Sadly I do not own Braveheart or anything associated with it. Alaine Campbell is of my own creating and this story is from my wildest fantasies.
Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed: gabbylynn, Lauren Grant, Allylynn, Taylor Chesney, GracieClaire and IKeepMyGoldFishInMyBra (which is sort of an odd place for fish and I can't imagine it being very comfortable, but she did add my story to the Braveheart community, so major thanks to her!)
Thanks for all the reviews, it really does mean a lot to me : )
But here you go, fresh and piping hot, another chapter of Fairheart
--
Part IX
Alaine drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her heart was still racing and her legs tingled with pin pricks up and down her calves.
It seemed like they had been running for weeks. They had crossed rivers and hills. They had run through forests and over the moors.
As William drove them on, more and more men joined with them. Some coming in ones and twos, appearing one day out of the mists, running along besides them. Others came in larger groups, parlaying with William first before offering their swords to his cause.
Now with twilight approaching on the third day, William had finally called a halt to their mad dash across the country side.
Alaine had kept pace with the men, running besides the horse that carried her father. Several times she had seen furtive glances and coins exchanged between the men. She had caught Hamish making bets against her on the second afternoon. He smirked and shrugged his shoulders at her arched brow but scampered out of reach when the palm of her hand rose up.
As the sun set, the men settled down quietly, preparing to make camp for the night. Alaine lifted off her quiver of arrows with a grateful sigh. Sweat pooled between her shoulder blades and she could feel it trickle down her back. Her feet ached and her thighs felt even worse. Her aches and pains were accompanied by the loud growling of her stomach.
"Allie, can you hold off dinner for a while?"
Alaine turned, startled by the voice behind her.
William was there, his piercing blue eyes studying her, assessing her weariness and making it even harder for her to draw in a proper breath.
"I need you, Hamish and your father for something special."
He turned without waiting for Alaine's answer.
"Oh and bring your bow and quiver."
Alaine gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at his back. She reached down, every muscle protesting and gathered her things, once more slinging the quiver over her shoulders.
Alaine followed after William, weaving between a man carrying firewood and another resting on rock, pulling off his boots and rubbing life back into his toes.
"What fool thing does he have planed now?" Hamish growled coming up behind his sister.
Alaine glanced at her brother over her shoulder. "I hope it involves clean clothing and a warm meal."
"No such luck children," Hamish the Elder stood waiting for his offspring, arms crossed, resting on the hilt of his broadsword. He waited until they were abreast of him before turning and falling into step with them.
The three Campbells made their way up a short rise and joined William at the top, all of them peering over to see what had captured Wallace's attention.
On the other side of the ridge was a beaten dirt path that wound between the trees before disappearing into the foliage.
"Bottoms' castle is at the other end of that road."
William's voice was flat and no-nonsense.
"Tomorrow, shortly after dawn, a contingent of Bottoms' men are suppose to march on through here. I mean to kill them all, take their uniforms and continue on to Bottoms' keep."
William turned to face the three.
"There should be no more than fifty men coming. We have nearly twice that. Allie, I need you to find a place where you can hide and take down any man who makes it through the battle and tries to ride to warn Bottoms. We cannot afford him any warning."
Alaine nodded and turned to survey the ridge. Down the ridge from where they were standing was a rocky outcrop that would provide cover for her and was an excellent vantage point over the road.
"There," Alaine said, pointing. "I'll set up there."
William nodded, pleased with her.
"We'll divide the men into groups and place them here, here, and here," William pointed as he spoke. "Hamish you will take the right, Elder Hamish will have the middle and I will take the left."
The three turned to discuss tactics for the coming morn. Alaine watched them stroll down the ridge, testing the footing and pointing out various features of the ridge and the road below it.
Alaine turned and once more surveyed the spot where she would be positioned at. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth and she bit down, a sudden way of nerves washing over her.
Ever since she was a young lass, this was what she wanted. She wanted to grow up to be a warrior like Ham and William. Only now they were all grown up and they weren't playing games any more.
Alaine looked down at her hands. Large palms and lithe fingers covered in calluses and browned from working the family croft.
Her mother hated her hands. Gerda would shake her head and cluck her tongue, muttering comments about no man wanting to marry a girl with such hands, every time she glimpsed Alaine's hands.
Alaine clenched her hands into fists. Tomorrow she might have to take another's life. She had never killed anyone before. Indeed, throughout all of her weapons training, she had never thought about what it was exactly she was being trained for.
Perhaps none of Bottoms' men would get through and she wouldn't have to take a life.
"Allie?"
Alaine's head whipped up at the sound of her name and she dropped her hands to her sides.
Hamish, Da, and William had paused, waiting for her.
"Come on now, dinner."
Alaine nodded and started towards them.
That night after everyone had eaten their fill, William, Hamish the Elder and Young Ham, detailed the battle plans for the men. Afterwards the camp grew silent quickly, most wanting a full night's rest before the next morn, others wanting to be left alone with their thoughts.
Alaine crawled under her cloak, pulling it close, telling herself it was the damp ground that chilled her bones and not her fears about the next morning.
Slowly sleep overtook her and she knew no more.
--
Please read and review and I should have another chapter up by at least Tuesday : )
Much Love, Ginger