Peter
There's a strange impression on my right side. I ignore it, but then something collides with my hand and my eyes suddenly open.
"Finally." The room is badly lit, but I make out Johanna's face looking down at me. "I thought I had to dump water on you."
"What is the problem?" I rub my sleepy eyes and sit up, the blanket falling down my torso. The fire in the hearht has been extint for a long time, the ashes now burn wih dying embers.
"The princess."
The name triggers an emotion in me and I'm awake quickly. I stand up, throwing the blanket off of me and walking to the other room. Nonetheless, I stop myself and look at Johanna. "What's wrong?"
"She is talking gibberish, while asleep." She is filling a basin with cold water from a jug. "Also, she has come down with a fever."
I don't need another reason to open the door. I close it behind me, quietly. One candle on the bedside table illuminates the room, but the room feels darker. I spot Katherine lying on her side in a tiny bed on the floor. A blanket covers her from the waist down and I notice her lips moving and the trembling in her body. I kneel on one knee beside her. Her face is coated in a thin layer of sweat with some of her hair strands clinging to her forehead. The cloth is stained on the spot over her brow.
"Katherine." She doesn't respond back.
I touch her cheek lightly and then her hand is around my wrist in a painful grasp, her wide eyes gaze into mine. She looks worse than last night after she woke up from the nightmare. Her eyes are glassy and she doesn't blink afraid they will shatter if she does.
"It's me." I reassure her, but she doesn't alliviate her grasp.
"She is going to kill me." She mumbles in a voice full of fear and madness.
"No one is going to kill you."
"She knows who I am." I don't understand any of her words. "She is going to kill me and take my head to the queen."
"I promise you no one is going to harm you." I swear. "I won't let them."
Two lonely tears fall down her eyes and stain her cheeks with two thin streams. "Why do you care?"
How can I answer to that? She is not making any sense. The fever is probably clouding her mind. I look away for some seconds and exhale deeply. When I look back at here, her eyes are still focused on me. It must be the first time she has stared at me for a long time.
"I care, because-" I swallow. "Because you are my friend and friends protect each other."
She searches my eyes for a lie. There is no lie and her hold finally eases. She drops her hands from my wrist and I check it for bruises, although it's impossible to see with this weak source of light. A knock on the door startles me. I stand up and open it to Johanna holding a basin with water.
"I will wait outside." She hands me the basin.
"That won't be necessary. This is your room. I will lie Katherine on my bed."
"How sweet." She smiles, gently and walks away.
Katherine grunts and moves a bit when I pick her up but she doesn't wake up as I carry her out of Johanna's bedroom. I lie Katherine on my bed and place the blanket over her legs. Johanna hands me the basin once more and I place it on a small stool.
"Thank you." Johanna nods and walks back to her room, closing the door behind her.
I pull the stool to me and then kneel right beside Katherine. I take a deep breath and glance at her. I'm only doing her a favour. That's what she will think of this. A favour. Carefully, I raise her head with one hand and with the other untie the cloth around her head. I lie her back down and take a look at the wound. It's still very inflamed around the scarred skin, but the blood flow has settled. I wet a clean cloth and place it on her forehead. Her body shivers once possibly from the cold cloth. I glimpse a twitching in her closed eyelids. Is she dreaming or having a nightmare? I push away the few strands of hair that cling to her face hoping it will calm her.
I yawn and stand up. I place the basin on the table and try to find my satchel around the dark room. I can't lie down on my own bed since I lied Katherine right in the middle of the bed. I find the satchel and then place it beside the bed, on the floor. A lump diggs into my back when I lie down. It is incomfortable, but haven't I made sacrificies for her in enchange for her safety? I glance at Katherine, our heads a few inches apart. I hear her even breathing and I see the normal movement of her chest. I place my hand over hers and find it clammy. The fever must be breaking out. I'm going to close my eyes for a moment and then I'll change the cloth.
...
I open my eyes to a dark room. I blink twice and make out the silhouettes of the table and hearth. Is it morning? The impression of something on my left shoulder brings me into focus. I look to left and I am met with softness. I glance down and see Katherine's eyelids fanning over her cheeks. The cloth is now on my arm. I huff, realising I forgot to change the cloth. I rub my face with my free hand trying to wake properly. Katherine's closeness is breaking my line of thought, specially because her right hand is entwined with mine left one. She must have moved her finger, while we were asleep. Did she know it was my hand? Did she think it was something else?
I don't know what to think of this. She needs me and she doesn't need me. It drives me mad with frustation that she can't make up her mind. Yet, I can't get mad at her for a long time. I love her too much and I always end up forgiving her mistakes. That is love. You forgive your loved one's mistakes, no matter how big they are. What kind of love is that? How can forgive every mistake if they do the same one over and over again? It is a big web of lies.
I push these thoughts to the back of my mind. I know I won't keep the promise I made to myself. I will wait for her to realise I am not a threat. I will break this promise, because... because she is my weakness.
I have to get out of here.
I release my hand from hers and carefully place her head back on the pillow. I move around the dark room, fetching my cloak and sword. I take one last look at her and walk out of the cottage. The icy air burns my nostrils when I am out in the woods. The cloak blocks most of the cold and I welcome the rest. The coldness helps me focus better at what I need to do. The woods are suspended by a thick layer of fog. I glimpse the weak rays of sunlight trying to break through the fog. I put distance between me and the sequoia.
...
Katherine
A strangeness pulls my body down. I am well-rested, but there's a feeling of a ton of rocks over my body. There's also a comforting scent in the air. I open my eyes, sleepily, and the first things I see are table legs. I prop myself on my right arm confused with the sight. I look around and recognize the table, the hearth and the small section for cooking. How did I get here?
The room is silent. There are some lit up candles, but the hearth doesn't have burning logs. I glance down and beneath me is one folded blanket. Suddenly, the door opens and Johanna enters the room. She is holding at least ten logs, her axe on a belt around her waist. After closing the door, she turns around and her eyes meet mine. She gives me a tight smile.
"Look who has woken up." She walks to the hearth and lets the logs roll down her arms to the floor.
The memory of her saying my name fills my mind. I look at her, emotionless.
"Where is Peter?" I sit up straighter.
"I don't know." She shrugs, standing up. "You were alone in his bed when I left my room." His bed?
"How can you not know where he is?" I sway on my feet when I stand up too quickly.
She ignores me as she undressed her cloak.
"Where is he?" I insist, frustated.
"Perhaps he has decided to take a walk around the woods." She says, sarcastically. "Or he got tired of you."
"He is stupid for doing that. These woods are full of..."
"Creatures? Monsters?" Johanna teases me. "I don't know where he is. Stop asking me!"
"You did something to him." I assume. It can only be that since she wants me dead.
She laughs. "Are you serious? I could have harmed you instead of him."
"I would have slit your throat if you did." I confess. She gives a challeging look.
I can't wait and sit here staring at the walls. A thought invades my mind and I realise everything doesn't have to be a favour or a debt. However, I will always doubt others. With Peter, well, with him... I will do anything to protect him.
I fetch my boots and cloak from the other room and get ready to go out there and find him.
"I don't know who is the most foolish one." Johanna comments when I leave the room.
"This is right decision."
I walk to the door, forgetting about her. Yet, I am suddenly grabbed by my arm and thrown far away from the door. My lower back hits the table and I lose focus for a moment.
"You certainly want to catch another fever since last night's wasn't enough." Her gaze is intense as she speaks.
"Why are you suddenly so concern?" I squeeze the bow in my hand.
"I don't like you." She takes two steps and stands right in front of me. "However, stupid people are the most stubborn and dangerous. I don't want to see you killing yourself for something so foolish. Also, you decided it was time to save Pretty Boy?"
"He's out there with those creatures!" I shout at her. "You don't want to help me and so I will go by myself."
"He will eventually show up!"
"He won't."
I knock the bow against her temple and she tumbles to the side. I walk to the door, but I'm pulled backwards by my legs and my ribs crash hard against the lumpy floor. I am now more tired and my body feels heavier. I am spun around and then the tip of a blade is placed under my chin. Johanna hovers above me with an angry stare and a fresh cut in her temple.
"You shouldn't have done that." She says, menacingly. "You will do as I say ou I will have to tie you to a chair."
She digs the tip and I feel it piercing the skin. A warm substance falls down my neck. I don't react to the sting and scowl at her with a nod. She stands up, withdrawing the knife and holds out her hand to me. I take it and instead pull her down with all of my strenght. She collides with the floor and I roll to side. I stand up quickly, but with some difficulty, and step on the hand with the knife, place one knee on her stomach and hold down her right wrist with my hand.
"I will go outside and look for Peter." I breathe out. "Don't try anything."
The wound on her temple is open and blood flows, smudging her forehead and cheek. She stares at me without giving away any idea or pain. As soon as I release her, I am sure she will attack me again. I am wasting time fighting her. I should be looking for Peter. Nonetheless, this moment would have to happen, sooner or later. My foot squashes her hand harder and she slowly opens her hand. I don't care if I break her bones. Perhaps, I will be satisfied with it. It's something for her to remember me.
The door opens.
It happens in one second. I'm spun around and thrown to the floor. I cry out at the pain on the right side of my face. It's impossible to endure such strong pain.
"Hey!" I hear Peter's steps closing on me and then his and Johanna's moving quickly across the room.
I can't open my right eye and the smell of blood invades my nose. Carefully, I touch the side of my face and my fingertips are stained in vivid red.
"I will do worse next time!" Johanna shouts, a warning in her words. I try to answer back, but my face is paralyzed.
"Enough!" Peter orders. His steps grow closer and then he is pulling me up and guiding me to the table. He helps me sit down on a stool, removes my belongings and wraps a blanket around my shoulders.
"What is wrong with you!?" His expression is one of surprise and anger. "I leave for some time and you and Johanna are at each other's throats!"
"Why are you scolding me?" I say, but my mouth is already swollen. "She was the one who did this to me."
"I saw you on top of her crushing her hand!"
"I was going to go look for you, stupid!" I snap and it sends an unbearable pain through the right side of my face. "She wouldn't let me leave."
He sighs, frustated. "Alright... Let me get some water to clean your face."
He gets a basin of water and sits on the stool beside me. He wets a cloth and dabs it very gently on my face. I wince at the stinging sensation, yet I can't stop the tears from falling. Tears and blood. A perfect mixture. Peter's eyes avoid mine, while he cleans the blood. It's strange this new attitude, since he is always looking at me and I'm the one who looks away. He too focused on the task, but the blue of his eyes doesn't shine like most times. Not that I'm always peeking at his eyes and how they shine with happiness and laughter when they look at me. Now they are sad and hard and he isn't trying to make small talk. Is he resentful over last night?
"That's the best I can do." His voice brings me from my thoughts.
There's a warm buzzing on my face and the skin is wet and sticky. Peter stands up.
"Where did you go?" I ask, hoping he will answer.
"We will talk later." He doesn't glance at me and walks to the other room.
"We will talk-" He closes the door.
What is wrong with him?
Did something bad happened out in the woods? Is he treating me with secrecy? I wonder if he went to the woods because he hoped I would follow him afraid he would get lost. My chest is invaded by an immense coldness as I invision his body on the dirty ground, blood around his head.
I care for him.
I rest my elbow on the table and rest my forehead on my hand. I can't care for him. I can't. My life is always worse when I care for someone. I can learn how to trust him, but to care? It's impossible. I cared for Haymitch and look what my care did to him. Once I care for someone, their fates are already sealed. I can't bring that on Peter. I should gather my belongings and leave. However, the thought of leaving him squeezes my heart hard. I have to ignore these feelings and thoughts and focus on getting alive to Baluster.
The door opens and I sit up straighter. Peter closes the door, his expression neutral when he takes one look at me.
"We are leaving." He fetchs my satchel from the hanger.
"Is she coming out?" I stand up.
"No." He hands me my cloack and the satchel. "We are to leave immediately."
I don't mind at all. At least I won't have to look at her. This wound is a reminder of what will happen if I ever lay my eyes upon her.
"Drink." Peter hands me a waterskin when I'm ready to leave. "It's water. You need to get hidrated."
I accept it, a bit confused, and drink the cold water. My throat is so dry the water burns as it goes down. Once we have all of our belongings, we leave the cottage into the open. I have to grab Peter's arm or I will faint. The air is too cold and the gray rays of light sting my eyes. Peter seems to crack under my moment of weakness and his other arm is suddenly around my shoulders, holding me up.
"Breathe." He whispers, the blue of his eyes turning more colourful.
I inhale and exhale slowly and desire to vomit comes, burning my stomach and my sore throat. I focus on Peter's eyes, wanting them to comfort me and soothe my pain.
"Are you going to faint?" He suddenly asks, but his words sound too far away. "Katherine?"
He is calling my name, but I feel myself slipping down an endless hole. He holds me against his chest when I black out.