Tally just stood there, mouth agape and tears silently falling from her eyes. It began to rain as if the sky was weeping for them. She stared at the older woman, bound up with her hands behind her back. Bruised and beaten and it made her angry and ashamed, ashamed for being so weak. Was this how she had felt when she watched her sister die in front of her very eyes?
She fell to her knees and threw up, this was all her fault or so she thought. When she could no longer empty her stomach she let out an anguished sob as if crying to the heavens for some sort of answer as to why. Why did this have to happen to her?
Hadn't she carried enough of their sins? Hadn't she carried their burdens for long enough? Tally simply wanted to save her, to lighten her load. But then this happened. Alder didn't even put up a fight. She gave Tally the most gentle smile and leaned in close to tell her that it wasn't her fault. And then they took her away, strung her up as an example to witches everywhere.
They left her there until Tally stood up and decided to take her down. Tally struggled onto trembling legs and pulled the knife from her pocket and cut her down.
Gently, so very gently, laid her on the ground to feel for a pulse. It beat so strongly beneath her hand and Tally choked out another sob. Despite it all this woman who had suffered for so long was still so very strong. She hadn't given up and Tally swore that she would dedicate her life to protecting her and fighting for her.
She would be her sword and her shield. Tally wiped the rain and tears from her eyes and put on a brave face as she stood and brought the woman to her feet, taking her weight on herself. And she carried her home. She bathed her, fed her, and tended to her wounds. As Alder came in and out of unconsciousness she simply smiled at the young woman and it broke Tally's heart.
"How can you bear to look at me, let alone smile?" Tally had wept in her arms.
Alder held her close and ran her fingers through her hair and simply said, "Because this wasn't your fault. We are connected and I know your heart."
Tally pledged her love and devotion that night to the older woman, body and soul. And if she had carried a piece of the rope that had bound Alder as a reminder of her own sins she would never tell anyone.
She would merely carry that weight.