Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ the Necklace of four Elements ❯ Chapter five ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter 5

She could see his watery blue eyes, he grinned, she felt his lips, smelled his breath. She ran, he chuckled, she felt his cold hands running up her body. She cried, the blond man laughed at her, she screamed.

Aithne shot up, the world tolled in front of her and she whimpered. She sat still and tried to calm her trembling body. “it was only a dream, only a nightmare…” she thought while feeling some hot tears escape. She heard the whine of Morri and looked up. It was becoming light and at the other side of the fire sat Mendes, quietly trying to get the dying fire going again. The girl looked around and saw the sleeping form of Liam, she watched the rhythm of his breathing and finally calmed down. `you won't see him doing that for a long time Aithne. That boy can go weeks without sleep, but when he sleeps, he's so far away he won't even hear your screaming.' Mendes said and grinned, but the girl looked away and petted the wolf a little. When the fire was alive again the old man woke Liam with some nudges and started breakfast. Now that it was light, Aithne could get a better look at the horses. Sappel was a big, dark brown horse with big hoofs and black mane, one of his legs was white at the bottom. And Liam's horse was black with even mane and muscled legs. Both stallions looked strong and fast, but the girl already knew they where fast. `his name's Terran.' Liam said when he saw the girl watching the horses and Aithne looked at him. The girls breath was suddenly gone. She hadn't seen it last night in the dark, but now she could see them clearly. The boys eyes where colored a red-orange, like an amber gemstone. The girl managed to nod and then looked down at her bread, she had never seen such eyes and she wasn't sure if she feared ore liked them. Mendes decided that they would ride on the next night, because they would be vulnerable then and they could best try to get as far away from this place as possible. Aithne didn't say anything. She felt like all energy was gone from her, she felt like she had lost the fight already, now there was nothing left. They rode north to the mountains. They ate their lunch while riding and Mendes watched the clouds, saying that it wouldn't stay dry. In the afternoon the man got his right and it started to drizzle. In the evening it became cold and the drizzle turned into a slow rain. The droplets gathered themselves at leaves and fell with great splashes between the other droplets on the three companions, who were soaked in no time. Morri had left them some time ago, to trot miles around them to see if everything was save. `Mendes, maybe we should stop and find some shelter.' Liam suggested, when the first stars managed to peek through the clouds. `no, we can't get any wetter now Liam and we have to travel as fast as possible at this moment.' The grey man answered. Aithne stayed quiet, but the boy could feel her shiver behind him. It was close to midnight when the rain decided to stop it's attack on the travelers and even the moon came out to shine on them. Aithne had fallen asleep, her hands in her lap and her forehead against Liam's back. Mendes seemed to be jawing all the time. Hours later morning crept over the hills and turned the thin growing forest into a foggy place. They rode on for some time when finally the sun came up and Mendes decided to stop. They found an open place for breakfast and the horses halted. When the rhythm of Terran came to an end, the girl woke and looked up. Slowly she slipped off of the horse and sat down on the damp grass. The grey man gave them some bread, the wood around them was too wet to make a fire going. Aithne shivered and ate. `now, we're almost there girl, this evening we'll reach the mountains.' The old man told and the girl nodded silently. The fog began to fade when the sun got higher and the three rode on. Aithne watched how the land around her began to change. They rode out of the forest and deciduous trees were replaced by small groups of conifers. There where also great pieces of rock growing out of the soil and the girl could hear water clatter somewhere. The sky was clouded, only few times the sun came through for some minutes to warm there faces and dry their skin. They rode on further to the north and the sun got into hiding. Mist came in her place when they climbed higher and higher. There wasn't spoken much and Mendes handed out some food and water in the afternoon. Aithne took some sips but shook her head at the food and the man shrugged, but Liam looked over his shoulder at the silent girl. The mist had drenched their clothes again within several minutes and Aithne was shivering like a straw. They had to try and make a fire going this evening ore she would get sick. When it became dark the young man whistled the sharp tone that signaled to Morri to come back. They heard her howl back in return and she sounded far up ahead of them. The horses stopped and Mendes got of and removed the saddle of Sapple's back, then he began to seek dry firewood. `are you alright?' Liam asked softly over his shoulder and the girl looked up at him, but didn't answer. Carefully the boy got of Terran and then helped Aithne down. Her face was bleach, but her cheeks were burning red. Liam felt her forehead, she was glowing. `you've got a fever.' He whispered. Aithne softly shook her head and sat down, she pulled her knees up. The young man kneeled next to her. `you're sick, Aithne.' His voice was soft but strong. The girl hided her face in her knees and started to sob. `no fire tonight… what's with her?' Mendes asked impatiently when he came back. His only answer was an angry look from Liam. `I'm so sorry.' Aithne whispered between sobs and the boy was surprised `it's not your fault.' He said. `yes it is, I'm… I'm not strong enough.' She said and looked up to him. `I'm not strong enough for this.' She whispered and her blue eyes shed no more tears. `of course you are girl, you'll have to be, for…' but the old man was silenced by a look of Liam. Then he looked at the girl again. `you can't give up Aithne, you still have a live.' He said and the girl blinked. `what live?' she asked. `your live, Aithne and that of many others, they don't know it yet but they're doomed if you give up. I know it seems impossible, but you'll have to try and find the strength to life on. Your too important and to brave to give up now Aithne, no one wants you to die.' Liam said and Mendes snorted `only Sullivan and an army of demons.' The old man whispered. `but they want to destroy the world so don't take it personally.' He added quickly and the girl signed. `I… I guess I'll have to stop them then.' She whispered and Mendes smiled. `exactly, you would be the perfect person to do that Aithne.' The man said cheerfully and she nodded. `alright, I'll give it a try, but I don't know if I'll manage.' The girl said and wiped away her tears. `don't worry, you've got Morri, Mendes and me to help you.' Liam said and stood up. `yeah, some help is nice.' Mendes said, but more to himself. `here, you've got to drink enough, and try to eat something too.' The young man said while handing the girl a water bag. She took it and a tiny smile crossed her face, it was enough to begin with. Liam began to take care of Terran and Mendes searched in the saddlebag for something. `we'll sleep here then tonight, it's late and Aithne has to strengthen. Tomorrow we'll reach the gate.' The grey eyed man said while turning the saddlebag upside down. Aithne watched how the man picked up a small object and hold in the moonlight to get a better view. The girl couldn't see what it was. Then they heard the howl of Morri, the wolf wasn't that far away anymore, just in front of them. Aithne recognized the howl at once for the hairs in her neck stood up. Mendes turned around. `they can't possibly have found us already.' He said softly. Aithne looked at Liam and her eyes grew big when she watched him pulling a sword out of it's sheath. The first thing she thought was how she could not have noticed the sheath hanging at his belt, the second was for what he was going to use the weapon. `but it's not possible.' Mendes said when Aithne suddenly heard a growl. `tell him that.' The young man said while standing next to the frightened girl and pointing his sword towards a demon that calmly walked towards them on all fours. Behind her, the girl heard a yelp and she watched how Morri set her teeth in another demon. “how many are there?” she thought franticly and carefully she stood up. The demon that walked towards them paused and then lifted himself so he was standing on two gaunt legs. His raffled tail swept behind him and then he grinned. `what did we caught here hmm?' the demon spoke with dark raspy voice and Aithne was shocked, she hadn't thought they where able to speak. The demon that was held down by Morri made some raspy noises that the girl didn't understand and she figured it was the demons own language. `you girl, I think you have something that we want.' The first demon rasped and he took a step closer. Liam immediately stepped in front of the girl. `you'll have to face me first.' He said blankly and the demon seemed to frown, then he looked closer, sniffed and snickered slightly. `this could be interesting.' He rasped softly and his searching eyes found Mendes. `very interesting.' He snickered again and then took a step back. `I think we'll go for now.' He said and rasped some things against the other demon who broke free of the she-wolf and together they vanished into the bushes. Mendes let his breath escape and slowly shook his head. “this could be really bad.” He thought and then looked at Liam who had lowered his sword but wasn't moving. `Liam?' Aithne's voice was soft and she stepped around the boy. `you're alright?' she asked worried and remembered how the red eyes had hold her so strongly until Liam had broken the contact. She looked over her shoulder and then back to the boy who frowned at her. `it's alright.' She tried softly. Then the young man put the sword back in it's sheath and walked away, leaving a confused girl behind, had she offended him? `Liam?' but a hand on the girl's shoulder stopped her. She turned her head and looked into the grey eyes. `leave him be, he'll come back.' The man said softly. Aithne watched how the young man disappeared into the bushes. `but the demons?' she asked softly. `they're gone, we're to close to the gate, he'll be fine girl.' Mendes said, but there was worry in his eyes. Terran snorted and grasped his hoof over the soil. The blanket used as a saddle was folded onto the stallions back. Liam had left it there when the demons interrupted them. Mendes hand retreated and Aithne was about to walk towards Terran when Morri stopped her. The white wolf looked at her and then nudged her hand. `what is it Morri?' the girl whispered. `you better leave that stallion alone when his master isn't here Aithne, ore you'll be sorry.' Mendes said smiling. The girl glanced at him and then at the black horse. she swallowed and walked towards Terran, slowly. The horse watched her and seemed to calm down. Morri walked with the girl, she hadn't tried to stop her again. Aithne paused, standing so close to the horse she could touch it. `easy now Terran, I'll… I'll remove that blanket alright?' the girl whispered and she knew Mendes was watching her. Slowly she stepped to the horses side and he snorted, then suddenly he made a bold move away from her and neighed. The frightened girl stepped back immediately and fell unceremoniously on her back. The horse looked at her and snorted, then began to nibble on some grass. Aithne stood up and heard how Mendes chuckled. The she-wolf nudged her hand and then walked to a spot between the two horses, where a fire should have been. She sat down and the girl came sitting next to her. `I guess I'm not good a horse whisperer.' She said and Mendes came sitting by her side after filling the saddle bag again. `here, eat.' He said and gave her some bread and another piece of dried meat they had been eating. “I hate this stuff.” The girl thought but knew she had to regain strength. `you seem to be at the better hand already girl, how do you feel?' the man asked and bit a piece of the meat. `my head hurts, I'm cold and I can't stop shivering.' She answered and the man grinned. `but you eat.' He said and gave her the water bag. `but I guess a fire would have been nice.' He whispered. it became dark and after dinner the two laid down. Aithne curled up in her cloak and Morri laid next to her to give her some warmth. The girl tried to stay awake, for Liam hadn't returned yet, but she failed miserably and fell asleep right when her head touched the ground.