CHAPTER: Nightmares Come True ...
Pulling the heavy and incredibly soft blanket tighter around the trembling Shiver, Lilly sighed, she should have seen it coming. But like some schmuck she had believed his stubborn assurances that he was alright, and that the fever, was a light one.
Three days, he had kept up the charade, after swearing her to silence.
In that time they had all settled into a surprisingly smooth rhythm, with Lilly ruling the kitchen with an iron hand, and Didymus and Shiver doing their best to be helpful, while Sarah tended to Jareth.
They had actual done quite well, the two knights had built a primitive smoker for the excess meat, and Shiver had come up with freezing a large part of the meat from the very stocky animals, by hanging the cuts from the outer edges of the porch rafters. Letting the arctic temperatures freeze it solid in just about an hour, before storing it all in the small shed attached to the far end of the enclosed winter garden full of herbs. Once out there it was safely stored yet easily accessible from the lodge.
It had taken them just over three days to finish smoking, curing and freezing the one hundred plus pounds of beef like meat. And in that time Shiver, had matched Lilly and Didymus step for step. That was, until just before supper that third day of course. He had been quiet most of the day, but nothing too alarming, just quiet. And it wasn't until Lilly had called them in for dinner that Shiver had gotten up from the plant bed he had insisted needed weeding, that he had coughed once, and then simply collapsed without a sound, caught in a violent fever seizure.
Sighing to herself Lilly gently wiped the sickly smelling sweat from Shivers scalding forehead as she remembered how her own terrified screams had made Sarah leave her self-imposed isolation, to come investigate what could make the normally coolheaded Lilly, scream like a teenage girl spotting a hairy spider.
To be honest, Lilly couldn't remember having been that scared since she had seen George as he lay dying in that hospital bed, where cancer had stolen his life away. Terror had propelled her through the door, to crash onto her knees beside the convulsing Shiver totally ignoring the sharp gravel that had shredded her knees through the heavy skirt she wore. Her hands had shook, while she used the herb knife she had been holding to slice through the heavy fabric of Shivers shirt, revealing his secret to the two others.
Tears she hadn't wanted to shed had rolled down her cheeks, while she had cursed and screamed at him, berating him and his pig-headed stupidity, and Didymus had been forced to pull Lilly away, to get her to calm down as Sarah tried to help Shiver.
Slowly fingering one of Shivers thin and neat dreadlocks Lilly yawned loudly, it was well over midnight and she had had a full day, as she had prepared more of the herbal infusions, balms and ointments, they were burning through, like there was no tomorrow. Luckily the plants in the herb garden seemed to replenish almost every night, thanks to the heat of the hot spring in its centre, and what Lilly strongly suspected was some sort of magic or spell in the fertile ground.
Rubbing her burning eyes Lilly yawned again and fought the urge to fall asleep where she sat, it was after all not like she had gotten a ton of sleep in the last four days. Shiver, had like herself, a very unfortunate tendency to suffer gruesome nightmares when running a fever, and Shiver was most definitely running a fever right now. Sighing in defeat, Lilly released the dread, and stretched, in a vain attempt to ease the tightness in her back and shoulders. Didymus had sat with Shiver last night, and as a result he hadn't gotten any sleep when Shiver had glided from one nightmare to the next. Well maybe there was a way to avoid that, maybe...
Slipping off her dressing gown, Lilly smoothed her ankle long nightgown down as she licked her lips nervously. Whenever she was sick it always eased her nightmares if someone slept beside her, so she wasn't alone. Maybe it would be the same for Shiver. Maybe, in any case she was doing this to try to ensure that they both got a good night's sleep, and not because she was just the tiniest bit attracted to him... right?. .
Lifting the thick cover, Lilly quietly slipped into the huge soft bed, nestling gently against his relatively uninjured left side, letting him feel, just enough skin contact to know that he was not alone. Shivers reaction was instant, mumbling incoherently, he turned clumsily and draped his bandage covered right arm over her waist as he curled up with his head on her shoulder, in an exact mirror of the position that Jareth preferred. Smiling to herself Lilly simply relaxed and allowed herself to admit that she might just enjoy the weight resting against her a little more knowing that it was the obnoxious goblin.
. . .
The soft velvet of deep night wrapped around Sarah as she lay watching Jareth sleep and listened to the soft sounds of the others sleeping. It had been five days since they had taken his arm. And his body had begun to heal at a painfully slow rate, as the last vestiges of iron were being bleed from his flesh. But as he had begun to heal, he had started to suffer nightmares that caused him to flail and toss in the bed, reopening his grisly wounds. It had been a massive strain on Sarah but she had adamantly refused to leave his side while he suffered like this .
Sighing she gently caressed his pale cheek, he was still burning with the fever that was the result of his own body trying to fight both the iron and infection coursing through him. And it would be days before he woke up again, but now she was certain that he would. Resting her hand lightly on his chest, Sarah let the part of herself, that she had not known that she was missing until he had returned her memories to her, reach out to him, feeling him just below his skin.
Smiling softly as she felt him rise up to meet her questing magic, pulsing like a second heartbeat, when his magic brushed up against her fingers.
" I'm here my love, I'm here waiting for you to come back to me again. I miss you my love, I miss you so much... Goddess I'm scared Jareth. "
Tears gathered and spilled down her cheeks, to the fur covering the still body, while she vented her fear to the silent darkness:" I'm terrified that you will hate me for what I have done to you, that the very thing that I did to save you will cost me your love. Please Jareth I thought that I could live without you loving me, but I can't, dammit Jareth. I can't live without you, you are all I have ever wanted, ever needed. And now, I may have sacrificed it all to save you."
Tears streamed freely from her swollen eyes as she gripped his limp hand, lacing their fingers together, as she silently willed him to hear her words : "It was so much easier when I barely knew you, but now... I remember, my love, I remember everything and it makes me love you even more than I thought possible. I ... "
Pressing his limp hand against her aching heart, Sarah finally gave in to the unbearable pressure in her chest, letting it out in great sobs.
. . .
He floated in darkness as he had for so long, and it was both soothing and alien all at once. There were nothing here, no light, no shadow, just the endless numb void. It was the blackness of the dreamless sleep, the starless night of eternal darkness, and it was numbly safe as Jareth floated on winds he couldn't feel. Here nothing hurt, nothing burned. Here he was safe, alone in the void..
Alone...
Alone...
Alone...
Drifting in the utter darkness, Jareth knew of nothing but that word, as it surrounded him in razor wire, and filled him with liquid fire. Screaming into the void he cried for her, for Sarah as his soul was seared by the relentless heat. Tears poured from his burning eyes, to roll down his face like acid. It was pain, beyond pain as his soul was stretched and compressed, burned and frozen .
Light assaulted him, searing his eyes and forcing itself into his tattered consciousness, building a harsh pressure just behind his eyelids.
He was alive, he had to be because the sensations were too acute for him to not be. Heat filled him like a cup where water clung to the brim. Anymore, and he would spill over the edges of what he knew, yet any less and he would be eternally trapped, here Alone...
Alone...
Alone...
Alone...
No he couldn't be, not now ! He needed her!
Her skin.
Her heat.
Her Voice.
Her Magic ...
Magic!
His magic, it was there faint and out of reach but it was there. Curled up like a content cat at his core, it's rich azure light rippling like water, behind the walls of iron.
IRON !
The very word sent him reeling back from its fiery touch, yet there was no escape no respite. And the feeling of being encased in flesh threatened to suffocate him as it solidified around him. Panic rammed home as he gasped for air to fill lungs that felt like he hadn't taken a real breath in days.
Soft hands cradled his face grounding him, as he coughed and fought to breath around the burning pressure in his chest.
" Jareth... Can you hear me? Jareth love, I'm here, I'm here and you're gonna be fine, do you hear me..."
Sarah.
His love.
His life.
His tormentor.
Images swarmed his mind. Sarah's deep green eyes, sparkling with joy as she held his hand, and laughed .
The same green eyes filled with agony as she whispered soft words of farewell, and wept.
Green eyes lit from within by flickering flames of emerald and gold as power and magic coursed through his body ripping him apart.
A cold green gaze piercing his soul through a mask of bright scarlet, as razor knives sliced at him, cutting flesh and bone despite his fevered pleas.
Why... His mind screamed, why, but there was no answer as the cold eyes burned into him mocking his pain with their silence, and darkness swallowed him once more.
. . : . .
Sunlight broke through the heavy snow filled clouds, in bright drifting spears of gold. Leaning over the kitchen counter, with his large fur covered hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea, while he waited for the kettle to boil again. Didymus sighed as he enjoyed the beauty of the untouched land, that stretched out before him. It had been close to one thousand years since he had last lain eyes on any other vista but the murky bog, or on those exceedingly rare occasions where he had been forced to leave his self-imposed isolation, the goblin city with the castle looming overhead.
For years he had lied to himself, constantly telling himself that he had deserved it, that it was his punishment for failing those who had trusted him, failing...
No those thoughts were the past, and there was enough problems in his present that demanded his full attention, and the dead could not help him here.
The loud shrill whistle of the now steaming kettle, ripped him from his sombre thoughts, and back to the task at hand. Using a heavily knitted oven mitten, Didymus quickly filled the two awaiting teapots, smiling as the warm steam enveloped him. He couldn't smell the herbs, but the power of their life magic was almost hearty enough to make his head swim, as it swirled around his twitching nose.
Humming quietly to himself the large fox, quickly piled fresh bread onto the two trays alongside two small dishes of butter and fresh jam, made from fresh deep blueberries. The bread and butter were both conjured, and though delicious it contained no nutrients, no magic of life to nourish them. But the berries and thin slices of cold roasted meat were pure life-giving magic.
Magic.
Didymus golden eye glittered as it grew unfocused and distant as he stared out at the rapidly darkening sky. But what he saw had nothing to do with the clouds or dying light. Magic wove through the foundations of this world in heavy pulsating ribbons, like rivers of light and power. It was in the air and water, infusing everything.. ... Everyone ... Even him.
Raising his hand, Didymus pressed his hand against his chest, feeling the near physical weight of his core, full for the first time since he had left, Tir na nog. And the absence of that ever present gnawing hunger was truly intoxicating, here in this newborn world, Didymus felt stronger and more at home than he ever had in the realm where he had been born, and he couldn't help but wonder how different his life would have been if this world had been the cradle of his race.
The Llwynog had never fit in, never truly had a home. Running his hand unconsciously over his right forearm Didymus shuddered as he felt the deep scars through the thin fabric of his light white shirt. The scars were old, just over a millennia yet he could still feel them, as surely as the day he had run for his life while his home burned behind him. The kitchen melted away, replaced by the vivid memories that replayed before his eye.
Once more he raced through the thick growths surrounding their hidden village, as his people screamed and begged the fey hunters for mercy, yet receiving none. Armoured fey were everywhere as they coldly herded the terrified Llwynog villagers towards the village square where archers waited, picking them off one at the time, paying no attention to the age or sex of their victims. Men, women and whelps, all fell before their iron tipped arrows.
Stopping dead in his tracks, Didymus screamed as his wife, gentle Tira, Midwife and healer, was pushed roughly into the square. Time stopped as she stood tall and proud, her pale golden fur glistening in the setting sun while the wind created by the burning buildings caused her white gown to billow gently when she turned and calmly met his eyes with a soft smile on her lips as she mouthed:" I loved thee true."
She was as beautiful as she had been on the day they had married a mere two centuries ago, and he could not look away even as the arrows flashed. Her eyes widened into a look of surprise as blood erupted from her mouth. The light in her bright sky blue eyes flared for the shortest of moments, and then it was gone stolen for the price of her body and fur. Her lithe form vanishing from sight as more villagers were pushed forward, to meet their doom. Kneeling in the high grass, he pressed his fist's into his mouth smothering his anguished wail of pain before it could give him away.
Tears slicked the fur of his cheeks down into darkened streaks. As he fought to make his paralysed mind work once more, Tira was gone, but he had seen no trace of the pups.
Panic pure and blinding filled him, spurring him into action. The pup's he had to find them before the hunter's ...
He had to...
Had to...
To...
" Didymus... Didymus ... look at me, please... Didymus"
Slender hands dug painfully into the swell of his upper arms, shaking him sharply, forcing him back into the present. Blinking slowly, Didymus licked his suddenly dry lips and startled when he found himself staring up at not one but two pairs of wide concerned eyes. The women were kneeling on either side of him, as Sarah gripped his arm's painfully.
"Didymus ... what happened? We heard the mugs smash and then you were making some weird ass sounds...Who is Tira? ": The look in Sarah's green eyes was worried as she released his arms and sat back on her haunches.
Running a trembling hand through his fiery mane Didymus, groaned and leaned back heavily against the wooden kitchen counter, dimly noting that he was sitting in a pool of now cooling tea. Pulling his long legs up, he rested his arms on his knees and sighed:" She was mine life and truest heart. Never shall I meet her genteel equal, and my world will forever be dimmed by the absence of her brightness."
"Absence?" : Cocking her head, Sarah pressed :" Where is she now?"
Another tear slid down his cheek:" She was ripped from my heart by hands most cruel, for reasons too cruel to contemplate, lest my heart should cease beating under the strain... And in my shame I did run to the very place where fate wouldst send thee, most gentle Sarah, my noble queen."
Lilly's voice cracked under the strain of her emotions as she spoke:" I'm sorry to hear, that you lost someone you love like that. If there is anything we can do ... you know, just tell us ... cause you are one of ours now, and we would reorder time and move the stars if that would take that pain out of your eye..."
Nodding slightly Didymus winced as he rubbed his lightly scalded palm over the ridge of his muzzle:" My thanks sweet maidens, but I fear that nothing in your power could ever hope to heal the abyss in my soul. Though your words do fill mine heart with joy."
Climbing slowly to his feet, Didymus exhaled slowly as he carefully smoothed his clothes back into order, visibly pulling himself back together becoming the proud knight once more. Pride replacing the raw vulnerability as he gestured towards the two trays:" I have prepared a light lunch for you both, I thought that you would be famished following your lengthy vigil. "
" Oh Didymus that's so thoughtful of you, really I have no idea what we would do without you here": Lilly's eyes shone as she beamed up at the tall fox.
It was obvious that he was struggling to keep himself together, with all that he had. And whatever it was that had the great fox so emotionally shattered, it was utterly obvious that he didn't have the will or the strength to delve into it now. And reaching out, Lilly met his tortured gaze, as her tiny hand gripped his elbow in a reassuring gesture, letting him know that she saw his pain and that she would be there once he became ready to talk.
Nodding once, Didymus expression grew soft with gratitude as he turned from the scrutiny of the women to heft the two trays, balancing them easily on either hand:" Will my ladies dine here or shall I bring these meagre meals to the bedsides of thy stricken charges?"
Sighing Sarah yawned and stretched as she eyed the as of yet largely unused dinner table with longing:" Yeah I'm gonna go back to Jareth, I don't want to risk him waking up alone... What about you Lilly? "
Shrugging, Lilly mirrored the languid stretch as she yawned:" Nah I don't want to risk losing my chance to be the first to yell at Shiver for being such a monumental ass, so I guess that I'll be going back into confinement again... How about you Didymus, want to join me, I could use a more lively conversationalist?"
" Verily my lady it would be mine pleasure..."
. . . . .
Darkness and heat...
Screams of a thousand voices mingled with the tolling clash of warriors weapons.
Gripping his blades tightly, Shiver lashed out at an attacking orc, splitting the ape like face in two before the orc could raise it's bloody cudgel and bludgeon the prone squire again. Leaping over the defenceless form, Shiver spun catching a careless unidentifiable creature in the temple, driving the hard heel spike on his mail boot through the thin plate of its helmet and into its temple. The creature fell sideways driven by Shivers momentum as he twisted his foot, freeing himself and launching himself at another adversary.
Everywhere, they were everywhere, no matter where he looked or turned, they were closing in on him as they held they bloodstained weapons and gnashed broken yellowed teeth in anticipation. Scalding hot fear flushed through him, filling him to the brim, stealing his strength and speed away. As sudden realization dawned. They were going to die. Here and now ripped apart by helmet shrouded creatures with rotten teeth and ...and ...
Heat and darkness crashed in like waves of pure night, smothering him like a scalding cloth pressed over his face, cutting off all air, drowning him as the moisture condensed in his lungs. Air, he needed air, cool air, now...
Gasping Shiver strained against the heaviness in his chest, arching his back intent on forcing blessedly cool air, through the fluid.
- Ssch don't strain, it'll only get harder if you fight. Can you hear me?
That voice, gasping Shiver focused on the velvet of if, letting it wrap around his mind, and sooth the mounting panic away.
Lilly.
Lilly's voice telling him to be calm, to stop panting, to breathe slowly and deeply.
Lilly's hand rubbing his back in small soothing circles.
Faint hazy light filled his vision as he slowly opened his sore eyes, covering all in a heavy white veil, and yet it could not hide the splendor of the silver and turquoise eyes gazing down at him. A weak smile creased his cold lips as she ran her hand over his dreads, in a profoundly calming movement. Giddy happiness flooded him with relief, as he felt his entire body stop fighting and relax into her lap. It wasn't a conscious thought, and that didn't matter to him, as he drew in his first deep and true breath instantly banishing the burning pressure in his chest. What did matter was that she was there, and that her slender long fingered hands was gently easing the tightness in his back while she spoke gentle encouragements.
Blinking slowly, he coughed softly before his still numb fingers caught her warm hand in a weak grip, and he whispered her name with a voice that sounded painfully raw even to his own ears: "Lilly... you stayed..."
Squeezing his hand gentle, she nodded:" Yeah well I promised to help right... how are you feeling? "
"Weak... exhausted. ... like I could sleep for a week..."
" Hmf what a surprise! "
Her smile was a thing of beauty as she spoke, and somehow her words lost their barb in its light: "You bloody idiot, why didn't you tell me that your shoulder was getting that bad? You could have died! Christ almighty you are such an monumental ass! And your leg! You were this close to losing it! You utter..."
Sighing softly, Shiver simply shrugged, yes it had been stupid, but it was too late to do anything about that now, and all he could do in any case was agree with her.
" What that's all you can do... shrug? I nurse your skinny green ass for four and a half days, saving your leg, and all you do is shrug? Wow you are so in for it buster..."
Fatigue wrapped around him like a heavy blanket, softening his focus to the point where Lilly's furious tirade became nothing but background noise, as his eyes became too heavy to keep open any longer. Sleep was already claiming him as he nestled himself against her firm linen clad thigh with a content sigh, murmuring quietly:" I'm sorry...I... lied.. Lilly... but I'm glad...you stayed...thank you..."
The soft rasp of his voice stopped her cold as she was getting herself worked into a furious frenzy. The words were so simple and yet it was as if he had opened his heart to her with that quiet thank you. Closing her mouth, Lilly swallowed convulsively as she fought to keep tears from spilling.
Her skin was warm and soothing when she finally stopped berating him and simply held his hand, her thumb drawing slow comforting circles on the back of it.
" Lilly? ": God his voice sounded so raw and naked as he looked up at her with worry in his fever dulled eyes: "Why...do you... weep... my lady?.. "
Shaking her head slowly, she let out a trembling breath as she said:" I... I was so scared when you fell, I thought that you were going to die. I thought that... Just never do anything like that again okay."
Shame flowed in to fill his eyes like water in a cup, and his voice seemed to thicken as he whispered: " Can you forgive me... my lady? It was my foolish ... pride that drove me to act thus... It... "
A vicious cough seized him, ripping the words from him with searing claws, as he curled in on himself and fought to breathe. Agony raked him until tears wet his cheek, and his blood roared through his ears drowning out everything else. Everything but the soft hands that were once more rubbing at his back, easing the strain, and slowly returning air to his burning lungs.
" Sssch don't strain yourself, you are still hurt, and you need to rest...Now rest."
The world swam as Lilly's soft hand helped him settle down with his head resting on her thigh again, and her fingers running slowly through his dreads in a soft hypnotic path from his forehead to his neck, as she hummed a gentle lullaby.
sleep Love
as I hold you close
Now the day's at its end
sleep now as darkness falls in
falls in to cover your world.
the day is past
and now the sun dies
spilling its light in you skin
painting shadows of gold in your eyes
your eyes as you lay down to dream
Light fades
as night comes to bear
and dark shadows draws near
washing the light of day from your eyes
your eyes close ever more...
Letting the final notes of her melancholic lullaby fade into silence, Lilly sat silent in the dark room with a beatific smile on her lips. He was going to be fine, and ... he was happy that she had stayed. That she was there, and now he lay sleeping in her lap with a content smile curling his thin but soft looking ...
Wait. Rubbing her hands over her face, in a vain attempt of hiding the blush that was suddenly scalded her cheeks, Lilly chuckled. Had she really just called a GOBLINS lips soft? Yeah she might have, but then Shiver did have lips that did look thin, but VERY kissable. Shaking her head Lilly's chuckle bloomed into a full throated giggle as she trailed her fingers through Shivers unbound dreads. If you had asked her just a week ago if she could ever have a crush on a goblin, she would have laughed in your face. But back then Goblins had in her mind, always been small vicious evil cowardly creatures that stole children. Not tall chivalrous knights with glowing cat's eyes that you could drown in, and who would defend you unto death, and whose voice was a strange but very appealing mix of nasal highs and deep softness. But, biting her lower lip, Lilly sighed as her shoulders slumped and her smile melted away, it was after all just a fanciful fantasy, he was a goblin of the labyrinth, and what was she?
Just an ungainly weird looking college girl, with a fake name and no family. No a knight such as the one resting his head peacefully on her thigh needed a Lady to woo and wed, not to date a tomboy with no manners.
But knowing that this was nothing more than an empty dream, she would still enjoy the here and now, creating memories that no one could ever take from her. And with that thought in mind, Lilly gently raised his head, and wriggled further into the bed, before she rested his head on her shoulder, content to just feel his warm skin against her as they both rested.
. . . . .
Dawn clear and bright shone in through the gap in the heavy golden drapes, to paint the two entwined bodies in soft tones of liquid gold. Balancing the empty tray on one wide paw, Didymus smiled softly.
Shiver lay on his back, his right arm thrown over his eyes, shielding his eyes from the light. While Lilly lay curled up beside him, her head on his shoulder, and her arm wrapped protectively around his lean waist as she snored softly. They looked so very right as they lay there together, their slow breathing in almost perfect unison. But that was not what made Didymus smile as he watched them in silence.
Power only visible to those with the gift, swirled around them both. Shiver's clear green like summer grass, mixed and danced with the purplish grey surrounding Lilly, wherever they touched, creating new colours of breath-taking richness.
Yes these two were as destined for each other as much as Sarah and Jareth were, that much was abundantly clear. Now all that remained were for them to realize it before it became too late for Lilly. Being mortal, she did not have the time for a Goblin length courtship of a few hundred years.
Turning slowly, Didymus sighed as he closed the door silently behind him. Perhaps it would be prudent for him to pull Shiver aside for a little talk, once the young proud knight regained his health. But until then he would not poke his muzzle where it did not belong, and who knew perhaps things would workout without his involvement .
Musing quietly to himself, Didymus shifted his grip on the tray as silently as he was able as he pushed the door of Sarah and Jareth room open, using his shoulder he pushed into the room, and stopped dead in his tracks.
It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, as he stared at the woman sleeping on the bed. Instantly regretting it, when the strength of her power seared into his eye like red-hot iron, growling in pain, he unthinkingly released his grip on the tray, sending it crashing to the ground as he covered his aching eye.
Power cocooned her, bathing her in an aurora borealis of gold, blue, silver and emerald. The light so strong that it was still visible through his fingers as he fought to seal off his gift once more.
" Didymus? ... Didymus! What's wrong? ": Sleep warm hands gripped his arms, as he slowly exhaled and let his hand drop. Even now, with the sight of his gift pushed as far back as he possibly could, he could still see the glow of her quadruple cores through the veil of her flesh.
His voice shook with emotions that even he didn't really grasp as he genuflected and grasped her right hand with utter reverence:" Mine queen, never hath mine eye beheld such splendor.."
Confusion laced her voice as she pulled ineffectively at his hand trying in vain to get him to rise:" Didymus what the actual hell? Get up you are embarrassing me here, what's this all about? "
His golden eye glowed as he looked up at her like a drowning man at his salvation:" Thy power my lady, thou hast four cores, and their light doth fill me with their illuminance. .."
Shaking her head Sarah pulled harder, forcing the fox to either get up or fall over, as she growled impatiently: "Ok that's it! Get up here and tell me what the fuck has gotten into you."
Stumbling to his feet, Didymus met her baffled gaze as he wiped treacherous tears from his cheeks with trembling hands:" Forgive me my queen, but the sight of the power which dwells within thee has rendered me speechless. "
"Hmm really you seem to be talking just fine to me, now come sit your ass down and tell me what's up. You can't just wake a girl up like that, and not give her an explanation. .."
Gripping the knights trembling paw Sarah pulled him relentlessly to the two chairs in front of the large fireplace that was the one common feature in each of their bedrooms. Pointing to one of the large overstuffed chairs, Sarah sat in the opposite one, and leaned forward, offering him a mug of steaming spiced wine, conjured from two perfect crystals:" Right now tell me what the hell is going on? And please plain English this time ok?!"
Nodding Didymus obediently accepted the mug with shaking hands, his golden eye reflecting the fires light as he drank from the mug. Settling back in her seat, Sarah watched over the rim of her own mug as Didymus visibly pulled himself back together in front of her very eyes. Pretending to sip the hot liquid, she quietly allowed the fox a few seconds of peace before pushing gently:" So the smashed stoneware what's that all about?"
His shoulders slumped and squared all at once as he started:" Mine lady doth thou know by what name mine race is known?"
Shaking her head lightly Sarah answered:" No, not really.."
" We are the Llwynog, the fox's of the night forests. Once we dwelled in peace within the heart of the seelie forests, we were prized as hunters, knights and mages, and we lived in peace. "
Leaning forward Sarah urged him on:" Once? Then what happened…?"
His eye turned dark and distant as he drew in a shuddering breath and continued:" We were betrayed, by the very court to which we had sworn our allegiance."
Staring into the dancing flames of the roaring hearth Didymus shuddered as he began the tale of his race's pain:" Our power comes with a cruel price, for while we may perform deeds that no one else can, we have no cores to hold our own magic thus we lived of the magic of the land, and of the magic we draw from the beasts we hunt but... never from a fey or any other not until... It was just before the great war that nearly destroyed our world. There was a young knight of our people, who killed a cruel fey lord whom he saw beating a starving child for the crime of stealing a piece of bread from the lords dogs. Enraged the young foolish knight not only killed the lord, but he drained him of his magic, killing him as he ripped that vile creatures core out."
Resting the now forgotten mug in her lap, Sarah gasped:" Oh fuck that cannot have been taken well by the seelie court."
"Nay it was not. Long hath Titania desired a reason to deprive we animals our rights and deny us the existence of our souls. Thus this one justified slaying became the banner under which the seelie gathered. "
Shuddering Didymus seemed to fade from the world, and for a short second he appeared to be nothing but solid shadows, turning his words so much more chilling:" In our tales it would seem as if what followed lasted far longer than it did, for in truth it took just a single frightful night. Long may the infamy of Titania's deeds be remembered. They came at night, the wild hunt lead by Oberon and they spared none, the men were put to the sword, and then skinned for their pelts to adorne the vain women of the court. The women were given over to the torch, their roasted meat given to the white blades orcs while they still lived. And the pups ... they took the pups. Those too young to live without their mothers were drowned, their tiny bodies dried out over great pits to be used in potions and spells, and those old enough to easily rear yet not remember were taken to the court as slaves and pets.
In one fell night we were neigh on destroyed. A mere handful of our kind still free and old enough to remember. We were suddenly reduced to, and remain to this day animals to hunt and kill on sight. Our skin used for trim on clothes, our flesh feasted upon by lords and ladies, and our young used to create potions and balms to give the gift of truest sight to those who have it not..."
Tears burned her eyes as she drew in a deep shuddering breath:" Oh god Didymus, I. ..I didn't... I don't. ..."
Smiling sadly, Didymus reached out taking Sarah's offered hand giving it a light squeeze:" Do not fret my lady it is long past and thought we still remain hunted and shunned, we now have a shining hope. .."
"Hope?": Curiosity piqued Sarah wiped her tears away: "How so? "
The wide smile he graced her with, stunned her, but not nearly as much as his next words:" By your birth, and by the four cores that you bear within. The world that you have given life is ripe with the magic that would give we Llwynog a home. Once when the veil was still young and the great earth mother but a maiden, we were given a prophecy by the wise man. "
" Wait what, the old fart with the really weird talking hat?"
Nodding Didymus smile widened:" Yes our wise man may indeed appear quite strange, but I can assure thee that he is truly wise."
Sarah's expression clearly said that she had her doubts, but that did not deter Didymus:" Our Wiseman told us thus. "
Didymus voice twisted into an uncanny impression of the ancient Wiseman:" Our world will see the birth of a king unlike any before, and for the longest time you shall be ruled by he alone as he awaits the birth of his queen. A queen who will birth the world to which you truly belong. A queen who bears four stars in her heart..."
Reaching out with a look of utter awed amazement on his face, Didymus stroked the air just above Sarah's hand causing the air to ripple and shimmer as a shiver coursed up her arm:" Thou art our long awaited salvation. Our Goblin Queen, to complete our King and realm... And give the Llwynog a true home."
Her brow creased in part disbelief part confusion:" Yeah that still doesn't tell me how I'm supposed to help you, don't get me wrong I'm all for doing anything to give you all a home. But how.. I..."
Light seemed to solidify in a thin line running from the still blank medallion to wrap around Didymus outstretched hand. The line was thin at first, as it pulsed gently with each beat of their hearts, brightening every time her heart beat, and darkening as Didymus seemed to draw the glow in with each pulse. Staring at the line Sarah whispered softly:" The magic you need its is more akin to the pure unfiltered magic of the aboveground, yet still not the same. You needed a queen who embodies both worlds."
Smiling through the tears flowing freely down his cheeks darkening his fur in thick lines, Didymus choked out:" You my lady, it is you and the magic you bring that we have waited for, here in this realm. I feel no hunger, there is no void in my chest, only magic. Strong and true, filling me like a cup in the ocean. This is the world to which we belong, the home that we have prayed for, for millennia."
Gripping his hand firmly, Sarah forced the large knight to meet her determined gaze, as she swore:" I vow that I shall end the prosecution of your people, and bring them here once the war that we must fight has been won. I swear this to you Sir Didymus, first commander of my guard and prime knight. I swear upon my life and honor. "
"My lady... nay my Queen, I shall follow thee unto death, and then beyond. "
Smiling as she patted his hand, Sarah said:" I accept but let's hope it won't come to that to okay."
" Aye my queen, may the fates be so kind."
. . .
Warm light filled bright green eyes as Shiver slowly returned to the realm of the quasi living. But with his growing awareness of his surroundings, came an increased focus on the aches and pains which filled his entire body. Sore heat filled his limbs with lead, and oh sweet goddess but he was thirsty. Running a desiccated tongue over sandpaper lips Shiver groaned. Water, he needed water, yet he couldn't make himself move, it was as if a heavy weight kept his left shoulder and leg trapped.
Fire erupted in his right shoulder as he tried to raise his hand and rub at the gunk that seemed to glue his eyes shut, and Shiver couldn't suppress the throaty groan that forced itself out.
Damn his own bloody pride and the scalding hot water it continued to land him in... Or well, maybe not all the hot water.
Images of Lilly's worried face floated through his mind, and plastered a silly smile on his dry lips. To be utterly truthful, he would be hard pressed to curse any action, that brought him the undivided attention of a beautiful girl. And though the price had been steep he was glad to pay it.
Shifting slightly he looked down at the head resting on his still bruised shoulder, and felt his already broad smile widen. Lilly lay sweetly sleeping beside him, their only points of contact where her head and his shoulder, and her slender arm flung carelessly across his waist.
It was light and innocent, and not what he had imagined it to be like when he finally found himself in bed with a beautiful woman, yet he would change nothing least he ruin this perfect moment. Even if he had not been wounded, he wanted nothing more than to lay here in the golden morning light and bask in their shared warmth.
It felt good and safe, and yet as quickly as he had realized this, sadness gripped him.
What good were his fever riddled fantasies, when the cold light of reality burned the clouds away. She lay beside him, not because she wanted to feel his skin against her. No mostly, her being there was the result of him having suffered the violent nightmares which always and without fault plagued him and deprived those who care for him of sleep when he fell victim to high fevers.
And great Gaia knew that the infection coursing through his veins like liquid fire, had left him in a feverish nightmare realm for the better part of four days. Gritting his teeth against the fiery pull in his wounded shoulder, Shiver forced his trembling hand to obey him, and rub the sleep from his gritty eyes. As he let his mind wander back to the few disjointed memories he had of the last few days. He remembered feeling lightheaded and far too hot as he rose after being called in, and he vividly recalled thinking that Lilly was going to kill him, as the world turned off kilter and he crashed to the ground.
Yeah if there was something he desperately wanted to forget, it was the sound of Lilly's terrified screams as he fell. Letting his hand fall to the blanket beside him Shiver groaned, though he barely felt the physical pain. It was the thought of the reaming he was going to have to endure, that elicited the sound. And... letting out a soft dejected sigh as he watched the sunlight play over Lilly's odd golden grey and brown hair, giving it a dreamy silver sheen. Once Lilly woke up and saw that his fever had broken, she would undoubtedly not be sleeping beside him again, and that thought unexpectedly saddened him. Forcing his aching arm to rise, Shiver slowly fingered a stray strand of hair, smiling wistfully when he found it to be as soft as the silk of the oubliette weavers.
He was a knight, and not just a knight, but The bloody captain of the Goblin King's bloodthorns, undefeated in battle through six centuries. Or at least he had been until seven years ago.
Letting go of her hair, he rubbed the bridge of his nose with an angry snort, trying to get rid of the lingering sensation. He did not suddenly begin to pine for a girl he barely knew, for the love of the goddess! He had only know this girl for what, nine maybe ten days, most of which had been a frantic haze of fighting to save his kings life and keeping everyone from realizing just how badly hurt he actually was or being unconscious. it was nowhere near enough time for him to begin to feel this way.
And yet...
Resting his cheek against the silken top of her sleep tousled head, Shiver sighed as a sudden fever chill rippled through him. He felt a deep sense of loss as he imagined waking up alone as he had always done before. And he was startled to realize that he was actually willing to bear with being screamed at, as long as it meant that she was still there.
Sudden hazy images of Lilly berating him as he lay with his head in her lap, filled his mind, only to change and become strange visions of her singing him to sleep with a melancholy lullaby. The whole scene soft and warm, too good to be true, surely that had to be a dream born of the fever?
Shuddering as the cold grew teeth that scraped down his spine Shiver moaned softly and coughed as whatever coherent thought he had been entertaining dissolved into dizzy misery. All strength leaked from his limbs as he began drifting once more, and the coming darkness filled with the soft sound of a familiar lullaby.