The Light Before Christmas

In Norwich, during the 1334 Christmas hawking competition, the old crone Kayela reveals a knightly quest to Cole and gifts him a glowing blue medallion. She warns that if he does not fulfill the quest by midnight on Christmas Eve, he will never be a true knight. The encounter makes clear that Cole's fate hinges on a journey to a faraway land and marvels beyond his time.

Kayela's magic transports Cole to Bracebridge, Ohio, where he is struck by Brooke Winters' car and taken to the hospital. Officer Stevens questions his identity, mistaking his tale for amnesia because he has no ID. Brooke offers him shelter at her guest home while he recovers.

As he recovers, Cole slowly adjusts to radios, diners, and everyday tech like Alexa, marveling at a world that once existed only in legends. He remains wary but curious, drawing Brooke's family into his unusual orbit. His outsider status gradually gives way to warmth as he bonds with those around him.

Cole's odd charm wins over Brooke's friends and relatives, who accept him despite his strange manners. Brooke opens up about her late parents and an ex, while Cole shares his own past and the weight of his quest. The two begin to trust each other as they grow closer.

While pursuing the meaning of his quest, Cole rescues two children stranded on a frozen lake and captures an escaping pickpocket. The deeds earn him gratitude, yet he still feels that something essential is missing from his new life. The mystery of the quest continues to tug at him.

On December 24, Cole helps Brooke host a Christmas feast and finally asks about mistletoe. Their kiss triggers the glow of his medallion, signaling that he has fulfilled the knightly quest. Brooke walks him back to the original arrival point, the Christmas Castle, and they share a heartfelt farewell as he returns to the past.

Cole arrives back in the 14th century just in time for Geoffrey's knighting ceremony. Geoffrey warmly welcomes him, but quickly senses his brother longs for Brooke. He urges Cole to return to Brooke, hinting that the quest has altered his brother's heart.

Geoffrey sets off into the woods to locate the mysterious Kayela, declaring that he has completed his part of the quest. He hopes for guidance that will allow his brother peace. The search marks a bridge between the two centuries.

Kayela reappears and uses her magic to transport Geoffrey back to the 2019 timeframe. The transfer completes the brothers' cross-century odyssey and leaves Kayela to supervise the next leg of their journeys.

Back in 2019, Brooke's family invites her to join the Christmas Castle for Christmas Day. Cole returns atop his horse, Sherwyn, and proclaims his love for Brooke, choosing to stay in the modern world. Brooke accepts, and they ride around the castle as onlookers celebrate their union.

In a post-credits scene, Geoffrey meets Kayela again, who hints that he will undergo a quest of his own. The glow of Kayela's medallion suggests a future journey for Geoffrey across time.