Sorry for the wait, folks. My computer had a bug for the longest time. Thanks for the reviews!
Rimosa: Cliffhangers add for suspense… I think.
Quadrono: Sorry about Borus. I'm trying to make the mood a little lighter.
Widower: Undying support makes the writer all the happier!
Aeonian: Sorry about the lack of updation (is that a word?)
Captain Spam: Music makes for good inspiration. I always listen to some when writing.
pikinanou: Glad you enjoyed it. Maybe you should drink coffee more often…
Lily (Lena) Evans: Thanks for the support. It makes the world go round!
StickyRice: I'll update more often now… as long as that stupid bug doesn't come back.
………
Chapter 5: Revenge
Dreams plagued Chris. She stood in a dark, vast area, her body lit by some unknown source of light. Then, suddenly, the black she stood on dissipated, and she fell into a roaring ocean, thunder clapping and lightning flashing overhead. The huge waves tossed her around like a ball, and she was pulled under the surface numerous times. She gasped for air as she rose to the water's murky surface, the water turning a tint of red in the lighting's brilliance. She reached towards the sky trying to stay atop the crimson water, her heart pounding as she coughed the substance from her throat. And then, with wide eyes, she realized that it was not an ocean of water…
It was of blood.
The dream ended as swiftly as it came, and she found herself in the same black world as she started in. She put a hand to her chest as she tried to force her heart to relax. Then a mirror appeared in front of her. But this was no ordinary mirror. It showed not her exterior, but what she was. She saw herself, a courageous young woman, a leader to many, and an idol to no few.
And like a mist, the courageousness drifted away. Then she saw what she fought for. She fought for her friends. She fought for Zexen's people. She fought for the land she held in high esteem, the beauty that was Zexen. And that once again floated away to nothing but the raw her. And she recoiled in disgust. She fought not out of courage, not to protect the people and things around her, but to protect herself. To save herself from the misery and torment that had clutched her when her father was proclaimed missing. To hide away her feelings, that if she let these feelings loose, she would feel the hurt and pain all over again. She was afraid losing what she already cared deeply about, afraid to care deeply about anyone and then lose them like her mother and father. She was afraid of losing what she had. And like being struck by lightning, she was finally able to admit to herself what had been bothering her for many years.
"I am losing control…"
……
Chris felt as if a tornado had swept through her head. Her thoughts were jumbled, and her memories were out of order. A continual throbbing pulsed from her right hand, and her head felt foggy and disoriented. It was like lifting anvils as she opened her eyes. She was in a tent, and gladly recognized it as one of her army's. The door flap at the front of the tent waved in a slight breeze from outside, but all else was still.
She took a deep breath, and knowing she would regret it, pushed herself into a sitting position. She gagged, wondering if she would be better off dead. She waited until the feeling of a thousand needles piercing her body vanished before she pushed herself off the makeshift bed of straw. She carefully made her way to the flapping entrance and pushed aside the seemingly two-ton door.
It was bitter cold, but the incessant aching in her right hand explained that. Despite the weather, soldiers hurried about, doing one task or another in the mini encampment that had been set up. She spotted Leo, giving orders to a couple men. Deciding that she was going to talk to him, she set out to do so when a surprised voice came to her left.
"Milady! You're awake?" It was Borus. He stood, erect yet sagging, with a limp arm hanging at his side. She briefly wondered how he had received such a wound when the memory came unbidden. Chris stared at his arm with unspeakable sorrow.
"Borus, I… I am… so sorry." She bowed her head in regret. Why had she not listened to him? Why had she been foolish enough to use the rune? "I should have listened to you. And when I did not…" She trailed off, choking in her own misery. She stooped, knowing of nothing else to do. Then she felt the heat of a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, directly into Borus's eyes… his big brown, passionate eyes.
"I am sorry," she repeated, caught by his eyes.
"I… you… he…she… you are awake… L-Leo!" he called, quickly glancing back at Leo. "Leo, she is awake!"
"What?" came his astonished bellow. He ran over as fast as his legs could take him, looking Chris up and down. "Goddess! You must be aching all over!" Chris stared at them both in confusion. Why were they so surprised that she was awake?
"I am fine, Leo. But…" She was cut of as Leo gathered her up in a huge hug.
"You're awake! Borus, she's finally awake!" Chris bit her lip as Leo's crushing hug shot pain up and down her arms.
"Leo! Leo, put her down. She's yet to fully recover," Borus cried, giving him a displeasing look. Leo obliged and set her down with a big smile. Then Borus, too, smiled. "Salome will be glad to hear of this."
"Salome?" Chris leaned back against a tent post for support. "Salome was not on this mission. How long has he been here?"
"A week, milady." Borus answered. "He came as soon as he could."
"Pardon… A week?" Chris gaped.
"Milady, you have been unconscious for two and a half weeks." Borus watched her eyes widen.
"Two and a half weeks…" she repeated in disbelief. "What of the bandits?"
"I would say a tenth of what they came with were able to escape, including their leader." Leo did not look happy. But his frown disappeared and was replaced with yet another beaming grin. "You're awake!"
Chris smiled at his happiness, and was about to comment on just how childish Leo was acting, when her eyes fell upon Borus's bandaged limb. It tore her apart on the inside to know that she was the one who caused him such pain. Her gaze wandered up to his face, and she found that he had been staring at her. A blush crept up his cheek and he averted his gaze.
She did not know what to think. He had been blushing a lot lately, from what she could remember. She suddenly realized how tired she really was, taxed by walking and talking.
"What is our status?" she asked, turning to Leo.
"Our army was mostly undamaged by the bandit attack. No deaths. Just a few injuries here and there." His eyes lingered on Borus's arm. "We had planned to move to Brass Castle, but Salome decided against it after seeing your condition. We thought it better that you rest."
Chris nodded. "Than we shall move out now." Borus gaped.
"But milady! You've not yet recovered; you can barely walk, let alone ride half a day's journey. I strongly suggest we remain here, at least for two days." Chris was about to refuse, but she remembered the last time she had done so. She sighed tiredly.
"We will stay until I am able to travel. For now, I wish to check on the injured… including you," she said, resting her eyes on Borus. "What injuries have befallen your arm?"
"It's nothing, really, milady. Just hit the nerve. It did nothing more. The mender said it would heal in three weeks, and I can already feel my fingers…" Pain choked his features as he flexed his fingers as if to prove that he was okay. Leo rolled his eyes at the pathetic attempt, and Chris's brows drew together in concern. Borus plastered a cheesy smile on his face, and Chris just shook her head and walked toward a tent marked "Infirmary."
After checking with every wounded soldier, all happy to see her awake, she decided to seek out Salome. She found him mulling over a list of supplies. A surprised expression crossed his face as she stepped up behind him. He smiled.
"Glad to have you back on your feet, Captain." The two exchanged formalities, weather, army, situation, and Chris was about to ask of Percival and Roland when a commotion started up outside the supply tent. A soldier ran up to the two, bursting through the entrance flap.
"Milady, Lord Salome, a bandit messenger has just entered camp. He bore this message." The soldier handed her a soiled piece of paper.
'We have your squire. Give us the rune.' There was no signature. Chris dropped the message to the ground.
"Goddess… They have Louis!"