"Elinor!" I heard my mother's voice call from down the hall, coming closer and closer to my bedroom door. I shoved myself against the wall even harder, pressing so hard that my feet were beginning to slide on the floor. I was trying to see if I could make myself smaller and disappear forever. The sounds of cries and screams filled the air outside of my window and I curled into a ball to stop the sounds. "Elinor! Let me inside this instant!" I could hear the tinge of worry from her screeches, attempting to have a strong tone with me, but overall, just as scared as I was. Our kingdom was under attack, and there was nothing that any of us women could do, except hope that my father and brothers would return…alive. "Elinor, please. It's mommy. Open the door for mommy." I lifted my eyes to see the hinge of my door being turned over and over, hastily, in the act of trying to burst into my room. I could see the urgency from the turns, fast and hard, as my mother's voice became louder, harsher, higher. After a moment of everything going distant from me, the clear sounds of war outside my window feeling like it was miles away and I had super hearing. My mother's cries were destroying something deep inside of me, so after pushing myself to go, I bolted toward the door and took the chair out from underneath it. My mother bounded into the room, fell to her knees, and gazed into my face. I could see the tears running down her beautiful face, the one that I had seen so strong and tough all my years, was now breaking down before me. I knew in my heart something was wrong.

"My dear Elinor, we need to leave! Your father built a cellar down below in case something like this ever happened…" Before leading me down the stone staircase, she looked at me, and I mean really looked at me, before kissing my forehead and tearing us both down the stairs. My fourteen year old sister was waiting at the bottom, her eyes wide with fear. I felt something twist my aching heart. Even my mighty sister was terrified! What could have possibly happened to all of us to lead us to this destruction of humankind?

Mother shoved Annella and I down into the damp cellar, shutting the trap door above us, engulfing all three of us into darkness. I heard the sizzle of fire starting, and soon to behold, the flames of a fire appeared on the stick my mother held. She sat it high; in a perfect ring that it would only fit in, and leaned against the cold stonewall, pressing her hand over her heart. This was the first time I noticed how hard she was breathing, the sound nearly hurting my ears. I felt something break inside of me. How could my mother really be like this? The Queen of our Kingdom?

My mother turned her head, finally noticing my mother and I, and she choked, tears returning to her angelic face. I had to turn away, searching for a place to sit without destroying my dress with dust. "I'm so sorry, my dears. I didn't know any of this would happen."

Annella, one of the wisest young girls I knew, spoke up. "Of course you didn't, mother. No one did. It is certainly not your fault that they decided to come attack us. They are power hungry."

"I know, Annella," my mother's voice sounded hurt, and maybe even disappointed. "That's how they have always been."

My ears perked, suddenly. I didn't even know why I said it, but it came out of my mouth before I thought about it. "Who are they?"

Annella glanced at our mother, secretly asking if she could tell me. My mother's eyes flicked over to me, a deep sigh coming beforehand. "The Murron and DunBroch Clan."

I remembered learning about them during my history lessons with mother. I looked between the two of them before settling on my mother. "Why?"

She knew exactly what I meant, even if my voice was starting to sound like I was going to cry. I was only a little girl after all. "They are attacking us because they want our power. They want new territory and for us to become part of them."

I stood on top of a crate that was sitting next to me, my voice rising in my lungs, sending power in each tone I brought. Annella stared at me with her mouth wide open, and nearly the same with my mother. "They are not allowed to take our clan! Not our home! If they want to fight, they will get one! Father, and Gillean, and Lyall. We. Will. Win!"

Annella swiveled her head to meet my mother's gaze, which, surprisingly enough, had a sort of pride hidden beneath the fear of everything happening around us. I heard her whisper, and later on in my life, I would never forget it. "That's my girl."

A loud pound came onto the hidden doorway above us and I heard Annella gasp. Mother threw the torch to the ground, taking away the fire, and went toward the stairs, listening at the wood. I heard a voice appear, deep and friendly, that spoke in our ancient language, and said: "We shall protect thee." My mother pushed opened the doorway to find one of our own men, Machar. His wavy dark blonde hair and fierce brown eyes met our scared faces, a wide smile on his face. "Hello, my dear Queen, I am here to lead you to the fortress that your husband had built years ago for protection."

My mother's expression returned to the one I had seen before, the stern and strong leader that both of my parents led our kingdom. I couldn't contain my smile; this was more familiar to me. "Oh, Machar, I know exactly where the fortress is."

"Then, why didn't you go there, ma'am?" There was a hint of amusement in his voice and I realized that he caught my mother at a standpoint.

She stood straight and met him right in the eye. "My husband would send someone to take us there, that's why."

Machar slipped out of the way, leaving out his arm, and properly stared, "After you, my lady." When my mother passed him, he gave a wink to my sister and she giggled. My hand went to my mouth in unison with their occurrence; my sister had an admirer, and she liked it. I kept my silent though, especially after I gave Machar a final glare as I went.

We proceeded out toward the stables, where our entire holds of horses were held, and my mother's face fell once she rounded the corner. She rounded on Machar, who met her expression with a blank one of his own. "There is only horse."

Her voice sounded like a threat and I had never seen my mother so furious, not even at our father. Still, his face was impassive. "They are needed during war."

My mother threw arms in the air, exasperated, and thought momentarily, before returning to him. "I will ride to the fortress, since you know a better way around the battlefield than I do. You protect my girls with your life, since they are part of your future kingdom." Her tone was so amazing that I nearly cried before her. She sounded like how I wanted my mother to be; brave and incredible. I wanted to be exactly like her, I had decided that right then. I wanted to be like my mother. My brave mother.

"As you wish," Machar said, bowing heavily as her presence.

My sister's voice broke it all though. "No, mother, I am not leaving without you."

"Oh Annella," my mother sounded annoyed, something I rarely heard toward us kids. "No, I need you safe."

"But, mother," I could hear the determination in my own sister's voice. "I am your daughter. You and I both know that I will be safe wherever you are."

Machar and my mother's eyes widened, but it was my mother's face that warmed and softened. "You really are too much like me, Annella." She looked at me, then back at Machar. "Only the two of us can ride a single horse. Get Elinor to the fortress. Or," I heard the scariest tone my mother had ever used in all my life. "It will be on your life."

I saw strength rise in Machar stature, his sized her, but he never acted better than her. Never. "Of course, my Queen."

My mother grabbed me, tightly, and gave me a bunch of kisses all over my face. "Be safe, Elinor. I will see you in our safe place, soon."

I had to fight back the tears. I knew how time of war worked. There could be a chance that I wouldn't see her again. But, somewhere, deep down inside of me, I knew I would. "I love you, mommy."

"I love you, too," my mother smiled before standing up, helping Annella, who waved to me, onto the horse, and finally hoisting herself up and both of them took off into the dust.

"Looks like we should be off," Machar spoke, silently, and calmly before tromping off toward the forest. I chased after him, trying my hardest to keep up with his pace.

"You like my sister, don't you?" I asked, nonchalantly, but rather quite curious.

He froze, his muscles tensing only for a moment, before he composed himself. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"You may find me an idiot because I'm a little girl, but I notice things that most of you don't think I see. So, please, don't be an idiot."

He grinned at me, one that I found helping me to do the same. "You are too much like your father." He rolled his eyes and did the motion with his neck as well. "If you must know, then, yes. I do have an interest in your sister."

I smiled wider, proud of myself for knowing something that others did not. "I knew it!"

Machar shook his head before the sounds of footsteps and rustling came close to us. In my fear, I rushed behind Machar, cowering and shaking. Machar unsheathed his sword, the sun glinting off the beautiful blade. Machar spoke, quietly, over his shoulder to me. "I will protect you, princess."

I silently thanked him, hoping that this wasn't it. I pressed my eyes closed. Please, not yet.

People did appear from the trees, but I recognized our coat of arms on their shields and of course our colors shining against the harsh colors of the background. Machar walked toward them, leaving me off next to a tree, where I felt unfortunately lonely. They were speaking in hushed tones, so I didn't bother to go toward them. It must be a battle secret that I wasn't supposed to know, though, I wouldn't know what they were talking about anyway.

Machar turned back toward me, his face very white and shocked. I felt something ache inside of me. Please, not my mother. He came closer to me before resting his weary eyes on me, his face never once moving. Everything expressed pain in his face. My eyes shone with the question that everyone asked when you knew you were about to be told something. I gulped before he spoke. He stuttered his words, but I heard them clearly. "I'm so sorry, Elinor, but your father is dead."

Everything crashed, my body slowly turned upside and inside out as I stood there, my eyes widening with understanding as I stared at him. I could see worry searching my face, but I didn't care. "My… my father?" I asked, my voice not cooperating. I gaped at the ground, the realization that my father, my adoring father, was dead. I heard Machar say something before the world went tumbling beneath me, and everything went black.

I sat there, reading a book that I was trying my hardest to understand, but clearly it wasn't working. I was twelve years old, already knowing how to use a sword and bow, and yet, I couldn't read this book for the life of me. I threw it to the floor, angry, maybe because I wasn't in battle with my father. Mother of course said I was too young. I groaned, aloud.

"Fergus!" I heard my mother's scream my name. I ran down the stairs, skipping a few steps before sliding into the dining area that my mother, some guards, and the rest of my family were seated. My eyes flew between them all, but lastly fell on my mother. Her face was full of tension, but I could see something like shock within it. I gaped at her, titling my head, so she knew I was confused, and waiting. She inhaled, and then her voice appeared. "Fergus, The King of Clan Padruig is dead."