The Guardian by Diana Knightley

Fifty-six - Magnus

Waking up in the infirmary was difficult. Twas as if I was comin’ up from a swim, much like when I had almost drowned outside of the fort in St Augustine. There was a long time where I could nae focus, and went in and out of sleep. Then I was finally able tae open m’eyes and take in the room: twas a dim light, a comfortable bed, a good temperature, a lack of smell as if twas clean, unlike the castle in the eighteenth century that had every kind of smell at once. Then as I awoke I felt sharp pain shootin’ through my body, from all over, but an uncentered ache. It caused me tae focus, and cleared m’head of sleep.

My eyes traveled across the room tae the window, darkened by drapes, but standing there, my Kaitlyn. She held the edge of the drapes open, staring out the window, a slight line of sunlight across her pensive face. She looked beautiful and I felt calm rush over me, a feeling that I was goin’ tae be a’right.

She noticed I was awake and turned tae smile upon me, her face gone from downhearted tae pleased in a moment of time — just a breath from sadness tae seeing me.

Yes.

Aye.

“Hi you.”

My voice was a croak. “Hello, mo reul-iuil.”

She neared my bed. “What were you thinking about just then?”

“How fine tis tae hae ye tae wake up tae.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but is it really true?”

“Aye, that and that my whole body is in fiery pain.”

She sat down on the edge of the bed and pushed buttons for the nurse. “I think we can solve this. There are enough bells and whistles and tubes sticking out of your body. There should be a way to put pain relief in.”

“Tis like that first time I returned from time travel.”

“Yes, it is, except this hospital room is a lot more luxurious, and I’m an old mom of two now.”

“Och, ye are as young and beautiful as the first time I laid m’eyes upon ye,”

She smiled. “When I was hungover, driving you around in the Prius?”

I said, “Aye, twas a merry sight, I kent I had seen yer bare arse just hours before.”

“Ha. Tell me more. I missed you and I was worried that you were not going to come out of the surgery and I was really scared.”

“Sounds like ye might hae been worried ye had unsaid things for me tae hear.”

“You are a smart man.” She took my hand.

The nurse came bustling in. “How are you feeling, Your Majesty?”

“Terrible.”

She said, “Good, you’re awake and ready for more medicine, so that’s how you should feel.” She took my temperature and a few other vitals and adjusted the flow of the tube running into m’arm, then she left.

I felt my body relax.

Kaitlyn said, “I wanted you to know you’re my whole life and I love you.”

I said, “Ye should be closer when ye say these nice things tae me.”

She lay down beside me and held my hand and wrapped around my arm. “Is that better?”

I placed my hand between her thighs “Aye, I can hear ye better when yer gardens are pressed against me. Ye ken tis where the hearing happens.”

She laughed. “I think you might be feeling the pain meds.”

“Nae, but if ye think on it, tis m’manliness where all m’thoughts are happening, so if ye want tae speak tae me ye should be verra verra close.”

“It’s your manliness where your hearing is?”

“Aye, m’whole brain, everything is right there.” I waved m’hand around my middle.

She laughed again. “And here I thought it was in your ears where you heard things.”

“Nae, I am a highlander from the eighteenth century — nae, I was born in the seventeenth century. I was born in 1681, did ye ken?”

“I did ken.”

I said, “And in 1681 we dinna hae ears yet, twas all about our swords.”

“This is such an interesting thing to learn. So what you’re saying is that whenever I speak to you, all this time, it’s been your cock that is the one listening?”

“Aye, m’cock, he hears what ye are saying first, and then m’cock decides what tae do with it.”

She whispered in m’ear, “But what if I tell you something like this. You’re sure it’s not your ear that hears?”

I patted m’cock. “Nae, see, the whispering got my cock coming tae attention. I canna believe ye dinna ken this, Kaitlyn, m’cock is the center of all of me, ye ken it, ye hae been married tae me.”

“I do, now that you mention it, I really do.”

“Good, I am glad ye ken it.” I yawned long and loud.

“You sleepy again?”

“Nae. I just woke up, I might go up on the walls tae do guard duty if the physician would follow m’orders. I told him twas a command...” I kissed her forehead. “He would nae listen... what was I saying?”

“I have no idea, but I am so glad you are doing so…”

I couldna stay awake any longer.