Leap 7 : GONE BUT NOT LOST
Merida stared at the IPhone on Robert's bedside table. Ruby had her eyes fixed on her brother so she did not see the princess picking up the gadget tenderly with both hands. Unsure of what to do next, she pressed the only round button at the front.
The IPhone, having no lock-screen yet, opened automatically and revealed the last thing that had been used.
The phone gallery.
More specifically, Merida's picture.
He made this picture, she thought. The last thing he ever did, and he was showing it to me.
Merida never thought she would take a stranger's death so personally. Yet, she could not help feel a sense of relating. After all, he had encountered a wisp too, just like herself. She had so much to ask him. Yes, his sister Ruby was there safe and sound but Robert was her age and Merida had a feeling that they might have gone along very well had they been given the chance.
With a heavy sigh, she laid the IPhone back onto the table and sat down beside Ruby.
Unable to find anything to say, she spoke awkwardly.
'Eh….Ruby? Tell me. Whot is it like in yer time, a thousand years from now?'
Ruby met Merida's blue eyes with her own brown ones. 'Well…,' she began. Merida felt a terrible feeling that she was disrupting Ruby's privacy with her brother. However, it seemed like the little girl welcomed the conversation to drag her mind away from the morose happenings. 'Everything is faster. The way of moving around, the way of talking to people. You can talk to people a thousand miles just like we two were talking. You can travel thousands of miles in a matter of hours.'
Merida dropped her jaws in amazement.
Ruby smiled. 'And the houses have so much bigger and larger most are even taller than this castle but to be honest, none of them are as grand. There are more people in my time…..including my – our parents,' she paused. After a long hard look at Robert she continued, 'I don't even know what to do now. When the strange things started happening and we came upon this world, I was not really scared nor worried. You know why?'
'Why?,' asked Merida.
'Because I had Robert with me. He always protected me. He fought those who bullied me and taught me how to stand up for myself. He taught me so much about so many things that I never learned in school or from my parents. I know that if he was here, I would feel a lot safer in his company.'
Merida smiled. 'Ah wish ah had a brother a like that, but all Ah have are three mischievous younger triplet brothers who could teach the devil new tricks, but Ah love them dearly all the same.'
Ruby smiled, she knew about the triplets of course, from the movie, but did not say anything. She instead turned to look at Robert.
'It feels so strange, like I am losing a piece of my heart. I just wish he would wake up right now instead of going away and leaving me. But more than that, I wish I could have protected him back then.'
'Careful what you wish for little one, it might come true.'
The voice came from behind the two girls who quickly turned around. Before them stood the old woman, looking grim but with an air of confidence. Her black crow, perched on her shoulders stared at them with it's beady yellow eyes .
'You're the witch!,' Both, Merida and Ruby exclaimed at once, jumping to their feet.
Merida turned on the younger girl,'Ye know her?'
'A bit,' Ruby replied. The knowledge came from her watching the movie, of course. It would be impossible to explain it to the princess now.
'Quiet now. You two. We have serious matters going on.' She started walking towards Robert lying on his bed. Her hand reached into a hidden pocket in her shawl and out came the small bottle. The sea green liquid twinkled in the firelight. She unsealed the bottle and proceeded to open the motionless boy's mouth.
Ruby suddenly launched herself at the witch.
'What are you doing?,' she said pushing the witch to the side. She immediately placed herself in between her brother and the witch.
As the latter stepped back, Merida pulled out a sword hung on the wall for decoration and stepped up beside Ruby.
The witch stamped her feet with irritation,' Oh, you two. Stop fooling around and let me be.'
'Ah don't trust ye,' Merida glared back. Flashbacks of her mum turning into a bear, their almost getting killed by Mor'du, the curse, the second sunrise, all rushed back to her mind. ' I've had just enough of yer gamy spells. Ye put such a ghastly curse on mah mum and disappeared.'
'Well,' the witch thought hard ,' The Wickerman's festival in Stornoway – '
'Ye said ye would be back in spring!,' Merida screamed. 'Spring! Are ye serious! Ye left me tae worry about a curse with only two days tae cure and said that you wouldn't be back for months. Can anyone be more inconsiderate?'
'It WAS your responsibility,' the witch pointed out. 'You asked for it all. Now thanks to me, you have the freedom to choose your own betrothed in the future.'
'That's not the point,' Merida argued further,' An' why weren't ye back in spring? Ah had so many questions. It's been a year already.'
The witch waggled a finger,' You destroyed my cottage, princess. I hope you remember. I decided that you would probably try to skewer me with a sword or rain a torrent of arrows if you had the chance.'
This quieted Merida a bit.
'Now', the witch turned to face Ruby, still standing in front of her brother. Her eyes revealed how much she distrusted the old woman standing in front of her. The witch calmly proceeded to persuade the little girl. 'Look here Ruby. Yes, don't look alarmed that I know your name. Your brother, he is dying. Nothing can be done. An arrow near the heart and a wound to the head. I know how he managed to survive these grievous injuries and not die immediately. I can do something to cure him completely. If you want him back - if you don't want to lose him, then you must trust me. Time is running short so make your decision – quick.'
Ruby was struggling with herself. She really wanted her brother back but did not trust the witch entirely. Silence reigned over the room.
Merida, on the other hand, did not say anything. It was Ruby's decision to make. If she had had to give a personal advice, she would say that she would say that the witch's magic would work, but the outcomes…
'I know what is right,' said Ruby. 'Please save Robert.'
'Thank you, sweetie,' said the witch. She wobbled up to the two girls and turning to the Merida, she pointed at the sword. 'Please keep that thing away from me. It's really intimidating.' (Merida hesitated but did not put it away)
She focused on Robert. She reached into a pocket in her dress and out came the little vial again. After removing the seal, she tipped the entire drink into Robert's mouth.
'What now?,' asked Ruby. 'He won't turn into a bear, will he?'
Merida jerked her head towards the little girl once again. 'How do you kno – '
'Now kids, a moment of silence, if you will?,' said the witch.
As Merida and Ruby 'created' silence, the witch looked around the room and noticed a large black arrow lying on the table nearby. Picking up the weapon she asked, 'Is this the arrow that struck him?'
Merida nodded.
The witch looked at it more closely, 'I see, this can only mean that they have sensed his presence.'
'Who has sensed him?,' asked Merida.
The witch replied solemnly, 'It's someone…..evil. I think it's best if I tell you later. Ah! He's getting better.' The witch turned her attention towards Robert who,very faintly, was breathing again ! The witch quickly bent as she slowly but expertly removed his bandages on his head. She then proceeded to remove the ones on his chest.
Ruby uttered a joy of exclamation.
The deathly arrow wound on his chest was gone. Not even a little mark was left. The color was returning to his face.
The witch lifted his head and felt all over it.
'The wound on his chest is cured and so is the one on his head,' she said.
Once she had put his head back onto the pillow, she carefully turned him around to reveal his backside. Her eyes grew wide in wonder and as she licked her lips.
'Never thought I would get to see one of these,' She chuckled to herself.
Ruby gaped at the sight before her and Merida was left awestruck.
The wings, etched on Robert's back was now glowing a deep blue hue, almost as if it was colored to mimic the rich color of the bluest sky.
The crow spoke from the witch's shoulders, 'Now that is fine sight indeed.'
The witch ignored her pet and turned towards the two girls captivated by the phenomenon. In a voice that could not have been more delighted, she said, 'So, it is happening. The flight of the Vias has begun.'
