Enjoy! :)
Chapter 8
During the first part of the night Celeste could at least look at the stars, but then it became clouded, so that it was almost pitch black around them. She could barely see her hand stretched out in front of her. The darkness didn't stop all the eerie sounds. Sometimes Celeste thought she saw eyes blinking at them in the darkness. This made her sit closer to Calaelen. Tawny moaned a bit as Celeste shifted, kicking slightly with her back leg. She was sleeping in Celeste's lap. She tried not to think about her experience in the mist, or that something might have followed them here. Surely she was just tired.
Finally dawn crept up upon them. Calaelen looked much better this morning. He had slept like a log, or rather a very tired horse, through the whole night.
"I hope it's not still far we have to go to get to the cottage," Celeste said feeling weary.
Tawny stretched after yawning, then disappeared into some nearby bushes to do what she needed to do.
Celeste got up unsteadily. Calaelen watched her.
"Don't worry, I'll be all-right. Just stiff from sitting down," Celeste said trying to chase the fussiness from her mind. Just then she walked into a tree…
Calaelen nudged her in her back when she was back on her feet again, then lowered himself onto his knees so that she could reach his back. She held on to his mane as he got up. For a moment everything was spinning. She shut her eyes tight, and held on. When she opened them a few moments later she was sitting high up on Calaelen's back. She didn't realise how far down it was when she rode on his back in the mist. This was definitely the biggest horse she had ever seen or sat on.
With a little screech of joy Tawny came flying out of a nearby tree, grabbing hold of Celeste's clothes to keep it from tumbling down. She was spinning loudly, making little noises as if trying to tell Celeste of her morning adventures. Calaelen gave a snort and swished his tail out of agitation, but then set off on the little pathway that they always seemed to find again and again.
This day was less gloomy then the others. It almost felt warm, like the sun was trying to break through the clouds. Several hours had passed since they started their journey this morning. That was when Celeste smelled it… the most delicious smell. She had almost forgotten what it smelt like. Freshly baked bread. Or was it sweet cakes? No, now she is smelling cooked ham! Her stomach complained. It has been so long that they only had berries and other fruits to eat. She knew Calaelen also smelled it, because his nostrils were flaring slightly and he slowed down his pace.
"There must be people nearby!" she said excitedly.
To her disappointment Calaelen tossed his head, snorting, and then went in the opposite direction from where the lovely smells came from.
"Wait! We can get something good to eat from there!" she said, but the horse didn't seem to pay her any attention. She only now noticed that something seemed to be wrong with Calaelen. His body was trembling and he was breathing irregular. Spit seemed to be dripping from his mouth.
"What is wrong, Calaelen?" she whispered to the horse, but it didn't seem to hear her. Then he started running. First at a slow pace, but then faster and faster. Celeste called out to the seemingly deaf horse, and clasped Tawny in her arms while holding on to Calaelen's mane for dear life.
They passed what looked like huge baskets, and women busy cutting something from bushes. Celeste couldn't see much as they rushed pass. She heard yelling. Calaelen suddenly came to a halt when they reached a wall built of sticks. We swung around, and ran along the wall trying to get around it.
"The black horse of the marshes!" someone screamed. Men came running with spears and other things. Calaelen pushed his way through a small opening in the wall. Celeste had to pull her legs up so she wouldn't get hurt.
The people here looked very unusual. They had purple skin, large eyes with long black hair, and pointed ears. Why she could understand them she didn't know.
"It's going to kill her!" someone else shouted as they passed by what looked to be a hut of some sort.
"Get off that thing, girl! It's a waterhorse!"
"Quick, kill it!"
Other things were also yelled that she couldn't make out. A lot of them were now following on foot. They ran fast, faster than Celeste could imagine, but still they were soon falling behind. It just seemed like they were leaving them behind for good when out of nowhere a spear flew towards them, just missing Celeste. It sunk into Calaelen's shoulder. The horse cried out in pain and abruptly stopped, then bit onto the shaft and pulled it out before running again. Blood was soon covering his whole front leg. Celeste was crying, and pleaded with the horse to stop somewhere so she could treat it, but he kept running until finally they reached a little cottage. Celeste recognised it from her dreams. This was Veera's cottage.
Celeste slid off Calaelen's back with Tawny in her arms. The horse was breathing heavily.
"Greetings and welcome, young ones!" an old lady said, whom Celeste recognised as well.
"Veera! Calaelen is gravely injured! Please we've got to help him!"
"Worry not, child. In the morning he'll be as good as new. The black horse of the marshes has withstood many trials before."
Celeste let her hand slide soothingly down the horse's neck as it stood trembling from blood loss.
"There is fresh hay in the stable. Take him there, child. I shall be there shortly with warm water and the things needed to treat his wound."
Celeste walked with the horse to the stable. Calaelen first had a good drink from a water bucket nearby before laying himself down. Veera came and handed a bowl with warm water and a cloth to Celeste. All fear forgotten, she very gently cleaned the blood. Then Veera dressed the wound. After that she gave Celeste something hot to drink, saying it will help her to be calm.
"You may rest here for the night. We can talk in the morning. I've also brought you something to eat in the basket over there. I bid you goodnight," was all she said before leaving them. The drink tasted of spices and honey. In the basket Celeste found some bread rolls, cheese, and butter! She gave some to Calaelen, who only ate a little, and helped herself. Tawny would have eaten everything else had Celeste not kept an eye on her. Later they settled down for the night.
Done and done! Reviews are welcome! :)
