Chapter 34 – Unicorn Fever
Two women watched silently how Daine slowly became quiet in Numair's arms. The tanned man whispered stories and Onua recalled the description Alanna had told her the day after William's assault on the young woman. Onua didn't know if she was going to laugh, cry or what she was going to do, the emotions inside her was almost too big. Before her was a man who really went to extremes for his student. And Onua she was sure in her case ... the relationship between Numair and Daine was no longer a student-teacher relationship, but something else entirely. She stood next to Elena, who was also silent, but had started with slow steps to approach the young woman in Numair's embrace.
Numair anxious kept an eye on the healer who approached. Unconsciously tightened his grip on Daine's waist and pulled her thus more to him.
Elena didn't really know what she was doing, but she felt compelled forward. Something pushed her from behind and she obeyed. Slowly she let her fingertips touch the now cooler woman and ...
Elena turned abruptly. She was no longer in her own house, where she had been a few seconds earlier. Instead she stood in front of an empty rocking chair that rocked slowly back and forth. She recognized it as the one the old healer always sat in, in the evening when the arthritic body was tired. She turned around and saw only empty space ... when she turned facing the rocking chair the old healer suddenly sat there again. 'What?' she began to ask, but was interrupted by a raised wrinkled hand.
'Quiet child ... it's best this way' the old woman explained. Elena looked closer and discovered to her surprise that where the old woman's normal eyes should be, they were now covered with a gray film. 'I'm not her, as you can see ... but we are many who see the young woman, you may know her as Daine, as our own, so it is also necessary that you get to know why you have been chosen ...' the old lady paused before she continued 'it is true that I feel that you have questions?'
Elena nodded slowly. The questions burned on her tongue 'If you are not the old healer, then who are you?'
The old lady smiled broadly and rose slowly up from the rocking chair 'Good question' she replied and took a step forward 'have you ever heard about The Green Lady?' The old lady flickered weakly in front of Elena, who shook her head. 'No?' The old lady changed slowly and began to take the shape of a blonde mature woman who was obviously from Galla. The woman wore a bright green light dress embroidered with small flowers. The Green Lady struck out with her hand and the surroundings around them changed.
'A Goddess then' she said. She saw how the Goddess nodded. Elena found herself standing in the same room as she had left. The only difference was that Onua knelt by her lying body on the floor, and she herself stood up. She turned abruptly towards The Green Lady 'Am I dead?' she asked.
The Green Lady shook her head 'Actually, I only borrowed your soul for a moment ... you will return as soon as we have talked. "The woman walked over to the man and young woman lying on the bed.
Elena followed. She found that she had no choice 'Why is it so important?' She had never in her life thought that she one day would be standing facing a Goddess from Tortall.
The blonde woman reached out and stroked gently Daine's cheek 'Cause she's my daughter,' she explained 'and because she has a difficult and dangerous journey ahead'.
'What is my role?' asked Elena quiet. The tenderness for the young woman was evident.
The Green Lady turned and folded her arms in front of her chest 'Do you know what unicorn fever is?' she asked instead of answering Elena's questions.
Elena shook her head vaguely, 'I have a feeling that you are about to tell me' she replied, and saw how the older woman nod.
'Unicorn fever is a condition that affects only the gods chosen. It is a condition that occurs only once every thousand year and are created to ensure the future or some would say destiny ... but with this insurance there is also a kind of counter reaction 'she explained slowly.
Elena's brain worked quickly. 'Securing must mean "good" and counter reaction means "evil" balance of nature' she concluded.
'Very well ... there will be a revered healer out of you ... which brings me to the next, my daughter's condition can not be changed. Her fate is predetermined and it's your job, from now on to take care of her until her task is finished. When the time comes I will help ... but since I am bound to The realm of the Gods, I can not help her. It's up to you, Elena ... promise me that you will protect my daughter with your life and I'll promise in return that you will be richly rewarded ... you promise? '
Elena didn't hesitate to react, her whole inner being knew that Daine was the reason for her entire existence. Therefore, she sank down and curtsied deeply. 'I would be honored and I promise that I will protect her with my life'. She straightened up and looked directly into bright blue eyes.
'One more thing' The Goddess came closer to Elena 'My daughter will be receiving a pregnancy charm...you will remove the existing spell, so it doesn't work...is that clear?' The Green Lady touched Elena's forehead 'And find these ingredients, they will help take most of her pain away, but remember this...there is no cure'.
Elena curtsied low 'Yes My Lady' she replied.
'Good' The Green Lady nodded satisfied 'Then let it be done'.
Daine woke up slowly. It was morning and she could see the sun shining in through the window. She turned in the bed and sat up. Daine groaned and took her hands to her head in dizziness.
"So you're finally awake," said Onua who had been leaning back in the chair. Numair had appeared at the breakfast table and had insisted that there was someone who should monitor Daine while he washed himself. Onua had volunteered.
"I ..." Daine cleared her throat loud "how did I end up here?" she asked, looking down at herself. "And why don't I have almost no clothes on?"
Onua rose from the chair and took the pile of clothes she had laying in her lap with her hands. She placed it in front of her young friend, "You've had a hard night ... we had to remove most of your clothes because you couldn't cool down ... Numair come back soon ..." Onua stopped by Daine's facial expressions and sat on the bed beside Daine who dressed slowly. "Talking about Numair ... is it love?"
Daine dropped her blouse on the floor "What?" she gasped.
Onua reached down and took her blouse up. She held it out to Daine, who sat quietly without accepting her blouse. "You know what I mean ... your and Numair's relationship?"
Daine stood up and took her blouse out of Onua's hands "We haven't talked about it yet ..." she whispered quietly and took her blouse over her head. She took the pants Onua handed her. "How do you know?" she asked.
She smiled and shrugged "I have eyes in the head Daine ... I'm not blind." Onua got up and went over to the fireplace where Daine's boots stood. "Do you have a pregnancy charm?" There was a loud bang behind her and she turned. Daine had lost the pitcher with water on the floor.
"A...a...a pregnancy charm?" she stammered.
Onua grabbed a towel and hurried over to Daine, who knelt by the water and gathered the broken pottery up "Yes ... for the protection of children, which is a consequence ..."
Daine shook her head vigorously "I know what is does...We haven't ... I'm still a virgin and besides I'm not his type ... he only goes after blonde women with large breasts as Julianna" She stopped abruptly her voice when she saw how Numair enter into the room. He stopped quickly and she could see how his cheeks burned. "Numair ... I ..."
Onua turned her head and looked directly into hazel-brown eyes that glowed sad.
They saw both how the tanned man turned and disappeared. Daine got up in a hurry. She ran after Numair who fast approaching walked down the hallway. He went in through a door that slammed hard in the same moment Daine reached it. "Numair!" she called and took the handle. A strong shock hit her fingertips and when she looked down she saw large blisters erupt. The light around the door shimmered with strong black fire speckled with silver. She tried again and reached for the handle. Daine ignored the pain for several seconds until hands tore hers away and turned her. A woman with reddish brown slightly wavy hair stood before Daine and stared down at her.
"Stupid girl" the woman exclaimed and pulled away with Daine, which didn't resisted. "How can I protect you when you incur yourself wounds?"
Daine turned her head back against the door, which still flickered of Numair's gift. She came willingly with the woman who still held firmly her arm. She would no doubt get bruises "What do you mean to protect me? I don't even know your name?" she snarled back to the woman. Daine was pushed hard into the room she had left when she ran after Numair. Inside Onua was sitting down, she was quiet and hesitant. Daine turned to Elena "What's the matter with you?" she hissed.
"I'm Elena and I'm doing what is necessary" Elena replied calmly and walked towards Daine, who walked backwards until she was forced to sit on the bed.
Daine sat down and carefully held her hands in front of her. The wounds sweat badly. She cast a quick glance over at Onua, whose face was closed for emotions. "Will someone tell me what in Mithros' name is going on?"
It was Elena who answered "Not yet ... first ..." She grabbed Daine's hands and raised them with the palm upwards "we must ensure that these are healed." She closed her eyes and let a steady stream of her gift search into the young woman. She smiled relieved, it was easier to push her gift into Daine now that there was no divine was to prevent her. When she opened her eyes she turned and turned Daine's hands carefully, there was no scar. Contented she released them and turned to Onua, who now stood up. "Would you be kind enough to explain to me why it was necessary to disturb me in the middle of the healing of Perin?"
Daine looked wondering back and forth between the two women forgetting her previous question about what was going on.
Onua nodded and reached under her blouse. From inside she took a chain Daine had never noticed before. On the chain hung an oval metal charm with a clear stone in it. She handed it to Elena who embraced it. "I would like you to renew the spell" Onua looked at Daine "It's yours from now on ...".
Daine gaped "I can't accept your charm against pregnancy" she whispered quietly.
Onua grimaced "Of course you can, Daine ... I will get Alanna to make a new one when we come home, also it is my job to equip you with the necessary things, you are still employed under me, remember?"
Daine nodded slowly, her eyes moved up to Elena who stood with eyes closed.
Elena frowned. The charm was overflowing with violet flames, the spell was stronger than she had first thought. The spell didn't needed to be renewed, but to be removed ... and she wasn't sure she was strong enough to do it. 'Of course you can Elena' a inner voice told her 'There's a reason why I chose you ... now break it!' Elena obeyed and sent everything she had against the spell inside the jewelery. It was glowing hot in her hand and she dropped it.
Onua reached for the jewelry that fell and caught it before it hit the floor "Something wrong?" she asked and looked into Elena's restrained face.
She shook her head "No ... nothing". Elena reached for the jewelery and Onua let it fall into her open hand. Nothing, the jewelry was empty for any trace of gift. She handed it to Daine who took it with trembling fingers.
"Thank you," she whispered and took the chain off with the badger claw. She let the chain slide down on the bed and let the piece itself slide down beside the silver claw. She closed the chain around her neck again and felt the extra weight resting lightly against the skin between her breasts. She looked up at the two women who stood silently in front of her, "How's Perin?" she asked.
Elena smiled "He's fine ... his jaw has healed fine., He is ready to leave tomorrow, which reminds me .." she turned and disappeared out the door to the kitchen. When she came back she brought a cup of steaming liquid which she handed to Daine "Drink" she commanded.
"What is it?" Daine asked suspiciously and took the cup. She looked skeptical down and felt nausea rise ... the steam from the cup was awful. "Do you seriously that I will drink that?"
Elena nodded "It's to help you through the night," she explained quietly and saw how Onua leaned forward and sniffed.
"What is it?" she asked, gasping and squeezed her fingers against her nose.
Daine lifted the cup and looked back down. The liquid was gray with big lumps in. "Do I really want me to drink it?" she asked uncertainly.
"If you want Numair, your teacher, sleeping beside you every night, then no ..." Elena explained softly "but if you want quieter nights where you might be with someone else ... then yes and if you wants to get rid of the pain as well". She didn't notice the look Daine sent to Onua.
Daine lifted the cup and put it to her lips. She drank and tried hard to avoid throwing up in the process. With the cup empty, she gave it back to Elena. "How do you know how to cure me?" she asked wonderingly. Her tongue tasted of old socks.
Elena shook her head vaguely "It's not a cure ... there is no cure," she explained.
"So I going to die?" Daine whispered and looked down at her hands. She noticed how Onua sat down and laid her brown hands over her.
"No ... you just have a task in front of you. Which reminds me, the food is burning ..." Elena turned and disappeared out the door, leaving both Daine and Onua almost lost for words.
"Do you have the feeling that she knows more than she says?" asked Daine quietly.
Onua nodded "I think we have to wait and see ... my gut tells me that we don't get more from her."
Time passed quickly for Daine. She had spent most of the day in vain attempts to get in touch with Numair without result. She had also used the time to clean up Elena's barn, groomed the horses and mucked out. Then she sat beside Perin, who slept heavily because of Elena's healing. She had been sitting with the new books Numair had brought on the trip for her teaching. Now she stood in front of the door which still flickered of black fire speckled with silver. How long she had been there she didn't know, but judging from the dusk that slowly descended it was not long before she could no longer stand on her legs because of the pain. Daine snorted ... the condemned pain, it was the reason that she now stood in front of the door with the book clutched to her. They had eaten an early dinner to make sure that she had food in herself and even though they had sat and waited at the table in the kitchen, Numair hadn't emerged. And Onua had tried several times to lure Elena to tell about Daine's disease without success. Elena had just muttered that Onua had to ask the gods, for she could not provide the answer.
Daine sighed loudly. She went nearer the door and felt the intense crackling coming from the fire. She dared not touch the door handle again because she wouldn't have Elena becomming angry. Therefore she called loudly "Numair?" She walked closer to the door. "You can't be in there forever" Nothing happened right away, but Daine felt how the intensity of the fire grew and pushed her backwards. She tried again "Numair ... you can't ignore me forever!" This time she shouted at the door. The fire was pushing her backwards once again. Daine lost her patience and the book in her arms flew through the air and hit the door with a loud bang. "Fine ... please don't care, I'm sure you'll probably find out sooner or later that Elena has found a kind of antidote ..." she realized slowly that she was crying "I didn't wanted to hurt you," she whispered quietly and turned around. She went back to the room she had been the night before and found Elena waiting with a cup.
"Is he still angry?" the healer asked and handed Daine the cup.
She nodded, "I had said something stupid this morning which he overheard ... and now" she shrugged and took the cup. She drank quickly, ignoring the nausea.
"I'm sure he will be good again ... he seems like a nice man" Elena replied and pointed to the bed where there was a nightgown "Don't be worried if it breaks, I have more where they come from ".
Daine looked at Elena "Why do you help me?" she asked, pulling her blouse over her head.
"Because I must" replied the other woman and walked over to the fire.
"But I don't understand why you need to... you are not explaining to me what's wrong with me" replied Daine again and let her trousers fall. Her eyes fell on the large oval mirror that stood in one corner. She walked slowly towards it.
Elena knelt down in front of the fire and sprinkled herbs over the dying embers "If I could I would have explained it to you...but I can't" she explained and waited for the fire to dry leaves.
Daine approached mirror. She had lost a bit because she could see how her hips sticking out. She turned her body slightly to the side ... the image of her body changed quickly. Her stomach swelled slowly and blue long marks stretched from her navel and out. Daine gasped and jumped away from the mirror. She turned abruptly towards Elena, who now looked searchingly at her, "Did you see that?" she asked, pointing to the mirror.
Elena stood up "What shall I see?" she asked.
Daine stepped forward in front of the mirror again and looked carefully. She waited for several minutes, but her own reflection looked calmly back at her. She shook her head "Apparently nothing," she whispered and walked over to the bed. She pulled her nightgown over her head, a sharp smell hit her nose "What is that?" she asked and began to yawn deeply.
"Sleeping and sedative remedy" Elena said and helped Daine up in bed. "I'm trying a little of everything ... if that does not work I'll get Numair".
Daine nodded slowly. She yawned again and laid her cheek on the pillow. Her eyes slid slowly in "Promise?" she whispered.
Elena nodded, "I promise." She promised many things at the moment, she thought, and pulled the light blanket over Daine, who was deeply asleep.
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