Disclaimer: I do not own the Avalon: Web of Magic/Quest for Magic Series or the song "The Escapist", they belong to Rachel Roberts and Nightwish respectively.
You can find this song on YouTube or Project Playlist.
Who's there, knocking at my window
The Owl and the Dead Boy
This night whispers my name
All the dying children
Adriane enjoyed the four hour drive. Alan was fun to talk to, but it wasn't awkward when silence reigned, either. By the time The gaudy red Lumina had pulled into the Greenfield Hospital parking lot, the warrior was glad for the chance to stretch her legs, although she was more interested in visiting Gran. When Alan had checked with the receptionist, Adriane found herself nearly running down the stark white hallway. The dark-haired girl paused, though, when she reached her grandmother's room. She looked behind her and saw Alan jogging to catch up, and he nodded to her. With a deep breath, she turned the doorknob and walked inside.
Virgin snow beneath my feet
Painting the world in white
I spread my wings and lose myself into a tale
Gran was sitting up, and had been reading a book when Adriane came in. Her eyes sparkled when she saw her son and grand-daughter. Her long, white hair was out of its usual braid, and hung freely over the pillow.
"Little Wolf!" She greeted warmly, arms outstretched. The warrior smiled and returned the hug. "Hi, Gran."
"It so good to see both of you! Hopefully, I'll be out of here in in time for your birthday. The doctors say it was a stroke."
With a startled jolt, Adriane realized that she had forgotten her own birthday. She'd be fifteen next week!
"Oh, Mom, that's terrible," Alan replied. "Did they say if you would make a full recovery?"
"Well, do I look recovered to you?" Gran teased.
"Strokes are--" Alan began, but Gran waved him quiet. "I'll be fine. How have you been?"
Come hell or high water
My search will go on
Clayborn Voyage without a name
Adriane felt like Gran's dark eyes were boring into her, trying to find some secret pain, but she pushed that fear down. She was just being paranoid. "Good," she said, and plastered a smile on her face.
Alan's smile looked more sincere. "Same," he told her. But Adriane and I can only stay until tomorrow. She has school on Monday."
"I don't mind missing a couple days," Adriane chirped up.
Gran gave her a mock-stern look. "But I do." The warrior grinned, and her hope was slowly beginning to restore. Gran would be better in no time, and Lily and Pierre would be gone for good.
A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me, locked inside reality's maze
Come someone, make my heavy heart light
Come undone bring me back to life
A dark-haired girl fought through the fog, even though she could feel her muscles growing tired. Every movement was an effort, including breathing. Just as she felt as though it the fog was giving up, the gray emptiness thickened, and she fell into black...
"Adriane!"
The warrior's deep brown eyes snapped open. Alan was banging on the door to her room at the motel, and he sounded frantic. Quickly, she pushed back the covers and unlocked the door. Alan was standing there, already dressed, with an alarmed look in his eyes. "It's Gran!" He called over his shoulder as he ran to his car. Adriane gasped, and, still in the gray exercise pants and black tank top she had worn to bed, pulled in her boots and followed him.
A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me locked inside reality's maze
Come someone, make my heavy heart light
It all starts with a lullaby
Journey homeward bound
The sound of a dolphin calling
Tearing off the mask of man
The tower my sole guide
This is who I am
Escapist, paradiseseeker
Farewell, now time to fly
Out of sight, out of mind, away from all lies
The doctors rushed in and out of Gran's room. Adriane leaned into Alan and he put his arm around her, pulling her close. A crystalline tear trailed down her cheek, and Alan leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I think we should be getting back. There's nothing we can do here."
A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me, locked inside reality's maze...
A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me, locked inside reality's maze
Come someone, make my heavy heart light
Come undone, bring me back to life
Emily and Adriane sat quietly on the porch of the cottage after school on Monday, watching the last rays of the sun bleed into the dark hills.
"I'm sorry," Emily said suddenly, breaking the silence between the two friends.
"For what?" Adriane asked, taken off-guard.
"For what happened with Gran. For Lily and Pierre. For not being there when you needed it."
"Emily!" Adriane jumped up. "That is not your fault. You were there for me, and I knew you were there, but I just... Couldn't. I couldn't talk to anyone. I wanted to keep it to myself."
"Still." Emily's hazel eyes glittered. "I think it's a good idea if you and I and Kara and the animals visit Aldenmor. Zach-- Zach might want to know what's going on."
Adriane sat back down. "I don't know, I mean..." But her words trailed off, and she looked the healer in the eye. "Alright," She nodded.
A nightingale in a golden cage
That's me, locked inside reality's maze
Come someone, make my heavy heart light
It all starts with a lullaby
Eh, sorry this was short. I wasn't very inspired for this chapter, because it's mostly just a filler. But I'll make it up to you guys in the next one. It'll be better, I promise.