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Slayers: A Spaghetti Western
Act 3
// Indicates translated words //
Their midnight-ride through the high plains brought them close to the Cooper's homestead, and Amelia slowed Champion to a slow trot as they passed by the trail that would lead up to the burnt wreckage of what was once a home. The moon was not quite full, but it cast enough light to illuminate their path and their surroundings. That was where it all began.
She felt the world begin to close in on her at the memory of what happened. Just beyond that rise was where those poor people once lived…
"Come on, Amelia," Zelgadiss whispered, saving her from being hemmed in by her own thoughts. He wheeled Lightning around to face her; his expression betrayed his feelings. Irritated and disgusted with having to flee, he believed that this was a bad idea. He wanted to stay and fight rather than skulk out of town into hiding, but their situation would not allow it. He understood her feeling of helplessness: there was nothing they could do.
Amelia nodded and, without a glance back at the homestead, continued on. What's done is done, she thought.
They rode on though the night, pausing every couple of hours to rest and water the horses. Amelia proved to be tougher than Zelgadiss thought, not once complaining or asking to take a break, though he was beginning to feel the fatigue of being awake and active for twenty-four hours straight. He brought them to a dimple in the land where a small stand of trees grew around a small pond. It would provide them with some measure of cover for a while.
"We'll rest here for a couple of hours, but we have to be moving again just after dawn, so there'll be no fire," he stated, already removing the horse's saddle. "The pond is standing water, so don't drink any of it."
Amelia nodded dumbly, more tired than she wanted to admit. She wasn't very thirsty anyway. She set to removing her saddlebags and bedroll, and then removed Champion's bridle and saddle. While she opened up her bedroll, Zelgadiss hobbled the horses so they wouldn't run off while he and Amelia rested. By the time he returned to the spot where he left her, she was already asleep on her bedroll, her head resting at an awkward angle on her saddle. Following her example, he lay down to rest, covered his face with his hat, and immediately dozed off.
***************************
Zel awoke with a start, pulling out one of his guns and sweeping it in a careful arc around their makeshift camp. Nothing. His eyes took in the surroundings, and he scrambled to his feet. Amelia's saddle and bedroll were gone. Champ and Lightning were missing as well. Before he could panic, though, Amelia emerged from the trees, the two horses following her obediently and looking well pleased with themselves.
"What's wrong, Mister Zelgadiss?" the girl asked in a hushed voice upon seeing the gun in his hand and the frantic expression on his face.
Rather than answering her, he demanded, "Where were you?"
Her brows knit together, and she shoved his horse's reins into his hands.
"I went to get the horses. They were over there," she said, indicating the trees. "I brushed them both down and got Champ ready. You were still sleeping on your saddle, so I couldn't get your horse ready. You should really stop being so rude, Mister Zelgadiss."
With that, she mounted her horse and went to wait for him up at the rim of the depression. Amelia refused to look at him, but instead, focused her gaze on searching the surrounding plains for any sign of pursuit. "I probably won't get any thanks for this, either," she grumbled to herself, fighting the urge to cross her arms in irritation.
Zel cursed under his breath at being berated, yet again, and got himself and his horse prepped for another long day of riding. Even Lightning seemed to give him a reprimanding look. "Shut up," he muttered and mounted his horse to join Amelia.
Without a word, he led, and she followed.
So, they were both being stubborn.
After several hours of riding in what seemed like circles, Amelia kept rubbing the back of her neck, trying to work out the crick that had been there since she awoke that morning. She hated tension, and it felt as if all her worries and woes were manifesting themselves into her neck and shoulders. What would she give right then for a soak in a nice tub of hot water, or a good massage at that place near her sister's saloon in San Francisco…?
"You shouldn't sleep on your saddle like that anymore," Zelgadiss commented, pointing at her neck. He had drifted back to ride next to her while she was daydreaming. "Next time we make camp, you can roll up my blanket to use as a pillow."
"Thank you, Mister Zelgadiss."
Rather than riding back to his place ahead of her, he remained by her side. "I don't think I ever got to thank you for saving my life again, Amelia."
"Again?" she wondered.
"In town," he clarified. "You shot at that man on the roof. I know that took a lot, considering what you've been through. I just wanted you to know that… well, I'm much obliged."
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, and smiled to herself. He actually thanked her, in his own way. He was so handsome riding there next to her, so tall and mysterious with his hat pulled down low on his head so she could barely see his striking aquamarine eyes. She loved seeing his face, but she also couldn't help but be affected by how dashing he was when he was being the bounty hunter…
Amelia squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. No! That was enough of that! She couldn't swoon over her friend like she used to. He just saw her as a little girl, nothing more. That much had been made clear to her long ago.
After they had helped Filia and the others, she had asked Zelgadiss to return with her to Rock Creek in the hopes that he would stay and maybe fall in love with her. It was a childish wish, she knew, but a girl could still hope. He had said that he would think about it, but he never did come back until a week ago. Zelgadiss had apparently not cared enough to return earlier.
"Are you okay, Amelia?" the object of her reverie asked, startling her back into reality.
She plastered a smile back on her face and nodded, but Zelgadiss could tell that something was obviously distressing her. Maybe she was still agonizing over the man she killed. "You should try to get over it," he said, trying to be helpful.
"Excuse me?" Her eyes went wide and the color drained from her face. Was he telling her to get over her feelings for him?
His eyes were on the distant horizon. "Believe me. It's something that you'll come to accept, Amelia. I know you have a romanticized view of the world, but you're also a smart woman. Don't let this get you down. You'll be able to get past it and live."
Her heart sank even more, and she gripped her reins tightly to hold back her tears. Champion, feeling the bit pull back a little, stopped and whickered to Lightning. She pulled up as well, and Zelgadiss turned back to regard Amelia, wondering why she was just sitting there. It looked like she was about to cry.
"Amelia?" He steered his horse next to her, and reached over to lift her chin with his hand. Tears streaked her beautiful, but sad, face, and his heart clenched at the sight. Turning his hand to cup her cheek, he wiped at the tears with his thumb. "How many times will you have to hear it to believe it?" he said in a near whisper. "If you hadn't killed that man, I don't want to even think about what might have happened to you. That thought scares me more than anything."
She stared at him, her tears slowly ebbing as she came to the realization that they had been referring to different things, and with the way he was gazing at her…
Zelgadiss had trapped her heart again.
With a defeated sigh, she realized that her crush had never left her. All the potential suitors who strolled into her Inn, day in and day out, couldn't compare to the scarred young man whom she had been foolish enough to give her heart to. The year away from him only served to make her childhood crush an old dull ache, softened by the passing days and the absence of his presence. She believed that the ache had become a fondness, to be remembered in quiet moments with a sigh, but she soon discovered that it was merely the seed of something bigger.
After only a couple of days back in her life, Zelgadiss had made her fall for him all over again. Her heart sank a little at the thought that if they made it out of this mess alive, he would probably leave her again. She was seventeen, with no hope of matrimony in sight, all because she was in love with a man who didn't feel the same way about her.
That's right. He didn't return her feelings, yet his hand remained tenderly on her cheek. Somehow, although it felt right, on some level, it just seemed wrong. With a nervous giggle, Amelia wiped at her eyes and, to Zel's surprise, backed Champion away from him. "I'm okay, really, Mister Zelgadiss. I'll be fine. We should get going, right?"
He nodded and wondered about her sudden change in demeanor. It was like night and day. With a shrug, he tugged on Lightning's reins and continued on, weaving his way through the scrub.
Amelia hung back for a moment and replayed his words in her head, this time, with the correct context. A sudden revelation struck her. He said that what happened to her mattered to him. SHE mattered to him.
And somehow, knowing that she was important to Zelgadiss was enough for her.
***************************
Zelgadiss led the way across the rolling scrubland, going purely by memory and feel. Three days passed, riding almost all day long, stopping only long enough for the horses to rest and for the riders to get a couple hours worth of sleep. The direct road to Sweetwater would undoubtedly be watched, and though he said he would take Amelia directly to Luna, he would have to take her the roundabout way. It was difficult trying to cover their tracks completely, but he did what he could, doubling back over their tracks, walking down streams, and taking narrow gravel paths. He could only hope to delay being caught, and hopefully by then, they would be within striking distance of safety with Lina's sister.
It seemed that Lina had guessed that Zel would not take the direct route. Since he and Amelia were avoiding any town or settlement, they relied solely on the week's worth of dried beef and biscuits that Lina had packed, and they were suddenly very grateful for their friend's foresight. There were no longer any disagreements or ill feelings between the two travelers, only a general sense of duty. Zelgadiss threw himself into ensuring their safe arrival at their destination. Amelia sought to make the most of her time with her friend.
Although they were on the run from trouble that was almost certainly following, it was clear that the young woman was still trying to enjoy herself. She had accompanied Lina on enough of her journeys that camping out and fending for herself came naturally to her. After their first night of travel, they each took turns keeping watch while the other rested.
It was in those moments, late at night when he was supposed to be dozing off, that Zelgadiss would watch Amelia: her calm face tilted up to look at the stars or to sing softly to herself. She had grown up so much while he was away. He had meant to return to Rock Creek after only a few months, but on his way back, he caught wind of a rumor about the Red Priest, and he spent the next few months chasing down a ghost. The thought of once again seeing Amelia had become a gentle dream that he tended to cling to at night, as he fell asleep alone under the stars.
Zelgadiss' gaze never strayed from her face as he lay on his bedroll, and a sense of peace settled over his mind by the time sleep finally claimed him. Amelia, in turn, took Zelgadiss' words to heart and used his blanket as a pillow, silently breathing in the scent that was purely Zel.
This journey was quickly becoming a balm to each of their spirits.
***************************
Calm, uneventful. If there was anything in his life, it was not to be long described by those two words. On the fifth day of their journey, Zelgadiss knew that they were within a couple days' ride of Sweetwater, and, of course, he woke up with that feeling of unease in his gut. In his years of traveling, he had learned to heed the subconscious warning. With that in mind, Zelgadiss stood at the edge of a plateau that looked down over the path that would take them to the town, as he thought of what their next move would be. All was silent save a crow cawing out somewhere in the distance.
"If we even get there, do you think it will be safe for us to go into town, Mister Zelgadiss? There might be some kind of trap…"
He turned to Amelia in surprise: she had just voiced the same concern he was having. His attention, however, was diverted by the way the early morning light tinged her hair with a violet hue and made her eyes a more stunning shade of blue. There was a smudge of dirt across her nose, but he actually found it endearing, and even in the clothes of a boy, she looked very pretty. Zelgadiss was brought back to reality when he noticed that her features were tinged with an anxiety that had not been present over the last few days. So she was feeling it as well. Perhaps this was a sign…
The rock at their feet popped suddenly as a bullet ricocheted off of it, and Zel pulled Amelia to the ground.
"Shit. They've found us! Come on!"
Without looking back, he grabbed her hand and ran back to their mounts a few feet away. Luckily, both horses were used to traveling quickly over uneven terrain, and Zelgadiss led Amelia down a switchback on the other side of the plateau to the streambed below.
He never really thought that they wouldn't be tracked; he only hoped to buy them more time. Apparently, it wasn't enough. There was no way they could go to Sweetwater now with the route cut off. As he weighed his options, his mind alighted upon an idea. The question was: Would it work? He couldn't be sure if they would be able to make it there in time, but all they could do is try.
Zelgadiss was familiar with the area, which was a strong advantage, but the men chasing them had the advantage of numbers. A gunshot to their left made them duck in their saddles. He fought the impulse to veer away from danger. Instead, he stayed his course and continued on. He did not want to be "herded."
The brush was getting denser the farther north they had traveled, and now they were galloping through thick scrub. Another shot sounded to their left, but he kept riding. He took the chance to glance back to make sure Amelia was alright, and he could see the grim determination in her eyes as she leaned low over Champ's neck to try to keep up with him.
"Don't let them separate us!" he yelled, and she kicked her horse forward until they were almost next to each other.
They wove through the bushes and trees, Zel hoping that their horses could outrun the men who were following. They were approaching a canyon that would lead out to a valley and a forest that offered more cover. Perhaps they could lose them until they reached safety. His eyes searched out the fork in the stream that would lead them to the canyon; he pulled hard right when he saw it, bumping into Amelia, but she quickly controlled her horse and kept riding. They continued on for several more minutes following the stream, when he realized his mistake.
Pulling Lightning to a scraping stop, he cursed his luck. Amelia ground to a halt next to him, her wide eyes on the immediate problem. Zel had led them into a box canyon.
"Oh… no…" she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
He groaned. "This is the right canyon. There's a valley just on the other side. Dammit! There must have been a landslide…" The canyon had collapsed at the far end, cutting off any hopes of escape. "Maybe if we double back, we can take the other fork before they find…"
The sound of hoof beats approaching reached his ears, and he knew that they were trapped.
"Can we climb up the rubble, Mister Zelgadiss? We might have to leave the horses, but it's a chance."
Zel nodded, and they kicked their mounts to the far end of the canyon, but seeing it up close squashed any hopes of that. Loose rocks and gravel filled the areas between large boulders, and it was highly unstable. They would have a difficult time just to get even halfway up the wall, but even if they could, they would be easy targets for their pursuers.
"There's nothing we can do, Amelia," he told her grimly, and he drew both guns, checking that they were loaded. He replaced them in his holsters, and then drew his rifle, cocked the lever, and rested it over his forearm. "We can only charge them and hope to take them by surprise. I'll try to buy you enough time to get through…"
"What? And leave you behind? I don't want to hear it! We're staying together, no matter what happens!"
"I promised your father that I would make sure you stay safe, Amelia!"
"I won't be safe without you! Even if I get past them, I don't know where I am or where I need to go!"
He paused. Well, that made sense, he supposed. With cold determination, he tugged his hat lower on his head.
"Stay behind me then," he warned, and then kneed Lightning into a position out in the open, where he pulled his rifle up to keep it loosely trained on the opening of the canyon. Amelia dutifully stayed back, a serious and resolute expression on her face as they awaited the men who wanted to kill them.
Her leg ached dreadfully, but she refused to look at it. She was sure she was bleeding all over the place, but there was no way she could stop to bandage it up. That first shot up on the plateau had skipped off the rock and grazed her left leg. She had been too frightened at the time to notice that she had been hit, but after several minutes of riding hard through the bushes, the throb in her leg became hard to ignore. When it felt as if the bleeding had finally stopped, Zel had inadvertently rammed hard into her, and a fresh gush of blood trickled down her leg.
And now, there were the men who were hunting them, riding up the canyon towards them. Six, no seven of them, all looking like Tatums. Fourteen guns to Zel's three. Amelia did not want to be the damsel in distress; she wanted to be the hero. Suddenly, she longed for her own little pistol, but that was probably still lying on the floor of the hovel in the hills.
"What's your business with us?" Zelgadiss demanded, trying to sound important. He pushed his duster back to show his other guns and the tin star the Marshall gave him before they left.
"Well, Deputy," one of the men drawled, clearly another greasy-haired weasel-like Tatum. "I think you and the little missy there have something to answer to back home."
"Your boys only answered to what they did to her," he growled, kneeing Lightning to the side so he could get a better shot. "I'm warning you. Leave us be, and you won't be hurt."
"You don't mess with the Tatums, boy, if you know what's good for you."
Zelgadiss glared at the group. "You don't mess with me!" Before anyone could act, he pulled his rifle up and shot into the bushes to the right. A body fell out of the scrub to the ground, a rifle still clenched in his grasp. The man groaned, clutching helplessly at his chest, and then he was eerily still. Zelgadiss cocked the lever of his rifle and aimed the gun at the leader. "I'm not telling you again!"
Brains seemed to be lacking, for the Tatum still drew his gun, but suddenly, black feathers sprouted from his chest. Another arrow buried itself next to the first one, and the man fell off his horse to the ground, arrowheads protruding from his back. Everyone's eyes darted around, and suddenly, men with black feathers in their hair and black war paint on their faces began to melt out of the scrub and from the top of the canyon. Arrows rained down out of the sky over their pursuers, and suddenly, Zel was at Amelia's side, holding tightly to her reins to prevent her from bolting, as screams began to fill the air.
If she could remember correctly, from what her Daddy and her Uncle told her about the lands around their home, the area they were in now was Crow territory. And if the rumors were true, the Crows rarely left anyone alive and rarely took prisoners.
"Amelia, you're bleeding." She looked up to Zelgadiss who was still next to her. He appeared so calm despite the circumstances. She nodded, and he reached down to rummage in his saddlebag.
What was he doing? Couldn't they think he was reaching for a weapon? No attack came, and she was sure she was delirious from blood loss. Looking at her leg for the first time, she was surprised by how much blood covered her thigh. The only thing she remembered about Zel wrapping a makeshift bandage around her leg was the jolt of pain when he tightened it, and she barely remembered him dismounting his horse and jumping up behind her.
Dark faces entered her vision, and she remembered Zelgadiss whispering in her ear before she passed out.
"They won't hurt us, Amelia. But you have to pretend to be my bride in order for that to work. Trust me…"
Of course I trust you, Mister Zelgadiss…
************************
Amelia awoke when a low voice spoke in her ear. She snapped her head up, and Zel narrowly escaped being head butted. Crow warriors surrounded them on all sides, and Amelia regarded them with wide, frightened eyes. Zelgadiss still had his arm wrapped tightly around her waist, and she took some comfort in his presence. She trusted him to know what he was doing.
Their surroundings became more visible as the men around them thinned out, and she realized that this must have been the valley that he was talking about. A forest encompassed them, and she could hear a stream or a river running somewhere nearby. Every now and again, her eyes found black feathers tied to branches in the trees. Zelgadiss had been leading them to the Crow people?
"Do you remember what I told you, Amelia?"
"Yes, Mister Zelgadiss."
He chuckled in her ear, causing shivers to race up her spine, and her face turned pink.
"No, Amelia, you're going to have to stop calling me 'Mister' if this is going to work."
"Yes, Zelgadiss." She liked the way that sounded.
"Good."
Soon, they had entered an Indian village, and they were being gawked at with what appeared to be a certain degree of awe. The warriors that had escorted them dismounted and were greeted by women and children with joy when they reached the center of the village. They soon parted to allow three people to step forward: a weathered and intimidating man stood waiting before one of the larger tipis, a beautiful woman to his left, and a grey-haired, wizened old man to his right.
Zelgadiss pulled his horse to a stop and immediately dismounted. Amelia threw her right leg over the front of the saddle and allowed Zel to help her down, settling her weight on her good leg before he let her go.
"Stay here," he ordered her.
She nodded and tried to concentrate on standing up. Her head was swimming, but she forced herself to pay attention. Zel approached the Chief, hands held open to his side, and then bowed before him in respect.
//So, the Chimera has returned to his nest,// the Chief said in a gruff voice. Zel straightened, and the Chief pointed to the man on his right. //Our Shaman saw your coming for many days now.//
The older man stepped forward, a gnarled walking stick in his hand, and waved a black crow feather in slow circles in front of Zel's face.
//I saw the Chimera returning to the Crow, bringing with him the Rabbit,// he indicated Amelia, //and being pursued by darkness. And so, we sent out warriors to beat back the darkness and guide our lost Crow home.//
The woman was the next to speak. //We have missed our lost Crow. Welcome home, Chimera,// she said in a tender voice.
Zel bowed his head, and in a strong voice answered, //Many thanks for your help, wise ones. And I have missed you all as well.// With a grin, he raised his head, and the tension that had surrounded them all melted away when the three elders returned his smile.
Amelia had watched the interaction with trepidation, unsure of what was being said and what was being done, especially when the old man pointed at her, but when Zelgadiss answered them in their own tongue and they had smiled…
Suddenly, a great whoop of excitement rose up around her, and the throng of people began crowding them, moving towards Zelgadiss. Amelia was about to panic, but then she saw something strange which almost caused her to gape.
Zelgadiss was smiling widely, and hugging people left and right. It was so out of his usual stoic and grim character that she had to wonder if she was actually dreaming. Suddenly feeling quite claustrophobic, when he disappeared from her view, she carefully stepped over to Champion and held tightly onto his saddle. The horse stamped the ground in irritation, but otherwise did not move.
A hand at her waist startled her, but Zel, knowing her habit of lashing out when frightened, pulled her into a quick hug before she could hit him.
"I'm sorry if I made you worry, Amelia," he said in her ear. He released her, but kept his hand about her waist. "These people are my friends, and I want to introduce you to them."
Having him at her side calmed her, and she limped alongside him to meet the three elders. They introduced themselves: the first man as the Chief, Eagle-over-the-River, the woman as Laughing Brook, his wife, and the older man as the Shaman, Fox-from-the-Fire. And then there were names and faces galore swimming in her vision and in her mind as she tried to comprehend everything that was happening. Luckily, the chief's wife noticed the queasy look on her face.
//Chimera! Your wife is injured, and she does not look well. Bring her to me and we shall give her time to rest,// she admonished.
Zelgadiss only then appeared to notice the beads of sweat rolling down her face, and he tightened his hand on her waist.
"I'm sorry, Amelia. Let's go with Laughing Brook, and she will see to your leg."
The girl nodded again and allowed herself to be led away.
After several hours, Amelia was exhausted. Upon her plea for him not to leave her, Zelgadiss had stayed dutifully by her side, even when the older woman ordered the girl to remove her clothes so she could tend to the wound. Extremely fatigued and beyond caring about decency by that point, she had done as she was told, and dressed gingerly in a borrowed buffalo hide dress, much to the dismay of a certain young man who was trying to look the other way. True to her name, Laughing Brook laughed in delight at Zel's discomfort.
As it turned out, the bullet had not merely grazed her leg as she had initially thought; it was still embedded inside her thigh, but, thankfully, the bullet was quite shallow. Zel held her hand as she bore the intense pain of the extraction, cleaning, and bandaging admirably. For the pain, Laughing Brook gave her a bitter drink, which was made of willow bark steeped in hot water. Amelia took the proffered drink gratefully and then fell into a fitful sleep.
Later that night, after allowing Amelia time to rest for a bit, Zelgadiss led her to the small celebration that had been ordered upon his return. She was surprised how comfortable the loose-fitting buffalo hide dress was, and was happy to see that Zel was just as comfortable in the loose trousers and shirt made of the same material. The hat that had been on his head since they left Rock Creek was gone, and she could easily see his face once again. He seemed so calm and at peace, but every now and again, a shadow would cloud his features, and she knew that he was not one to relax for very long.
"Do you think they'll send more people out, Zelgadiss?" she asked him after seeing a frown appear on his face. She toyed with one of the beaded decorations on her dress, but her eyes were on him. "I wouldn't want to involve your friends in our problem any more than they already are."
He glanced at her in surprise at hearing the easy way his name rolled off her tongue, and then turned his attention back on the celebration in front of them. He was seated cross-legged on the ground and she was next to him, her legs stretched out in front of her.
"I don't think they will," he said finally. "Hopefully, they'll think we were killed along with the others. At the very least, they won't want to challenge the Crows." She watched him thoughtfully for a moment, but when she opened her mouth to ask a question, he placed his hand on hers. "I'll tell you later, Amelia. Just try to enjoy this for a bit."
She smiled, and they sat watching the men and women dancing around the fire. Zel explained to her what they were doing and what it symbolized, what they were saying, as well as who was doing what. Amelia watched in rapt fascination, loving the stories and the songs when he translated them, but ever aware that throughout the night, he never once released her hand.
**************************
He slowly stirred into consciousness, vaguely aware of his surroundings. He was warm and comfortable, a sweet smell coming from the soft fur he was curled around. He had actually slept well, considering they were in… a… tipi…
Zelgadiss opened an eye, and came to the sudden, crashing realization that he was curled around Amelia. His face was buried in her black hair, her hand was holding his firmly about her waist, and they were cuddled together under a thick warm fur.
It was still dark outside, so he gently untangled himself from Amelia's grasp, and crawled out of the flap, which, thankfully, was right next to their sleeping place. The Shaman, who was the only other occupant of the tipi, had not stirred from his spot on the other side.
The village was asleep. He stepped lightly through the tipis to the area where they kept the horses, and he briefly checked on Lightning and Champion. They had been cared for and pampered, and the blood that had stained Champ's white coat had been washed away. The horses whickered a sleepy greeting to him, and then resumed their dozing. Zelgadiss continued his stroll, until he came to the nearby stream, where he sat on a rock and tried to clear his mind.
While he had been narrating to Amelia earlier, she had placed her head gently on his shoulder, and it was only a matter of minutes before she was asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, he allowed her to rest, hoping she would be able to regain her strength soon. They would either need to move on in the next few days, or at least send word to Luna of their whereabouts. Of course, now that he was back with his family and friends, he truly was loath to leave so quickly.
When it came time for them to go to sleep, he went automatically to the Shaman's tipi, carrying a sleeping Amelia, but upon entering it, Fox-from-the-Fire pointed to one section made up just for them…
He wondered how she would take it if she knew that she would have to sleep with him again. Maybe he could tell Fox-from-the-Fire the truth…
//Chimera?//
He turned around, and saw Dancing Leaf standing nearby, looking as lovely as ever. She was the girl who had helped him through the roughest part of his recovery when he was younger, and she had remained his friend through all these years.
"Hello, Dancing Leaf."
"You want me to try my English." He smiled, and she sat beside him on the rock, folding her hands delicately in her lap. Her long black hair fell well past her waist. "So, you found a wife?"
Zel suppressed the desire to cough. "Umm… Yes, I did."
"She is paler than others of your people. Is she sickly?"
"No. She was sick and then she was shot, so she isn't feeling well." He somehow felt the need to defend Amelia. "She's actually very healthy normally, and very courageous as well. She can be obstinate at times, but she puts up with my stubbornness, so I guess that's saying something. Of course, I don't quite understand how she can enjoy my company as much as she does, but I appreciate that fact," he said, more to himself than his companion.
The young woman just stared blankly at him as he rambled. When it was clear that he had finished, she said simply, "She is very pretty."
"Yes, she is," he agreed, then realized where she was going with this conversation. She once had a bit of a crush on him when they were younger, but she was supposed to be promised to someone else. "You are pretty, as well, Dancing Leaf, but…"
"But you love her," she answered for him.
He wanted desperately to tell her the truth, that there was nothing between them at all. Well, perhaps a mutual attraction, and a strong sense of attachment, but love? How could he even think about love when he had so much he still needed to do? Someone he still needed to find…
Dancing Leaf took his silence for assent, and she placed her hand on his. Surprising him by kissing him lightly on the lips, she whispered, "I am glad for you, Chimera. Find happiness with her, but if you cannot, I will be here for you..."
A noise startled them, but one of the horses nearby stamped its hoof and whickered, and Zelgadiss was extremely grateful for the interruption. With a laugh, he stood, putting some distance between them. Dancing Leaf apparently got the hint, for she remained sitting on the rock with a sad smile, and they quietly reminisced through the night.
**********************
"Good morning, daughter," the Shaman greeted Amelia when she awoke the next morning. He left the flap of the tipi open, letting the sunlight stream in. She squinted at the brightness, and held a hand at her forehead to shade her eyes.
"You… You speak English, Mister Shaman?" she asked, sitting up on the fur. Zelgadiss had apparently risen early and was nowhere to be seen. She tried to hide her displeasure.
"Chimera taught me when he lived among us for so many years."
"The way you taught him your language?"
He nodded slowly, and then beckoned her to come with him outside. She stood gingerly, amazed that her leg was not in as much pain as the previous day, and she followed him to sit outside. The Shaman dropped down to sit cross-legged before his tipi, and Amelia lowered herself to sit beside him.
The village was a bustling community, and Amelia couldn't help but smile at all the activity, the playing children and the happy faces as the men and women worked. They were sewing clothes, stretching meat across drying racks, playing games, cooking something that smelled great, and all the while keeping watchful eyes on the smaller children that were running around. This was nothing like the stories she had heard of the Crow back in town, and she knew that those tales were nothing but rumors and ignorance. She didn't doubt their fierceness in battle, but their regular life was more peaceful than her life in town.
It was wonderful.
"Mister Shaman?" she asked as she watched a little girl braiding another smaller girl's hair. Sisters perhaps.
"Yes, Rabbit?"
"Excuse me?" she looked at him, clearly unsure of this moniker.
He smiled, laying a leathery hand gently on her head. "Your spirit, my daughter. I can see it here." He pointed to her chest. "And so, I call you 'Rabbit.'"
"Oh." She thought on that for a moment, liking the name, but unclear of its meaning. After several minutes, her mind returned to her original thought, and she asked, "Is there anything I can help out with in the village? I'm not sure what I can do, but I don't like being idle when everyone else is working so hard."
Fox-from-the-Fire regarded her with a degree of pride. Pushing himself to his feet, he helped her up and indicated for her to follow. They walked through the village, people waving and some bowing to them as they passed. She saw Zelgadiss, helping some of the people down at the stream, and their eyes met, but rather than greet or acknowledge him, she continued on when Fox-from-the-Fire held out a hand to her.
He led her to an area where Laughing Brook was sitting with several other women, including a beautiful young woman with long straight black hair. They were working on what appeared to be a buffalo hide. The Shaman said something to the Chief's wife in their language, and Laughing Brook stood and helped her to a comfortable seat on the ground. Fox-from-the-Fire left them.
"Come, Rabbit," Laughing Brook said, placing a corner of the hide on her lap and sitting next to her. "I will show you how."
Amelia threw herself into the task and found that she enjoyed the tiring work. Although she began the day in a bad mood, her dark thoughts soon disappeared with activity. Talking with Laughing Brook was fun, and the older woman was only too glad to explain to her about their people. Amelia discovered that even the women sometimes participated in battles, not only to protect their families and their homes, but some even to gain honor. Laughing Brook, herself, had gone into battle with her husband when a rival tribe attacked them several years ago.
Other women in the group agreed with her, and Amelia was in awe that the women who were sitting here skinning a buffalo hide or caring for children had not only killed in battle, but they were proud of their accomplishments. From these fierce yet gentle women, she soon discovered the difference between killing in battle and outright murder.
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At the far end of the village, in a secluded grove, sat a huge rounded structure of animal hides stretched over a wooden frame, and steam rose out from between the seams. Amelia had heard about sweathouses, and that they were places of gathering and prayer of some sort.
Laughing Brook brought Amelia to the entrance early one morning, four days after they had arrived.
"Come. I will join you inside," Laughing Brook assured.
The knowledge that the Chief's wife would be with her calmed her fears to a degree, and she followed the older woman's example. They disrobed and entered the steaming house, and were immediately engulfed in darkness and an almost suffocating heat. The low glow of heated rocks in the center gave off some light, and Amelia's eyes slowly adjusted to the interior. Laughing Brook led her to a low shelf and had her kneel across from the Shaman, who was already inside, as she took her place next to her. The muscles of her injured thigh complained, but otherwise did not hurt.
The Shaman threw some herbs on the rocks, and a sweet smoke rose up, filling the room with its scent. Amelia began to feel lightheaded. The old man spoke.
"Chimera's return signals a turning point in his life. You, Rabbit, are part of that change."
"Excuse me, Mister Shaman," Amelia interrupted, "Why do you call Zelgadiss 'Chimera?' And what is the meaning behind, 'Rabbit'?"
Rather than becoming angry or irritated, he ladled water over the rocks, sending up plumes of steam.
"Zelgadiss came to us long ago, as he was just entering manhood. He stumbled into our village, the barely healed scars on his body appearing to us as the rocks in the river, bumpy and smooth with ripples across their surface. He was half-crazed with fever, and fought off many of our young bucks before he collapsed. Many believed he was a demon, come to test the might of the Crow. Others believed he was a rock spirit, come to bless our clan. I believed him to be a chimera: a blending of the demon, the rock spirit, and the young man he was. I took him in and healed his wounds, and I gave him the name 'Chimera,' for his spirit showed me his nature.
"When I told you your spirit shows me your nature, your nature is that of the rabbit. You are afraid. Not of where you are, or what will become of you, but of what you have done and what could become of the ones you love."
He was right. Amelia looked down in shame. To her surprise, in the cleft between her breasts, a knot of steam and smoke were forming, and to her unfocused eyes, it appeared that it was coming out of her. Her chest felt hollow as it detached from her and floated above the steaming rocks. The knot slowly resolved itself into a shape. The shape of a Rabbit.
"You are unsure of your path," the Shaman explained. "Tell me your dream."
As if she were outside of her own body, she found herself telling him of the dream that had awakened her in a panic during the night, which had prompted Fox-from-the-Fire to request her presence in the sweathouse.
"Zelgadiss and I were traveling together. He seemed so happy. But someone walked by, and then he became angry. This man hit him, and Zelgadiss was knocked down. I picked up his gun that had fallen. I tried to protect him from this man, but I just couldn't bring myself to shoot. Zelgadiss was shot, and his body faded away, all because I couldn't shoot that man."
Those simple words were nothing compared to the actual terrifying nightmare. How could she describe the unending feeling of horror and emptiness that filled her and turned her blood to ice as she watched the man she loved die in her arms? Tears streamed down her face as they had the night before, but this time, she did not feel the loneliness that had smothered her last night. Somehow, she felt strangely calm and at peace with the knowledge of what her fear was and how she could prevent it. The Shaman's voice was soothing.
"You have a battle waging within you, causing your fear. Like night and day, they cannot exist within your heart at the same time. You must overcome your limited beliefs if you are to be at peace."
Limited beliefs? Did he mean the desire not to kill?
Amelia thought for several minutes on that idea, and slowly, the clouds that had hung over her heart and her mind parted, and she felt as if she could once again breathe. Her grip on her ideal of never killing anyone loosened to a more realistic view. Thinking on it now, if she had to kill someone to ensure that her friends and her family remained safe, she found that she could accept it, just as the women of the village do.
Life was not black and white; it was full of innumerable shades of grey. Tranquility settled over Amelia upon her resolve to live in the grey. She suddenly felt lighter, full of love and joy, and happy in the knowledge that no matter what life threw at her, she would be just fine.
The smoke rabbit, hanging in the air before her, pulsed and stretched. It curled about itself and changed shape, and before long, a tiny smoke hummingbird flitted about the house.
"What happened?" she breathed, knowing that something magical had occurred.
"You have overcome your fear, daughter," the Shaman laughed, and Amelia felt Laughing Brook's hand on hers. "Your spirit shows me your nature. You will no longer be 'Rabbit.' You are renamed 'Hummingbird' after your spirit."
The smoke bird buzzed happily around her, and she had to suppress a giggle. It flew before her, and landed in her cupped palms before slowly dissolving and returning to its home in her chest. Somehow, she now felt complete.
"Your spirit is good for Chimera. Stay by his side, and he will be safe." Fox-from-the-Fire's eyes glowed in the dull light cast by the heated rocks before them.
"Is he in danger, Mister Shaman?"
"Only from himself, Hummingbird. Stay with him."
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Amelia was avoiding him.
Zelgadiss was sure of it. He had been happy to see her getting along so well with everyone, but now, after four days, she was still surrounding herself with the women of the village and immersing herself in work. He thought that she was pushing herself too hard, but when he said as much to Laughing Brook, she would hear none of his complaints. The older woman insisted that it was good for Amelia to learn what she could, and that she would heal faster than if she sat in one place all day.
It also appeared to him that Amelia was not really trying to get his attention or spend any time alone with him either. She was usually asleep by the time he made it to the tipi, and she was awake and gone by the time he awoke in the morning. Zelgadiss found that he did not enjoy her absence at all.
He sat in front of the Shaman's tipi, idly braiding together a leather thong. His eyes roved the village, but he wasn't paying attention to any of it. He was concentrating purely on listening to the sounds coming from the direction of the sweathouse. He hadn't heard that the Shaman wanted to bring Amelia there until he saw her pass him as he sat with the young warriors near the stream. He was sure she had seen him, but she hadn't even acknowledged his presence.
"Dammit," he muttered, getting to his feet and flinging the piece of leather to the ground. "If she's well enough to roam around the village, then we can leave…" He didn't want to admit that he wanted her all to himself again.
After pacing back and forth from the tipi to the stream, he found her walking back from the river with Laughing Brook. They were talking in low tones, giggling every so often. It appeared that they had just bathed. Amelia's hair hung in damp strands about her face, and her dress clung to her body, accentuating the fact that she was definitely a woman….
Zelgadiss swallowed hard, and strode forward.
"Greetings, little brother," Laughing Brook said.
"Little brother?" Amelia asked, clearly bewildered.
"I am Fox-from-the-Fire's daughter, and he adopted Chimera, making him my brother," she answered with a proud smile. Amelia appeared happy as well.
"Greetings, sister," he replied with barely a nod to the woman. He took Amelia by the upper arm and began to lead her away. "Excuse us. I need to speak with Amelia for a moment."
Laughing Brook seemed surprised, but nodded, and he walked Amelia out to a nearby field in the lower part of the valley. The grass was slowly turning gold-green, and a few wildflowers dotted the field, adding sparks of purples and oranges to the beautiful landscape. Although it was not a far walk, it was farther than Amelia was used to with her injured leg, and she soon pulled on his arm to stop him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ame…" he began.
"What did I say about you being rude?" she yelled, cutting him off. "I was having a conversation with Laughing Brook, and you just barged in and interrupted us without an explanation or a 'by your leave!' Couldn't you wait so I could say goodbye before you dragged me all the way out here?"
Zel snapped.
"NO! How could I wait? You'd just find another excuse to go off with her, and the next thing I know, you'll be sitting with someone else doing who knows what, as long as it's not with me! We haven't said ten words to each other in the last four days, so I don't know how you're doing or what you're doing! I don't even know why you went to the sweathouse today. I had to find that out from Eagle-over-the-River because he wanted to know if I was going to see the Shaman as well! Why are you avoiding me, Amelia?"
Her wide sapphire blue eyes trembled, and he could see tears begin to form. His face was mere inches away from hers, close enough for their breath to mingle. Warmth spread through his chest, and feelings and longings that he had tried to deny for years snaked their way to the surface. Over all these years, he had seen Amelia grow up from an awkward child to a beautiful young woman, headstrong and opinionated, but courageous and kind. He had always known about her crush on him, and it had become a familiar, if unwanted, attachment. Somehow, her presence without the apparent attachment was unbearable. Her affections had become very much wanted.
A tear escaped her eye and fell on his hand. It was then that he realized that he was gripping her shoulders tightly, and that he had been shaking her in his frustration. His mind screamed at him to let her go, that he was scaring her, but his hands remained where they were, though his hold on her relaxed. Instead of backing away from her, he found himself leaning forward with half-lidded eyes; her breath on his lips was intoxicating, and he wanted a taste of his sweet Amelia…
"Dancing Leaf," she breathed, and he jerked back as if slapped. "I saw you that first night, Zelgadiss. Why tolerate my affections if you could have such a beautiful woman like her? I can see that you're so contented here, and it's obvious you care for her. If you'll be happy with her, I didn't want to bother you. You don't need my love…"
He finally understood the look in her eyes. It was betrayal. He could hear the displeasure in her voice, but her face showed him that her heart was breaking. He could almost hear it shatter in her chest. But there was nothing between Dancing Leaf and him…
"There's nothing between us. I don't care for her that way," he assured her. Doubt still lingered in the air, and he sighed.
"I don't know how you did it, Amelia," he whispered, still holding onto her arm to keep her from leaving him. A hand traveled up to pull strands of wet hair away from her face. "I don't understand why I need you with me. All I know is that I can't sleep at night without thinking about you. I look forward to the moments when I can sit and listen to you talk with me. My whole life has been about getting revenge for what happened to me when I was thirteen, but I never thought about a life after that. It was never an option when I had resigned myself to dying in the attempt. But now…"
The hurt disappeared from her eyes to be replaced by hope, and another tear slipped down her face. He wiped the tear away as he caressed her cheek.
"But now, I've found something… someone worth living for. It's you, Amelia. I… I love you," he admitted to her. To himself, as well.
The joy that lit up her face was enough for him.
"Oh, Zelgadiss! I love you so much…"
His lips met hers tentatively at first, and at her response, he pulled her close to him, deepening the kiss and wishing he would never have to let her go. He had her love. That was surely enough for him. He could let everything go if it meant that he could stay with his Amelia forever. Revenge was dropping out of his heart the longer he held onto this young woman who had somehow managed to capture and mend his mutilated heart and soul.
He broke their kiss reluctantly, but he was becoming a little light-headed, and he held her in a tight embrace. He didn't want to get carried away. Although the village believed they were married, they were not… yet. He smiled at the thought. When this mess with the Tatums was over, he would marry this woman and settle down. No more running. No more revenge.
"No more Rezo," he whispered to the wind above her head, and his heart began to feel lighter without that weight.
Amelia pulled away and looked up at him in confusion.
"Rezo? You mean Mister Rezo? The blind doctor with the ivory-handled black Colt…?"
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A/N: Please forgive my ignorance of the Native American traditions and culture, the Crow in particular. I've probably taken bits of different tribes, but I tried to remain true to what I've read about them. I hope I've portrayed them in a more positive light than most spaghetti westerns have. No harm was intended.
Special thanks go out to those who've reviewed! Komillia (Gee, thank you! I always wonder how I do at action scenes since I'm not very used to writing them. It's good to know how I did! Although there was a bit of action in this chapter, this was mostly a developmental chapter for Zel and Amelia's relationship since they're off on their own. The others will show up again in the next one. ^_^), Lina Gabriev (Thanks! I hope I didn't give you the one-two punch at the end of this chapter with the 'resolution' to the Z/A romance as well as bringing us back to Zel's main goal. Things will definitely become a little more complicated after this… And unfortunately, Sylphiel's not making an appearance in this fic – I just couldn't figure out where I could put her where she would be of some use… Oh well. Hope you enjoyed this one!), Claudia22 (Thank you so much! Now I'm blushing… ^_^ I tried to work in some of the scenes that fit in those particular sections, so I'm glad that you enjoyed them. It's good to know that I did a good job at the AU as well! Hmm… I wonder which was your favorite chapter… ~_^), Captain Whosit (I love that name, by the way… Thank you! I guess my love of the Old West and Westerns was finally good for something. ~_^ I just figured a good ole revenge story fit Zelgadiss perfectly, and since I'm a Z/A fan, Amelia was naturally the lead female character, but never fear. Although they're MIA in this chapter, Lina and company will be back in the next one.)
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