Previously in Needle in the hay: When it stopped I looked up to see the man. His hood was blown of exposing his dark long hair. I stood there unable to move. My eyes were widening in horror.
"Brother . . .?"
I let the words slide out of my mouth. My hands trembled. My heart felt as if it were to jump out of my chest. I felt the hairs on my arm stand up. My body felt heavier than ever, as if it were being crush under a rock. Everything around me seemed to disappear, all except my brother. It was just us and nothing else. Another cold wind passed by sending chills up my spin. It snapped me back to reality. Zeno turned and noticed my presence. I was expecting him to run to me but he didn't.
He just stood there and stared at me. I looked straight into his eyes. I didn't move I didn't speak a word just stared. His expression was the same as always his hair longer. He was much taller now and more muscular. His eyes the same beautiful color. My eyes stared to water. Was it him? The person I held most dear to my heart. The person who I thought I lost forever. Could it possibly be him?
He was about to turn but stopped when he heard my small "what". I somehow found the strength to move. I ran as fast as I could. I was scared that he was going to leave again and this timenever see him again. I stopped just a foot away from him. I lifted my shaken hand up and placed it on his chest were his heart was. He seemed a little surprised at my action but didn't move. He was real! He was there in front of me; he wasn't some trick that my mind played on me. Tears ran down my cheeks. I took my hand of his chest. Them wrapped both my hands around him and began to cry loudly on his chest.
"Brother it's really you . . . it's really you." I hugged him as hard as I could because I was afraid that if I let go he would disappear again.
"Please don't ever leave me again promise me."
"Ela . . ." A small gasp escaped my lips. I looked up at him. He had a painful expression on his face.
I felt his arms around me. He gave me a tight embrace but not to tight so as not to hurt me. I was so small compared to him, like always. I just barely reached his shoulders. I missed him so much, so much it hurt. It felt as someone took a thousand knives a stabbed into my heart.
"I'm sorry Ela. I haven't been the best big brother in the world but trust me if I left it was because I wanted nothing more to protect you. You're my purpose for living. I had to leave so please, please, don't hate me."
His voice was cracked and full of sorrow. How could he ever think that I could hate him? I loved him so much. I remember when we were small I was afraid of thunder and anytime I couldn't sleep I would go to his room and stay with him. With him I always felt safe.
"Please don't say that I could never hate you no matter how much I tried."
He let go of me and I backed up a little. I whipped the tears of my face. I looked up to him and gave him a big smile. His eyes soften up. Then he brushed off some hair out of my face. When we were small I cried a lot. He would do anything to make me stop crying. So I tried my hardest to not cry anymore. After all I am a grow woman aren't I?
"Brother why did you leave us?"
". . ."
He didn't say anything but I could tell from the look on his face that he wasn't going to tell me why. I suppose that I should trust his wish and not ask him anymore but he will have to tell me eventually wither he wanted to or not.
"Fine I won't ask you for now but there's something I have to ask of you brother . . . help me find father! Something has happened to him and we have to find out what." He didn't seem surprised by the news. It also didn't seem liked he didn't cared because he had a blank face on.
"Brother what's wrong don't you care anymore what happens to him!" He didn't answer me but instead closed his eyes. Now I was worried.
"Ela don't worry about it and just go home." I was shocked at his answer. What was going on with him? I looked into his eyes so I could find an answer.
"What are you talking about? Father could be in danger and you just want me to go home?"
". . ."
"Well whether you help me or not I will go to Jerusalem and find father!" I said in a firm voice.
I turned to leave but he turned me back around and held me down with two hands on my shoulders.
"Ela this isn't a game! You cannot go to Jerusalem alone! It's too dangerous for you to go! So take your horse and go home now Ela!" I couldn't believe this. Was this truly my brother? How could he be saying this to me? I lowered my head so that my bangs covered my eyes.
"How can you say that? How could I possibly stay home while father, the man who gave life to us is in possible danger! What happened to you? You're not the Zeno I knew. If you don't want to help me then you go home and stay away from me!" I ripped myself away from him. Then glared at him. He looked a little surprised at my reaction. After all this was the first time I had ever rebelled agents him.
"I lost mother and you! I'm not going to lose father as well!"
". . . Ela . . ." He put his hand on his face. I guess that really hurt him. I felt a hint of guilt but I wasn't going to let him stop me. I was going to find father no matter what. I gave him and sad look. I really didn't want to part from him. Not now that I finally found him. It hurt me to do this but I have to leave.
"Farewell brother I truly wish things didn't end up this way. I really wanted to be together with you again, but I guess not", but before I could leave he graved me and pinned me to a tree.
"W-what are you doing?"
"I'm not going to let you walk to your grave." He had a dead serious voice.
"Let go of me." I tried to break free but couldn't. I felt scared all of sudden. It was strange because I never felt this way when I was with him.
"Why, why are you acting this way brother?"
" . . . I couldn't protect mother. I could help her, even though I tried as hard as I could. I just couldn't. I said I had to leave to protect you two, but that night that damn night I couldn't do anything! " My heart acted. All this time I cried and hurt from are mother's death. I didn't even think of how he felt. He adored her so much. He always talked about how he would protect her with his own life. How much he loved her. Are mother was his whole world to him. Her death must have affected him so much. His grip loosened and I pulled him into and embrace.
"I haven't been fair, have i? All this time I thought of my pain. I thought I was the one who was in most pain, but . . . but I now know that the one who was hurting most was not father nor me, but you. Your pain is greater isn't it? Even so I cannot stand here and do nothing while father is in trouble. I have to find him because I too want to protect those who are dear to me. Can you understand that brother?"
I let go of him and he looked me in my eyes.
"If this is what you want then I won't stand in your way, but instead allow me to stand next to you." I could help but smile. I gave him a small nod, and then he gave me a kiss on the forehead.
"This time you won't have to protect us alone. This time I too will protect the ones dearest to us. I will help you support your weight brother, so it's ok to lean on me."
whew -_- I kno I took forever in getting that done but I've been really busy. Well hoped you liked it. Please comment and review^.^
