I hope you guys are liking the rewrite so far. Also I really feel like the young Arthur Morgan pictures in the game don't even look like him. Not a damn bit. So if you google "young Arthur Morgan", you'll see a bunch of pics someone edited with a...age reversing thing? And hooooo weeeee! Hottest man ever! Review, fav and follow! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 8: Fear Álainn

Arthur took a deep breath in. "God, that hurt!" He sat up and grabbed the back of his head. He assumed he hit his head and got knocked out. Oh yeah, he got shot. He looked down at himself and spotted a bullet hole on his shirt pocket, so he reached into it and pulled out his gold pocketwatch. It had a bullet in it. "Ha! Son of a bitch! Oh!"

He reached into his back pocket and took out the billfolds. Well that was nice of the kid to give them back. He put them in his satchel, but he still had something in the pocket. He grabbed the item by its chain and lifted it up. Lilly's family pockwatch. That's what Lilly gave him to remember her by? It was silver, highly decorated, and was crafted with passion and perfection. A white argent and a green vert with a white wolf and oak trees were etched into the shield. There was a dexter arm holding a sword with a snake entwining the blade. It had to be her family crest. He wondered if the motto was somewhere on it too. When he turned it over, Arthur saw the words 'Fidus Et Audax' inscribed into the back. Yep. His Latin was a but rusty but...nope, couldn't think of it. He opened the watch and a picture of a family was under the lid. A man, a woman with a baby, a teenage boy, and two little girls. One of them was a younger version of Lilly.

Arthur couldn't figure it out. They didn't even know each other, yet this young girl acted so courageous and signed away her freedom and possibly her life just to spare the life of a stranger. His life. Perhaps it was because Arthur saved Lilly first, but Arthur had a feeling there was more to it. Like the name she called him. Fear something. What did it mean? Was it a joke only meant for her to know? A pet name? A term of endearment? Ugh, he would probably never know because she was gone, and that made his heart ache. Why? Lilly O'Callaghan was just a girl. Right? Then why was he so drawn to her? Initially he thought she was just a helpless kid until she charged him from the dark under the stage and threatened him with her blade.

That was when he knew she wasn't helpless and his mind kept drifting back to her sacrifice to save him. He closed the watch. Something to remember her by. Heh, as if he could ever forget her. Lilly leaping out from the dark and putting a knife to his throat, robbing him and Dutch, tricking them into thinking she had returned their money, watching her leap from one roof to another, staring in awe as she scaled a building with only her hands, seeing her break a window with her palm...no, Arthur was never going to forget that little girl. That sneaky, knife wielding, red headed, freckle faced, bright little monkey.

He pressed his lips to the watch. Arthur wasn't going to forget Lilly because he was going to go after her. He was not going to let that child get dragged to whatever Hell she was afraid of going back to. With his face and mind set with determination, he grabbed his hat, got up, and put the family heirloom in his satchel. He placed the hat back on his head, he checked his guns in case he needed to reload, and quickly strolled out of the apartment like he was on a mission. As he stormed down the hallway Dutch and Hosea came around the corner.

"Arthur!" Dutch said with relief. "What happened?!"

"Lilly was taken." Arthur marched past them and stuffed the gold watch back into his shirt pocket. "I'm gonna go get her back."

"Alright then." Dutch and Hosea followed after him. "You know where they're goin'?"

"Back home. I don't know where that is but I will find her," Arthur replied with a calm resolve as he quickly trotted with ease down the stairs. "And when I do find her, I will kill every last one of those mother fuckers and no one is gonna take that kid from me again."

"From you? You just met her!" Hosea said curiously.

Dutch chuckled. "Really, Arthur, I admire this knight in shinin' armor thing you got goin' on, but we don't even know where to look."

The trio walked out of the building onto the street. "I don't care," Arthur turned and looked at them both with great resolve. "You can come with me or not, but I'm gonna find her. I don't care how long it takes or how far I have to go, but I'm gonna find that girl, I'm gonna bring that girl home with us, and I'm gonna protect that girl until the day I die."

Dutch and Hosea looked at each other with their mouths agape. Dutch started chuckling. "Hosea, I think Arthur here is smitten!"

Hosea gave Arthur a look as if he was studying the young man. "I think you may be right, Dutch. Arthur, is your heart goin' piddly pat, piddly pat when you think of her?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes and tension formed in his jaw muscles. "You think this is funny? You think it's funny I'm tryin' to save a child," Arthur took slow steps towards them, "from the man, the guy that ain't her real father, who orchestrated her brother's murder and from the two men that carried it out? Do you think it's funny Lilly went with them willingly to save my life? And also, by the way, they went back on their word and shot me anyway!" Arthur tossed Dutch the ruined gold watch. "And do you think it's funny Lilly had to watch a good friend of hers die up there? Do you think it's funny Lilly," he reached into the satchel and showed them Lilly's watch, "gave me this to remember her by? Do you think it's funny that Lilly's mother, father, little sister, and two brothers are all dead and that she is all alone in the world? YOU TELL ME RIGHT NOW HOW ANY OF THAT IS FUCKING FUNNY!"

"Excuse me, sir?" A long red haired, blue eyed girl in a red dress and shoes tugged on Arther's leg. "Are you okay?" she asked. Her accent was Irish.

Arthur sighed apologetically. "Sorry, kid. I'm just a little upset right now."

"About Lillian? Lillian O'Callaghan?"

Arthur's eyes widened. "Yes! Do you know her?"

"Very old friends, she and I. She doesn't remember me, but anyway...are you looking for her? I saw some guys put her in a carriage half past 9! She was kicking up such a fuss about her beloved Fear Álainn. Is that you?"

Arthur knelt down to the girl and smiled. "Yes."

"Well, she hit the nail on the head with that one."

Arthur was confused by what she was saying but he smiled at the girl anyway. "You are a lifesaver, kid. What did the carriage look like? Did they say where they were goin'?"

"It was one of those expensive carriages. All red, four Suffolk Punch horses. They're going to the train station up north to catch a train to Saint Denis. She used to live there, did you know that?"

Arthur laughed. "No but I only met her today, Miss."

She giggled. "And yet here you are, about to go rescue your damsel in distress. You must love her very much."

Arthur cleared his throat and avoided the facetious gazes he knew Dutch and Hosea were giving him. "Well, uh...I suppose. Not in the...you know..."

"Oh, not in the romantic way. Of course! That would be rather awkward." The girl stuck her tongue out at Dutch and Hosea. "And you stop giving him a hard time! You both are going to love her too! She's like a giant love magnet!" She looked back at Arthur. "Now get going! You don't have all day!"

Arthur laughed at the odd child. "You're a strange kid, but thanks." he gave her some money. "Here, for your trouble."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Oooh! American currency!" She took it and giggled. "Thank you! Bye!" the girl shouted as she went skipping away.

Lilly was riding the horse damn near into the ground. She was crying for sure and she hated it. Why did she have to go and say such stupid things to Arthur? She had a bad temper, sure, but Lilly acted like an overdramatic idiot. And it shamed her. She couldn't go back and she couldn't look him in the eye after this. Such deep contemplation was distracting, however, and she almost didn't see the two animals in the road. She pulled the reins once she saw them and the horse stopped immediately. There were two wolves in the road. Her wolves.

"...Well," she sniffled and rubbed her eyes and cheeks. She calmed herself down to that of. sarcastic mood rather than a depressed one. "Fancy runnin' into the two of yas here." Her horse got antsy and she patted his neck. "Easy..." Lilly dismounted and strolled over to the pair of wild animals. "What are ya up to?"

Lilly heard another horse galloping down the trail. It was Arthur, for sure, but she kept her back to him. Lilly didn't know what to say. She said horrible things that she definitely didn't mean. The wolves whined and whimpered at her and she sighed. She reached into her satchel and tossed them some salted meat. They ate those up happily and she crossed her arms with a shake of her head.

"Lillian," Arthur said behind her.

Lilly didn't have the nerve to face him. Or was she too proud? "...Arthur."

Lilly heard him walk up to her and she felt him put his...her coat on her. "You'll catch your death out here," he said tenderly. "Huh, hey there, bear killers. Thanks for helpin' Lilly out with that by the way." Arthur sighed and adjusted the coat on her. "How are you doin' macushla?"

Oh boy. Lilly turned her head to catch him in her peripherals. "...You don't even know what that means."

"I don't have to. It's what you call me, so...you're my macushla too."

Lilly let out a feminine chortle. "It's pronounced 'mu-cooishla'. Well, roughly. Depends on what part of Ireland you're from."

"Macushla is easier to pronounce, my macushla."

Lilly laughed a little. "You don't need the 'my' in front of it. Mo means my."

"Oh. Well, okay, macushla. I don't care what it means, I just-"

"My pulse."

"What?"

Lilly turned and looked into his eyes. "Mo chuisle means 'my pulse' in Gaeilge."

Arthur narrowed one eye. He looked befuddled. "Huh. That's an odd pet name."

Lilly got close to Arthur, grabbed his gloved hand, and placed his palm over her heart. Lilly patted his hand in rhythmic twos to mimic a heart beat. "Mo chuisle. My pulse."

Arthur looked surprised and happy. "Your heartbeat."

"Mmhmm."

Arthur smiled and caressed her cheek. "I didn't think you was the romantic type," he cooed.

"Heh. Guess I'm full of surprises."

A sharp breath emitted from Arthur's lungs. "You always were. Right from day one."

Lilly wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled her face into the side of his neck. "You want another surprise, Fear Álainn?"

Arthur held her. "You haven't called me that since you were a kid. But yes, tell me another surprise."

"It means 'beautiful man'."

A shocking cackle came out of Arthur's mouth. "Are you serious?"

A giggling fit escaped from Lilly. "Yeah. You were Mo Fear Álainn."

Arthur actually started giggling too. "Fuckin' Dutch. He was Fancy Pants!"

They both went into a fit of hysterics. "Yeah, and Athair [Father] was Wise Ass!"

"Haha! You kept mine from me, though!"

"I told you, Arthur. It was because you were special."

Arthur laughed and kissed her. "I'm so sorry, darlin'."

Lilly shook her head in disagreement. "No, I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me."

"I think I do."

Lillu looked at him quizzically. "You do?"

Arthur smirked at her. "I got into you."

Lilly tried to hide a smile and shoved Arthur in the shoulder. "You are terrible, bithiúnach. Absolutely terrible."

They both laughed then pressed their foreheads together. They held hands and shut their eyes. "Forgiven," Arthur spoke softly with tenderness in his voice.

"Forgiven," Lilly repeated with the same volume and tone.

7-year-old Lilly was sitting in the carriage glumly with Steven, Travis, and two more of Papa's men. Donald and Giovanni. Her hands and ankles were bound by rope. And she was mad. Livid. They killed Craig and they killed Arthur. And half the point of coming to Blackwater was to get her family's pocketwatch back, but now it was in the backpocket of a dead 22-year-old Arthur Morgan. The fucking luck she had was shite. Oh, her Fear Álainn. Lilly was so unsure why a man she barely knew could exert such an influence on her. But he was just so pretty and so nice and he tried to protect her. Tried to keep her from Travis and Steven, but he died for it and she could only blame herself. Craig's death was her fault too. And Brian's. People dying around because of her, for her...at least no one else would have to perish needlessly once she was back in Papa's custody. And the things he was going to do to her? Heh, she deserved it. It was her punishment and she had to be held accountable no matter how bad the sentence was. Lilly closed her eyea and teardrops rolled own her cheeks.

"Ah, Miss O'Callaghan. Why are you so sad?" Steven asked innocently. "You're going home to your Papa. He will be so happy to see you again."

"He isna me Papa, Steven," she snarled angrily. "And yer stupid twat of a dumb fuck brother killed Craig and Arthur." She may be guilty but she'd be damned if she showed weakness...ir more of it. Lilly wiped her eyes and cheeks.

All the men laughed at her. "Holy shit, the mouth on this kid!" Steven cackled. "God, all those nights of sittin' in on poker, kid. We really were a bad influence on you!" The men laughed again and Lilly sighed in defeat. "So, Lilly...who was that Arthur guy? And Craig?"

"No one of significance tah ya, Steven."

"But they were both significant to you," Travis surmised. "Arthur saved you from gettin' run over today."

"Yeah, it was that same guy. Huh," Steven chuckled. "Did you know him?"

"No," Lilly growled. She didn't like talking about dead friends, family, and loved ones. "We just met today."

"Shit, kid. He was so adamant on keepin' you all to himself. You really do draw a lot of people. Hell, even us. Right, boys?" They all gave various noises of agreement.

"I donna give a fuck!" she snapped furiously. "Ya keep killin' people I care about. Does that not matter tah any of yas?" Why would it matter to them? They were all hateful and evil gobshites. And Papa was the worst of them all. Just thinking about him made her stomach heave.

Travis sighed. "Look, kid. What happened to your brother was unfortunate. And hell, we didn't even want to kill Brian. He was one of us! But your Papa wanted it done. And shit, kid. You're one of us too!"

"I ain't one of yas! Ya fucks can rot in feckin' hell! And if I'm gonna be stuck in here with ya smelly bastards, keep yer mouths shut so I donna hafta smell the shite comin' outta yer god damn mouths!" she screamed.

All the men broke out into hysterics. "She's worse than a drunken sailor," Donald laughed.

Lilly growled in frustration. "DO YA FUCKS NOT GET WHY I'M SO FECKIN' MAD?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YA? YA MURDERED THE ONLY FAMILY I HAD LEFT, MY ONLY FRIEND, AND MY FEAR ÁLAINN! HOW DARE YA CUNTS LAUGH AT ME FER BEIN' MAD!" Lilly screeched with the power of a hurricane. But then she started to sob. She hated crying in front of other people. It was weak of her, but she couldn't hold them back. Lilly truly wished she was dead.

Giovanni sighed and put an arm around her. "You're right. We're bein' cunts. We'll stop now, okay?"

Lilly knocked his arm away. "Don't ya try tah butter me up, ya bastard! Yer no better than the rest of 'em no matter how nice ya are! Try that again and I'll rip yer throat out with me teeth!" And she would, too. If she planned on escaping, that is. But even if she did, where would she go? They'd only find and capture her again.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. Sheesh!"

Gunshots were fired outside the carriage. The men perked up and Donald looked out the window. "What the hell? Who are those guys?"

Lilly straightened up. What guys? Was it those two men Arthur was with? Oh please, let it be those two! They'd be better than this lot! Anyone would! Her resolve rose from the ashes and Lilly decided Papa and all his unmerry men could go fuck themselves. Punishment and weakness be damned!

Steven looked out the window. "You gotta be kiddin' me," he said with shock in his voice.

Arthur, Dutch, and Hosea were chasing after the carriage and shooting all the extra guns to high hell. Arthur didn't care how many there were. He didn't care much about anything at the moment except Lilly.

"Who is this asshole?" Dutch shouted. "He's got a whole army!"

"I don't know!" Arthur replied. "What I want to know is-" A man came flailing out of the carriage on Dutch's side and hit the ground. "What in the hell?"

Lilly had gotten out of her bonds quickly and quietly. In all the commotion with the gun fight, she'd managed to use that opportunity to do so. And because her wrists and hands were so small and the rope was so thick, there was slack with the ropes. Eejits, the lot of 'em. It was a cinch to get out of. She had spare knives in her jacket and the dumb dumbs didn't bother to check for her secret pockets. Her advantage now was being smaller in a confined space, whereas the men were bigger and more awkward and slower than she was. Lilly eyed all the men who were staring out the windows. Donald was closest to her. A tall, lanky fellow with buzzed black hair and a scar over his left cheek. Lilly gripped two knives in her hands as she waited patiently for the opportune moment. Giovanni was looking outside, the brothers were looking out the same side together. Donald opened the door opposite and pulled his gun out. The moment was there.

Lilly moved quicker than a shadow as the blade cut Donald's throat open. He dropped the gun and Lilly shoved him out then she hid her knives and sat with the ropes displayed as if she was still bound and subdued.

"Hey! Donald fell out!" she yelled with false concern.

Travis looked over and laughed hysterically. "What a dumbass!" He came over and shut the door.

Lilly pulled out her knives, kicked Travis' knee out and stabbed him in his neck. The spray of blood hit Lilly but it was of no consequence to her. She pulled it out and the dying whimper coming out of Travis drew the attention of Steven.

"Lilly you-"

She immediately threw her knife at Steven's head and it went right into his good eye. He slumped down instantly. Giovanni wrapped his arms around the girl but she made good on her word and clamped her teeth onto his throat. She bit as hard as she could and tasted blood before jerking her head away with a rip of his flesh. He bled out and Lilly dropped the chunk of throat from her teeth.

"Dead men tell no tales," Lilly blurted out. She loved making puns.

As she picked up her knives, the top of the carriage was sliced open. It was one of Papa's goons. He had a gun and he started shooting at her. Lilly backed up and picked up Travis' corpse to use as a shield. Once the man's gun was empty, Lilly pulled out a throwing knife and threw it up. It hit the man in the thigh and he fell in. With a flourish of metal, Lilly made a downward slice to his neck. As she pulled out the throwing knife one of the doors opened. Another god damn goon. Lilly rolled her eyes and flung the knife. It hit home in his chest and he instantly dropped from the carriage. Lilly slammed the door shut. When she jerked around two men jumped in one by one. Lilly groaned and rolled her eyes in irritation.

"Come on, Lilly. Enough!" one of them said.

Lilly took a deep breath, puffed it out, and narrowed her eyes. "Me brother, me friend, and Mo Fear Álainn are all dead. Killin' all of ya will NEVER be enough!"

They went for her but she ducked and punctured their bellies before slicing them open. Their guts plopped out and the men dropped with dying groans. God, the smell of dead bodies was horrendously strong. The intenstines of the deceased men increased the unwanted assault to her sense of smell.

"Ugh, if I got shite on me, I swear tah God!" she growled.

Sure, blood was acceptable, but fecal matter was another story. The carriage jerked amd Lilly fell over.

Dutch and Hosea shot the drivers and both tried to jump onto the seats. Unfortunately they couldn't jump in time to prevent the horses from going down a hill and they almost fell themselves. The carriage hit a giant boulder and the whole thing flipped over with the poor animals. Arthur rode up and watched in horror as the reins and straps snapped off and two of the horses managed to get up and walk it off. The other two, however, died from broken necks. He dismounted and went running and sliding down after it, fearing the worst for the child trapped inside. The carriage kept tumbling down the hill and no matter how fast Arthur went, he could not stop the carriage from smashing its roof into a tree with a sudden stop.

"LILLIAN!" Arthur shouted. "No, no, no, no!!!"

Men came riding on horses but Arthur shot them all down as he hit the carriage with his side. He stood up awkwardly but he kept shooting. No one was going to get by him to take the girl even if the fall or the men inside killed her. Arthur reloaded quickly and proceeded to fire at the guards that kept coming. Dutch and Hosea joined the young man in protecting his precious cargo. Hosea wasn't one for killing people but apparently he was willing to make an exception in this case. And Dutch? He had no qualms whatsoever about shooting anyone as long as they weren't innocent people. But Arthur...if Lilly was dead, he might just lose his god damn mind and kill everybody.

The battle finally ceased and the men put their guns away. Arthur jumped up onto the carriage and practically ripped the door off. When he looked inside, his heart broke into pieces. "God dammit!" he choked out, his voice heavy with grief.

Author's Word: Aaaaaand there's the cliffhanger! I really hope I nailed it. Review and let me know! Fav, follow, and thanks for reading!