In the past 1

•• The hardest battle is between what you know in your head and what you feel in your heart. ••

*****

Keir looked at the woman sleeping peacefully in front of him on the stretcher; her chest slowly rising and falling with every breath. His eyes focused on her baby bump, going near he placed his hands over her round belly; inhaling a long breath he collected his thoughts together and focused his mind over the child inside her. He felt an excruciating pain inside his chest; as he transferred the key to the unborn child, his body shooked tremendously.

A wave of blue light emerged from his hands and infiltrate into the woman's belly.

He dropped to the floor after the last of his energy sucked out. He glanced over the woman as she was still sleeping soundly, due to after effects of the medicine. He sat there for some time and when the pain started to numb a little, he gathered his strength; getting up he went to the door, opened it and stepped out. Closing the door behind him and making sure that the room is locked he moved ahead.

Feeling a bit of uneasiness in his chest Keir continued to walk, with every step his body ached; the constant pain in his chest started to worsen. His right hand tightly clutching his chest in effort to stop the pain. Its been three days since he left his home, his family and his people; who might be waiting for him to return.

He was nearing the river bank when he stopped after hearing a voice, a voice he was well acquainted with, his elder brother Maddox.

He sifted to that direction and as he moved closer to him he heard another voice, brittle and strangled.

"Hazel!" his wife's name rolled out of his mouth as soon as her words fell into his ears.

His legs jammed at the spot after hearing the words his brother spoke to his wife.

"I wanted to spare you, but you know what? That little mouth of yours spurt so much of truth. So, Its better you die here and now." Maddox stopped as he sensed Keir's presence.

Turning to him, an evil grin formed on his lips; clapping his hands he spoke, "Oh little Brother.

I thought you have been killed by those beasts." Pausing for a second he continued, "nevermind. You're always fortunate enough to skip death but now, you will regret having that pathetic life of yours." Going closer to the woman he held her neck tight with his giant hand, suffocating her; she struggled to get rid of his hands from her throat but with every attempt his grip tightened, choking her.

Keir lunged forward at him to stop him but his body was too weak to fight with his brother. With a single blow from Maddox he landed on the ground, his body ached due to the impact of the strong hit. When he tried to get up; a strong jolt of pain ran across his body making him convulse, his vision blurred and soon everything turned black, no sound, no pain, no worries, peace took over him and he surrendered to it.

*****

Clank!!!

With the loud blow the giant man fall on the ground; hot blood pooling around his head.

Georgia tossed the metal vase aside and rushed to her hostess.

"My lady, are you alright?" Georgia asked, her voice laced with worry and concern. The lady nodded her head in response; her usually bright and beautiful smile was engulfed by the despair and those shinning brown eyes were now encircled by the darkness.

Georgia untied her hands and taking the baby from the cradle they hurried out of the room. When they were about to escape, another man jumped in front of them. The ugly faced man laughed at them showing his impared teeth; Georgia tried to confront him but he easily ceased her hands aside and grabbed Georgia's hairs, dragging her inside. She tried to extricate herself from his grip but her body was too weak and vulnerable against the man.

Hazel tightened her grip on her baby and rushed to that man, to help Georgia. But the men throw a punch at her face and she slumped on the ground with the child. Her head felt dizzy and her vision turned black for a matter of seconds, touching her mouth she felt a stinging pain from the split on her lips.

A firm hand supported her from back and helped her to get up on her feet.

"Are you alright?" a man with the tall and muscular built asked her, scanning her body for any injury or wound; his jaw clenched at the sight of the cut on her lips and the imprint of the punch. His stiff body relaxed and his dark eyes turned soft, when she touched his face with her right hand, carrying the baby in the left.

"Keir" she breathed out his name, his face and body covered with scars, cuts and abrasions, a deep gash was visible on his chest through his worn out shirt. A tear rolled down her cheek and he engulfed her into his arms, soothing her aching heart with the warmth of his body.

"Its okay. Its okay, everything is alright." He whispered to her, as she cried her heart out in his embrace.

The ugly face was taken care by Halter, Keir's third in-command and Georgia's husband. He twisted the ugly man's neck and thrown him aside, rescuing his wife.

"Chief, I think there's more to come, we need to leave this place before they arrive." Halter informed Keir and he nodded in agreement.

Pulling away he wiped Hazel's tears and showed his gentle smile, she returned the same. Although they didn't spoke a word to each other but their eyes confirmed her worries and, his assured her about that everything is going to be alright; placing his hand around her waist he walked her out of the room. Halter and Georgia followed them.