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.

I know that I’m posting Chapter 7 in bits and pieces, but I feel so bad about abandoning you guys for so long that I want to get to you all the latest “Fairheart” as soon as I write it. Enjoy!

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Part VII ii

Alaine chewed automatically, not tasting her food. Her teeth ground together with every bite. Meat, potatoes, it all tasted the same; it all tasted like ash. Food had lost its taste, the land had lost its color, life had lost any meaning it once had.

It seemed like a joke that Alaine once could not comprehend the English’s cruelty. She had gone along with her father’s business because it allowed her to play at being a warrior. She had gone along with the Scottish Lords’ hatred of the English because it was easy.

But now everything had gotten harder. Eating, walking, talking, even breathing. Only the song of the bow string and the clash of steal on steal was the only thing that kept her going. She had practiced weapons almost never ceasing for the past few days. Her muscles ached and her fingers bled from new calluses, but the pain was nothing to what Alaine kept locked up deep inside of her, unwilling to acknowledge it.

A flurry of hooves came from outside. Voices, soft and indistinguishable came from the lean-to where the cow lived. Only snatches of the whispered conversation could be heard.

“Will she be alright?”

“It’s been hard…..”

“I need you both now.”

A murmured agreement and then the voices fell silent once more.

A few moments later the door to the Campbell’s croft swung open letting in a sudden shaft of sunshine. Alaine blinked at the sudden light and cowered back, her arms drawing protectively over her bowl.

“Alaine?”

William crouched down next to Alaine, studying her, searching for a sign of understanding.

“Alaine, how are thee fairing?”

She shrugged, unwilling to put the effort into forming words.

“Alaine, I need your help,” William said softly. “Please….?”

“What…” Alaine stopped, licked her lips and began again. “What is it that you need Will?”

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Please read and review. The next part of Chapter 7 will be up soon.