Chapter 22 – The Funeral
THUMP!
The sound echoed in Godric's ears, vibrating everything around him.
THUMP! THUMP!
It frustrated him. It interrupted the rest he so desperately sought. Every thump pulled him further from that destination.
THUMP! THUMP! "Please..."
Godric was startled and the thumping skipped. Had he really just heard that? His mind struggled to make sense of it, but he was far too tired to think. However, there was something urgent in that voice.
"Fight it Godric." THUMP! THUMP!
Again, the thumping skipped but it was settling into a much slower and steadier rhythm. He knew the voice now. It was Rowena. And something had her scared beyond all reason. She needed him to fight for her and here he was trying to sleep.
THUMP! THUMP!
This realisation hit Godric along with an enormous wave of pain. It thundered throughout his entire body making him want to scream, but something was pressing heavily on his lungs preventing them from getting the air he needed to do so.
"Godric?"
There was hope in the voice this time. Confusion settled over his mind as he tried to force the weight from his chest if he could just speak, reassure her that everything would be fine. But he could not move his arms; the weight seemed to be resting across his entire body. He could move nothing.
"Come on Godric, wake up please!"
Her voice was crystal clear in his ears as the thumping went into overdrive as though it sought to drown out her words. The pain continued to build but Godric fought against it. He had to fight it. For her, she needed him urgently.
Suddenly everything came into sharp focus as the weight was thrown from his body. He sucked furiously at the air stealing as much as he could, afraid the weight would return. He could feel his body again, though the pain still seared fiercely through it. Something was pressing against his hand but he could not open his eyes to see what it was. There was something wet dripping on his chest.
"Godric?"
He could hear her perfectly now her voice was like a soothing caress, Rowena, he thought trying to force the thought through his closed lips. However, this effort seemed to drain all his strength and the darkness gripped him once more.
ϟ
Time did not exist. There was no sense of its passing. Everything was frozen in place. No rhythmic thumping to count. No struggle to breathe. And no sweet voice to hold him as he drifted. The pain had vanished too, leaving him alone in this void. His only company in this place was darkness, complete and utter, pressing in on him as though it sought to crush him with its vastness.
Godric twisted and struggled against it with all his might. However, he merely spun in place. He continued to struggle, searching for a way to escape. Escape to those who still needed him. And as though he had willed it into being, a small bright sphere of light appeared opposite him in the enormous space. It did not cast light out into the space; it was more like the darkness was choking it as it had been with him. Godric reached out but it remained firmly out of reach teasing him with its warmth.
A growl ripped from his throat as he fought with renewed vigour, forcing his way through the dark pulling himself to the light. It was taking every ounce of his strength but he was doing it. He was going to make it. He stretched out for it again reaching, hoping as it warmed his icy fingers as they began to close around the light. The second his fist closed the light flared out blinding him after the dark he had endured.
"He is." The angel had returned to him. "I saw him."
"Rowena, be patient, give him time."
Godric wanted to call to the voices but the pain had returned in full force pressing in on him fiercely. He focused completely on opening his eyes. He needed to see the face of his angel to help him win this fight. He willed his disobedient eyelids to rise struggling to lift their veil. Nothing had ever been more difficult in his entire life than lifting those thin layers of skin. Or more important.
"Doctor!" Her voice bolstered him. "Come quickly."
Something was wrong again. He needed to escape these bonds so he could help her. He renewed his efforts. A tiny sliver of light broke in through the minute crack he had created. He refused to stop as the light burned at him.
"He moved."
"Rowena."
This second voice obviously did not believe her. He was sure that it was the danger. He had to protect her from his lies. A fire burned in his chest as he forced all his will against his resisting lids. A huge flare burst out hitting him like an anvil. It took him a moment to realise what was causing this new pain. He finally realised that his eyes were wide open as the room slowly materialised out of the light.
"I know he moved," Rowena mumbled, clueing Godric into her location.
In that second he realised it had not been a light he had struggled so fiercely to reach before. It had been Rowena.
"Rowena." He whispered, wanting to reach out to her.
Her head whipped around and she stared deeply into his eyes. Everything slowed once more as Godric just looked at every feature on her face drinking of her beauty. She was as perfect as ever, apart from the lines of tears streaking down her cheeks. A light smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she stared at him. All the pain rushed out of his body as he watched her completely entranced.
"I love you." He whispered, watching the light smile break over her entire face, lighting the room better than any sun could ever hope to achieve.
"I love you too," Rowena replied, her voice sounded much fuller and brighter than anything he had heard in a long time.
"Where is everyone?" Godric asked as he struggled to sit up.
"Salazar is with Helga and Max. She's still pretty upset." She said a hint of pain in her voice.
"Is she hurt?" Godric begged a sudden fear clutching at him, though it seemed an echo of something deeper.
"No. She is fine. They are both fine, physically. Only a few cuts and bruises like me." She replied confusion evident on her face.
"Good." He breathed. He pulled himself up casting a quick look around the tent before continuing. "Can I speak with Max? I really need to ask him a few things."
Rowena did not reply this time, she just stared at him confusion written across her entire face.
"What's wrong?"
"Godric, Max is dead. You were there."
The pain that had subsided somewhat in Rowena's presence came crashing back down upon him with unstoppable force. The battle flared in his memory as he remembered watching Max fall. Feeling the life leave his body and the others trying to take him from his arms.
A tortured scream tore its way from his body, leaving wounds of its own on its way out, as he struggled vainly against the memory. The pain tore at him like a predator ripping apart its helpless prey. He begged for the darkness, open to its numbing embrace that had saved him this scorching torment. Rowena held him to her as he broke down. Not even her soothing touch could fight back the nightmare of the pain. He was truly broken and only one thing would heal him now. And he would have it.
"No Godric. You cannot get up yet. You'll tear your wounds." Rowena ordered as she tried to push him back into the bed.
"I don't care! I am going to kill Thomas and nothing is going to stop me. Where is he?" He demanded, still fighting to get up.
"What do you mean?" Rowena asked looking confused again.
"Isn't he chained up somewhere?"
"No Godric. He escaped."
"But Max caught him." He challenged his body going limp. "I remember that."
It felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. He searched the images again, trying to decipher the puzzle.
"He ran off after Max fell. We couldn't stop him." Rowena's voice sounded full of guilt, as though she took the blame for helping Godric instead of stopping Thomas. "After he ran off all the skeletons just fell to pieces."
"So..." The words were stuck in Godric's throat, trying to choke him. "Max died, for nothing?"
"No! He died to save us. All of us. If he had not shown up when he did we would all have perished. He is a hero."
Godric's mind was so chaotic. Scenes of battle crashing around against memories of his childhood. Max had raised him as if he were his own son. Never once did he seem to regret his choice. Never had he complained. He had been a purely good soul. And Thomas had killed him. He had taken Godric's father for the second time. This time he was going to pay.
"Do we know where he went?" Godric asked a deep calm setting over him as he focused.
"Not yet, but the King has labelled him a traitor." Godric heard the word she had not said and was grateful she spared him that pain. "He won't have many places left to hide. Now just relax and get some rest. You will need your strength soon."
Rowena forced him back into the bed and he went without complaint. He felt empty again and had no strength left to fight her. She tucked him in and turned away and fear gripped at Godric as he grasped her arm.
"Don't leave. Please." He begged.
"I'm not. I am just grabbing my chair. It fell over when you woke up." She smiled settling into her chair and holding his hand once more.
ϟ
Godric woke to a weight resting on his chest and feared it had all been a dream. He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the eyes of a large bird.
"Pyre?"
"I thought he could help," Helga said from his other side.
"Helga."
Relief swept through his entire body as he saw her tears streaked face. Even though he had believed Rowena that she was fine it still helped to see it with his own eyes.
"I did some reading before we left and apparently phoenix tears have healing powers. It took a little while to figure out how, but eventually, we managed to call Pyre here for you."
"But I still feel so sore. And I can't seem to sit up."
"That's probably because Rowena fell asleep across you. No surprise considering she has not slept since before the battle. And Pyre can only heal physical wounds."
Helga's eyes were brimming over with tears again. He could see that her father's death was still tormenting her, perhaps even more than it struck him.
"I'm so sorry Helga. I should have gotten to him faster. It's all my f..."
Helga slapped him roughly across the face stopping him dead. A dark fury filled her eyes as he stared at him.
"Don't you ever say that again!" She commanded, tears flowing freely. "You did everything you could have. It is Thomas' fault and he is going to pay!"
In all their years together Godric had never seen Helga like this before. She looked like a mighty goddess, danger carved into all the beauty of her face, frozen in fury. But it passed as quickly as it had come, leaving behind the broken girl.
"Come here." He cooed softly holding out his arm to embrace her.
Helga collapsed into him unleashing all her feelings into him as she wept.
"We will both make him pay. We will avenge our father together."
Helga looked up for a moment in confusion before breaking down once more. Godric just held her close and let her grieve. He would not allow himself to do so until vengeance had been enacted.
ϟ
The angry scream reverberated through the stone halls striking fear into the hearts of any who heard it.
"Damn you Max, you interfering bastard!" Thomas yelled throwing a chair clear across the room. "More than two-thirds of my army destroyed just as we were about to achieve victory. If you were not already dead, I would kill you myself! I may just bring you back for the satisfaction anyway, once you're damned king is dead."
"Master."
Thomas whirled on his servant, hate radiating from his every feature. "WHAT!?"
"The army is assembled and awaits your instructions." His voice cracked with fear as he spoke.
"Anything else?"
"No my lord." The servant quivered.
"Then why are you still here?" Thomas screamed.
A second chair followed the servant from the room, smashing loudly against the wall outside.
"I'll show those damned fools who they are messing with. I will show them all. We attack tonight!" He roared laughing as he whisked from the room.
ϟ
The hills glowed red in the light of the setting sun as Rowena helped Godric from the medical tent. He was still sore and tired but refused to let Max wait any longer. As soon as the sun disappeared behind the hills, the funeral would begin.
"Come on Rowena. We will be late if we don't hurry up."
"They have waited three days already Godric. A few minutes won't make a difference."
Godric just glared at her as she sighed and quickened her pace.
"I don't know why you insist on helping me around. I'm fine."
"You were unconscious for nearly two days. Humour me."
"Alright." Godric sighed as they left the camp heading toward the crowd gathered out on the field.
The huge pyre had been erected earlier that morning and now sat with Max resting silently at its peak. There was a light pressure resting on Godric's shoulder as he watched, but he did not turn. He knew it was Pyre waiting for his part. Godric was flanked on his right by Rowena and her father and on his left by Helga and Salazar. Helga looked calm but Godric knew she was still suffering. He turned away to watch with everyone else as the shadow crept past them and rose up the mountainside.
As the light disappeared from the peak, Pyre took flight sweeping around in a huge arc, smouldering as he flew before plunging into the pile of wood and burst into flames. The fire took off fiercely, consuming Max in only a few minutes. Helga squeezed Godric's hand as they watched a single tear betraying her outward calm. Godric wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close, as she gave into the grief once more.
A soft melodious cooing emanated from the fire as it burned. It seemed Pyre was mourning Max's death as well. All who heard the sombre tune were entranced by it. The song did not end until long after the sun had vanished completely and the sky was dark. There were no stars on this cloudy night. The only light came from the now dwindling fire they were gathered about.
A sudden tongue of flame shot up into the air where it exploded brightly illuminating everything from the mountains to the forest. The forest that was now spilling enemy troops all over the camp.
"To arms!" Someone called and the group leapt into action, grabbing weapons and rushing the surprised attackers.
Godric cursed under his breath as he realised he had left all his weapons in the tent as he watched the soldiers collide with the line of skeletons. Anger coursed through him, how could Thomas be so callous as to attack during a funeral. Red coloured his vision and he could hear the blood in his ears over the sounds of battle. The sharp ring of metal rending metal pierced the air, lit only by the dying embers and bright shots of light emanating from the attacking force. Godric tried to focus on the source but he became distracted as several skeletons noticed him and made for his position. Fear gripped him as he remembered he had no means of defending himself. He fumbled around his body searching for anything that could help him. He started as his fingers wrapped around something smooth and cold tucked away in his pocket.
Realisation and relief spread across his face along with a huge grin as he whipped out his wand and he blasted them away, giving him time to survey the scene afresh. Salazar and Rowena had taken up a defensive position protecting the king. Both had their wands drawn and were blasting away skeletons left and right. The king was frozen in place staring at his daughter a mingled look of horror and pride evident on his face. However, Helga was in more immediate danger. She had taken up the defence of her father's resting place with a mad determination. She looked truly fierce some as she cast spells wildly in all directions barely missing some of the soldiers, but she was still under imminent threat of being overrun.
Godric charged forward taking down anything that got in his way, blasting skeletons and dodging soldiers as he arrived by Helga's side. He was instantly in the zone, slinging out spells all over not needing to watch to see if they hit their mark. A small wall of bones began piling up around the pair as several soldiers jumped forward to help. Several bursts of light shot past Godric as he spun to the side to avoid a few arrows. He followed them to their source and spotted Thomas wading through the carnage felling soldiers and skeletons without hesitation. Godric followed his line and noticed he was headed straight for the king, and Salazar. And Rowena. He leapt after him anger coursing through him again.
"You got this handled?" He called to Helga as he passed her just catching her nod.
He closed the distance in no time at all but was not fast enough to beat the wall of skeletons that walled in the arena cutting him off from the four figures beyond.
ϟ
Fear and memories struck at Rowena as she stood with Salazar, facing down Thomas, trapped in their small clearing surrounded by skeletons. A vicious grin was embedded in Thomas' face as he stared them down.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favourite little traitor." Thomas chided, "How are things, Salazar? Your parents would be so very disappointed." Salazar just glared back a grim determination written on his face. "And Rowena. How delightful, it's been so long since we've had a chance to talk."
Rowena trembled slightly as the memories of her last talk sent a cold shiver down her spine. Her grip tightening on her wand as she stared back at Thomas, certain that her terror was clearly evident on her face.
"Shall we begin? I've waited a long time for this day and the two of you can't stop me now." Thomas laughed.
This finally broke Rowena's hesitation and spells began to flare back and forth between the trio as John watched on helpless to intervene as his daughter fiercely defended him.
ϟ
"Damn it!" Godric yelled as he ducked and dodged swipe after swipe as the wall of skeletons fought to keep him back. There were clearly too many for him to blast his way through and staying in close proximity was only putting his own neck in danger of severance. His eyes darted about the field as he twisted in and out of the blows, searching for anything that could turn things to his favour. He did notice that none of the skeletons pursed him at all; it was as if their only concern was to keep him from the melee unfolding behind their vigil.
He felt a few spells whisk over his shoulder as he ducked about and realised Helga must have noticed his plight and deigned to help. Finally, his eyes caught on something that may prove his saviour, a large kite shield lay at his feet in the severed hand of one of the king's soldiers. Whipping it up he deflected the incoming blows now standing his ground against the attacks looking for a weak spot in their line, somewhere, anywhere he could sneak through. He blasted skeleton after skeleton as he continued searching but every one that fell was replaced almost immediately, it was as though every skeleton on the field was now gathered between him and his friends, and one glance around would have shown how true this was, the skeletons were abandoning the fight to protect their master.
Helga was free to join Godric's side, but he only noticed because he could now hear her incantations in his ear, his focus was still on finding that one weak spot to exploit. And it came. A slightly deformed skeleton went for a killing strike as he popped his head above the shield and revealed a thin point in their line. Godric leapt for it smashing the skeleton aside with the shield and rolling between almost fifty swords coming to his feet just as a red light flared past his face and a thud behind him indicated a body falling to the earth.
A quick glance behind showed Salazar lying unmoving on the dirt, the king looking on in disbelief at the fight going on in front of him. As his eyes flicked forward again he saw that Helga had somehow slipped into the ring with him and was checking to make sure Rowena was ok. Concern and relief filled Godric as he saw she was still standing but he did not have time to make a thorough inspection for Thomas was recovering from the shock of the new combatants in his arena.
"I shouldn't be surprised; you have meddled in all my other plans. But no more this ends today."
A jet of light smashed into the shield twisting it around Godric's arm as he fought to through it to the ground and flicked his wand toward Thomas in retaliation. The duel flared once more with renewed intensity as Thomas fought back the three young enchanters, looking for his moment. The shield continued to twist and lengthen, eliciting a dull hissing as it formed something long and thin.
"I'm going to make you suffer for what you did to my father you bastard!" Helga screamed, firing of curses, trying to beat down Thomas' defences.
"Is that so? Perhaps you should be more concerned with your own safety then revenge."
A white flash sliced across Helga's chest drawing a thin line of blood as she fell backwards landing next to Salazar's prone body.
"Helga!" Rowena screamed as her friend dropped by her side but she could not go to her aid without lowering her own defences. Anger and hate started to cloud Godric's vision as he fired of curses trying vainly to breach his uncle's vigil. The rest of the world seemed to fade away around him until all that was left was his uncle's twisted grinning face. And that was when he realised his mistake.
Thomas had tricked him into losing focus, to ignoring his surroundings. His anger had blinded him to the debris of battle all around him. Something he became painfully aware of as the broken skeleton clutched his ankle and yanked him down to the ground. Terror gripped his heart as time slowed for him. He glanced back to see the hand grasping his foot, holding him down, a horrid smile on what was left of the creatures face. Beyond the skeleton, Helga was clutching her chest, blood seeping past her fingers as she fended off a large silvery snake that was trying to attack her and Salazar. A look of absolute horror was etched into the Kings face as he watched his only daughter standing alone in front of a murderer.
Thomas laughed and waved his wand at Rowena, who had dropped her guard as Godric had gone down. Their eyes met and in that second time seemed to stop completely. He could see the apology deep within her eyes, as she accepted the inevitable, sending him her silent goodbye. Emotion surged through Godric and time flashed back into existence as his wand flicked out of its own accord, foreign words ripping past his lips.
The huge lion burst forth, more solid than Godric had ever seen it. It was between Rowena and Thomas before the spell had even left Thomas' wand, and the lion swallowed it whole without hesitation, before charging Thomas and knocking him and his wand flying. It came down heavily on top of his form, its large paw snapping his wand under its massive weight and resting itself on Thomas, pinning him down.
A sudden breeze whooshed over Godric's shoulder as he kept his wand trained on Thomas, as he surveyed the scene around him. Rowena stood, unharmed by her father who was looking at the giant lion in absolute fear. Helga was reviving Salazar, who immediately went about fixing the gash spreading across her chest. It was only after he saw all three were ok that he noticed that the line of skeletons surrounding them had collapsed, destroyed as Thomas spell subsided with the crushing of his wand. He looked at his ankle and saw it was free once more. He stood slowly and approached Thomas' quivering form.
"Don't move." He ordered power evident in every syllable as Thomas stared at him in fear. "Or I will kill you."
"Still don't have the stomach to do what's necessary Godric? If you had killed me when you had the chance, Max would still be alive." He started to laugh but was silenced as Godric kicked him in the jaw.
"Don't you ever speak his name again! He was a million times the man you are. It is only because of him that I will not kill you. He wouldn't want me to sink to your level." Godric spat.
He glanced over his shoulder at his friends, the soldiers were only checking to see that the king was safe but Godric's concern was for his friends, he realised how important all three of them were to him at that moment, and how much it would hurt them for him to become a murderer like Thomas.
"No, I can think of a much better punishment for you than death. Life."
Thomas just stared in disbelief. "How is that...?"
"Worse? Because you do not deserve the release that death offers. You deserve to stay locked in a cell with nothing to do but dwell on the chaos and destruction you have wrought, to live knowing it is only through the mercy of those whose lives you tried to destroy. To know you forever owe your life to those you hate."
"Godric, he killed your parents. He killed my father. We can't just let him get away with that." Helga stated coming up behind him.
"He has to pay for his crimes," Salazar added, limping at Helga's side
"I know but if we kill him then he wins. We become what we hate. Max wouldn't want us to become him."
"Maybe you should take some time to think about this Godric." Rowena soothed running her hand up his wand arm.
"No, I know the path I must take. I'll not take his life in revenge; I nearly lost everything through anger."
The silvery lion faded on the soft wind sweeping across the field dropping the area into darkness. Muffled moans could be heard from the ground as footsteps rushed forward. A sudden piercing light erupted from the end of Godric's wand, illuminating the soldiers rushing forward to stop Thomas' escape only to stop and stare. Thomas now lay bound and gagged on the ground as Godric walked over to the king.
"I hereby hand this prisoner to you, your Highness. His fate I now leave in your hands." And with that, he turned and walked back towards his tent, everyone staring at his back in disbelief.
The End (officially abandoned until further notice).
A/N: And that's all there is, there isn't anymore.
I may, someday, return to this story but the inspiration has long since vanished.
Reading through as I posted it here I was shocked at the sheer amount of spelling and grammar issues my early writing had, not to mention the very cliched nature of the story itself. And the sheer amount of repetitive word use. I cringe. I truly hope that my current works have progressed to a more readable state.
Regardless, I hope those of you who made it all the way through still found it to be worth the time you dedicated to it.
If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them. I shall not remove any comments on this work (unless they breach the site rules).