A/N: Hey guys. Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. My cat got attacked by the neighbor's dog and after the vet told us she'd be okay she died over night. So I haven't really felt like writing much. I'm gonna try to get another chapter out either today or tomorrow because Friday I'm leaving for a family reunion and then Monday is the first day of Band Camp. I'm probably going to be to exhausted to write anything that whole week. Forgive me. I'll get more chapters out asap. :) Enjoy Chapter 11, and please drop a review!
Chapter 11
We traveled until dusk, following the river's twists and turns. Silas had been silent, almost worryingly so. I guess he feels awkward about asking that question, I thought. We set up camp, ate a bit of the provisions from my pack, and lay down to sleep.
Hard as I tried, I couldn't get my thoughts to slow down enough to fall asleep. My mind buzzed with worries, questions, and fears that circled around my upcoming task. I couldn't even stop to ponder the meaning of Silas' earlier inquiry. It made me want to lop my own head off.
I tried to distract myself by finding shapes in the stars, but even then Alduin haunted me. All I could see was his gaping maw, thrashing tail, and sharp talons. I sighed, turning onto my side. Silas lay on his stomach, breathing deep and even, sleep having already claimed him.
His eyelashes cast long shadows on his cheeks which flickered in the light of the fire. I wondered if he was dreaming, and if he was, was it a good dream? I hoped so. After all he had been through, he deserved to have good dreams.
I rolled over again, restless. I felt like I needed to be training. I was frightened by the concept of fighting a dragon that had been alive for Gods only know how long. Alduin had probably fought people far more powerful than me and still lived.
I tried not to think about the fact that if I failed, the world would end. All of Nirn would fall to Alduin's might if I could not defeat him. Everyone was depending on me to slay the World-Eater. But what if I can't? I thought hopelessly. What if I'm not strong enough?
I lay thinking until the sky brightened with dawn's first rays of sunlight. Silas stirred in his bedroll, stretching himself and yawning quietly. He stood, stretched some more, and then staggered sleepily into the woods.
I sighed, and then followed suit. I took the last strip of cured meat from the pack on Jala's back, and munched on it as I led her to the river to drink. The warm sun shone in my face, giving me a slight feeling of hope. It didn't last very long.
A gloved hand clamped over my mouth, and a strong arm slipped around my stomach. I was hauled backwards into the bushes. I tried to make a grab for my sword, but remembered that it was stashed by a tree. Along with my armor.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! I racked my brains, trying to figure out a way to get free. I tugged and clawed at the hand over my mouth, but the arm around my waist tightened, squeezing the air from my diaphragm. I was just about to throw my elbow back into my attacker's face when I heard the twang of a bowstring.
The hands released me, followed by the dull thump of a body hitting the ground. And then Silas was there. His hands were on my face, willing me into action while simultaneously checking for wounds.
"Freya. We're surrounded. We need to make a run for it," he said quietly. I shoved him away and made for my sword. "Freya, there are too many. Freya!"
It was too late. Fueled by blind rage, I didn't stop to put my armor on. I took up my Daedric sword, and approached the nearest bandit. His back was to me as he searched through my pack. For a split second, I feared for Jala's fate, but my anger overpowered any worry.
I brought my sword down upon the bandit's back, driving its point hard enough that it burst forth from his stomach. He screamed horribly as I wrenched my sword free, flinging crimson droplets in an arc through the air.
Another bandit heard the screams and charged at me, a battle cry grating on my sensitive ears. I ducked beneath her raised blade, dragging the blade of my sword along her side. She cried out in agony and gripped her side, blood spilling between her fingers.
I knew she was finished even before her sword fell from her grasp. I left her writhing on the ground, certain that she would be dead within the minute. I caught a glimpse of Silas' lithe form from the corner of my eye.
He was a sight to behold. Bow drawn, a look of intent concentration on his face, he was deadly and beautiful. He had two bandits engaged, firing arrows in such a rapid succession that I could not keep count of the arrows he had fired.
I turned my attention back to the fight just as a Nord bandit was swinging his steel battleaxe at my head. I lifted my blade just in time, catching the battleaxe just before it split my skull. The force behind the strike drove me backward a step, but I turned my sword and watched as the battleaxe slid off to my left.
I glanced up at the bandit, saw the look of astonishment turn to one of fear, and then brought my sword across his throat. Blood sprayed from his severed artery, splashing onto the front of my shirt. I turned away as the Nord fell to his knees, clutching his ruined neck.
I made my way over to Silas, who was dodging blows from one bandit while shooting arrows at another that was farther away. I slashed violently at the bandit closest to him, bringing my blade down savagely upon his arm. The arm dropped to the ground, still grasping the Elven sword.
Silas turned to face me, having dealt with his opponent. His eyes went wide at the sight of all the blood covering me. He looked to my face, and then off over my shoulder. His face went blank, and then he was shoving me aside. I lost my balance and fell to the grass.
Two arrows zoomed over my head, through the space I had recently vacated, and collided with Silas' shoulder and hip. I screamed. I don't know if it was from fear, or worry, or anger, but I was screaming my head off.
I jumped to my feet, found the two bandits trying to reload their bows, and slaughtered them where they stood. And then I turned around, almost afraid of what I'd see.
Silas was on his knees, head down, studying his blood-covered hands which he held out before him. The two arrows stuck out of his left shoulder and his right hip, the shafts buried deep within his body. I rushed back to his side.
Just as I reached him, he fell backwards. I caught his, supporting his weight in my arms and lowering him gently to the ground. I propped his head up on my legs and smoothed the unruly black hair from his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked me in a raspy voice. I laughed at the irony. Something wet fell from my face and landed in his hair. I sniffed and rubbed my eyes, surprised to find that I was crying. I couldn't remember the last time I had cried, and yet here I was, bent over an injured Silas, crying my eyes out.
"I'm fine," I reassured him. "We need to get you to Dragon Bridge. Someone there can heal you." He blinked slowly, and then nodded his agreement. I placed his head on the ground, trying to cause him the least amount of pain, and then looked for Jala.
She stood several hundred feet away, quivering amongst the bushes at the river's edge. I dragged her back to where Silas lay and tied her reins to a low hanging tree branch. I returned to Silas' side, surveying the damage the arrows had caused.
From what I could see, nothing vital had been pierced, but he was losing a massive amount of blood. As carefully as possible, I pulled the arrows from his body and tied strips of cloth around the wounds as best I could. My fingers shook like the ground did when a dragon landed, and I had to retie the knots a few times to make sure they were tight enough.
The amount of blood he was losing terrified me, but I told myself he would make it. Dragon Bridge was only a few hours ride away. Jala would have to carry us both as quickly as possible. The only problem was getting Silas onto her back.
After gathering our things, I helped him to his feet and supported most of his weight as we made our way to Jala's side. It took a few minutes of pain-filled groans, but soon he was up on her back. I untied Jala and threw the reins over her head before swinging myself up into the saddle in front of Silas.
I turned Jala and guided her alongside the riverbank. Before long the ground became less rocky, and Jala trotted down the dirt path towards Dragon Bridge. I felt Silas' arms slide around my waist, his fingers knotting in my shirt.
I pushed Jala into a canter, asking for as much speed as she could give me. As her pace quickened, Silas rested his head on my shoulder, his body slumped against me.
"Stay awake, Silas." I ordered. "If you fall off I won't be able to get you back up here." I felt his arms tighten around my waist, felt his breath warm on my ear. Jala cantered across a bridge, and I knew we were getting close.
Just as the ancient, black bridge that the town was named after came into sight, I felt Silas' arms go slack and fall from my waist. I pulled back on the reins, slowing Jala to a walk, and tried to hold onto Silas. I could see people moving about in the town, and called for help.
When Jala stepped off the bridge, there were a few men and women gathered. Silas slipped from the saddle, and two of the men caught him. I jumped from Jala's back, patted her neck in thanks, and followed the men as they carried Silas to the Four Sheilds Inn.
They brought him to one of the rooms and laid him on the bed. A few women came in and bustled about, bumping into me as they went. I stood in the middle of the room, still as stone, staring at an unconscious Silas. His chest rose and fell with each breath, giving me hope that he might live through this.
"Excuse me, but you need to leave," one of the women said. I was too shocked to move. When I didn't respond, the woman grabbed me and pushed me forcefully from the room. Having shoved me out, she huffed and then slammed the door in my face.
I was vaguely aware of someone guiding me towards a table and sitting me on a bench. A plate of steaming food was set in front of me, but I merely stared. I was too worried about Silas to think of anything else.
He'll be alright, I told myself. He has to be. I repeated those two sentences to myself for hours, sitting in the darkness of the inn.