Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ the Necklace of four Elements ❯ Chapter six ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

Morning came and the sky was clear. Few birds could be heard singing in the conifers and when Aithne opened her eyes she saw a squirrel skip away. Slowly she sat up. Although the world looked a little bit nicer her head aced and she felt sick. She felt a tremor go down her spine and shook her head, only making herself dizzy. `is it just me, ore does she look green?' she heard Mendes say. She waited until the dizziness ebbed away, then she stood up slowly an walked towards a close tree. She wavered but reach it, she felt her stomach flip upside down and threw up, waking herself completely. Behind her she heard how Morri made a small barking sound. `are you alright Aithne?' it was Mendes voice sounding far away. When the girl looked over her shoulder she saw the man's worried face and Liam, she signed in relief that he was back. `I think I'm alright now.' She whispered and Mendes came to her with the water bag. `here, rinse it away and sit down.' He ordered and the girl obliged. `I guess you don't want breakfast.' The old man said grinning and the girl shook her head, making herself dizzy again. She grabbed her head and signed. She felt so weak and she noticed that she was shivering again. `I feel awful.' She said and closed her eyes. Mendes felt her forehead. `you're on fire' he said and she looked at him with a frown. `is… is that supposed to be… to be a joke Men…' but the girl never ended the sentence. She wavered and felt to the side, caught on time by Liam. she had lost consciousness and sunk away in feverish dreams. `we have to get her too Kern.' Liam said monotone and Mendes nodded while standing up. Morri whined softly and pushed her nose into the girls hand, she whimpered in her sleep. The men got onto their horses and Liam placed the girl in front of him now. They rode as fast as they could to the mountain and Aithne started to mumble and tremble. Although her fever was high and she had the sweat on her brow she kept shivering like she laid in the snow. This worried the grey man, the girl had been to cold for too long and he feared she had gotten the flu. After almost an hour they reached the wall of the mountain and they saw the giant gate, carved into the stone. It was closed and there was no one there. Mendes got of Sappel and walked towards the gate. `why is it closed?' He asked to no one particularly. `is anyone there? Hello!' he yelled but there was no response. Aithne had felt the horse stop and could hear someone shout. She still felt terrible and she didn't know where she was, so she opened her eyes. She saw the gate and her mouth fell open. “wow.” She thought while watching the words and illustrations carved into the stone. She couldn't read the words, it was the language of the dwarves. `impressive.' She whispered. `how do you feel?' she heard Liam ask from behind her. `still the same I guess, why are you behind me?' she asked confused. `so I can keep you from falling of the horse. you have to hold on for a little, this gate should be open but it's not, it could take a while.' The young man said and Aithne nodded softly. Suddenly she felt how the skin under her collarbones became warm and as quickly as her shivering hands let her she got the necklace out from under her tunic. She watched how the smallest little round lighted up and she felt the warmth from the wood. She looked at Mendes who was mumbling things, but there was no wind. `what… what's he doing?' she asked softly. `he's trying to open the gate.' Liam answered. `but nothings happening.' The girl said confused. Then suddenly she heard a low rumble and her eyes grew wide. Mendes calmly walked back towards his horse while the gates opened slowly to the inside. When they where open enough for them to enter the rumble stopped and the horses rode on. The girl wanted to ask but she felt weak still and just sat back to watch. It was very dark and her eyes had to adjust while the gate closed behind them. The horses stopped and waited until the rumble was gone again. `if it isn't Mendes, you old tramp! And who are you dragging with you now?' Aithne saw a man with a beard looking up to them and thought that he was quite small. `meet Liam and Aithne. Now friend, we can't chat here, the girl is ill.' Mendes said quickly as he got of his horse. `why didn't you say that sooner!? We'll take her to the sickbay, come one, follow me.' The man held up his torch and Aithne saw from her spot that there where more man with torches standing around. She signed and closed her eyes again, drifting away. She woke slightly when she felt how she was picked of the horse and carried away. They tugged her into a bed and it laid so nice and warm that she didn't even bother to open her eyes, she just fell into another sleep. But they nudged her out of it and made her drink something that tasted awful. The girl lost track of time, but she was nudged awake several times to drink.

`lady Aithne, wake up, you've got a visitor.' A warm woman's voice got the girl awake. `where am I?' she whispered and slowly opened her eyes. `you're in Kern, in the sickbay.' Mendes answered and she looked up at him. `for a whole day and night girl, how do you feel?' he asked and she sat up and looked around the room. It was big, more like a hall, and there where several beds and a lit hearth. There where a lot of torches and the room was pleasantly warm and bright. `I feel great.' Aithne whispered and watched how a little woman with a red braid made up a bed and then walked behind a screen. The girl looked up and saw that the ceiling was very high above them. `impressive.' She whispered and Mendes smiled. `I'm glad you're alright Aithne.' He said and the girl looked at him. `where are Liam and Morri?' she asked suddenly and Mendes was surprised for a moment. `Liam is back at the… house we board and Morri's running around on the land where the horses stay. I thought she would want to stay outside, but she came with us.' The man told. And the girl sat back in her cushion, closing her eyes for a moment. `would the lady like something to drink?' the warm voice asked and Aithne opened her eyes. The little woman stood next to her bed, ready with a tray and a cup. `thank you, that's very kind.' Whispered the girl while she took a sip from the warm liquid. It was very sweet and warmed her inside. The woman wanted to walk away but Aithne stopped her. `what's your name?' she asked and the woman looked up. `it's Eve, my lady.' She said and smiled, then she walked away behind the screen again. Aithne took another sip, then looked at Mendes. `why does she call me a lady? I'm no higher then she is.' The girl whispered. `in Kern you are Aithne, they know your status as the protector of the Elements and they respect you.' The man answered seriously and Aithne's face became red. `now, dress yourself, we have to visit someone and I want you with us. I'll wait outside.' Mendes said and walked away, giving Eve a sign. Aithne climbed out of bed and the woman came with her clothes, they where clean and warm and behind another screen the girl dressed. When she was ready to go she turned around. `thank you for all your good care Eve.' She said and the little woman made a quick curtsy before opening the door and letting the girl out. Aithne watched how she suddenly stood in a street, lighted by torches. She looked up and saw the endless ceiling. From the walls of the cave shone a weak light, coming from the crystals in the stone. These crystals where also used as candles for their light was bright enough to show your path. Still, torches where used to brighten and warm the streets and houses. It was like a city carved out of stone, it was beautiful and Aithne watched with big eyes. Dwarfs where everywhere, busy as bees and the girl had never seen them actually. Most of them had red hair, some had darker colors and often the only difference between a man and woman was the beard. `ready?' Mendes asked and Aithne nodded. Together they walked through the city of stone when they came across a place that made Aithne's eyes even bigger. It was a huge piece of land that was totally green. There where grassy fields where horses, cows and sheep could nibble the grass and there was a forest too. and next to that laid the lands where food was growing. `very nice isn't it?' the grey man asked while pausing. The girl saw Terran and Sappel standing far away and she caught the shimmer of a lake. `it's amazing.' She whispered. `where's Morri?' she asked when she didn't saw the white fur. `she's probably roaming the forest.' Mendes answered shrugging. `the cattle isn't afraid of her, why not?' the girl asked, remembering her first meeting with the she-wolf. `they know she's not just any wolf, now let's walk on girl.' The man said and frowning the girl followed. “Morri's not just any wolf.” She repeated in her mind. “she's smart, kind and seems to understands us…” the girl kept thinking about it. They reached a house, it wasn't big but it stood loose from the others, behind it they could see a castle like building. `do they have a king?' Aithne asked unsure. `of course they do girl! And we're going to meet him too.' The man said proud and opened the door of the house. Aithne stepped in, the house was lighted by the crystals as well and there was a big chimney. Liam walked towards them. `how do you feel?' he asked the girl. `great, thank you.' She answered and smiled. The boy turned his attention on Mendes. `that man from the stable was here, he agreed.' Liam said and the old man nodded. `that's great, I'll make us an early lunch and then we'll go fetch Allan.' He said and retreated to the kitchen. Aithne looked at Liam. `in what has the man agreed?' she asked curious. `he'll give you lesson so you can ride your own horse.' the boy said unmoving and Aithne hold her breath. The thought of protesting crossed her mind, but that would be stupid. She couldn't ride behind Liam forever could she? The girl quickly turned and began to seek some plates to make up the table. Was she blushing now? “this is stupid! Get a grip!” she was angry, disappointed and then confused. “I don't want my own horse because I'm afraid right? Ore is it because I… no that's ridiculous! They want my to ride on my own because that's easier, because it's faster. Ore did I… o stop it, you're making a big drama of it. It's just more practical, there, end of story, no more thoughts about it.” The girl thought heated and set the last cup down with such force it spilled some of the water. She calmed down and cleaned it up, pushing the thoughts away and eventually forgetting her worry. They ate, Aithne had back her appetite and the soup was nice. When they where ready they set out they followed Mendes, to the house of Allan.