Day heaved Anise up into the awaiting arms of Gawain, and flew out of the room. Tristan was bent over Gryfn's body with Jocosta silently watching nearby; her eyes glowering in the grim light of the torches in the corridor. Tristan looked up as Day raced towards them, his eyes speaking with silent reluctance at the news she already knew. Tristan didn't speak, but moved backwards as Day knelt down and felt for her brother's weakening pulse, listening to his shallow breathing.
"Gawain, bring Anise out here please. Dagonet do you have those smelling salts?" Day called back into the room but her eyes stayed trained on her brother's greying face.
Dagonet came out first with a slightly confused expression but produced the salts all the same, handing them to Day and moving aside for Gawain. The blonde Knight knelt down with the limp body of Anise in his arms, turning to Day and giving her an anxious look with his eyes as he gently placed Anise on the floor.
"Gawain with your permission…" Day asked softly looking up sorrowfully at the Knight.
"Do what is necessary Day." He replied, just as softly but with a tense conviction behind his words.
Day nodded and slid over to Anise, moving the girl's head till it rested in her lap and gently pushing her hair from her face. She then opened the smelling salts and wafted them under Anise's nose until the unconscious girl stirred and opened her deep brown eyes with a glazed expression. Blinking in slow awakening she stared up at Day tiredly who smiled down gently at her.
"Anise, I know you're very tired but can I ask one last favour of you?" Day said, a distressed tone encroaching on her gentle voice.
Anise nodded, closing her eyes slowly before opening them again and finding Gawain stood nearby. He was stood behind Day, smiling down on her with anxious eyes and Anise smiled back with a contented sigh.
"Anise I want you to try and heal for me." Day whispered, her emerald eyes full of hope and pleading.
Anise frowned in confusion and turned her head slightly to her left to see Gryfn's ashen body. Her head whipped back round to face Day again and her brows drew together in anguish and confusion.
"I didn't do that, did I…." Whispered Anise trailing off in grief, tears starting to glisten in her eyes.
"No Anise, not you. The witch." Soothed Day, holding Anise's hand tightly and squeezing gently. Everyone else looked at Day in silence, wondering as to why she hadn't told her the truth as the girl could seemingly not remember anything of her control under the witch. They all held their tongue though, thankful for the calm for the time being.
"But…I don't know if I can do it. I can only hurt…what if I hurt him more? Don't make me, please don't make me." Whimpered Anise, clinging tightly to Day's hand and letting the tears flow freely now.
Tristan stared at Day urgently then, his fingers seeking out the quickly fading pulse of Gryfn.
"Day." He warned quietly, a stern caution behind his stare.
Day glanced back down to the silently weeping Anise and felt her own tears rising.
"But he's going to die…" She whispered aloud, hanging her head in shame at not being able to save him. Her vision blurred as the tears rose, her heart inside slowly tearing.
Back inside the room, Lancelot and Bors were helping Arthur into his bed. Arthur kept resisting until Lancelot placed a calming hand to his forehead and stared at him warmly.
"Arthur." He warned softly, watching as his commander instantly stilled and looked up at his First Knight.
Lancelot was sat next to Arthur on the edge of the bed, his hand still resting on the half-Roman's forehead before slowly melting away and returning to lie beside Arthur.
Normally Arthur would argue with the promiscuous Knight, telling a frustrated Lancelot that he was fine and was more then able to look after himself. It usually ended up with Lancelot growling and shouting something in anger at Arthur before storming from his room; slamming the door behind him. Not today though. Arthur resignedly nodded and sighed, sinking back into his pillows and let his exhaustion wash over him.
"This is a first Arthur." Chuckled Lancelot in amusement, and Arthur opened an eye with a quirked eyebrow. "Well usually you fight me, but I see this time you're listening to my voice of reason."
Arthur chuckled then, before it turned into a scratchy cough and Lancelot leant across to fill a mug with water from the jar on Arthur's table. He shifted backwards again and rested the cup against his commander's lips as Arthur slowly sipped the cooling liquid. Once he was settled Lancelot replaced the cup and looked back to Arthur with a smirk.
"Or perhaps it's just the loss of air to the brain from your near strangulation finally making you listen to me."
Arthur smiled then, staring up tiredly at a chuckling Lancelot before his eyes slipped closed again. He could still feel Lancelot's presence with him and he welcomed the company as it helped fight off the cold stave of loneliness Arthur usually felt.
Anise watched as tears started to roll gracefully down Day's cheeks and she felt the girl's torture as her brother slowly died before her very eyes.
"I don't think I can…" She whispered again, looking guilty as Day raised her head to look at her again. "I can only try."
A small smile crossed Day's lips then and she clutched Anise's hand fiercely.
"That is all we ask for." She whispered back and helped Anise to a sitting position; her back resting against Day who held her steady.
Anise looked back at the fading form of Gryfn before her eyes shut firmly and she stretched her arms out in front of her so that they hovered just above his chest.
"Focus your energies." Day whispered near Anise's ear. "Let them guide you into a path of healing. Focus on the good memories rather than the bad."
Anise's face scrunched up in concentration as she receded into her mind and centred her energies.
There was Gryfn's memories, still stored in the dark recesses of her memory from that fateful day. She could vaguely remember there being some passing images of his other memories before the one she had endured in detail. She plunged herself into his thoughts once again. The flashes were going so quickly, Anise couldn't control them. She whirled around flustered, trying desperately to think of a way to stop them before it was too late and it reached the bad memories. With a small whimper of trepidation Anise flung herself into the next flash, closing her mind's eye until she felt nothing. Cautiously she blinked open her eyes and found herself sitting in a flourishing field; the tall grasses swaying lazily in the gentle summer breeze as they reached up to kiss the azure sky, dancing past Anise's head. She struggled to her feet and glanced around the landscape, breathing in the calmness of the place, the beauty of it and the sounds it held. She could hear soft rustling in the grasses, intermixed with stifled murmurings and snorts of laughter. A smile worked its way to her lips as she waited patiently, surveying the scene until her attention was caught by a loud scream followed by laughter and shouts of joy. She turned to her left and saw a young Day jump up from the grass and run wildly through the grasses, screaming with laughter as Gryfn ran behind her.
"I'm gonna catch you Day!" He shouted joyously, swinging at the grass in front of him as he raced after his sister who was still shrieking in a mix of fear and excitement.
Anise laughed aloud then, watching the children's happiness when a small figure appeared in front of her. The small child could not see her as she was not really there, but Anise instantly recognized the long russet locks and deep green doe-like eyes to be that of Jocosta. The smaller and much younger version of Jocosta sucked upon her thumb in anticipation as she listened to her sister and brother nearing. Her thumb was then removed as she let loose a childish giggle as Day plunged out of the grass next to her and grabbed her in a fierce hug; swinging her round and making her shriek with laughter. Gryfn toppled out of the high grass too then and watched with joy as Jocosta kicked her legs out as she soared through the air. Soon she was set down though; her face flushed and her eyes bright with excitement, and upon seeing him she ran to him, clutching him tightly around the waist.
"Brigh." She whispered, her head resting upon his stomach.
"Brideag." He returned softly, opening his arms to welcome Day into the warm embrace.
Anise watched thoughtfully and with a warm smile at this devoted group of children, the image slowly fading from her mind and darkness consuming her again.
Day could feel Anise stiffen against her as the energy started to pour through the girl's veins; coursing with a different sort of energy, offering a warm glow rather than a hot flash of pain and anger.
Day peered anxiously over Anise's shoulder at her brother's body. He was grey almost, his face calmly serene. Day sent her prayers up to the Gods, hoping beyond hope that they heard her and that they would grant her beautiful brother his life back. He was too young to die, too full of life, too loved. His future stretched far beyond him and he was a strong warrior of war; even at the tender age of 17. Day glanced up at Jocosta then who was staring steadily at her having ripped her gaze from her brother. The younger girl was still angry it seemed, her face stony as her eyes bored into her sister. Day stared back, questioning her with her eyes but Jocosta evaded it.
"He will not die." Day mouthed to her sister.
Jocosta didn't reply but turned her gaze back down to her brother; her hands folded limply in her lap and her hair hanging free over her shoulders, skimming over her tattoos slightly.
Day's view of her sister was interrupted all of a sudden as a gold haze came into view, the light almost unbearable to look at from its cleansing brightness. The glow was weaving gracefully from Anise's fingertips; her eyes still closed in concentration. It meandered slowly through the air, coming to rest over Gryfn's body in a glimmering, swaying blanket of pure light. Once his whole body was covered it sank in slowly, gently disappearing beneath the coverings of his clothes and making his skin glow golden as it set to work. Everyone watched with their breathes held as the injured boy's body radiated with a shimmering light; the energy having been stopped by Anise now who leant wearily back into Day and watched through half-closed eyelids.
After a few seconds the glow faded gently like a wave being pulled back out to sea, and silence descended upon the group.
Galahad watched from the doorway of Arthur's chamber with Bors, glancing up to observe Jocosta as the girl sat stony-faced a little ways from Gryfn. Her head jerked up after a moment and she looked at Day suddenly scared; all of her anger disappeared.
"Brigh?" She whimpered, her eyes fixed on Day.
Day stared back with fierce determination, she had to be strong for her sister, she had to be strong as her brother would. Jocosta's bottom lip started to tremble and her eyes fill with tears as their brother still did not stir and she held Day's gaze.
The other Knights looked around at one another helplessly, at a loss of what to say. They didn't want to drag the girls away as they held their own silent conversation with stares and so the Knights stayed in their places; watching them intently.
Jocosta was still staring at her older sister as if to say: She could not save him.
Day returned a look of pure love and warmth, grief underlying it: He has gone to a better place Jocosta. He is with mother now…
Jocosta let out a choked sob then as she read Day's gaze, breaking the stare and moving her head back down to gaze upon Gryfn. Her Brigh, her strong, brave brother who they looked to for strength, for comfort was gone. The loss was instant, both sisters' grieving inside and Jocosta struggled to remain calm. With a few more stifled sobs she stumbled to her feet and looked down on the dead face of her brother; her beautiful, calm, kind, loving brother. Then without another word spoken, with words or looks, Jocosta turned upon her heel and started to storm away; the tears streaming down her face and leaving diamond glittering avenues across her cheeks.
"Brideag, where are you going?" Croaked a voice softly, stopping Jocosta in her tracks and turning her round slowly to find Gryfn peering at her wearily; a gleam of his usual warmth and care returned.
Jocosta's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open slightly in a shuddering breath of relief and disbelief as she launched herself towards her brother; coming to rest softly by his side and leaning down to lie her head on his chest as she hugged him fiercely. Gryfn smiled and opened his other arm to Day, one arm already placed tightly around Jocosta's shoulders. Gawain moved to take Anise from Day's grasp and she smiled thankfully before dropping to her brother's side in a care-filled embrace.
Anise smiled to herself then; it was just like the scene from Gryfn's memory. The young man in question turned his head then to look at Anise in wonder and she only smiled and nodded softly before falling asleep in Gawain's arms.
A/N: Sorry that was just a whole chapter about Gryfn etc but did I get you all going? Hope so lol. Of course I couldn't kill him! Some of youmight hate me, then again you might not lol, but I like him! The next few chapters will be fluff, fluff and ooo more fluff! But hopefully some of the fluff will explain why wicked ol' witchy had it in for Arty lol. Yes, so...tell me what you think and whether you hate me or not for nearly, almost, so very closely killing Gryfn lol. Thanks for your motivating reviews and sorry I left you waiting for a bit lol xx