Circles Within Circles
Chapter three
By Of Quirky Excellence
A/N: Set one week after chapter 2
"So," Helena said after she returned from her daily lessons. It was an hour before lunchtime, and Caroline and Helena usually took this leisurely time to socialize."Wanna go to the boys' dorms?"
Caroline nodded and said, "I'm sure Anders would like that, wouldn't he?"
Helena giggled at the mention of her crush's name. "Yeah, and you can play tag with Jowan again." Helena cooed. "Let's go!" The older girl opened the large doors and the children exited the girls' dormitories and quickly made their way down the hall.
"Help!" called an echoing voice down the corridor. The owner of the voice turned a corner and nearly crashed into the two girls. They gasped, and poor little Jowan, out of breath from running and shaking violently with fear clung to Caroline. "I've seen a ghost!"
"You only possibility is an abomination and that's highly unlikely." Helena asked, chuckling as Jowan let go of Caroline, still shaking and face pale.
"It looked like a ghost! Or a demon!" he yelped as he began to cry. "It's in the boys' dorm."
"Help!"Cried several boys who sprinted out moments after Jowan had met the girls.. "Get the Templars!" another cried. Anders was among them and he came quickly to Helena, Jowan and Caroline as the other panicking lads ran past them.
"Psh. Boys jumping at their own shadows again." Helena said, still calm and brave. "Anders, get the others to the library, and take these two squirts with you. I'll get to the bottom of this."
"But Helena-" Anders began, fear in his eyes for the first time Caroline could see, but Helena was already sprinting down the corridor, and now three, then four, then five Templars followed, trying to catch the overconfident apprentice.
"You there, miss! Halt! Halt! That is an order!" Then they all disappeared into the boys' dorms. There was silence for but a moment, and then a monstrous roar, and the sound of the Templars drawing their swords. The fighting could still be heard in the library as Caroline and Jowan wept, hiding behind Anders. They both screamed when they heard Helena shriek. Enchanters and more Templars ran past the library and some Enchanters came into the library with the children, including First Enchanter Irving and a few Harrowed Mages, Wynne, young Niall, and Uldred. They kept things under control until there was silence.
After that, all the boys were instructed to stay and sleep in the library that night, and the girls herded back into their dorm and ordered to stay there for the rest of the day. Caroline waited as long as she could for her bunkmate, but Helena never came. Just before the girls and boys had to part ways, Caroline placed a hand on the shoulder of a crying Jowan, and said, "She'll be alright, Jowan. They'll save her, just like they saved my mum."
Anders nearly spoke but Wynne elbowed him gently before he uttered a word. She whispered softly so only Anders could hear, "'Tis better they do not know now, dear Anders."
He scowled, but said nothing. Caroline and Jowan did not find out that year what happened to their friend, but she indeed died that day with the abomination that devoured her and was slain by the Templars.
A/N: There will be a two year time skip between this chapter and the next. Stay tuned! R&R Please!