Paige sat exhausted under their tent. She'd had the guys put the sides up before they moved Walter's body under it. She was unable to understand how only a few hours ago she was so happy and then in a blink of an eye it all came crashing down. Just like that horrible day when she was told Drew was dead.
She'd made sure Ralph was uninjured and as she hugged him tightly she heard Happy call out to her. She looked over and saw the look of fear on her face. She vaguely remembered releasing Ralph even as her legs sprung her up off the ground. She quickly covered the short distance over to where everyone was gathered around Walter. One look and she cringed. Toby was knelt down next to him shaking his head trying to assess his condition.
He looked up at Paige and the look in his eyes told her all she needed to know. Even still his lips moved but his voice sounded far away, muted and distorted as if trying to speak unbelievably slow. There wasn't time to fix what was broken. Walter was dying and there wasn't anything he could do to help him.
Sister Ann stood there praying and casting healing spell after healing spell trying vainly to somehow keep him alive.
There was only one thing she could do. The normal healing of Athena wouldn't work. It wouldn't repair the structural damage to his bones. And trying to heal him while they were broken would only cause more problems.
She fell down beside Walter even as tears ran down her cheeks. She reached inside her tunic and pulled out her gold medallion with the owl emblem on it. Everything was moving in slow motion. She saw one of her tears fall from her face and it was like she watched every millimeter of space the tear fell only to splash slowly against Walter's hand. Her fingers closed around the medallion as she shoved her other hand down against Walter's exposed throat.
She felt the power of Athena well up within her. And then it rushed out through her hand and into his broken body. The power of laying on hands, she'd never used the power before and had only seen it used once during her time training. It exacted a heavy toll upon the Paladin as it bound the Paladin's life force with the recipient.
She'd like to think that if it was needed she'd use it on anyone but at this moment she knew there were only two people who she would for sure, maybe three as she thought of Happy but the other person was fine. She was vaguely aware of Ralph kneeling down next to her and Walter. Instantly she felt every ache, every pain throughout Walter's body. She felt Walter's body jerk and spasm as that power and her life force flooded out of her an into him.
Everyone stood there staring as they saw her body mimic each jerk and spasm that went through Walter.
She felt each broken bone in his body and then felt it snap back together, bone after bone. She felt that warm golden energy of healing power of Athena wash over every section of broken bone as they came back together and quickly the bones grew back together.
Her company all stood around in awe at what they saw happening.
Finally as the last of his wounds healed over Paige began seeing places, people and events she had no recollection of. The first was bright light. She could hear the crying of a baby. Some thick red liquid was in her eyes. Then she felt hands all over her, wiping her down and then a blanket wrapped around her naked body. Her eyes closed for a moment as she heard a female voice crying. "Walter, we'll name him Walter after my Dad." Her eyes opened again as a nipple was pressed between her lips and then the feeling of warm sweet liquid filled her mouth.
Next she heard a male voice calling out. "Megan, Megan come and meet your brother. Walter, this is your sister Megan. Megan, this is your baby brother Walter." Her eyes opened and she saw a young girl perhaps three with brown hair. She smiled as she looked closely at her. "Hi Walh-tur." She felt something warm touch her hand and her hand closed around it, it seemed huge whatever it was. "Look Poppa, he's holding my finger."
Event after event played out before her finally one seemed familiar. It was the Inn she'd stopped at in Oxinear. She seemed to be moving around the room full of mostly women. Some of whom seemed to delight in touching her. She kept moving as she was singing and playing a lute and then she sees herself sitting at a table moving her head back and forth looking for something until she came out from behind all the women standing up. She saw her eyes open wide looking at her and then she felt herself smile looking at herself as she moved across the floor to the fireplace.
She saw Ray in a room with her. They were arguing as he was questioning her, why was she really doing this? "She's a Paladin man. She isn't going to be putting out for you." She felt anger as she jumped up and slugged him knocking him to the floor.
"I told you not to refer to her in a vulgar way again. This isn't about her." Paige pointed her finger at Ray.
Ray rubbed his jaw, "Yea, sure it isn't. You keep telling yourself that, but that's the first time you've ever hit me so you better rethink that. You can lie to me all you want, but think about it, you'll know I'm right."
Paige stared at him for a moment and then waved her hand dismissively before she removed her shirt. She grabbed a leather tunic and pulled it on over her head and began lacing up the front of it before brushing out her hair in the mirror.
Funny she looked just like Walter.
Ray shook his head as he got up from the floor. He grabbed up his jacket and snatched their small money box before storming out of the room.
Suddenly she felt fatigued like never before and she was vaguely aware of everything around her spinning and then her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed on top of Walter.
Ralph began freaking out until Toby assured him that both his Mother and Walter were fine. But try as hard as they could they couldn't separate Paige's hand from Walter's throat. It was like whatever the magic was she used had created some kind of link between them. Since Toby could see that whatever it was, wasn't harming either of them he recommended everyone else go ahead and eat breakfast while he sat with the couple.
Happy had to force Ralph to walk over to the table and eat. The whole time he ate his eyes never left his Mom and Walter.
A little more than an hour later Paige began stirring as Toby used a wash cloth to wipe both of their faces and necks with cool water. Slowly she sat up and looked around trying to make sense out of where she was. She saw Walter lying there still unconscious with her hand resting on his throat. She frowned trying to remember. She tried to move her hand up to caress his face but the magic held it firm where it was.
She frowned hearing a noise and then she felt the cloth with cool water press against her cheek. She looked over and saw Toby. He was saying something but she couldn't make out what it was. His lips were still moving so slowly and the sound from his mouth sounded like some kind of gurgle from his stomach.
"My Lady its okay, just try and relax a bit. Can you tell me what you are feeling?" Toby asked.
She watched his lips move as she looked at them puzzled. 'Why were they moving so slowly? What was he saying?' She wondered. Finally she opened her mouth. "To-bee, wha-at a-re yo-yo-u sa-y-ing?"
Toby shook his head as he covered his ears. "Can you lower your voice please?"
Ralph came running over and threw his arms around his Mom's throat and cried in relief.
Slowly Paige's free hand came up and wrapped around Ralph as she began remembering what had happened. The horse was rushing towards Ralph, Walter struggling to move it away, to stop it from colliding with Ralph. She couldn't believe it as impossibly his feet finally finding a point in the ground that he gained traction and he heaved so hard against the horse. It was the first broken bone as his arm broke from exerting so much force trying to save Ralph. And the horse lost its balance as Walter's left leg broke in two places before they both fell over onto the horse's side.
They both slid past Ralph as Walter's feet clipped Ralph's legs, knocking him down and then the horse struggling and kicking Walter repeatedly trying to stand and took off down the road once it stood up. Eight ribs were broken, his sternum crushed along with multiple fractures along his skull. Walter's broken body lying before her and she invoked the greatest healing a Paladin can.
She then remembered back when she saw Lord Markus use the ability to save the life of one of his men. How he had been out of it for over an hour and his hand had been stuck to the other man for over two hours. She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath as she struggled with everything. She raised her free hand and held up two fingers. Then pointed at the sun and made a jerking motion twice.
Toby frowned. "Two hours, are you telling me this is going to last two hours?"
Paige had concentrated and while she wasn't positive what he said she was fairly sure and she nodded her head.
Toby looked over at Sara. "Do you have any juice? Some juice with a lot of sugar in it, possibly orange juice?"
Sara shook her head and then her eyes opened. "I brought oranges. I can squeeze them if that will help."
Toby nodded. "That could help. Mix in four teaspoons of sugar into a full cup of the juice."
Sara moved over and lifted a burlap sack out of the wagon and grabbed a stainless steel juicer out of one of the bags and walked over to the table. Happy grabbed the juicer and as Sara cut the oranges in half Happy began twisting each half on the juicer.
Sara walked back over and got a canister out and measured out four teaspoons of sugar and then put the canister up. She walked over and mixed it with the juice before Happy took it to Paige.
Happy held the cup out in front of her face.
Paige looked up with a smile and opened her mouth. Happy smiled and placed the lip of the cup to her lips and tilted it back pouring some of the juice into her mouth. She smiled as she finished it. "Mowr pwulease."
Happy nodded and walked back over and made another cup with Sara's help.
Sylvester looked at the Sister Ann. "Isn't there anything you can do for them?"
Sister Ann shook her head. "This requires the movement of vital life energies. Only Paladins and Witches are able to manipulate life energies. We have to wait it out and let the spell complete. Once it is done our Lady will be more normal. Though I am sure she is going to be wiped out. We better plan on being here another night at least. We'll have to keep an eye out for those robbers they could come this way."
Paige sat there wearily looking down at Walter sleeping peacefully. Her heart was bursting with love. As if his sacrificing everything to save Ralph wasn't enough all the memories she saw through Walter's eyes brought to her how much he loved her. In between the short naps she'd taken since they moved into the tent, she dwelt on those memories Walter had specific to her. Seeing herself as she stood just outside of the tent in her bathing suit. Her cheeks warmed as she felt Walter's desire for her in that memory.
"Is he getting any better Mom?" Ralph asked suddenly.
Paige jerked out of her reverie. "What? Oh baby, no change yet sweetie. It could be hours before he regains consciousness. He was hurt really bad."
Ralph nodded. "It is my fault. If I hadn't of froze I could have ran out of the path of that horse."
Paige smiled and reached up and took Ralph's hand. "No baby. Everyone responds differently. It wasn't your fault. And when Walter wakes up he will tell you the same thing."
Ralph looked at her. "But none of you froze."
"None of us were the ones the horse was charging towards. I'm just thankful Walter was quick enough and strong enough to save you." Paige kissed his hand.
"Ralph, come on buddy. School isn't over yet. Walter is going to be disappointed if he wakes up and you didn't stay on schedule." Toby called over.
Ralph sighed and turned and walked back out. Toby wasn't half the teacher Walter was and Ralph was having a hard time staying motivated.
As Ralph walked away Paige felt a wave of exhaustion and she leaned over placing her head on Walter's chest and closed her eyes, moments later she was sound asleep again.
It was about ninety minutes later her eyes slowly opened and she forced herself to sit back up on her hip and looked down at Walter. Her hand felt his neck. In addition to seeing his chest rise and fall she felt the pulse of his blood and smiled.
Happy walked over and squatted down next to Paige. "Lunch will be ready shortly. You want to eat with us or are you going to stay with Walter?"
Paige smiled. "Thanks Happy, I'll stay here."
Happy nodded. "What really happened with you? What was the power you invoked?"
Paige smiled. "It is a Paladin's greatest healing, called lay on hands. It isn't something that can be done very often because of how taxing it is. It also creates a very personal connection between the Paladin and the recipient. I felt every ache and pain of Walter's body. I felt as each bone was put back together and healed, every spasm or jerk. Once it was done I relived every memory Walter had since birth."
Happy looked over at her with a frown. "Every memory, how is that even possible?"
Paige nodded her head. "There is a combining of the life force of both parties. It is something that was designed to cause a Paladin to seriously consider just what they were doing. Not every person is meant to live after such an injury. And doing so could cause unforeseen repercussions. Those are on par with the legend of resurrection power. I have never heard or known anyone who had actually learned how to perform that ability."
Happy nodded. "Well one other good thing came out of it."
Paige looked up, curiosity on her face.
Happy grinned. "Sylvester has a new respect for Walter."
Paige smiled.
Greetings! Hoping you all are well! Doing okay here, the last two days have been rather nice. And they got reviews working again!
Susan - Yes it was a close one for ol'Ralphie boy. Even closer for Walh-tur! lol Keep doing your reviews here unless you want to go to my twitter and comment. Each day I post a story I post a link to it there along with a snippet of the story. I'm also in the middle of writing Haiku poems on the show. Today was day 35 I think it was, for the episode "White Out". I'm thinking I might create a "story" and share each Haiku here as well. Just have to decide how to do it.
Lucy - Yep, evil cliffhangers. Sometimes they just have to happen.
Franxine - No I don't enjoy them that is for sure. At least you don't have to wait too long for it to continue. lol
Kyria - Hrmm...and evil Walter you say? I'll have to take a look at the story and see if I can change him for that...well I could use this event to change him into an evil version of himself. What do you think?
Heleen - hehe Thanks, glad you all are enjoying it and want to keep coming back!
To the Adventure! -Tim