Chapter 4 – Awakening
BPOV
I question myself every day, and the questions I have been asking myself lately have no answers. And answers were what I needed.
What was going on with me? Why was I in Scotland months before Maribella left? Was I supposed to learn something as Laird McCullough said? Or, was I to do something? And I needed to find Carlisle. He would help me sort out my swirling thoughts.
More than the clan's and my future were on the line. The clan's future depended on me not saying too much during my sojourn through history. The future of Edward and his family was on my shoulders. Edward had the most remarkable eyes, and when I had looked into them, I saw the future. It was happy and what I wanted. Would it happen? Had I already said too much? Had I become the butterfly whose fluttering wings caused a hurricane hundreds of thousands of miles away? I wouldn't be sure until I returned home.
And I wouldn't return home until I had the answers I sought.
I groaned rolling over. My ankle throbbed, reminding me I had blacked out soon after injuring it. When I opened my eyes and found myself staring into Edward's remarkable gold eyes again. He was wearing the same shirt as he had been when he found me in the woods, but I could be projecting that meeting to this one.
"Hi," I said weakly, playing it cool.
"How are you feeling, Bella?" Edward's velvety and musical voice asked.
"My ankle hurts, uh… I'm sorry I forgot your name," I admitted, sadly. I grimaced. I shouldn't have mentioned the pain in my ankle.
"Edward," he answered. "My father, Carlisle—he's a doctor—examined you thoroughly and saw no signs of an injured ankle."
"Well, with my fall off the horse," I started and he interrupted.
"You fell from a horse," he said, eyes going wide.
There was no going back, so I had continued. "Yes. When I was finally able to get up, I saw an arrow quivering in a tree."
Edward got up from the chair. "I don't recall seeing any arrow," he said, running his hands through his hair. "You did say your head hurt but I have never…" he trailed off, turning back to look at me before going to the open door. "Carlisle," he yelled.
"Be right there," came a voice from below that I knew was Carlisle's.
Edward returned and sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you positive you were riding a horse?"
"Of course, I'm positive. Did the guard find the horse?"
"Guard? What guard?" he asked, his face was contorted in confusion.
"Laird McGregor sent his guard to chase down the horse after Laird McCullough pushed me from said horse. McCullough told McGregor it was an unseen enemy," I said, continuing the ruse Laird McCullough had asked me to play.
Edward stared at me, open-mouthed, and seemed to be at a loss of what to say.
"Bella, you're awake. I can finish examining you," Carlisle said from the door.
EPOV
My gaze followed Bella's. Carlisle was in the doorway.
"Carlisle, can I speak to you a moment before you do?" I asked, standing.
"Certainly, Edward. If you would excuse us a moment," Carlisle said to Bella before following me into the hall.
"You heard what she said, didn't you?"
He nodded.
"Do you see an arrow? Smell a horse?" I asked.
He was silent for a long moment. No thoughts passed through his mind. At length, he spoke, "Let me talk to her. Did you find anything out about who she is?"
"No, I didn't have a chance," I replied. "She started rambling about horses, an enemy, and lairds. The only name I recognized was McGregor."
Carlisle looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'll see what I can find out. Go on downstairs, Edward," he said, entering my room.
BPOV
It wasn't surprising when Carlisle came back in a minute after he and Edward left me.
"Now, Bella, my son tells me your ankle hurts," Carlisle said, taking the seat Edward had vacated.
"Yes, it is throbbing."
"May I," he asked politely. I nodded as he pulled back the covers, placing a gentle and cool hand on my aching ankle. "Would you do something for me, Bella?"
"Wiggle my toes?" I asked, keeping up the next ruse of me never having met him before.
"Not just yet," he said with a gentle smile. "Point to the ceiling with your right index finger. Say silence while twirling it."
I gave him a confused look before doing as he asked. He shouldn't have known about my powers, but yet he did, suggesting we had met, although it is not a memory I have as of yet.
"Thank you," he said. "Push against my hand."
"Ouch!" I said, wincing.
"I know that hurts, but I don't think it is broken. To yield on the side of caution, I'll wrap it in a bit. Now, Miss Swan," he said.
"How do you know my surname?" I asked.
"This is not the first time we have met, Bella. I know many things. Things you have told me and asked me to keep secret. How old are you?"
"What is the date?"
"September 13."
"The year?"
"2228."
"Then today is my fourteenth birthday," I remarked.
"Happy Birthday," he said with a smile before continuing. "This is the youngest I have seen you, but I have a feeling you are much older."
I tried not to react to him knowing that.
"The first time I saw you was the day you were pushed from the horse, though you didn't see me. I wanted to come to your aid then, but then I heard others coming. McGregor didn't fully trust me. McCullough did see me, though, and motioned for me to stay back."
For some reason, I believe what he was saying. "Then you know I am traveling through time."
"Yes," he answered. "You told me before Maribella gave you a potion. You fell asleep and then I was handed the same potion. Only I didn't drink it."
I gave him a confused look, not sure if that was what Maribella gave me.
He sighed. "It was a memory-erasing potion. The whole hunting party, save McCullough, was given it. The McGregor Clan was given the potion, too."
That made sense. "So, how have I come to be here?" I asked.
Carlisle gave me a quizzical look before answering. "Bella, you told me you would appear in the woods, though you wouldn't tell me when."
"When did we meet?" I asked.
"Two years after McCullough pushed you from the horse," Carlisle informed me. "Do you remember the meeting?"
"No. It seems it hasn't happened yet."
Carlisle sighed. "I figured as much. If you encounter Maribella again, don't drink any of her potions."
I nodded.
"Have I changed the future?" I asked, needing to know.
"Not in the least. Your grandmother visited me at the hospital I work at before she passed away and reminded me about your trip through time. She knew I'm your anchor. She told me you would be confused and in the need of answers. You are meant to learn something," Carlisle said.
"What am I to learn?" I queried.
"That I don't know."
Silence enveloped us as I thought over what I had seen and heard. "I recognized a few people that I have only seen in paintings," I said, speaking more to myself than to Carlisle. "The first person I came across is my greatest grandmother, but she said her surname was McGregor. That doesn't make any sense. She was a McCullough. She also called her father Uncle McCullough and a gentleman I didn't recognize at all as father."
"Seems to me you learned something and have more questions. Seek out your answers."
"Where? From who?"
Carlisle shrugged and raised a finger. The door opened as he asked me to follow it.
"Aside from your swollen ankle and your memory loss, you're in perfect health."
"That's good to hear," Edward said.
"So until I remember my last name," I said, looking at Carlisle.
"You'll stay here," he answered.
I heard something crash against a wall.
"Do you think that's a good idea, Carlisle," Edward asked, looking over his shoulder.
"All we're doing is giving her aid, nothing more. Memory is a tricky thing," he replied, winking at me.
Grandmother had always told me that right before she performed a spell on me. The words to her spell came back to me. I had a feeling I would be using them and soon.
