Author's Note: I tried to have this up earlier. I just had my last week at a job that consisted 10 hours daily from me. Now I have more time again to work on stories. This chapter went from 1800 words originally to 3k so I'm very proud with that. If there are any mistakes please let me know. I was so tired editting this. Please enjoy. :)
Chapter 2: Starry Nights
Jane sat in her room that night frightened about Ra. Her heart paced back and forth like a hammer. By the morning father hadn't made it home, figured, but Jane's mother Jill stayed with her as a doctor from the village nearby came to look at Ra in another room. As Ra fainted before Jane her older brother Tanier appeared in the kitchen luckily and ran out for help and found the doctor a few ways up the road.
"Where did you find him, Jane?" Jill asked her daughter as they sat on a couch by a big bay window in the family room. Jane got up running her fingers through her dark strands of hair nervously.
"I found him off the road close to home," Jane said. "This is all my fault. I should've brought him to the village however if I did, he might've not made it and lost more blood than he did." Jane sped her words shaking.
"Jane," Jill spoke worriedly. "Please take a deep breath and lay down or else you'll faint too."
"I'm sorry mother." Jane sat back down on the edge of the couch. She kept rethinking that moment seeing Ra's clean-cut opened wrist, but most of all the magical moment when they held hands in the kitchen. It was as though she were transported to another place and time. Jane rested her head on the window seal rethinking that moment again, she ended up with a faint smile.
There came a loud knock at the door and Jane shook the memory from her mind and her gaze went strictly to the door as it opened. The doctor stood in the hallway with a grin that showed through the silver beard on his face. Jane knew then in there that it went successfully.
"Is Ra all right? Can I see him?"
"He'll be fine. I was able to bring his fever down and he's resting now. Jane, you did the right thing by bringing him here first to stop the bleeding." The doctor gathered some air before he continued. " I am however going to bring him with me so I can observe him for another night. You may come and see him tomorrow afternoon. He needs some more rest right now."
Jane shrugged. "I promise I won't wake him up."
A tight clamp laid on her shoulders. "Jane let the man do his job." Her mother spoke in her ear. "I apologize, doctor, my daughter has been quite upset all night and this morning over this young man's health."
Jane sighed in unbelief. Patience wasn't one of her strong qualities. It was an attribute she got from her mother which of course mother grew out of. All Jane could muster was a nod. "Thank you sir."
With that, a wagon showed up at the front entrance of the home to haul the doctor and Ra away. Jane had this apprehensive knot in her stomach. Deep down she knew Ra was going to be okay and the hospital was only up the road a mile. Taking a deep breath Jane will have to wait until tomorrow.
That Evening
Jane was able to eat and could take her mind off the gory scenario from yesterday. She had poached eggs and some toast with jam. Sitting on a chair outside she jotted everything down in her diary of what happened from the moment she crossed paths with Ra to the moment now. Everything she was feeling, how she wished she could describe them, and breathed a sigh of relief to get everything down before the sun went down.
Grabbing a throw blanket from the chair next to her Jane threw it over her as the night grew chilly. She wasn't ready to go inside as the stars began to make an appearance in the sky. Mother said that her stars back home on a planet called earth didn't dance like the ones here did. These stars could take the form of human beings. Jane's father came down the line of having stars' blood. One of Narnia's queens was half-star and human. She wondered how far down the line was and if she too had any lingering star blood. Most likely not.
Tristan later joined her outside to watch the stars dance across the sky. He had that concerned furrow of his brow that Jane knew all too well. She hadn't spoken much with him as they sat together. But they enjoyed one another's company even without words. He offered her a cup of hot chocolate and she happily accepted it.
"I still can't shake it away," Jane spoke about yesterday's events. The blood, a decapitated wrist, almost losing the poor guy in her care. Even though her body was in shivers it was starting to wither away.
Tristan nodded agreeing. "I understand how a sight like this was disturbing for you. You are taking it in better stride than most would dear sister. You're stronger than you let on."
She knew her brother would always be there for her. His words of encouragement always set her at ease. Getting ready for bed later that night, Tristan's words stayed with her. She will get through this and looked forward to seeing Ra tomorrow.
Jane lay in her bed awake for almost an hour before turning to her side to sleep.
In the morning Jane woke up earlier than she wanted to. Knowing she'd have to wait until the afternoon to see Ra made her eyes roll. Still, Jane got ready by washing up and throwing on a clean green dress with long sleeves, and tied up her hair. She laced up her boot and made her way down to where her father set up archery target practice outside of the home.
If there were any sports Jane was good at, it was archery. It sort of ran in the family. Both of her parents were good at it and even her brothers. Time would go by fast when having a bow in her hand, though it didn't feel like it. Storm clouds were approaching again, great.
She practiced for a good hour and a half before retiring back to the house to fetch some water and fruit. She made a platter of strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. It had been a while since she had a real conversation with her older brother Tanier as he approached her. His feet tapped the marble floor harshly. His tall and lanky figure was stern. Jane finished her last strawberry before she could say something.
"Where was it that you found him? Did he say where he came from?"
What, no good morning, or how have you been? Jane was glad she'd swallowed her strawberry before speaking or else she would've choked on it. Instead, she choked on her own air. "One question at once, please. I found him close to home and he mentioned coming from the world mother comes from. What's it to you?"
Tanier's tone was something Jane never recognized from her brother. Something was urgent and worrisome about it. His face even said it all. Anxiety churned in her.
"We need to be careful." Tanier raised his brows. "You most of all. I know I haven't been around since last night. Father wants you to stay vigilant about this boy just in case we find he is not of Calormene."
This was insane! Jane knew and heard stories of Calormen in the days of old Narnia. They were rivals of her father. Not all were bad. The ones who remained today are good people and wanted peace.
"You and father are insinuating over something that has long gone been erased years ago. He is not dangerous."
"I didn't say he is, sister. We are only looking into it all. When he is better there will be an interrogation period. If he does come from mother's world we need to know how and why he is here."
No one came from the world called 'Earth' unless there were something wrong with there's. So, Jane can see the importance of wanting to get answers right away if that were the case.
"You're not going to torture him, are you?"
"Not at all. He seems to have gone through quite enough from the looks of him. We will have him bonded until we get the information we need."
So, in her brother's own words, taking Ra hostage. She hated this idea more and more. She tried hard to rationalize all of what was coming out of her brother's mouth. She composed herself which shocked her. It's not an easy thing for her as headstrong as she is. She shook her head. "I can't argue with you and father. I am going to see him later. I can try and get answers from him and report back to you. I don't like this at all."
"I know that you don't. But this is the way it must be for right now Jane."
Jane finished the small portion of her breakfast with her brother. The day went by too slow for her liking. Getting up from the table Jane sat at she made it apparent to Tanier she didn't want to see him anymore right now with a sly irritating glance.
She paced back and forth in the hallways of the home and found herself in the library. Books and scrolls filled the corners of the small but well-sunlit room.
Taking a biography book about a king of old she plopped down on the rug on the floor and read some chapters and kept an eye on the sun to see when noon would be over. When the time came, she got up and left the home. The storm clouds were beginning to roll in fast. Jane now felt stupid to have not brought a cape along. Perhaps the doctor would have a spare.
After five minutes of walking, she made it into the village and stepped into the rustic-built hospital. It wasn't busy as it usually was on the weekends. There were three boys sitting down with some bruises on their arms and necks. Most likely due to roughhousing.
"Doctor?" Jane said when she caught sight of him.
"Hello, Jane. He is upstairs the first door to your left."
Jane appreciated that he got to the point as she was so desperate to see how Ra was fairing. She took a deep breath before going near the stairs and walked up the steps with a nervous knot in her stomach. She thought of how Ra was going to react when he saw her. Would he be hostile, or pleasant this time around?
She took another deep breath and took the last step up the staircase. Reaching for the door everything felt still and quiet. For a moment it was nice and thought of her brother telling her she is braver than she believes. You can do this Jane. With the turn of the doorknob, Jane walked into the room and that was when she heard the rain hitting the ceiling. She could see it out the only window in the room. It wasn't light, but it wasn't hard.
Ra appeared to have been sleeping in his well-made bed. Jane quietly took a seat in the chair next to the bed. She took hold of the only hand he had left. There were so many things she had to say to him but didn't want to wake Ra from his slumber. So she waited for what felt like hours but was only thirty minutes.
Jane felt a brush across her palm. Ra's fingers clinched with hers faintly waking up. "What are you doing here?" He asked even though he appeared happy to see her.
When Ra spoke, it made Jane jump all of a sudden. "You had me scared when I lost you there. I wanted to check on you." Jane smiled at Ra.
Ra's sunken eyes grew, and he grinned. Jane noticed that every time Ra grins it shifted to the left. Jane smiled again at him.
"Just know that I'm glad you are all right."
Ra took Jane's hand tighter.
"What is it, Ra?" Jane asked.
"Don't leave right now." Ra persuaded. His eyes grew bigger, and he lifted himself.
"Do you see me getting up to go to the door or something?" Jane said still seated. "I'm not going anywhere right now." Jane pressed softly on Ra's shoulder making him lay back down. "The doctor made it sound like you should take it easy today."
Ra laid back down. "I want to thank you for everything you did. I'm sorry if you think I showed any harsh manners."
"You're welcome and no you were obviously in a lot of pain," Jane said. Ra caressed Jane's hand with his thumb as they still held hands. It shook her a little. "Can I ask you something?" Jane continued.
"Sure," Ra said ready to hear it.
"Yesterday, you told me you've traveled to many galaxies and never heard of the land I'm from," Jane explained. "What is really out there?
"I'm retired from that and to answer your question there's not much," Ra replied.
Jane winced in confusion. "Retired? But you look hardly eighteen. It amazes me that you can travel many worlds like that and still be so young."
Ra's eyes shrunk again. "Trust me Jane the galaxies are full of dark things and beings, deceiving beings pretending to be Gods. It wasn't all good for me and I'm never going back."
"I don't think all of that is true," Jane spoke a little disappointed. "It sounds like a lot of fun to go out and explore other planets and meet new people with other cultures and have great adventures."
"Great adventures don't exist out there Jane. Not without prices to pay." Ra didn't have the strength in his arm anymore to keep a hold of Jane's hand and lets' go.
"What prices?
"Trust me. You never want to know."
Jane wanted Ra to elaborate more. She could tell he wasn't telling her everything. Or maybe he was toying with her. She didn't let go of Tanier's suggestion to be careful around Ra. But part of her believed this stranger. Jane now knew it was a good time to drop the subject. When it came to a bigger confrontation, she didn't want any part in it. She'll get the answers later.
"Hopefully the doctor will let you go today. If not, I'll come back and see you tomorrow." Jane slipped her hand away from his. A concerned look crossed Ra's face
"I hope so." He stated. They sat in silence as the rain continued to grow.
8,000 B.C.
"Let me go!"
Nekta woke up startled by a terrified shriek. She heard the boy earlier from that week who came to the village. She crawled out of her bed and peeked through the bamboo walls. Seeing the boy picking up a spear after one of the village men lets go of him. "I hate it here!" The boy shouted.
Nekta was scared that the boy might have used the spear on one of the men trying to catch him but instead darted off into the night. She jumped out of her tent and ran after him after the village men began to talk to one another trying not to make a loud noise.
In the darkness, Nekta could hear the boys' running footsteps in the pitch-black night as well as hear the tumbling rocks on top of his. "Will you please wait!" She exclaimed.
After a while, the footsteps stop, as they stopped Nekta stood still trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness around her as well as find the boy up there. She could hear a few snuffles behind a boulder in front of her.
Nekta circled the boulder and found the boy there with the spear on the ground and crossing his arms looking away from Nekta when she noticed him. "Why do you follow me?" He asked.
Nekta ignored answering his question. "Why do you want to run away?"
"Because" The boy began without hesitation. "Your people think of me and my people as traitors." He finally glimpsed up at Nekta. "Now you must answer my question." He stared hard into the girl's eyes. "Why are you following me?"
Nekta brushed her hair back from the wind and sat down next to the boy to avoid the wind. She can begin to see clearly under the moonlight. The boy watched the girl's every move.
"For one, you cannot go out alone because you will not reach any other oasis within here, and lastly they are not my people either. I understand what you are going through." Nekta explained.
"Were your parents killed?" The boy asked.
"Yes."
The boys' angered features soften. He looked embarrassed.
"Hey." Nekta smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't even a year old yet when it took place."
"I'm still very sorry." The boy confessed.
Nekta's hand curled up into his. The two quickly glance at each other again.
The boy's face brightens a bit. "Anytime when you need to give me a piece of reality just take my hand."
Nekta grinned back and laughed softly. "I will." She leaned back on the boulder and glanced up at the stars above them. "I wonder if one of those worlds up there would have no problems, hatred, wars, or unexpected deaths.
"If those were worlds up there, I wouldn't expect one of them to be like that." The boy leaned back too to watch the stars.
"Why not?"
The boy shrugs. "It's what I believe."
Nekta giggled. "Okay then, what do you think they are if you don't think they are worlds?" She insisted staring at him inclined to hear his answer.
The boy chuckled. "I didn't say that they were not worlds."
"Yes, you did." She laughed with him. "You said if those were worlds up there. So, explain yourself." Nekta smiled at him waiting for his reply.
"Those are Gods up there." The boy said and Nekta giggled once more. "That is what my tribe says."
"The tribe I came from believes otherwise,"
"And what is that?"
"We believe that the Gods created everything around us. They aren't the stars that glow at night. We believe they come and go. I also believe they create other worlds too."
The boy nodded. "I will try to believe what you believe too."
Nekta gets up dusting the dirt off her. "We should get back. Come on."
A scared expression crossed the boy's face. "I don't want to." He shook his head. "The family whom I stay with treat me badly."
"Then come stay with me and Tanana." Nekta took the boys' earlier advice and took his hand again. "Please."
The boy with a delighted smile on his face got up with Nekta and walked back with her still holding her hand.