But they were pitted against each other, and as the crowd screamed out, they had no choice but to gallop towards one another. At the last second, Sam raised his lance just enough to miss her, allowing her to strike him square in the chest. Caitlin watched as, for the first time that day, Sam fell from his horse, hitting the ground hard. She then noticed the confused and surprised expression on Polly’s face. Clearly, Sam had taken a fall for her.
As the day grew long, the jousting eventually subsided, and was replaced with other contests and games. There were games of throwing small metal balls into circular targets; games of lifting heavy boulders and throwing them; games with slingshots, with bows and arrows, and even games with spears, aiming for fish in a flowing creek.
Scarlet came running up to Caitlin when they took out the bows and arrows. “Please, Mommy, can I try?” she pleaded.
Caleb looked down at her. “I don’t see why not.”
Scarlet ran off with a delighted squeal, Ruth following. She grabbed the bows and arrows and took aim, with all the other warriors, at distant targets.
An amazed crowd began to gather around the girl, as one by one, warriors stopped what they were doing and stared. Caitlin, too was in shock. Scarlet hit every target perfectly, putting the grown warriors to shame. Caitlin couldn’t believe it. Clearly, Scarlet had an innate skill. Caitlin wondered where it came from, and she felt more proud of her than ever.
As a never-ending stream of games and competitions came and went, the day grew more and more festive. Competitions started to peter out, replaced with banter, laughter and camaraderie, as more food and wine and blood were rolled out into the fields. As the sun slowly began to set, painting the sky in a blanket of orange, it transitioned to a full-fledged party, the day’s former opponents all hugging each other, sharing drinks and huge pieces of meat over roasting fires. The tournaments transitioned to a feast.
Caitlin found Caleb, and the two shared drinks and food, laughing with human and vampire opponents they had fought on the field, surrounded by dozens of well-wishers, as torches were lit, the music grew louder, and the feast seemed to grow bigger and bigger. Caitlin fell her heart warm, surrounded by so many people she loved. It had not only been a fun day, but also a productive one, sharpening her skills in many ways, and teaching her much about Scarlet, too. It had also brought her and Caleb so much closer. She felt his love for her, and she felt the same. She was excited to think that the first step to their wedding day was now behind them, and that now they were that much closer to being wed.
“Now it’s time to plan the wedding!” she yelled out excitedly, and a chorus of girls cheered their approval.
“It’s going to be the most beautiful wedding you’ve ever seen,” Polly said.
“I already have ideas about the flowers,” Taylor chimed in.
Caitlin felt a bit overwhelmed, as all the girls suddenly began to chime in with their opinions.
Before she could respond, she noticed something in the distance, over their shoulders, that made her stop in her tracks.
At first she thought she was seeing things, that it was an apparition. But then, as she watched, she saw it was real.
She felt the glass goblet slip from her fingers and crash to the ground, as she stood there, frozen, not believing what she saw.
There, in the distance, standing at the edge of the wood, watching her with his intense eyes, was a man she could never forget.
It was Blake.
CHAPTER TEN
Sam hadn’t felt this happy in years. He’d a fun day of jousting with everyone, of joining in all the festivities surrounding Caitlin and Caleb’s tournament day. He also, he had to admit, felt thrilled to be near Polly. In truth, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. He wondered if she realized he’d taken a fall for her on the jousting field. Fate had them paired against each other, and he knew there was little else he could do: in a million years, he would never lay a finger on her.
As they had rolled out vats of wine and of blood-infused alcohol, brought out huge slabs of meat roasting on a spit, Sam drank and ate and joined in the merriment. But he also kept finding himself looking for Polly. He spotted her hovering around Caitlin, already exuberant in her role as Maid of Honor, even more excited than usual as she discussed wedding preparations. Sam had kept waiting for an opportunity to take her aside, but none seemed to present itself.
It was a rowdy and bustling crowd of hundreds of vampires and human warriors, and as the drinking and feasting went on, the merriment turned into an outright dancing party. More musicians came, the music grew louder, the drink stronger, and people paired up, dancing in old-fashioned ways, locking arms and spinning in one circle, then locking arms and spinning in another. Men grabbed each other by the shoulder, forming circles, spinning round and round, and women grabbed women. Then they all switched off, and men and women danced with each other. There were smaller circles and bigger circles, couples breaking off and dancing with each other…It was spontaneous and chaotic, and Sam had never had so much fun.
Sam went from dancing in a circle of twelve men, to dancing in a circle of eight men and women, to locking arms with a human warrior he didn’t know and spinning as fast as he could in one direction, then another. Partners were handed off to other partners, and Sam found himself dancing with nearly everyone in the field. At one point, he locked arms with Caitlin, and they danced in a circle, and both looked up, and laughed to see that they were dancing with each other. Sam was delighted to see her so happy. After that, he had danced with Caleb, and he’d felt happy, once again, that this would be his brother-in-law.
After several more dances, Sam found himself handed off and locking arms with someone else.
The second he locked arms, Sam felt an electric thrill run through his body, and he did not need to look up to see who it was. Every pore in his body told him.
Polly.
Sam was almost nervous to look up and meet her eyes. He did slowly, and saw the most beautiful pair of blue eyes smiling back at him.
They spun around and around, first in one direction, then another, the music louder and louder.
But instead of letting go, and switching to a new partner, as he had done every few seconds throughout the day, he held onto her. He found that she held onto him, too. Despite all the people trying to cut in, neither of them changed partners, for several minutes, until the song finally ended.
There was a lull in the music, and as the crowd cheered, the two of them stood there, staring at each other. Sam found his eyes locked with hers, and neither of them seemed willing to look away.
Slowly, their smiles dropped, as their looks became more serious.
Sam felt he couldn’t let her drift off into the crowd and dance with someone else. He needed to be with her. To talk to her. He wasn’t sure exactly what he would say, but he did know that he didn’t want to be without her at his side.
As she stood there, looking at him, Sam fumbled for words. He knew that he wanted to take her away from here, from this boisterous crowd. To be alone with her. But he didn’t quite know what to say. He found himself nervous to ask her. What if she said no?
“Um…” Sam began, “do you think—do you—I mean—want to—I mean…” Sam looked down, embarrassed. Finally, he summoned the courage and looked back up.
Polly was looking at him with a confused expression, waiting.
“Would you like to take a walk with me?” Sam asked, feeling his cheeks blushing.
Polly slowly smiled, raising an eyebrow.
“Do you mean just the two of us? Alone?” she asked, playfully.
Sam felt his heart pounding. It was strange, but he felt as if he were meeting Polly for the first time. And he didn’t understand her hesitation. Was she just being playful? Or was she not interested?
“I mean—um—only if you want—I don’t want to—um—interrupt you or anything—” Polly smiled.
“Of course, I would love to,” she said.
Sam br
oke into a smile, incredibly relieved. He held out an arm, and as she linked arms with him, the two of them walked off, through the crowd. The music was starting up again, and the others were beginning a new dance.
But Sam barely heard the music, and he clutched her tightly as they walked through the crowd and into the open field, he hoped that nothing would get between them again.
*
Sam was awestruck at the landscape as he walked with Polly, holding hands, into the sunset. He saw the horizon aglow in shades of red and purple, and he thought once again that this island was the most beautiful place he’d ever been. Before him stretched a vista of mountains, valleys, hills, and in the far distance, he could see the great open expanse that was the ocean. The hills were covered in a rich, vibrant green moss, and as they walked in the soft grass, they passed a roaring creek, and a small waterfall. He felt as if he were standing in the very place where Earth was created.
The two of them strolled at a casual pace, and while many minutes had passed since they’d left the party, neither of them had spoken a word. It was partly because the scene was breathtaking, but also, Sam realized, because he found himself nervous, tongue-tied. And he could sense that Polly was, too.
He wasn’t sure exactly what it was he wanted to say to her. He just wanted to be with her, to spend time with her, to be alone with her. He guessed that what he had to say, to express, was non-verbal.
Sam didn’t quite understand the strong feelings that were taking over him for Polly. He hadn’t felt this way about her when they’d first met, and he’d never felt this way for any other girl before.
He’d been attracted to other girls before, but with Polly, it was different: it was deeper than mere attraction. He didn’t quite understand what was happening to him, or how it all happened so quickly.
It seemed like only yesterday that he didn’t think he was interested in Polly at all, and that he was convinced that she wasn’t interested in him, either.
But since landing back in this time and place, he finally realized how much she meant to him.
Still, he didn’t quite know how to express it. He didn’t want to scare her away, and he was nervous to say anything, in case she didn’t feel the same way about him.
“Sorry to take you away from the party,” Sam said, not knowing what else to say.
Polly gave him a funny look, and he immediately regretted his choice of words. It was not at all what he’d meant to say.
“Why are you sorry?” Polly asked. “I’m not sorry.”
“Um…I mean…” Sam began, “…I mean, like, I didn’t mean to interrupt things.”
“So then why did you invite me out?” Polly asked.
“No reason,” Sam said quickly, and regretted it again.
He didn’t seem able to stop himself from saying the wrong thing, and his momentum seemed to carry him. “Just to get some fresh air, I guess.”
Polly gave him another funny look, and he regretted it even more. Why couldn’t he just come out and say what was on his mind? He knew that vampires could read minds, and in this case, he really wished that Polly would just read his, and make it easier on him. But it seemed that she wasn’t trying to, or didn’t want to.
“Oh,” Polly said. “I thought that, maybe, it was something more than that.”
“Like what?” Sam asked.
Now he was really kicking himself. You are such an idiot, he thought to himself. He had wanted to say: yes, it was something else. I brought you here to tell you how I feel about you. But he didn’t seem to be able to summon the courage.
Polly, looking disappointed, shrugged, and the two of them continued to walk, up and down the mossy hills, in silence.
Having messed it up so much, Sam now really had no idea what to say to break the silence. He was furious with himself for not having the courage to express what was on his mind.
Thankfully, the terrain changed. They walked up a small hill, and suddenly, before them, was the most breathtaking view he’d ever seen: down below, hundreds of feet, was the ocean, lit up in every shade of red and orange and purple he could imagine. They stood at the edge of a cliff, and from where they were, it seemed as if they were looking out at the entire universe.
“Wow,” Sam whispered.
Sam couldn’t take his eyes off the view. That is, until he caught the reflection in Polly’s eyes. He found himself turning and staring at her, instead.
Polly must have sensed his staring, because she eventually turned and looked back at him.
Their eyes locked.
Sam could feel his breath shortening, his heartbeat racing. He had no idea what to say from here.
He found it relatively easy to interact with girls when he didn’t care as much. But he’d never found himself caring for someone as much as this.
Sam couldn’t understand it. Polly had always been so talkative; in fact, he could barely remember a time when she hadn’t filled the air with conversation. Now, on this painfully quiet walk, she had barely said a word. Why now, of all times, when he needed her to talk the most?
Finally, thankfully, Polly broke the silence.
“Why did you take the fall for me in our joust?” Polly asked softly, staring into his eyes.
Sam swallowed, not sure how to respond. He was determined, this time, not to mess it up.
“Because I could never hurt you,” he said. Then, feeling a burst of courage, he added, “I would always take the fall for you.”
Sam was proud of himself, and expected that Polly would finally understand how much he cared for her.
But to his surprise, instead, her brow furrowed in consternation.
“I don’t need you, or anyone else, to take the fall for me,” she snapped, clearly offended. “I’m a perfectly good fighter in my own right. I’d rather lose because I lost then lose because someone threw a match for me.”
Sam didn’t know what to say. This was not how he had pictured this going at all. He’d thought she’d be grateful that he took the fall, and couldn’t understand why she was so upset.
“Um…” he began, “I wasn’t trying to upset you.”
“Then why did you do it?” she answered, more firmly, her brow still creased.
Sam had no choice. He knew that it was now or never.
“Because I love you,” he heard himself saying, flatly.
It was a surreal moment, as if someone else were there, saying the words, planting them in his mouth. He could not believe that he’d somehow summoned the courage to say it.
Polly stared at him, seeming surprised, too, and slowly, her facial expression shifted from anger to disbelief. For the first time, Polly seemed speechless.
Sam’s heart was pounding in his chest, and he could barely breathe. But at least he had done it.
Now, if she didn’t feel the same, she could walk away. Sam half-expected her to respond that she liked him as a friend, but didn’t feel the same way about him, and then turn and walk away. He braced himself.
But, to his surprise, she stood in place, and stared back. He wished that now, more than ever, he could read her mind. But vampire mind-reading always seemed off limits when it came to matters of love. Sam knew that it was now or never.
As the sun broke through a dark patch in the clouds, lighting up the entire horizon, slowly lighting her face and glowing blue eyes, Sam stepped forward, leaned in and brought his lips to hers.
Her lips were the softest thing he had ever felt.
But at first, they didn’t kiss him back. He waited a moment, hoping that she would kiss him back, hoping he hadn’t made a fool of himself.
And then, a second later, she did.
And as she did, he felt his entire world melting into hers. And he knew that, finally, he had found true love.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Caitlin found herself walking, in the twilight, by herself, as the mist spread over the Isle of Skye.
Her party long ended, she’d felt the need to take a long walk, to clear her head
. As she walked, she looked down, and saw the mossy terrain, and noticed her bare feet were sinking into it, and she wondered why she hadn’t worn shoes.
She looked up, and found herself crossing a small, arched footbridge, and as she looked over the edge, she saw a drop of hundreds of feet, down into the raging ocean. She somehow knew that if she slipped off this bridge, even an inch, her life would be over.
She crossed the bridge, which seemed to take forever, and as she reached the other side, she looked up, and through the mist, there came into view an enormous castle—the largest and most fantastical castle she had ever seen, replete with arches and spires in every direction, and encircled by a moat. As she approached, slowly, the drawbridge lowered, creaking, and then landed with a slam.
She continued walking, onto the heavy oak of the bridge, and suddenly, there was a lone figure in the entrance, appearing out of the mist.
She felt her heart stop.
Blake.
Caitlin stopped in her tracks, her heart pounding, and as she did, he walked out to her. He reached out and took her hand, and accompanied her, leading her towards the entrance.
She knew, she just knew, that this was his castle.
A part of her wanted to turn and run; but she was helpless. She let him lead her, through the entrance, and as he did, the drawbridge slammed shut behind them, locking them in.
The castle was cavernous and dim, lit only by sporadic torchlight. She found herself being led up a marble, winding staircase, up and up, past an endless number of floors. He then led her down corridor after corridor, until finally, they reached a massive, arched door. She knew this was his room.
He reached up and opened the door and Caitlin, thinking of Caleb, wondering where he was, wanted to turn and run.
But as Blake took her hand, she found herself helpless to resist.
He picked her up and carried her in his arms into the room. His brown eyes blazed with the intensity that she remembered.