A Samurai Jack Fanfic
By Laura McDaniel
Nightsong
Supper consisted of some bread and a small hen from the provisions that Rhan and Heulwen had packed. Much to Arvel's delight, Jack roasted the hen over a small fire. "This is excellent," Arvel said while he bit into a drumstick. "I would have never thought that a warrior such as yourself would be such a skilled cook."
Jack chuckled, "In this case, Arvel, I did little more than heat up the chicken. I think that Rhan is responsible for the seasoning since she seemed to do most of the cooking in the infirmary."
Arvel shook his head, but waited until he finished chewing his food before he commented. "Well, I find even that impressive. I said that I never hunted, but I also never cooked. I just don't trust myself with fire. I am Arvel Anhyfedr, after all…"
Jack looked puzzled.
"Clumsy Arvel," Arvel clarified. "It was the nickname by which I was commonly referred to. I'm surprised you didn't hear that while you were in Gobaith!"
"I only really spent time with Rhan and Heulwen. I doubt either of them would call you that, considering that they obviously thought highly of you."
"Well, that may be the case," Arvel replied, "but Heulwen's parents called me that. I remember one such incident rather clearly. It was the first time Heulwen. We were both small children at the time. It was a glorious morning in Gobaith and I was sitting on Gwyddno's dusty front porch trying to play his lyre. Even though there was a spectacular sunrise, I was too busy looking at my hands to pay much attention to it. I had just started playing the lyre, so I had to look at my fingers a lot. I was becoming very frustrated with myself because I thought I sounded simply awful, but when I finally looked up, I noticed a girl dancing to my song. Her dance was simply beautiful, and even though I was very young at the time, I noticed how beautiful shewas as well. I was so awe-struck by her that I suddenly stopped playing just to look at her.
"She pouted and asked, 'Why did you stop playing?'
"'I was just looking at you,' I answered. 'You're a good dancer.'
"She blushed. 'Thank you.'
"'What's your name?' I asked.
"'Heulwen,' she said. 'What's your name?'
"I started to answer her, 'I'm Ar…' but before I could get the words out, I was interrupted by a harsh, male voice.
"'Heulwen, what are you doing over there?' it asked.
"'I was just dancing to the song he was playing,' she said, pointing to me.
"'Well, that's Arvel Anhyfedr, so you'd better get away from him.'
"'But, Daddy…' Heulwen protested.
"Her father grabbed her by the hand and pulled her away. 'But nothing!' he scoffed. 'I don't want him to hurt you! You're too precious to me!'
"I really didn't know what to think. It was hardly the first time I'd seen another child pulled away from me because his or her parents expected the worst, but there was just something about Heulwen. I didn't want her to leave. I started crying.
"'Don't worry, Arvel! I'll come back sometime!' she called to me, but her father gave her a firm yank on the arm and she turned back around as they started their way home.
"I did see Heulwen after that, but only when Gwyddno wasn't keeping me busy and when we were certain her parents weren't around. I still don't think they're very fond of me," he chuckled uneasily.
"Perhaps that will change once you return to Gobatih."
"That will only happen if I suddenly cease to be Arvel Anhyfedr." With a sigh, he glanced upward, peering through a hole in the forest canopy. The sky was beginning to grow dark and the evening's first stars had begun to shimmer. "However, I am eager to return, and the sooner I get to sleep, the sooner tomorrow's dawn will come." He reached into his buckskin pack and pulled out a multitude of blankets. Jack watched as Arvel spread them out on the ground, making two makeshift beds. "I was always very heat sensitive," Arvel said, "so I came prepared. More than prepared, I might add! But, at least the blankets were useful for something. Come, Jack, feel free to lie down on one. Oh, before you do, are you certain that you extinguished the fire once you were finished cooking? I don't want to see a scene like those nightmares where I set the forest ablaze simply because I lit a fire to see my sheet music with!"
Jack was fairly certain that he had, but he double-checked it, anyway, since Arvel was obviously concerned. "Yes, Arvel, it is out. He then lay down of the "beds" and pulled one of the extra blankets over himself. "Good night, Arvel, and best wishes for tomorrow."
"Thank you, Jack," Arvel replied. "I hope I can do what is expected of me…"
The samurai and the bard slept peacefully through most of the night, but a strange sound awakened Jack. He was aware that there were some forest creatures that were active in the night instead of the day, but the scratching sound he heard coming from the forest canopy seemed unnatural. When he listened harder, he was certain that he heard voices above him, even though he couldn't understand what was being said. He glanced at Arvel, but the young bard was still sleeping. Jack tried to convince himself that the sound was nothing to worry about, but for some reason, his warrior's intuition told him otherwise. He sat up and the blankets made a slight rustling sound. At that same instant, he was fairly certain that he heard something in the tree say, "Shhhhh!" as if to silence the rest of the sounds. Even though he had second thoughts about it, Jack nudged Arvel awake.
Arvel stirred slightly, but his eyes didn't open. "Yes, Heulwen," he mumbled. I have finally returned."
"Arvel!" Jack whispered.
Arvel's eyes finally opened. "Oh…hello Jack. Is it morning yet? I was just dreaming about Heulwen…"
"So I guessed! However, morning has not yet come. I just heard a strange sound that woke me up and…"
"The forest is full of strange sounds," Arvel yawned.
"I know," Jack replied. "I have slept in forests before, but I have never heard a sound like that one!"
"It is just the night's music, Jack. Now go back to sleep!"
"But…"
"Perhaps if I played for you, you'd relax again." Jack heard some leaves rustle.
"What are you doing, Arvel?"
"Feeling around for my syrinx…"
"You can play in the dark?"
"Yes. I neglected to bring an artificial light source with me and there were nights when the forest seemed to call to me to play along with its mysterious song, so it is something I gradually became accustomed to." Jack heard more leaves rustle. "Here it is," Arvel whispered. "Now, lie back down and I shall play my Nightsong for you."
Jack was hesitant to rest again, but as soon as Arvel started playing, the music took a hold of him and he found it impossible to resist its power. It was a gentle song that seemed to contain the very essence of the forest. Sometimes, it sounded like wind gently blowing the leaves in the forest canopy, and others, it sounded like the creek that ran through the forest. It put Jack completely at ease, and soon he lay down again and shut his eyes.
When Arvel was certain that Jack was asleep, he smiled slightly. "Gwyddno would be proud now that I'm finally putting my music to use," he whispered. Then, he also lay down and drifted into the most peaceful sleep he could remember.
