Inside the Mysterious Heart of Scotland (Short story)

A Lost Arrow

As she stood beside the lake looking at the trees in the woods, her dark, curly hair dancing in the wind, her sister's call interrupted her concentration. She had always felt fascination for those woods since her father had strongly forbidden her and her sister to enter that forest under any circumstance. Nevertheless, Scotland had many secrets, dangerous and mystical adventures for her yet to discover.

"Abigail, it's your turn to throw!" shouted Noelle, as she was eager to beat her sister at their weekly archery competition. Abigail was considerably good at archery but she was far too distracted to make a good shot; consequently, her arrow flew until it lost itself among the trees. Noelle gave her sister a concerned look and waited for Abigail's move.

"It's lost, let it go" said Noelle. But her sister was the most stubborn, curious young woman in Scotland.

"I'm going to go get it", Abigail said with conviction before entering the forest without hesitation.

The trees appeared bigger than she thought, the sunrise entered through the branches of every tree. She found her arrow, but on her way back to the fields she saw something that caught her attention. It was a blue type of bubble between the trees, it was almost like a mirror but it sparkled. When Abigail reached out to touch it, it was deep, almost as if it had swallowed her hand. It was a portal but where did it lead?

When she was on the other side of the portal, she was confused because the forest looked no different, but the air was different. Her honey-colored eyes wandered the landscape curious to find some irregularity. In the distance, she heard music. It sounded like bagpipes, violins and drums, which made her smile. As she was following the music, there was another sound that caught her attention; it was a chant that guided her to the lake. She had never heard such a beautiful, mesmerizing chant. Abigail approached the lake, ready to jump in any second but she was interrupted.

"What do you think you are doing?" said a male voice while he pulled her, preventing her from getting into the water. When she looked up she saw a man, he was young, probably one or two years older than her. Half of his hair was blue, his eyes green as the grass and his arms were covered with marks, white marks that formed figures, almost like a map.

"Who are you?" she asked displeased and he released her arm.

"You should not be here, how did you get in?"

"Through a big blue bubble in the woods, I suppose. What is this place?" the young man looked at her suspiciously, analyzing her.

"You really shouldn't be here, this place is not for you" he grabbed her arm again a little harshly and lead her through the trees back to where the portal was. Abigail, in her confusion, did not object. "Leave and don't come back". She left, but not because of the blue haired guy but for the reason that she could not have felt more unwelcomed in a place. She passed through the bubble and heard Noelle screaming her name. When she looked back, the bubble had disappeared.

"Abigail!" shouted her angry sister.

"I'm here Noelle! Shut up. No one can know I entered those woods, you hear me?"

"Yes but only if you tell me what is in there" Abigail smiled and they both returned home for dinner.

Their father was Calum Breckenridge, the Duke of Calgary; as consequence of having two daughters, he hosted endless parties at his household in order to find his daughters a husband. Noelle was a fifteen-year-old redhead, she had beautiful green eyes and cheeks full of freckles, and she loved to dance at his father's parties. Noelle was thrilled about the idea of getting married and getting a home of her own as well as her own children. Abigail was more of a free spirit; her hair was black and curly, her eyes were the color of the honey she used to put on her pancakes, clear and shiny eyes impatient for an adventure. She was her father's headache; she was seventeen and she refused to get married, which was causing trouble to the Duke.