Day groaned aloud at the ache running through her arms and head as she opened her eyes. She could feel someone sat behind her, holding her close, and Tristan suddenly appeared in view.
"Day?" He asked quietly, so as not to shock her and she gave him a small smile.
She could faintly see Gawain holding Anise from the corner of her eye, but she kept her gaze steady on Tristan for the time being. He was halfway between reprimanding her and kissing her, and she could see the two emotions battling in his eyes.
"I'm sorry." She whispered before he could say anything and his face softened slightly.
The next thing she knew she was being lifted into his arms and carried back over the corridor and into their room. He had set her down on the bed gently, gone back to close to door and was now back beside her again, staring at her hard as his fingers traced their way over her tattoos.
"What were you doing?" He asked sternly and Day looked down guiltily. "Didn't you think about our child?"
Her eyes flashed then and she looked up at him with renewed fervour.
"Of course I did! But it was a split-second thing, Anise would not have been able to cope if I hadn't have shared her pain!" Exclaimed Day, sitting up from the warmth of her pillows and staring incredulously at Tristan.
He stared back at her, before sighing heavily and turning his head away.
"I'll go and see Dagonet tomorrow but I don't think any harm was done. It was more focused on my mind anyway." Day murmured, lying back again with exhaustion.
"What was happening anyway? We tried to pull you both apart but the bond that held you was too strong." Tristan replied after a moment, returning his curious gaze on her resting form.
"It seems her magic is becoming too much for her. It's getting out of control and if she doesn't contain it soon then one of two things could happen; she could die, or her power could get the better of her and cause destruction like nothing seen before." Sighed Day tiredly, looking back up wearily to find Tristan watching her closely. "It will happen soon, I have seen it before. But I know of an old witch near my village that can help her. Merlin was one of her apprentices, although afterwards he used her techniques to gain more power and yet keep it under control."
Tristan agreed silently, bidding her to sleep and he stayed with her; stroking her hair absent-mindedly as she slumbered, before returning to Gawain and Anise quietly.
At the knock on the door, Gawain called for them to enter and gave Tristan a concerned glance as the stoic scout appeared.
"How fares Anise?" Tristan rumbled quietly and Gawain frowned down at her still sleeping form.
"She hasn't woken yet but her head has cooled and she seems some what at peace. Day?"
"Sleeping." Tristan replied shortly, and sat himself in a chair near the bedside. He steepled his fingers and sat staring at Anise over the tips of his fingers.
"Did Day tell you anything?" Enquired Gawain after a moment of tense silence, moving his head to look at Tristan who continued to watch Anise.
"Yes," growled the dark scout, reclining backwards into the chair and regarding his friend closely. "Her powers are becoming too much for her to control."
"What does that mean?" gasped Gawain, jerking his head back to look at Anise, concern and worry etched into his face.
"Either she dies, or its takes control and causes destruction like none seen before." Gawain listened silently and pulled Anise closer as Tristan finished. "But Day says she knows of an old Woad witch near her village that may be able to help."
The blonde Knight nodded with a determined set of his jaw.
"She will go tomorrow."
Tristan stayed silent as he watched his friend and comrade tending to his lover, before disappearing from the room.
"Gryfn will take you, he should know the way. Don't worry he will protect you should anything happen Anise." Day soothed as he helped her friend up onto a horse.
The girl was jittery, as although the seizures had stopped, the power was still strong within her and she was unable to stop herself from shaking. She nodded briefly and gave Day a small, comforting smile before Gawain stepped forward and Day went to talk to her brother.
Gawain took Anise's hand in his and kissed it as he looked up at her.
"Everything will be fine." He reassured her, noticing the anxiety she felt. "I would go with you but I fear I will be of little help, and Day said it would distract you."
Anise watched him with a quiet intensity full of sadness and worry and Gawain cringed inwardly at leaving her.
"I understand, just promise me you'll be here when I get back?" She whispered, her voice just loud enough for him to hear.
"Of course, my love." Gawain returned with a fierce zeal, kissing her hand once again as Gryfn came alongside Anise on her horse.
The boy turned back to bat away a fussing Day with an amused scowl and when he looked back Gawain had stepped away to let him speak with Anise. He nodded his thanks to Gawain who clapped him on the shoulder and murmured: "Take good care of her." as he walked past and Gryfn nodded determinedly. Anise looked down on him with as much of a smile as she could muster and he returned it before telling her of their route should anything go wrong and reassuring her that he would not leave her side. They conversed for a few brief minutes until Gryfn mounted his horse, and with one final muffled Celtic command from Day and an encouraging glance towards Anise, he urged his horse forward and out of the open gates.
Everyone rushed up to the battlements to watch them ride out across the wind-swept fields; still covered partially in snow, with the two horses fast disappearing. Near the edge of the forest Gryfn stopped suddenly, and turning back to the fort yelled something in Celtic to Day before galloping off into the safety of the woods.
Back at the fort the bellow had carried clearly in the quiet of the morning and everyone turned to Day for an explanation. A soft smile had crept across her face and she turned to an anxious Gawain.
"He'll protect her with his life, you have no need to worry."
They had to slow to a lolloping gait in the thick of the forest, as much of the snow had yet to melt and there was much dense undergrowth hidden beneath the white layer. Gryfn looked over to Anise from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but notice she was still shaking and that although she was hiding it well, she was somewhere between fearful and eager.
"Is it true you defeated Merlin, and the Saxons?" Gryfn asked conversationally, turning to her with a casual expression; his dark waves falling across his chiselled face as a breeze blew amongst the trees.
Anise seemed somewhat taken aback at his question but recovered quickly.
"Yes, although it was more of a joint effort with the Saxons." She explained quietly and watched Gryfn nod thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"
Gryfn smiled then; a small reflective smile, and sighed lightly.
"I just wondered. I was away fighting at the time and upon returning the stories were rife, I had yet to find if they were true."
"Oh. Well you have your answer, unwanted as it may be." Anise said forlornly and Gryfn watched her with a frown.
"You don't care for your powers?" He enquired curiously, his face a mask of interest and sadness.
"I don't understand them. Why am I the one to be called upon to have these powers? What use am I to them?" Anise asked to no-one in particular before sighing heavily and running a shaking hand across her face. "I'm sorry, they just took me by surprise."
"No need to apologise." Reassured Gryfn with a gentle smile and he leaned across to pat her hand. "Come, we near."
After a few more minutes of riding, they entered a large clearing. The trees encircled it, leaving a large space in the canopy for light to filter through, and snow too. All of the snow had been pushed to the edges though, creating a small boundary around the clearing, and at one edge stood a small hut; smoke escaping its roof. Gryfn looked around warily; his senses on high alert but upon finding no immediate danger he motioned Anise forward and they trotted quietly into the centre of the clearing. He jumped off his horse and helped Anise down gently from her own horse. Her trembling had worsened, he noticed, out of fear or her power he could not tell but he kept a steady hold on her anyway. His face was set hard as they walked over towards the hut and he kept his eyes focused on the nearby trees and listened for anything other than the whisperings of the wind and the soft humming escaping the hut.
"Are you ready?" He asked Anise quietly as they neared the door, and she looked up at him fearfully.
"Aye." Came her whispered response as she clutched to him tighter and basked in his comforting warmth. He was like a brother to her, and she like another sister to him.
Gryfn took a deep breath before raising his hand to knock on the door, until a voice from inside stopped him.
"You may come in children." A cracked voice spoke from inside, and the door creaked open slowly. "Quickly now, before the cold air comes in."
Gryfn gave Anise a quick glance before ushering her inside and closing the door behind him.
The hut was full of warmth and they both basked in it for a few moments before looking around. It was cosy, filled with many furs on the floor, a small cauldron and fire in the centre and a pile of wood over in one corner. The wood looked to be fast diminishing though, Gryfn noted, as he glanced around taking in as much detail as possible. Herbs, foreign spices and ancient scriptures lined the darkened walls and some ornamental swords hung proudly at one end of the hut. Other unusual items of witchcraft, they presumed, lay scattered around the walls and on the small table near the door. The witch watched them with an amused smile and stayed silent until they were satisfied in looking around.
"Sit children," She spoke, beckoning them hastily to the furs nearest her. "Tis cold outside, you must be hungry."
Anise felt for Gryfn beside her and crept over to the witch before kneeling down in the furs. She was incredibly old; her face littered with heavy wrinkles and her hair grey, long and matted. The tattoos she held from being of Woad origin were still visible on her seemingly blue-tinted skin, and Anise watched her with anticipation as she fussed around the cauldron. Long, gnarled fingers darted out from the many furs she was wearing around her tiny frame, and she muttered to herself as she worked in retrieving three wooden bowls and filling them with the boiling stew. She hobbled back over to them, a glint evident in her eye and a strange smile on her cracked lips.
Upon handing the visitors their bowls, she settled herself back into her position on the furs and bade them to eat. The old witch watched them eat with joy, but her grey eyes were mainly focused upon Anise. The girl was young and pretty, just as she had been a long time ago, and emanated a strong spirit and beauty as she sat drinking in the warmth of the stew; although with some difficulty as her shuddering was more than difficult to control. After a while spent eating in an unusual silence, the witch placed down her bowl with a satisfied sigh and sat noting their movements and appearance. The young man was handsome and very ably built, he wielded a mighty sword as she could tell from the many images of battle he carried within his aura. But he was of a gentle soul and cared very much for those close to him. The girl also had experience in battle, but her power was of the magical sense. Her aura was much darker than the boy's; filled with images of burning and power and death. A strange grin settled itself upon the witch's haggard face and Anise looked up at her with questioning eyes.
"You seek me child to help you harness your powers, no?" Asked the witch, in the same fractured and lilting voice, continuing before Anise could give an answer. "You are not of the light child."
Confusion and shock clouded the girl's face as she stared at the witch.
"W-What do you mean?" She stuttered out, forgetting about her bowl of stew and letting the empty bowl drop from her hands.
"You know what I mean child, you have known it for much longer than I. Your power comes from the past, the memories, the pain." The witch continued to hiss. "You kill, so far that is all we have seen of you; death."
An odd glint was in the witch's eye as she continued in her description and Anise's shaking grew more violent. Gryfn glared at the witch and bade her to stop, his hand already fixed at the hilt of his sword, but she paid him no heed.
"Why else would you be punished so? You are the reason." Leered the witch, watching in triumph as a seizure began to wrack the girl's body.
Gryfn instantly leapt forward to help her, cradling her body as he attempted to restrain her. The witch did no more then watch, the simper still evident.
"What are you witch?" Spat Gryfn disdainfully, his hands coming up to hold Anise's so she wouldn't flail so much.
In that instant, he was transported into darkness; the only sound that of the witch's cruel laughter.
He was back, back again in that dreaded field. Bodies littered the ground and yet the sounds of fighting could still be heard. He stumbled wildly in any direction; searching, searching for the rest of his men. A sword came out of nowhere and he blocked it clumsily, pain shooting up his right arm as his blade jarred against a Roman's. He staggered away a few feet, his brain numb with all that had happened and he fought wearily. He was nicked with the Roman's sword more than a few times, another blow barely missing his abdomen, until by chance the Roman stumbled and Gryfn plunged his sword into the back of the Roman. The cracking of bone reverberated in the air and he had to turn away to stop himself from vomiting. He wrenched his sword out awkwardly and staggered off again. Flashes of fire, of darkness, of forest flew past as he ran blindly. He only stopped when he could hear no more noise, no more screams or clashing of blades. He whirled in the darkness, not knowing where he was until he heard a sickening squelch and looked down. That was the moment when he had become a man. His first battle. He, the only survivor; the rest of his small army slaughtered, laid to rest in the forest to be eaten by the beasts. The exact same place he had stumbled into. His first battle.
All of a sudden, Gryfn was thrown away for Anise, landing next to her. She was whimpering quietly, and Gryfn crawled over to her.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She whispered to him, looking up at him with tear-stained cheeks as he leant over her.
He hadn't chance to speak before darkness clouded his vision and he fell unconscious onto her stomach. She too blacked out just after him, not noticing the witch lurking by her. Her bitter laughter mixed with the stench of herbs in the hut, and she advanced with her unyielding limp towards the girl. A necklace dangled from her fist and she tied the leather ribbon around Anise's neck so that the small pendant rested over her chest. The boy, she decided, could be dealt with by the herbs when he awoke, but the girl would need more to control.
A/N: Yes, sorry it's taken me so long! I had to try and figure out what I was getting at with that darned seizure etc and had to call in a little help from some good people! But now I think I know what I'm doing, however, it is half-term and I have to revise for my mocks (grrrr) so over the next 4 weeks I wouldn't expect much as every spare moment I have will be used revising or pulling my hair out lol. But I might get some chapters up over the next week if you're lucky and review lots -hint hint- lol. Well what did we think? Good, bad, just plain awful? lol Reviews will be welcomed, flames will be also welcomed with much mirth lol. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and read my -not so-little (anymore) story! x