Thanks everyone for all of the comment, I know I say this everytime but they are appreciated. Sorry, I've taken so long to update, this chapter just didn't seem to want to get written. I hope you like it, more will be coming soon.
Edward stared down at the plate of brown mush in front of him, wooden spoon standing up in the centre. The sounds of his fellow soldiers reached his ears in a clamour of laughter, shouting, slurping and chewing but Edward felt as though he were miles away from it all, somewhere else, where he ran his fingers through Mina's hair as she sighed against his skin.
Draco felt ridiculously uncomfortable as the naked image of Mina played in Edwards mind; her cheeks wonderfully red and green eyes shimmering seductively. There was no doubt that she was beautiful but, the real thing or memory of the real thing felt slightly more personal, far removed from his late night visits to Boden Hill and his perusal of Theo's copy of Mischievous Magic, busty witch special. If he'd been able he'd have cleared his throat uncomfortably, a scarlet blush lighting his cheeks as he turned away.
A clatter of a wooden bowl and tankard been slammed onto the table brought Edward out of his reverie and Draco didn't know whether to thank or scream at the bearded man sitting opposite.
He'd been at Demon's Tooth, Draco recognised his large bulk as being one of the men that had climbed beside Edward. He gulped, quickly pushing away thoughts of the jagged peak before they filled him with dread as they had a habit of doing. A very large significant part of Draco was hoping that he could make it out of the memory relatively unscathed this time.
The bearded man prodded the slop gingerly before taking a large swig from his tankard, muttering a curse. Droplets of golden liquid hung off the coarse hairs on his chin, any movement of his head dislodging them and sending them seeping into the dark hair.
"I don't care how fuckin poor you am, you can make better shit than this." His voice gravelly and thick with an accent that Draco couldn't for the life of him place.
The large man took a hesitant nibble of his food, before letting the spoon clatter the table, an expression of disgust playing on his features. He cast an incredulous look to the side of him where a young spindly boy was shovelling the food back with obvious delight.
"How on God's green earth are you eatin tha shit?" He boomed making the boy jump and shake a little.
"I'm…" The boy glanced at Edward, his eyes wide and fearful, "I'm hungry."
"Hah, I could be bout ready to blow away in the wind, ain't no way I'm puttin tha in me." The large man stated, pointing at the mush in front of him. Quickly he tugged at the plate and sent it flying towards the young man who looked like he couldn't believe his luck. His eyes glinting with barely contained excitement at the prospect of an extra meal.
"Put some meat on ya bones." The man muttered into his tankard before gulping down most of its contents happily.
Edward hunched his shoulders hoping to make himself as small and insignificant as possible. Most of the soldiers he had been staying with had managed to overlook him, plenty of them not recognising him from the pasty man that had been brought in cursed and wounded and even more of them failing to recognise him as the Commander than had lead many of them into battle. He didn't mind too much, from his experience it was notoriety that brought trouble.
"You." Edward felt rather than saw the stare of the man sat opposite him, the weight of it heavy and suspicious. He glanced up slowly.
"You the one tha' witch cursed?" It was both a question and a statement and Edward took a deep breath.
"She didn't curse me, she saved my life actually." He muttered it quietly, almost under his breath. He was fully prepared for the large brute of a man to laugh in his face.
"Huh, well how's bout tha' then." The man sat back and the bench creaked unhappily under than strain and Edward looked up quickly in shock.
"Name's Bearkiller." Edward stared at the hand proffered to him, blinking several times before his brain finally caught up with what was happening and left him thoroughly confused.
"You know, cos' I killed a bear." The man offered in explanation, waving his hand to draw Edwards attention to it.
"Edward, Edward James." Edwards hand all but disappeared in BearKillers grip, the strength of it threatening to break his bones like twigs.
"The Edward James?" Edward's shoulders stiffened at the reverence in the young man's voice. "As in Commander Edward James of the Battle at Black Lake?" Edward cringed holding his finger to his lips, trying his best to silently discourage the boy.
"So, you am famous for more than jus' curses?" Bearkiller asked, sitting up and staring down at the small man before him. Edward cringed shaking his head slightly.
"Was, I was well known for my deeds. Now, well now it's the other thing." Edward gestured wildly in the air before grabbing hold of his wooden spoon.
"Hmm, know the feelin," Bearkiller muttered, moving his tankard about and watching its contents slosh around, his dark eyes thoughtful. He brushed the top of his bald head uncomfortably before meeting Edward's gaze.
"Lived quite a ways from here, best fighter in my clan, wielded an axe like it grew out me arm. Lived a bit like your crowned twig, all honoured an shit. Then these shitstains wearing armour came demanding some shit, had scrolls an orders, said they wanted me Ma. Good woman me Ma, old and wise an as feisty as a trapped rat."
"What happened?" Edward leaned forward.
"Well, I killed em didn't I, every last one an I'd do it again." Bearkiller sighed, tugging at the leather of his armour. "But that colourful man sent more didn't he. I gave me best but he took my people. Said if I wanted em back I had to fight for 'im." Bearkiller shook his head.
"Every man has a price somewhere down the line, held up at Wexland Point accordin to his most colourfulness and when I've done my bit I'm gonna get em."
"What did they want with your Mother?"
"Thought she was some kind of witch." Bearkiller shrugged. "Now that woman, she'd have put a curse on your 'ed an your ancestors would have felt it, but she weren't no witch." There was an uncomfortable silence that followed. Edward had forgotten that not all of the men serving under Tharin had been soldiers, some had been thieves and murderers, given another chance by the ever kind Tharin Morax. To them, Morax was a hero, a saviour that had come riding in and given them a second chance. It was nice to know that not everyone felt that way.
"You were at Demons Tooth?" Edward stated, grasping his spoon and moving the mush around his plate.
"Ar I was. Carried your ass down it an'all." Edward choked on his ale, staring up at the man with a new appreciation.
"Thank you," Edward muttered, placing his tankard on the table. "I'm glad you did not drop me."
"Hah, an' he has a sense of humour." Bearkiller squinted at Edward, giving him yet another suspicious once-over. "They've all been talkin bout you like some mystic fingers got a hol'of ya balls an tickled 'em out of existence. Mumblin bout a curse on your 'ed." The big man wiped his beard thoughtfully, shaking his head.
"And what do you think?"
"Well, already asked an I? Already got my answer. Plus we're all 'ere," The large man shrugged, " We're all cursed."
Edward found himself agreeing with him, if it wasn't for Mina staying in Menar would have sapped the life right out of him. The weather continued to be terrible, everywhere damp and muddy and Morax, their ever crazed leader, had suddenly decided to go quiet, leaving the men to slowly fester in their squalor. There was no doubt that Edward was grateful for the silence, happy not to kill any more innocents in the name of some lunatic, but something about it felt wrong; like the deep shaking breath before the whole world fell into a million tiny pieces and he was left to scramble around, putting them back together.
Edward reluctantly picked up his spoon, taking a small bite and chewing through Merlin knew what. Draco felt his stomach turn at the flavours that assaulted his taste buds, a small part of him considering that being stabbed might have been better after all.
"Braver man than I," Bearkiller grunted, shaking his head at the sorry offering trying to pass itself off as food.
"There are worse things." Edward shrugged, taking another small bite, his mind focusing on Mina. He would see her soon, only a couple of days to go and he would be back in her arms. She'd press the softest of kisses against his face, each one a blessing, each one an acceptance, and he would lean into them, fingers tangling in locks of her hair, thumbs brushing her sweetly blushing cheeks. She would taste like sunlight and goodness, the glow of it brightening the room in spite of the darkness. He would mutter how much he loved her against her skin and she would sigh and gasp her replies, the sweetest sounds he knew he would ever be likely to hear in his whole sorry existence.
"...an it tasted like shit, but even tha', even tha' was better than this shit" Bearkiller jabbed one large finger at Edwards plate, crossing his arms and looking thoroughly offended by its existence. Edward gulped down the food he'd been absent-mindedly chewing realising he had missed almost all of the large man's story.
"But...but why would you eat that?" The young man asked him, his head tipped to the side in curiosity, already digging into his second helping.
"Why would I..?" Bearkiller laughed, the sound of it more like a loud growl that made the young man jump slightly in his place on the bench. "When's between you an' the wilds, you gotta be prepared to do some strange things. It's jus' survival." He glanced at Edward for confirmation and he nodded.
Though he didn't really appreciate his thoughts of Mina being interrupted, he did understand what the large man was saying. There were much better things to eat in the village, they were just been given the slop because they wouldn't likely complain, not with Morax to answer to. When he'd been out on a campaign the things he had seen other men eat and even the things he had eaten still turned his stomach somewhat and he found himself dropping his spoon and sitting back.
"What about hunting?" The young man asked, and Bearkiller gave him an incredulous look, most likely doubting that the young man had ever hunted anything in his life.
"Thas all well an good if there's sommat to hunt. Cold sets in an everythin' hides or dies."
"That was almost poetic." The voice came from the side of Edward as another man sat down. He was a short man with twig-like arms and spindly legs, his cheeks gaunt and brown eyes that seemed to be hiding an immeasurable number of secrets.
"An you are?" Bearkiller leaned back, glancing down his deformed nose with obvious mistrust.
"Bearkiller, this is Rhylan, he's my…" Edward struggled to find the right word.
Rhylan had fought by his side more times than Edward could care to count, the reason for his survival only a mystery to those who did not know how deadly Rhylan was with both a blade and a bow. His small stature meant that he was quick and moved with such ease and grace that he mostly remained unseen, as such Edward had used him to spy on his enemies. Now though he did not know what their relationship entailed, Rhylan had remained loyal to him but he had absolutely no idea why.
"Friend, we are friends." Rylan glanced at Edward as he finished the sentence, obvious displeasure glinting in his eyes.
"You are my Co.." One look from Edward silenced the smaller man and he began eating his food quickly.
"What did you find?" Edward whispered, leaning closer so Rhylan did not have to raise his voice too much, Bearkiller, as if sensing that something important was about to be said, leaned his large bulk forward, the bench shifting precariously with a whine.
"A small group of men were sent to the training yard," Rhylan whispered, wiping whatever the food was from around his face.
"Well I'll be damned, it's a conspiracy." Bearkiller mocked, Rhylan simply looked up at him, his gaze unimpressed and continued relaying his information to Edward.
"It's the same group every time and they are kept separate from everyone."
"Aygust?" Edward asked and Rhylan nodded grimly taking a large gulp of his drink.
Something uncomfortable curled in Edwards' gut, if Aygust was involved then he was almost certain that something bad was happening.
"Do you know what they are doing?" Edward leaned forward, even more, fiddling with the bottom of his tankard while he waited of the information.
"Trainin' I'd guess." Bearkiller supplied, smiling slightly at his own wit.
"No, but...but there have been whispers," Rhylan said grimly, ignoring the large mans' statement. "They say there is a new weapon."
Bearkiller practically guffawed, holding his belly as he rocked back, amusement glimmering in his eyes.
"You doe believe that shit do you?"
"And why shouldn't he?" The young man asked, alerting all the men around him to the fact that he had actually been listening and had gone completely unnoticed by all of them. Edward almost groaned at their complacency.
"Well as of right now you got yourself the biggest collection of bored fuckers, chances are whatever comes out their mouths is shit."
The skinnier man ignored Bearkiller once again, turning his face entirely to Edward. Draco jumped when he noticed that the man's one eye was milky white.
"Carts were brought through the other day, whatever they were carrying was hidden."
"How many?" Edward mumbled.
"About 20 or so."
"Military?" Rhylan shook his head taking another swig of his ale and wiping his mouth with his sleeve.
"Miners."
Edward paused, his mind running through all the possibilities. Many things Edward had been expecting but Miners had not been one of them.
"You ay considering wha' I think you am?" Bearkiller asked, eyeing Edwards thoughtful face.
"Rhylan, can you get us to wherever they are keeping what was delivered." The smaller man considered for the question for a moment then nodded.
"Travel light, there's climbing."
"When?"
"Tonight."
"This is pointless, you know there's no way tha' brightly coloured tosser has got a 'secret weapon'"
"You coming?" Edward asked, a small smile playing on his lips.
"O'course I am, but only cos you two ladies couldn't sneak up on a deaf man. Hell, you can't even keep secret conversations away from big ears." Bearkiller pointed at the young man who looked mildly offended.
"Can I come?" He asked, turning his gaze to Edward and drawing himself up to his full, rather impressive height.
"No." Bearkiller shot him down quickly, rising from his seat.
"Well better get meself together, gotta protect some distressed damsels."
Draco fell to the floor as the bench he'd been sitting on dissolved into mist along with the memory. He winced glancing up at the ceiling in wonder as leaves fell from it, burnt with autumnal colours. Hermione was stood in front of him, the silver tendrils uncurling from around her and retreating back into the bowl. She gasped, holding out her hands letting her fingers graze the falling leaves, the small smile curling her lips making his heartache.
He really had missed her, missed these moments where she was completely unguarded. Completely Hermione.