Arielle was walking back towards the road with a smile on her face. She had stumbled upon a wild apricot tree and plucked some of the remaining fruit off of it, carrying it in her hands like precious cargo, hoping it would be a nice surprise for her somewhat gloomy companion. Eden seemed to be immersed deep in thought ever since the encounter with the jinn, the bard noticed. Yet, although the warrior had turned quieter, she didn't seem to be disturbed or anxious and that fact made the bard a little calmer.
"Eden, look at what I fou-" Arielle started saying, emerging from the trees and seeing Eden standing in the middle of a group of groaning bandits, all writhing on the ground. "I see I missed out on some fun."
"Oh, we were just negotiating the road toll they demanded." the warrior shrugged with a slightly sheepish smile, sheathing her sword, "We get to continue on for free."
Arielle shook her head lightly with amusement and they walked towards each other.
"Apricots?" Eden asked, looking at what the blond was holding in her hands with interest.
"Mhm. I found a wild tree over there. I thought you might like some." the bard answered and stretched her hands out towards the warrior.
"Oh. Well, um, thank you." Eden replied with a little surprise, picking one fruit and biting it carefully.
"Oh, they're sweet, aren't they?" Arielle noticed, already having popped one in her mouth, chewing it eagerly.
Eden nodded and took two more, leaving the rest for the constantly hungry, young bard and motioned with her head to return to the horses and continue their journey.
"Don't you think that looks like a goat?" Arielle suddenly asked in curiosity some time later.
"Where?" Eden asked, scanning the countryside.
"That cloud on the horizon."
"Cloud?"
"Yes. Don't you think that cloud looks like a goat?"
"Well, it doesn't look like rain." the warrior answered, a little perplexed.
"Yes, I know that. But I'm asking you what it looks like to you. What it reminds you of."
"A cloud." Eden replied with a shrug.
"Come on, Eden, use your imagination." the bard gently persisted.
"I'm not the bard, remember?"
"But you are a human being. Eden, everyone has an imagination, you just have to know how to use it. Give it a try." Arielle continued convincing as she met the warrior's quiet and uncertain scowl, "Please?"
The bard gave Eden one of those innocent, pleading looks that the warrior had noticed she was quite good at giving. Eden didn't know why or how, but that look, those soft, green eyes in that look, always seemed to pull at something deep within her and render her nearly helpless and in complete surrender. Eden sighed and rolled her eyes slightly.
"That cloud over there?" Eden asked with some reluctance, pointing towards the horizon and getting a cheerful nod from the blond, "Hmm... still looks like a cloud to me."
"Eden..."
"Alright, alright. Let's see... I would say a battering ram."
"Of course." the bard commented, shooting her eyes up into the sky.
"You started this." the warrior reminded friendlily.
"I know, I know..." the bard replied, waggling her hand, "Well then, how about that one?"
"That big one? The siege tower?"
"A siege tower? It's a merchant ship! Aren't siege towers supposed to be standing?" Arielle argued amusedly, placing one hand on her hip.
"Unsuccessful siege." the warrior replied with a shrug and a mischievous glint in her eye.
Arielle chuckled and shook her head.
"Oh, what am I supposed to do with you, warrior?" she bantered.
Eden abruptly stopped and Arion became uneasy. The warrior swept her eyes back and forth over their surroundings.
"What is it?" Arielle asked, unconsciously moving closer to her, her voice low and quiet.
"Somebody's out there." Eden answered in a concentrated hush.
Arielle scanned the area, but didn't see or hear anything out of the ordinary at all. But Eden saw the single frightened bird flying away, heard the tense, muffled steps somewhere up on the side of the mountain, noticed that something was simply out of place, looming over them with the threat of danger. She focused her gaze on the mountainside above them.
"Get over there." she instructed the bard, pointing to a small, thick clump of trees off to the right side while she kept her gaze fixed on the mountainside to the left.
The bard opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it and quickly trotted off to the indicated spot. She dismounted, quickly strung her bow, and crouched down with a nocked arrow in the ready. Eden also dismounted and gave Arion a gentle push and he trotted off. She took a few steps closer to the mountain, peering intently. Then a feral grin crossed her lips.
"Come on down, boys!" Eden called up the mountain, "Or are you scared of a... woman?"
A couple seconds of silence were followed by a small, hopelessly flawed rockslide that Eden easily evaded, chuckling sinisterly as she hopped between and around the rocks tumbling out onto the road. The last little boulder was followed by a hysterical war cry and a band of eight raggedly dressed bandits came streaming down the side of the mountain with their swords and shields ready. Eden simply sighed, calmly drew her sword, and stood ready, twirling the blade lazily in her hand while she waited for the onslaught.
Eden was actually quite entertained by the bandits who were practically tripping over themselves and getting in each other's way in a frenzy to get at Eden first. Her amused battle laugh could be heard between the clashes of metal and wood. An arrow pierced the shoulder of the man to Eden's right and the man next to him turned around to see where it came from. He spotted Arielle drawing another arrow and he nudged two of his comrades, pointing towards the bard with his sword. They took off immediately after Arielle and when she noticed them coming after her, the bard broke out into a run through the trees. Her mind raced over a rescue plan for herself, the continuing clashes that were slicing through the air telling her that her companion had problems of her own. The bard knew she couldn't run forever and the trees were only growing fewer as she ran towards the sea. She saw a large cedar ahead of her and decided to make her stand there, the tree covering her back. She reached the tree and whirled around, breathing heavily, holding her bow and arrow ready.
"Hey now, pretty little thing," one of the bandits teased when they all reached her, equally out of breath, "can't shoot us all. Seems like we've got you."
"Oh, on the contrary," Eden growled, appearing from behind a tree in back of the group and pointing her sword at them, "I've got you."
"What a bitch." the bandit complained.
They ran at the warrior and in a combination of three graceful moves, she neatly took out the three nearly breathless bandits, giving the complaining one an extra kick in the groin.
"That'll teach you to use that kind of speech towards a lady." Eden noted as the bandit dropped to the ground in a long moan.
The warrior sheathed her sword and jogged over to Arielle.
"Are you alright?" Eden asked.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just out of breath."
"Well, that was quite a run." the warrior noted, "Come on. Let's go back. I just can't wait to see what else is waiting for us on this road."
They walked back through the trees to the road, leaving the broken bandits behind them.
"I was going to make a stand there." the bard said, looking at Eden as they returned to the road and found their horses dutifully waiting for them, "I thought I was going to have to defend myself with my sword."
"Well, fortunately, it didn't come to that." Eden said, remembering the bard's qualms about carrying a sword from the very beginning.
"You know," the bard mused, looking down at her short sword, a tiny grin starting to quiver in the corner of her mouth, "I don't think I've ever drawn it yet..."
In a quick movement, Arielle drew her sword and pointed it at the warrior with a proud grin.
"Ha! I've got you now, warrior!" she called out happily.
Eden raised a brow. With agility that the bard hardly had time to register, Eden gave a sudden front jump kick, sending the sword flying out of the stunned blond's grip and up into the air until it fell back down into Eden's patiently waiting hand. She then took the blade and slowly pointed it at Arielle.
"On the contrary, I've got you, bard." she countered slowly with a mischievous grin turning up the corner of her mouth.
"I surrender, I surrender!" Arielle cried playfully, raising her hands in the air in submission.
Eden flipped the sword around and handed the hilt-side of it to Arielle and the bard took it.
"One day, warrior, you will be mine." Arielle threatened lightheartedly, sheathing her sword and mounting her horse.
In Eden's mind a thought flashed that someday that just might be the case.
As usual, it was Eden who heard the shouting first and trotted ahead to see what was happening. Further down the road, five bandits were assaulting an elderly, weary traveler who was bravely trying to fight off his assailants with a traveling stick while pleading for mercy.
"Is there some kind of bandit festival today that I don't know about?" Eden muttered in annoyance as Arielle trotted up beside her.
Eden galloped off without a word. She knocked down the bandit the elderly man was fighting the moment she arrived and two of the bandits launched themselves at her when she turned around. She dispatched them with ease, watching through the corner of her eye as an arrow sailed through the air and landed in the thigh of the bandit who was still harassing the old man. The last remaining bandit, seeing that he was outnumbered and outmatched, quickly turned and ran away, dragging his wounded comrade with him.
The elderly man dusted himself off and picked up his bundle from the ground as Arielle trotted up and stopped beside Eden. He almost looked like a forgotten monk, dressed in a long, gray tunic, tied at the waist with an old, leather belt and his short, white beard matched the thinning white hair on his head.
"Praise be to you, kind warriors." he said, "I give you my thanks."
"No need." Eden replied tiredly before Arielle had a chance to speak, "You should move along now."
The old man looked in Eden's direction with a somewhat surprised, but curious expression. They noticed his continual stare that was off place and his clouded eyes.
"Are you alright?" Arielle asked.
"Yes, a little shaken up perhaps, but nothing serious. Thanks to the both of you mostly." he answered.
"Well, that's good to hear. We're glad we could help." Arielle said with a smile and could almost hear Eden sigh impatiently.
"I am Thomas of Corinth. Who should I say were my angels?" the elderly man asked.
"We just happened to be passing by. We are no angels." Eden answered flatly, watching the elderly traveler and ignoring the stare she was receiving from the blond.
"Are you not? I thank you all the same guardians." Thomas replied gently.
Eden froze for a moment and stared at the man with a harsh and suspicious look. Arielle felt herself grow tense; the sudden, strained reaction in Eden made her start to fear that Eden might actually do harm to him.
"I live not far from here, just outside Beirut. Please, let me extend my hospitality to you in reward for your help." he offered warmly.
"We didn't help you for a reward." Eden answered shortly, "Anyways, we're on our way to Jerusalem."
"But the day is nearing an end and I really do not live far off. Please, I humbly ask you."
Eden felt a strange aura about the elderly man and studied him closely. She could sense that Arielle wanted them to take the traveler up on the offer, they had had a tiring day and a warm meal would be welcome. The traveler didn't seem to emanate any danger though she continued to feel oddly nervous and Eden finally shrugged.
"I suppose there is no harm in it." Eden finally conceded, "We'll escort you home, though it seems you fare quite well, even outnumbered."
"Ah, thank you for the kind words, but there is only so much these old bones can do." Thomas replied.
"Would you like to ride?" Arielle offered.
"No, dear one, thank you, but I fare much better on the ground at my age."
"Then let me at least carry your bundle."
"Oh, if that's not a problem. Thank you, indeed."
Arielle leaned over and took the bundle from him and attached it to her saddle. She was aware of Eden watching them both very closely, but it worried her that it made her feel uneasy this time. There was a sense of distrust in the warrior radiating from her guarded air and tensed muscles ready to pounce at any moment. Arielle couldn't see where any harm could come from the side of this particular traveler and simply decided to be gentle towards him where Eden could not or would not be. What is going on with her?
Arielle and Thomas engaged in petty conversation almost the whole way to Thomas's home and Eden rode in back of them, remaining silent and alert. They reached his home when the sun finally pulled its last ray below the horizon. The women dismounted and Thomas ushered them inside, offering food and drink. His asked them to sit, asking Eden to pull the table next to the bench that was against the wall. The women sat down on the bench as Thomas made his way around gathering food and plates and finally sat down in a chair across from them.
"You have a very nice home, Thomas." Arielle noticed, sipping some cider and starting on a bowl of stew that he had given each of them.
"Oh, thank you. It may not be much, but it is a home."
"Do you live here by yourself?" Eden asked, trying her best to keep her voice neutral despite feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.
"I do. Sometimes the neighbors come to help with more difficult things, but I get by on the day to day."
"Commendable." Eden offered.
"Or foolish." Thomas countered with a smile.
"Perhaps."
"We do not chose our fate, but we do chose what we decide to do with it." he said, his tone growing a little lower which started making Eden nervous, "Ah, but I can tell you it is nice to have a conversation with someone once in a while. To talk of different things, to tell stories..."
"Do you like stories?" Arielle asked, her interest piqued.
"Oh, I do. There are so many interesting stories to hear and tell. I was not born ancient, dear one, I have lived to see and hear many wonderful things." he chuckled lightly.
"Would tell us one of your tales? Please? I haven't heard one in such a long time."
"Of course, dear one. Let me see... Ah, I think I have a suitable one. Do you believe in angels, dear one?"
"Yes, I do. Though I haven't heard any tales about them. Do you really have one?" Arielle asked, the excitement clearly heard in her voice.
"Ah, I do. A great one." he claimed.
Eden leaned back on the bench, her arms crossed over her chest, constantly feeling on edge. Arielle leaned forward, elbows propped up on the table, her chin resting on her balled fists, her eyes wide with excitement and interest. Thomas took a sip of cider and then a deep breath.
"It is said that when God created the earth and heavens, He also created angels. Most of the angels served Him loyally, cherishing and praising His name. Yet, when God created man, some of the angels were displeased since man was given God's highest favor. So they rebelled against the Creator and fell from Heaven. Restless and envious of man and the riches he had at his disposal, they roamed the earth and took women. The offspring of these unseemly unions were savage giants who laid waste to all they saw. They taught man things like black magic, weaponry, and other forbidden knowledge. In anger, God finally decided to rid the earth of the offspring through the great flood from which only Noah was saved."
Thomas stopped to take another sip of cider and Eden noticed her heartbeat begin to quicken.
"Those fallen angels were called the watchers and were bound in darkness to the earth by God until Judgment Day. Yet lest the watchers reek too much havoc amongst men, God called into service those called guardians. It is said they are the spirit of angels in the body of man. They are known for their virtue, honor, and skill, being able to see and speak to the Lord and all that is holy, for each is a chosen one of the Almighty Himself. God dispersed the guardians all over the earth to protect mankind from the black tricks of the watchers. It is said that they live like normal human beings, with everyday lives, families, and homes. Yet they possess the soul of an angel and can fight with evil in ways that man cannot. And so the battle between good and evil is waged everyday in realms sometimes unseen to the ordinary human eye, maybe even right under your nose, dear one." Thomas said and tapped the end of Arielle's nose gently with his finger and it scrunched up cheerfully.
"Have you ever seen any of these guardians, Thomas?" Arielle asked in utter curiosity, taking a handful of dates from the center of the table.
"Oh, but I have, little one. They live amongst us."
"Do they really? But then how do you know that someone is a guardian?"
"Ah, little one, some say that they can be distinguished through their deeds, their honor can be so great. It is said they surpass others in strength, agility, wit, and endurance. Some claim they can come back from the dead. Others that they speak tongues unknown to any man. Still others that their blood flows a bright red."
Arielle gazed at him with wonder for a few moments until something suddenly began to register in her mind and her expression turned into a surprised confusion mixed with a pinch of fear.
"Bright, red blood?" she repeated, her eyebrows knotting.
Eden's bleeding image from her fight with the jinn suddenly flashed in her mind, engraving itself almost painfully into her senses. She suddenly turned around to look at a very tense Eden who was glaring a hole into the table.
"Eden?..." the bard whispered in amazed shock, her hand absently rising to half-way cover her mouth.
Arielle gasped as Eden suddenly shot up from the bench, her eyes locked on the aged man.
"Who are you?" Eden hissed, her hand on the hilt of her dagger.
"Do not fear me, guardian, I shall not harm you." Thomas said, his tone low and gentle, "I was who you are. I am who you will be."
"You know nothing of me nor am I meant to live to see your years." Eden replied sternly after a few moments of heavy silence.
"Oh, dear warrior," Thomas chuckled warmly, "not all can be seen by the naked eye."
"You..." Arielle whispered, staring at the warrior in disbelief, "I thought... How... What are... How can this..."
Eden only looked at her sternly with an unreadable expression, feeling exposed and unarmed. She wanted to run out of the room, she wanted to escape and never come back. She cursed herself for being foolish enough to think that maybe Arielle would be different, that maybe this time it wouldn't make a difference who she really was. Being a guardian made her different and she was tired of being different, tired of being poked, prodded, judged and misunderstood. It had plagued her all her life and she sometimes wished for the peace that came about from being just like everyone else.
"There now, little one. You may be astonished, but do not judge or be unfair. It's not a light burden to carry nor a simple thing to say." he told Arielle mildly and then turned to Eden, "Sit, guardian, please. You have only friends here."
Eden turned to him and regarded him for a few moments before slowly taking her seat.
"Who are you?" she asked again, in a low and wary tone.
"I am a guardian, a guardian healer to be exact. I used to be of more service before the years whittled me away. My brother was a guardian warrior. I made potions, he made wounds. Alas, he met the fate most warriors do and left this world long before I would ever consider it to be his time." he explained, his voice now weighed down with a certain sadness.
"Now you know why I said that your years are not meant for me." Eden replied, never taking her gaze off him.
"Ah, I see..." he commented, nodding slowly, "So, you are a warrior too."
"I am."
"What?... What... Who are you? Who are you, Eden?" Arielle stammered out in shock and disbelief, staring at the warrior with wide eyes.
Eden's eyes flashed with anger and hurt when they met Arielle's. She felt betrayed that her secret was uncovered in such a way, but now there was no use in hiding or denying it. She felt abnormal, hideous, and rejected under the bard's baffled gaze and that last question. There was a part of her that understood Arielle, knowing that there really wasn't much of any other reaction Eden could expect. But the hurt part of the warrior was louder and angrier, so she decided to continue to be different and cast her own little dreams aside.
"I am Eden, guardian warrior, the elect of Michael the Archangel, the chosen one of God Almighty." Eden announced and then turned to Thomas, "though I would stop short at the virtue and honor that I supposedly have."
"Oh, each one of us carries our own cross and shadows, dear guardian." Thomas chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"I can imagine." Eden replied sarcastically.
"You harbor much anger." Thomas chanced, his voice turning a little sad with the thought.
"I have many good reasons."
Thomas grew quiet, looking out into the distance with his unseeing eyes, his forehead and brows knotted in concentration. Eden began to feel a warmth grow in her chest. Though she knew what he was doing and didn't want to have it done, the warmth was a relaxing kind, one she had not felt for a long time and it rendered her unprotected and vulnerable. He slowly reached out and put his hand on top of Eden's head and read what was there.
"Oh... There is much turmoil and desolation here. Oh, my dear, dear guardian. Such loss and pain... Such fear of..."
"Enough!" Eden shouted, tearing herself out from under Thomas's hand and breathing heavily as Arielle, beginning to shake herself free of her utter astonishment, moved a little closer to her in concern.
"But there is also a tiny ray of hope. It grows with a frail but pulsating heartbeat." Thomas continued, lowering his hand.
"I don't see it." Eden retorted, still breathing hard.
"Oh, but you do, guardian."
"Are you alright?" Arielle finally asked Eden quietly.
The bard lifted her hand, but let it safely hover over the warrior's shoulder. Eden's eyes didn't leave the old guardian.
"You see it... with your heart." Thomas said with certainty in his voice.
Arielle turned her gaze from the warrior, to Thomas, and then back to Eden again. She let her hand gently rest on the warrior's shoulder, but Eden jerked it away.
"I see nothing." she spat out, getting up and suddenly storming out of the room.
A silence hung in the air for a while after Eden had left as the gray guardian and bard collected their thoughts.
"Ah, such a shame, that one... I feel such sympathy for her... Such a burden..." Thomas sighed, resting his hands on his lap.
"I... I had no idea... I knew there was something... She's somehow... different, you know?... But she said... nothing to me." Arielle stammered out.
"Can you blame her, young one?" Thomas countered softly, "She has known since she was a child that she was chosen and has paid a very high price for that knowledge. And you knowing she was a guardian could put you in danger, child. She would probably have none of that..."
Arielle thought over that for a while, staring at her fingers as they rolled a spoon over and over. Is this that burden she carries around constantly? Is this that weight that nearly breaks her shoulders?
"What does all this mean, Thomas? Who is she really?" the bard finally asked in a frustrated confusion.
"Ah, that is the simplest and most difficult question. She is both unique in every way and just the same as everyone else. You see, young one, each of us has a guardian angel that looks over us, that you know. But there are some who merge with their guardian angel to such a point that they practically become one entity. A guardian houses all the heavenly power a human body can withstand. She is an ordinary person like you or me, but she sees, feels, and knows more than most. Eden has abilities and senses that are amplified which is both a blessing and a curse."
"How could it be a curse? She has an angelic soul!" Arielle blurted out.
"She is only merged with the angel, her soul is her own. The angel helps her fight demons and relate to God. The rest is her own person." Thomas explained, "As to the curse... It is a very heavy burden to bear... It's a sacrifice from the very beginning..."
"Thomas..." Arielle said softly, her mind absorbing all his words, "You saw... things... in her... What did you see?... What is the hurt she carries?"
"My dear one..." he answered, shaking his head slowly, "It is not for me to say. But I can tell you that her price has been paid... more than once..."
"What can I do... to help her?" the bard finally asked quietly and Thomas smiled.
"Go to her. Show her she still has a friend."
Arielle nodded, got up, and walked outside. She looked around for Eden and found her finishing brushing down Arion in the torchlight, her face stern, her jaw muscles flexing. But then she watched as the warrior put the brush away and began to stroke the horse's muzzle. Her mouth moved with words the bard couldn't hear and her movements were gentle and caring. Arielle let out a sad sigh at the thought that Eden probably considered Arion her only real friend, the only creature on the earth who accepted and trusted her exactly the way she was. The bard walked over to her slowly, thinking of a hundred different things to say and all of them coming out wrong. She fumbled with a tie in her leather armor, giving her nervous hands something to do.
"Eden, I'm-"
"Leave it." Eden interrupted coldly and caused the bard to flinch a little.
"I'm trying to tell you something."
"Well, I don't want to hear it right now."
"Eden, you have to let me apologize." Arielle pleaded.
"No, duchess," Eden spat, shooting a glance at the bard, "I don't have to do anything."
Arion snorted loudly and Eden turned on her heel and began to stomp off into the distance.
"Eden, I'm sorry!" Arielle called out to her and watched Eden stop in her tracks, a small, thin cloud of dust collecting around her boots, "I was... I was just surprised, that's all. I don't know why you didn't tell me... I... I don't think any less of you..."
Eden turned around slowly and faced the bard, her face looking strained and tired.
"You should think less of me. I'm different, peculiar, nobody you would want to be around." the warrior explained in a hurt tone.
"Eden, you... you are different." the bard said gently and as she saw the warrior throw her arms up into the air in disbelief, she quickly added, "You're better."
Eden's hands fell loosely to her sides as if they had suddenly forgotten what they were doing. She watched the bard, trying to decide whether the blond really meant the words that meant more to the warrior than she would let on. But of all the things she could describe the blond as, she couldn't say she was deceitful or devious. The warrior slowly walked back towards the bard until they were standing face to face.
"I really was stunned. I didn't mean..."
"It's alright, I know. Maybe I should have told you..." Eden admitted with a sigh.
"Maybe, but I'm not all that surprised that you didn't. After all, we don't know each other all that well..."
"No..."
And then something that the both of them had been subconsciously aware of shot up in offense. Deep within them, it rebelled against the statement as if trying to tell them that they had known each other for lifetimes and lifetimes. For Arielle, their forming friendship wasn't anything much outside of the ordinary, except for her bizarre interest in the warrior and insistence on finding what she held within. For Eden, their friendship was one baffling amazement after another. She was astounded and worried about the rate and ease with which the young bard was scaling her walls and prying open her gates. No matter what defense she put up, the giddy blond would some nifty little way around it and come bounding in with a smile on her face. It all scared her nearly half to death.
"Begging pardon, fair warriors," Thomas called out into the night, poking his head out the door, "take rest here tonight if you may. The road to Jerusalem is still long. It's no burden at all for those who saved this shriveled, old fruit."
Eden looked at Thomas, then down at Arielle who was grinning, and nodded her head.
"Thank you, Thomas!" Arielle answered and the two women walked back to the door, "Actually, we are quite tired. Between raiders and demons, we could use a little sleep."
"Demons?" Thomas asked, raising his eyebrows in interest.
"We met a jinn on the road." Eden explained as they walked in and she shut the door behind them.
"It was the strangest thing, he seemed to just rise up out of the ground, his eyes black as night... Sent a chill up my spine." Arielle said.
"You saw him too?" Thomas asked.
"What do you mean? Of course I saw him too. He was right there. We were both watching as he approached. Why?" Arielle replied, growing a little confused.
Eden wrapped her arms around herself in growing tension again as Thomas said nothing, waiting for an answer.
"It's true." Eden said quietly.
"I see..." Thomas mused and then turned in Arielle's general direction, "May I?" he asked, raising his hand.
"Yes, of course." Arielle answered, a little bewildered and anxious and rested her head beneath Thomas's hand.
"Ah... Blinding light and... and... a gaping emptiness..."
He removed his hand and Arielle looked to the both of them for answers.
"What is it?" she demanded softly.
Thomas opened his mouth to answer until her heard Eden's voice cut through his mind.
'You know your connection can work both ways, healer.' she spoke to him in his thoughts.
'Ah, you are gifted guardian. Not all know that. Even fewer can use it.'
'Please, don't tell her what we both know.'
'Why?' the healer asked, slightly puzzled.
'Let her live in the peace she won't know otherwise. Let her live in a world full of colors and dreams. Please, I ask you as a guardian.'
'But-'
'I will beg you if you make me.'
Thomas sighed.
'Alright then. Since it means this much to you warrior, I will say nothing. But she will learn in time.'
'Perhaps. But not now.'
'Protect her, warrior. Guard her closely.'
'Of course. Thank you.'
Thomas took a deep breath.
"You have a beautiful soul, little one." Thomas answered warmly, "A true light in this world."
The bard looked at him speechless and then darted her eyes to the ground, fighting back a shocked blush.
"Let us rest, fair maidens. The day has been a long one." Thomas offered.
"Yes, you're right." Arielle replied.
The women lay their bedrolls out on the floor in a second little room he had, despite his insistence that at least one of them take the bed and rest in comfort or at least sleep in the larger room, close to the fire. Eden lay staring at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to take her and wondering what else lay ahead of them before they reached Jerusalem.
"Why didn't you tell me, Eden?" the bard whispered, the hurt tainting her voice.
"It's not exactly something one goes around sharing freely."
"But you could have told me."
"How exactly? Hello, my name is Eden. Oh, by the way, I'm an angel in human form. Here, have a pomegranate." Eden retorted sarcastically.
"I thought we... were friends..." Arielle protested quietly and heard Eden sigh heavily and turn on her side to face the bard.
"This is... How do I explain something I sometimes don't even fully understand myself... or want to... It's... It's just..." Eden tried to say and finally sighed with frustration, "I just wanted... to be me... for a while... and protect you..."
Arielle turned it over in her mind a couple of times. She had felt such shock from the news and hurt from the fact she wasn't told that she had forgotten to think of how Eden felt. The warrior was rough, a little scary and angry, and all around difficult, but she took Arielle's protection very seriously. Eden carried around her own burdens and troubles, trudging forward stubbornly under their weight. But when it came to the bard, the warrior simply flung it all aside and focused only on her. The memory of the night Eden had held her to guard her against her nightmares filled her with warmth. Yes, I did feel safe and protected.
"It's just a surprise, I guess..." Arielle finally confessed, letting out a deep breath and seeing Eden's troubled look even in the grayish dark, "So... can you see in the dark?"
"No." Eden replied, stupefied.
"Do you know the future?" the bard continued, her tone growing playful again.
"No."
"Can you fly?"
"Arielle!" the warrior cried out softly and the bard giggled.
They both smiled at each other, the tension and uneasiness having faded away. They finally closed their eyes and the warrior fell asleep after the bard did and both dreamed of big, white clouds.