When you're are down
Who comes around
To pluck you up
When you are down
And when you're outside, looking in
Who's there to open the door?
That's what friends are for!
Who's always eager to extend
A friendly claw?
That's what friends are for!
- That's what friends are for, The jungle book
Chapter 11: Rhoswen's return
It was near the hours of dusk by the time Rhoswen entered Rome, by some miracle without being detected. Yet she knew it would be a matter of time before something else happened also.
"Athair, what have you done?" The girl murmured worriedly as she sprinted across the near deserted streets.
She couldn't go back to her home; no, it was too risky. Which only leaves…the bakery, surely they know what's become of her father. Hopefully, they're already awake - Ben and Helena always opened the bakery around 6 in the morning.
Rhoswen sprinted towards the building, stopping at the door. Catching her breath, she pounded on the door.
"Helena! Ben!" she rasped out, her voice strained with fear. "Please, it's me!"
The door slowly creaked open, revealing Ben's unusually solemn face. His eyes widened with surprise when he saw who it was.
"Rhoswen!" He gaped, opening the door and beckoned her inside.
"Rhoswen?"
Helena, Zak, the children and to Rhoswen's perplexity - Tacticus and a woman she did not recognize were all astonished at her appearance and there was almost no end to the questions they asked her.
"You're back!"
"Where were you?"
"Rhoswen," Helena said to her gently, "We feared we'd seen the last of you."
"Have you news of my father?" The younger woman pleaded, "Do you know why he was arrested?"
Tacticus answered her question grimly, "I'm afraid Moran has been arrested on the charge of fraternizing with Christians. They're holding him captive trying get answers, why they've been hold him this long without execution remains a mystery."
"That also leads to my next question, if you'll excuse my bluntness," Rhoswen said to him, raising a questioning eyebrow, "What're you doing here, Tacticus?"
She knew he was fairly more civilized than the other soldiers but his presence here amongst her friends seemed odd.
"That's right," Anna acknowledged, "A lot's happened while you were away."
"We'll tell you all you need to know and more," Ben responded to Rhoswen calmly.
Zak then spoke up accusingly, "But you better tell us where you've been for the past month!"
Rhoswen sighed wearily, "You're never going to believe it…"
"Just tell the truth," Cyrus encouraged, "You never know unless you try."
"Your dad came one of the meetings one time and said a monster made you his prisoner, is that true?" Marcus asked with innocent curiosity.
"Marcus that's not polite!" Justin scolded.
"Never mind, Justin," Rhoswen appeased him, "Yes, I was at first. I know how difficult it is to believe but it's true. Furthermore I can prove it."
She reached into her dark green cloak and pulled out the mirror.
"It's just a fancy mirror, what does that supposed to mean?" Zak demanded.
"It's what it's capable of that matters," Rhoswen said sternly, "The Beast gave it to me before I left, so that it would help me find my way here…"
She closed her eyes sadly as she recalled his words. And to remember him…
Knowing that just showing it won't be enough, she held it in front of Marcus and said softly to him, "Just tell it what you wish to see that remains here on the Earth and it will show you."
The little boy looked over the mirror curiously and questioned, "What're Leo and Theo doing right now?"
"Marcus, come on. You can't expect it-"
But the mirror flashed, causing everyone else in the room to gasp/cry out. Instead of reflecting the room, it showed golden brown long grass and romping playfully in it were two lion cubs.
A bright smile replaced the little boy's shocked expression, "It IS them! Wow, look how big they got!"
"I- I can't believe it…" Zak muttered.
"How is it possible?" Tacticus said staring into the image in fascination.
Justin looked amazed then a glint of hope flickered in his eyes and he approached, "What about our parents?"
The mirror glowed again, this time both brothers looked into it eagerly. Within the frame, it showed a man and a woman looking out sadly over the railing of what appeared to be a ship. Then the man walked over to the woman and hugged tightly in comfort.
"I want them with me," The woman whispered, "I want to take them into my arms once more."
Rhoswen kindly held the two morose boys. "You'll see them again."
But at the same time, she too was greatly saddened about having to leave Marius. The adults had watched silently through it all, exchanging stupefied glances then Ben cleared his throat.
"Well," he remarked, still reeling from the revelation, "I'm convinced."
He and Helena already knew what was said about dark magic; yet the mirror only showed harmless images. Furthermore, it wasn't Rhoswen's and what would a Beast want with such a tool? Unless…it was a vague suspicion that suddenly formed, but the current situation was more important.
Besides the O' Midhirs have been nothing but good friends not only to him and his extended family but to everyone else in the Christian underground, and that was what truly mattered.
Tacticus and the other woman present watched Rhoswen's sorrowful reactions. Then the woman approached her tentatively.
"Rhoswen, this…" she began,
"Marius, his name is Marius."
The woman nodded, "Marius…you truly care about him don't you?"
Rhoswen nodded, "Yes, he's…my dearest friend. I'm sorry, I failed to ask your name…?"
The woman smiled warmly, "Miriam."
Her friendly manner mad Rhoswen smile sadly, "Yes, I admit he's no saint - Marius has his personality flaws as we do. But I see that in some repressed way he suffers greatly as though he were the victim of some terrible affliction yet refuses to let anyone know. One half of him is in constant struggle with the other, more than he cares to admit. I think he is more cruel to himself than he is to others."
"And this Beast speaks like a human being?"
"Yes, Tacticus, he speaks just like you and I do." She then wiped her eyes, "But please, tell me what has happened while I was gone?"
And so they explained how Tacticus had become their friend and ally after Anna and Justin had saved him in the catacombs. But then his faith was discovered when he refused to bow down to Nero during the Emperor's birthday celebration; it was only thanks to Miriam's help that Anna and the others were able to rescue him.
Now they were discussing on retrieving Miriam's parents from the threat of Nero's guards now that she was absent without official leave.
Just then, a scratching was heard at the door. For a moment, they all exchanged frightened glances.
Roman soldiers don't scratch at the door, they're far more likely to pound or break it down - which could only mean it was sort of wild animal or worse.
The scratching became louder. Ben, Tacticus and Zak carefully picked up whatever they could find - if it was a starving or sickly animal they were to have to subdue it somehow.
"We open on three." Zak mouthed the other two men nodded. "One, two, three!"
They quickly fling the door open and to their surprise, a badger dropped forward. A badger that was about the size of a small child….
Rhoswen did a double take. This was one was juvenile and was holding well folded up garments in it's mouth, which it dropped in front so it could breathe properly.
"Colin?"
And to everyone's further shock, he stood up on his hind legs and chirped, "Hi!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Rhoswen saw Zak drop the sword. The other boys' jaws dropped - Justin actually rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
Miriam and Anna shrunk back against the far wall uneasily. Helena froze in place then glanced to her husband.
An astonished Ben took a hesitant step forward, "Incredible…"
A woodland creature that stood well on it hind legs and spoke fluently served to fuel his hypothesis on the Beast and it's true identity, but he would still need to know more.
Tacticus was next to approach, "This- it's impossible."
"Nothing's impossible, if you believe." Colin said matter of factly.
Rhoswen introduced him, "This is Colin, a friend of mine. He the son of one of the servants from the villa." Then she gave the cub a pointed look, "But would you mind telling me what you're doing out of your clothes?"
"I'm a badger cub and they don't wear clothes. Plus, it was easier for me to follow you without the guards noticing."
"Colin, does your mother know you're here?" Rhoswen asked putting her hands on her hips.
There's a pause then Colin admits, "No. But why'd you leave? I thought you liked us."
Her expression softened, "I do, Colin. It's just my father - you remember him don't you?"
Colin nodded fervently.
Helena came up and explained to the little badger with motherly concern, "Well, it just so happens that Rhoswen's father has been thrown into prison for trying to help us."
At once, the boy gasped. "Are we going to rescue him?"
"Course we will!" Marcus piped up then turned to the other grown ups, "Won't we?"
Ben nodded, "That we will, but we've got first got to pick up Miriam's parents."
Rhoswen was back in Rome, with Colin having followed her - now that her other friends knew the truth, they were going to need all the help they could get if they were going to rescue Moran.
To be continued…
