Laochaire

by gingersnapperr

Forced to flee, Jamie and Catrìona Fraser have hatched a plan to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from invading Scotland in 1745, all while trying to navigate new parenthood and keep from appearing as traitors to either side, as they both know they are. When the future proves to be inevitable, Jamie and Catrìona are forced to play their parts, which ultimately ends in tragedy. (Part 2)

1. Beyond the Shadows

16 April, ?

Craigh Na Dun, Inverness, Scotland

It was terrifying - just as terrifying as it had been when I had travelled through the stones the first time. The screams… They were the worst. Who's screams were they? Whom had they been? Were they travellers like me? Claimed by the stones, never to emerge? The screams, the buzzing, all of it was the fuel of nightmares, and I knew that I would never, ever escape these frightening sounds, no matter how-

"M-mee," echoed a voice. Who was that? A… a child? "M-mee." It was so muffled, so quiet, so far away… Was this child alone? Where was its mother? I had to reach that child. I just had to. Wherever it was… "M-mee!"

"Where are ye?" I called out to the voice. "I hear ye, where are ye?"

"Mammy!" It was so much clearer now - a child calling out to its mother. "Mammy! Mammy!"

"I hear ye," I said to the voice of the child. "Wherever you are, I'm coming! Stay where ye are!"

"Mammy, wakey!" said the childlike voice. Wakey? As in… wake up? I opened my eyes, and an innocent, childlike face flooded my field vision, framed by a crown of sunlight. "Mammy!"