A/N – Sorry, this one took longer than most chapters, and it isn't even that big of a deal, it's just that I started a new story called In the Glow of the Night; it's my attempt at a Legolas fic. And I also posted my friend's story, called The Witch Queen, which is really quite excellent and I highly recommend it. On with the story!!!
Chap 22
Venitia was so shaky crossing the bridge that Dorian had to put a hand on her back to guide her over. They quickly found the colonel, and Venitia launched once again into her tale, this time with more details. The colonel was startled.
"Extraordinary," he kept saying. He made her tell certain parts over and over until he had it memorized.
"Captain, go find Reginald. Ask him if he knows of any civilization that would have lived in a cave," Bayard said. Dorian ran off. "Venitia, come with me, we must tell the general."
The general was not so easy to find. He was at the far edge of the valley, surveying the land. He, too, was shocked at the news.
"This is strange, indeed," he said. "Very strange." He, as well, made Venitia recount her story again and again until he was sure to get every detail out of her. She was beginning to be somewhat tired of it.
"Send scouts down to investigate more thoroughly, Colonel," the general said to Colonel Bayard. The colonel left, leaving Venitia alone with the general.
"It is growing late," he said to her. The sky was beginning to darken; Venitia had forgotten how long she had been down there. "This must have been a wearisome day for you, your highness. Perhaps you should rest."
She nodded, although she didn't feel the least bit tired. "General, what about that music? What could that have been?"
He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I really do not know, princess. It is a strange tale, true, but I do not doubt its validity."
"Thank you," she said. They began to walk back toward the camp, discussing possible explanations.
When they reached the camp, the general said, "Eat some dinner and then rest."
She nodded and he left to join the large group on the other side of the bridge. She sat down next to the abandoned fire and picked up some food.
She had barely eaten two bites when she was accosted by a soldier.
"Your highness, my name is Reginald, I am the historian," he said.
She nodded. "Of course."
"I know you must have told your tale a million times already, but could you tell it to me? I have an idea, but I need to ask you some questions first."
"Of course," she repeated. He sat down, and she told her account yet again. He sat, rapt with attention, and asked her endless questions until she felt like her brain was fried.
"I am sorry, Reginald," she said, "but I am really, really tired."
"Oh, I am so sorry, your highness. Of course, by all means, please rest."
"Thank you." He jumped up and left, crossing the bridge to the other side. She finished her now-cold food, and went to her little tent underneath a tree.
She tried to sleep, but found that she couldn't. She left the tent and stood up. A light from across the valley told her that the rest of the army was over on the other side. She sighed and walked to the tiny fire. She kindled it so it burned bright again, and sat there, feeling very lonely all of a sudden. That damned music wasn't leaving her head, either, and she tried to hum to herself to make it leave.
"Your highness, you should be sleeping," a voice startled her. Venitia turned around to find Dorian walking toward her.
"I tried," she said. "What's going on over there?"
"Not much. Some soldiers went down but said it was too dark. They are going to try to take torches down, but they can't figure out how to climb down with only one hand," he answered. "I heard Reginald was bothering you."
"Oh no, he just had some questions."
"Well, he should have been letting you rest."
She shrugged. "Does he have an theory yet?"
"No. He's one of the men trying to go down. He keeps walking around muttering about something, but no one listens to him."
She laughed lightly and lay down on her back. He sat across the fire from her, but far enough way that she couldn't see him clearly. He took off his helmet, and she tried to sit up inconspicuously, but he noticed and sat farther back. Darn, I thought I had him that time, she thought.
"I can't get that annoying music out of my head," she said.
He just murmured something.
"What could that have been, though?"
"Well, I have heard of legends of strange birds who live in valleys, but they were only legends," he said.
"Are you sure?"
"Well, I thought so, but maybe not," he said, a hint of a smile in his voice.
"My father told me of a bird called a nehipox that sang a strange song. He heard one once, a really long time ago."
"Maybe that's what it is."
"Maybe."
Silence fell.
"Are you homesick?" he asked suddenly.
"Not really. A little bit. Are you?"
"What? Oh, no, not at all," he said.
Venitia heard some bitterness in his voice, and so did not pursue the subject.
They fell silent again, and Venitia sighed. It had been an extremely long day, and the sleep that had not come before suddenly washed over her in a great wave.
She stood up. "I feel extremely sleepy all of a sudden," she told Dorian. "I think I'm going to go to bed."
"Good night, your highness," he said.
"Good night." She staggered to her tent, lay down, and quickly fell asleep.
A/N – I know it isn't much of anything, but the next chapter will come faster, I swear!
