Inside the Mysterious Heart of Scotland (Short story)

Testing the Impossible

Her mother was a tall, copper-haired woman, and she always smelled of chamomile and herbs; unlike her father, her mother was patient and understanding but she did not tolerate to be lied to although she seemed to know everything.

"Abigail, where were you last night?" her mother didn't seem upset, rather curious.

"I just needed some fresh air, mom"

"Well, I'm not going to tell your father that you didn't sleep last night but I really hope you are being honest with me."

"I am, mother." Her mother closed her door. She fell asleep on her bed until her father woke her up.

"Abi, Lord Baine is here to see you"

"I don't want to see him."

"You are almost eighteen, people is talking about your lack of interest for a husband"

"Let them talk"

"Abigail" he said, scolding her.

"Why won't you let us get into the woods?" her father seemed surprised at this questioning.

"It's dangerous. Now get ready, Lord Baine will get tired of waiting."

She cursed the monotony of the highborn life. Her heart yearned for adventures. She wanted to go back to Riverdance but she knew that at daylight she was more likely to be seen and stopped by her family's guards.

Abigail put on a new dress, fixed her hair and headed downstairs to thank Lord Baine for his patience and hopefully, scare him away so that he would not come back as she had done with the previous Lords.

Lord Baine was a twenty-two year old man who had brown curly hair, brown eyes, a beard and he was slightly taller than Abigail. Aesthetically, he was the perfect prospect; however, all the Lords that she had met so far had shown no interest different from her dowry or an alliance with Calgary.

"My lady" said the Lord before kissing her hand as greeting "I am delighted to finally meet you"

"Likewise, my lord" It was as if they were both acting while the Duke was near because when Abigail's father left, Lord Baine said:

"What do you say we go outside to get some fresh air? It's starting to get boring in here", she smiled at the proposal and let him lead the way. He took her to the lake and started taking a few of his clothes off.

"My lord, what are you doing?" she was laughing nervously.

"Relax, I won't take all of my clothes off. Call me Luke, please. I believe I am still too young to be wed and I intend to have as much fun as possible while I still can. You are absolutely welcomed to join me, my lady" he jumped into the lake. Abigail was definitely surprised at Luke's personality, but she decided to join him taking her main dress off and jumping into the lake after him. She swam towards him and shouted: "It's so cold!"

"At least you're not thinking of all your responsibilities, are you?" he started swimming, enjoying the water as Abigail watched him delighted at how different he was. After that swim, she returned home and said goodbye to Luke after thanking him for such a lovely, special night. She caught her father staring at the woods with such concentration, which only increased her suspicions towards him. But she did not know how to approach the topic without upsetting her father.

At midnight, Abigail sneaked out of her window and headed to Riverdance, it had become easier for her to find the portal since she had been doing this for a few days now and as soon as she passed through it, she started searching for Alistair. Instead of Alistair, she found a mysterious lit up path and, as she walked on it, the flowers started to light up, one by one. She gazed up to the trees and, to her surprise, she found sparkling creatures watching her from above. The fairies were flying all over the trees making shapes as if they were trying to tell a story. She spent the night watching the fairies dance and fly; Alistair joined her later and took her to a waterfall where the water seemed alive; the combination of the water and the sun reflected a rainbow and if she drank it, it tasted sweet. On their way back to the portal, Abigail saw her sister frightened as a creature that looked like a lion was getting closer to her.

"Noelle!" Abigail tried to scream but Alistair covered her mouth and whispered: "don't scream" in her ear. But Abigail's eyes were covered with fear. Noelle looked at her sister begging for help. Alistair grabbed a knife from his belt and started whispering something in a foreign language as he approached the creature. The lion started to step back from the girl.

"You should leave, now!" shouted Alistair. Abigail ran to her sister and hurried to cross the portal.

"What do you think you're doing? Why did you come here?" she grabbed Noelle by the shoulders, scolding her. Noelle's tears were falling nonstop from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Abi. I was just following you. I didn't know that..."

"Don't go back there! You can't tell anyone about this, you hear me?"

"Yes! I won't, I promise" They walked through the forest and returned home. Their father was waiting for them in the dining room.

"Where have you been all night?" he asked angrily.

"Calum", intervened their mother.

"Stay out of this, Freya"

"We were in the woods, father", Abigail answered. She glanced at her father with bitterness. She was mad at him for not giving her answers and forcing her to meet new Lords every week with the sole purpose of maintaining his reputation.

"What did I say about the forest!" he screamed very loudly.

"Why did you forbid us to get in it in the first place? For it was dangerous? Or perhaps you knew about Riverdance and you did not want us to find out? Well let me tell you, father, I am well aware of that place and I am well aware that you have something to do with it" while Abigail was solid in her affirmation, Noelle looked bewildered.

"Riverdance?" muttered their mother.

"What are you talking about? That place does not exist! You are out of your mind!" his oldest daughter laughed at this accusation.

"You'd be surprised how real it is and I'll show you", she said before leaving the house and running into the woods. Her head was clouded with recklessness and she could not think clearly for her decision of proving her father wrong was stronger than anything else. Calum's guards entered the woods after Abigail, he had ordered them to bring her home no matter the cost but she found the portal before they could reach her.