Jamie Fraser prepares to send Claire and Faith through the stones. A last-minute interference puts them all at stake.
A/N: Huge thanks to @ianmuyrray for dedicating a lot of time and patience to help me clean this up, as well as @lady-o-ren for always saying something kind.
There’s a lot going on in the world right now. Take care and look out for ways that you can help – including but not limited to:
Black Lives Matter | The Equal Justice Initiative | Invest in the future for FREE
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | AO3
Murtagh was being pulled down from Donas by two Redcoats. As they set his feet on the ground, he met Claire’s eye, his own full of guilt and shame.
She slid down from her own horse and sidled up to Jamie’s back as he tried to make himself impossibly bigger to hide her, lowering Faith to her arms.
Over his shoulder, she studied the English officers in the dim light. There was something oddly familiar about one of them.
April 17, 1746 | Scottish Countryside
“Please.” Jamie’s voice rang clear in the still morning. “Leave him be.”
Claire’s eyes flooded as she watched him march toward the scene in surrender. She pressed her forehead into Faith’s mangled curls to hide her tears.
“I’ll wager ye know who I am,” Jamie said decidedly. “Take me, and let my companions go free. I’ll no’ fight.”
The silence was deafening as each party studied the other.
“James Fraser,” the ranking officer bellowed from his mount. “Notorious Jacobite.”
One of the younger men holding Murtagh in a vice grip paled at the obvious confirmation.
“Then this could only be the Stuart Witch in your company, Mr. Fraser?” The officer continued, breaking into a dark chuckle. “It seems we’d be foolish to let any of you get too far today.”
“No!” Jamie shouted, but it was too late. He thrashed violently even as three men surrounded him. All Claire could see was the sun shining against his brilliant red hair as the men dragged him away.
