The light in the room was dim as the rising sun filtered through a small window. Though only a few weeks into autumn, the morning air was brisk as it radiated from the stone bricks that made up the walls. The dense woven rugs on the wooden floor helped ease the chill. Several thick logs blazed within the fire place, their heat radiating throughout the room, filling the air with the smell of the lavender that sat atop them. Jailen sat in a chair, slumped forward, head on arms supported by the side of a small bed. Though diligent, she had submitted when her body coerced her into the depths of sleep, for this was the second day since finding Katriel that she had sat by her side, desperately waiting for her to return to consciousness.
Though she was an adept charter mage, Jailen could do no more to hurry the healing process. She had worked endlessly throughout the first night, reaching into the charter to perform the necessary healing spells that would treat the physical damage. The rest was now up to Katriel. Jailen feared that it was the emotional wounds that were preventing her from healing and coming into consciousness. If her patient did not recover soon, she would surely die of dehydration. When they found the young Abhorsen-in-Waiting, her lips were cracked and dry from the blistering sun and lack of sufficient hydration. She could do no more than frequently apply a wet cloth to her lips. As the colour returned, Jailen admired Katriel's petite lips. She could see how her face would look in less grim circumstances and appreciated her beauty. Even now, the solemn expression, her pale skin and delicate features were painfully stunning.
On the first day, Katriel had woken slightly, not enough to comprehend her surroundings, however just enough for Jailen to use a wet cloth to trickle small amounts of water into her mouth before sleep beckoned her. She remembered her eyes, for this was the first time that she had the opportunity to see them. She was startled by their depth, by their warmth, though she knew these eyes were a mere shell of what they would be when she was conscious. No conversation had passed between them yet Jailen felt a strong affection developing for Katriel. She was unsure whether this was born out of a fierce protectiveness or admiration of her beauty, or whether it was something else entirely. Her mother had attempted to convince her several times to rest, to take time out and let someone else tend to the girl, but Jailen would not leave her side, save for short toilet breaks when she gave explicit instructions to her replacement. Resigned to the fact that her daughter would not leave Katriel's side, Jailen's mother checked on her periodically, to bring food, water and to replenish a stock of other necessary items.
This room was part of a larger home, owned by Jailen's parents in Holehallow - the town where she had grown up - and conveniently, only a short distance from where Katriel was found. Though she had spent her adult years in Belisaere with the Royal Guard, she was always welcome when travelling to the south of the Old Kingdom.
Movement underneath the thick woollen blankets startled Jailen and with a fright she sat upright, eyes blearily trying to assess her surroundings. This was not uncommon, as in the last two days she had witnessed Katriel's terrible dreams, which caused her to thrash about in the bed, kicking off her covers. Each time, her loyal carer gently replaced the blankets over her small frame. This time was different, Katriel stretched out her body whilst sluggishly opening her eyes. She looked around slowly, trying to remember how she came to be in this unfamiliar room, with this unfamiliar person. Her expression was confused and weary as she tried to put all of the pieces together in her mind. She began to panic when she realised that her clothes were missing - replaced by a thin cotton night shirt - and with them her bells and sword. In caring for her, Jailen had removed her stained, gritty clothing and cleaned her skin of the grime collected during weeks of travel. Though she blushed at removing Katriel's clothing, she felt it would be neglectful to leave her in gritty, reeking clothes.
"My bells, my sword.....Where are they? What have you done with them?" Katriel retreated to the corner furthest from Jailen, pulling her knees to her chest defensively.
"It's ok Katriel –" Jailen began.
"You might as well just kill me now! Get it over with, I clearly can't defend myself! You must be sick to wait for me to recover before finishing the job! Do it......now!" Tears ran uncontrollably down her face as she shouted the words. Hearing the disturbance, Jailen's father who was also a member of the guard ran up the stairs before plunging into the room. Startled at first, she recognised his red and gold uniform as Jailen attempted to calm her.
"Shhh, Katriel it is alright. You are safe, we are members of the royal guard, this is my house, and it is all going to be ok." Jailen spoke in a quiet reassuring tone and continued to tell her that she was safe; repeating that they were guards and that she was in their home and that all would be ok. Her father looked toward her, offering assistance.
"It's alright father, go back downstairs, I will be fine." She was still speaking very softly. He hesitated for a moment, unsure, till she nodded for him to leave. The more people around, she figured, the more intimidating the situation would seem. Katriel remained huddled in the corner on the bed, shaking with fear, tears now running seamlessly down her face. Jailen knew that she needed to proceed with caution, slow movements and speech till her trust was gained. It pained her to see this frightened, desperate girl who was so unlike what she imagined the daughter of the Abhorsen to be before all of this. She kept reassuring Katriel in hushed tones, speaking slowly and not making any sudden movements. After some time, the trembling lessened, her features relaxed to show a neutral face.
"Where - " Katriel swallowed hard before continuing. "Where am I?" Jailen paused to answer, trying to avoid giving too much information in too short a time.
"You are in Holehallow, about twenty miles from where you collapsed. This home belongs to my parents." Katriel thought on this for a moment before continuing.
"Y-you found me?" Her mouth was very dry and after not speaking for almost two days, she found it difficult to form the words. Jailen slowly moved toward the jug on the table to her left and poured a cup of cool water and handed it to Katriel very slowly. She was reluctant to accept the offer, still untrusting of her guardian, with good reason after what she had been through.
"Here, it is just water, it will help. You are very dehydrated. I will answer your question in a moment. Please, drink." She encouraged her to drink, offering reassuring words.
"Good. Slowly, now not too much at once, just small sips for a while." Jailen cleared her throat before continuing. "Myself and my senior guard picked you up on the road leading into the town. That was the evening before last, you have been unconscious since." Katriel stared at her, disbelief in her eyes.
"Two days?!" It sounded more of a statement than a question as both her pitch and volume rose. "I need my things, I need to leave right now, I have to save my mother. She's in danger and I am failing her, I need to go. Where are my things?" As Katriel began to panic, Jailen tried to calm her, encouraging her to stay in the bed while she explained everything. She recounted how Lirael had arrived in Belisaere two weeks prior and that her father - Nicholas Sayre – made orders for the guard to search the Kingdom for his missing daughter. Several guards had been dispatched throughout the Old Kingdom.
"My mother........she's alive?.......and in Belisaere?" She was surprised yet confused about the situation.
"Your father...." She paused for a moment. "He discussed the dream....the vision that you had, with your mother. She was surprised by this because she had not had any encounters with the Dead during her trip. It was a very peaceful trip she said, straight to the Clayr's Glacier and back with no trouble." She let this sink in before proceeding. "At first she thought that perhaps it had all been just a dream, or that it was supposed to be interpreted in a different way- " Katriel opened her mouth to interrupt.
"How could it be interpreted any other way? She was dying! What else could I do but-" Her eyes began to glisten as the tears threatened to reappear. She forced them back and tried to compose herself.
"I know that, she understands. They both understand that it took great courage to do what you did and that there was no other option. Your mother also had another theory after she had given it more thought." When Katriel kept silent, she pushed on. "She believed that perhaps.....that maybe the dream was planted, a set up to lure you away from safety, a trap. She thought that it was possible – with the use of Free Magic – that someone had intentionally manipulated your dream, placing you in a situation that left no other option than for you to investigate." She fell silent, not wanting to force Katriel to respond immediately. The two stared at random objects for the passing of a few minutes. Jailen could not tell whether she was relieved that her mother was well or whether she was devastated that the previous month's trauma had been in vain. Eventually, she attempted to break the silence.
"Katriel. I know this is hard but - " Katriel moved her head sharply to look at Jailen, a stern look upon her face, her eyebrows set in a scowl.
"That's bold of you don't you think" She said, making a noise somewhere between a laugh and a scoff.
"I'm sorry?" Jailen was taken aback by this. Katriel looked at her condescendingly, an expression that pained her deep within.
"You believe that you know me? That perhaps the fact that I am in your house gives you some..... some right to neglect to address me by my title? Clearly you are not a very well disciplined guard." Her words hurt Jailen, whilst at the same time evoking an anger that swelled within her. She tried hard to be patient, to understand Katriel's point of view, her fear, but after two days of exhaustion, she could not control her temper any longer.
"Well my Lady. No, your presence in my house is not cause to neglect formalities." Her voice became raised, using the same bitter tone that she had just received. "However I will have you know that I have been by your side for the last two days, tending to your every need. Waiting patiently by, worried that you would die of dehydration. I have cleaned the grime off your body and replaced the blankets when you threw them off in terror of a dream I could not see; wishing that for a moment I could take the pain from you and experience it myself! I have forgone food and sleep to care for you. I exhausted myself to near death the night before last to heal the severe wounds on your body. I was told, time and time again to let someone else care for you, to rest, to seek privacy and time in a room other than this one, to be somewhere other than by your side every minute!" She tried to stop yet the words continued to flow out of her. "So after all of that, yes, I do feel that I have some very small right to call you by your name rather than play to your arrogance." Her face glistened from the tears covering her cheeks, yet she refused to acknowledge them. Katriel stared at her with wide eyes, her mouth slightly open with shock. As a single tear ran down her cheek, Jailen felt implausibly horrible.
What was I thinking? How could I say those things to her when I care about her so much? But why do I care?
"I'm....I'm so sorry. That was incredibly disrespectful of me, I'm sorry Ma'am. I will have someone come up and tend to you soon. I won't trouble you again Ma'am, unless there is something that you need from me." Jailen went to stand, placing one hand on the side of the bed for support.
"Wait." Katriel reached out and gently gripped her arm. "Stay...please. I'm sorry, you're right. I had no idea........" She punished herself yet how could she possibly know what Jailen had done for her? "If it were not for you, I would be dead. I didn't mean to attack you; I really do appreciate everything that you have done. I'm just so afraid." She was sobbing now and her grip on Jailen tightened. Through the sobs, she tried to speak. "I'm sorry, really. Please, you can call me by my name, I want you to, honestly. I don't know what is wrong with me.....I don't even know your name." The words stuttered out of her mouth yet Jailen could still understand her.
"It's Jailen.... I am Jailen." She said. "I am very sorry........Katriel" After stumbling over the use of her name, she tried to go on. "I had no right to speak to you in that way. You could not have possibly known any of those things, even if you could, you never asked me to do this, I did so willingly, I can not blame you for my decisions." She sat gazing into those deep warm eyes. She admired their depth, their intensity, the way that her long lashes framed them to make them seem all the more stunning.
"Jailen......that's a beautiful name." Katriel could only manage small sentences. Jailen blushed on receiving the compliment and looked away. The rest of the day went on in similar fashion, the pair talking slowly, Jailen taking her step by step through the events leading up to now. Katriel recounted her journey over the last month, how she had faced the necromancer from her vision in death and how easily he nearly disposed of her.
She recounted the moment when she was caught in the fifth precinct, unable to return for what seemed like weeks. She told of how all six of her guards were slain fighting by her side, how she fled like a scared animal. When the sun began to set and the day was finally almost over, Jailen noticed how exhausted Katriel was from talking all day.
"I think it might be time for you to get some more sleep. You look exhausted." As she spoke, Katriel nodded her hair slowly.
"Yes........I should sleep, I want to sleep so badly but I......" She stopped mid sentence, wincing at the thought of her dreams. "Where have you been sleeping?" She stifled a yawn while speaking. Jailen indicated to the chair in response.
"I haven't actually been sleeping, in case...........................you needed me. But I can go, there are other rooms where I can sleep." She did not want to make it known that this room was indeed her room as a child and that whenever she visited Holehallow it was in this room she slept. Katriel seemed pensive and opened her mouth as though to say something before closing it shut momentarily. "What is it?" Jailen could not read her expression.
"It's just that." She paused. "That I was hoping you could stay...with me." Katriel explained that she was fearful of being alone in the dark due to the resemblance it held with Death. She could not believe how vulnerable and pathetic she was allowing herself to be, yet she felt that she trusted Jailen. After all that she had done for her, seeming vulnerable was really not that big a deal.
"Sure. I can stay with you. I will stay right here." She gave a reassuring smile.
"Wait, no. I can't expect you to do that for me. You should have the bed; you have been awake for a long time. I will sleep in the chair."
"No you will not. You are not leaving that bed." Her tone was firm yet spoken with warm smile.
"Then.........perhaps you could lay with me.....so you can rest?" Katriel was speaking very quietly, avoiding Jailen's stare. "Only if you don't mind that is. I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked, just forget it." She was becoming embarrassed, Jailen stifled a smirk.
"Of course I will. It's ok, you are safe here." As she spoke, Katriel shifted over, allowing room for Jailen to slide in next to her. Whilst she shuffled into the bed she felt relieved that there was not enough light for her blushing cheeks to be seen. She laid facing out toward the room - not wanting to cause Katriel to feel uncomfortable - and waited for the sound of her breathing to become slow and regular, indicating that she was asleep. Thoughts and apprehensions raced through her mind till finally, she too fell into a deep sleep.