Shadowill: Yeah, sry for not clearing that up. He wasn't affected cause he's alittle elf-boy (Rune: You act like I'm two years old! Me: No, I act like you're a girly-girl. But don't take that personally, I think you're manly. Rune-.-j ) I love ur fics, thanks 4 reading mine -feels honored that this great authoress is responding to her fanfic-
Hikaru Kosuzaku: I'm glad u like :D -runs around in happy circles-
Element Flair: Thanks so much for ur review. Really helps and makes me feel all fuzzy inside (okay enough of the fuzzy feeling -throws it out the window- )
Possessed By a Memory: Chapter 2
Rune stood up, leaving the now healed baker on the ground. He was nearly finished but there was at least another hour's work left. Thatz had gotten up after and hour of resting. He'd spent the next hour helping Rath and the Dragon Fighters help the villagers rebuild the city. They were taking a break now, and the two knights came over to Rune. Rune didn't notice them. He walked mechanically to the next person, healing them in a daze, stroking the silver necklace that hung from his neck.
"Thank you," said the elderly lady, hobbling off. Rune didn't even respond. He was tired. He'd never had to use his powers so extensively. He suddenly staggered. To his surprise, he was promptly caught by Rath and Thatz.
"Hey Rune, you need to take a break, you look about ready to drop," Rath said anxiously. Rune wriggled out of their grasp, but gratefully accepted the bread and beer that Thatz handed him, though he'd much prefer water.
"Thank you, but I can't there are more I still have to heal," he said tiredly.
"I think the city doesn't need us to help the rebuilding. We can help Rune- boy now," said Thatz trying to lighten up the mood. Rath nodded, taking his lead.
"Yeah, we'll bring the villagers to you Rune, that way you don't have to waste your energy walking to them."
Rune smiled, "Thanks."
As Thatz walked off, Rath turned to Rune, "Who was the girl?"
Rune turned away, "She looked so much like Tintlet, and I couldn't save her..." Rath's crimson eyes softened at the pain in Rune's voice. He turned and went to bring back some villagers. Moments later Thatz came, bringing two young girls with him. He set them down in front of Rune.
"Thanks, this really does help," said Rune, quickly finishing. Thatz watched him worriedly. Rath came next, and it was like a chain. They brought people, one after the other, until half an hour later, everyone had been healed. Rune shook as he stood up, Rath grabbing him by the shoulders just before he collapsed. Thatz jumped over, and they lowered Rune to the scorched ground. Rune moaned slightly and Rath brushed his golden hair out of his face, glistening with sweat.
"Oh man, he doesn't look good," said Thatz, "I knew he was pushing himself too hard!"
"Is sir Rune all right?" asked one of the Dragon Fighters.
"Yes, I'm fine. I was just really tired. Can... Can we go home now?" said Rune weakly. Rath nodded. They helped him onto Water, and then sped off back to the castle, night beginning to dawn on them.
"You're back! Did everything go all right?" Ruwalk stopped when he saw Rune slung between the two knights, conscious but unable to walk. He noted their torn armor and tired faces as well as Thatz painful limp. Alfeegi walked in. "What's wrong with Rune? What happened to you two?"
"I'm okay!" said Rune forcefully.
"You should eat first," said Thatz automatically heading over to the dining hall. Rune let him drag him along while Rath gave an account of what had happened at Chantel to the anxious Yellow and White Secretaries, leaving out, to his relief, the part about the girl.
Now sitting at the table, Thatz wolfed down plate after plate of food, Rath following at a slower pace. Rune couldn't eat. He was exhausted beyond the limit, but every time he closed his eyes, a dying Tintlet flashed through his mind, then a burning corpse, and his hands would fly to his throat. His eyes were wide, fixed on a nonexistent object.
"Rune, please eat..." Thatz begged, for once not asking if he could eat it instead. His green eyes were dark with worry.
"I'm afraid I'd throw up if I did," he said getting up, but a dizzying dazedness clouded his vision and he groaned and collapsed again.
"Rune!" Alfeegi dove for him.
"I hate it when they get up then fall down," said Thatz getting up. Ruwalk helped Alfeegi, and they carried Rune's unconscious figure to his room.
"Should we get the doctor?" asked Ruwalk, setting Rune down. Thatz pulled the covers up to Rune's neck, then sat backwards in a chair.
"I think he just needs to sleep," said Rath, taking his own chair and placing it next to Thatz.
"You two look like you should get some sleep too," Alfeegi said, taking Ruwalk by the hand and pulling him out of the room, "I'm going to inform the Lord that you are back, and he'll want to know about Rune's condition."
The door closed with a click. Rath sighed, "I guess all that healing really took a toll on him... and of course there was that girl part..."
"What girl part?" asked Thatz immediately. Rath stood up.
"The demon, after going after you, it picked up a body. Rune looked really shaken. It was a girl's body, already dead. He burnt her body to a crisp. Rune went berserk. He... he said she looked like Tintlet. The only thing left was this necklace," he said, lifting the sliver necklace off Rune's chest.
"Tintlet? His little faerie princess? Is that why he was so depressed?" asked Thatz.
"I guess so..." Rath still held the necklace. He frowned, "This thing doesn't feel right... I don't think Rune should be wearing it..." He took it off Rune's neck, careful not to disturb him, and placed it on the table beside his bed.
"What do you mean? Weird? Is it bad?" said Thatz alarmed.
"It has a weird vibe," was all Rath said, sitting in the chair and promptly falling asleep. I didn't think he'd fall asleep that fast, thought Thatz, before his eyes closed too.
OoO
Lord Lykouleon and Cesia walked into the room to find Rath and Thatz in a rather interesting position. They'd fallen on the floor in a tangle if arms and legs, yet somehow their heads managed to fall next to each other. Lykouleon chuckled and stepped over them to get to Rune. Cesia bent over Rath with the intention of kicking him awake, then thought better of it. She looked at Rath's hand. There was a red mark across his palm, as if he's held a really hot string or something. She decided it wasn't serious and sat at the foot of Rune's bed.
"Well he's sleeping good enough," she said. Lykouleon sighed, looking at Rune's still pale face.
"I'm very grateful to him. He shouldn't have worn himself so much, but if he hadn't we'd had more casualties. Half of the city was killed. Had Rune not healed them, we'd had lost the rest of the civilians. Something is bothering me about this whole episode..."
"What?" asked Cesia. The lord smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it. I think we should wake up Rath and Thatz, I don't think they'd want to sleep on the floor the whole night."
Cesia laughed and kicked them both, "Wake up lazy knights."
"Ow! You didn't have to kick us you know. Take you foot off my butt Rath!"
"You need to be quieter! You're going to wake up Rune!"
"He's just a lazy elf."
"You arms are wrapped round my waist! What am I, your teddy bear?"
"I was dreaming about a giant marshmallow..."
"So that was with the drooling! You slobbered all over my shirt!"
"Could you untangle my hair from your boots?"
"Move your head outta the way first... and your arm!"
"You snore funny Thatz!"
"Yeah, you must find it funny, kicker-girl!"
"No... But the Lord does..."
"His laughing fits are scary..."
"You just made it worse Rath!"
"Well sorry queen Cesia!"
"He needs to stop rolling on the floor... his cape is getting dirty."
"I have bruises on my arms, were you poking me Rath?"
"I dreamt I was fighting a demon."
"You're obsessive."
"Duh."
"Ack! I think Lykouleon's choking!"
"Quick! The Heimlich maneuver!"
OoO
Rune woke up groggily, and looked outside. The sun was full and warm. It's noon already. He got out of the bed, feeling refreshed and well rested. He noticed the necklace on his bedside. . He hadn't taken it off. I guess someone took it off... All the memories from yesterday came like a thunderbolt to him; the girl dying, Rath's shoulder being pierced. Thatz laying unconscious in what looked like his near deathbed. The fires of hell burning the girl's body, and then how worried they'd all been yesterday. He staggered for a second. Then he picked it up and placed it around his neck again. He remembered passing out at dinner yesterday, and he guessed they'd brought him to his bed. He walked out of his room, hungry again. Thatz was at the table eating, Rath had already finished and was lazily holding a goblet between his thumb and index fingers, apparently bored.
"Hey Rune, feeling better?" asked Thatz in between bites of his sandwich.
"Yes, much better," Rune smiled.
"Woke up late enough. Hungry?" said Rath nonchalantly.
"You can have some of my food," said Thatz, offering a chicken leg. Rune took it a plate of meat and began eating. Rath noticed the necklace.
"Take off that thing!"
"Why?" said Rune, somewhat confused and on the defensive.
"I don't think it's good for you," Rath said firmly.
"What are you talking about? It's a necklace!" said Rune defensively. Rath stood up and held his hand out. Rune gasped. There was a red marking on Rath's palm.
"It doesn't hurt. I took your necklace off last night, and look what happened to my hand," Rath pulled Rune's collar down and looked at his chest. To his surprise, there was no red weal, or marks anywhere. Rune pulled his collar back into place.
"What are you doing Rath? I don't know why that thing hurt you, but it doesn't hurt me!" said Rune, feeling slightly violated.
"Yet..." said Rath walking away. Thatz looked at them confusedly. Rune continued to eat, frowning distractedly.
"Wanna come with me after lunch? I'm gonna play some games with the other guys," offered Thatz.
"As long as it doesn't involve gambling, Alfeegi would kill me," Rune said.
"He can't!" Thatz clapped his hands gleefully.
"Why not?"
"He has a cold, I think it's Rath's fault for dumping all that water on him."
"Poor Alfeegi, maybe we should go visit him," said Rune.
"You could come with me," said Lord Lykouleon, who was passing by at that moment. Rune nodded and got up, leaving Thatz.
"I think I'll visit him later, I have business- I mean games, to organize," said Thatz quickly, speeding out of the room.
"Just as well he didn't let that slip in front of Alfeegi," sighed Rune. Lykouleon laughed, "Yes," He looked at Rune, "I'm glad you're all right now, you had us a bit worried yesterday."
"I'm sorry," he said humbly.
"You don't have to be sorry that you were sick," said Lykouleon kindly. They walked through the castle, until they finally reached Alfeegi's room. Lykouleon knocked before coming in.
"Oh, hello you majesty and Rune," said Alfeegi. His face was slightly flushed with a fever, and a box of tissues sat on his bedside.
"How are you feeling Alfeegi?" smiled Lykouleon.
"Not too- A- A... CHOO!" he sneezed, "Not too bad. How about you Rune? You were in bad shape yesterday..."
"I'm good, I just needed some sleep," said Rune, sitting next to Alfeegi, "I think you should sleep too now, I'll take care of him Lord Lykouleon."
"Thank you Rune," said Lord Lykouleon, placing a small flower vase on the windowsill, "This'll freshen up the room, Raseleane sent them."
"You don't have to worry so much about me... I'm fine," Alfeegi mumbled. He sneezed, and his eyes promptly closed. Rune smiled and sat with his head on his fist. Lykouleon stepped out of the room, leaving Rune inside. Neither blonde noticed the red-tip-haired secretary who looked into the room, and sighed regretfully at missing his chance to show the aquamarine patient his care and affections.
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