Chapter Three: Oakfield Again
Sparrow's eyes fluttered open to the sound of snoring beside her. There were also arms around her waist, and she realized she was pressed up against the body behind her. She tensed at first, prepared to drive a sword through whoever thought they could sleep beside her. She turned carefully on her side and realized it was only Walter. Then she remembered that she was technically in his tent. Sighing, she got to her feet and slipped outside. As she exited the tent, she pulled on her coat and buttoned it up. A cold breeze had descended on the fort while she had slept.
"General Swift," She stated, moving up behind the man. He turned to her, twisting his mustache with one hand as he looked her over.
"Hmm, you look like hell," He stated bluntly, looking her over with dark brown eyes. She smiled lightly, running a hand through her now-short hair.
"Your uniform has seen better days as well, General," She joked back. Beside them, a crowd had gathered. The expressions on their faces suggested shock at the fact their General was being so friendly towards someone. It was then that Sparrow remembered she was no longer a powerful Hero, she was just a lowly Healer named Lillian. She wondered what Teresa was thinking right now, since she knew the Seeress never left her alone.
"Yes, well most uniforms here are on the patchy side," He stated rather blandly. He had also realized then that he should tone down the friendliness between the two.
"Right. Well, where are the men that need the most immediate attention?" She asked, folding her arms around her torso. Swift pointed over his shoulder to a small, makeshift nursery. Sparrow nodded, then walking over to them.
"Hey, lady, over here. I've been waiting a weak!" Someone shouted at her approach. She laughed lightly, moving over to him.
"A little pushy are we, Soldier?" She asked gently as she pushed him back onto the cot he was resting on. The soldier simply huffed as she started to unwrap his wound. What she found underneath was almost sickeningly inflated with puss and infection. Sighing, she placed her hand over the man's leg and conjured the healing spell in her hands. She glowed a bright blue, heard the man cry out in the shock of being healed, and then it was over. His leg showed a faint pink scar, but other then that, the gash a Hollow Man had left behind was almost completely gone.
The man jumped to his feet, shouting thanks to her as he rushed to General Swift demanding to be given a job now. Sparrow laughed to herself as she moved to the next soldier. This one was in worse condition, but she got him back to a fairly healed state. She told him that she would come back tomorrow and just check up, but until then he was not to move. He sighed, but said his thanks anyway.
So, she went from soldier to soldier until all were fairly well healed or completely healed. Once she reached the last one, she was aware that she was being watched. She stood then, placing both hands on her hips as she turned around to face Walter.
"Good afternoon, Walter. Is there something I can help you with?" She asked, her tone light and soft. He never got over just how well her name fit her, birdlike and charming as she was.
"No, go on. I was just watching the fancy light show," He chuckled. She let a small giggle escape her mouth, the most emotion he had heard from her in the short week they had known each other. She patted the knee of the soldier she was healing, giving him instructions on his wound. Then she moved closer to Walter with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I doubt that's the only reason you came here, Soldier Beck," She said, her tone playful. He laughed lightly, running a hand through his hair.
"You're right. I'm going into town with a few of the others, do you want to come?" She sighed at his offer, looking to the ground almost shyly.
"What would happen if the people recognized me? Avos knows that they have noticed my disappearance and some are probably even looking for me now," she grumbled up at him, causing him to see the true faults in his plan. He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging.
"We'd only be going to Oakfield, not a big town. We can even give you a coat with a hood on it," He joked, ruffling her short curls. She slapped his hand away, moving back to the next patient who was calling her name softly. As she tended to him, she continued her talk with Walter.
"I would love to, but that town has too many memories for me…" She trailed off then, wondering what the possibility of Hammer being there was. She wanted to see her best friend, tell her what was happening in her life, but somehow she knew that the giant monk would never return to the place that her father was murdered.
"Oh, I see. Well, the offer still stands, if you want to think about it. We leave in a few hours," Walter stated, pushing himself off of the banister he was leaning on and walking away. Her eyes followed him, and for a second, she swore her heart skipped a beat. But then she remembered her husband, Joseph, and her daughter Rose. She had spent so little time with them, only coming by every few weeks. And then, Lucian had killed them off and left the bloody house behind for her to clean up. He had even left their bodies in a bloody mangled mess on her bed.
A few minutes later, she was free of any patients. She walked over to General Swift's tent, ducking in without even asking.
"General, I would like to borrow a uniform for the day, please," She told him quietly. He laughed, telling her where they were stored. She stealthily made her way there, grabbing one and ducking into a spot where no one could see her change. She came back into the camp with her hair pinned back so it looked like a shaggy boy's cut. She wore the uniform, having bound hr breasts so that she even looked like a man. Her weapons still were strapped to her body, but now her sword was on her back like any other man's.
"Walter," She spoke softly, having come back to their shared tent to store her clothes. He turned around and almost fell backwards in shock.
"Balls, Lillian, what did you do?" He laughed as she set her clothes down. She smiled, grabbing his hat and tucking it on her head.
"I'll come back to Oakfield with you, but I just figured that this was a better disguise then any other," She smiled as his eyes continued to travel over her body. She knew he was checking her out, but she didn't think anything of the matter. For some reason, it did not bother her.
"Well then, come on," He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her out of the tent. Soon enough, Walter, Sparrow and three other men were all headed out on a carriage.
They reached the town and most went their separate ways. Walter and Sparrow stuck together, having told the storeowner they would be back for their purchases when they were ready to leave. Sparrow had convinced Walter to come take a look at the Temple of light with her. She knew that Hammer was probably in the North, but a small shred of her still hoped to see the monk one last time.
As they reached the white building, she smiled to herself. She could still remember the times that she and Hammer had returned to pester the monks. It was Hammers favorite activity to splatter just a bit of mud on their pristine floors and walls. Now, Sparrow could tell that they were back to their daily scrubbing of the Temple.
"This place is bright," Walter mumbled beside her. However, Sparrow had slipped back into her silent state. She didn't want to risk Walter hearing the emotion in her voice, should she have chosen to speak right then.
"Welcome to the Temple of Light. The Ceremonies will begin shortly," a monk offered them as they set foot in the temple. Sparrow cast the monk a thankful look, but said nothing. She moved inside the small circular room and nearly had to do a double take.
Sitting in front of a statue was a hulking woman that looked all-too familiar. Sparrow silently motioned for Walter to stay behind and moved the woman's side. She kneeled beside the woman, saying nothing of her approach.
"He was my father, you know," A familiar voice spoke. Sparrow nearly burst of happiness right then and there.
"Yes, I know," She replied, figuring it was about time she spoke to her dearest friend.
"Hey, how could you –"
"Oh, come on Hammer, I thought you would recognize me after just two weeks," Sparrow joked as she turned to face the great monk. A squeal erupted from the monk and the next thing Sparrow knew, she was being crushed in a hug. She had to remind Hammer that she needed to breathe before she set her down. Sparrow laughed as Hammer just kept lightly hugging her.
"Do you know how worried I've been? I came back here the day after and you were gone! I'd asked around and tons of people said you'd left with some rude old sod," Hammer was still hugging the young Hero, making it impossible for her to respond. "And now you're talking! Do you know how long I've waited to stop having these one-sided conversations?" Hammer practically squealed the last part.
"Hannah, Hannah, let me talk," Sparrow gasped lightly. Hammer put her down, still smiling from ear to ear. "Hannah, I didn't run off with a sod. I ran off with Walter," Sparrow smiled as she gestured for Walter to come closer. Walter walked up and smiled to the great woman.
"It's an honor to be referred to as a sod from someone as great as you, Hammer," He laughed as he stuck out his hand. She took it with a smile, shaking it vigorously.
"You better be talking care of Sparrow here," She threatened lightly. Sparrow sighed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes, because I need so much protection," Sparrow joked lightly. Hammer gave her an evil eye.
"I talked with Teresa. She told me what happened after you ran out of the room in the Spire. Sparrow, what's really wrong?" Hammer had changed from giddy and joyful to completely serious and worried in one sentence. Sparrow sighed, looking away from both and to the ground.
"Nothing," She mumbled.
"Okay, even if you did just learn how to talk, even I know you're lying," Hammer stated blandly as she continued to eyes the Hero. She took Sparrow's chin in her hand, forcing the Hero to look to her. Walter watched from the side of Hammer, noticing it was almost like they were silently communicating. They didn't say a word, but their eyes held so much more then the silence that was ringing out into the Temple.
"Nothing is wrong, Hammer," Sparrow mumbled finally, wrenching her chin from the monks' hand. Sparrow grabbed Walter's arm, pulling him towards the entrance of the Temple. Hammer was following and all knew that this was not going to end easily or soon.
"Walter, will you tell the others to go on back to Mourningwood? I'm going to stay here fore a few days and catch up with Hammer," Sparrow offered the soldier her excuse, but Walter had already caught on. He stopped in his tracks, pulling the Hero against him slightly. He bent down and whispered in her ear.
"If you aren't back by tomorrow at sunset, I'm coming back after you," His voice was low and husky, causing the Hero to pause as a shiver ran down her spine. Walter pulled away, casing a smile to Hammer, and then walked down the path to gather the other soldiers. As soon as he was out of sight, Hammer laughed a little.
"If you don't take him, I will," Sparrow whirled on her heels and jokingly punched the monk. Their laughter filled the small forest as they walked back to the Temple.
"So are you going to tell me what's really going on here?" Hammer finally asked.