ASSASSINS CREED HORIZON

Chapter 1 - Lands away

1722 June 12th Clan Maclachlan

The four toddlers played in the field. Their father, Alec Blair, had told them to go play while their new brother came into their lives.

The boys were careless, playing with each other, rolling in the long grass. Little did they know their mother was passing away in childbirth on the other side of the mountain. 

The oldest, Thane (age 9) had been keeping watch of his brothers. Scolding the youngest of the four, Arlan (age 2) from wandering off. watching the second eldest, Gavin (7) to playfight with his second youngest brother, Alistair (age 5).

Their father appeared in the distance, holding a newborn boy. He came over to the boys and plastered a smile onto his face. He had to be happy, for his sons. His wife had passed away 2 hours ago. The new brother, Fergus, was gently placed into Thane's arms.

The boys gathered around to see their new arrival, as the Father was silently breaking down. His wife had just passed away, leaving him the single father of four boys. 

_______

FERGUS BLAIR'S POV

1730 June 28th (age 8)

THANE 17
GAVIN 16
ALISTAIR 13
ARLAN 10
FERGUS 8

It had been 8 years since the passing of Anna Blair, our mother. 

My brothers had been informed on her passing a week after she passed. But, they didn't blame me. No one did. I felt like I had killed my own mother, but my brothers showed me that I did not, and I am a strong man. And they continued to raise me alongside my father.

Thane is now 17. Father had personally trained him, and he would train the rest of us of what he learnt. Father would soon give him the family crest for his kilt. 

Arlan is ten, yet I am probably closest with him. Although my brothers and I never keep secrets from each other, always depend on each other and are the biggest part of each other's lives, Arlan plays with me the most. I am content.

"Fergus! Fergus!" Arlan called, running through the door. Speaking of the devil.

I smiled, getting up, "yeah?"

"Fergus! Father is training! Wanna see?" He smiled. I nodded.

We ran over and climbed the rooves, we saw father dancing with his sword, slicing through the thin air and swinging it around. Mastering skills.

I observed his movements, seeing he is whipping around the family sword. Thane is going to be gifted the sword next year. We weren't allowed to watch father when he trains, he didn't want us touching anything of his or distracting him, he especially didn't want us getting too close when he trains. He's very cautious.

In the distance road some men on horses. They were not soldiers.

The men rode up to the entrance, distracting father. Father unsheathed his sword and cautiously approached the two men.

"Hello" One smiled at father. 

Father tilted his head, "Who are you?"

The two men looked around, glaring every direction, Arlan pulled me behind some bricks on the roof, hiding us from their sight, we peeked around the corner to see.

One man then pushed a gun up to father's stomach, "I want a rough 140 pound sterlings." he demanded. The two men were bandits, out for money.

Father backed up. "T-This way..." The three went over to a nearby table and father pretended to go grab something, but grabbed his sword and took a slash at one of the bandits. The blonde bandit then attacked him from behind, Father dodges but got kicked in the back by the brunette.

"We can't just watch!" Arlan protested, jumping off the roof onto the ground, grabbed a small blade and running to the men.

"Arlan!" I cried out, running after him, I need to stop him before he gets hurt!

I grabbed at his arm, but it was too late, he jabbed it into the blonde's leg, the man turned around and swung a punch at him, grabbing out his gun and taking shots, but his leg with the blade still stuck in it caused him to take multiple missed shots. 

I ran with Arlan but he protested, stopping me and running back into battle where Father was trying to kill the blonde one who tried to shoot us.

Father stabbed his sword and penetrated the blonde with his sword. He kicked the body to the ground as Arlan and I watched, paralysed by the sight of blood.

Father turned around to be penetrated by a dagger, the brunette had jabbed at Father's chest.

"Arlan! Run!" I screamed, grabbing at his arm. He took a moment but quickly snapped back to reality, running with me, holding my arm.

A gunshot went off and I felt a heavy weight on my arm and liquid jump onto my shoulder. "Gah!" I heard Arlan.

Arlan was shot.

I tightened my grip onto his hand, pulling him inside the nearest building, shielding ourselves from the bandit, who had moved onto Father's moneybox.

"Thane! Gavin! Alistair! Someone! Help!" I cried out, sitting Arlan against the wall. He was struggling to breathe. He was shot in the shoulder, really close to his heart.

The blood didn't stop me from cupping his face, "Arlan, please, stay strong!" I cried, the tears forming under my eyes. 

He smiled weakly, grabbing my hand, "I believe in you, Fergus." he grimaced, painfully.

He was in so much pain, gripping at my hand, "I'm dying, Fergus..."

"THANE!!" I screamed, "I'm not going to let you, Arlan!!" I screamed.

I was shaking, but to my luck, the door busted open to reveal Gavin running in and behind him Thane.

They came over and looked at Arlan, who was slowly dying. He couldn't breathe well.

Alistair ran in too, "A-Arlan!?"

"Bandit! Bandits shot him!" I yelled, "What do we do, Thane?!"

Thane grabbed his kilt, ripping it off and wrapping it around Arlan's shoulder where he was shot, tying it tightly, making Arlan wince.

"You're hurting him!" I cried.

Thane growled, "It will hurt a little! But it will save him!" he tightened it harder, but it still kept bleeding, "I can't stop the blood!! Get father!"

"I can't!" I yelled, "Just help him! Father isn't here!"

Thane stopped abruptly, "No use... He's dying..."

Arlan was breathing heavily, "...Brothers..." he breathed, "I love you all..."

Everyone started to tear up, Thane gave him a hug, sobbing loudly, "I'm so sorry, Arlan! I can't help you..."

Arlan grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly, "Don't forget me..." he sobbed, his breathing slowing down. He fought off the pain, he would wince every now and then.

Arlan used the last of his energy to move his arm to force himself to fall and lean into my lap, "You're a strong man" he smiled, "I don't want to die..." he sobbed.

I clenched his hand, sobbing, "Don't be afraid... we love you." I hugged him tightly. The others placed a hand on him as he passed away.

"Fois dhut" (Rest in peace) I whispered, closing his eyes.

"Fois dhut" the others repeated.