Chapter 4 Rescue at the last second

There was never much to do in the hospital ward, besides the general injured soldiers.

They never had something serious though, except for little scratches and a bloody nose.

The worst case was a broken arm which they could heal immediately.

But that changed the day Rath brought a badly bruised young girl.

She was in a bad shape and barely alive.

Everywhere was so much blood, her clothes were torn and every visible part of her body was injured or dirty.

The healers didn´t know where they should begin and if they had the time to save her.

Rath, who didn´t yield from the girls side, could only stand around like an idiot and see to it that the healer did their work to save the girl.

One of the healer turned to him" Was she conscious when you found her?".

" No, I found her in this condition", replied Rath slightly dazed. He looked like he would pass out any moment.

The healer nodded in understanding. " Maybe you should wait outside. As soon as we have news we let you know"

That snapped Rath out of his state." No, I want to stay here!". He wouldn´t let her out of his sight before he knew she was better and not on the brink of death. Something told him not to go.

" There´s nothing you could do to help her", the healer laid a reassuring hand on Rath shoulder. " It´s better if you go and let us do our job".

" Do you think she will make it?", Rath didn´t understand why it was so important to him that she lived. He didn´t even know this girl. Maybe it was the fact that she was still young, not much older than his own sister.

" I don´t know", the healer turned to the other healers and saw the way they treated their patient. They would do anything in their power to help her. But it looked really bad for her. They didn´t know how long she was in this condition or if the injuries limited on the outside. The healer turned back to Rath " We do what we can".

" Alright", Rath trusted this man." Let me know if something happens". And that was an order not a request.

" Of course, as soon as we are done here". The healer gave Rath a ressuring smile and then made his way to his fellows, which were in the process of undressing the girl.

Rath glanced again at the girl and hoped it was not the last time that he saw her. Then he made his way out of the room. As the door closed behind him, he pressed his forehead on the cool wall to his right. Slowly the graveness of the situation sank in. The whole time he had one thought: save the girl. But now after he had done his part he couldn´t just sit around and do nothing. Maybe he should search for his father and tell him what happened. That was propably a good idea. With that Rath went to the trainig ground.

His father was just in the process to show some freshman how everything went as he arrived.

If the situation were different Rath would have laughed on the shocked look on the young boys face, but he had no time to waste.

" Father, I have to speak with you", usually Rath didn´t disturb his father. But this was a urgent case.

Mael turned to his son and was just in the process to snap at him why he couldn´t wait till he was finished, as he saw the state in which his son were. His clothes were wet and dirty. His hair hung in disorder from his head. But the worst was the expression on his sons face. He looked like a little boy which had lost his pet. Immediately he send the freshman away and walked to Rath.

" What happened?", Mael asked. Then a thought occured him." Are you hurt?".

Rath shook his head" No, I´m fine". He made a break to think about what he wanted to say and how he could say it so that his father could understand it. But how could he if he didn´t understood it himself. Maybe he should start with the beginning. " I was on the beach to think about a few things". His father laid a arm around him and led him back to the palace." On the water there was a little boat and I thought there was nobody in it, but then I saw a bloody leg." Rath had to take a breath to quell his nausea." I ran into the water and brought the boat back to the shore. I thought it was Caleb. But I looked inside and saw a girl. She was young and hurt. Really bad." Rath couldn´t go on. The pictures were to fresh in his mind. So much blood.

" Where is the girl now?", Mael noticed that his son was in no condition to tell him everything.

" I brouhgt her to the hospital ward. The healers took care of her", Rath did feel a little bit better since talking to his father.

" Do you know her?", Mael thought since Rath was so concerned about the health of this girl, that he knew her.

" That´s so strange about everything", Rath scratched his right eyebrow, a habit when he was confused." I don´t know her nor have I seen her around and yet I feel like I lost a friend".

" Maybe it´s because she´s still young or maybe she reminds you of Ava", Mael know that despite his rambling about his annoying young sister, Rath loved her deeply and would kill everybody who dared to hurt her.

Rath shrugged his shoulders" Maybe. Maybe not. I don´t know."

Mael stopped at once in his steps and took a good look at his son. There was more. He could see it in his eyes. There was a question which bothered him. But Mael knew that his son would not answer him if he pushed. Therefore he waited till Rath would be ready to tell him.

" Why?", blurted Rath suddenly out.

" What why?".

" Why her?", Rath couldn´t wrap his mind around the fact that someone so innocent deserved such treatment." And who could be capable to do something like that"

" I don´t know. That´s something only the girl knows. If we´re lucky and she survives we can ask her. Then we´ll see what we can do for her, alright", Mael hoped that she made it. He didn´t thought his son could forgive himself if she didn´t. After he received a hesitant nod he embraced his shocked son. " I´m proud of what you did".

Rath blushed slightly. He didn´t do that to earn respect or praise. He did it because it was right. And he would do it again necessary.

" There you are!", came suddenly the voice of Ava. She looked like she ran a marathon." Mom is looking for the both of you". She stopped and viewed the appearance of her brother." Oh my god! What happened to you".

" I tell you later", Rath parted from his father and together they made their way to the dinning room.

TBC