You say that, while you hold in your hand the instrument of my doom? – Raziel
My journey upon leaving the ruins was long and arduous. Stumbling at times, uncertain and uneasy, I began to realize the full extent of the situation I now found myself in. A lone woman wandering naked throughout the land was enough to invite certain danger, but what else was I to do? Though I had no way of knowing how much time had passed since I'd joined with the Reaver, the decay of the Pillars had indicated that I was once again in the time of Nosgoth under Kain's rule. Acutely aware of how utterly defenseless I was, I traveled in a state of heightened awareness, ready at any time to dart into the underbrush bordering the simple dirt road on which I now walked. The ruts in the road told me it was used often, and that heartened me, for the ruts were those made by a wagon.
Very soon I began to notice things. In the time of Kain's rule, Nosgoth was a barren wasteland; very little vegetation existed and any that did grew in the climes farthest from the Pillars. Yet I walked now on a road surrounded on both sides by thick, lush forest. The trees were tall and sturdy, indicating they were at least a decade old. This confused me, but I didn't dwell on it, because abruptly the forest tapered away and I found myself surrounded by gently sloping meadows. Where once the ground had been cracked and barren there was now patches of grass and wildflowers rising from dirt that had apparently become fertile since my passing. Coming to a halt, I stared at the land around in me in a state of bemused awe.
It appeared Nosgoth was beginning to heal itself. And while I was overjoyed for the sake of the land itself, I couldn't shake my growing sense of discontent. For this to happen – was Kain alive still? Or had he, like everything must eventually, finally succumbed to death?
Sounds apart from the soft rustle of the wind in the grass and the quiet calls of the birds in the trees startled me from my reverie, and quite without warning a large wagon drawn by a large draft horse lumbered into view from around the next corner. Too late I realized that I should have run, should have hid myself; unable to do either, I dumbly remained where I was. There were two people perched upon the buckboard of the wagon, a man and a woman, both elderly. At the sight of me the woman let out a cry and the man pulled sharply on the reins. The horse and wagon came to a shuddering halt.
"Are ye daft, woman?" The man shouted at me, one hand still clutching the long strips of leather, the other clenched into a fist and shaking in my direction.
"Hush, Tass." The woman scolded, her eyes still on me. "Can't ye see she's afraid?"
It was true; I was terrified. Clucking quietly to herself, the woman slid down from the buckboard with an ease that belied her frail appearance. With sure, nimble steps she approached me, and as she neared she cooed in a gentle tone, as if I were some wild animal about to take flight.
"What be ye doing out here, all alone, lass? And naked as the day you were born?" She asked me, pulling from her shoulders a large, thick black shawl and handing it to me. Hands trembling I took it and with some fumbling managed to secure it about myself, clasping it tightly in the front, hiding most of my body from sight. Not waiting for me to answer, the woman continued, "Lord, ye're shaking like a leaf. What be ye so afraid of?"
I stammered something incoherent, and for a long moment she studied me carefully with shrewd dark eyes. Abruptly, as if she'd made an instantaneous decision, she grasped me tightly by the elbow and led me towards the wagon.
"I'll not leave ye here, lass. This road be not safe for most after nightfall."
Relief flooded through me, and I followed her without objection. I was no longer alone in this alien yet familiar realm; I'd encountered someone kind, someone decent. It was heartening, and the tides of my fear began to slowly recede. Reaching the wagon, the woman hoisted herself up beside the man, and extending one hand assisted me in clumsily climbing aboard. Arranging myself awkwardly to sit on the floor boards behind the buckboard, I glanced up to see the man – Tass – fixing me with an irritated glare.
"Another stray!" He spat, and turned his glower to the woman, "Why must ye always be picking up strays, Cora?"
"Pay him no mind," Cora then said to me, completely ignoring him, "He's always a bit rough to begin with."
Tass made a noise somewhere between a growl and a snort, but without another word turned in his seat and flicked the reins. With a lurch, the wagon began to move again. Cora began assailing me with questions – Who are you? Where are you from? What were you doing out here all alone, and without a shred of clothing to call your own? Mindful that I could not reveal absolute truth of my identity, I told her my name was Ariel, and that I awoke near the pillars, and that I could not remember how or why I came to be there. Apparently my answers satisfied her, for she began to coo again, and pulled the shawl tighter around me.
"Ye just relax, lass, and we'll take ye home. We'll get ye fixed up, we will, and get you some food. Get some meat on those bones." Still staring stonily at the road, Tass muttered something unintelligible, but his words were enough to merit him a slap upside the head from Cora. She turned again to me with a bright, gap toothed smile. "His bark is bigger than his bite. Give him time, lass, and he'll warm up to ye. Soft hearted, he is – that's why I married him."
Again Tass muttered something, but it was softer and with considerably less aggravation.
"There, ye see? Ye go ahead and rest yerself, lass, and we'll wake you when we get there."
I did not ask where we were going, nor did I care. I needed time to gather myself, to collect my bearings, before I could set out on my own in search of answers. By whatever kind fates had decided to aid me, I had encountered these two, and I was beyond grateful for their assistance. Cora had turned to face the road, and with a sigh I leaned my sore, aching body against the side of the wagon and closed my eyes. It had been so long since I'd been encased in mortal flesh; how strange and yet how exciting it was to be human again, to be alive again.
Tass and Cora were arguing softly, yet without heat. I felt my lips curve into what I realized was a smile. Soon after, lulled by the steady swaying of the wagon and the quiet voices, I fell swiftly asleep.
Cora was as good as her word. Upon awakening I realized the two had brought me to their home, a small farmstead that was, Tass told me bluntly, a day's journey south of the Pillars. It was pleasing to the eye; a rambling house perched on a small rise above a large field. To the left of the house was a haphazardly built pen in which several sheep and one cow stood staring our way. After helping me down from the wagon, Cora ushered me into the house, and a short time later she had me outfitted in a heavy brown woolen robe which fell to my feet and was belted in the middle by a simple thin rope. She apologized for the rough quality of the material, saying that it had belonged once to their son, but I was too thankful to care. After that she sat me down in their small kitchen, and as she bustled to and fro preparing a meal she spoke continuously. I was, she told me, obviously a girl of some stature, and having lost my memory was, of course, and indication that I had been badly mistreated somehow. Her eyes gleamed as she spoke; she enjoyed creating this mysterious past for me, and I, being amused, let her do so.
Dinner was a unique affair, in that it had been a millennia since last I'd eaten anything. After fumbling with the utensils, burning my mouth on a chunk of steaming meat, and spilling my glass of water all down my front, I was on the verge of tears. Tass stared at me incredulously before he continued eating; Cora merely smiled her encouragement. Slowly I resumed eating and found that food was, after all, quite enjoyable. The meat in the stew had been spiced with something rich and heady, and the vegetables that swam in a thick, creamy sauce were tender and succulent. By the time I finished my bowl, I felt full to bursting. Had food tasted this good when last I'd been alive? I could not remember, but this was a feast to top all feasts, and I told Cora so. Beaming, she cleared the table of the dishes, and Tass wandered out of the house.
I sat in the kitchen as Cora washed and cleaned, answering her questions absentmindedly, my thoughts on other, more prudent things. My eyes suddenly began to feel very heavy, and I could not stifle the yawns that attacked me. Noticing this, Cora ushered me from the kitchen to a small room in the back of the house. It had, she explained, also belonged to their son, who was long dead. Bidding me a good night, she turned to leave.
"Cora," I said then, "I ... there is a question I must ask you."
She turned, and smiled expectantly. "Yes, lass?"
"I remember ... there is a person I must find. A man named Kain."
Her brow wrinkled, bringing more dimension to her much lined face. "Kain ... sounds familiar, though I cannot place it. I'll ask Tass, my girl, he'll know a thing or two. He always does. Ye sleep now. It's been a long day for ye."
"Good night, Cora. And thank you."
She hurried over to me, and dropped a quick kiss upon my forehead. "It's nothing, lass, to help the less fortunate. Sleep well."
She left, closing the door behind her and leaving me in darkness but for the light of the dying sun which crept through the small window above the bed. I was too tired to think, to tired to try and plan what I might do in the days ahead; mere seconds after my head hit the pillow I was asleep.