Faith Unbroken, an Outlander Fanfiction

The Breath in Her Lungs

Kaeden's POV

John's hand squeezed my shoulder as Claire's intertwined with mine just as the floor dropped beneath Faith's feet dropped with a sickening clunk. The rope tightened around her neck. It constricted her air but also my heart.

Yet, those mesmerizing eyes of hers remained locked on mine. I pushed against any wave of sorrow that threatened to take over my mind. Her final moments would not be witnessing my despair. There was no last minute rescue here. My wife would be lost today, and our child would be motherless.

Faith was the essence of my being. The love I cherished since childhood. The thought of losing her felt like a surrendering of my own soul. She was the love that crept into and took me by the throat. I never gave up on her, because giving up on her would mean giving up on a part of me.

"I love you." She mouthed to me with her final moments. I instinctively said it back, meaning every bit of it. Faith didn't struggle with the rope. She accepted her fate with honor and dignity. Her eyes flickered closed, granting me a moment to let the pain wash over me fully.

"Kaeden." Her child-like voice called through the field as she hid - a radiant reminder of the joy and innocence she once had. "I'm over here." She giggled from behind a stack of wooden boxes by one of the homes. When I peeked around it with a "Got ye!" Faith was gone, moving silently to a new spot where again she said "Over here silly!"

My heart raced as I searched again, not just for the thrill of our game, but also in excitement of seeing the girl of my fairytales again. She let out soft giggle, exposing her true hiding spot behind one of the oak trees across the way. I whipped around the corner, spotting the little girl, my best friend. She giggled again, "No! I thought I'd win this one," she sighed.

"I got ye!" I smirked, watching her get up from her spot. Her strawberry hair tossed in the wind and her deep green dress whipped around her. My heart swelled with affection - I didn't want to win, I simply wanted to protect her laughter, to bottle it up and keep it with me always. Faith's hand grabbed mine, pulling me into a hug.

"Thank you, Kaeden." She whispered. It was the day her mother fell ill. My mother had brought her here for a distraction. One both of us were grateful for. 

"Stop!" A man called from atop his horse. "Get her off of there!" He ordered. From his bright red coat and hat, anyone could see he held some high authority to the crown. The man leapt from his horse, rushing a letter to one of the judges at the side of the platform. It didn't take more than a few seconds before soldiers rushed onto the platform and disentangle Faith's lifeless body from the dreaded rope.

They ran about with a great commotion, speaking amongst themselves. My body remained frozen in place.The tears that once occupied my eyes had disappeared back to wherever they'd come from. My heart launched into a deep abyss. Gray stepped away, calling for Claire to follow.

Whatever the letter contained, it'd arrived too late. Faith was dead. Minutes ticked away, feeling like an eternity. As shock paralyzed me, I believed my heart stopped beating and my lungs refused air.

A woman's gasp shattered the eery silence. Claire released a heavy sigh, pulling the woman who was once my love into her arms.

Faith was not dead.

My legs buckled, crumbling me onto my knees on the muddy ground. Jamie found my shoulder, trying to steady me from falling further. The lungs in my chest filled with air once more.

"Faith Elisabeth Fraser Campbell has been pardoned for her crimes by the King. She is free to return home." One of the judges announced. The streets began to clear, leaving me on the muddied ground, shocked still by everything.

Claire and John remained on the platform long after all but a few had left. Off in the distance between two alleys was a man. He watched the entire interaction and still watched as Faith took new breaths of life. His eyes flickered to me in the shadows, giving me a nod. Hercules. The man I was to deliver the note to. Isaac's friend. He'd done this. He'd saved the love of my life.

"She's alive, lad." Jamie said, ushering me to my feet and towards the platform. My feet took me there quickly, trying not to falter. I wouldn't believe she was alive until my eyes met hers. My chest wouldn't allow oxygen into my lungs until my heart knew she was ok. I needed to feel her warmth, her heartbeat against me. 

"Kaeden, where's Kaeden?" Her familiar voice was weak and scratchy against the evening air. Each syllable stuck against my like my only lifeline.

"I'm here." I choked out, as emotions I didn't want coming out before overcame me. Her body folded into mine. My arms wrapped tightly around her, a miracle I welcomed. "I'm here." I whispered against her strawberry hair. 

Time stood still on that platform and the chaos of uncertainty gave way to the profound sense of relief. The heartbeat in her chest anchored me in reality, filling the void of fear that had gripped me since the day began. She was alive and that is all that mattered.

"No more hangings, please." She croaked, digging her hands into my jacket. "For either of us."

"Aye, that we can agree on." I chuckled.

A/N: The next chapter is the last chapter! Thank you for loving this story as much as I do! As always, vote and comment!