In A Highlander's Arms

Chapter 1
By: flamedragon91

Falcon MacNeil watched as the sun set across the country side of western Scotland. The day had been troublesome and Falcon just couldn’t wait until the day was over and the world was covered in sweet silence. Falcon valued his alone time very much and the night was when he could get it. He sat down in a chair in front of the hearth and just let his mind wander into deeper thoughts. But something told Falcon that this night wouldn’t be a time for thoughts to run like a wild horse. It was as if something was telling him that his life was about to change, and his silence would be lost into a world of noise.

Drake Stone sighed in defeat as he watched his mother pack her suitcase. He knew he couldn’t actually stop her, but he knew he had to try. His mother had told him that she was going on a cruise into the Bahamas and she was going for two weeks. She had been a wreak since his dad had died and Drake figured this was her way of trying to deal with it, to escape reality. But he needed her in reality, even though he was almost twenty-three; he still needed her around to help him.
Drake watched with guilt and sorrow weighing heavily on his heart. He hadn’t been at the hospital when his dad had died. And to some extent, he knew his mother was hurt and angered with him fro that. He had been at college and it had been late when he had gotten the call that his dad was in the hospital dying. He hadn’t showed up at the hospital until it was too late. HE had tried to explain to his mother that it had been a three hour drive from the university to the hospital at Greentown.
His mother finally looked at him and gave him a slow, sad smile. She didn’t want him to worry about her. She just needed to get away for a while and think. She knew, with the way she had been acting towards him, that he thought she somehow blamed him for his father’s death. And to be truthful with herself, she wasn’t exactly sure.
Drake watched as his mother headed for the taxi that waited outside for her to take to the airport, without even uttering a goodbye. It hurt, but he knew that he should have expected it. She had hardly spoken to him since his father’s funeral. It wasn’t as bad as it was now, because he had had his classes and work that kept him busy from the thoughts that lead to his mother. Thoughts that made his heart ache.
Drake watched as the taxi left into the dark until it disappeared. His mother had left her house in his care until she got back. He walked over to the couch and tried to keep himself occupied with the television. But soon he felt that it wasn’t helping any. So he went over to his bag and picked up a romance novel he had brought with him.
This particular book was his favorite out of all his other novels. It was about a sexy highlander who was cursed by evil and his only hope was a woman of innocents. He would read it over and over again and he still never got bored. He was a romance guy and he wasn’t afraid to admit it. He was studying to become a writer and he loved all of his classes.
Soon he was so wrapped up in the steamy novel that he didn’t hear the phone ring. Soon, he found himself reading through all of it and finally he looked up at the clock. It was not eleven-thirty. Drake closed the book and headed upstairs to his bedroom. Once there he didn’t even bother to change and just plopped down on the bed and laid the book beside him.
He soon found his eyes close and his head began to hear a sing-song voice singing a strange change that seemed to be in another language. His mind was spinning in the darkness that surrounded him. He couldn’t tell where he was. It seemed as if his mind had gone to another realm; a different time.
He soon felt as if he was falling into oblivion. He couldn’t see anything, for he was surrounded by darkness. The air was so thick and close that he felt that he was suffocating. Suddenly, he was thrown down onto a soft, comfortable bed. Drake opened his eyes and let his eyes wander sleepily around the room. But all he was able to see through his sleepy haze was the for poster bed. He didn’t see the dark shadow that stopped in the doorway.

Falcon stood in the doorway as he watched the lone figure that was sprawled out on his bed. He had no idea where this creature had come from, but it did not belong in his bed. Falcon soon let his curiosity get the better of him and he moved closer to inspect the creature that lay upon his bed. He felt his body give immediate reaction to the creature’s stunning beauty.
This man, he decided, had the palest skin of virgin snow. His slender fingers curled themselves around the soft woolen that covered his bed. Light brown hair covered the feathered pillow and spilled across his face. Dark lashes framed the pale, thin face as the creature slept in peace. Falcon couldn’t seem to be able to contain himself.
He reached out and brushed his tan, work-hardened hand across the pale silk of skin. The boy turned his head into the, surprisingly, soft touch. Falcon let his calculating stormy green eyes travel further down the boy’s body. The boy seemed to be built like a fragile lass. He had never seen a boy that stayed so small and thin.
Falcon snatched his hand away and practically bound from the bedchamber. He walked swiftly down the hall as he felt his heart race faster than normal. He growled low in his throat as he could only guess to how the boy had gotten into his bedchamber. He didn’t want it to be true, but he had a feeling that this was the doing of The Higher Realm. And that could only mean trouble for both of them.

Drake opened his eyes slowly when the bright light of the sun shone down onto his face through the window. He rolled over and snuggled deeper into the soft blanket that was wrapped around him. He slowly sat up and grabbed his book that lay on the bed beside him. He didn’t even take note of what the room looked like. He did however take note of the cold, hard floor that his feet drug him across.
He soon realized that this wasn’t the same room that he had fallen asleep in. His sleep fogged mind cleared and he finally took notice of the room he was in. The room was stone with tapestries covering the walls and a few fur animal coats covering certain parts of the room. There was a huge bed that was covered with warm wool blankest and soft sheets. Suddenly, his mind began to send off alarms that sent him into a panic about where exactly he was.
Soon the door to the chamber was thrown open and a large figure came towards him at a fast pace. Drake had hardly any time to get a good look at the figure before he was grabbed by the arm and pulled close to the warm, hard, toned body that the hand belonged to. Drake struggled, but stopped when he heard a low growl rumble out of the hard chest his head happened to be against. He finally got the courage to look up and saw stormy green eyes staring down at him. Drake felt his heart beat against his rib cage, as if in a desperate attempt to break free.
Falcon could almost smell the fear radiating off the boy that was pressed against him. He couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his face, “So you was the one that slept on my bed last eve.” Falcon said in a low voice. He got no reply and he could see the awe and fear in the boy’s blue eyes. The light brown hair fell over his face and made the boy look young and innocent.
Drake felt his breath hitch as the tan; toned man reached out a calloused hand and cupped his chin lightly. He lifted his eyes from the chest that he had been focusing on. Then that husky voice tumbled out through those full lips, “What be your name lad?” He asked as those stormy eyes looked over Drake’s body. Drake visibly shivered at the lingering glances. “Drake S-Stone”, He replied with a trembling voice. Falcon couldn’t help a smile.
Falcon then decided to take pity on the poor boy, “I am called Falcon. Falcon MacNeil. This is my keep.” He told Drake. Drake nodded in understanding, but his blue eyes held confusion that his mind was trying to work through. Something clicked in his mind as he remembered the previous night, “Donna you know what year it is lad?” Falcon asked. Drake shook his head, “The year be fourteen-hundred and thirty-six.” Falcon told him.
Drake regarded this highlander who had said his name was Falcon. He seemed alright and if Falcon had wanted to kill him, then he would have a long while ago. Drake tried to pull away, but Falcon held him close. Drake tried to pull away again, but Falcon wasn’t having any of it. Falcon put his hands on Drake’s hips and pulled him flush against his hard, tanned body.
Falcon could see the irritation start to form in those bright blue eyes. Falcon leaned down and took Drake’s face in his hand. Drake visibly swallowed as Falcon bent down to his ear. Falcon could feel Drake’s breath on his neck as he asked, “Donna you understand why your here, Drake?” Drake shook his head, not trusting his voice at the moment. Falcon seemed satisfied with the answer as he pulled away, “Then we’d best figure it out.” He said as he took Drake’s arm and pulled him along with him. It was going to be a long day.