Grey numbness was all that greeted Gryfn as he awoke. He could feel something beneath him, which he assumed rightly to be Anise but there was no warmth coming from her. In fact there was no warmth anywhere. It was a foreign concept to him now. He stirred and pushed himself away from Anise, wondering why he had been lying on her in the first place and trying to remember what had happened. He shook his head after a few moments as nothing was returning to him and instead looked around. He was in the same hut as before, except now all the colour had been lost. All of the unusual scents, exotic shades and strange feelings within the hut had vanished, leaving Gryfn marginally confused and a little disorientated. His emotions and thoughts seemed to have a limit though until he was back to square one. His eyes scanned the hut in a numb fashion and upon finding the witch gone he turned back to Anise. He crawled his way over to her again, not noticing how he kicked the cup of foul-smelling herbs the witch had given to him out of the way, and took to shaking her unconscious body and murmuring her name.
Anise's eyes fluttered open gently and she stared straight up into the face of Gryfn. Something was different, and it disquieted her, if only a little, before the numbness filled its space. The drab surroundings helped anesthetise her emotions before they rose and she simply stared blankly at Gryfn. His vacant face was outlined by the dark waves of his messy hair and he seemed to be wanting to say something by the way his eyes kept flashing with confusion before subsiding, and the way his jaw kept clenching.
"What is it Gryfn?" Anise asked calmly, all of her exhaustion seemingly forgotten and she rose up on her elbows to meet him.
He stared back in her dull eyes and shrugged as the nagging thought slipped back into his subconscious once again.
Suddenly Anise let out a cry as she was forced to her feet, and moved outside. There was no-one dragging her but the witch was controlling her mind from outside, calling for her to come out. Gryfn followed soon after, like a loyal lap-dog. The witch had less control over him as she was only using herbs but she didn't need it; it was Anise she was after.
Out in the clearing it was still and quiet, and a few wooden targets stood at various distances from the hut. The witch stood near the centre, waiting patiently as the pair came floating out of the hut; suspended in her beam of magic. She set them down a few feet from her, and after pulling her furs closer and leaning back on her staff, she gave them an appraising look.
"Come here witch." She bade, her voice grating like splinters in the still air and Anise walked numbly towards her.
Her face was blank and her eyes dead as she stood before the witch; a loyal servant indeed.
"Hit the target." Demanded the witch as she pointed a gnarled finger to the nearest target.
Anise turned obediently and stood still for a moment, before unleashing a stream of white pulsing power. It wasn't focused though and completely missed the target, hitting a nearby tree instead and setting one if its branches alight.
The witch growled and knocked Anise backwards with a mental blow. The girl flew a good 10 feet through the air before landing with a hard thud on the ground and skidding backwards through the dirt. She lay sprawled as Gryfn could do no more than watch; unable to control his own movements and what little thoughts and feelings he had.
"Get up." Screamed the witch, wrenching Anise to her feet and hauling her steadily back over towards her haggard figure. "Again."
This went on many times, Anise gradually becoming littered with cuts and bruises but not feeling them. Once more she was flung backward, a rib making a loud cracking sound as blood pooled from a cut to her forehead but with no whimper or tears or even emotions showing on her face. The witch relaxed her hold on her emotions a little, and suddenly anger flared up in Anise. She released a white ribbon of energy once again, focusing this time, and hit the target soundly in the middle.
"Very good." Crowed the witch, applauding the young battered girl, once again relinquishing her hold on her. "Now try the next one."
Gradually throughout the afternoon the witch trained Anise; although the girl went not without her beatings. It seemed she needed some form of emotion to be able to focus her energies and perform her tasks and so the witch had to lose some amount of control over her, even if only a little. The risk was not great however as when the girl had released her anger it had been focused on proving her skills to the witch and not on the witch herself.
It was well past dusk when the witch ushered the pair back inside. She fed them and gave them some warm ale to drink, watching them closely and dispensing the boy with herbs when she felt it appropriate. They seemed totally under her control, like zombies, unable to think for themselves and seeing nothing but dull greyness in their newfound world.
It was the next morning, after the witch had healed Anise's wounds so as not to raise suspicion amongst the Knights that she released the two from her care. She still held both within her hold though, as long as Anise continued to wear the necklace and the boy to stay nearby her. She bade them one final quest though before sending them homewards, her chilling laughter following them into the forest.
"Two horses ride!" Shouted a Roman guard from the top of the fort and a scrawny stable hand went rushing off towards the Table Room.
"Sir Knights, Sir Arthur!" Cried the child as he rushed into the room, bowing as he entered. "Two horses ride, Lady Anise and Sir Gryfn return!"
Arthur gave the small boy his thanks and left swiftly with the others to the courtyard. They arrived just as the pair rode into the courtyard and dismounted their horses.
Gawain ran forward, a broad smile on his face as he took Anise into his arms and kissed her hungrily. He drew back went he felt it not being returned though, gazing at Anise with worry. She seemed…dead to him. Her eyes appeared to barely notice him as she stood staring at him, or was she staring through him? Gawain couldn't quite tell. He hugged her to him, noting the loss of warmth and emotions he could usually feel from her. It worried him but he put it down to the intensive training she must have received. He walked her slowly back over to the others, all of them smiling at Anise but noticing the worry on Gawain's face.
"She's just tired, that's all." He explained hurriedly, a wide smile plastered to his face.
It was only Galahad, Day and Tristan who saw through his façade though as they had noticed the same in Gryfn. The boy had seemed distant and vacant when he was greeted by his sisters, not even hugging Jocosta tightly as he usually would. He spoke little, and what he did say came out in strained and quick sentences. He had left quickly, his posture lost of its usual pride and light-heartedness, now dull and lacking in care and haste. Day watched him go, turning back to Tristan with a troubled frown and stared up at him fearfully.
"Something is not right. Both, they are the same, are not themselves. They are numb inside, lifeless almost. What has happened to them?" She rambled mournfully, her hands wringing together anxiously.
"Perhaps they are just tired." Tristan suggested softly, hoping to comfort her, although he too could see it was more than that.
"Aye," sighed Day wearily. "Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I am fretting over nothing and they will be fine tomorrow." She glanced up with a doubtful smile then. "You are too good to me my love."
"Come, I have something to show you." Commanded Tristan gently, taking her hand and ignoring the muffled protests from Day as he led her away.
"Anise are you sure you're ok?" Gawain asked immediately after he had shut the door to their chambers.
"I am fine…" She answered, looking at him in confusion as though she could not remember him.
"Gawain. I am Gawain." He finished for her, setting her down on the bed and growing more anxious with every passing moment. He softly took her hand in his, causing the fabric of her dress to fall back down to her elbow where a large cut ran up to meet her wrist; the witch had obviously missed one wound. Gawain gasped when he saw this, and turned her arm slightly to look at her motif. It was black, no colours flickered across its surface as they usually would. Something was not right.
"Yes, Gawain." She said blankly, looking at him with an empty expression.
"You must need your rest, you look tired." He muttered after a few moments and shifted her under the covers, tucking her in and sitting alongside her; staring down at her with troubled eyes. "What happened out there?" He whispered after a while.
She swung her lifeless eyes from the ceiling to him and stared blankly at him for a long moment. Her mouth opened a little but she seemed to pause, and a glimmer of confusion, fear and frustration crossed her eyes but it was gone as soon as it had appeared.
"Nothing." Was the numb response and she shut her eyes, cutting him out.
Gawain sat stroking her hair for a while, thinking she had gone to sleep before leaning down and kissing her softly upon the lips. Her now cold and unresponsive lips. A shudder ran through him as he pulled back, what had happened to his Anise? He left the room, shutting the door with a quiet snap as he set out to talk to Day. Anise's near black eyes flew open as soon as Gawain's footsteps could no longer be heard, and she removed herself from the bed. She too left then, as she went to retrieve Gryfn.
Gryfn had returned to his quarters; a room had been set aside for him as he would be regularly staying at the fort. A knock rattled the door and he opened it quickly, expecting to find Anise. Instead it was Jocosta that greeted him. Not noticing his unresponsiveness, she slipped into the room and stood waiting. He closed the door and turned to her numbly. She frowned as his arms hung limply by her sides, not outstretched in a warm embrace as they usually were when the two came together.
"Brigh?" She asked aloud, hurt and worry lacing her tiny voice.
Upon receiving no answer she crept forward then, reaching up on her tiptoes and pulling his head down to look at her with her small hands on either side of his face. He seemed not to notice she was there, not even when tears spilled from his younger sister's eyes and rolled down her face solemnly.
"Gryfn? Brother? Brigh?" Pleaded Jocosta desperately, pawing at his face. She only received a blank expression again, and she wailed miserably burrowing into his muscled chest.
"Brigh please come back! It's me! It's your Brideag! Please, please, Brigh!" Jocosta sobbed, her face embedded in Gryfn's chest. A flash of sadness washed across his eyes and slowly his hand began to twitch. He could feel the power of the witch restraining him, willing the feelings away, but he was growing stronger. The more his sister sobbed and wailed, the stronger the emotions became. He could feel the witch fighting against him in a battle of wills, but her defences were weakening from his youth and with one final pull her power was shattered. She had more important things to worry about now anyway, but the boy could have been of use.
Jocosta felt a warm hand come up to rest upon her back and she jerked her head up; her tear-stained cheeks were wiped dry as Gryfn rubbed his thumb over them.
"Brideag." He whispered with a soft smile, and Jocosta plunged into him once again in a tight embrace.
He bent forward and rested his chin on her head as they stayed like that for a while before he pulled her back at arm's length.
"You're back." She whispered in delight. "I didn't know what had happened to you, you were all but dead to me." Jocosta muttered solemnly, staring hard into her brother's smiling face, noticing the return of his normal dancing eyes and remarking on the warmth returning to his body. "What happened?"
Gryfn's face turned serious then and he stroked his sister's hair from her face.
"The witch, she is evil. She has taken control of Anise as she had of me. Go and warn the others for I must help Anise. Go Brideag." He urged and watched Jocosta nod in shock and run from the room.
He turned back to the room to pick up his weapons when a shadow filled his doorway and he felt a presence loom heavily.
"Come we must go. There is work to be done." Anise said flatly; all emotion lost in her intense voice.
Gryfn nodded, pretending he was still under the effects of the witch's spell and moved towards the door. Anise watched him intently for a moment and he feared she may discover his secret; her eyes boring into him, as dull and lifeless as they were, but still searching.
"Come." She stated dully as she turned away, before motioning to his newly-acquired weapons. "What are they for?"
Her eyes turned upon him again and he fought to contain his composure.
"We need protection in case Arthur has arms." He noted bleakly, cringing inwardly at the inert figure before him. Not even her hair had the same lustre it used to, her skin was pasty and stiff; every ounce of life in her was gone.
"I am the protection." Anise responded flatly, some of the witch's cracked lilting tone emerging in the speech as Anise floated away.
Gryfn stopped stock-still and watched her with wide eyes; surely his secret would be known now that the witch was evident.
"Come. There is work to be done." Repeated Anise flatly; her voice all but back to what it had been a few seconds before, and Gryfn obeyed.
A/N:2 chapters in one day, aren't you lucky people? I hope this cleared up a few things for you, as old wicked witchy is definately not the helping type anymore. What is she going to do with Anise though? Gave you all a big clue in there lol. And will the Knights and co be able to stop her? Will Anise break free and get her revenge?Sorry Gryfn came out of it a bit quick but you can only make Jocosta cry for so long before you want to shut her up lol. Hope this is all exciting stuff for you! Very fun to write indeed, shame I have to start revising tomorrow -sigh- Ah well tell me what you think and thanks for all the positive feedback guys! Much appreicated with non-stop smiling, little claps of joy and dances in some cases lol. Thanks x