Yet again, I've fallen in love with another TV show, and also the books of "Outlander" and most importantly; I fell in love with Jamie's character.

After I started to read the book, and watch the series, I had this thought in my head I couldn't get rid of, so I decided to give it a go.

I hope you'll like it too, and please tell me what you think, and if you want me to continue this or not.

Please, enjoy the journey Ceana is about to take!

I do not own "Outlander" only my Oc

*cathrineoriginal*

Sassenach

I never thought of myself as believer of things. Of love, of marriage, of life itself. I witnessed the war close at hand. I never thought in a million years I would survive it. In the years that followed, after the war, I learned that I would survive so much more, that I had to endure so much more than another girl my age.

My best friend, married his woman just before the war broke out. I always had a soft spot for him, and always wished that he would've picked me over her… Claire Beauchamp. But no, Frank Randall always thought of me as a younger sister. Which made me think that I was destined for a life alone.

That's why I found it strange when Frank wanted me to come along on the second honeymoon he wanted Claire to have. He told me he didn't want to leave me behind with all the unsuitable males, as he so cautiously put it. I know he really wanted me to join him to find out more about his ancestors. Mainly because as I worked as a historian and had a love for the unknown, and after the second world war, people came to me, to know more about their family's history. I've been swamped for the last year.

But my main passion, was the untold stories, or the stories that people didn't seem to understand, that secretly, I understood. When one first families came to me, in the hope of finding their loved ones after the war, I wanted to do what I could, but it wasn't easy. I never thought for once, that I would be the loved one who would soon be lost…

People disappear all the time. Young girls run away from home. Children stray from their parents and are never seen again. Housewives take the grocery money and a taxi to the train station. Most are found, eventually. Disappearance, after all, have explanations.

Usually.

Strange, the things you remember. Single images and feelings that stay with you down through the years. Like the moment I realized I'd never experienced something as true as love. That I've never lived in any place long enough to justify having such a simple thing. And, how at that moment, I wanted nothing so much in all the world as to have someone that loves me in return. Someone that I can look at with a smile and call home. A love I can call my very own.

I don't see how it's possible to experience my chance at love, when my best friend is dragging me all around England and Scotland, keeping me away from those wishful thoughts, those men who could maybe one day, offer me that love. But another part of me, wanted to know more about the unknown history, the parts one knew little about. I wanted to find my place in this world. I just didn't know how.

So, here I was, sitting in the back of Frank's car, wished for nothing more than that I was the one sitting in the front with him, but that's Claire's spot. I'm never going to fill that space, no matter what.

Claire was a wonderful woman. She taught me everything I needed to know about treating injuries, about being able to heal those that need it. But I didn't see the need. I wasn't planning on doing stuff like that…. Ever…

My name is Ceana or as Frank likes to call me, Kenna. Ceana is the Scottish version of my name, and I got that from my father. He was Scottish, but no one talked about him, not after he told me that I was a mistake. How cruel people can be. I was proud of my name.

Frank drove into the city of Inverness, with a huge smile on his face, grasping the site that was in front of us. The sun was shining, and I could finally feel somewhat free. I tilted my head back, and let the wind run through my hair. I caught a glimpse of Frank staring at me through the rear-view mirror, giving me that smile that I tried to forget. Why wouldn't he let me stay at home?

We arrived at Inverness, and the town was rather quiet. I looked around, and saw blood on smeared above the doors. I found it fascinating.

"What do you suppose that is?" Frank asked, seeing how I was captivated by it.

"Oh, good lord! Blood!" Claire exclaimed, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Are you sure?" Frank asked.

"I think I should know the look of blood by now." Claire said, and it made me chuckle.

"There's a stain just like it on the house next door." I said, making them aware that several houses had the same mark.

"We seem to be surrounded by homes marked with blood." Frank said, trying to scare me.

"Give it a rest, Frank. You know well enough that I don't scare easily. Maybe it has something to do with a celebration or something. A ritual like the one Moses told his people to sacrifice a lamb to avoid death." I said, laughing a little as I did.

"You may be closer than you think. But I suspect it to be more pagan rather than Hebrew." Frank answered and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I had no idea Inverness was a hotbed of contemporary paganism." Claire said, looking flirtatious at her husband. I could feel the jealousy burn within me.

"Oh, my dear, there's no place on earth with more magic and superstition mixed into its daily life than the Scottish islands." I said, opening the door without waiting for a response.

"Well, shall we?" Frank said, gesturing to his wife. As we checked in, I wandered around a little, looking at the paintings, the books on the shelves. I think I'm going to like it here. This is my kind of town. I looked out the window, and it was all so quiet. My eyes caught the blood on the door once again. And it made me wonder.

"The blood you saw is that of a black cockerel. It's an old custom at this time of year to make such a sacrifice to honor Saint Odhran." The sweet lady said, with her thick Scottish accent.

"Ah, Odhran. He was sainted in the The eighth century?" Frank asked, showing off from all the things that I thought him.

"You know your history."

"Oh, please. He's only repeating what I taught him." I said with a grin, making him throw his hat at me.

I'm afraid my husband and his best friend is historians, Mrs. Baird. They'd quite happily stand here holding forth for hours - if you encourage" Claire said, playfully.

"Hardly. Highland folklore is far from my specialty, but am I right in thinking there is. Isn't there an old saying associated with Saint Odhran?" I said, joining them at the desk.

"Yes. The earth went over Odhrain's eyes. He, um he was buried alive, voluntarily.

"Charming." Claire said with a shudder.

"Are you a professor, then, Mr. Randall?

"I will be soon." Frank answered her, and I remember him telling me about his job. I was so proud of him.

"He's accepted a post at Oxford beginning in two weeks." Claire said, also being very proud of her man.

"Ah, then this is a last holiday before settling down to workaday life again, is it? Well, you've picked a Bonnie time to be here." Mrs. Baird told us. "Just nigh on Samhain."

I take it that's Gaelic for "Halloween"?

I kind of spaced out of the conversation. I stared into nothingness, my eyes searching for something that wasn't there.

For some reason, I could almost feel a pull toward that nothingness. As if someone was calling me. Everything around me became a blur, and it actually became harder to breathe or think about anything else. It was calling for me. It felt as if it was calling me home.

"Ceana, are you okay, darling?" Frank asked, when he saw the pale look on my face.

"Yes, everything is fine. Just a bit tired, that's all." I said, tearing my eyes away from that mountain top.

Well, lassie, as I said: you're all welcome at the festival, of course. Mind you, ghosts are freed on the feast days." Mrs. Baird told us, not keeping her eyes off me. "They'll be wandering about, free to do good or ill as they please."

"Of course, what would Halloween, Samhain, be without a good ghost story?" Claire agreed.

"Oh, and we have those, for sure. I'll show you to your room." Mrs. Baird said and walked towards the stairs.

I walked into my room to freshen up. I was glad that I had a room as far away from Frank and Claire as it could possibly be. I did not fancy the thought of staying in the room next door, hearing them going at it like a bunch of rabbits. I had the view over town square, which I was rather happy about. I loved it here, I loved everything about this place. It reminded me of the town my grandmother lived in when she was alive. Even though my father didn't bother with me, my granny did everything with me. She gave me the love I needed, and we explored things together, and we found it fascinating.

I grabbed my book and walked out of my room. From down the hall, I could hear laughter from both Claire and Frank. I didn't need to be a scientist to know what they were up to. I felt my heart shatter. Why didn't I tell him how I felt when I had the chance? Now, it was too late.

I walked down stairs, to find a place to sit and read my book. Mrs. Baird stood behind her counter, going over some papers. Her head shot up when she saw me coming.

"Is everything all right, dear?" She asked in a motherly tone. What? Even though I am 26, I still need that comfort.

"Yes, everything is fine, thanks. Could I trouble you for a cup of tea?" I asked sweetly, and Mrs. Baird smiled back.

"Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want." Mrs. Baird answered, before disappearing into the kitchen. The rattle of the chandelier, made me look up, knowing well enough that Frank was fucking Claire into oblivion, and it tore me apart. I sat down with my book, trying not to mind the movements, but it wasn't that effective.

"Here you go, lass. A nice cup of tea." Mrs. Baird told me.

"Thank you very much." I said, grabbing the cup, as the sound of laughter boomed through the roof. I let out a sigh, before opening my book. My favorite book. I am a sucker books, and I love reading Shakespeare.

"What'cha reading there, darling?"

"William Shakespeare – As you like it" I said, showing the cover.

"I've never read that." Mrs. Baird said.

"Do you want me to read a little for you?" I asked, and Mrs. Baird couldn't say no.

"It was as sudden as two rams rushing at each other, and as quick as Julius Caesar's "I came, I saw, I conquered." Your brother and my sister had no sooner met than they gave each other a good once over; they had no sooner looked at each other than they fell in love; no sooner fell in love than they sighed; no sooner sighed than they asked each other why they had sighed; no sooner answered than they sought a solution. And in this way, degree by degree, they've built a staircase toward marriage. And they had better climb those stairs immediately, or else they'll end up in bed before they ought to. They're in the heat of passion; they simply have to be together. You couldn't beat the two of them apart.

"That was lovely, lass." Mrs. Baird told me.

"Ah, yes. I need to live vicariously through someone. Might as well be Shakespeare." I said with a sigh.

"Are you not married?"

"No, I am afraid that it will not happen to me. considering my best friend is chasing away everyone that comes remotely close." I said, looking up at the nice woman in front of me.

"Ah, yes. And it cannot be easy, seeing the man you love, with another woman." Mrs. Baird said, and I knew she had been observant when I comes to Frank.

"It's that obvious, huh?" I said, feeling my eyes starting to water.

"I know you think that he's the one for you, but I have a feeling, you'll experience a love so much greater than this. You just need to know where to look." Mrs. Baird said, and it made me want to know more, but she had already retreated to the kitchen, and she didn't come back out. I sat there, wondering if she was right? But how could I ever fall in love with someone else, when my heart already belonged to the man upstairs.

I woke up the next morning, with the feeling of someone staring at me. As if someone was invading my personal space. I opened my eyes, and Frank's face was directly in front of my own.

"Jesus Christ Superstar!" I exclaimed, pushing Frank away, knocking him off the bed.

"What the hell are you doing?" I yelled at him.

"You should have seen your face!" Frank said, rolling around on the floor in laughter.

"Why are you in my room?" I asked him, getting out of bed.

"I was coming to wake you up. Because breakfast is almost over, and we have a lot to see today. So, chop, chop." Frank said, smacking my behind. We had a really strange friendship, but he didn't know how my heart raced whenever he touched me. I wanted to tell him about my feelings so badly, but I didn't want to ruin things between us.

I was glad that we chose the Highlands for this vacation. I loved it up here, and I am glad I managed to make Frank a history nutcase, just like myself. We had countless of adventures lying at our feet.

"You see up there? Up on top there, that's Cocknammon Rock." Frank said, pointing at some rocks as we drove in the car towards our next adventure.

"And in the 17th and 18th centuries, you would have often found British army patrol up there lying in wait for Scottish rebels and brigands. Can you see how it commands the high ground in every direction? It was a perfect position for an ambush." I added, with stars in my eyes. This was unbelievable to see.

We drove for a little while, and ended up in front of some ruins. It was spectacular, and I felt at home here. It was as if I could feel the electricity of people. I could feel the buzzing of life. I know it's not possible, because this has been like this for a long time. I walked over to a little meadow beside the castle, a remote place away from everything. Something about this place, drew me to it. It looked like it could be a secret garden. On the wall, something was carved into the stone. I reached out, trying to touch it, trace the letters with my fingers. It was the letter J and the letter C and the year of 1743. I was captivated by it, and was about to touch it, when Frank sneaked up behind me.

"So, what I can gather, Castle Leoch was the ancestral home of the laird of the MacKenzie clan until midway through the nineteenth century." Frank said, scaring me to death. But he didn't notice. "Here, take a look."

Claire and I followed Frank inside the castle, and it felt strange being here. I could still smell the intoxicating flavors in the halls, I could feel the warmth of the flames from the fireplace. It all felt so lively to me. like I was meant to be here.

"I think I found the kitchen!" I yelled back to Claire and Frank. Frank practically ran down the hall to get to where I was.

"Really?"

"That's probably a hearth." I said, pointing directly in front of us. Frank looked around this place in awe. And it made me happy to see him like this.

"I have no evidence that my ancestor visited this castle, but it was within his operational sphere, so It's just possible that he walked these very halls." Frank said, and I felt a sting of jealousy when Claire kissed him. I forced myself to look away.

I took my cue to leave the happy couple, and walked into what looked like a great hall of some sort. There was old painting on the walls. I wonder why none of them had been removed. But in my mind, they belonged here. I walked further into the room, and I could almost hear the music. The sound of bagpipes, laughter.

Suddenly, it felt scary, being there alone. I quickly turned around and ran out of the hall. I needed to find Claire and Frank as quickly as possible.

I heard voices coming from some kind of basement, and walked down the stairs. I stopped midway, when I heard moaning, and I saw Claire and Frank in throes of passion. I couldn't stand seeing them like this, so I turned around quickly, and ran up the stairs again. I didn't want to stay in the castle anymore, and ran outside. I jumped into the car, and locked the doors. I don't know why I am acting like this. I buried my face in my hands, trying my best not to cry. I should just go home.

A little while later, Frank and Claire came back out. They had those stupid grins on their faces, and I wanted to rip them apart.

"What happened to you?" Frank asked as he opened the door.

"I got spooked. It was scary in there." I mumbled, but it made Frank laugh.

"You're a funny one." He said, patting me on the head like a dog. I didn't even answer him, and just leaned back on the seat. I wasn't in the mood for talking, so I just pretended to be asleep.

The days dragged on, and I tried to forget that feeling I got in that castle. But it still haunted my dreams. Frank was oblivious to it, and I wanted to keep it that way. We worked as much as we could on finding more about his ancestors, and visited the priest Inverness. He had all the records and book about this place and history.

Claire didn't want to bother us, and sat in a chair, reading a book. Frank and I looked through some papers, when I suddenly banged his fist on the table, making me jump.

"Yes, yes, yes, I found him." Frank said, smiling from ear to ear.

"Him"? - Is it is it Walter?" Claire asked.

"No, darling, Jonathan." Frank answered, handing the document to me.

"Jonathan Wolverton Randall. Captain of dragoons in the British army - and your direct ancestor." I said excitedly. This is what we've been looking for.

"Exactly. Otherwise known as "Black Jack," a rather dashing nickname that he probably acquired while he was stationed here in the 1740s. The reverend has found a series of army dispatches that mention the captain by name." Frank said, as Claire joined us.

"Oh, how exciting." She said, trying to sound interested.

"It is."

"Good to see all your sleuthing over the past week has paid off." Claire said, kissing her man.

"Yes, I was beginning to wonder. It appears black Jack commanded the Garrison at Fort William for four years or so. Seems to have spent quite a bit of his time harassing the Scottish countryside on behalf of the crown." The reverend told us, and I just found it so exciting.

"Well, he was hardly alone in that endeavor. The English were deeply unpopular throughout the Highlands in the 18th century." I said, looking over some more papers.

"Well into the 20th, it would seem. I distinctly heard the barman in the pub last night refer to us as Sassenachs." Claire said, and she seemed a little offended. I didn't, I knew what it meant.

"Well, I hope you didn't take offense. It only means "Englishman," after all. Or at worst, outlander." The reverend said, with a little laugh as Mrs. Graham walked into the room.

"I've brought you a wee bit of refreshment, gentlemen. I brought but the three cups, for I thought perhaps Ms. Hamilton might care to join me in the kitchen." She said, and I looked at her curiously. Why just me? I thought best not to ask myself that question, and smiled.

"Yes. Yes, absolutely. Thank you. I could use a break from all this." I said, getting up from my chair, which quickly was occupied by Claire.

"Ah, it's been so long since I've had a good cup of oolong." I said, sipping on my tea cup. It warmed me up nicely, which was good, because I was freezing.

"Aye. I couldn't get it during the war. It's best for the readings, though." Mrs. Graham said. "Oh, I had a terrible time with that Earl grey. The leaves fall apart so fast it's hard to tell anything at all."

"So, you read tea leaves, then?" I asked, liking this woman even more.

"Like my grandmother taught me. And her grandmother before that. Drink up your cup." Mrs. Graham said, and for once, I wanted to know what's in store for me. Because I needed to move on with my life.

"Let's see what we've got there." Mrs. Graham said, looking at my cup.

"Well? Am I going to meet a tall, dark stranger - and take a trip across the sea?" I asked, dreaming away to a faraway place.

"Could be. Or could not. Everything in its contradictory. There's a curved leaf, which indicates a journey, but it's crossed by a broken one, - which means staying put." Mrs. Graham answered, and she looked at me funny. "And there are strangers there, to be sure.

Several of them. Show me your hand, Dear." Mrs. Graham told me, and I gave it to her.

"Odd. Most hands have a likeness to them. There are patterns, you know? But This is a pattern I've not seen before." Mrs. Graham told me, and I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with me.

"The large thumb, now, means that you're strong-minded and you've a will not easily crossed. And this is your mount of Venus. In a man, it means he likes the Lasses.

But it is a bit different for a woman. To be polite about it. The fellas will have a hard time staying out of your bed when you invite them in." Mrs. Graham said, making us both laugh.

"The lifeline's interrupted, all bits and pieces. The marriage line's divided. Means two marriages." Two marriages? But I'm not even married for the first time yet.

"But Most divided lines are broken. Yours is Forked." She told me, and I couldn't understand any of it, but I wanted to know. I wanted to find that man I was supposed to marry someday. The moment between Mrs. Graham and me, was interrupted by the men coming into the kitchen in the company of Claire.

"I suspect your ancestor had a patron. A prominent and powerful man who could protect him from the censure of his superiors." The reverent told Frank.

"Possibly, but it would have to have been someone very high up in the hierarchy of the day to exert that kind of influence. The Duke of Sandringham." Frank suggested, and it was as if a light went off in the reverend's head.

"The Duke of Sandringham." The reverend said in awe.

"No, no, no. Hold on, wasn't Sandringham a suspected Jacobite himself?" I asked, butting in on their conversation.

"Aye, you know, I believe you're right. And the Duke died under very suspicious circumstances just before the battle of…." the reverent started to say, but Mrs. Graham jumped into action, saving her precious china.

"None of that, none of that. Stand away before you do some permanent damage." Mrs. Graham said, shooing the reverent out of the kitchen.

"We're getting somewhere at last." Frank told me excitedly. But I couldn't share his enthusiasm. My conversation with Mrs. Graham did something to me.

"I'm really glad to hear it, but I think it's time for me to go. I'm getting rather tired." I said, standing up. I needed some time for myself.

"Well, I hope you'll join us for Samhain tomorrow night." The reverend told me.

"What, the pagan festival? Reverend Wakefield, you do astonish me." I said, putting a hand over my heart.

"Well, I love a good ghost story as much as the next fellow." The reverend answered with a laugh.

"Could you two at least try to get home before the storm breaks?" I asked Frank as I put my coat on.

"We will." Frank called after me.

It was refreshing, walking back into town. I needed to clear my head. I'd never put any stock in superstition. And my Catholicism was nominal at best. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that Mrs. Graham's words had the ring of prophecy.

The war had taught me to cherish the present because tomorrow might not ever come to pass. What I didn't know at the time was that tomorrow would prove less important than yesterday.

When I got back to my room, I removed my clothes to take a bath. This was the only time I had to myself, and then, I was alone in my own thoughts. I was still wondering what Mrs. Graham meant by two marriages. I was afraid that it wouldn't happen for me at all. Not when the man I wanted, was already married.

After my bath, I used some time pampering myself, trying to get my hair to do as I wanted. As I stood there, a shiver ran down my spine, and I felt as if someone was watching me. I turned around, looking out the window, and I swore I saw someone standing by the fountain. I couldn't see the man properly, I couldn't see his face, but something told me that I knew him. That he would be a big part of my life. suddenly, the power died out, and I stood there in the dark, and the man was nowhere to be seen. I shook the feeling off, and started to light up some candles.

A few minutes later, Frank opened my door quickly, making me jump into the air.

Frank, you scared me." I told him, but he walked straight over to my window. "Frank, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm not at all sure that I haven't." Frank said, as Claire came into the room. We went over to their room, and Frank told us what he saw.

"When he pushed past me, he was close enough that I should have felt him brush my sleeve as he passed, but I, I didn't. And then I turned around to say something, and he'd gone. He just vanished." Frank told us, sipping on his drink. "That's when I felt a chill down my spine."

"Well, maybe I have an admirer after all." I said with a smile. Thinking that it may be truths to Mrs. Graham's words.

"Well, I don't like it. I don't like it when men are ogling on my best friend." Frank said.

"Why are you being like this, Frank? You can't chase away every man that comes in contact with me." I said, feeling my anger getting the best of me. "You have no right to do that to me. You're not my husband, you're not my boyfriend, so why the hell do you care so much?" I asked, getting up.

"We're not having this conversation now." Frank answered with gritted teeth. I knew it was because of Claire.

"Well, I'm saying we are. You've got to stop this, Frank. I don't need you to protect me all the time. I'm a grown woman, and I can do whatever the hell I want!" I yelled, before slamming the door on my way out.

I know I was overacting, but I needed to say it. He didn't get to do this to me anymore. I needed to break the bonds. I was too caught up in things. I walked back to my room, and decided I needed to get out of here, and grabbed my coat. I wrapped it tightly around me, before I walked away from the In. At least, the rain had stopped.

I walked around aimlessly, until I remembered something. I want to see the witches. Apparently, there's a circle of standing stones on a hill just outside the village, and there's a local group who still observe rituals there. This lot are meant to be druids.

Craigh na Dun. Even the name sounded magical. According to local folklore, these stones were carried here from Africa by a race of Celtic giants. It all sounds crazy. I stopped just before I reached the circle, and turned back to look over the landscape.

The town on Inverness looked so peaceful, and beautiful. I could stand here, watching it forever.

As I stood there, I suddenly heard someone coming towards me. I hid behind some bushes, and watched as a group of people stepped forward.

Is that Mrs. Graham? The reverend's housekeeper's a witch, no… A druid, remember? They should have been ridiculous. And perhaps they were. Great… I'm talking to myself.

Parading in circles on top of a hill.

But the hairs on the back of my neck prickled at the sight.

And some small voice inside warned me, I wasn't supposed to be here.

That I was an unwelcome voyeur to something ancient and powerful.

I could just sit there, watching them forever. They looked so peaceful and happy. I wanted that.

The sun was coming out over the trees, and it looked even more beautiful.

After the ritual, I took the chance of getting a closer look. I walked towards the rocks carefully, as if I was trespassing. The air up here, felt different, and I felt drawn to the power here. I walked around, and I swear I could hear whispers in the wind. It freaked me out a little, so I decided to leave. This was not the place for me to be right now.

I ran back into town, trying to shake that awful feeling off me. I silently made my way to my room, but I didn't expect to find someone sitting in my room, waiting for me. Not this early in the morning.

"What are you doing here? Where's Claire?" I asked, placing my coat on my bed.

"In our room, sleeping." Frank answered. "Where the hell have you been?"

I knew that he would be angry with me, but not like this.

"I was out, taking a walk." I answered him.

"You are not allowed to walk away like that in the middle of the night. I was this close to call the authorities, for them to help find you." He spat at me.

"I am fine, Frank. You have no right to worry about me." I shot back at him. "You're not allowed to be angry!"

"I have every right to be angry at you. You are not doing that again, or so help me God!" Frank hissed, and we stood dangerously close together.

"Oh yeah? I would like to see you try and stop me." I said dangerously. I wasn't sure what made this happen, but suddenly in all this fighting and screaming, Frank kissed me. I was in such state of shock. Not understanding any of it. When my mind started working again, I kissed him back. I held onto him with all my power, wrapping my arms around his neck. My toes curled, and I felt as if I was floating.

But then, reality hit me. Frank was kissing me; my best friend was kissing me. I tore myself away from him, and I looked at him as if he had ripped my heart out. Before I could stop myself, my hand connected with his face.

"You don't get to do that to me. You don't get to destroy me like that." I whispered, trying not to break down and cry. I grabbed my coat, and ran out the door. I couldn't stay there after what he did. That was not how I wanted to kiss him. This was not the way to do that.

"Ceana!" Frank called after me, but I didn't stop.

I took the car, and drove it up to Craigh Na Dun. I don't know why I did, but it was the only place I wanted to go. I ran up to the circle, and when I finally reached it, I sat down on the grass, sobbing my eyes out. Frank had played with my feelings, he had always known how I feel about him. I hated him! I never wanted to see him again!

I sat there in the grass, letting my tears run free. I had so many emotions cooped up inside me, and I needed to get them out. I looked to my left and saw some flowers I've never seen grow freely before. It looked like forget-me-not's but I couldn't be sure. I reached out and grabbed one. It was so beautiful. I've never seen anything like this before.

Suddenly, the winds started to pick up, and that voice came back again. It was clearly calling my name. It was as if the wind was speaking to me. I heard this buzzing coming from the stone standing alone in the center of the circle. I felt compelled as I walked towards the stone, fixating on that alone. That pull I felt the first time I got here, only became stronger. I touched the stone with both hands, feeling the power radiating from it. My head started to buzz, and everything turned white.

Once, traveling at night, I fell asleep in the passenger seat of a moving car. Lulled by the noise and the motion into an illusion of serene weightlessness. Then the driver took a bridge too fast. And I woke to see the world spinning outside the car windows, and the sickening sensation of falling at high speed. That is as close as I can come to describing what I experienced.

But it falls woefully short.

I woke up startled. I was lying on the ground next to the stone I swore I touched only a few moments ago. How long had I been sleeping? And where did all those trees come from?

I sat up, noticing that my watch was gone. Not that I understood why. I started to freak out, and ran towards the car. I needed to get back to Inverness. When I reached the point where I left the car, it was gone. Had someone taken it? and where the hell is the road I drove on?

I freaked out even more, and started to run through the trees so I could get back to the village. I caught myself on branches, getting cut on my arms and face, but I didn't care. I needed to back. I walked around aimlessly. I didn't recognize my surroundings at all.

A loud gunshot made me jump, thinking it was a hell of a hunting rifle. I watched as men dressed in old military uniforms, and I couldn't understand what they were doing. When confronted with the impossible, the rational mind will grope for the logical. Perhaps I had stumbled onto the set of a cinema company filming a costume drama of some sort. I watched as a few men ran in the front, firing at the army men. But there was no logical reason for actors to fire live ammunition.

I ducked just as one of the army men fired a shot towards me. I ran like a bat out of hell, trying to get away. I just wanted to go home.

I ran through some bushes, and ended up by a river. There, a man stood and I recognized him right away.

"Frank? Frank, thank god! I'm so sorry for the way I acted." I said hysterically and jumped into his stiff arms. In the midst of it all, I didn't register, that this man was dressed entirely different from what Frank usually did, and I felt sick. This wasn't Frank. I removed myself from his arms, and took a few steps back.

"You're not Frank, are you?" I stated more than asked.

"No, madam, I'm not." He said rather politely.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" I asked, trying not to sound so scared.

"I'm Jonathan Randall, Esquire. Captain of his majesty's eighth dragoons. At your service." He answered, greeting me like a gentleman. I freaked out again, and started to run. Wow, Ceana, you're really making a mess of yourself. The officer ran after me, blocking my path with his sword. I was trapped, with nowhere to go.

"Who are you?" He asked dangerously.

"My family's expecting me. They'll come looking for me if I'm not back in ten minutes.

"Your family?"

"Yes. My best friend, and his wife." I said, trying to think of what to say.

"What's their names?" He asked, but I can't answer.

"What is their names?"

"Frank and Claire." I said quickly.

"Frank what?" Jack Randall said, and I needed to lie. I couldn't tell him Frank's real name, so I just used Claire's maiden name.

"Frank and Claire Beauchamp. He's a teacher and she's a nurse, a healer." I said quickly. "But my name is Ceana Hamilton."

Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Hamilton, a teacher's friend." Randall spat at me. "You must think me the fool. You'll be well advised to tell me exactly who you are and why you are here."

I didn't dare move, or do anything. I just wanted to get away from here. And I was getting angry.

"Madam, you will find my patience is not infinite."

"Get off me, you bastard." I hissed, and spit in his face. I don't know where that came from, but I decided to call it adrenaline.

"Ah, the speech of a lady. The language of a whore." He said dangerously, and I knew what could happen. "I choose the whore."

In a flash, he had my front pinned up against the huge rock I was leaning against, and I knew that he was going to rape me. How did I end up here?

Randall raised the hem of my dress, ready to take my undergarments off, and I screamed, hoping that someone would come and help me. In the next second, someone jumped down from the rock, knocking Randall out with a swift hook. I stood there, frozen to the ground, panting hard. My brownish-red hair, was all over my face, and I could hardly see through the curly mess.

"Druid!" The man said, and I didn't understand him.

"What?"

"Druid!"

The man didn't wait any longer, and dragged me by the arm.

"Who are you? Where are we going?" I demanded from him. I didn't know him, and he smelled worse than my grandmother's pigs. I saw the English army, and I wanted to scream for help, but the man who saved me from the horrible Randall, knocked me over the head, and everything went completely dark.

I wanted it to be a dream, but I knew it wasn't.

If nothing else, my erstwhile savior fairly reeked of Odors too foul to be part of any dream I was likely to conjure up. I woke up to movements, movements of a horse, and I woke up as we approached a cabin or hut of some sort.

The foul man, dragged me off the horse rather roughly, and I started to fight against him.

"Jesus Christ Superstar! Let me go, you foul, idiotic man. I am going to make pig's food out of your balls if you don't let me go this instant!" I screamed, trying to hit him. I was not going down without a fight. He clearly had enough, and hauled me over his shoulder.

"Put me down, you bastard. I'm going to fuck you up!" I yelled, slamming my fists into his back. It did nothing to him. A door opened, and he took me inside. Without warning, he dumped me down on the dirt with a thump. My backside hurts like a bitch. They all looked at me, as I crept my back to a corner. I just waited for in inevitable. They talked a language I never bothered to learn, even though my grandmother repeatedly tried to make me learn Gaelic.

One of the most terrifying men I have ever seen in my life, walked over to me, forcing me to stand on my own two feet. I tried my best not to look scared, but it was difficult.

"Let's have a look at you, then, lass." He said with a rough voice.

"I trust you're able to see me now." I said, trying to sound strong.

"What's your name?"

"Ceana…" swallowing the lump in my throat. "Ceana Hamilton."

I knew there was no point in lying. I didn't have any family left, so they couldn't get the ransom money from anyone.

"Ceana Hamilton." The man repeated.

"That's right. And just what the hell do you think you're…" I started to say, but the man ignored me. Rude ass.

"You said you found her?" He asked his man that oh, so rudely brought me here.

"Aye. She was having words with a certain Captain of dragoons with whom we are acquaint. There seemed to be some question as to whether the lady was or was not a whore." He answered and that just made me mad.

"And what was the lady's position in this discussion?"

"I am not." I told him firmly. I was not going to let them think that I was a whore.

"We could put it to the test." Another man suggested, and that made me take a step back again.

"I don't hold with rape. And we've not the time for it, anyway." The man in front of me told his men.

"Dougal, I've no idea what she might be or who, but I'll stake my best shot she's not a whore." Another man said, and it made me scowl at him.

"We'll puzzle it out later. We've got a good distance to go tonight. And we must do something about Jamie first." The man, Dougal said, and that's when I noticed a man sitting by the fire, and he was injured.

Escape was my chief concern. But I had no idea where I was. And trying to find the road back to Inverness in the gathering darkness felt like a fool's errand.

"Out o' joint, poor bugger." Dougal said, looking at the joint, and even I could see that it was dislocated. Claire taught me that much so I could manage during the war.

"You can't ride with it like that, can you, lad?" Dougal asked the man sitting there.

"Hurts bad enough sitting still. I couldna manage a horse." The man said, and that voice made me shiver. I've never reacted like that before.

"I don't mean to be leaving him behind." Dougal said, patting his knee.

"There's no help for it, then. I'll have to force the joint back."

The wisest course of action would have been to keep my head down, my mouth shut, and wait for the search parties Frank must have called out by now.

"Hold him." One of them instructed, and I couldn't watch this. They were doing this wrong.

"Don't you dare! Stand aside at once." I said, surprising myself and the Scotsmen in front of me. "You'll break his arm if you do it like that. You have to get the bone of the upper arm in the correct position before it slips back into joint."

Thank you, Claire, for teaching me all of this.

"Hold him steady." I ordered, and the man with the dislocated shoulder looked up at me. Even in pain, he looked beautiful. But I didn't have time to dwell on that now. If I didn't get this right, they would probably kill me.

"This is the worst part." I told him and jolted the joint back into place. He expected it to be worse, and looked relieved when his arm was back into place.

"It doesn't hurt anymore." He said with a deep Scottish accent. It made my legs turn into jelly.

"It will. It will be tender for about a week. You'll need a sling." I said looking around.

"You. Fetch me a long piece of cloth or a belt."

"Fetch me," she says. "Do you hear that, lads?"

"Give her your belt." Dougal ordered him, and that made him listen. I wrapped it around Jamie, making sure his arm I lay steady. "Taking a guess, you've done this before."

"I'm a nurse." I said, telling them a little white lie. What I didn't realized, was that it probably meant something else to them. The man, Jamie, looked at my breasts, and it made me uncomfortable.

"Not a wet nurse!" I barked at him, making him look away with a blush. "He mustn't move the joint for two or three days. When you begin to use it again, go very slowly at first. Stop at once if it hurts. And use warm compresses on it daily." I ordered him, and he nodded frantically.

"All right."

"How does that feel?" I asked, readjusting the belt.

"Better. Thank you." Jamie said, smiling for the first time in the short time I've been here.

"Can you ride?" Dougal asked him.

"Aye."

"Good. We're leaving." Dougal ordered, but I had a slight hope that they would bring me back to the city.

When we stepped outside, it was already dark. I looked up and thought I recognized Inverness, but I couldn't see it.

"Where is it? Where's the city? Should be visible from here." I said, starting to freak out again.

"Inverness? You're looking straight at it." Jamie said, coming straight up behind me, his breath tickling in my ear.

There were no electric lights as far as the eye could see, so as much as my rational mind rebelled against the idea, I knew in my heart I was no longer in the 20th century.

I just stood there, cold and tired, wanting nothing more than to cry. How did I end up here? My thoughts was rudely interrupted, when Dougal grabbed my arm, forcing me to walk with him.

"You be sure to stay close to the rest of us. And should you try anything else, I shall slit your throat for you. Do you understand me?" Dougal asked me. I decided to play along, and nodded my head fiercely.

"Gimme your foot. Give it to me." Dougal demanded, and I grabbed the hand in front of my face, not knowing who I was riding with. He hoisted me up in the saddle, and I hadn't been on a horse since before my grandmother died, and this one was larger. The rain started pouring down, and it made it all so much worse. The man behind me, started to move around, and I wanting him to know, not to mess with me.

"Careful. What are you trying to do?" I hissed, but stopped when I felt that scent that's lingered in my mind ever since I was at the ruins.

"I'll get my plaid loose to cover you. You're shivering." Jamie said from behind me.

"Thank you, but I'm fine, really." I said, not wanting to be a problem for him.

"You're shaking so hard, it's making my teeth rattle. The plaid'll keep us both warm, but I canna do it one-handed." Jamie told me, and it made me turn and look at him. "Can you reach?"

I just rolled my eyes, and pulled on his plaid carefully, trying my best to mind his injured arm.

"Don't want you to freeze before sunup." Jamie whispered in my ear.

"Sunup? You mean we'll be riding all night?" I asked, but I already knew the answer.

"All night. And the next one too, I reckon." Jamie replied, and for some reason, I didn't mind riding with him for that long. "A fine time of year for a ride, though."

We rode off into the dark, and I hated the rain, sliding down in the back of my neck, making me shiver even more. I wrapped the plaid tighter around me, trying to keep warm. Jamie somehow managed to pull me even tighter to him, and it felt soothing. It didn't take long, before I felt warmer, and that made me sleepy. My eyes started to drop, but I fought like hell to stay awake. Jamie started to chuckle, when I slapped my hand harshly over my cheek.

"Why don't you just sleep for a while." Jamie told me, but I shook my head.

"No, I'm okay. I don't need to sleep." I said a little too harshly.

"Well, the offer will stay put. I'll make sure that you're safe with me, lass." He said, and I knew I could trust him. I didn't want to give in, but I knew my traitorous body had a mind of her own, and my head slumped back on Jamie's good shoulder, and I found myself drifting off into a rather peaceful sleep.

I woke up several hours later, not because I was well rested, but my stomach growled in a manor that's not attractive for a woman. Jamie chuckled from behind me.

"Good morning to ye, lassie." Jamie boomed in my ear, making me groan. I was hoping this was all a dream, but no. Of course, it wasn't. Something caught my eye to my left. It was the same rock Frank, Claire and I drove by. The place the British Army used to ambush their enemy, and right now, I'm with the enemy.

"I know this place." I blurted out, looking around nervously.

"Been through here before, have you?" Jamie asked.

"Yes. I recognize that rock. The one that looks like a cock's tail. It has a name." I said trying to act a little stupid.

"Cocknammon Rock."

"The English, they, they used it for ambushes. They could be lying in wait right now." I rushed out, turning around to look at Jamie.

"It's a Bonnie place for an ambush, right enough." Jamie said, deciding to believe me. "Dougal. Dougal. Dougal."

We rushed up to him, and Jamie started to talk among themselves in Gaelic. Probably because of me. Dougal looked at me suspiciously.

"Now, you'll be telling me exactly how and why you come to know there's an ambush up ahead." He demanded, and I knew better than to hold bac information.

"I don't know, but I heard the redcoats use Cocknammon rock…" I started to say, but he cut me off.

"Where did you hear?" Dougal growled.

"In the village!" I shot back without thinking. It wasn't entirely a lie, so I guess it was fine to say so.

Without warning, Jamie pushed me off his horse. I fell to the ground with a loud thump.

"Hide yourself!" Jamie told me, before riding off with the others. Gunfire was heard all across the forest, and I'm glad that I remembered that fact. My mind's been a little fuzzy for a while.

I know I should stay hidden, but right now, I wanted nothing more than to find a way home. I wanted to tell Frank that I was sorry for leaving like that. I needed to go back home.

I picked myself up, and ran through the forest as fast as I could possibly do. I did not know where I was going, so I prayed for a sign that could tell me that everything would be okay.

I ran through some water, and stopped abruptly. Right in front of me, stood the most beautiful horse I have ever seen. It was a beautiful, white stallion. He did not have any riding gear on, so something told me that he lived in the wild. Funny… I didn't know there was wild horses in Scotland. Something pulled me towards him, something that told me to reach out, and touch his mane. I slowly walked towards him, holding out my extended hand, waiting for him to move. The sun peaked through the tree's and it made him even more beautiful. The Stallion walked closer to me, and slowly put his muzzle in my hand. I was captivated by him, and I could stay here forever, cuddling him, feeling safe.

"Hi there, beautiful." I whispered. In the next moment, something startled him, and he ran off, almost knocking me down. I looked up to see what had spooked him, and saw Jamie coming.

"Lost your way?" He asked, trying to be funny, jumping off his horse.

"I hope you haven't been misusing that shoulder." I replied. What a stupid thing to say. That's when I noticed the blood. "You're hurt."

"This lot is not my blood. Not much of it, anyway. Dougal and the others will be waiting further up the stream." Jamie said, without missing a beat. I did not want to go back to them.

"I'm not going with you." I argued, trying to get away. Jamie didn't have a lot of patience, and held his sword up.

"Yes, you are."

"What, are you going to cut my throat if I don't?" I argued, feeling more annoyed with him by the second. He looked at me with compassion. As if he felt horrible that I would ever think that he would kill me.

"Why no? But You don't look that heavy. Now if you won't walk, I shall pick you up and throw you over my shoulder. Do you want me to do that?" Jamie asked, and he started to piss me off.

"You wouldn't dare." I hissed, and before I could stop him, Jamie hoisted me up over his good shoulder, making me scream and curse at him.

"Put me down this instant!" I yelled, trying to get free. Jamie ignored me, and practically threw me up on his horse. What a rude, caveman. I thought to myself.

Jamie urged his horse to take off in a gallop, and now I finally saw how far I actually had managed to run. Why did I stop when I saw that horse? I should've just kept on running.

We caught up with the other riders eventually, and they seemed to be very pleased with themselves.

"Here's to you, lass." One of them said, handing me a flask. For tipping us to the villains in the rocks and giving us a wee bit o' fun!"

"Have a wee nip. It willna fill your belly, but will make you forget you're hungry." Jamie said, holding it in front of me. I didn't really want it, but since I was this hungry, I thought why not. It tasted horrible, and I had a hard time, keeping it down.

We were soon off again, and this time, we rode in silence. All through the day, not stopping for food, it's not like we had any with us. When the darkness came, I just wanted to drop off this horse and just stay there. My bum was sore. I heard a small groan coming from behind me, and I turned just in time to see Jamie tipping over. He was hurt.

"Stop! Help! He's going over!" I yelled, just as Jamie hit the ground.

Without thinking, I jumped off the horse, and ran over to him.

"Help me get him up. Come on." I ordered the men. They helped me up, and started checking his shoulder. I actually hated the sight of blood.

"Gunshot wound. The idiot could have said something." I said, shaking my head. "It's a clean exit. I think the round's gone straight through the muscle. I don't think it's serious, but he's lost a lot of blood. It'll need to be disinfected before I can dress it properly."

The men around me looked at me as if I was speaking Greek.

"Disinfect?"

"Yes, it must be cleaned of dirt to protect it from germs." I told them impatiently.

"Germs?"

"Just get me some iodine. Merthiolate? Alcohol?" I exclaimed.

"Oh. Oh, yes." They murmured. Of course, THAT they understood. "Here you go."

I poured some of it onto Jamie's wound, and he woke up, swearing like a sailor.

"Welcome back." I said sternly.

"I'm all right, just a wee bit dizzy." Jamie said, trying to brush this off, and it made me angry.

"You're not all right. Can you tell how bad you were bleeding? You're lucky you're not dead. Brawling and fighting and throwing yourself off horses. Right, I need a sterile bandage and some clean cloth." I demanded, and once again, they all stood there, looking at me as a insane person.

"Jesus Crist Superstar!" I exclaimed, standing up, ripping my dress up, revealing even more bare legs. I poured some alcohol onto it, and pressed it into Jamie's wounds.

"Hold still. Easy. All right." I said, as Jamie tried his best, not to moan in pain. "Lift him up."

"Come on, you goddamn bloody bastard!" I exclaimed, trying to get the bandage to cooperate.

"I've never heard a woman use such language in my life." Dougal said, slightly amazed.

"Your husband should tan your hide for you, woman. St. Paul says, 'let a woman be silent.'" One of them told me, and I did not have the time for this.

"You can mind your own bloody business, and so can St. Paul. And I'm not married." I hissed, before turning to Jamie. "And if you move so much as a single muscle while I'm tying this bandage, I will bloody throttle you."

"Threats, is it? And after I shared my drink with you." Jamie said, trying to be funny.

"We have 15 miles to go yet. Five hours at least, if not seven. We'll stay long enough for you to stem the bleeding and dress his wound, no more than that." Dougal told us.

"He needs rest." I argued, knowing that it wasn't good for him to be riding right now. "Did you hear me?"

"Randall. The officer you encountered. He won't give up so easily. He commands the redcoats hereabouts. He'll have sent patrols out in every direction by now. I canna stay here long." Jamie said, and something in his voice, told me to listen.

"You know Randall? Black Jack Randall, that is?" I asked.

"Aye. I won't risk you or anyone else being taken prisoner by that man. If ye canna fix me up well enough to ride, you'll be leaving me here with a loaded pistol, so I may determine my own fate." He answered, and I rolled my eyes.

"Might've well told me you were shot before you fell off the horse." I told him, tightening the bandages a little more.

"Didn't hurt much at the time."

"Does it hurt now?"

"Aye." He answered, and I couldn't help but put a little extra pressure onto his wound, making him groan.

"Good. That's about all I can do. The rest is up to you." I said, standing up, dragging him along with me, forcing him to stand. He easily towered over me, looking down on me with those beautiful eyes of his. It was as if he was searching through my very soul.

"Thank you, Sassenach. Truly." Jamie said, and he wasn't lying. And calling me by that nickname, made me think of what the reverend told me. It meant an Outlander, and I guess, that is what I am now, more than ever before.

"All right, well, on your horse, soldier." I said, clearing my throat. Jamie followed me back to his horse, and after helping each other up, we rode off into the night.

It never occurred to me where we were going, but as the daylight finally appeared, I started to recognize my surroundings. I've been here before… Just then, a clearing opened up, and I saw it. That large Castle.

Castle Leoch.

I'd been here with Frank and Claire two days ago.

Or was that in the future? How could I remember something that hadn't happened yet? So far, I'd been assaulted, threatened, kidnapped, and nearly raped.

And somehow, I knew that my journey had only just begun, and it was terrifying.

End of chapter 1.

What did you think? I know that Ceana (pronounced Keh na) is a bit like Claire, but that will change. I will not have her completely like her.

I hope you liked it, and that you will give this story a chance.

Until next time xD (hopefully)

*cathrineoriginal*