She could smell the crisp burning of wood, and a fire crackled near her. She wasn’t cold anymore and wherever she was, was comfortable and warm. She could hear a woman’s voice, soft and different to any she had ever heard before. She had an accent. She was talking about horses and the king. Miranda pulled the fluffy sheets around her and buried her head into the pillow.
What is happening…? she thought. Her head was pounding, and she reached up and touched a large bump on her forehead.
“She’s awake,” the woman’s voice came closer. “Look, she moves.”
She sounded British or Australian, but Miranda couldn’t decide which. The accent wasn’t a classic one that she had heard before and as she blinked and opened her eyes slowly, her blood ran cold.
“It’s alright,” the woman said, leaning towards her, “Don’t worry, dear, you’re safe here.”
Miranda jumped up and looked around the room. She was in old bedroom, stone walls and floor, covered in wolf pelt rugs, and a fire crackled and glowed in the corner, casting shadows across the room. The woman could only have been around forty, but she looked frail and strange. Her hair tumbled down her back, and she wore old robes, like something out of a strange medieval TV show. She came closer to Miranda and rested her hand on her arm and smiled. Her teeth were gammy and jet black.
“What’s happening?” Miranda shouted, as she pulled the sheet tightly around her. She realized she was dressed in a long cotton robe with frilled cuffs.
“You’ve had an accident, dear,” she said, “You were found out in the woods by the one of the King’s Knights.”
“What?” she demanded. “Is this a joke… did Ryan put you up to this?” She tried to get to her feet and stumbled as she did.
“Shh,” the woman said, crowding over her and trying to get her back into bed. “You need to rest, you’ve had a trauma to the head.”
Miranda reached up and rubbed her forehead, the lump there was swollen and sore. She winced as she touched it and the woman slapped her hand away.
“I’m one of the King’s nurses,” she said, “I’ve been instructed to look after you.”
“I… come on…” Miranda said. “You can drop the act… Just let me out and I’ll go back and see Ryan… leaving him in my apartment was silly, anyway.”
The woman looked at her as if she were insane. She shook her head and passed her some warm water.
“Close your eyes,” she whispered, “I’m going to find him.”
She left Miranda in the bed and made her way to the door, and when she opened it Miranda could see a man on the other side wearing what she thought was a full chain mail suit and brandishing a sword as if he was guarding the room. Miranda looked around again… she definitely was not in the motel… where had the door taken her? It was as if she had gone back in time.
Moments later, she heard footsteps coming up the corridor outside the room. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
“She’s very confused,” the woman’s voice drifted through. “She is saying things, strange things… Are you sure she isn’t a witch?”
A man laughed and began to speak, “No, she isn’t a witch,” he said calmly, “I remember her, she’s a good friend from my childhood. Now let me in, I must speak with her.”
The door to the room opened and a tall, handsome man with sandy blonde hair and full metal armor stepped through the doorway.
“Miranda,” he said softly, “You’re awake.”
She sat up and swallowed. She was frightened and didn’t know what to say, and she didn’t want to anger anyone with the wrong thing… And the more she was seeing of her new surroundings, the more she wasn’t sure if this was real… No hoax could be this good, especially one crafted by Ryan.
“I found you in the woods,” he said as he sat on the side of the bed and trailed a finger down the side of her face. “I never thought I’d see you again.” He smiled at her, and she felt instantly warm inside. There was something familiar about him… But she was certain she could never have seen him before.
“How do you know my name?” she whispered.
“You’re hurt,” he said as he squeezed her hand, “But don’t worry, I’m here to look after you, as is Githa,” he smiled to the lady with the black teeth, and she nodded in agreement.
“Who are you?” she asked quietly.
He smiled warmly and brushed a lone tear from the side of her eye, “I’m so glad they brought you back to me,” he whispered, “I’ve been quite lost without you.”
He rose to his feet and bowed to her before walking towards the door.
“I hope you feel much better tomorrow m’lady. We can become reacquainted then,” he said before he left the room and closing the door behind him.
Miranda’s head was spinning… What on earth was happening? Was she dreaming? She pinched her arm with her nails and jumped as she realized her French manicure was gone and her nails were now bare, ragged stumps.
“He thinks the absolute world of you,” Githa smiled. “You’re lucky to have him, even after all these years.”
Miranda sank down in the bed and found that she was shaking silently. She had no idea what was happening… But whoever the man in armor was, he was certainly making it better…