Friends of Fire 4
by: River
The woman entered the room where Kate was sitting by the fireplace, shivering. She was holding two warm blankets in her hands and wrapped them around the young woman's shoulders in hope to warm her up.
"How are you feeling?" she asked softly, resting a comforting hand on her shoulders.
Kate pulled her exhausted eyes away from the flickering flames and to the older woman beside her. She smiled and nodded. "Much better, thank you. And thank you for this," she lifted her trembling hands and showed her the warm milk she had been offered a few minutes ago.
"You're much welcome, child. But may I ask how a young woman like yourself got lost in these mountains so far away from any villages?"
Kate smiled. "I travel with friends. One of them, William, is a jouster. A very good one, too." Her smile slowly faded and her eyes wandered away.
"Your friends, were they with you before you arrived here?"
"Yes. I was going to wait for after the storm to go and find them, but by the look of it--" she was cut off by a round of coughs. The woman looked alarmed but Kate shook her hand and mumbled "I'm fine," between breaths. Once calmed down, she sipped on her warm milk and continued her story. "By the looks of it, the rainstorm will continue for at least another couple of hours."
"I cannot see anything outside, not in this weather," said the breathless husband, walking in from the front door soaked wet. Kate cast a worried glance at the woman. "You needn't to send your husband out on my behalf. You will get him sick!"
The woman chuckled and went to her husband. "Oh, but darling, he does what he pleases. My name is Elena, and this is my husband Christopher."
Kate closed her eyes; she forgot about introducing herself. "I'm sorry, my name is Kate."
"How have you managed to get this far in this storm?" Christopher asked while his wife helped him out of his wet woollen coat. Thanking her with a smile, he sat across Kate by the fire.
"I was on a horse, but she was frightened by the thunder and ran away."
"Is it only me or do you look pale?" Elena approached Kate and put her hand on her forehead. She gasped and pulled it away. "Oh, my! Child, you have a temperature."
Kate wondered if she should tell them about her unexpected illness or not. She knew it was the right thing to do, but what if they were worried of getting it themselves and order her to leave their property? They looked like a nice couple that had been together for long years. But a few things kept Kate's mind occupied, why would anyone be interested on staying in the middle of the mountains? There were no signs of children anywhere, or any other occupants for that matter.
-=-
The cave was small and humid, but at least it was dry. Wat and Roland were quietly seated next to Jocelyn who sat curled up against the back wall of the cave. William stood silently by the entrance, his eyes scanning the horizon before him, hoping to penetrate the curtain of rain and see if Kate was around somewhere.
"William, I'm cold," Jocelyn whispered, her arms wrapped around her to protect herself from the cold.
William closed his eyes as if suddenly being pulled back to reality after living a dream. "We cannot start a fire. We will all choke to death."
"At least come and sit beside me," she pleaded. "Please."
William was about to protest, he had prepared several excuses for times like these, but before he could use any of them, a hand came out of nowhere to rest on his shoulder. Will turned his head and Chaucer smiled weakly.
"You go and be with your lass, mate. I will alert you if I see her."
William was about to decline the offer but Roland loudly cleared his throat. William's eyes left Chaucer and traveled to Roland and Wat shaking their heads. He glanced at the shivering Jocelyn and closed his eyes, defeated. They were right, he had treated Jocelyn unfairly since... since what exactly? He frowned and quietly turned his back to the storm and made his way to Jocelyn. As soon as he slid down next to her, she cuddled up against him and her shivers ceased.
Chaucer turned his head back to the world outside the cave and exhaled softly.
"This storm seems to be lasting forever," Wat said with displeasure.
"I wouldn't count on it, mate," Chaucer peeked outside and shook his head. "The clouds are leaving. Slowly, but leaving."
"As soon as the visibility returns, we leave and search for our missing friend." Jocelyn lifted her head to look at her lover's face and smiled.
"You are such a good man for taking care of me and your friends. Why couldn't they be more men like you in the world?"
"Oh! But there is!" Wat grinned at the young lady, his hands waving at himself. She chuckled and smiled.
William showed no signs of amusement. His eyes stared ahead as if no one had spoken. He found Jocelyn's previous words confusing. He loved Jocelyn but it wasn't to this day, that he felt he needed to take care of her. Why would he ever? She was a grown woman, she needn't to be taken cared of. He remembered this morning, the feeling he felt when spending time with Kate in her tent. Something was about to happen, and although he was already in a serious relationship with a woman any men would die for, he was ready to let it happen.
"Are you alright, love?" Jocelyn broke his thoughts, her hand resting on his chest.
"I am just concerned, is all."
"We all are," Wat cut in, receiving nods from the other men.
William forced a smile and leaned the back of his head against the stone wall of the cave. He closed his eyes and sighed softly.
He doubted anyone could worry more about Kate's disappearance than himself at the moment. He just found that possibility highly unlikely.
-=-
"Kate?"
She looked up and noticed the couple was staring at her strangely, waiting for her to say something.
"I -- yes, I have a temperature. The reason why my friends and I continued our journey despite the rain was because I had caught a strange illness while being in the mountains."
Christopher's eyes darted from his wife to Kate. "Is it contagious?" he demanded.
Kate shook her head. "No, none of my friends have it. So it is safe to assume I am the only carrier of the virus."
Elena exhaled deeply. "Perhaps you should go see the Healer of the family."
Christopher loudly groaned. "Do not bother talking into this woman to see the crazy mother of yours, Elena!"
Elena glared at her husband. "Do not dare say harmful things about my mother. She has been practicing this gift since she was but a child, she is no crazy woman."
"Healer? gift? May I ask what is it you are both talking about?" Kate interrupted.
Christopher shook his head and leaned back in his seat. He obviously didn't want to be the one talking about it. Elena pulled a chair and sat before Kate.
"I call her the Healer, while others prefer other names," she glanced briefly at her husband. "Neva, my mother, has been practicing the natural healing process since she was a child."
"What is natural healing?" she frowned.
"She uses special techniques to help people with diseases and injuries--"
"I think you must have asked yourself what a couple like ourselves is doing here in the middle of the mountains," Christopher cut in. "The villagers never accepted Elena's mother, said she was a witch with harmful powers."
"But all of her doings did nothing but good to people," Elena argued.
"How can you say that, woman?" Christopher almost yelled, his eyes turning from brown to red with fury. Kate was startled and paled. The last thing she wanted was to either start a fight or be in the middle of one. "John and Elisa... " he breathed, his voice threatening to break. "They lost their lives because of her!"
"They were sick!" Elena cried.
"Nevertheless they were our children!"
Elena's face hardened as if the devil's name had been spoken. Without another word, she turned around abruptly and walked the fragile wooden stairs leading to the small second floor of the house. A door opened then closed softly. The house fell silent, only the sound of the fire flickering was heard. Kate shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wondering if she should say something or keep quiet.
"My apologies," Christopher began. "I did not mean to start this in your company."
"It is alright, sir," she almost whispered.
"It's been only five months since we've lost them."
"Your children?"
"Yes."
"I am sorry."
"Do not be, it was God's plan. We accept it but we needn't to agree with it. They were but children when they were murdered."
Kate let out an involuntary gasp. Earning a look from Christopher, she quickly made her apologies.
"You must eat something, I will give you soup then you shall rest for a few hours. I will wake you when the storm ends."
The subject was suddenly dropped. She nodded and watched as he warmed the soup above the fire. She glanced up at where Elena had left and thought if it would be wise to walk there and comfort her. It must have been hard for this couple to grieve their children's sudden departure.
A bowl of soup was put down next to her on the kitchen table. She turned her seat and thanked Christopher before picking the spoon. Once her meal finished, Christopher led her to a small room on the first floor. There were two beds, a drawer and a small wooden chair sitting untouched facing a small squared window. Kate guessed it must have been their children's room at some point, before they left the world of the living.
Before she had a chance to thank him, he was out of the room and closing the door behind him. She sighed and walked further in, putting her two blankets from her shoulders on one of the beds, she headed to the window. It was impossible to see anything due to the rainstorm. A small wave of dizziness rushed to her head, making her lose her balance. Feeling a warm wave starting from her toes to her head, she knew her temperature just got higher. She headed to the bed and decided to get some rest.
-=-
Three hours later, the rain had finally ceased and the dark clouds were slowly dispersing in the sky. The group left the cave and took in their surroundings. There were puddles of mud everywhere, and fallen rocks blocking several routes that led to the next town.
"I cannot even remember from which way we came from," Roland said, turning around on himself trying to remember.
"I think it is this way," Wat pointed in a direction.
"No," Roland said slowly. "I think you are wrong."
Wat cast the man an annoyed look. "Do I need to remind you, that just recently you told us you had no idea of where we came from?"
"Yes."
"Then why is my suggestion so wrong?"
"Because, dear friend, I doubt the horse would come back on her steps once riding off."
"What?"
"The horse!" Jocelyn squealed instead. The horse she had been riding was standing still and drinking water further away.
Wat glared at Roland. "So you think you are smarter than us, eh?"
The man chuckled. "Do I need a reason to think otherwise?"
"Can anyone see the other horse?" William asked.
"I can't," Chaucer stood on a large rock, his eyes carefully studying the land of rock before them. "In fact, I cannot see anything but mud and rocks."
"Great," Will whispered. He took the horse and started walking.
"Can I not ride her?" Jocelyn jogged next to him, frowning.
Will shook his head. "She has been through enough already. She is too exhausted to transport any of us yet."
"And you expect me to walk in this -- mud?" she laughed, thinking he must be joking. William glanced at her seriously and nodded. Her smile faded and she stopped walking. She waited until Roland and the others to be beside her before continuing. Sometimes she did not understand how William was working, in which mood he was in. In times like these, he just looked like a stranger to her instead of a lover.
Chaucer suddenly stopped abruptly, his head tilted to one side. There was something or someone approaching.
"Everyone, quiet!" He ordered.
"What is it?" William asked.
"Did you not hear the man? He said quiet!" Jocelyn hissed.
William raised his eyebrows, stunned by the woman's outburst. "I beg your pardon?"
"I hear something coming our way."
"Hide!"
Before anyone had the chance to go anywhere, a man riding a brown horse appeared in view. Seeing the group of men and woman, he slowed down his horse and approach the strangers slowly.
"May I ask your names?" he inquired.
"What business is it of yours?" Chaucer asked.
"Wait," William motioned him to silence himself and stepped toward the man on the horse.
"I am named William--"
"William?" he echoed as if he once heard of this name.
"Yes, and we--"
"You are the jouster?" The man continued his little interrogation.
William shifted uncomfortably from one foot to another before nodding. "Yes, I joust. Why is this important? We are lost and--"
"And you are looking for your friend."
"Will you stop interrup--yes, that is it! We are looking for a woman named Kate, you've heard of her?" His heart skipped a beat.
The man smiled and nodded. "I have been looking for you since the rain had stopped. Your friend, Kate, is resting in my house. I was meant to wake her when the storm ended but my wife thought it was best not to."
"She is sick, we must get her to someone with medical knowledge!" Will argued. "Show us where she is, sir, please."
"Yes, of course. Follow me."
Looking at his friends, they shared a smile before quickening their steps to follow the man. They walked passed several fallen rocks and up a small hill. Once on the summit, a small wooden house and a stable was seen.
"Is this--"
"My house, yes," the man nodded.
William let the horse in the hands of Wat and ran down the hill towards the house. The others followed him, but at a slower pace.
"Is he her husband?" the man ask.
"No, he will be mine," Jocelyn retorted, arms crossed against her chest.
"My apologies."
T b c
-=-