1 Back in time? Rebirth?

Kayleigh Brown was on her way to the college on a normal Tuesday morning. She caught the bus at the stop closest to her apartment. She wished the bus would go faster, as she had no wish to be late for her first class. At the college, she was enrolled in fashion design and garment care; and was in her final semester of her last year.

The rain beat down on the windows of the bus; it had rained since 4am. The sky was dark with heavy rain clouds as the bus turned towards the bridge. The bridge crossed a large, powerful river running through the city. The bus was half-way across the bridge when it was struck by a large commercial vehicle. The vehicle had skidded on a large puddle on the bridge, hydroplaned, hit the public transit bus, and forced the bus through the side of the bridge and down to the river below.

Most of the passengers of the bus died that day.

The last things that Kayleigh remembered were a growing feeling of panic, a free-fall she could feel in the pit of her stomach, a jolting crash, hitting her head, and finally, blackness.

Kayleigh tried to open her eyes, but she had no eyes to open. She felt sure she had not survived the accident. 'If I ever get another chance to live,' she thought, 'I would make sure to cherish each moment; to do my best to only see the beauty in life, to take the time to fall in love and most of all to try and make the world a better place!'

It seemed as if Kayleigh's thoughts were heard, as a short time later, she could hear a low, ringing, buzzing sound instead of just silence. She could also sense, as if from afar, that she had a physical form again. The ringing in her ears grew louder and was accompanied by the muffled sounds of voices.

"Lass? Lassie?" An older woman's voice attempted to draw her attention.

Kayleigh pried her eyes open to find that the world was much too bright for her liking.

"W…What?" Kayleigh managed to say. "What is happening?"

"She is coming to; regaining consciousness." The older woman's voice said. "Clear off, the lot of ya, and give the poor girl some space!" The woman demanded.

Kayleigh's vision finally cleared. She could see the large stone blocks that made up the walls around her, as well as the people nearby.

"Oh!" Kayleigh reached a hand to her forehead. "Ow." She took her hand away to see some small spots of blood on her fingertips. "What happened?" She asked the nearby woman (in her late 40's).

"Oh, dearie!" The woman answered, "You took a wee tumble down those last few steps." She pointed at the stair behind where Kayleigh lay. "But do not worry your pretty head about that!" the woman continued, "It will all be sorted out shortly."

'What will?' Kayleigh wondered.

"We will get you all bandaged up and then take you to the Lord. He will see that this matter is all set aright soon."

The woman helped Kayleigh to her feet, slowly.

"The Lord is expecting you already; but he was informed of your delay. He insists on meeting you today though, as you are a newcomer to the castle."

As the woman led Kayleigh along down the passage, and towards the kitchen area of the castle, Kayleigh did not say a word. She noticed the hand-made tapestries that hung on the wall looked new, even though everything about the style, colours and themes looked from the early 1500's.

The clothes both she and the lady she followed wore, were traditional Gaelic Irish garments. They both wore an off-white coloured 'Leine', which was like a long tunic or smock that had open slits on the outer part of the sleeves at the elbow and the long sleeves hung to above the knee, while the body of the garment hung down to the ankles. Their garments deviated after that; for while the lady wore a dress over her 'Leine' of corse, homespun material, Kayleigh wore nicer clothes of a more middle-class nature. The lady's v-neck dress was a drab brown, while Kayleigh's was more colourful.

'What is going on here?' Kayleigh wondered. 'There are textiles, items of cloth and fabrics that indicate a Gaelic Irish origin of the 1500's, but still somehow look new. Even the museums don't have authentic pieces in this good of condition. I would date this entire place as 40 years before the "Age of the Tudors."'

Inside the kitchen, the woman indicated for Kayleigh to sit on a small wooden bench.

'The entire kitchen, with the open hearths, simple tools and kitchen utensils all seem so primitive!' Kayleigh thought.

As the woman tended to the wound on Kayleigh's brow, Kayleigh wondered what this castle was and how she had gotten here.

'What is the last thing I remember?' She wondered.

She remembered the bus ride and the crash. She remembered the feeling of hitting her head and the all-consuming darkness and silence.

'And then…I woke up here!' Kayleigh thought. 'I died, didn't I?'

"All done." The woman said, tying a piece of yellowed cloth around Kayleigh's forehead.

'But if so,' Kayleigh thought, 'where am I and when am I?'

The woman patted Kayleigh's hand. "We are all done, my dear." She said with affection.

"Thank you." Kayleigh said. "I do not seem to be able to recall your name, but I thank you for your kindness all the same."

The woman looked worried. "My name is Mrs. MacConnell." She said kindly. "Do you not recall meeting me earlier this morning?"

It was as if Mrs. MacConnell's words triggered a piece of memory belonging to Kayleigh's new body.

Although most of the memories belonging to Kayleigh's new body, were still missing, like lost puzzle pieces, Kayleigh was absolutely sure of one thing- she had been reborn into the past.

"Oh, Mrs. MacConnell," Kayleigh said, "I think the fall jarred my head a little. Could I get something to drink?"

Mrs. MacConnell summoned a scullery maid over, to fill the request while Kayleigh continued, "For a few minutes there, after the fall, I was so frightened!"

Mrs. MacConnell patted her hand again.

"Why, I couldn't recall anything! I did not know your name, or my name, or anything about who I was or where I am!" Kayleigh then placed a hand to the bandaged area. "It still aches a little."

Mrs. MacConnell handed her a cup, and she took a sip.

"But you remember all, now?" She inquired urgently.

"Mostly." Kayleigh lied. "Except how I came to fall down the stairs in the first place."