO! NO! I was able to keep Allan from being thought a traitor but could not prevent his death. How was I going to stop the next chain of events from occurring?
“The soldiers are at every wall! There are hundreds of them!” The whole place is surrounded!”
Kate shouted, looking over the wall.
Guy told Robin, “I put a dagger in him. I watched him die.”
Robin replied, “Well, that ghost has raised an army.”
By now, Robin and Guy had mounted their horses and rode out the gated. I took hold of a horse and, clumsily, climbed on it’s back. Since I’ve been here I learned to ride a horse. Though I hadn’t become an expert, I could still maneuver the steed. I gave its flanks a gentle kick, and I was off following Robin and Guy, unbeknownst to them, out the gates. Riding toward the gathering army, we could see a raised flag indicating a truce. In front of the army, sitting on a dark brown horse, was a funny looking, bald man. Next to him was Blamire, Isabella’s former right hand man.
“Surprise!” the bald man said. “You thought I was dead, but you didn’t check, did you?”
He touched his chest and said, “Very nasty wound. Gisborne, we will have our reckoning.”
Then he gestured, opening his arms wide. “Right now, I want my town back!” He said with a sadistic grin. As he looked in my direction, he said,
“Who is this little fairy on your shoulder, Gisborne?”
Turning around, Guy saw me.
‘Aylaina,” Guy said angrily, “Go back!”
“No!” I said vehemently. “I want to hear what this man has to say!” Apparently, he didn’t want to argue with me, so he let it go.
“Another leper, Gisborne?” ‘What did he just call me?’ I thought.
“What have I told you about women, hm, Gisborne? Ah, but maybe you will kill this one like you did the last.”
I didn’t think he could sound any more sadistic, but I underestimated him. Surely, this was Sheriff Vasy.
Both Robin and Guy bristled at this, but kept their cool.
“As I was saying..” Vasy started.
Robin cut him off and said with conviction, “Never, Vasy. Your weapons are no match for the hatred these men have for you.”
”You tell your peasant army that anyone who resists me, will die. Poor Allan, he must be dead by now.”
“You murdering swine!” Robin hissed.
Guy tried to calm Robin.
“Sticks and stones, Hood.” the sheriff mocked. “Blamire, give them a demonstration.”
Blamire had one of the soldiers set fire to a small barrel, chained to a piece of machinery, that looked something like a catapult.
“Loose.”he ordered.
The machine sent the firey barrel over our heads and inside the castle wall, where it exploded like a bomb.
Vasy went on to say that we had until dawn for Robin to hand over Guy, release Isabella, and return Nottingham to him and Prince John.
“Otherwise, you and your friends will be wiped off the face of the earth.”
Robin gave him a sneer and turned his horse around. Guy and I followed suit.
As we rode through the village to the castle, Robin called out to the gang,
“Put lookouts on every wall!”
He ordered Tuck,”I want every able-bodied man armed and ready. We hold Nottingham for the King!”
Robin was circling around the road on his horse and began speaking as the people gathered around.
“We know the King is coming. He has troops waiting for him at Loughborough. If we can get word to them….”
Guy spoke up. “Robin, you could put an end to this by giving me up to the sheriff. You could have done it back there. Why didn’t you?”
I put my hand to my mouth. I wasn’t sure my actions to try and change history would cause Robin to give Guy over to Vasy. It frightened me to think that something, other than the original history, might take place, and I could not stop it.
“This is bigger than you, Gisborne.” Robin said. “It always has been. We are fighting for the future of England. You have Isabella behind bars. That is what you wanted.”
I was watching Guy’s face. He was listening intently to Robin.
Robin continued, “This isn’t your fight, unless you choose it to be.”
“While the sheriff lives, this is all our fight!” Guy exclaimed. “I’m with you!” He looked over at me, and I nodded my head in agreement. Things were now progressing the way Much had said in the document.
Robin shouted to the gang, “Get it done!!”
Much spoke up, “There’s something we have to do first.” He said solemnly.
John added, “Honor the dead.”
We held a memorial for Allan. Tuck said some prayers and Much set the funeral pyre.
“To Alan, our loyal friend,” Much said, solemnly.
I stood there, crying. Guy was standing off away from the group, but when he saw me, he came over and wrapped his arms around me.
Much’s document relayed that Guy had given Isabella some poison. I assumed it was given to her so she could avoid the suffering he thought might be her fate, at the hands of the outlaws. I saw Guy heading for the castle and began to follow him, but Robin intercepted and said he had an errand for me. By the time I got back, Guy was nowhere to be found. I went to the dungeon, thinking that was where he had gone.
When I arrived at her cell, Isabella had a smile on her face.
“Was Guy just here?” I asked.
She laughed. “So what if he was?”
I motioned to the man who stood guard to open the cell.
“Hold her.” I said. The guard held Isabella’s arms.
“Give it to me,Isabella!” I demanded.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You know what I’m talking about, Isabella. Hand it over.”
“No!” she shouted.
“Do not let her move!” I ordered the guard. He gripped her tightly so she could not move. I searched her and and found nothing.
Then it occurred to me where a woman might hide something. I put my hand down the front of her bodice and pulled out a little pink bottle. Without a word, I turned and walked out of the cell.
“Let her go.” I told the guard. He pushed her away and locked the cell door.
I was shaking so hard, I thought the guard could surely sense it as I left the dungeon. As I went down into the kitchen, I looked for a place to dump the poison. There was a garbage shoot nearby, so I emptied the bottle and dropped it down the shoot. Breathing more steadily now, I went to find the others. Having been told they were in the Great Hall, I came in just behind Guy.
“What’s happened?” Guy asked.
“Kate’s taken it upon herself to go into Loughborough for the troops.” Robin replied.
John said confidently, “She knows what she’s doing. You’ve taught her well.”
Robin was clearly upset. He exclaimed, “The sheriff is playing with us! He knows he’s got the advantage.”
He went on to say that we had to hold the castle until the troops arrived.
Much, looking quite hopeless, said, “How long can we hold out from bombardment from Byzantine Fire?”
Then Archer, rather casually, said, ”The sheriff has plenty of Byzantine fire. I sold it to him.”
I knew this was true, but I had to pretend to be surprised, though my anger was genuine. Much ran to Archer, grabbing him by the shirt with both hands and shouted,
“You sold it for a profit to the man who killed my friend?!”
Robin told Archer that now he was going to die by the very weapon he had sold. Archer said that he had done us all a great favor by staying and that he saved Much, Robin and Guy’s lives.
“Ungrateful lives.” was how he put it.
His arms across his chest, Guy pointed out that they wouldn’t have needed saving, if Archer had not trapped them in the tunnel to begin with.
Much wanted to lock up Archer because he couldn’t be trusted.
Archer started to leave, but Robin stopped him, saying that many people would die as a result of his greed.
Archer turned, in righteous indignation, and said, “What about the people who have died because they listened to the ‘great Robin Hood’!” He tried to make Robin feel guilty by pointing out that they were a small army against a huge war machine. That phrase reminded me of my county’s history of the Revolutionary War.
“You think about that before you go judging me!” Archer stated and stormed out.
It was clear that Archer had gotten to Robin, but he was resolute.
“We have to sabotage the trebuchets. Are you with me?” asked Robin.
A trebuchete was that machine the sheriff used to send the firey barrel into Nottingham village.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Robin then added, “We meet at the battlements.”
~~~~~~
Reaching the battlements, Robin gave the group their instructions. Much wanted to go too, but Robin needed him to stay behind in case they didn’t make it back. He wanted Much to take charge and fight to the finish. I said that I also wanted to go along with Robin.
Robin responded, “Aylaina, I need you to look after Much. He’s really upset over Allan’s death, and you can help him organise the people, get them ready for battle in the event that we do not return.”
Reluctantly, I agreed. I really wanted to see some action, but I knew there would be plenty of that soon enough.
Much and I waited, what seemed like forever, to see if Robin and the others would make it back. We paced the Great Hall until we heard the sound of yelling in the distance. It was Robin. We ran out to the castle gates.
“Open the gates!” he cried.
They all came running through the gates, with Archer on a horse, bringing up the rear . The trebuchets had been destroyed. Robin held Much by the back of his neck and said that that was for Allan!
Striding over to Archer, Robin said, “I thought you ran out on us!”
Archer said he had decided to give them a hand and that he brought them a present. It was a
A wineskin filled with of Byzantine fire.
Tuck, sniffing the contents, said if he could figure out the base components, he could make more. Robin was quite excited to hear this.
He bellowed, “So we can fight the sheriff!”
Outside, there was a great noise of marching men. They were getting ready to storm the castle.
A huge thud hit the gates. The soldiers were pounding them with a battering ram!
Guy yelled, “The gates won’t hold the battering ram and we don’t have the men to take them on!”
Robin called out for those on the ground to take cover. He and Much were shooting at the soldiers from the ramparts. He sent us to the castle courtyard until the King’s troops could arrive.
We all ran to the courtyard. I had a bow and a quiver of arrows, along with my slingshot.
John, Guy and some village men were turning over wagons to use as shields from which to shoot.
Much had a team of archers ready, if the gates were breached. I stood where I could get a clean shot to distract the soldiers, pelting them with stones from my slingshot. Tuck had another team of archers ready when Much’s team fell back.
When the gates were breached, I shot my stones and Much ordered his archers to shoot. When they had killed several soldiers, Much called out to run, and we all retreated further inside the castle walls.
Tuck readied his team to draw, then shoot. After firing, they fell back, and Much’s team was again ordered to draw, then shoot. I continued with a barrage of stones, and many of the soldiers were so distracted that they were taken unaware and cut down by our archers. We had made some headway, long enough for us to retreat to the inner walls.
Just before entering the castle, Much gave a triumphant leap, and Tuck and John had to pull him inside the doors. Once inside, the portcullis gate was lowered and more wagons were turned over on their sides for shields. As the doors were being rammed through, the archers made ready to shoot but were told to hold their fire.
Sheriff Vasy held Kate by the arm. He intercepted Kate’s letter to the King and took her prisoner. He said the King wouldn’t be coming. Meanwhile, I saw Robin, very subtly, motion to Much by glancing upwards. Then he whispered something to Much, and Much shook his head in compliance.
With one eye peering through the gate, Vasy said the King had been captured by Leopold of Austria.
Robin responded, “You are lying.” But Kate said it was true. He was being held for a ransom of 250,000 crowns.
Robin was stalling the Sheriff so Much could climb up the rampart above the portcullis.
“What are you going to do, Hood?” The sheriff asked. “Humiliate me by rescuing the girl? You are so predictable.” He scoffed.
Robin called out to Kate to look above her. He told Guy, Tuck and John to pull on the rope.
I saw Isabella out of the corner of my eye. Somehow, she escaped the jail, and was running up the stairs back into the castle. I couldn’t do anything about it though , because I had to stay and defend Kate while she was being pulled up.
Vasy told Blamire to go to the tunnel, and Much called down to Robin that the soldiers were falling back.
Robin shouted, “They’re regrouping! Barricade the portcullis!”
Kate was safely on the rampart.
Robin and Kate embraced as they ran down from the rampart. Tuck recruited me as medic for those whose wounds could be bandaged. I watched as Robin, a heavy load of responsibility on his shoulders, rested his chin on his crossed arms. Tuck began speaking to him, then Robin turned to walk up the steps of the castle. He stood in front of the doors, and we all gathered round.
“Loyal comrads,” he began. “You know the situation, and you know that we are on our own. We have already lost friends and loved ones. But England will loose far more, if we do not make a stand this day. And yes, some of us may fall, but our fight will live on in the minds of those who despise injustice and in the hearts of those who cherish freedom.” His voice gaining strength, Robin continued,
“You are the soul of England, standing firm against tyranny and fighting for a just and righteous future. Now, ask yourself, ‘Is that not something worth fighting for?’!” Pulling his sword from it’s sheath and raising it into the air, he cried, “Together, for ENGLAND!”
We all cheered, some of us with tears in our eyes. I was so caught up in the moment that I yelled out another “WHOHA”. Some people looked at me, but they were smiling and loudly yelling, “For England!”’
Archer interrupted by calling out, “They’re coming!” He then raised his bow, and the battle recommenced. Swords were slashing, arrows were flying, and there was blood everywhere. I tried not to slip as I made my way to a higher position. I shot arrows, one after the other, targeting and hitting soldiers. An arrow whizzed by my ear,so I shifted my position and started shooting again.
The portcullis had been breached! Robin ordered John to abandon the battlements and for Much to get everyone into the Great Hall.
I was helping people into the hall when I saw Isabella. She was headed into the secret passage. Guy saw her, too. Archer started to go after her, but Guy stopped him. He unsheathed his sword and went into the passage.
There was nothing I could do. I was too far away and there were too many people. I couldn’t get past them but was able to watch Archer go into the passage. Everything was happening so fast, and I wasn’t sure if I could get to the tunnel at just the right moment.
Robin was yelling to the men to barricade the doors. Tuck was saying that all this Byzantine fire would destroy everything, including the castle. Kate remarked that it would also destroy the Sheriff’s power.
Tuck quickly added, “And every man, woman and child in here.”
Suddenly, John yelled, “Robin, they’re coming!”
The sound of a bomb going off rocked the Great Hall and soon Archer came running back into the hall.
“Isabella’s just cleared the tunnel.” He said, trying to catch his breath.
I was finally able to make it down the stairs into the hall, but I still couldn’t get near the passage.
Robin put Tuck in charge of holding off the soldiers and then followed Archer down the passage.
Finally, I was able to get to the passage, and I made my way down. I could hear the battle, and I could see Isabella readying her dagger. Just as she attempted to stab Guy, Robin pushed her away. Guy and the Sheriff were duelling it out, and Archer was holding off Blamire. Then Guy was fighting Blamire, and Archer and Vasy were at it each other with a vengeance. A soldier made his way into the fray. Everything was moving so fast that I couldn’t tell one person from another. At least I knew Isabella could not poison Robin with her dagger.
Suddenly, without even knowing how it got there, I felt the cold steel of my 9mm in my hands. It was raised at eye level, and Vasy was in my sights.
Everything stopped. Robin, Guy and Archer moved to one side of the tunnel and Vasy, Isabella and Blamire to the other. I hid behind a pillar, peaking around, so I could see without being seen.
“How appropriate that it should come down to the important few.” said Vasy.
He pointed at Archer and asked, “Who is this one?”
“He’s my mother’s foolish mistake!” siad Isabella through clenched teeth. With a venomous hiss, she continued, “Look at us, the whole sorry family!”
Robin looked to Guy and Archer. “Together,” he said. “Brothers in arms.” No sooner did they all nod in agreement, than the fighting resumed.
I came out of hiding just as Robin had Vasy on the floor. Isabella came up behind Robin, and Guy shouted, “Robin!” and pushed him out of the way. Guy was standing over Vasy, and Isabella was poised with her dagger behind Guy.
Everything became so clear to me, as if time had stopped. In slow motion, it seemed, I raised the gun and…..
BANG! The whole room reverberated with the sound. Vasy’s head jerked, and his sword fell from his hand. I shot the sheriff! Isabella jumped back, and everyone stopped. They all stared at me, as I lowered the gun. Archer was the first to recover. He finished off Blamire as Robin took hold of Isabella.
I didn’t need to see anymore. I had accomplished what I set out to to do. With tears streaming down my face, I ran back to the passage. I heard Guy calling my name.
“Aylaina!” He cried, frantically, but I kept on running.
I went out through the service entrance of the kitchen and kept on running towards the forest. Guy was still calling my name, though it became fainter and fainter. Crossing the river at the narrow, I headed for the camp, but that was not my destination.
Up the hill, I ran to the tree. I had the strangest sensation this was the tree Much had said Robin was sitting under, when he died in the original history.
Pulling the rocks away, I grabbed my backpack and took out the Mepad and the tracker. First I turned on the Mepad. It still had a charge, even after all this time. I typed the Much document into the search bar, scrolled down to the end, and read the last few paragraphs.
Robin had told Much what went on in the tunnel and that I had done something that killed the sheriff.
I lay my head back against the tree, crying. I did it! I saved Robin and Guy!
The sun was shining through the trees, dappling the forest floor with light, like something from a Monet painting. Soon, everything was shrouded in a misty fog. I thought it was strange, but then again, this was England.
A beautiful, young woman was approaching me through the fog. She wore a gown of the most lovely pale gray with a cape that matched. Her hair was chestnut brown, falling in cascades around her shoulders.
She spoke to me. “Aylaina,” she said. She knew my name! “You have changed history.” She was smiling. Her manner of dress was characteristic of the12th century, but she spoke to me in modern English.
“How do you know me?” I was puzzled.
“You are the Time Traveller, are you not?”
“Who are you?” I asked, knowing it was Marian. She smiled, sensing my recognition.
“You can not go back, Aylaina” she said calmly.
“But I must. My life is there. I can’t stay here.” I was both agitated and scared.
“Guy loves you, and Robin needs you.” she replied. I got to my feet.
“No, this can’t happen. My family needs me, too.” I cried.
“They are no longer your family,” she said, once again, in her calm, soothing voice.
“Look at your device. See what it says about your family.”
I typed my father’s name into the search bar. ‘Ian MacLeod- wife, Elisabeth Hilton, sons, Aiden, William and Brandon. Where was my name? Then I entered ‘daughter Aylaina’ and up came ‘No match found’.
“What is this?” I cried. “Why is my name not here?”
“You wanted to change history, so God allowed it.”
“And this is my punishment?” I was crying sorrowfully. “ Staying in a time where I don’t belong?”
“You have a man who loves you, another who is like a brother to you, and friends that are now your family. You think that is punishment?” she asked, still smiling.
“But what about the Aylaina of this time?”
“You are she.” she stated.
I was overwhelmed. “How is it that I am now she? “
“It is because you changed history; the course of events have changed. You no longer exist in the 21st century, so you had to become the Aylaina of this century.
“My life has comforts that I am used to. I can’t live this way.” I argued.
She laughed a soft and gentle laugh. “You’ve been living here for almost a year and adapting very nicely.”
Had it really been that long? I could not believe it!
“This is your home now, Aylaina. Take care of Robin for me, and hold on to the love you have for Guy. Continue the work that you saved Robin for, and be a part of something noble.”
Taking up my tracker, I said, “No, Marian, I’m not staying here.” But when I looked up, she was gone.
The tracker was already programmed to bring me home. I turned it on. It was working!
Ha!, I can go home!
I touched the Icon that read “Home” and disappeared.