"Nothing burns hotter than the fires of holy rage"
Chapter 5: Battered, Broken, Alive
Thundering hooves assaulted Ginny's ears, as the ground itself rumbled in cadence to the sound. She was on the ground next to the smoldering remains of a wagon, burned wood and ash littering the ground around her, still smoldering and hot. All around her, smoke billowed upwards, as the sounds of battle raged around her.
Cringing in fright, she ducked low, searching with watering eyes for signs of Harry. She began to panic as she could see no sign of him. Suddenly she heard a low moan from within the still smoking remains of the wagon, and she frantically tried to push aside the burning beams, finally managing to uncover her beloved. The fires had burned away the crossbow bolts that had penetrated his body in several places, but the vicious wounds left by them still glared evilly at her.
She became even more frantic as she saw his wounds had opened once more, bleeding once more. The wounds didn't seem as severe, as life-threatening as they once had, as though they had been partially healed. Still, without aid, and soon, he'd either burn to death, or bleed away his life. Struggling, she put all her weight into it and managed to pull him from the burning wreck, but could only stare in unthinking shock, not knowing the first thing on how to help him. The pain of his wounds echoed through their bond, further disorienting her.
"Do not move, human,' a fierce voice declared from above her. "Or I will spear you where you kneel."
She looked up slowly, and inhaled sharply in fear and panic.
The tip of a spear was pointed directly at her, not more then a foot from her heart. The figure that held the spear was mounted upon an armoured black steed, and she shivered in fear as its great hooves pawed the ground in front of her, no doubt wishing to crush her beneath them. The figure itself was encased in a dark, cruel coloured metal suit of armour.
Terror welled up within her as she began to see the baleful red eyes staring down at her, the twisted, cruel grin that spread across the figures face. Her eyes drifted beyond him, and she felt the terror grow even greater as she saw other similarly clad figures riding down fleeing people.
"Please," she begged, as everything just seemed to overwhelm her, and her fear and terror took over. "please, don't kill us. We didn't do anything!"
The shock of the butchery going on before her and the bleeding body of her love beside her made her shiver, and her hair fell over her face. Without thinking, she pushed it back, tucking it behind a pointed ear.
The great beast before her suddenly reared up as its rider pulled back on the reins suddenly, and Ginny let out a scream of fright, and shrank backwards, as the rider pulled back his spear suddenly to strike.
"Foul spy," he roared, shifting his grip slightly, and preparing to thrust. "Do not think to fool us with such cheap tricks,"
She threw up her arms in an effort to ward off the blow, shutting her eyes tightly in anticipation. Just as she expected the blow to come, she heard another voice call out.
"Captain, stay your hand," a firm voice called, in the tone of one used to having their orders obeyed.
Ginny opened her eyes and slowly lowered her arms, looking up to see her assailant look back over his shoulder.
"But my Prince-"
"That was not a request Captain," came the second voice once more, nearer this time. "Lower your weapon."
A second figure rode up beside the first, but this one was clad in much different armour. This was a brilliant shining suit, inlaid with gold. Upon his head rested a intricately wrought helm of the same metal, with flowing golden lines giving it a very regal, noble look. A large shield rested against him, bearing a symbol of a golden sword upon a red field. However, it was the face of this one that shocked and confused her.
For this was an elf, of that there could be no question.
Blinking in confusion, she looked back at the first figure and looked closer. Her eyes rose higher, and she gasped in surprise as she saw the horn upon the steed's head. This was no dark, evil creature that wished to crush her beneath its horns, it was a war unicorn. Its rider lifted away his spear, planting the butt against the ground with one hand, while the other pushed back his mail coif.
She was shocked to see that this too was an elf. Her terror, her fear, must have had her imagining the dreadful face of a Nekmari, pieced together from the flashed of images she had seen, and felt, through her connection to her love.
"My Prince, surely you must not think this is anything but another foolish attempt by those 'Marin bastards to sneak a spy into our midst," the first elf said again, still eyeing her suspiciously.
"It may be Captain," came the response from the second, "but if you were wrong, you would have just speared one of my father's people, our people." This elf looked at her long and hard, before shaking his head. "I cannot tell."
He turned then, and shouted something she couldn't quite make out, as sudden relief, knowledge that these weren't enemies, struck her almost as hard as her fear had, and she swayed, dizzy and confused.
A moment later, an older elf rode over, and this one took one look at her and immediately dismounted, kneeling beside her, and supporting her.
"What is wrong with you my Prince?" This elf demanded, looking back at him in shock. "She's almost delirious from shock and pain, and you simply sit there?"
"Aravas here thinks she's a Nekmari, under illusion," came the response, now tinged with a hint of worry.
Ginny felt a hand gently lift her chin, and saw the eyes of the elf before her seemed to un-focus for a moment.
"Don't be ridiculous," he said a moment later, looking at her reassuringly. "She's no more a 'Marin then you are."
He looked her over for a moment, as the two elves behind him dismounted, and approached. Suddenly, his eyes locked on something beside her, and he quickly moved past her.
"By the Light," he gasped, surveying the wounds on the girl's companion with disbelief. "With wounds like these, he should be dead,"
"No!" Ginny cried, and threw herself towards the prone body, only to be caught in the gentle, but restraining hands of the one called the Prince.
"Relax lass," his voice whispered in her ear as he held her back. "Healer Menas can help, but only if you don't get in his way."
The older elf looked over the wounds before him, and settled on the largest, and most urgent. He stretched his hands out over the wound, and began to hum softly, stretching his healing magic forth towards the wound.
Ginny suddenly felt pain wrack her body, as Harry's body reacted violently to the attempted healing. She moaned loudly, and the healer looked back at her in shock, then looked back at the form below him, then back at her again.
"Atara bless us, they're bonded," he exclaimed. "She's feeling his pain."
The response was swift, as the grip on her tightened, the elf holding her attempting to comfort her, speaking to her again.
"Shut it down miss," he urged her, "block it out before it overwhelms you and kills you."
"NO-" Menas cried, "no, as much as I hate to say it, we can use it. I can use her reactions to judge what the problems are."
The Prince looked unsure, before nodding once.
Turning back, Menas tried once more, using a somewhat different approach with his magic, and got the same reaction, from both the patient and the bonded.
Suddenly, the healer was struck with a grim hunch, and quickly directed his attention to one of the other wounds, the dark, round wound on his leg, that looked suspiciously like an arrow wound. He prodded the wound gently, before reaching out to it with his magic.
The moment it touched, he pulled back, recoiling in revulsion.
"Atara preserve us, he has Vveriss in him!" He cried out, and immediately scrambled to his feet, and rummaging through the pack on his mounts back.
"What are you doing?" Aravas demanded, looking down at the elf on the ground in sudden sympathy.
"I have to stabilize him, and induce a coma. I can't do anything about that poison here, we need to get him to Dalandrin immediately, if there is to be any chance of his survival." He said quickly, returning to the still form with an armful of bandages, and a few small vials.
"Aravas, help me. I'm going to have to force his body to go into complete shock, and then I should be able to induce a coma with these supplies. Once I do Aravas, bandage the wounds as best as you can, to reduce blood-loss. That should slow the poison, and keep him alive long enough to get him moved."
"Is there anything I can do?" The Prince asked, looking concerned, but not letting go his grip on Ginny's arms, pining them to her body.
The healer nodded, looking sadly at the frantically struggling girl.
"The only way to induce the shock I need is through a massive jolt of pain. Unfortunately, due to their bond-"
"She'll feel it too," the Prince finished, nodding in understanding. "Do it, I've got her."
The healer nodded, and, mustering himself, he reached out again with his power.
Moments later, Ginny let out a terrible, agonized scream, and, as the elf clutching her whispered reassurances into her ear, she passed out into blissful numbness.
Ginny drifted slowly to consciousness, aware of a heated argument being engaged in the room nearby.
"What were you thinking Aravas?" A stern voice demanded, anger evident in his tone. "You almost cost the boy his life, and hers along with him."
"Do not judge him too harshly Andor, he made a mistake-" came a voice she recognized, the strong, firm voice of the one called the Prince.
"A mistake?" A disbelieving voice exclaimed. "A mistake? I was trying to protect you, your Highness. They've done it before, surely you haven't forgotten."
"You go too far Captain," came the Prince's reply, his tone quickly taking on a harsh, unforgiving quality. "You dare ask me such a thing?"
"My lord, I only meant-"
"Because I assure you, I have not forgotten. I was there too, lest you forget. I watched as that murdering bastard killed my sister. I watched as he kidnapped my younger brother, escaping before any of the Guard could respond. I know all too well what they are capable of, for I saw the results of that too, when two moons later, on the date we should have been celebrating his birth, they delivered to us his severed wings in a bloody crate," the prince spat with such anger and suppressed bitterness that shocked Ginny into full wakefulness, though she feigned sleep, wanting to hear more.
"Both of you, that is enough. It is past now, there is nothing we can do about it," came the deep voice of the one Ginny realized must be the one named Andor.
"You think to order me?" The angry voice asked, becoming even more louder and enraged.
"You're not my King yet boy, and I can and will knock some sense into you if I have to. We've more important things to worry about." The deep voice said simply, calmly.
Ginny could hear the sound of deep breathing for a moment, before a burst of laughter lightened the tone of the room, followed by a sigh.
"You're right Andor, my apologies to you. I don't know what came over me,"
"I do lad. You've had ten years to deal with your siblings deaths, but no time to properly mourn. Your reaction was justified, albeit a trifle melodramatic." Andor said comfortingly.
"I owe you an apology as well Aravas, I know you were only trying to protect me," came the now much calmer voice of the Prince.
"Well, it is my job you know," the voice she recognized as Aravas's grumbled.
"Getting to the point," Andor interrupted, "I need a better idea of what happened today, before we can begin to piece together what in Adaron's name is going on. First of all, what was your company doing so far from your assigned position with the army currently posted at Calendra?"
"We were on patrol near the border when we encountered a family of farmers who'd been driven from their home. They said that an Eltan slave caravan had passed through, and they'd been forced to flee. Since we all know any slaves the Eltan's catch go straight into the Darklands and never come back, I figured stopping them would be a good idea," the Prince replied simply.
Ginny tried to sneak a quick glace at them, but when she opened her eyes briefly, all she could see was someone's back. Beyond, she could make out the still form of Harry resting on a bed near her.
"Continue,"
"Well, we didn't really have much choice did we? I refuse to let innocents die through inaction. We were in a position to do something about it, and if you think I regret my decision, you're mistaken. You can tell my father whatever you wish about me deviating from orders, or what not, but I'll not regret my actions. We did the right thing, we saved lives." came the answer.
There was a silent boss, before a soft grunt of acceptance. "Alright, I'll accept that, not that I have much choice. Aravas?"
"Judging from their tracks, the caravan had come up from the south, and was turning east. It had the usual number of Eltan guards, but there were also a handful of Nekmari with them, which was unusual. As soon as we came at them, the Eltan's formed up against us. While we were fighting them, I saw the Nekmari converge around one of the wagons, and a few disappeared inside, while the others stood guard. I wasn't sure at the time what they were doing, but from the looks of the lad over there, they were trying their best to make sure we didn't get them alive, or perhaps, alive, but unable to save. They fled the wagon as we approached, and advanced on us. Moments later, the wagon suddenly went up in flames. The whole thing burned down to ash in moments. It's a mystery as to how neither of them have a single burn, yet one I shall not question further."
The elf speaking paused for a moment, before continuing.
"Near the end of the fray, I spotted movement near the wagon and moved to investigate. That's when I encountered these two. You know the rest."
"How are they?" The deep voice asked, and this time, a new voice answered.
"She'll be fine. Mostly exhaustion, and residual echoes of bond-pain. She'll be up soon I expect," came a softer, female voice.
"And the lad?"
"You mean besides the Vveriss?" The woman, presumably a healer, asked.
"Aye, though that brings untold questions on its own, yet does much to affirm the fact that they did not want him to survive." The deep voice replied.
"Well, besides being a victim of one of their deadliest of poisons, the lad has numerous injuries. Several crossbow injuries, heavy bruising, several broken ribs, and the stab injury in the chest. We barely stopped him from bleeding to death. Of course, the Vveriss didn't help any of those either."
"How long will he be bedridden?" came the question.
"Hard to tell, depends on how quickly his body rids itself of the remaining traces of the Vveriss, but with the degenerative effects of the poison effecting him, it will be at least a month, possibly more, before he is fit to move. That is of course, assuming he ever wakes up. It is possible that sheer shock may have broken his mind."
"That bad?" Came the Prince's voice.
"If not worse," was the blunt response.
The Prince whistled low in disbelief, before speaking.
"Andor, I hate to appear uncaring, but I must see to my men," he said, before pausing. "There's little I can do for them now. I'll leave them in your care?"
"Yes," Andor answered. "I'll take them into my household, at least until such time as they're hale and well, and I've an idea what to do with them."
"Good," the Prince said, "I know you'll do what is best. I'll gather my men, and return to the front in the morning."
Ginny stayed silent, as she heard the sound of two pairs of footsteps leaving the room. Moments later, the quiet voice of the healer spoke again.
"My lord, there's something else," she began.
"Oh? Why did you not mention it before?" Came the curious response from the deep-voiced Andor.
"It's something I've kept as secret as possible, simply because it raises many questions, questions I do not think the Prince would be able to handle." She said, her voice hushed.
"What is it Allisya?"
"Come, there's little I can do but show you." Ginny heard them move away, and she peeked her eyes open again, to see them standing over Harry's bed. She almost sobbed as she saw the blood-soaked bandages wrapped around him.
"Look," the healer said, as she gently, with an ease that must have been magically assisted, rolled Harry over onto his side. Slowly, she peeled the bandages from his back, revealed two hideous scars, and Ginny knew she was looking at all that remained of Harry's wings. Strangely enough, they appeared to have long since healed over, and looked as though they were old wounds.
Andor sucked in a breath as he saw what was beneath the bandages, and the inevitable question graced his lips for the first time.
"Just who are you lad?"
Harry was lost. Lost amidst a hazy sea of dreams and memory. Every so often he vaguely felt a pull in a certain direction, but the feeling was faint, untraceable.
His mind drifted, reliving past experiences, past memories. Intermingled within them however, were strange things, memories that did not belong to him, information he by all rights should not have known. Knowledge and understanding that was foreign, yet slowly unravelled before his mind.
Every so often, one of those was something felt over his bond with Ginny, he saw...felt..experienced things through her eyes, though never fully in focus.
He saw her awakening, in a strange, foreign place, confused and worried. He tried to send comforting feelings, but something felt...disconnected. He wasn't sure they got through.
He heard/saw her meet with someone, someone he did not know. She introduced herself as...Ashaa? Where had she come up with that? He'd have to remember to ask her. He felt her thoughts flying through her head, as she figured out a story.
She was captured...couldn't remember her family? Where she lived? Trauma...yes...it made sense, in a way. Traumatic experience, loss of memory, would erase any chance for them prove wrong her story. Smart girl. He felt...proud.
He heard someone ask about him. He felt her thoughts quicken. Something of them knowing of their bond...but old wounds. She said...he was already prisoner when she was taken. That he helped her. Comforted her despite his pain. Bond formed while captive.
She said his name was...Furos. Furos? What kind of name was that? He tried to send a feeling of indignation through the bond, but felt slowly the connection weaken, and he drifted once more into his dreamworld.
Endless time passed, and he felt a pull once more. This time stronger, and this time his mind grabbed onto it before it could flit away.
He felt it...through the bond once more. Ginny was worried. He hadn't woken in...three weeks? She was panicked...she needed him!
'Wake up,' a faint voice within his mind whispered.
'Why?' came another, stronger reply.
'Because we are needed,' the faint voice replied, this time, somewhat stronger, more focussed. Harry's mind drifted, things slowly coming into focus, but there was still what felt like...a wall...preventing him from finding his way.
'Needed? Needed by whom. We are free now, no longer responsible,' was the answer, but now it was fainter.
'Ginny needs us!' came a mental yell, that brought his mind into almost full focus.
'Gin...-we must wake.' came the voice, and this time it sounded like the two had merged, becoming one single thought, that brought his mind into full clarity. Urging it to slam against the wall that prevented his waking.
'Wake up' the voice urged, and his mind struggled against the wall.
'Wake up!' It was stronger now, and his mind hurled itself against the wall, and it felt a crack.
'Awaken' and his mind struck again, and the crack widened.
'AWAKEN!' And the wall shattered, and he was free.
Ginny looked up, startled, as she felt the bond within her surge to life, and unlit torches around the dim room suddenly burned brightly. She watched as he slowly inhaled a deep breath, his eyelids flickering, and then slowly opening.
She smiled at him, and felt his love. They may have been in what for them was a different world entirely, lost amidst a sea of unfamiliar faces and places.
But at least they were together.
AN: As always, apologies for the delay.