The sun hung low in the sky as the two children ran around the outskirts of the village. They weren't disturbing anyone and it brought a smile to the faces of those that saw them.

"Drustan!" The young girl cried as she chased her older brother around the Celtic settlement. "Slow down!"

"You'll never catch me!" He called back, laughing as he ran.

"Drustan!"

The two children continued to run, racing through the forest as darkness began to fall. Drustan thundered on, risking a look over his shoulder. As he realised his sister was no longer behind him, he slowed and stopped.

"Genovefa?" He called, stepping back the way he came.

All was silent but the soft cry of a bird in the distance. As if it too called for her.

"Genovefa! It's not funny anymore, come out!"

He began to grow afraid. The darkness had found them quickly and it was rumoured that all manner of creatures lived in it. And despite his claims otherwise, he believed it.

"Come on, we should get back now." His voice shook as he imagined large fanged creatures looming behind him.

He heard movement behind a tree and his stomach flipped. There was something there. Watching him.

"Genovefa?" His timid voice called out to her but again, no reply.

He took cautious steps towards the tree, every leaf that crunched beneath his feet filled him with fear as he grew ever nearer to the creature.

The shadow leapt and tackled Drustan to the ground as he screamed.

Lying on the floor, Genovefa burst out laughing as he brother lay beside her, suffering from a minor heart attack.

"That's not funny!" He shouted and hit her arm.

"Ow! You're no fun!" She said, hitting him back.

"We have to go back." Drustan told her, standing, shaking off the leaves and dirt from his clothes.

"You should have seen your face!" She laughed, getting to her feet.

In the distance, Drustan heard twigs snap.

"What was that?" He asked.

"I didn't hear anything. Probably the ghouls that haunt this forest!" Genovefa giggled.

"If this is another one of your tricks, I swear-"

More twigs snapped, joined by voices and torch lights.

"Something's there." She said, her laugh fading away.

"Genovefa, don't!" Her brother warned, but the young Celtic girl followed the sound and the light.

Keeping to the shadows, they crept towards the source, hiding in the shrubbery as they found it. With deafening heart beats and breathing that threatened to give them away, the two watched the army, dressed in armour than shone in the light of the torches, helmets obscuring their faces. A few tents were set up as a temporary base and soldiers sat around a fire, talking quietly and eating.

"How much further?" Asked one.

"Just up ahead." A soldier replied.

"Good. I just want to get this over and done with and go home. It's cold here. Not like home."

"Mhm." He mumbled in agreement as he chewed on a chunk of tough bread.

"I hope there aren't too many children." He continued, sighing. "I don't like killing children."

"They aren't like us, Flavius." The soldier swallowed and turned to him. "They're savages, uncivilised, even their children would cut our throats at a moments notice."

"Fine."

Genovefa squeaked and clapped a hand over her mouth as realisation dawned on her. This army, these strange people, they were going to attack her village.

"What was that?" Flavius looked up, squinting into the darkness where the two hid.

"Probably just an animal." The other soldier waved him off, but Flavius wasn't so sure.

"Genovefa, hush..." Drustan held her as she shook in fear.

Flavius stepped closer to the bushes and drew his sword.

Genovefa ran.

"No!" Her brother cried as she burst from the bushes, screaming as bolted for her home.

The two soldiers jumped into action and Flavius snatched the Celtic boy as the other soldier sprinted into the forest. His long, strong legs easily caught up with the young girl and grabbed her by the back of her dress as she shrieked and squirmed in his grip.

"Shut it!" He snapped, shaking her as he put the sword to her neck.

She did as she was told, eyes wide, heart thundering in her chest. He dragged her back to camp where she saw her brother in the same state, sword to his back as he knelt by the fire, his arms tied behind his back.

"What do we do with them?" Flavius asked as the soldier and Genovefa approached them.

"They can be our captives for the time being. There'll be enough bloodshed first light tomorrow."

Flavius nodded and struck Drustan with the hilt of his sword. His sister screamed as he flopped on his side, unmoving. As the other soldier did the same, the night returned to its quiet state. All the noise that remained was the crackling fire and the low whistling of the soldiers as they shoved the unconscious children to the side.