A Cold Heart
Chapter 8: Freeze
Tohru and Uo collasped next to the river, panting for breath. Alex looked at them, and shook his head."We must keep moving." said Alex, heatedly, standing over the fallen girls. Tohru looked up at him, her eyes becoming heavy with sleep. "Shut up Alex!" yelled Uo, dragging herself to the nearest tree and leaned against it. Alex helped Tohru to her feet, picking up her pack, and mounting it onto his own. "We cannot stop until we reach the elves, then you may sleep for a hundred years for all I care." said Alex, roughly pulling Uo to her feet. Tohru leaned against the tree, her legs buckling beneath her weight. "Alex, I can't move."said Tohru, pleadingly, her lage eyes filling with tears. Alex sighed, dropping the bags onto the forest floor. Tohru slowly lowered herself onto the snow, her legs freezing at the cold contact. Shivering as she seated herself on the ground, Tohru looked up at the trees, listening to the sounds the winter dead forest made. Leanning her head against the trunk of the tree, Tohur sighed, wrapping her cold arms about herself. Slowly dirfting off to sleep, Tohru felt warm arms enevelop her, whispering warm soothing words into her ear.
Slowly coming to her senses, Tohru looked at her surroundings, utter shock and disbelief etched onto her face. She lay in a bed, a warm fire roaring in the fireplace, a woman sitting the large oaken chair that they had back in the tavern. The woman turned, a warm smile gleaming on her beautiful face, her hands in her lap, busy with cleaning her sword. Tears welled up in Tohru's eyes as the woman stood from her place in the chair, her smile brightening."Goodmorning my sweet, did you have a good dream?" asked the woman. Tohru nodded, her tears falling over the brimms of her eyelids."Mama!" Tohru exclaimed, throwing herself on to her mother, soaking her mothers tunic. Kyoko stroked her daughter's hair, a serene smile playing across her face. " What's wrong, Tohru?" asked her mother, gently pushing Tohru away from herself. Tohru explained the entire dream to her mother, tears falling down her porclain cheeks. Kyoko nodded her head at her daughter, standing further away from the bed, hold her sword easily in her hand. Tohru looked at her mother, shock and sadness slipping into Tohru's eyes and down her cheeks."Mama, why?" asked Tohru, as her mother stood ready. Kyoko never answered her, before she plunged the sword into her daughter's stomach.
Tohru screamed, her brown eyes openning, tears spilling down her cheeks. Alex was at her side in an instant, wrapping her into his cloak. Tohru shivered, burying her face into the dense fabric, her body shaking uncontrolably."Mistress, what is the matter?" asked Alex, concern washing over his face. Tohru hid her face, trying to hide her fear. Uo sat at her side, a worried expression worn on her face."Nothing, nothing is wrong." assured Tohru, her hand drifting to her neck. Placing her hand on the cold skin, TOhru attemtped to warm it, though even her fingers felt numb. Uo cursed under her breath, standing quickly to her feet, sweeping her cloak off the wet ground and onto her back. She slowly walked into the forest, her cloak flying out behind her." I'm sorry,Alex, I thought I could handle this." Tohru sobbed silently, placing her head into the crock of his arm. Alex held the crying girl, his arms settling around her. Uo returned her arms full of wood."Sorry I took so long." said Uo, clearing the snow away from the center of the clearing in which they stayed.
A fire was lit, it's warm glow coaxing Tohru to relaxe. Alex sat on the other side of the fire, his eyes alert to the swiftly approaching night."What do you hear?" asked Uo, pulling dried meat from her bag. Alex looked at her, his icy eyes scanning the warroior girl. "The queen." answered Alex, turning his face away from her. Tossing him a piece, Uo grunted. "What is she saying?" asked Tohru, eager to hear his answer. Alex turned his face to his young charge, a tiny glimmer of mystery shining in his eye. "Can you hear her?" asked Alex. Tohru nodded slightly, blushing. "What do you think she's saying?" asked Alex, cocking his head to the side.Tohru looked at Alex, her blush deepening."I don't understand it, but it's soothing, and comforting, and yet lovingly warm." said Tohru, staring into Alex's eyes. Alex allowed a small smile to cross his face. "She sings of an elfin prince, her elfin prince, her son and her love of him, but he is no longer with her, for he is searching." explained Alex, placing his arms behind his head. Uo and Tohru looked at each other, quizzical expressions crossing their face."What's he searching for?" asked Tohru, leanning closer to the warm fire. Alex closes his eyes, as if to hold back tears."He's looking for her." said Alex, softly, staring longingly at the starry night sky. Uo looked at him, her eyes steeling over."Who is 'her' ?" asked Tohru, cocking her head to one side.Alex turned, his back facing them. "The girl he lost so many years ago." mumbled Alex, slowly dirfting off to sleep.