Chapter 28
Aria
There was no uproar. Only silence. The Chieftain's men disposed of the body of the creature and Arthur reluctantly tore himself away with Percival, Leon and Elyan to investigate more about the creature. Merlin and Lancelot flitted around Gwaine as the broken man held his wife. Gwaine had rejected all touch, sound and circumstance. It was like watching Lancelot lose Safira all over again. And yet…
Vervain was worse. She was completely unresponsive. When she woke her sharp snowy eyes looked blind and unseeing. The earth where she sat, encircled in Gwaine's arms, died. But there were tears flowing down her face. Arthur came to stand beside me, Elyan and Leon lingering behind him while Percival whispered urgently to them. 'Anything?' Arthur asked hopefully.
'Nothing.' I told my brother. 'She only said Daemon and Nuala's name once.' I spoke softly, even I was feeling the effect of the Queen of Nature's sorrow. I worried for my own children too.
At the sound of their names her pale hand tightened on Gwaine's clothes in a hard jerking movement. Gwaine jerked too, breathless. 'Vervain?'
'I want my son. I want Nuala.' She whispered, her voice trembling unsurely. It was painful to hear such a strong woman, so weak. 'I want to hold my babies.' She wailed quietly, thoroughly broken-hearted.
'Leon, Elyan, prepare them what they need for the journey. Lancelot, escort them.' Arthur ordered immediately. The Chieftain readily allowed them leave and the Shaman… did not stop them. I could see an understanding in her eyes. There was pain and suffering reflected there.
Within the hour, Gwaine struggled to his feet and carried Vervain to their horses. Then they were gone. I watched their forms grow more and more distant and felt the Shaman's piercing gaze on my back. I felt danger… how selfish of me to wish they had not left.
Wolfyien
I shot up in my bed before getting knocked back down again. The air left my lungs as Aithusa stomped over my body and settled himself to sleep. The vision was vivid and real in my mind. 'Wolf.' Vira called, tired eyes looking over to me. The vision came to me but that didn't mean she didn't know it.
'Vira. Can you walk?' I asked my twin. She looked a little frail. That was not how Vira should ever look. She nodded her head before she even got up. But she swung her legs down with a wince. 'Aunt Vervain and Uncle Gwain are coming. They think Daemon is dead.' I told her, feeling guilty when I saw her growl at her stretched wounds.
I tried to push Aithusa off so I could get up myself. 'Don't, Wolf.' Vira insisted urgently, worry in her eyes. I could see why, my shoulder wound was starting to bleed again. I could feel the pain clearly now that my vision shocked off the drug of sleep. When I didn't give up, Wariea trotted over and placed a foot on my chest lightly. It was enough to stop me. 'Good boy.' She said to Wariea, smiling wryly.
'Vira, get him off. Your ribs…' I complained. Dad always taught me to put girls first. Help people even if it hurt you.
'Shut up.' She yawned at me, her tri-colour eyes looking sleepy still. 'I'm just going to tell Aunt Gwen. I'll be back, brother.'
Then she walked out the door as quickly as possible. I frowned. I shouldn't have made her go. She avoided the attack when Wariea pushed her out of the way but he was heavy and broke her ribs. Still… I huffed as waved Wariea away. He snorted and nudged his brother gently before going to sleep in Vira's bed. I had to wonder. What about Mother and Father?
Akvai, Vira and I have been having strange visions. Of way too bright moonlight and blood spilt on the earth that was not Camelot. It was always painful. And it made Vira scared. It made me scared too but I didn't say so. Did Aunt Morgana have these visions too? She didn't say anything. I felt like keening. Keening was for animals. But I wanted to keen for my parents, call them home to us when I knew they wouldn't even hear me.
When would they return? I shivered in the warmth of the castle. Would they return at all?
Gwaine
'Gwaine.' Vervain gasped. I looked up immediately, my eyes searching for danger. But there was nothing against the white… White? I looked again, blinking. The forest was white. Pure. White. The trees, the grass, the flowers and leaves… everything was a blinding white.
'Vervain!' I called in panic. Where was she? She wasn't on her horse anymore. Her long hair blew as a slight wind passed and I dismounted, running to her. I had misplaced my snow white Queen in this snow white forest. She was crouched down to the ground as she turned to me, her eyes white and wide with fear and confusion. I wrapped an arm around her and helped her up.
'Look, blood.' She murmured shakily. Lifting her hand, I saw that there on her palm and fingertips, thick, old blood marred her pale skin. I took out a cloth and wiped her hand, leading her back to the horses so I could wash her hands. Her hands shivered when the water touched them. She stared around her before gazing harshly into my eyes, capturing my attention. 'They're dead. The forest is dead. It's dead.' She muttered, taking a step back.
That's when I actually noticed the slight sounds of something breaking. I looked down and where she had stepped before, the white grass had broken and crumbled as if it wasn't grass at all. But it was. Dead. Dead and white. 'What happened?' I asked her softly. Who could've killed a forest like this? Vervain breathed frantically at her deceased subjects.
'I don't know!' She cried out in desperation. There was fear in her voice too.
I placed my hand over her mouth and hushed her, breathing calm. She forced herself to match my breathing. She looked around again but I carried her into my arms and she hid her face in my chest so she wouldn't be drawn to look anymore. I set her on her horse and she kept her eyes shut. 'It's not working. There's no sound, no whisper. I can hear their silence.' She moaned quietly. 'Take me home, Gwaine. I want to see my babies.'
I said nothing for once, my merry behaviour gone as I led her horse and mine through the forest. After losing my son, it was like a light had left my soul. I used to be such a happy man, jovial and carefree. Smiling through anything. I don't think I'll ever smile again now. I'll never be that man again.
