Chapter Text
Pain.
He could only feel pain, intense pain on him. Not consciousness of where he was, just the faded sense of being lifted, of floating. No light no darkness, simply nothing; somewhere in the middle of the mind and the world.
Somewhere inside him… and those echoes.
The voices pulling him away from pain.
«Do you hear the voices?
They are calling you…»
“Me?”
«All your life…
Come, come with us. »
She panics, the blood is way too much and the fever does not drop. The poor man whimpers in such agony, that nothing seems to work.
“You asked me to save him… and I can’t, show me how, please… ” She begs scared while cleans the blood from the man’s chest and touches his forehead. “You can control what flows… help me then…” She begs again to someone in the room who cannot be seen.
“Not life…” A young male voice answers.
“Please my river Lord.” She cries out in anguish.
“He is coming… Everything is burning.” A female voice whispers behind the maiden.
«Do you hear the voices?
They are calling you…»
“Why?”
By the window of the humble cottage an enormous golden owl stops. His eyes like the olives of East pouring wisdom with a slow blinking.
“My Lord… I don’t know what to do.” She kneels and waits.
“I will guide you, maiden.” She hears the voice in her heart and her eyes moves looking for her sewing basket.
«Would you follow us?
We have been calling you all your life…»
“I know”
“He is in pain…” The maiden tells the voices expecting some help.
“May I?” The river Lord asks the golden owl.
“No.” It is the answer that the maiden hears too.
«Why did it take so long?
Your servants need you…»
“Why? I owe him…” The young insists.
“No… He needs to be awakened.” The low voice of the owl explains for the ones hearing him.
“This is a christening by fire…” The voice of the lady says.
“Then save him…” The young commands.
« Come child, follow the voices.
We have been calling you…»
The maiden closes the large wound on the man chest, treats him with gentleness and dedication. She cleans him as much as she can. Wet cloths rest in his head and she feels there is nothing else to do for the poor man, either way she covers him with a blanket and lets herself to rest in a chair next to the wounded body’s bed.
“You have done well… now rest maiden.” The owl tells her.
“Thank you, child of the forest.” The lady’s voice adds and lights the fire a bit more to protect them from the chilly night.
“Sleep my crystal water drop…” The young whispers in her ear and her eyes go dark softly.
***
There is only darkness around him. His clothes are damp and he can hear the mice looking for food on the corners. His stomach rumbles in pain knowing that his last meal was ten or fifteen hours ago. He can’t care less now that he has lost his good name and future for being too loyal.
Nothing really matters when your friends have left you or betrayed you. He could have expected that from anyone but not from him, his brother in arms and only friend alive… now.
Losing his commander because of a caprice of fate was extremely excruciating, just remember it makes his heart ache and his greenish eyes get teary. He would have given his life for that man, he even tried to save him, he really tried and failed victim of a treason.
He looked for some light on the dark night outside the thick walls of his cell, maybe the moon could take part of his suffering with her gentle light; maybe the spirits of the forest would be happy with a new friend to live in peace among them.
“Moon, Queen of the dark skies, please have mercy on the loyal and honorable Harry Hart…”
Before he could finish his prayer, a small package was tossed through the bars of his cell from outside.
It was small and it smells like food. His shaking hands open the paper ball and find a loaf of bread and a piece of cheese.
Who would help a soul in distress after losing all in life, even its freedom?
There were letters on the papers. He reaches the window of his cell and under the light of the moon the message unfolds itself.
“I haven’t given up on you yet.
P.”