Enemy Territory-On Hiatus

Chapter Nine-New Resolve

Tears pricked Glenn's eyes when he saw the small girl running across the flat plain towards where he stood. Her shout had gained the attention of the people whose backs faced him. As if in slow motion, they turned around to look at him with confused expressions adorning their faces.

"PAPA!"

The small child cried once more, her speed increasing to the point where he had to shot out one hand to hold her around the waist so that she would not tumble over.

"Cannie, Ainsley."

Mumbling as he stooped near the sobbing child, Glenn allowed her to grip around his neck and bury her head in his neck. Gently tapping her back, he reassuringly whispered into her ears.

"'Tis alright."

But Ainsley's sobbing only got louder. It caused the child in his arms to stir from slumber and gaze at her with curious eyes.

"Glenn, is that ye?"

Hearing his lovely wife's voice, as she pushed herself through the cautiously nearing people, Glenn stood from the ground, but not before lifting the sobbing Ainsley to rest onto his other shoulder.

"Aye. 'Tis me, Isla."

Murmuring with a full-blown smile at the sight of her, Glenn met her halfway, for he had noticed she was heavy with child. Placing her hands on top of her mouth to prevent the sob lodged in her throat from coming out, Isla was unsure, for she had thought her husband was good as dead when there was no sight of their return in the long and depressing year.

The fear she once felt in her troubled heart was for naught at the sight of him, yet she was still doubtful, for she thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Yer na real."

Laughing through his tears, Glenn moved closer towards her and leaned his forehead against her head. With this action alone, Isla was now fully convinced.

Allowing her tears to rain down her cheeks like rain, she caressed his cheeks.

"I thouct ye widnae return tae us."

Glenn shook his head.

"Nae. I wid ayewis return tae ye."

Nodding, for his very presence made that fact real, Isla averted her eyes from his face to stare at the unfamiliar child.

"Who is she?"

Glancing down at the child who was still gazing at Ainsley, he frowned.

"'Tis the bairn of the Chief fae the clan we evaded."

Widened eyes, Isla was stunned.

"Whit? Ye brought her with ye because?"

"'I dinnae ken. Her mither wis dying, and men wur gonnae murdurr her. I makkit a hudder decision tae bring her wie me."

Widened eyes as she heard this, Isla clicked her teeth.

"Murdurr the wee bairn? Whitfor?"

"I wull explain everything oan the wey."

Creased eyebrows, for she found his words odd, Isla voiced out her thoughts.

"Whit ye mean?"

"We maun lea here."

By then, everyone standing a listening range away from them had heard such words and were puzzled.

"Whitfor?"

Someone voiced. It was a tall man holding onto his sleeping son on his shoulders with one hand and his wife's hand in the other.

"'Tis nae safe."