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This is my first fanfiction on this website. Hope you guys like it!
Please review ;)
32 years ago
The night was dark and heavy with the promise of rain. The moon was hiding behind the clouds coming from the east, which made it difficult for him to see the path ahead, even with his sharp eyes. The little girl on his back was still crying and the back of his shirt was damp with her tears as well as sweat. She had stopped shouting and trying to break free at least and the spells he had used to silence her and secure her on his back were not draining too much energy anymore. He could still feel her hands around his neck trembling though.
This will leave a deep scar for her, he thought. Still, better than to stay here. I may have failed to secure the others, but I will not fail my duty towards these two.
The baby girl he had in his arms was silent and serene. She was no more than 3 months of age, but she had not yet cried for her mother's arms. They were cold the last time they held her. Perhaps, she will not miss her too much, being so young. She will not even remember her mother. She might grow up knowing a different one. The others will make sure to find her a caring guardian. Even one such as her, he knew they would not let her suffer. They will protect her from the demons that roam this land. She will be safe, she might even find happiness and love. They both might.
He sighed and concentrated on his path once more. It was no more than a deer track and treacherous in the dark. He was careful to keep the Leona Lake always on sight and to not let the track lead him in to the mountains of the Spine. Who knows was awaits in there. The best thing he would find was a band of Urgals, he knew.
For the hundredth time he strained his ears for any sign of pursuit, but he could not find any. He was certain they were following him. He was sure his diversion had not worked as well as he would like. He tried to go faster but the two girls and the spells his was using were hindering him. He had to keep his strength for what lay ahead.
Not much further now. Soon, I will be able to see them. I hope...
Once, he would have no doubts that he could see them even in pitch darkness. But things were not so easy now. My choice, he reminded himself. I am proud to serve and I will not fail. It was of no use to get lost in what once was. His strength was not as great anymore, but he was still capable.
He continued in silence, trying to calm his mind. His plans were not totally thwarted. There was still hope.
Suddenly, the track took a turn to the right, towards the mountains. He stopped and looked carefully towards the lake. There were many such turns, he had passed a few of them already, but only one was the right one.
If only the moon would shine, even for a moment! But this night was full of bad luck. He would have to make do without it. He stood there for a while, trying to see any lights on the surface of the water. There were a few ripples on the surface of the lake from the wind, coming from the mountains and gaining strength. He could already feel a few droplets of water on his face as he crouched, straining to see. Owls hooted from the trees and a few frogs were croaking, their red eyes watching him.
There! A silver light just under the surface of the lake, moving with the ripples of the water. And two others behind.He had found it at last! They were a bit deeper than he would have liked, a few hours more and they would have disappeared. He could reach them easily enough, but the little girl would have to swim and he would have to be careful with the baby.
He started to make his way down the steep incline towards the lake.
Suddenly, he felt the air begin to change and the ring on his left hand go colder all of a sudden. They are near! Quickly, he crouched and tried to hide among the reeds on the banks of the lake without disturbing them and making much noise. He sensed the girl on his back go rigid and hold her breath. Could she sense them too? He looked around carefully, but did not see anything. Yet, he was sure they had found him. He had to be quick, but it would be almost impossible to not be seen. The flowers were too deep and floating away, but he could not wait any longer. He may never have the chance again.
Carefully, he lifted the girl from his back and with a muttered word, he undid the spells that held her. He gently brought her in front of him and told her "Quiet now, little one. We must be very careful, but safety is near." She was standing still with fear, although he did not know if it was for him or for what was after them. She looked at him with wide eyes, red from crying. He shifted on his feet to hold the baby more securely and she looked at the baby in confusion. How much does she understand, he wondered, and how much will she remember?
"Where is..." she started to whisper but he put a hand on her mouth to stop her.
"We must be very quiet. There are bad men after us and we must not let ourselves be found. Do not worry, I did not hurt him. He is in a safe place, as you will soon be" He tried to smile, but the cold had gotten sharper and he almost winced instead. He could see that the tears on her face were starting to turn to ice. The baby was warmly swaddled, but the girl wore nothing but a thin nightgown. The night had been warm and humid during their journey and he had not thought to give her something else to wear, but it would not do to let her freeze now when they were so close. She did not seem affected though. Her slender figure was not trembling with the cold, as another child would be. She was looking at him, with a mixture of emotions on her face. Fear, pain and loss, but also something like curiosity.
Well, we have no time for questions. We need to hurry.
He turned to look at the lights, they were still there, thank the golden beard of Idhur!
"Can you see those lights in the water?" he breathed into the little girl's ear. She nodded, looking at them with thought he could even see their reflection in her big, beautiful eyes. He had tried not to look at her eyes for too long, but he took one last look. There were others that would tell her of their meaning. If she makes it, that's it!
He quickly removed the thought from his mind. It was time to move.
He put his hand on the girl's back and gently pushed her towards the lake. Already, ice was starting to form on the edge of the water.
"Can you swim?" he asked her.
"Yes, Father taught us" she replied quietly. "Where are we going? I cannot leave on my own! We have to go back! Why did we leave him? I…"
"Shhh" he tried to calm her." I told you. You are in danger. And you put others in danger too by staying. This is the safest option for all. Besides, this will not be forever, you will see your family again soon." The lie tasted foul on his mouth, but it was necessary and his words seemed to silence her. "Come on".
Pushing her by his side, he got in the lake. A hiss escaped his lips. The water was freezing. He glanced at the girl. Her face had hardened, but she had not stopped, even though her lips were pale. So, she was not unaffected by the cold after all. He took her cold hand and holding the baby as securely as he could, went deeper in the waters, still in the cover of the reeds.
A few more steps took them to the edge of their cover. The water reached his knees and was mid chest for the girl. She had started to shiver. Now they had to swim. The lights were further away than he thought. Why would they move so quickly? And then he realised. Those who hunted them had come nearer and so the lights were shying away.
No! I must not fail!
He turned to the girl. "When I tell you to, swim as fast as you can towards the lights and grab one. No matter what happens, do not let go"
"No" she whimpered. "No, no, no, please I can't. I have to go back. Where are you taking us? I have to go back. Please!" Panic had begun to show in her eyes. They had started to shine with a strange flickering light.
"Shhhh, I told you. We…"
Movement sounded behind them, among the trees. He realized that all the animals had gone silent and not even the splashing of the water could be heard. His legs were starting to hurt from the cold.
He lowered the baby on the lake. The cloth he had used to swaddle her had many spells that would keep her warm and afloat for a while. He started to push her gently forward, when he heard the beat of leathery wings above them. Fear griped him. Was it the Razac with their mounds? Or something worse?
"Now", he told the girl. "Swim now, as I told you. Towards the lights. Grab one and no matter what happens, do not let go" He pushed her and she fell in the water. For a moment she was stunned, moving her hands aimlessly and he feared her previous claims that she could swim where not true. But, she quickly recovered and started swimming slowly forward. He pushed the baby in front of him, got in the water himself and, taking the girl by her waist, started moving towards the lights.
Shouts pierced the night as they moved to the open. Behind as well as above. How many were they? They were going too slow. The girl was a small thing and could not move with ease and he could not make any foolish movements or the baby would drown.
And the water was so cold. He felt the girl breathing with difficulty beside him and the baby's cheeks had started to lose their color. His spells could not hold against their stronger magic.
They were halfway there he felt a flaring pain on his right shoulder. An arrow had pierced him from the back and he could see its black oily tip protruding on the front. He grunted and felt hot blood coating his back. The girl turned and looked at him with panic.
"Do not stop" he told her.
He gritted his teeth and continued. He tried to shield the two girls with his body and kept them in front. The lights were almost close enough to touch now. A few more arrows pierced the lake in front of him and behind. One got him on his left calf. More blood oozed in the water.
Breathing with difficulty through the pain, he gave on last push and extended his arm trying to touch one of the lights. They seemed to slip away from his fingers. Again and again he tried but they slipped away and even started to submerge.
"No, wait" he called
He swam deeper in the lake, keeping the girls close. He could hear shouts behind him and the splashing of water. To the distance he suddenly heard thunder. His breath caught in his chest. It cannot be.
The little girl extended her arm to touch the lights as he had told her. They were further away than her arm could reach, and still they seemed to wait for her! They stopped and floated closer to the surface and closed around her arm.
He blinked. Now was not the time to wonder at its meaning. He realized one thing though. The lights would not permit his touch, which meant he could not pass. He did not let himself lose hope though. His work here was not done anyway. His family needed him. Soon, he would have to head north.
He placed the baby near the girl and told her "Grab a light and place it on your sister. Quickly now!"
The girl looked shocked, but managed to grab another light. She lifted it out of the water and placed it on the baby. As it left the water its light dimmed and it revealed itself to be a silver flower with six petals. A vine trailed behind it connecting to the other lights The baby did not wake. Her lips were blue. Hold on little one!
"I… I… think she… is not …breathing" said the girl with a shudder. Her face was pale in the light.
"Hold her close" he told her. "Do not let go of her or the lights"
It had started to rain and the thunder was coming closer, but no lightning was visible. For now, the sky above was clear. Maybe it had been the Razac after all. He knew that they hated open waters and would not easily fly over them. He dared one look behind. There were dark forms in the water. And weapons glistened in their hands.
He wasted no time. He turned his back on them and tried to ignore his pain. Holding the girls near he began chanting. He was careful not to misspeak, while doing as fast as he could. The lights seemed to respond and shine a bit brighter. Relief filled him, his plan was working so far. Maybe, his father had been right all those years ago to call him a hot headed fool, but in this he would not fail.
His chanting became clearer and faster and the lights were now illuminating a circle around them. He heard the creatures behind his back cry in pain. They were very close now.
The little girl jerked and started breathing fast. "What is this?" she cried. "Oh, no! I can't! No! I'm sorry!" She was crying and trembling. Her eyes were filled with so much panic, that he feared she would let go. But the magic had her in its grip now and she could not get away. The baby was still and lifeless. Her face grey and eyes partially open and glassy.
She will be alright, he hoped. It is just the cold.
He was nearing the end of his spell, when a blade caught him between his shoulder blades. For a moment his chanting stopped and blood filled his mouth. The magic wavered, the lights flickered and the girl got one arm free. She tried to touch him, looking at something behind him in horror. A wordless scream escaped her.
No. I will finish this. For my love. My beloved lost partner of mind and soul. I will do this.
Wheezing, his sight flickering, he whispered the last word of his spell. With great effort, he pushed himself away from the two girls, no longer touching them. As the last word left his lips, a great wind blew and the lights exploded. He was thrown backwards violently, the blade dislocating from his back and the arrow from his leg. He heard screaming, but did not know where it came from. His head was thrown under the surface and water filled his mouth and nostrils. He blacked out.
When he woke up, he was still in the lake, but his back was touching the roots of a tree. He opened his eyes and could still see a faint light. Had the flowers returned for him? He blinked and realized the glow was coming from the east. Dawn, he thought. He tried to turn and realized he still had an arrow in his shoulder. He felt numb and could not move his arm. But his back did not hurt. Nor did his leg. The magic he released must have partially healed him.
With a grunt, he turned and started swimming for the shore. He would have to heal his shoulder before he went far. He would also have to rest and find provisions.
His thoughts went to the two girls. I hope I sent them the right way. They would have found and sheltered them already, he knew. Their arrival will not go unnoticed. He remembered their faces the last time he saw them. The little girl's was wild and panicked. She would not be easily calmed, but in time she will get used to them. And the baby… He felt a great pain at the thought of her grey face and glassy eyes. Eyes so much like her mother's. Her eyes had been glassy last time he saw them too. He took a shuddering breath. He would not let himself mourn. The place he sent the two girls had great healers. The would have found and healed her already. It was not too late…
With another grunt he started to lift himself up. He would have to find shelter, before starting his travel. At least there was no sight of his pursuers. I hope they got blasted to bits. I hope they rot in these cursed waters.
Finally reaching the shore, he looked behind him one last time. The lake was peaceful. He sighed. I must go south to the mountains. Only when I finish my business there, will I be able to head North.
With another sigh, he started moving and left the lake behind him.
A/N: I did not reveal who the main character is in this chapter. I plan to reveal it quite later in the story but let me know if you think it would be more interesting to know who it is earlier. ;)