This is the story of Skulduggery before the events of the books, its my version of events so I hope I don't offend any one. Hope you like it!

The year was 1796. A tall and beautiful woman stood at the window of her cottage. Her long red hair tumbled in waves down her back like a waterfall of fire and her green eyes sparkled like emeralds. Her eyes were large, her cheek bones high and her lips plump, her simple white and green dress hugged her generous but athletic figure. She was the envy of many women and and the desire of many men. Behind her, her baby daughter murmured quietly in her sleep. Nerves fluttered in her stomach and still she waited as she had waited for nearly a year.

His feet ached, the chain mail and leather tunic he wore was hot and uncomfortable. He removed the helmet from his head and tied it to his belt alongside a sword that hung from his hip. His face was chiselled and handsome, his hair was charcoal black and his eyes were the colour of molten copper, flecked with gold. He was tall and held his head high as he walked, despite the weariness in his bones. Beneath his tunic and breeches his frame was muscular and strong. He had been fighting for nearly a year and the thought of home made him quicken his pace. Two months ago he had received a letter from his wife, he was a father...he had a daughter. He smiled. He walked out of the trees. A cottage stood in front of him, honeysuckle grew around the windows and there were roses in the garden. Stables stood off to one side and a large grey horse in the paddock raised it's head as he approached. He crossed to it and stroked it's velvet nose,

"Hey Benny" he said quietly.

The sound of a door opening behind him made him turn. A stunning woman with red hair was running across the garden towards him. He opened his arms and she crashed into him, her lips locking to his, the force pushing his tired body back against the paddock fence. She broke the lip lock,

"Oh Skulduggery, how I've missed you"

He smiled his leather clad hands cupping her face,

"Rhoswen" he whispered burying his face in her hair. They stood like that for a while before a small cry from the house broke the silence. Skulduggery's head snapped up, his eyes wide, Rhoswen smiled taking his hand,

"I believe somebody wants to meet her father"

She led him inside, a crib stood close to a window allowing the sun to warm the tiny body within. Rhoswen pushed her husband forward, he stripped off the leather gauntlets he wore and Rhoswen took them from him. The ring he wore clinked against the wood of the crib as he gripped the sides and looked down upon his daughter. She was tiny with a shock of black hair on her perfect head. Her eyes were large and the same molten copper colour as her fathers but shot through with green rather than gold. For a moment she looked unsure of this man towering above her, then she smiled , gurgled and reached for him, her hands waving in the air. Skulduggery lowered a hand into the crib and her hand clamped on to his finger and she giggled. Skulduggery felt tears sting his eyes, Rhoswen came up behind him, her arms came around his waste and she pressed against his back, looking over his shoulder,

"She's beautiful" Skulduggery whispered, Rhoswen nodded,

"She looks like you...I think she'll be head strong and stubborn like her father"

Skulduggery chuckled

"And beautiful like her mother"

Rhoswen kissed his neck,

"Thankyou my love"

They stood for a moment longer,

"What's her name?"

" I wanted to wait until you came home to decide, but I thought Skyla suited her"

Skulduggery nodded and smiled,

"I like that...Skyla...my little Skyla"

Hope you like it, please R & R, I don't know if I should continue this or not.