A/N (In Professor Trelawney's voice) The Bond!
A vortex of fragments flitted across the back of my eyelids--searing red light, ravenous flames, oppressive verdant darkness, a bleeding child.
An internal scream built within, trapped with me in this delirium.
More images surfaced. Black towers of smoke, shrieking people, a screaming pale boy. Silver masks, acrid burning air, guttural cries, blinding golden light.
And stormy grey eyes. The visceral memory of falling. The sensation of gentle arms instead of hard, cold ground.
And then ...
Cold was sweeping over my limbs, not altogether unpleasantly and someone was speaking. Yes, somewhere, voices were muffled and distant. Their distant hum tugged at the periphery of my mind.
My consciousness began to claw its way back.
Darkness was fading slowly as more sensations overpowered the chaotic void holding me captive.
The press of a soft surface against my back, a slight chill in the air. The firm warmth of ... someone's hand in mine? Yes, and someone stroking my hair.
My heart was racing, its frantic, whooshing beats echoing loudly in my ears and ... my eyes finally fluttered open.
Several sharp details assaulted me: crisp herbal scents and a gentle chill causing my skin to prickle, fiery red-hair and bespectacled eyes. Hazy figures I didn't recognize were peering over me. And ... one face crystallized: raven-black shaggy hair, a square jaw tensed with worry, a sharp aristocratic nose, high cheek bones under soft, storm cloud grey eyes. He was smiling down at me, one of his large hands still supporting my head.
His soft voice reached out through the fog. "Hey there beautiful."
The words were gentle, laced with concern and something deeper. Our eyes met, countering the coldness in my limbs momentarily.
"You're British?" I blurted stupidly, my voice raspy and painful. I hadn't noticed any lilt in their voices before through the shock.
The beautiful man squeezed my hand and regarded the red-haired woman still hovering over me. "You sure you revived her correctly?" he asked her, eyebrows knitting together.
The red-haired woman's eyes were filled with kindness and concern as she smiled at me then scowled at the beautiful man.
"S'nothing wrong with me." I defended. I tried to sit up but was met with a dizzying pain.
More awareness was seeping in as my gaze then fell upon my bruised hands and the deep cuts littering my skin. The aching dullness enveloping me became sharper and pronounced with every breath. The biting sting over my limbs and the throbbing ache in my head merged with the icy chill of cold sweat.
"Oh," I breathed. There was most definitely something wrong with me.
"Woah there, angel," soothed the grey-eyed man as the man with glasses nearly shouted "Take it easy!" at the same time. I winced at his loudness.
The red-haired woman glared at the man with glasses who looked sheepish. She looked down at me again, her green eyes grave and determined.
"Listen," she began "You're not in great shape, dear. But we can help you."
I swallowed. "Can you not bring me to the ER? I'll think I'll be fine if you just--"
"I'm afraid that isn't an option," interrupted the green-eyed woman, her forehead wrinkling in concern. She glanced at the grey-eyed man again. I realized his thumb was stroking my cheek soothingly and I blushed, unaccustomed to such tender ministrations.
"Let me try again. I'm Lily, what's your name?" the red-haired woman asked.
"Em," I coughed, "Emma," I answered.
The beautiful man's teeth were dazzling as he grinned at me. "Beautiful name, gorgeous," he praised. My eyes wandered my surroundings, a bit overwhelmed.
Lily was smiling reassuringly. Behind her, I noticed the man with glasses was now pacing a few feet away in the background. We seemed to be gathered in a modest sitting room attached to a small kitchen.
The walls were covered in a woodsy wallpaper, images of pines and firs tessellating around the room. An aged wooden coffee table was surrounded by several mismatched plush arm chairs and ottomans. Above us hung several straw baskets and bundles of dried plants. A low fire was crackling from within a red brick fireplace in the corner. The effect was earthen and cozy.
"Nice to meet you Emma," Lily said, regaining my attention. "You've been through a great trauma. Do you remember?"
"I think so," I replied weakly, closing my eyes. The splitting pain in my head was growing stronger.
"C'mon lovely, you've got to stay awake," came the velvet voice of the grey-eyed man.
I obeyed but frowned. "S'a lot of work."
He chuckled and kissed my head. "I know, gorgeous."
Heat creeped up my neck into my cheeks in embarrassment. Lily cleared her throat frowning at the raven-haired man. She began again.
"Emma dear, we can help you. But it might sound very strange. So just listen until I'm done, alright?"
I hummed in assent. She was gentle and the beautiful man felt like pure safety, pure peace. I tightened my grip on his hand.
"Emma you drained yourself near to death before igniting something ancient with my friend here. Do you remember a powerful gold light?"
I gasped then winced at my own sharp movement. My eyes bore into the beautiful man's.
"The village! The kids! We have to--" I struggled for breath, "we have to help!"
"Emma" someone was calling my name but all I saw was the memory of the burning village and
"And the boy! The teenage boy! I lost him, I couldn't--" I was gasping and someone was lifting me up, placing me upright in their lap, stroking my hair, cupping my face into the scent of sandalwood and leather.
"Shh, darling. Shhh. It's alright now. It's alright now."
I breathed and opened my eyes again, unaware I had closed them. The beautiful man was cradling me against his solid chest.
Lily's voice was urgent as she called my name. "Emma, my husband sent our friends to the village. Everyone is being tended to now. But right now we need to help you, alright?"I breathed and swallowed. Lily was looking in my eyes, mimicking slow breaths for me to follow.
"Alright dear. Remember my friend?"
"Mr. Black at your service," rumbled a voice behind my ear.
"Yes, Mr. Black," Lily said wryly before continuing. "He and you are connected now, but you don't have to be if you don't want to."