Page 2 of My Scarred Laird

Culloden swung out of his bed and grabbed his short sword that their father had given him for Christmastide, and Callum grabbed his. Wanting to protect their mother at all costs.

He opened the door to his bedchamber and peeked out of it, seeing no one in the hallway, he and Culloden hurried to their parents' chamber.

But as they went, screams were heard the further into the keep they went, and he rushed even faster to get to his parents' chamber.

It made his blood run cold and when he looked at Culloden, he knew his brother felt the same.

When they got to their parents' chamber, he opened the door and his mother was pacing in the room, her nightclothes still on.

Her long hair was unbound and flowing around her knees.

When the door opened, she turned, “Oh boys. Thank God above, ye are all right, I sent Liam to find ye.”

She held open her arms and they ran into them.

“What is happenin’ mama? I saw men in the courtyard. They were dead.”

“I know me sweet darlins. Something terrible is happenin’ to our clan. Yer father is tryin’ to keep us and everyone safe. All right me wee boys?”

He nodded, “What if they hurt him?”

And Culloden also waited for the answer.

She kissed his cheek, “Yer father is the best warrior in our clan and the surrounding clans. He will be fine.”

Callum looked up at his mother, “I’m scared mama.”

Elspeth looked down at him, pulling him in tighter to her chest, “I am tae me sweet boys.”

She hurried over to the door, locked it, and walked back over to the bed, holding him in her arms.

She held them close for what felt like hours, keeping her hands tightly over both their ears, as screams and other noises were heard.

She shushed their cries and he and Culloden finally fell asleep in her arms, the long night catching up to them.

That was, until the door shuddered under the force of someone trying to kick it in.

His mother stood, holding them tightly to her, and then looking down into their wide eyes.

“I need ye ta be brave now. Can ye do that, me lambs?”

He and Culloden nodded, “Mama,” She turned and opened the door to her wardrobe and put them on the floor of it.

“Stay here. I need ye to be safe. Stay put me loves. All right?”

“Mama! Stay with us!”

“I will protect ye me love. I love ye both so much Callum and Culloden. Ye are me beautiful bairns and I am grateful I was yer mama. I will always love ye.”

Then she kissed their heads and shut the door to the wardrobe, and he curled his arms around his legs and put his head down on them.

Culloden did the same and Callum grabbed Culloden’s hand, needing something to hold onto.

Culloden clutched at him, and Callum didn’t mind it.

He heard some noises and shoved himself and his brother tighter into the darkness of the wardrobe.

His mother’s dresses covered them, and he covered his ears when he heard a scream.