As always, I don't own Cirque du Freak! Reviews are welcome and encouraged!
Larten shook Elena awake the next evening. She rubbed her eyes blearily, and glanced at her brother. "Is he going to be okay?" She asked her mother.
"Don't worry about Darren Elena, he's going to be fine. Three days should be more than long enough for him to heal."
Elena frowned, "But he won't have time to train for his trial!" She exclaimed.
"Shhh," Arra hushed, "You'll wake him, he needs rest."
"But-" She whispered.
"Darren will be fine. The Blooded Boars is a tough trial, but Darren has already taken on a grizzly infected with vampaneze blood, I am sure he will pull through." Larten said assuringly, "Now I believe you have training to get to."
He placed a firm hand on her shoulder and guided her towards the Games Hall, leaving Arra and Darren alone in the infirmary.
Arra stared intently at her son's sleeping face, not noticing Kurda enter the infirmary wing. "How is he?" The blond vampire asked, causing Arra to whip around.
"Fine." She said steely.
"Maybe I should just come back-" Kurda mumbled turning.
"Wait!" Arra called.
He turned back to her, "I may not like your ways Kurda, but I do owe you a great deal of thanks." Her gaze turned back to her son and she reached out to stroke his cheek, "We were all prepared to just let him be executed, you were the only one who came up with a solution." She turned back to Kurda, "I may never respect you enough to take your hand, but I will be forever grateful to you for saving my son." She finished quietly.
Kurda put a tentative hand on her shoulder, "Anytime. None of us wished for his death." He smiled grimly, "I hope he will be healed enough to complete his next trial."
"He's better than before." She said, "But he needs rest."
"Of course, I'll leave you both then."
He turned and left, glancing back at Arra, who was changing Darren's bandages tenderly. She had become far easier to deal with since Darren and Elena had arrived with her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the Games Hall, Elena fought with a General while she swung across the hall on a trapeze swing. The aim of her trial was to trade blows with a Vampire General while swinging in the air on a trapeze until one of them fell to the ground. If Elena fell, she would fail the trial and be dropped on a pit of stakes. It was common for people to fail the Trapeze Joust, but it was unlikely that she would be lucky enough to die in the trial. The good thing was that she had lots of practice in acrobatics, she had been interested in it before, and Sive and Sersa, the twisting twins at the Cirque du Freak, had taught her silk aerial acrobats. Unfortunately, her small stature was a huge disadvantage for once, she would have a hard time knocking the General off, but she would be easy to overthrow.
Vanez had advised her to dodge around the other General's attacks for as long as possible, the more tired he was the easier it would be for her to eventually knock him off. Despite the added complications of the trial, she had managed not to get knocked off yet, and had even managed to get a few blows in.
Vanez and Larten stood off to the side, quietly discussing the Trials. "How's Darren?"
"He was doing better when I left him." Larten said, "I left him with Arra. I am sure he will be fine by the time he has to do his next trial."
"Do you think he can do it without any extra training?" Vanez asked.
"I do." Larten said confidently, "I believe he would be better off getting rest and healing than he would training."
"You know his abilities better than I do. I trust your judgement. Besides, it seems like you did a good job training them already." Vanez said, nodding at Elena, who was swinging circles around the Vampire General.
Larten smiled at the sight, "I did not teach her that." He promised.
"Well," Vanez laughed, "I guess that's what happens when you live amongst circus performers for nearly a decade."
"So it would seem." Larten replied.
Vanez regarded his friend carefully, "And you and Arra?"
Larten sighed, "What about Arra and I?"
"Are you renewing your mating contract?"
"Yes. But do not tell Elena or Darren yet, they do not need any distractions."
"I swear on my honour." Vanez promised, "But I'm happy for you, Arra's been a right nightmare since you left."
Larten chuckled, watching Elena, "I am not so sure it was me she was upset over."
Vanez looked at her as well, "I think she was upset about all three of you. She loved you, more than she ever loved anyone else, we all knew that. She was upset about you too Larten, don't you worry about that."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next time Darren woke he felt significantly better. He could move without it being excruciating at least. He turned his head, Arra was asleep in the chair next to his bed. His father and sister were nowhere to be found. "Darren." A voice said from his other side.
He turned his head and found Harkat propped up on a chair next to him, his round feet swinging from over the side of the chair. "Harkat! I figured you'd still be in the Hall of Princes."
The little person shook his round head, "I...think they've...finally...finished...asking...me about...Mr. Tiny's...message."
"Well it's about time! You've been stuck in the Hall of Princes nearly the whole time we've been here!"
"Darren?" Arra groaned from his other side.
He turned to look at her, "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay." She said, running a hand down her haggard face. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better." Darren said, "I can hardly feel the burns now."
"Good," Arra murmured, "That's good."
"When's the last time you slept?" Darren asked.
"I made... her...sleep...She didn't...want you to...wake...up alone."
"I'm fine Darren."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll have plenty of time to sleep after you finish your trials." She promised, "Do you want me to get you something to eat?"
"Only if you eat too." Darren insisted.
Arra shook her head, "Fine, but you really shouldn't worry about me." She stroked his cheek, and left the hall.
"She'll be...okay...Darren." Harkat promised.
"I know, I just don't want her to worry about me too much."
"She's...your mother."
"I know but she shouldn't stop taking care of herself on my account."
Arra returned carrying a tray of bat broth. "Here you are." She said, laying the tray on Darren's bed, giving a bowl to Harkat and Darren. "Can you eat by yourself?"
Darren was mortified. "No it's okay," He said quickly, taking the bowl from her."
"When is Elena's trial?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Can I go watch her?"
"You need to rest. Your father will stay with you, I'll watch your sister."
"But I'm almost better!"
"But not completely." Darren pouted, "Look, unless we need to throw a funeral for your sister, you are staying right here."
"Fine."
Elena went back to her chambers to sleep after finishing her training. Larten returned to the infirmary after dropping her off. "It is good to see you awake." He said to Darren.
"It's good to be awake." Darren said smiling.
"I shall stay with you during your sister's trial tomorrow."
"It's okay. I'll be fine by myself, you both can go watch her."
"I...can...stay with...Darren. You...both can...go."
Arra and Larten looked at eachother, "That's fine with me." Arra said.
"I would rather make sure she is okay." Larten said thoughtfully, scratching his scar.
"Then it's settled." Darren said, "I'll see you guys after the trial anyways"
"Now you should get some sleep." His father said, dropping into the chair beside Arra.
"So should you two." Darren said, "You both look exhausted."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next evening Arra and Larten left early to take Elena to her trial. Larten stooped to kiss the top of Darren's newly bald head, and then made their way to the Hall of Sport to watch the trial. There was already a large crowd of vampires gathered in the Hall to watch the trial. Vanez stood next to the ring where the trial would take place with a General called Yebba. Yebba had won the title of the howl at the Festival of the Undead. He was a huge vampire, around Larten's age. He had been close friends with Larten in their youth.
"Hello Larten." Yebba greeted.
"Yebba." Larten nodded, "It has been a long time."
"Elena," Vanez said, "You'll be facing Yebba here on the trapeze."
"Elena," Yebba said, holding out a large hand for her to take, "It's nice to finally meet you properly."
"Hi." She said, softly taking his hand, nervous about taking on the massive General.
"Alright." Vanez said clapping his hands together, "The two of you should hop on in the ring. The faster we get this over with the better."
They both entered the ring and faced each other. Vanez called for the trial to start and the vampires around them erupted in yells. Yebba and Elena both swung across on the trapeze, each holding a staff to hit the other with. Yebba swung towards her, swinging the wooden staff, which she managed to dodge. On the next swing, she wasn't so lucky and he struck her across her stomach, knocking the breath out of her, but she didn't fall. The next pass she got the upper hand, driving her staff underneath the arm he was using to hold onto the trapeze. The vampires below applauded and shouted out words of encouragement. Yebba didn't fall though. Elena continued to dodge around his blows waiting for an opening. Yebba couldn't get a better grip on the bar with one arm, his size inhibited him. She swung in a wide arc around the ring, coming behind Yebba and kicking the back of his shoulder, causing him to topple forward and onto the mats below. The vampires erupted in cheers around them as Elena swung back to the start.
"Well done." Vanez praised.
"Thanks," Elena said breathlessly.
"Well Larten, your girl can certainly pack a punch." Yebba said, approaching the group rubbing his shoulder.
"That is good to hear," Larten said, ruffling her hair.
"Come on, it's time to pick your next trial." Vanez said, leading them to the Hall of Princes.
The Hall of Princes was crowded with Generals, all still discussing the threat of the Vampaneze Lord. Mika caught sight of Vanez right away and shouted for quiet. "Elena!" He shouted over the noise, "It's time to choose your final trial." She approached the princes and chose a stone from the pile and handed it to him. "Quiet!" He yelled, "Trial 41." He said grimly, "The Climb. You may go." He said, dismissing her. Elena nodded her head and followed her parents back to the infirmary to see her brother.
"How...did...it go?" Harkat asked when they entered.
"Good." Elena said, taking one of the seats next to her brother, "How are you feeling Darren?"
"A lot better, thanks. So what's your next trial?"
She turned to her parents, who sat beside her. Arra answered, "The Climb."
"What...does it...entail?"
"She has to scale a cliff face, there are cracks in the cliff where water runs through making it slippery, and there will be barrels thrown down the side." Arra sighed, "It's one of the more difficult trials, but I'm sure it will be fine. She has all night tomorrow to train for it."
"Hey, just one more and you're done." Darren said encouragingly.
"Yeah," She said smiling weakly. Seba entered the infirmary carrying a pile of spider webs.
"Here we are." He said.
"What are those for?" Elena asked.
"Darren's burns. The webs secrete a special toxin that should alleviate the irritation. I was not sure if they would work on burns this severe, but it will not hurt to try."
"Let me help you Seba," Arra said, taking a bundle of webs from him. Together, they undid Darren's bandages. Elena paled at the sight of her brother's red peeling skin, and her father put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. They draped the webs over the worst of his burns and rewrapped them in clean bandages.
How does it feel?" Larten asked.
"A bit better." Darren admitted.
"It may take an hour or two to start working." Seba said, "We will see when your bandages need to be changed if it did you any good."
"Thank you Seba." Larten said, putting his other hand on the older vampire's shoulder.
"Anytime, Larten." The old vampire said with a smile. He patted the hand on his shoulder and then left the infirmary.
"You guys can go if you want." Darren said, leaning back into his pillow. "Neither of you have slept for ages, besides I have Harkat to keep me company."
"We are staying right here until you have recovered." His father growled.
"Well at least sleep yourselves when I'm not awake." Darren said.
Larten shook his head. "We will sleep when we are tired enough." He sat down in one of the chairs next to Elena; Arra sank down next to him with a small groan.
"You...are...both acting...ridiculous." Harkat said shaking his head. "Darren...is fine...it is...not as though...he's going...anywhere."
Mr. Crepsley glared at the Little Person and Elena laughed, "He has a point you know. Besides, how is it supposed to help if Vanez needs you to train us and you two are dead off your feet!"
"She does have a point." Arra muttered under her breath tiredly. Darren asked Elena about what happened in both of her trials, and she gave him a detailed description. Slowly, both their parents nodded off while Darren and Harkat listened to Elena speak. Eventually she fell quiet and everyone watched the two older vampires without making a sound.
Darren broke the silence. "Good," He said through a yawn, "It's about time they slept."
He leaned back against his pillow and closed his eyes, soon drifting off himself. "You...should...sleep..too...Elena." Harkat said, "It...would...be a...pity...if...you...died...in...your last...trial."
She nodded, and rose to return to her room. "Aren't...you supposed...to...go with...someone...around the...mountain?" Harkat asked.
"I'll be fine." She whispered, "I know the way, and besides, I don't want to wake them." She stretched her arms over her head and yawned, "Morning Harkat."
"Good...Morning." The Little Person said, watching the young vampiress leave.