Jamie p.o.v.
It is still early in the morning when Murtagh wakes me. "Wake up lad. We're going home." I get out of bed and dress myself. Murtagh hands me a piece bread and I cup of milk. Apparently someone brought breakfast here this morning, but I didn't notice. I feel Murtagh's eyes stare at me.
"How are you Jamie? You're so quiet this morning." He appears to be concerned about me.
"I'm fine Murtagh. Just don't have a lot to say." He doesn't seem to believe me, but at least he doesn't ask any more questions. We meet Jenny and Ian outside and get on our horses to resume the ride home to Lallybroch.
Before I know it we're there. I almost can't remember anything from the ride. It's weird I haven't felt like this before. The last five years I've felt all kinds of emotions every day, but today… I feel nothing. I'm empty. It's almost as if I'm sleepwalking. I'm just not really here.
I tell Jenny, Ian and Murtagh that I'm going to take care of the horses for a bit. I need some time to myself. They respect my choice and go inside, and I get to work.
Claire p.o.v.
I wake up early from a restless sleep. I made a decision last night. I'm going back. I have to take my chances and see if I still have a place at Lallybroch. I'm meeting Mrs. Graham in about two hours and she's going to take me to Craigh na Dun. This time will be different from the first time since I now have time to prepare myself. Mrs. Graham promised me she'd find me some appropriate clothes to wear, and I am going to try and find some things in town that I can use as payment methods when I go back. I mean, the money I have now I won't be able to use when I go through the stones.
I get out of bed and take a shower, my last one for a long while if everything goes according to plan. But maybe I'll be able to build some type of shower at Lallybroch… that would be nice. When I'm dressed I go downstairs to have a quick breakfast, and then I go into town to hopefully find what I need.
A little more than an hour later I have found enough to be able to support myself financially for quite a while. To my surprise I was actually able to find quite a lot of shillings and I also bought some stuff like gold jewelry to be able to trade with someone if necessary. I was also able to get my hands on a few medical supplies. I got myself two scalpels, tweezers and most importantly I managed to get three vials of penicillin and a syringe with a few needles.
My heart skips a beat when Mrs. Graham's car pulls up in front of Mrs. Baird's bed and breakfast. I grab the small bag with all the stuff I bought and thank Mrs. Baird before stepping outside to meet Mrs. Graham. She smiles when she sees me. "Are you ready?"
"Yes. I'm ready." She gives me a hug.
"Get in the car lass. I managed to find you some appropriate clothing, it's in the back. You can change clothes when we get there."
I nod and get in on the passenger side of the car. The drive luckily doesn't take long. I nearly jump out of the car after it's been parked. Mrs. Graham opens the trunk and there it is… on of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. Mrs. Graham tells me she found the dress in a second hand shop and she made the undergarments and the corset herself. It warms my heart that she did all of that for me in such a short time.
We find a place near some bushes to change my clothes. Just to be sure no one sees us. I almost forgot how much work it is to get dressed in these kind of clothes. The outfit is actually a two piece. The bodice and sleeves are an earthy brown color and the skirt is this beautiful dark emerald green color. It fits me just perfectly.
Then Mrs. Graham hands me a satchel. It's beautifully made from a brown leather. I put all the stuff I bought in it, and then I'm ready to go. My heart is beating out of my chest. I don't think I've ever been this nervous.
"Thank you for everything Mrs. Graham." I hug her.
She brushes a stray hair out of my face. "No need to thank me dear. Now, go find your family." She gives me a slight push towards the stone circle.
I take the first steps slowly, but my pace quickens the closer I get until I'm standing in front of the center stone. The buzzing sound is so loud I can't even hear my own thoughts. My whole body trembles as I lift up my hand, and then I touch the stone. My body feels as though I'm falling forward and then it all turns black.
Jamie p.o.v.
I've been working in the stables the whole afternoon until I get called in for supper. I take my place at the head of the table. We start eating in silence. It's like they're all afraid to talk to me or something. This silence is very uncomfortable so I need to do something about it.
"Have you guys lost your tongues or something?" I ask them while trying to smile. I don't want them to worry about me.
"No, of course not." Jenny responds next to me. "I just don't know what to say to you Jamie. It's hard seeing you like this."
"I'm going to be okay. It would help to just keep the normal day to day things going. I don't want you all to tread lightly around me. So let's just talk about the normal things." It stays silent a bit longer, until Ian speaks up.
"So, I was thinking it might be a good idea to do some work in the field tomorrow. The three of us." He looks at Murtagh and I. "Maybe we could get started on planting those potatoes."
"Sounds like a plan." Murtagh chimes in.
The rest of the supper we make some small talk but I am glad when I can leave the table again. It's already getting dark outside.
"I'm going to do a final check on the horses and the stables and then I'm gonna go to bed." I say as I'm getting up. I'm not waiting for a reply but just walk towards the front door.
Claire p.o.v.
When I open my eyes my sight is blurry for a while, but when it clears I sit up to look around me. The road is gone and so is Mrs. Graham. This means it must have worked. Judging by the position of the sun and looking at the shadows I guess it must be early in the afternoon. That would mean that I've been unconscious for at least two hours. A shiver runs down my spine… it seems to take a higher toll every time I come through the stones. But if everything goes to plan, this will be the last time I've needed them.
I start walking down a path. If I'm correct the nearest village is about thirty minutes away by horse, so maybe a walk of an hour and a half? My plan is to try and buy a horse there and then make my way to Lallybroch. If I will be able to find a horse fairly quickly I should be able to make it to Lallybroch just before nightfall.
After two hours of walking I finally make it to the village. It was so quiet on the way here I only ran into two people. The last time I was here was the day of the battle of Culloden, everything was a chaos then, but now it's so peaceful. It takes me about half an hour to find someone willing to sell me a horse. I have no idea how much would be normal to pay for a horse and I think I may have paid the man way to much, but I really don't care. I just want to get to Lallybroch as fast as possible. I quickly buy some bread to eat while I'm riding and then I leave to continue my journey.
It's getting dark earlier than I thought, but I'm starting to recognize things so I know I don't have far to go. About twenty minutes later I see it, Lallybroch. Even in the dark it's as beautiful as ever. I ride up to it as quick as the horse will let me. I tie the horse to a tree just outside of the archway. I start walking through the archway when the front door of the house suddenly opens. I stop dead in my tracks. I have to lean against the archway to keep up right.
My mind is playing tricks with me. In the light of the torch hanging by the door I see a man step out of the house. His back is turned towards me, but I would know that silhouette anywhere. His red curly hair glows in the firelight. Jamie. That's impossible. He died at Culloden… right? My heartbeat quickens and I want to call out his name but all the strength just leaves my body. Then, for the second time that day, my world turns black. I'm unconscious before my body hits the ground.