I DON'T OWN SOUTHERN VAMPIRE MYSTERIES OR ANY RESEMBLANCE THEREOF.
OK, THIS GOES OUT TO ALL THE OUTLANDER AND DIANA GABALDON FANS OUT THERE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, FOR THE LOVE OF THE HOTTEST FRIGGIN' SCOT IN ALL LITERATURE, READ IT! YOU THINK ERIC AND EDWARD ARE SEXY? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!
YOU'LL STILL UNDERSTAND THE CHAPTER EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS THOUGH, SO ENJOY!
Chapter 19 – The Ridge
(Sookie POV)
"Sit children, sit." Eric and I sat on the couch, with Amelia and Octavia across from us. A woman in her late 60's, maybe older, Octavia seemed to shine from the inside. She had a kind smile, a head of gray hair, and the lines in her face were deep. She was gentle, but there was also a fire behind her eyes. I wouldn't want to cross her. She and Amelia seemed so close. It was clear that Amelia was in awe of her teacher, and I couldn't help but feel the same way. She hadn't even told us anything yet, but I knew she had so many secrets inside that it was almost scary.
"You've got old souls, very old. Older than mine, and that's saying a lot," Octavia said, ending the sentence with a wry smile. "Sookie, give me your hand child." I gave my hand to her, and she wrapped both of hers around mine. She closed her eyes, and a slow smile crossed her lips. I could feel my hand vibrating; it was like a hum coursing through my veins.
"You can hear me,can't you?" My jaw dropped, my heart sped up. She was projecting to me. "Don't be afraid. Take a deep breath,child; I can feel you pulse running wild." I took several deep breaths. "Good. Can you project back to me now?"
I had never tried projecting back. I didn't know I could! I closed my eyes and focused on Octavia's hand in mine and the vibrations running through my arms. "Hello?"
"Well, hello there, child!"
"How did you know I could hear people?"
"I wasn't sure until I took your hand. I knew the other night you had a gift, but I wasn't sure until just now what it was."
"So, you can hear people too?"
"No. That's The Mother's gift to you, not mine."
"The Mother?"
"Mother Earth, the Universe, Gaia, the Gods, whatever you want to call it.It's the power that's greater than ourselves."
"How are we having this conversation?"
"You're making it happen,child."
"I don't understand."
"Your gift is coming through because you let me in by giving me your hand."
"So if I let go?"
"The connection would be lost."
"Why me? Why did The Mother give this to me?"
"You might never know."
"What do I do with it?"
"You do with it what you want. If you choose to repress it, or if you choose to let the world know, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you make the choice honestly and with both your head and heart. I wonder,though, when did this manifest?"
"When Eric found me."
"He was the trigger?"
"I guess so."
"What did you awaken in him in return?"
"How do you know…"
"Everything in nature is balanced,child. You weren't steady on your legs until you found him and vise versa. That being said, his presence exposed your true gift. It's only natural that you would open up something in him as well."
"I think he should tell you himself."
"Ok,child. I'm going to break the connection now."
"Wait! Before you do that…"
"Yes?"
"Can I have this with him? This connection?"
"I don't rightfully know. But, I'd think that two souls as old and as intertwined as yours, could someday. Practice,child."
"Thank you."
Then the vibrations stopped. I opened my eyes. Did that really happen? I looked to Octavia who was nodding to me, as if she knew I was doubting.
"Sookie? What just happened?" asked Eric.
"Octavia spoke to me. And… Eric I spoke back! I did! It was… wow! Eric we have to try! It was amazing! I spoke to her, I projected!" He took my face in his hands and pulled me toward him. He kissed me and kissed me again.
"I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks! She wants to know what you can do. I thought you should tell her."
"How does she know I can do anything?" he asked skeptically. I explained to him what Octavia told me about nature and balance. I looked to her when I was finished, and she smiled and nodded. "Sure we should do this Sookie?"
"Yes, Eric. We just have to."
Octavia gave him her hand, palm up, and he placed his hand into hers. Octavia wrapped her other hand around his and closed her eyes. He looked to me with a worried expression on his face; he must have felt the vibrations. I rubbed his knee and smiled, to let him know it was alright; let it happen – go with the flow. Everyone's attention was on Octavia now, and after a few minutes, Octavia smiled, and then… she giggled like a little girl. I didn't know why until I realized that Eric wasn't sitting on the couch anymore. Eric was floating a good 5 inches above it. He didn't seem to realize it either until, again like a cartoon, his ass came down in a thud.
"So," said Octavia, still amused, "you can fly… amazing! Children, what amazing beings you two are!"
"Did we always have these abilities?" asked Eric.
"It's very possible. In the previous life you know of, did you have them?"
"Yes," I answered.
"We'll see if they go all the way back then."
"All the way back?" I questioned.
"Yes. Together, we're going to go back through your lives together. Wouldn't you like to know how it all started?"
"We can do that?" Eric asked, as shocked as I was.
"Oh yes, not only can we, but we will."
"When?" he asked.
"Now," answered Octavia.
Fraser's Ridge,
North Carolina,
June 10, 1777
Dear Friend,
I write these letters knowing full well that you will most likely never read them. It's a futility that I indulge in nonetheless. You are our only link to a life we once had. It was a life that seems more like a dream or an elaborate play than reality. It was a life of endless privilege and wealth, but in the end, was a life of ugliness and scorn. We were forced away from our lives like so much rabble. As if my family name and history meant nothing at all. The witch trials of Salem were near 100 years ago, and yet we found ourselves burned and charred in the eyes of the people we considered family and friends. Jackson, only you and darling Delilah stood by us, and I can only hope that in your support you didn't alienate yourself for our sakes.
As you know we fled south, trying to get as far away from our previous selves as possible. We have settled in North Carolina. By pure luck, we were introduced to a gentleman by the name of James Fraser. A Scot of good family, educated and with a title, who has a large plot of land in the mountains. Having heard our story, understanding our background, and learning more about us, he finally invited us to his home. We met his rather brilliant wife, a doctor with the most extraordinary skills. We saw in her a kindred spirit. Here was a woman with exceptional healing skills and understanding of the human body, and for that, some saw her as a witch. She had been persecuted more than once as such – does this sound familiar?
After many visits, Mr. Fraser asked us to stay on the ridge, become permanent fixtures. We readily agreed. Fraser and his wife have taken us under their wings. Their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren left the Ridge the year previous. Their granddaughter was ill, and they left for the North, to Boston, for the medical attention she could receive there. Of course, that seems highly unlikely to us considering the acute skill of Mrs. Fraser. We will not pry though. We wonder, however, if we should tell them about us, the truth, I mean. They have welcomed us as equals, and it would be to our own detriment if we were, once again, to let our gifts destroy our lives.
What do you think?
Your most loyal friend,
Eric Northman
Fraser's Ridge,
North Carolina,
September 21, 1777
Dearest Delilah,
If Eric's letters have found their way to you, then you are aware that we are safe and settled. If not, let me assure you we are well. By sheer luck, perseverance, and sweat, we find ourselves in a house on a hill in North Carolina. It's a simple enough place, but comfortable and ours. Although we sometimes miss the hustle and bustle of New York, the air up here is clean. The nights are cool, and we are lulled to sleep daily by a chorus of birds and insects. When the sun cuts through canopy and graces us with its light, the beauty of our new home is staggering. The grace of this land is awesome, and it seems a crime now that we might not have ever found it.
Eric has found within himself a strength he did not know he had. He has quickly learned to handle axes, hammers and hoes. He was always an excellent marksman, but he has learned to hunt and track game. Fraser's nephew lived with the natives, the Indians in these hills, and from him Eric has learned the art of becoming a quiet, patient and even fierce survivor. As for me, I have had to learn quickly the domestic duties that I never thought would be my lot. Don't laugh dear Delilah, but I have learned to wash clothing, darn socks, wash floors, sweep, and any other chore needed. I have even learned to skin, clean and cook the various animals that Eric brings home.
But the best of my days are spent with Mrs. Fraser. She is a doctor, and an extraordinary one at that. She refuses to adhere to the medical practices of the day, following instead her own gut feelings and skills. Delilah, she can cure almost any ailment, mend any bone! In fact, I have even seen her open a man up to the guts, pull out a stray bullet, and put him back together again, all without a hint of infection, mind you. In two weeks, the man was on his feet and tilling again!
While I apprentice with Mrs. Fraser and join her for her daily medical rounds, Eric has become something of a second in command on the ridge. Most of the inhabitants are uneducated, illiterate, with minimal mathematical skills and fiercely religious – not ideal leadership candidates. In Eric, Fraser has found someone equally as clever, and dare I say, equally as stubborn.
Life has found a rhythm again, and Delilah, I couldn't be happier. For the first time since our little 'secret' was let loose, we feel at ease and ready for the future. We discuss daily whether or not to let our landlords, and now friends, know the truth about us. We battle over the consequences of both telling and keeping quiet, and to be honest… we are always left undecided.
I wish you were here. I wish I could ask you. I wish I could hold your hand and show you the glorious land that is our new home. Alas, you are there, and I am here, and dearest Delilah, I can't even know if you will ever receive this letter. Please know that you will always remain a sister to my heart.
With all my sincerity,
Susannah Northman
Fraser's Ridge,
North Carolina,
December 18, 1777
Jackson,
We have decided that before the start of the New Year, we must tell the Frasers of our 'gifts.' We have no way of knowing if this is wise or dangerous. However, our consciences will not let us live any longer harboring such knowledge. We know from experience that they will not believe us at first. We know that they will think us drunk or insane at first. We know this because you and Delilah thought it of us when we first told you. We are forever grateful that you did not cast us out then. You let us prove it to you. Furthermore, and perhaps even more wonderful after being shown, you still did not flee or chastise us. We can only pray for the same result here.
We do not come to this decision lightly. How could we? However, a very important change is about to be upon us, and we must act. If we were with you, we would celebrate like kings! But we are not, so we raise our glasses to our absentee friends and drink deeply because, dear friend, we are going to have a child! I couldn't be more thrilled. Sookie is in a constant state of flushed glory.
So now you see why we have come to our decision. Jackson, please pray for the health of our child and our continued residence on Fraser's Ridge.
With hope,
Eric Northman
A/N
So I'm sure there are some questions, and maybe even a few pies thrown at my mini cliffie, but stick with me ok?
I'll answer any questions that I won't be answering in the future, as usual.
So, the rev button wants to know what Octavia would find out about you if she were to hold your hand?
