Disclaimer: I do not own Stardust, or anything created by the author. All the original characters however, belong to me
Chapter 3-When Push Comes to Shove
Days passed, but the Maethor were not forgotten. The town still remained in doors, with the windows shut tight. Children began to squall, begging to be let out of the steamy houses, to be permitted to run free again. Men took down their old hunting rifles from their places above the fire place mantles so as to have them somewhate protected if the worse should happen. It never crossed their minds to ever actually shoot a messenger of the King, but the Maethor gave one a sense of panic that instilled a fear that was difficult to subside. A gun, a weapon of any sort offered a false security to some, and that was why they were present.
Animals, too felt the change in the town. Dogs paced to and fro growling with their fur standing on end. Squirrels and chipmunks that typically frequented the streets of River Running were nowhere to be seen, and the birds remained in their nests, hidden from view. It was only after a week had passed that people began to relax again, and, though the summer days had lost their festive feel, people began to once again go about their daily lives.
Every so often a hooded and cloaked figure would appear on the street, causing women to hurriedly shoo their children inside, and then follow suit, shutting the door tight behind them, but it seemed that the Maethor wanted to keep to themselves and as such did not force themselves upon the people. An arrangement that suited the town nicely, it was their philosophy that if the Maethor had to be there then at least they were leaving them alone for the most part.
Kara was kept under wraps even more now due to the appearance of the Maethor. Though she was permitted out of doors, the young girl was not allowed any farther away from the house than the fence, and so that was where she was when a young man came into view walking along the river's edge towards the Brillare home.
Standing up from where she was raking the garden she shielded the sun from her eyes with one hand, and raised the other in greeting, the lone figure returning her silent salutation with wave of his own, for the two young people knew each other well. In no time he had reached the fence, and the young blonde had rushed to unlock the gate, welcoming the young man into the yard, shutting the gate behind him.
"What is this?" He asked turning around, a smile playing on his lips, "You see me coming and don't rush to greet me? What has gotten into you missy?"
Kara laughed, "You know how it is, Mama and Papa are terrified of the Maethor and as such have instructed me to stay within the boundaries of the fence, and I couldn't bring myself to be disobedient."
"Funny" he said, a mock frown creasing his face, "Have they forbidden you to have guests as well?"
The girl rolled her eyes, "Of course not, would you like to come in?"
"Of course I would."
Kara turned and led the way up the paved walk to the house, pushing the door open and calling out in a loud voice "Mama! David Bennett is here!"
In an instant Madame Brillare had come bustling into the room, to welcome David into her home, planting a quick kiss on his cheek as he stepped through the doorway. The Brillare and the Bennett families had been close for what seemed like forever. It was said in the town that the Bennetts raised the Brillare children and vice versa, for the two families spent so much time together.
David and Kara were the closest in age, Kara being the eldest Brillare child and David being the youngest Bennett, he was seventeen, though in four months, when the Autumn came his eighteenth birthday would pass making him legal to own land, raise a family, and to vote for the mayor of River Running. Because the age difference was a mere year or so, Kara and David had grown up almost inseparable. And though as they became older they began to drift towards spending time with different children of River Running they still remained supremely close.
"And Master Bennett" said Madame Brillare in a business like voice, "What brings you here today?"
"It is actually by the request of my dear mother that I have come to your humble abode" said the boy, dropping into a dramatic bow, "She has been requesting the assistance of one of your able bodied daughters."
Madame Brillare nodded, contemplating the request. "Well, Leslie should return within the hour, as soon as she arrives I will send her right up to your place."
"But Mama" Cut in Kara in a pleading voice, "I would love to go, you know that."
Madame Brillare bit her lip, considering her daughter's request. Kara watched her carefully, silently pleading for the tiny bit of freedom and the chance to escape from the confines of the all-too-familiar fence. Finally the woman let out a small sigh. "Alright Kara, you may go, but as soon as you have completed your duties you are to come right back, understood?"
"Yes Mama" Said the blonde in a serious tone, which broke into a smile as soon as she and David had excited the home.
"What was she so nervous about?" asked the boy, as soon as they were out of earshot of the house.
Kara shrugged, "You know Mama, just paranoid about the Maethor I guess, wow it's nice to be out of doors again."
"So she's been keeping you cooped up inside the house all this time?"
Kara nodded in silent response.
"Well," began David again, "She need not worry, the Maethor seem to prefer to stick to themselves, though I can't help but wonder what they are doing here."
Kara bit her lip, for she was certain that she knew very well what they were doing there. Then again, they had not disturbed the Brillare residence since the first night and perhaps the whole thing about her being a Star had just been something thought up by her parents to ensure that she would be extra careful. Besides, what did the Maethor care if she was Star, Human, or Elf? She saw no reason for them to be in River Running that was connected to her.
David seemed to notice her unnatural silence and stopped walking. "Kara? Is there anything wrong? You seem sort of," he frowned, searching for the correct word, but Kara cut him off before he could continue.
"No, I'm-I'm fine, just sort of out of it is all, I'll be fine."
Her companion nodded, and resumed walking. In no time at all the two of them had reached the Bennett home. It was an impressive house, located in a prime location near the river, with easy access to the hustle and bustle of Main Street. The Bennetts were known to be a prosperous family, that made their money multiply and their sons tall. Not to mention their daughters as well. Kendra, the only daughter of this generation of Bennetts was rumored to have a position in the court of King Addanc secured, though you couldn't believe everything you hear.
David was the youngest at seventeen, with two older brothers and an older sister, all of whom Kara had come to know well over the years. But, bit by bit, each of the Bennett children had gone off to larger cities or gotten married until David was the only one left in River Running. But, if one paid attention to the gossip among the mothers of the town, at least half the population were eyeing the youngest Bennett boy to be a decent husband for their daughters. It was Kara's opinion that no girl would be stupid enough to marry him, and if they were, then they had no idea what they were getting into.
When they stepped into the vast entry way of the Bennett home, they were greeted by the bustling, slightly plump form of Madame Bennett, her cheeks made rosy from the heavy layers of expensive material that she wore despite the warm day. "Ah, Kara, it is just wonderful to see you! How is your dear mother and father? And your sister? Did she get over her cough? Oh I am so glad your mother sent you, you'll be just perfect for my little job, would you care for some tea?" And with that she led Kara away to whatever task she had waiting for her, a look of somewhat confused dismay upon the blonde girl's face.
A soft summer breeze rustled the trees; the sun was setting, leaving the valley of River Running bathed in a golden glow. A single bird sung a quiet melody from a tall pine, breaking the silence that had spread over the sun washed stillness.
"So, what did Mother have you do exactly?" asked David, looking over at Kara who was sprawled on the grass next to him.
"Not much, just little odds and ends, all stuff that she could have done perfectly well on her own" said the girl chuckling, "but, you know her, always requesting assistance."
"Oh I know her better than you ever will," said David with a grin, "I've lived with the woman seventeen years."
Kara smiled, and had someone a bit more observant been watching the pair, they would have sworn that for a brief moment the little Brillare girl had been glowing, but that was of course ridiculous, a trick of the setting sun perhaps. But all at once the illusion disappeared without a doubt, as the sound of a twig cracking echoed through the quiet evening. Suddenly, Kara sat up, all trace of a smile gone, looking around frantically. David, too, sat up, looking at her strangely. "Kara? What's the matter? Why are you-" The young blonde put her finger to her lips, silencing him, straining her eyes against the dim light. The bird had ceased it's singing, making the clearing ominously silent.
The sun had all but disappeared, its final rays vanishing behind the mountaintops, and with the sun went any trace of calm that Kara had managed to hold onto. "David, what do you think is nearer, your home or mine?"
The boy gave her a strange look, "I would say yours, but why do you a-" He never got to complete his sentence, for a hiss split the still air, as a hooded and cloaked shape appeared out of the woods on the other side of the river. The faint light illuminated a sinister looking silver blade in its hand, making shivers run up and down Kara's spine. "Kara" said David out of the corner of his mouth, "Run." She needed no further bidding, spinning she took off sprinting down the path towards her home. Behind her she could hear David's footsteps, as the two of them ran for all they were worth.
Chancing a glace behind her, Kara saw a sight that frightened her even more, the Maether was catching up, and it didn't look like it was using any energy at all, it seemed to be gliding over the grass effortlessly. At least it was still on the other side of the river. A stitch had developed in her chest, but it caused her to just redouble her efforts, running for her life. They were nearing the cottage, she could see smoke rising in thin tendrils, a tell tale sign that Madame Brillare was putting dinner on the table right about now.
Opening her mouth, Kara let out a scream. Whether it be of warning to her family within their home of or of fear for her own life she wasn't sure, all she knew was that it was that scream that saved her. The door of the cottage opened the wide to reveal her father, rifle in hand. He took in the scene in a single glance, raised his rifle and fired, once, twice, three times. Kara didn't dare to glance back to see if the rifle had inflicted any damage upon her enemy. All she cared about was to get to safety, and that was what she did. Vaulting the fence, she ran up the walkway and didn't stop until she was safely in her father's arms, tears of relief and of fright running down her face.
Her father wrapped his arms protectively around her, using one hand to stroke her disheveled hair, and the other to shut the door leading her inside. Collapsing against the doorframe she didn't know how long she stood there, chest heaving with her eyes shut tight, while huge sobs wracked her small body. When she finally opened her eyes she saw much to her relief that David was seated in her mother's rocking chair, white as a sheet, but in one piece nonetheless.
After many reassurances from her parents, and a hot meal, she was sent to bed, having been told that things would be much better in the morning. But as she snuggled beneath the covers, she couldn't help but feel a small shiver of fear run down her spine. For with all that had happened that day, what had scared her most was that after being ushered inside, when she looked out the window, she saw the Maethor stand up and float away, entirely unscathed by the three bullet holes that her father's gun had ripped in its cloak, in fact, it seemed as if the holes had entirely evaporated, as if her father had not been there to rescue her after all.
To be continued
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