Katelynn had started the day as usual down by the stream. It seemed to help her remember he would be coming back. And the misery of missing him was made easier when she came here. But she had to tell him she could not leave her homeland. This thought scared her.
For here in Glen Roy was the only world she had ever known. As she bent down to pull more weeds from around the plants in the garden. She began to think of him again, her thoughts were so caught up with remembering the touch of his lips on hers, his arms embracing her she had not heard all the commotion of the strangers riding in.
All of a sudden her thoughts were disturbed. She could feel someone staring at her.
She turned to see the strangers and one of them was looking directly at her. She felt a shiver go through her. What was so familiar about this man? Why did his stare seem to be penetrating her very soul? The way he sat atop the black horse seemed so familiar she had to turn her head away but she knew he was still looking at her.
Richard had come out as well to meet the strangers riding in. He invited them to his hut for food and drink. Lord Drasken and his men agreed they would accept his invitation after they had found lodging for themselves and their horses.
Richard said to them, “But this is just a small village we have no place to lodge travelers. And most have no horses. But I have a small stable and room for one and I am sure we could find rooms for your companions with some of the other families in the village.” Lord Drasken agreed and went to talk to his men and to tell them they were not to call him by any other name except Charles his given name. He did not want these people to know he was the man that Bryon may have spoken of. He told them if either of them slipped and called him Lord or Lord Drasken while in this village he would kill them before they had time to get the full name out. Both agreed they would call him Charles and agreed they would find lodging in other households in the village.
Katelynn had been disturbed by the stranger‟s stares. She walked to the stream and sat down. Why did this stranger bother her? And then it came to her. He was the man she had seen in her dreams this was Lord Drasken the same man Bryon had spoken of. She got up and began to run back to the village. When she burst into the door about to tell her father what she had dreamed and who she thought this man to be she stopped. For he was sitting at their table having a meal and drink. And what was father saying he would be staying with them until they went on their way. She could not believe what she was hearing.
She looked at her father and said, “But father this is the man Bryon spoke of. I know it is, I have seen him in my dreams.”
As she said this he almost choked on his food. How could this woman have dreamed about him? And had she saw him so vividly that she knew him now.
Her father said to her, “No, Katelynn this is Charles from further south than even Bryon.
He comes from the villages of Galloway. He is a merchant out looking for new trades. He will only be here a couple of days.”
Katelynn was confused how could she be so wrong. Maybe it was the light of the sun or the way his face was shaded when she first saw him. Now that she was face to face with him she could not be sure. She felt so embarrassed she apologized and went outside.
Her mother had followed her and asked Katelynn, “Why have you not told me of these dreams?”
Katelynn looked at her mother and said, “I thought they were just dreams mother. That‟s all just dreams.”
Christine looked at her daughter and knew the time had come for her to tell Katelynn and prepare her for what was to come. But what of this stranger called Charles for he looked like the man she had seen in her dreams as well. But she could not think of that right now she had to tell her daughter of the past and what was thought to be of the things to come.
“Katelynn,” she began, “There is something we must talk about.” She told Katelynn why she never spoke of her people. She told her what had happened when she had left her village to be with Katelynn‟s father. How her mother had came to the birthing of Katelynn. And of the High Priest that had came with her mother when Katelynn was born. And what the High Priest had to say about Katelynn‟s destiny. That she was the prophetess of the Druids that had been fore told of many years ago. As she finished she said to Katelynn,
“The time has come for you to go to my people and learn their ways. There are teachers there that can help you more than I. I thought I would have more time before this would come to pass but I see it must be done now. For now your powers are awakening. I will make arrangements for your safe passage there.”
Katelynn‟s mind was racing how could she leave now Bryon was coming back for her.
She could not leave she had to be here when he returned.
She turned to her mother and said, “Mother I can not go now. I must wait here for Bryon as I promised.”
Christine looked at her daughter with tears welling up in her eyes and said, “Katelynn you must do this. This is not just for you this is for all our people, but also for the people of the North, South and Central Lands. You must learn how to use the power for good and to lead our people to peace. You must now think of more than just yourself. Your people will need you to be strong and show them the way.”
Christine turned to walk back into where the men were talking.
As she walked in Richard looked at her and asked, “Is everything alright Christine?”
“Yes,” she replied. “If you will excuse me I have some things I must take care of now.
Richard I need to speak to you in private please.”
Charles rose from the table and thanked Christine for the meal and said he was going to find his men and would return later.
After Charles had left. Christine told her husband the same story she had told Katelynn.
She also told him of her dreams of this man that Katelynn spoke of. And how this Charles looked a lot like the man in her dreams. Richard told her that it was probably because he was a stranger.
And since Bryon had told them of this stranger, maybe she just put his face on the face of the man in her dream. And Katelynn had probably done the same thing. He told her he would consider what she had told him and would give her an answer the next day. But he was not sure if he wanted Katelynn to go.
Richard had known Christine had the gift of seeing and dreaming but she could control it.
And not once through the years had she spoke of it to him. She had never let it influence any decisions that had been made. So why now, could this be the man that Bryon had spoke of?
Maybe he should let Christine take Katelynn into the highlands and let her learn their ways. For he had a great respect for these gifts that Christine‟s people had. He knew there had been wars waged and won just on what they dreamed or their visions of the future. But still this was his daughter, was Christine so sure that Katelynn carried these gifts in her blood as well.
Katelynn was trying to sort out in her mind all the things her mother had told her. She was now more confused than before. What was happening to her? Her whole world had been turned upside down since Bryon had come into it. Maybe Charles was not this man she had dreamed of. But how could she be sure. In her heart she felt she was right that this was the man that Bryon had told them of. She would stay away from him while he was in the village. She was not sure how she was going to do this; her father had told him that he could stay with them. His searing brown eyes looked at her as if he could see into her very soul. She would have to be on guard while he was in the village.
She walked back to the village through the forest she was glad she had come here to walk. It had done her good; the air was cool from the shade of the trees and there was a slight breeze blowing. She heard someone following her. When she turned she saw Charles walking up behind her.
He said to her, “I am sorry that I upset you today. You told your father you had seen me in a dream. I hope this dream was good, but by the way you burst into the room I think it would be safe to say that it was not.”
Katelynn kept walking not wanting to answer him. He walked right beside her and did not say anything more.
Then Katelynn turned and said, “I have apologized for my outburst. I did not think I would need to do it again.”
“Why would you think I was this man in your dreams?” asked Charles.
“When I saw you with the sun behind you and your face shaded it was just as it was in my dream,” replied Katelynn.
She did not tell him she could feel him staring at her. “I must be getting back. It is getting close to evening and mother will be putting the evening meal out. She does not like to be kept waiting to sit down to eat.”
As they walked towards the village neither of them said anything more. Charles knew this was the woman in his dreams. The fire red hair and her emerald green eyes you could see the soul of the world in them. She was more beautiful than even his dreams could make her. But somehow he must gain her trust and this would not be easy they had already started out badly.
What had been her dream, had she dreamed of him they way he had of her? How he wanted to ask her but knew he could not.
Christine was putting the meal on the table when the two of them walked in. She could not hide her surprise to see them together.
Katelynn saw this and said, “I was walking in the woods and Charles saw me there and we walked back together.”
Neither Christine nor Katelynn spoke as they ate their evening meal. Richard and Charles seemed to talk endlessly about what was going on in the south.
Richard finally asked what Katelynn had been wondering all evening. “Charles, May I ask what you know of this Lord Drasken. There was a young man that came through these parts not long ago and told us of him?”
Charles had been waiting for this question and had thought out carefully how he would answer.
“ Well, Richard,” he began, “From what I have seen and heard Lord Drasken is only trying to regain what was took from him many years ago. When the people of Dunkeld rose against his father and took control of his lands. Lord Drasken watched while his father fought so hard for what was his and when it was over his father lay dieing in the very castle that he had been born. I believe Lord Drasken only wants back what by birthright is his. I cannot say anything more for I really do not know the man and of course all is hear say. Only if you live in someone else‟s mind can you say what they think or feel. And I wish to never know that of anyone.” He could tell by the look on the faces staring at him it had been a good answer. Now let them think on that he thought. He knew by morning Bryon would not be as noble as they first saw him. He was fighting a man who was only trying to take back what was taken from him.
Maybe Katelynn would feel different also. But he could tell something more had passed between Katelynn and Bryon.
Would this story be enough to make her to start doubting him? And Eric was it because of this woman that he had sent him word of Bryon‟s where a bouts and what he was up to? Does he think that I would come and take care of Bryon and Katelynn would be his to pursue? Now Charles had questions but they would wait till the morning. He wanted to see in the morning how the story he had told them of himself was to go. Would they feel sympathy for him?