NB: Chapter 4 is up! And I like this chapter, so I'm dedicating it to everyone who has reviewed with your lovely comments so far: Eva Bourne, JessPuggy, doctor-who-mad-girl, epona04…Where would I be without you guys?!
I don't own Maerad. I don't own Cadvan. I do, however, own this chocolate bar (munches)…
Let the story continue!
Chapter Four – I Will Be There
Maerad had never been in a darker city at midnight than the Ninth Circle under quarantine. Most of the people had locked themselves up in their houses, trying to avoid those who were not immediate family, trying to avoid the Sickness. All outside lights were extinguished. The Ninth Circle was like a great black pit that swallowed up even the faint light of the sickly white crescent moon above. The Eight Circle was in similar darkness, Maerad noted as she crept along the low wall. It was only the lamps the soldiers on duty held that gave out any light. She avoided them, skulking through the shadows in her hood and cloak (on loan from Niec), her fingers shaking with cold thanks to the biting winter night and her eyes open for any sign of Cadvan.
Just a little way along the wall, she thought she saw the darkness ripple, something black move in the blackness. She moved away from the soldiers, rounding a little corner, then whispered,
"Cadvan?"
The darkness moved again, and then a faint magelight was lit in midair and Cadvan's face appeared in the blackness before her, strained and exhausted, with the whiplashes on his cheek glowing on his cheek, but there.
She stepped forward gladly, her hand outstretched automatically to touch his face, but he leaned forward and seized her wrist hastily before she had reached across the wall.
"Don't lean past the wall," he hissed. "The soldiers have a shield up, they'll sense if you move even an inch past it."
She stared blankly up at him, trying to ignore the warmth of his fingers around her wrist.
"Then how can you reach through it?" she asked.
"It only works one way," Cadvan answered. "Otherwise the soldiers wouldn't be able to enter without setting it off. Once they're inside the Circle, they can put down the shield to get out, but only for one person and only for a mere second – not enough time for anyone else to get through. They do it that way so that no one on the other side can let someone from the Ninth Circle out through magic."
He had read her mind as usual, answering all the questions whirling in her mind. She nodded slowly and he withdrew his hand, leaving her wrist feeling numb.
"How are you?" he asked more softly.
She shrugged, trying to put a brave face on it.
"All right." She didn't mention how frightened she had been, how she and Niec had successfully calmed Mihella down only to hear from her neighbour that her daughter had just died, which had – of course – sent her into even more heartbroken hysterics. She didn't mention how the soldiers had locked them all into their houses – her into Niec's house – until they had put up the shield, how they had combed the streets for fleeing people and had beaten and abused them until they had agreed to be locked up. She didn't mention how all the friendliness of the locals had gone, how they looked on everyone with suspicion already, looking to see if there was even a trace of silver in a person's eyes before they agreed to come near them. She mentioned none of it, but she knew Cadvan had heard – or could sense – most of it anyway.
He nodded, watching her face, then hesitated and said abruptly,
"I couldn't get you out."
Maerad bit her lip to stop it from trembling and nodded. Cadvan continued,
"I did try Maerad, I tried but Élan wouldn't listen. He said that he would not risk the safety of Til Amon for you."
Maerad nodded again, sniffing hard to push the threatening tears away.
"He's quite right. I could be infected."
Cadvan shot her a sharp look.
"Do you feel infected?"
She couldn't meet his gaze, she just shook her head, her eyes burning with the strain of keeping back the tears.
"No." And the, suddenly, she was letting everything out, in a rush, a torrent of worry and panic and stress. "B – but then how do I know, Cadvan? I don't know anything about the White Sickness, I don't have a clue what to look for – I'm as useless as everyone else in here even though I'm the One, and I hate it because I should be able to do something, I'm the One for a reason and I should be able to help…And this place messes with your mind, Cadvan, you start imagining things – you check yourself all the time, you wonder if you're too hot or too cold, if that's the Sickness taking you over, you constantly stare in the mirror, wondering if your eyes have more silver in them than before, just a shred, just one little hint – "
She took in a ragged breath, and Cadvan's hands reached across the wall and cupped her cheeks softly, his thumbs slowly wiping away the treacherous tears that trickled down her cheeks despite her efforts. She was reminded suddenly of Mihella and Niec earlier that day, and wondered if she was already going as crazy as that now broken mother.
"I can't stay here, Cadvan," she murmured. "I'll go mad."
"I know," he answered just as gently, his fingers still caressing her cheeks. "I'll work on Élan. I'll get you out."
Maerad nodded, though she wasn't sure she believed he could do it, then gave him her best – if watery – smile.
"You could always cross the wall. Come in here, with me." She was only half-joking.
Cadvan smiled, but it was a smile full of sadness.
"That wouldn't be good for either one of us." His voice was totally sombre, and his fingers trembled on her cheeks as if he were half-contemplating doing it anyway. Maerad sniffed, trying not to show her sudden disappointment.
"I have to stay here," he continued after an awkward pause. "To work on getting you out. And getting two of us out would be harder than getting one of us out."
He sounded like he was convincing himself as well as her. Maerad didn't want him to be in there, experiencing what she had to – even if she did need him. She stepped back out of the feel of his fingers, drawing back her shoulders decisively.
"I know," she said in a steadier voice. "I'll be fine. I'm staying with Niec, he said I could stay. I'll be all right."
It was Cadvan's turn to nod soundlessly. His hands fell to his sides, and he seemed momentarily unable to speak a word. Maerad decided to ask the question that she knew she would not like the answer to, but had to ask anyway.
"How – how long are they going to keep us in quarantine for?"
The hesitation showed in Cadvan's eyes, but not in his face. He said, softly,
"I don't know."
"Days? Weeks?" She had to know.
The look he cast on her was full of sorrow.
"Probably months, Maerad."
The news was worse – much worse – than she had thought.
"Months," she murmured. She couldn't stay there for months. She would go insane. She had been trapped before, in Gilman's Cot, but it would be worse this time…with the Sickness stalking the streets, and freedom so close to her…And she had things to do – she had to play the Song, save the world, she had responsibilities now.
The lanterns of the soldiers started moving in their direction, and they cast each other a panicky look.
"You should go," she said. He nodded, then reached over the wall and grasped her cold, shaking hand.
"We'll meet here again. I'll send Irc, the shield won't work on birds."
Maerad managed her best smile in agreement.
"Be careful," she said. "And tell Hem – tell Hem – " She didn't know what to say, but Cadvan understood.
"I will. I'll be back. Look after yourself."
"I will," she whispered, echoing his words. They stared at each other for a moment, for a mere second, though it seemed like an hour, stared through the dim magelight and cold, crisp night air into each other's eyes, hands clasped as tightly as possible, ever more aware of the barrier between them and hating it.
And then the lights drew closer and he let go of her hand and melted into the darkness…and she was left alone, horribly alone in that darkness and that iciness, trapped in the black pit of hell.
End of chapter 4! PLEASE review, I love reading every single one I get, and criticism is welcomed. It might be a while (hopefully not too long) before I post on here again, but be assured I will! Keep your eyes open! Thanks!