“You like my mirror, child?”

Sue smiled at Tara’s eccentric maiden aunt. “It is unusual,” she agreed, looking once more at the numerous gilded cherubs that gaudily crowded around the antique glass, smoky with age.

“It’s been in my family for generations. Since the Middle Ages in fact. My many times great grandfather had it made for his daughters for Valentine’s Day.”

“They celebrated Valentine’s Day that long ago?” Lucy asked in amazement.

“Oh my yes. In the Middle Ages St. Valentine was a most popular saint and they had many interesting customs surrounding the day. They took it very seriously – not like the frivolity you see today.” Miss Williams wrinkled her nose in distaste and the three women visiting her shared amused glances.

“What kind of customs, Auntie Gert?” Tara asked encouragingly. She loved her father’s great aunt with all her heart and was very pleased to be able to show her off to her two friends. They had spent an enjoyable evening this St. Valentine’s Eve sharing good food, stories and laughter. Tara had never seen her aunt so animated. The extra company had done her good and she was glad she had followed her impulse and invited Lucy and Sue along on the visit.

“Well, let me think now. Ah, here’s one that many young women would do well to implement nowadays. It would simplify the whole courtship procedure immeasurably. Not that there is much of a courtship nowadays, the way girls flit about from man to man and vice versa,” Aunt Gertie muttered under her breath. “Well, now, seeing as you young ladies have yet to find your knight in shining armor, you might like to give this a try. Tara dear, bring me a bowl from the kitchen. Any one will do – a clean one, mind.” As Tara hastened to do her bidding Aunt Gertie turned to Lucy and Sue. “While she’s gone I want you to write out the name of every eligible young man you know.” She reached for a writing tablet and began expertly tearing hearts out of the paper. “One name to a heart. Then fold them up and put them in the bowl. Here’s Tara now.”

Obediently the three women bent over their task and thoughtfully scribbled down names.

“No jokesters now, mind. You could saddle your friend with a n’er do well for life,” Aunt Gertie warned. Tara promptly crumpled up three of the names she had written. “Now, toss them all into the bowl and swirl them around. That’s right. Tara, you pick first. Then Lucy. Then Sue.” Each woman selected a heart and took a quick peek.

Tara flushed with excitement. “Now what, Auntie?”

“Now, you sleep with that scrap of paper under your pillow tonight and on the morrow, St. Valentine’s day, if you’re brave enough, you pin that name on your sleeve and where it there for a week. Then see what happens.”

“Is that where the saying, wearing your heart on your sleeve comes from?” Lucy asked, her eyes alight with excitement.

Auntie Gertie nodded her head, but something outside the living room window caught her eye. “Can you hear that?” she fretted, “Ice on the roof. It’s freezing rain again. You girls can’t possibly travel home in this weather there’s nothing for it but for you to spend the night.” The old lady seemed unaccountably delighted at the prospect of extended visitors. Seeing the protests beginning to form on more than one pretty face she thumped her cane imperiously. “I won’t hear a single excuse. I have plenty of room and will enjoy seeing your fresh faces over breakfast tomorrow morning. Tara, you take Lucy and Sue upstairs and let them each pick a room and chose some nightclothes for them from the hall closet. When you’ve changed come back down here and I’ll tell you all a bedtime story.”

* * *

“Your Aunt Gertrude is something else,” Lucy said with admiration. “That’s what my Grams is going to be like if she ever lives to be a hundred a four.”

“Is she really that old?” Sue asked, shimmying into a delectable frothy white nightgown that definitely belonged to another time period.

“Don’t forget your cap,” Tara teased, slipping the sheer lace onto her head and tying a bow under her chin while Lucy and Sue giggled some more. “And Aunt Gertie has the birth certificate to prove it. Okay – all ready?”

“We look like something out of the middle Ages,” Lucy joked, prancing around her white robe. “I’m Princess Lucy and you two are my ladies in waiting.”

“No fair,” Sue pretended to be miffed. “You chose the best role for yourself. I want to be a princess too.” Her pretty pout was ruined by the comical wrinkling of her nose as she tried not to laugh.

“Children, children. We can all be ladies of the manor tonight. Come one, Aunt Gert must be getting tired. She’ll want to see us all decked out in our finery before she goes to bed.”

* * *

“But you don’t really believe that do you?” Sue asked skeptically. Tara and Lucy’s rapt perusal of the Valentine Mirror as Gertrude Williams called it, worried her.

“I’d give practically anything if it were true,” Lucy sighed wistfully.

“There’s no such thing as magic,” Sue said firmly, trying to quell the unidentifiable stirring she felt in her bosom. “It’s not possible to see your future by looking into the past…at least not this way.”

Aunt Gertrude had retired for the evening after she had entertained her three guests with a superstitious story about the mirror that dated back to the Middle Ages and the knights of yore. “Back when men were strong and brave and true.” The old lady had winked knowingly at them. “Isn’t that every girl’s dream – to have a knight in shining armor?”

“That was the plan,” Lucy acknowledged somewhat sourly.

“And it still can be,” Aunt Gertrude said with conviction. “When the time is right. I find it most providential that you three have been stranded at my doorstep on St. Valentine’s Eve. Mind what I said. Each of you give it a good polish on Valentine’s Day and see what you spy…Use a nice soft cloth and some elbow grease and you just may be surprised at what you see…”

And no matter how Lucy and Tara had begged, Aunt Gertie wouldn’t tell them any more.

Lucy walked back and forth in front of the mirror, watching her distorted refection in the antique, smoky glass. She laughed as her reflection shimmered. “It sure looks like there’s something inside there – this mirror has more depth than any I’ve ever seen.”

“Of course it does. It’s ancient; they don’t make them like that any more. Honestly, we’re not twelve year olds on a sleep over pulling out the ouja board. We’re grown women and you two are acting like you’ve been cast under a spell. Here I’ll show you.” Sue marched up to the mirror and began to give it a vigorous rub.

“Stop! It’s not time!” Tara cried, pulling her friend away. “You’re not supposed to do that until Valentine’s Day. You’ll jinx it or us if you do it earlier.”

“Oh for pity’s sake. Nothing happened. Nothing’s going to happen.” Sue exclaimed in exasperation.

“Right, time for bed before we get into an argument. I say we meet back here first thing in the morning and each give polishing the mirror a try. Until then…” Lucy zipped her lips. “Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

* * *

Moving stealthily and quietly in the darkened hallway she made her way down the stairs, her white gown billowing about her bare feet. Once in the hallway below she practically floated into the formal living room and came to a halt in front of the Valentine mirror.
It must be too dark to see my reflection, she thought when the mirror gaped emptily back at her. Well, I’m down here; I might as well get it over with. Pulling her hand back inside the voluminous sleeve of her white nightie she reached out and began to carefully polish one small corner of the mirror.

Suddenly her stomach lurched, her head felt light and her whole body felt an unbearable pressure for a split second before she collapsed onto the ground gasping for breath. Her hands clutched the springy grass and she bent her head low trying to stay the waves of nausea that had suddenly assailed her.

“Grass?” she exclaimed in surprise and looked up quickly, startled to see that men dressed in armor surrounded her.

“What manner of witch might you be, then?” one asked menacingly.

Sue recoiled, hugging her knees over her white nightgown, the small red heart crumpled in the palm of her hand. The sun was shining brightly, high over the horizon, and she blinked rapidly, trying to read the men’s lips, the beards hindering her effort.

“You not answer?” exclaimed the closest soldier.

“Simple peasant girl maybe”, suggested another rider. “For she not know grass.”

“Move aside”, ordered the knight, approaching on his black horse. “A witch? … or a fair lady?” eyeing Sue appreciatively, making her even more nervous. “The Baron shall settle the matter”, stated the knight. “Milady?” offering his arm. She gazed deeply in the brown eyes before acknowledging the gesture. Without dismounting he grabbed her arm, and in a continuous smooth motion, lifted her off her feet. She unceremoniously landed on his lap. “Milord shall be pleased”, his arms surrounding her body, making her shiver despite the warm summer breeze.

Could it be? Sue landed at Sir Jack's feet? There is going to be a Sir Jack in this tale, is there not?

Yeah! A new story!!! I knew you couldn't resist! And we're on the horse and on our way and on to ????????? Hmmmmm. Where are we going??? This Baron dude had better be a good guy!!!

Jill

a Marlo Tale....Can't wait for more....those deep brown eyes can only mean one knight in my book.....


More Please.

Great Start...
In already...

The knight rode expertly. Once the shock passed, Sue took on her surroundings. They were in a vast field, and six men were galloping behind them. On their shields was a coat of arms she had never seen before. It had a large sinuous middle vertical white line bordered each side by royal blue, with a green laurel crown at the top, and at the bottom, a galley with a central mat, and a white and red rectangular sail. She wondered what it represented, or where she was …or when, but refrained herself from asking her companion. His lips were tight, neither smiling, nor frowning, he was concentrating …on what …she couldn’t tell. He had a thin moustache, and his dirty blond hair was cascading almost down to his shoulder. He didn’t seem to be in a chatty mood, so she ignored him.

She turned her attention in front of her. In the distance she could see flags, and tents, and people …lots of people …As they approached, she guessed they were probably yelling and shouting if their facial expressions and gestures were any indication.

She realized some sort of tournament was in progress. Horses were running, fighters were challenging each other, arrows were flying …she felt like an outsider watching a history lesson.

They approached a huge tent with a flag bearing the same coat of arms.

The knight lowered her on the ground before dismounting. Forcefully taking her wrist, he pushed the flap open, and pulled her inside.

She gasped in horror when she saw the man sitting in the chair surrounded by servants.

“Kneel in front of the Baron of Storvik”, ordered the knight, pushing her forward. Having missed his command, she landed on the hard packed earth on all four.

The man in the chair stood up instantly, his eyes widening in surprise.

“Milord, we found her in the field …she …she seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.”

“A witch?”

“Yours to decide, milord”, bowing down.

“Very well”, staring at Sue, his light blue eyes unable to decipher her frightened expression. “Take her to my chamber”, motioning to his servant who pulled her up to lead her towards the back of the room, behind another set of curtains. “Now, leave …all of you”, he ordered.

gulp! So I guess it wasn't Sir Jack.

Okay.......blue eyes...eyes widening in surprise.........not recognition??? HMMMMM.

Next clue, please

Jill

A Marlo Valentine Story!!!

And now: questions, questions, questions ... When? Where? Who?

Katinka

blue eyes i think its myles ..................or bobby i really don't know who has blue eyes .......................it is either myles or bobby........but it is definately myles.



marlo............we are waiting....

a brown-eyed knight....but blond so its not Jack.

A blue-eyed baron, but the name is wrong so not Myles.

You ARE going to fill us in..........right?

so many unanswered questions...
Marlo...we need a new post!

I'm curious and will be waiting anxiously for developments!

Sairs

The bad thing about going back in time is that no one seems to have the same names then as they do now. (Imaginge that! )

We definately need more clues to figure out who is who--and I'm hoping our beloved characters all show up. Especially a certain kind knight by the name of Sir Jack. I'm afraid Sue is really going to need some help here.

Great start! I'm having so much fun seeing everyone's take on the different options. This one looks to be just as entertaining as the others.

A new story

Woo Hoo, a new Marlo story to get my teeth sunk into.

So many questions already. I need another fix.

Karen

I love Valentine's Day!! I love this story!!

Keep it comin'!

I was with excitement when I noticed you had started a story. But now I'm . Just who has Sue???

This is a Jack/Sue story isn't it? (Please, please, please???? - Can you tell I'm suffering from withdrawl?)

Great start, Marlene. You've already got me hooked.

Do you really need to ask that, Flip ???

Just got home ... I will be posting very shortly

So glad to have a new story by you. This one looks so good.
thanks,
Terie

A large carpet covered most of the floor. Sue was seated in the centre, with cushions spread all around her.

The Baron's face haunted her. He looked so much like him, or he would without …without … She closed her eyes, his image filling her mind. He had a large scar, beginning at the corner of his right eye, crossing his cheek down to his unshaved chin, the bald line obvious amidst the blond facial hair. She wondered if he lost some of his vision with it. Other smaller scars covered his entire face, like someone used him as a dartboard. And his nose …his nose was barely resembling a nose anymore, not even standing quite in the middle of his face. It surprised her she noticed all that in the few seconds she looked at him. It couldn't be …him …could it? What would he do to her? Could she trust him? Would he order her to be burned at stake? Wasn't it the fate of …witches?

She didn't hear the curtains ruffle. He stared at her. She was holding a cushion to her chest. He couldn't see her face, only her long blond hair cascading freely down her shoulders. She trembled slightly. He wondered if she was aware of it. Why did she enter his world?

She sensed his presence, and lifted her head in his direction.

“Why did you come?” he sighed deeply.

I am so not sure who this Baron is........but the one who entered...Jack, maybe???

Jill

This is me confused...but intrigued.

kav

I think its Myles! He's the only other blond!

Any chance of a wee bit more?

Marlo's writing a story!

Wow!

What a fantastic beginning!

This promises to be an absolutely thrilling story.

Please post again soon.



gracie

Me2

This is me confused but happy this is a J/S story! (I figured it was, just wanted to make sure! )

VERY interesting beginning, Marlo! Hope we get some clues soon as to who everyone is!

I'm procratinating my reading your story instead of writing mine!

"

She gaped at the words, unsure she read him right.

“Why did you come, Sue?” articulating more clearly this time.

If anything she looked even more stunned and frightened than she was a moment ago. He took in her appearance. The nightgown was from the right era, but it didn't explain her presence.

“Where …where am I?” she stuttered, confused by the familiarity with which he conversed with her.

“Kingdom of Atlantia, Barony of Storvik. You stumbled on our annual Tourney. There's a feast later on, once the winners have been announced …” stopping as her eyes only grew wider. “Sue?” She opened her mouth, but no sound escaped her lips. She couldn't comprehend how he knew her. He couldn't be who she thought he was, who she wanted him to be …could he? “Sue? Is everything all right? Why did you come to DC?”

“DC?” she repeated, her mind reeling. Didn't he just mention some kingdom and barony?

He was starting to worry, but as soon as he approached her she recoiled, making him revise his tactic. She obviously wasn't herself. She had been so calm after the tragedy that he almost envied her, only to realize now she had been in shock all this time, and probably hadn't been able to move on. And if he were honest, he would admit he hadn't either

“This”, making a large circle with his right hand to envelop everything around him, “is how I'm coping”, shaking his head and sighing in contempt. “An escape …I didn't know you knew.”

“Myles?” her voice faltering, trying to hold on to her last strand of sanity.

Coping with what????

Oy! I'm trusting you, Marlene, so my eyes don't stay stuck this way forever!

So, does Sue get to dress up like a so a dashingly handsome, extremely sexy can ride to her rescue - and save her from Myles's insanity?????

I'm a little lost just like Sue.

I am a bit confused to say the least and this question may sound bizarre but has Sue stepped into the future? (With Myles having taken up the hobby of re-actment of bygone days)

So many questions, so little answers. Please come back Marlène.

Well .... What?!? I'm beyond confused right now.

What on Earth is happening there? Wherever there is...

Katinka

Has Myles found a doorway to a parallel universe? Is that why he's talking about two places at once?

Okay, confused, but I know it will all come out in the wash. I'm hooked and will be waiting anxiously for new developments.

Sairs

Totally lost, confused, bewildered, befuddled, . . . you get the point. I have no idea where you are going with this. The only solution to this dilema is for you to return and put us out of our misery.

After all, the only thing I can think of is that somehow Sue has landed inside Myles' mind. No matter what world or era we're in, that can't be good! I agree with Flip, she needs someone to rescue her . . . and fast!

Can't wait for more!

hmm, feeling rather bumfuzzled at the moment..

But so happy that you started this!!!

or maybe he can travel in time?
but he said he is coping with something and that makes me nervous...

At the name he glanced around the room before returning his attention to her, almost rendering her insane in the process. Her heart was sinking fast down the pit of her stomach.

“I don't see anyone else in the room, do you?” teasing her, hoping she would relax. “Though technically we're not supposed to use our real name while wearing this”, gesturing to his middle age clothing. “People addresses me as Milord”, he said with a twinkling of amusement in his blue eyes. “I came to appreciate fiction more than reality”, lowering his eyes, unable to look straight at her. “I'm sorry …You lost more than I did that night. He loved you, you know …he just never got the chance to tell you.” After taking a deep breath to control himself, he offered his hand. “Why don't we get out of here …and you can tell me what brought you back?”

His words twirled inside her head, and tears fell down her cheeks. She didn't comprehend where she was, or when …but she could feel the void in her heart. Without a doubt, she knew he was talking about Jack, and that was too much to bear.

She collapsed at his feet.

Marlo? Please come back...these snippets are so unlike you.

I was trying to develop a new style !!!

Ugh! Marlene! How could you do that????!!!!???? You're gonna have me soon! ARGH!

But you shouldn't mess with perfection....go back to tried and true!

NONONONONO ... NO! I'm sure I read that wrong! Right? Please ...

Katinka

Oh my goodness!! The way you've built this up is just wonderful! Can't wait to find out more about why she's there and what's happened. What next, Marlene?? And I'm sure hoping Jack is okay, wherever he is....

She felt the cold wet cloth over her forehead, and the glass pressed against her lips, cold liquid dripping down her mouth and chin. Her vision cleared and slowly she focused on the people around her.

“Steady”, ordered Myles, holding her in a sitting position. “Please, don't ever scare me like that again”, taking the glass away from her to give her a chance to speak.

“Thank you”, licking her lips, tasting the familiar potion. The cloth moving over her forehead stopped her musing. She pushed the hand away, only to face the knight that brought her here.

“I'm Sir Frederick …also known in this era as Luke Carter”, introducing himself. “You do like to make an impression on people, don't you, Miss …”

“Thank you, Luke …Isn't there somewhere you need to be about now?” not liking the lust in the young man's eyes, which was obviously the last thing Sue needed at the moment. “Perhaps some other damsels in distress to save, Sir Frederick?”

“Yes, Milord”, taking the hint. “Milady”, bowing deeply before leaving once more.

“This is a game?” noticing the anachronisms, starting with the glass of iced tea he was holding, his watch or the smell of his cologne.

“No, not a game, a history lesson”, Myles corrected her. “I'm hungry, Sue. Could we talk over lunch?”