When Hearts collide (An Arthur Morgan Rdr2 fanfiction)

Prologue 1

Peyton's POV

"Stop! Please, you must listen to me!" I shout to the stranger's back. Yet, he wasn't a stranger at all, anymore. After all, I'd come to know this man, well over the past few months, since my husband's passing. Even though he had his back to me, this man was familiar.
"Please, will you just listen to me? It's not safe, here. This place, death lurks here," I shout. Yet, he kept on walking, my words falling on deaf ears. Soon, he'd reach the pen that held a small garden. Soon, he'd reach the man, that held his deadly fate.
"Goddammit, stop already. Please, this man is ill. Gravely ill. You go near him, you'll meet your death," I say.

Suddenly, the man before me, turns to face me, yet his form changed to that of an old man. An old man, who was blind in both eyes. Yet, his gaze rested upon me. He raised his hand, and pointed his finger at me.
"Ah, it's you. Of course," he says.
"Pardon?" I ask.
"You, you're the one. You're the one who can change it all," he says.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"Who I am, matters little. But, who you are, and what task lies ahead of you, do," he says.
"Does it involve that man, the one I was shouting to, just now?" I ask.
"Smart girl," the old man utters.
"Who is he, and why do I see him every time I dream?" I ask.
"Dream? No, dear. What you've seen, is a vision," he says.
"A vision?" I ask.
"Yes. A vision. A vision of a time, soon to come," he says.
"That man, he's part of this vision?" I ask.
"Yes. An ill fate, awaits him. And only a person with a pure heart, can reach him, can prevent it," he says.

It takes a moment, for his words to sink in.
"So, what you're saying is, I'm the key, to helping this man, change his ill fate?" I ask.
"Yes, indeed. However, you have a few obstacles to go through yourself, before you two, meet," the old man says.
"How do you know all this?" I ask.
"Like you, I also have visions. I've met this man, a few times. I've tried warning him of the fate he suffers. But, he sees it as a joke from a crazy old fool," he says.
"Won't he think the same of me, then?" I ask.
"There's a chance he may. But, there's a greater chance, he'll take your words to heart. I would know, I've seen it," he says.

Feeling dizzy, I run my fingers through my hair.
"What...what else have you seen?" I ask.
"All will be revealed, in due time. For now, you need to wake up. Danger lurks at your door," the old man says, before fading into blackness.

A sound outside, causes my eyes to flash open. Sitting upright in my bed, I grab the knife I kept under my pillow. It was the knife I had acquired as a gift, from my husband, God rest his soul. Carefully and quietly, I push the covers back, and rise to a standing position. Careful not to make any sound, I creep to the window and look out. What I see, takes my breath away. Men, a lot of them by the looks of it, were dismounting from their horses, and headed straight for my cabin. I knew then, that the old man was right. It wasn't no dream. It was a premonition. And his last words to me, had been a warning, regarding this very thing.

As quietly as I could, I grab the gun my husband had hanging over the fireplace, before sneaking back to my bed and crawling underneath, hiding myself from view. No sooner had I done that, then the door came flying open.
"Search the place," a voice with a heavy Irish accent, says.
"Oi', you heard the boss. Search the place," another voice, younger than the first, says.
Shit. I think to myself, as the men swarm into my home, going through my belongings. If I had to guess, these men would search under this bed. I needed to form an escape plan. And soon.

"Someone, be livin' here. They's got a fire goin' in the hearth there," one of the men says.
"Think they's still here?" Another asks.
"Guaranteed, they is. Boys, check under that there bed," the first voice I'd heard earlier, says.
Dammit! I was trapped. They were gonna find me.
"Get the rocks outta your ears. I said, check under that bed," the same voice says, sounding irritable.
"It's heavy, Boss," one of the men says.
"Guess I'll go bout doin' it myself, then," the first voice, says.

Suddenly, a pair of worn out boots, appear before me.
Shit. Shit. Shit. There was no escaping this. He was gonna find me.
Hands appeared next, reaching under the bed, to lift it. Soon, my only cover, was gone.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The man, an ugly older man, says.
"Oi' a woman. Look, boys. We got us some entertainment," one of the others says.
"Oh no you don't. Nobody's to touch her without my say so," the man before me says.
"Please, take whatever you want. Just...just don't hurt me," I say.
"Aww, we ain't gon' hurt you, Darlin'. Not unless, you comply to my wishes," the man says.

The look in his eyes, tells me his intentions. And I cringe in disgust. This man thought he could just waltz up into my home, take my shit, and try and force me into bed with him? Over my dead body.
"Depends what you want," I say.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm lookin' for a good time. And a pretty thing like you, will do just nicely, for the time I'm a wantin'," he says.
Without a second thought to what would happen upon my next move, I jab my knife, into the mans leg.
"Over my dead body!" I say.
The others are on me in an instant, pinning me to the ground.
"How dare ye disrespect our leader, like that," the one to the left of me says.
"Yeah? How dare he disrespect me. I am not some tool you can use, for pleasure. None of you," I say.
"Have you any idea, who we are, lass?" The man I'd stabbed asks.

It is then, I take in their outfits. It is then, that I realize, the mistake I had made.
"Oh my god. You're O'Drisscols," I say.
"That's right. And, you've done made the gravest mistake of your pathetic life," he says.
"What ye want us to do with her, Boss?" The man to my right asks.
"Gag her. Tie her to the bed. Then, I want you all to leave us, whilst I teach her a lesson," the leader says.
"Ye got it, Boss," the two men holding me say, simultaneously.
I think back to that old mans words. He'd said there were obstacles to face, before I came face to face, with the man I was destined to save. Was this one of them? Should I fight back, for his sake?
His name is Arthur Morgan. And, Yes, fight fight fight. The blind old mans voice, sounded in my mind.
Arthur Morgan. I had to fight, for him. And judging by the looks I was receiving, I would have to fight hella hard, to stay alive, to save him.