The Gift

Disclaimer. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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The room was suffocating. Young Elaine Gabrielle Callum woke to her room filled with smoke so thick she couldn't see the ceiling above her. Groggy eyes moved to look up at her mother perched over her small form. Panic was shining in her hazel eyes as she continued to shake her daughter out of her sleepy stupor.

"Sweetheart, you need to wake up. We need to go." Her mother whispered harshly as she picked her daughter up and set her on the floor. Elaine's world came into focus, and the sounds of metal clanging against metal and outraged bellows of her father's men could be heard from outside.

"What's happening, Mama?" The young girl frowned as she tiredly rubbed her eyes, her curly hair falling over her forehead in a wild disarray.

"We must go, Elaine." Her mother pushed a bag made of old leather into her arms. Before Elaine could open it to see its contents, Elizabeth's warm hands enveloped hers.

"Later, my sweet girl."

"Mama, are you cold? Your hands are shaking. Father Leroy said you always have to rest so you have energy for when the baby comes" Elizabeth shook her head and kissed the top of the little girl's head.

"No, I'm okay. I'm not tired, but we must go." She wrapped her daughter in a small cloak and swept her up into her arms. Fighting back a fit of coughs from the smoke, she pushed Elaine's face into the crook of her neck and ran out into the hall and into the room she shared with her husband.

The room was in complete chaos as she had hurriedly packed the bag while her husband ran out to greet the threat that had ripped through their barriers. Elizabeth weaved through the mess, stumbling a little as she tried to keep her balance and not drop her child. Her heart was roaring in her ears. She heard them coming. They were so close now.

Reaching the large bookcase in the room, she reached up and yanked down a book that looked just slightly out of place. A clicking sounded echoed through the room before the bookcase shifted slightly. Using her back against the bookcase, she slid it open just enough that they could get through before running through the halls. Her arms were getting tired from gripping Elaine to her, and her breathing was starting to labour, but she needed to get them out.

Elaine quietly held onto her mother as she stared into the darkness behind them. How her mother knew where they were going, she would never know. Squinting against the darkness, Elaine's hold tightened as she could've sworn she say something moving in the shadows.

A moment later, they were outside. Their land was engulfed in flames. The once beautiful rolling hills that their home sat upon was now singed and covered in the blood of her clansmen. Tears filled Elaine's eyes as she spotted her dear friend's lifeless body strewn across a broken tree trunk.

"Hush, sweet girl." Her mother soothed as a sob ripped past Elaine's lips. Elizabeth steered away from the young girl's body and ran down a path into the line of trees surrounding their home.

In the distance, the tall walls that were supposed to protect them stood looming, casting a shadow of darkness over the land it was surrounding. Her mother was running for the walls, skirting the tree line as she looked for a way out past the walls.

Elaine stared at the land as they moved by. The houses all looked to be on fire, and the battle sounds were starting to get louder. She watched as her father's men started to come into view. They were unknown army that wore no plaid. She would never know who it was that so ruthlessly attacked her family. Tears welled up in her eyes again as she searched the crowd of people fighting.

"Where's Papa?" Elaine's lower lip trembled as she fisted her mother's soft hair in her tiny hands.

"He'll find us, my love." Elizabeth turned quickly and found the spot she was looking for. There was an open space in the wall that her husband had told her would be there if the walls were to ever be invaded. She carefully poked her head out and scanned the outside of the walls. As she was about to take a step forward, a strong force ripped her back, and she went flying, her slender arms clutching her daughter to protect her from harm.

Elaine screamed as her mother quickly rolled over and pushed her back. Elizabeth was hauled up by the front of her dress to stare into the eyes of her assailant.

"Tell him I found her," he grinned at Elizabeth as he spoke to his companion, who nodded and quickly left to do his bidding. This man had a front tooth missing, and he stood with a slight hunch. Elaine stared at him horrified as the man hit her mother and shoved her onto the ground before straddling her and lifting his fist into the air. Crying hysterically, she ran forward and grabbed the man's arms in an attempt to stop him from striking her mother again.

"Ah, look," he laughed. "She's trying to save you." He stared down at Elizabeth with a sinister smile before reaching up to grab Elaine. Before he could reach her, he was suddenly thrown off with a huge force. Elizabeth sat panting with her hands in front of her. She stared at the man who was groaning on the ground before turning to look at her daughter.

"Listen to me, my sweet girl. You must run. You must live, for all of us. Don't let them find you. Ever. Don't ever let anyone take advantage of your gift. And always remember that Mama and Papa love you. That we all love you." She hugged her daughter tightly and tightened the cloak that had come loose back around her, effectively hiding the back beneath its material.

Elizabeth pulled back from her daughter to stare into the beautiful hazel eyes that matched her own. She ran a shakey hand through Elaine's soft locks as she solidified the memory of her beautiful daughter into her heart.

Elaine's eyes widened as her mother suddenly jolted upwards slightly, her face turned up to the sky with her eyes wide as a gasp ripped through her body. She dropped her chin to stare at the metal protruding through her swollen belly. Blood splattered out of the wound as the sword was pulled out. Elizabeth dropped forward, giving view to the man who found them. He glared with outrage, blood trickling down from his mouth.

"You bitch." He spat out as Elizabeth fell into her daughter's arms. When Elizabeth coughed of blood, the man's anger subsided and realization flashed across his face. Suddenly he was cursing and looking around quickly. He quickly raised his sword up. He needed to kill them and hide them before someone found him with the injured woman and child.

His sword suddenly dropped to the ground as he stared at his reflection in the child's wide eyes. He could see the blood pouring from where his arms used to be. His mouth dropped to scream, but nothing came out as shock settled in. Standing behind him stood one of the most intimidating warriors he had ever seen.

"Papa," the child whimpered as her eyes flickered to stare at the man he knew was standing behind him. Rowan Callum use the man's head to throw him away from his family. He quickly knelt down and took his wife into his shaking arms. Her sweet face turned to smile up at him through her tears.

"My love," her voice was whisper soft as it passed by her cracked lips.

"Shh... you'll be alright." Rowan's voice came out strangled as he tried to reign in his emotions as he rested his hand over his wife's pregnant belly.

"I'm sorry," she cried and a tear slid down his face and dropped onto her cheek.

"Mama, don't cry!" Elaine dropped next to her parents and rested her hand on her father's hand. "I'll make it better!" She nodded vehemently as her hand started to glow softly. The light engulfed her father's hand and then surrounded her mother's gaping wound. The flesh began to slowly close, but Rowan and Elizabeth both knew that their daughter's power was not strong enough to save the baby that the family was so excited to meet.

When the wound closed, Elizabeth smiled at her little girl who stared at her with so much hope and innocence.

"Thank you, Elaine." Her voice came out stronger in an attempt to reassure her daughter that everything was going to be okay.

Elaine smiled brightly then turned to look at her father. Rowan was staring at his family with an unreadable expression.

"Papa!" He felt little arms wrap around his neck. One strong arm wrapped around her frail body and clutched her close to him. He inhaled his daughter's sweet scent and fought back the tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

"Elaine," he acknowledged when the little girl pulled back enough to stare at him. She smiled at him then hugged her mother. Their beautiful angel. He already mourned their separation.

"Papa, we need to go back and get Lisa. I think she's dead." She suddenly declared solemnly. He stared at his daughter as his heart ached. She was much too young and too innocent for all of this darkness.

"I'll go back for her," he promised as he pressed his lips against her temple. Then he turned to look at his wife.

"Can you stand?" Elizabeth slowly nodded at him.

"I can try." Rowan slowly helped her to her feet. He kept his arms around her as she steadied herself.

"You need to leave. You need to get out of here and get treated."

"Our baby..." she started as she reached for her stomach, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

"Is now in a safer place." He cut her off as he placed his hand over hers and held her close. His heart cried for the loss of their child, but he couldn't allow himself to grieve until this was all over. Not until his family was safe.

He picked up his daughter and hugged her tight to his chest then pulled his wife into him to hold them both.

"I love you," he whispered as he relished in their warmth. "You must go now, Elizabeth. Take Elaine and go. There's a horse for you past the gate. Find McHugh. He will help you." Rowan gave Elaine to her mother and gently urged them to the opening. He was about to guide them out when he heard a sharp cutting of air. He lifted his sword as he turned his body in time to knock an arrow out of the way.

Dark laughter echoed through the forest as the leaves started to sway harshly. A man stepped out of the shadows to stop by the fallen soldier. His soldier turned to look pleadingly at him, blood pouring from the wounds inflicted on him. The man calmly stepped on the wound and ground it into the dirt. Finally, the soldier had let out a strangled cry.

"Was I not clear enough when I told you to make sure she wasn't harmed? Even from here, I can see her swollen cheek. And you killed the baby. Do you know how much power that child could've be born with? How much power I could've had if only I had the mother and child?" With each sentence, the man became more and more angered. Finally, he raised his booted foot and kicked swiftly. The soldier's neck made a sickening cracking sound as his garbled breathing suddenly stopped, and everything stilled.

The man straightened and cleared his throat, then turned with a blank smile on his face.

"Ah, Rowan. I do apologize for my soldier's unacceptable behaviour." Elaine couldn't stop staring at the long scar he bore on the right side of his face. It stretched from the top of his brow, over his shut eyelid, and down to the middle of his cheek.

A dark rumble came from deep in Rowan's chest as he nudged his wife to get going.

"My love," she exclaimed.

"Go!" He didnt turn to look back as Elizabeth nodded and pulled Elaine past the entrance. He trained his mind to focus on the fight ahead of him, but he could hear the heartbroken pleas from his daughter begging him to go with them.

"I'll always be with you, Elaine." He whispered as he eyed the soldiers that emerged from the forest to surround their still smiling leader. With a fierce battle cry, Rowan lunged forward to clash swords with the scarred man.

Elizabeth sat her daughter upon the horse Rowan had spoken of. She turned her head slightly as she heard her husband's outraged cries. She turned to her daughter who was staring at her.

"Elaine, everything you need is in that bag. Always remember what I told you. That we love you." She pulled the necklace Rowan had given her over her head and slipped it around her daughter's neck. "Hold tight." She urged as she made sure her daughter was secured on the saddle." And never forget." She finished as her fingers brushed the engraved metal pendant. Elizabeth stared into her daughter's eyes one more time, a loving smile on her lips, as she urged the horse to start running.

Elaine cried as the horse took her further and further away from her mother. Her father. Her home. She clutched onto the reigns of the horse as it ran like lightning through the forest.

Elizabeth brushed the tears from her eyes and turned back to the entrance. She straightened and ran into the thick of battle.

"Elizabeth!" Rowan's cry echoed so loud, Elaine heard it from her perch on the horse. A white light formed into a dome like shape that bubblingly grew until it engulfed the walls of the Callum land before silently exploding. The light rippled through the surrounding land, the winds whipping through the leaves as the trees groaned in protest.

Elaine ducked close to the horse as it continued to run. She had watched the light grow and explode before disappearing. Nothing but silence surrounded her now. She rubbed her cherub cheeks into her father's sturdy stallion as she wept for the loss of her family.