Come by the Hills

Ch. 1

The young boy made his way through the town and let the smells fill his nostrils. He had heard that in these parts of Caledonia things rarely changed from year to year, even with the introduction of new technology. He could smell spiced meats cooking outside and a blacksmith's hammer beating a rhythm nearby. It was hard to believe that this was a town in the 21st century and when he made it through and out onto the country lanes he was even more glad that he had snuck out to see it. Children were cautioned not to leave the town because they could lose track of time and not be back before the earth day was through. But at 10 years old, Ludwig believed himself to be old enough to keep track of the time and would not fall asleep and be caught out before the following morning. His grandfather and older brother had not felt the same though and had told him to stay home while they went to explore. In a very uncharacteristic Ludwig behavior, he had ignored them and snuck out anyways. But he had gone a different direction from the very heart of town where Gilbert was sure to have dragged their grandfather.

Ludwig smiled and inhaled the pleasant country air. This land had been dubbed Scotland now but he thought that Caledonia just fit it so much better. The rolling hills and craggy cliffs in the distance danced like the sea with the breeze that blew through it and contained so many wonders that the people of earth and even those lands no longer believed in or had thought had died out long ago. He wondered if he might encounter one. His grandfather had told him legends that the appearance of Brigadoon once every 10 years caused these beings to become more active once more and bridged the gap between the world of the mundane, and the realm of the fantastic. Ludwig was excited and anxious if this could be true as he turned onto another smaller path that led him along a well weathered stone wall. It wasn't until he saw the quaint house and barn in the distance that he realized he was walking a private drive. He prepared to turn around when something caught his eyes, a blanket had been lain out a little ways from the house and on it was a little child and another that looked more like a baby. A little voice carried to him on the wind.

"See, Feli, clover? Pretty?"

Gilggling and clapping followed.

The older child seemed to delight in that and spoke more.

"Four leaf clovers lucky! Want me find you?"

The baby giggled more and started clapping in delight.

"Ok, I find!" the older child nodded and got up from the blanket and began searching the ground, slowly getting farther and farther from the baby and blanket. The baby made to follow after a bit but could only manage to stand up, when they tried to walk they immediately fell and started crying.

The child returned quickly to comfort the baby.

"It ok, Feli, you sit. I get clover! Bring you!" The child went off again after the baby had stopped crying.

Ludwig was starting to get an uneasy feeling as he watched the little boy searching around the front of the property. He wondered how determined he would be. Would he leave the baby to search farther away in his quest for a four leaf clover? He certainly hoped not. He couldn't see any parents present, though a window in the house was open. And then his fears were realized as the boy disappeared around to the back of the house. Ludwig waited with baited breath for him to return but kept his eyes on the baby. Really nothing could happen to it when it couldn't yet walk. And it was daylight so…

His ears suddenly picked up the sound of music. A beautiful mixture of pipes of different kinds and a fiddle here and there and a delicate harp with lutes and other strings accompanying it. It was beautiful! How could his grandfather have called this land mundane! Then the party seemed to just melt out of the tall grasses around the hill and he realized his mistake too late. This was not music from the mundane earth world, it was from the world of the fantastic, a world his land bordered. These people went by many names, little people, fairies, gnomes, elves, but his people simply called them Caledonians, the ancient natives. One thing was common with all the names though, they were rumored to steal children that wandered unattended too close to their homes under the hills. But on this day when Brigadoon's presence had bridged the rift between the two realms, it appeared they could venture further.

He wanted to cry out. To alert somebody to their presence or run to stop them himself but his mouth was suddenly so dry and his feet were stuck to road like a statue. He could only watch helplessly as the party approached the baby who looked up at them curiously and did not cry as a green garbed lady knelt down to speak softly to it and stroke the delicate little curls. She then scooped the baby up and turned back to her party but a figure was still left on the blanket and Ludwig gasped in confusion. Had they left one of their own children in its place. He finally forced his feet to take a few steps forward and his lips formed a croaked command.

"Halt!"

But the Caledonians were already hurrying back away towards their hill with the lady in front holding the baby protectively and the man beside her now also stroking its delicate curls. By the time Ludwig had reached the blanket, the party was gone. He had failed.

And yet…

He stared at the figure left on the blanket in shock. It was the baby! Lying with a peaceful smile on its face! Asleep! No…wait…

The skin seemed rather pale for a healthy baby, the hair not shining as brightly as before. He reached down to touch a pudgy arm and hissed in shock at how cold and lifeless it felt. And yet, the chest moved up and down and as he leaned his face down some light breath tickled it. The baby breathed. Could it really just be asleep? He started to shake it in order to wake it but to no avail. And then things got troublesome.

"What you do to brother!" The child's voice shouted suddenly and he was pelted with handfuls of clover. Apparently the boy thought this would scare him away. He turned to face the angry boy and spoke as calmly as he could.

"I was checking that they were alright. You left them alone and no one else was here and then the Caledonians came and…"

"Stop talking!" The boy raged cutting him off and pelting him with even more grass and a few small stones and sticks he could find now, "Leave or I call Nono!"

Ludwig was rather annoyed by now but also worried that the shouting still had not woken the baby. He didn't want to get blamed but maybe this, Nono, could help?

"Call him." He challenged.

The little boy clenched his fists and turned to the house, not wanting to leave his brother with this brother for a minute but realizing that his attempts at getting him to leave weren't working.

"Nono!" he shouted as loud as he could, "Nono, help! Help! Feli! Stranger! Help!"

The door banged open and a man came striding out and made a beeline for them. He looked much like Ludwig felt and sped up his pace at seeing Ludwig kneeling next to the baby.

"Who are you?" he demanded before even reaching them, "Why are you here? What are you doing next to my Feli and Lovi?"

Ludwig stood up and adopted his best polite voice as he quickly tried to explain.

"I'm sorry sir, I followed this lane by mistake but then I saw the boy leave the baby alone and got worried, and then the Caledonians came and I thought they picked up the baby and took it with them but now I see it still here but it won't wake up so I don't know what to think now. I'm worried about it."

The man studied him for a long moment before he let out a breath and knelt down to inspect the baby himself and hissed at the cold touch of the skin.

"Did you say Caledonians?" he turned back to Ludwig.

He nodded, "Though you probably know them as little people."

The man nodded again and picked the baby up and held them close.

"I did not grow up in these parts. Nor have I lived here long. But I have still heard the tales of the little people and how they steal children. And now…" he looked down at the baby and stroked its curls, "I fear that I understand the truth now. They do not steal the whole child, only their soul."

"What mean, Nono?" The boy asked while biting his lip and looking up at his grandfather and sibling worriedly, "What wrong with Feli?"

The man looked pained and about ready to cry. He didn't know how to explain it so his elder grandson would understand. The 3 year old was smart but this concept was difficult even for an adult to understand.

"Do you remember the word I used for your mama after the accident, bambino?"

The child nodded. "Coma." He supplied with a proud if uncertain smile.

The man nodded.

"Feli is like that too now."

The child looked horrified and started to wail.

"No! No! My brother! My baby brother!"

The man tried to comfort his elder grandchild while also clutching the abandoned body of his younger. He did not know how to proceed from here, but watching the scene, Ludwig did.

"Don't worry, sir, I will get the baby back." He saluted him and began to walk in the direction the Caledonians had taken to the hill.

"But why? How? Who are you?" the man asked in confusion.

Ludwig turned back and smiled.

"I am Ludwig Beilschmidt of Brigadoon and I will be a knight."

~L~

Ludwig made it to the hill and began searching all around the base for the secret entrance. It would be nearly invisible to an unaware eye, perhaps behind a stone or supposedly fallen tree, or a clever looking rabbit warren. They were, after all, called little people for a reason. Finally his hands passed through a clump of grass that just looked like a normal part of the hill. He took a breath as he prepared himself for the challenge ahead and reminded himself why he was doing this. He was going to be a brave knight. The baby needed a brave knight to recuse him! He pushed his arms and body through and began the descent down into the realm beneath the hill.

The tunnel grew, in a bit, but he knew it was because he had shrunk to the size of the Caledonians as he went down their path. He could see ethereal glowing in the distance, green lights. Everything of the people under the hill was green, from their clothes, to their surroundings, to their skin. He looked up at the sconces glowing green and couldn't help but shiver a bit. He was a strong, smart, brave boy of 10, but right now he really felt like a child.

He stepped out of the tunnel and into a grand cavern where a celebration appeared to be taking place. Figures danced in the center around a green and blue fire and the processional orchestra from earlier was merrily playing away beside them. But his main focus was on the pair on the dais above them all. The lady that had taken the baby was playing with him while her male companion bounced him on his knee. The giggles and clapping rang out through the cavern. Ludwig approached them around the rest of the occupants of the cavern. The little people looked at him and whispered, they knew where he was from, they also knew he would have been told properly about them and so did not offer him anything to eat or drink. They simply watched as he made his way to the dais.

The King and Queen, for that was who the lady and man with the child were, finally turned to him, the Queen with worry and the King with contempt.

"Why have you entered my realm, child of Brigadoon? Do you not feel fear lest we trap you here and you miss returning to your home before sunrise?"

Ludwig stood his ground against the calm yet sharp voice.

"Your Majesty, I have come for the baby your people stole earlier."

The Queen took the baby from her husband and clutched him tightly.

The King continued to stare at him from behind his moss green glasses.

"What is your name, child?"

Ludwig knew this trick. The Caledonians would have power over him if he revealed his name to them. He shook his head.

"You may call me Heinrich" That was another name his parents had considered for him.

The man nodded and addressed him thus.

"Heinrich, you may not take the child. My wife has already become attached to her. I suggest you leave while you still have the chance."

Ludwig stood his ground.

"I'm not leaving without the baby. His family is quite upset. I promised them to bring him back."

The King frowned more and pushed at his glasses.

"It appears we are at an impasse then."

"Rodderich, you are the king, make him go away!" The lady hissed.

"You know I cannot do that without force, Erzvet, my love" he sighed, "We must hope he does not know what to do next and gives up. He is quite young still after all."

Ludwig didn't like being treated like a child, especially when he DID know what to do next.

"I challenge you!" he shouted and pointed at the King.

King Roderich Edelstein, of the Caledonians, sighed and settled back in his chair while his Queen, Erzvet, paled and stoked the baby's hair faster.

"Very well, Heinrich, if you can answer my three riddles then you may take the child and go."

Ludwig nodded. His grandfather had been telling him riddles since he was a small child so he was fairly certain he was at a good advantage. He also was pretty sure the man could not use a riddle to trick him into revealing his actual name.

"First riddle," The King began, "The more I appear the less you see. So riddle me this, what could I be?"

Ludwig thought about it and closed his eyes so he would only see darkness, and it hit him!

"Darkness!" he shouted in triumph. The Queen moaned.

"Second riddle," The King continued, "What goes through towns and over hills but never moves?"

Ludwig remembered his grandfather telling him this one but did not remember the answer immediately. His brain raced through possible answers and discarded ones that did not make enough sense. What went through things without moving? Lines? Yes but there weren't really lines that went over hills. Bridges went over things, not really through. Tunnels went through but not over. Tracks? Most trains he knew of went around or near town and through hills, not over. Roads? Yes! Roads went through towns and over hills!

"Roads!" he stated proudly.

The Queen let out a wail and clutched even tighter to the baby, the King gritted his teeth and rose once more to stare hard at him as he spoke the final riddle.

"What goes up and never comes down?"

Ludwig was triumphant at hearing this one which the King must think was a challenge. Unfortunately for his majesty, Ludwig's brother, Gilbert, loved to tell this riddle to their Opa all the time.

"Your age!"

The King spluttered in shock while Ludwig expected the Queen to wail more and start crying. Instead, she got up and placed the baby on her throne before approaching Ludwig with a sharp glare on her face.

"You are a very bad child!" she snapped, "I have wanted a baby for years but not been able to have one! This dear baby girl's family left her all alone in that yard, they deserved to have her taken away by people who will properly care for her!"

"Erzvet," her husband placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "He won the challenge. There's nothing for it. He can take the baby back with him. But all is not lost." He smirked at Ludwig now, "She's eaten some of our food and taken a drink. She is now partially of our kind, which means that we may go and visit and check up on her and she will be able to see us, even if we are small at the time."

The Queen looked a little better at that but still glared at Ludwig more before she walked back and picked up the baby to cuddle her tightly and leave many kisses on her brow and cheeks before carrying her to the infuriating boy from Brigadoon.

"I won't forget this" she hissed. "If any harm should come to her under the care of her family, I will hold you responsible for taking her back."

Ludwig nodded but his triumphant smile could not be dimmed as he took the baby who had now fallen asleep. He cradled him and walked past the rest of the Caledonians who stared sadly, and back into the tunnel that would lead him out of the hill once more. He had done it! He had gotten the baby back! He was a knight!

~L~

Romulus was overjoyed to have his younger grandchild whole again. The baby's spirit was undeniable and made his older brother giggle too. He swung both boys around several times before turning to Ludwig once more with a huge grin.

"Thank you!~ Thank you so much, dear, brave boy!~"

Ludwig smiled and bowed, "I just didn't want our being here to break your family apart. I'm glad I was able to help."

"Hard to believe you're a child yourself" the man smiled.

Ludwig actually laughed for the first time and hearing it the baby started to giggle and babble happily as well and reach out towards him.

"Do you want one last hug before he has to go back home, Feli?" Romulus smiled and held the baby down to Ludwig.

He was surprised but gently took the baby and accepted the tight hugs he gave, including a little kiss on his cheek and more happy babbling.

"You're welcome" he whispered, "I…I'll actually miss you too." Then he passed him back to Romulus and hurried off with the shouts from the older brother echoing after him. It was confusing why just by rescuing the baby from the Caledonians he instantly felt attached and responsible for the boy. He had to hurry back to Brigadoon for the time being, but he would return next time. His smile stretched wide as he skipped back towards his home in the gathering twilight.

~L~

Ludwig was asleep when his grandfather and brother returned home from the earth town, so it was at breakfast the following morning that Gilbert regaled him with all the fun they had had. He was oblivious to the fact that his brother was only hearing half of it as he continued to smile about being a knight to an adorable baby with bright amber eyes and shiny auburn hair. He wished he could continue to protect the child for years to come but he couldn't leave his family, and, after returning him to his family, he couldn't steal the boy to Brigadoon. Still, he felt pride and hoped the baby would grow up healthy and strong. It felt similar to how he felt for Gil and Opa. Brotherly love. Protective, and absolute. He was a brave, big brother knight to the baby.

"Don't worry, Luddy!" Gilbert smacked him on the back and made him pay attention now, "You can come with us next time! Gotta get on growing up in 10 years huh?"

Ludwig nodded but in his mind he was going through the math. He was 10 now, in 10 years the baby would be 10 or 11. If Ludwig grew up in those 10 years then he could certainly be a bigger and stronger big brother to him, but he might also be scarier to him. But if he grew just a little older…

((AN: Title of this story is inspired by the song Buachaill ón Éirne/Come by the Hills. My favorite version is by Celtic Thunder. The idea behind the story is roughly inspired by the old musical Brigadoon. The first chapter is inspired by a favorite childhood story of mine, Catkin. I hope you all enjoyed the start to this story, not sure currently how long it will be. Appreciate all of you for reading! Ciao~))