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BEAUTIFUL DAWN
This is a continuation of Eithne's story as well as Anna's non-biological twin - for those who have read Strange Fate it will probably be alot clearer - if anyone wants me to clarify anything feel free to ask
...X
p.s. i love reviews /hint hint/
With a victorious grunt he pulled himself up and looked over the cliff edge triumphantly. A sheer drop bellowed out below him gloriously. Almost inviting he thought… He gave it a moments thought then grabbed a rock jutting out of the mountainside, and swung out off the cliff above the yawning earth. Lithely his hands found a hold on the sharp jutting rocks as his bare feet propelled his form upwards. It was as though he were made for it… The air was cold here, and as pure as the snow that graced the highest mountains…
Finally reaching the top he stopped for a second to gather every ounce of strength, then he hauled himself over the peak and looked down below him…This was what he lived for… the peace… the solitude… people were cumbersome…they bored him with their frivolous ways… cultures and attitudes… so stuck were they in their habits so insipid and selfish they had forgotten the true meaning to their lives…
He was thus engulfed in his thoughts when a sharp shrill scream pierced the air. Freezing like a stalked creature he listened to the wind which carried the sound… Then located it… somewhere halfway downside the mountain... but which fool would be out in this weather?? Stupid hunters… he should let them freeze to death… but then he listened ever more carefully… it was a cry for help… a lonely voice full of sorrow… his heart clutched in his chest for a moment at the sound of despair… it was a woman.
Cursing he started his hazardous descent…
“Hush..” she whispered soothingly, “all will be well… all will be well..”
She closed her own eyes and leaned back against the wall of the carriage finding solace in the tiny warmth coming from her child. Enya was having trouble sleeping for a few nights now, dark circles formed below her sweet round eyes, her face paler than usual.
Nightmares had plagued her, fears of the journey they were taking, she was suffering also from the loss of her friend Mirietna and all the others at Nulan. For the short time they were there she had settled so well it had surprised Eithne, and now once again they were running.
Sighing she ran a finger through her daughters locks. The girl stirred again and Eithne started to hum.
She felt Enya relax and slip away into slumber. Sighing heavily she looked up to see Remus smiling at her unsurely. Eithne nodded but unable to return the smile she looked away through the carriage window.
The boy was growing taller and taller every day, his shaggy mane of untameable impossibly black hair growing to locks falling around his hair giving him an older appearance that belied his age. Enya had attached herself to him in so steadfast a manner she knew if anything happened to the boy the girl would suffer terribly.
“Remus”, she heard her voice come out thinly, the boy looked at her a gentle questioning look in his dark grey eyes.
“How soon before we reach Remus?”
Eithne had watched him continuously go to help the coach driver, letting him rest for short lengths of time, taking food and drink to him, he had a helpful nature the boy did.
He turned his eyes to the window taking in the full moon and the blanket of stars in the sky.
“Twoud be arount half a fortnight afore we reach our destination Eithne”. He smiled at her his eyes warm and consoling. “Tis not long now… as soon as we reach upon the edge of this forest there are a few villages bordering it… mayhap we could stay at an inn?” he asked suggestively as he looked at Enya’s sleeping form.
Eithne followed his gaze to her daughter and sighed heavily.
“Yes… the lord knows we need the rest”.
She leaned back and tried to stretch her legs without disturbing Enya… she hoped they left these woods behind them soon… the feeling of being closed in by trees all around them with no escape except onwards through the path in front of them was unpleasant, she shivered.
It had been in a forest where she and her husband had been ambushed. The memory of him made her gulp and she felt as though there were a huge gulf in her being. All the feelings and memories she had had for him suddenly assaulted her in one blow and thankful for the darkness around her she silently let her tears fall.
Edwin had been the only link to her past. She smiled tremulously. As children they’re families were neighbours their friendship so close they were always there to help one another, through the droughts, the cold winters the times of bad harvest.
She sighed pushing her hand over her hair smoothing them down remembering the memories so sweet it almost made her bitter with their loss. Her parents, her younger brother Ben, the little cottage they lived in at the top of the hill. The winding path down the hill, the one she used to skip down picking daisies with Ben toddling after her.
A tremulous smile covered her face as she remembered the pranks Edwin pulled on her. A spider here, a dead lizard there, she had always gone running to his grandfather crying and in hysterics. The old wrinkly man would swing her up and onto his shoulders then ask her where the troublesome half wit was… together they would find him and Edwin would be dragged back to the house by the ear to offer a heartfelt apology in front of the whole family, he would blush so hard his ears would turn a hot red.
That always made her laugh and shyly she’d offer her hand in a truce of peace. At first he’d eye her hand almost suspiciously then slowly a smile would creep onto his face and he’d pull out a daisy she had picked earlier from his back pocket.
At this point his grandfather would start muttering telling him to marry the girl and stop making such a damn fool of himself. His parents used to click their tongues disapprovingly then Edwin’s mother would tell him to escort the little girl home.
A warm light entered Eithne’s eyes as the realisation formed itself in her mind. In their youth they hadn’t known it but looking back know she knew with a jolt of certainty both her and Edwin’s parents particularly his grandfather had a hand to play with them getting married.
The proposal of course hadn’t been addressed to her first, Edwin being close to her father had asked his permission first. Rolling her eyes she smiled a watery smile.
Edwin and Iager, his twin brother had gotten up to all sorts of mischief in their youth, though Edwin had reformed Iager had stayed the same, too wild for home he had upped and left taking his horse a small purse of money when he was old enough. She had not heard of him since.
As for Edwin, they had married when they were still young, they had Eithne and were so happy folk said they were the towns pride.
It was then that everything had fallen to pieces. A most deadly disease came to the small town spreading to all, young and old. Her hands started shaking a little as in her minds eye she saw her parents and Edwins getting sicker and worse, eventually they had died. Edwin’s grandfather was the last to pass away and had told them to leave the place and save themselves whilst they still could.
They had gathered all their belongings and made they’re way as soon as they could. For her it had been a year of sorrow for she lost almost everyone she had ever held dear to her heart. Soon after during their travels they had been ambushed by bandits, when one had tried to throw himself on Eithne Edwin had stepped in and got killed. She had managed to escape with a tiny Enya, still yet a small babe, in her arms.
From there she had continued distraught and in a terrible condition whence she had come across Mirietna. The girl had been riding on her horse like a wild child when she had heard Enya’s delightful coos. Enya had found a succulent strawberry and was nibbling away at it.
Mirietna had fallen completely and rapturously in love with the child and had taken them both in, taking personal care of them and healing their hearts and minds. Slowly Eithne had felt herself come out of her tight shell and she started to open up to Mirietna, telling her of her life story, which she found had been the hardest task she had ever faced.
“Eithne?” Shaken out of her reverie she looked at the dark shadow of Remus in front of her.
“Yes?” she asked lightly and felt something drop in her hands. In the dark she was unable to see it but as she lifted up she felt the material and realised it was a sweet smelling cloth. Her heart jolted in her cheast as her eyes flew to where he had been sitting.
How had he known she was crying?
She heard him lean back and a moment later start to snore lightly. How had the boy known? The question pounded itself in her mind restlessly. She could never understand him… Unless he could see in the dark?? Shaking her head restlessly she refused to upset her already disturbed mind.
As though sensing her unease the carriage suddenly jolted and shook. Grabbing the door handle Eithne’s panic stricken eyes searched out Remus’s in darkness of the carriage
Awoken by the jolt Remus jumped up, steadying himself he climbed out of the window to where the driver sat.
Jolts of panic ran through her being as she recognised the haunting sounds from her nightmares. She clutched tightly to her chid as she heard men shouting swords unleashing. The carriage was slowing coming joltingly to a halt.
“Gods.. Gods… Gods please have mercy… have mercy..” she whispered fervently feeling a cold sweat break out over her skin. Her heart was hammering so hard in her chest it almost hurt.
Distantly she heard her hitching breaths… gods help them. Seeing a dark shadow fall over her window she shrank into a corner holding a still sleeping Enya tightly in her clutch.
“Oh please”, she whispered, “please just go away… leave me alone…” she begged helplessly her eyes wide with horror as she watched the bear take a mighty swipe at her only weapon. Her mouth dropped open as she watched it fly out of her reach as though it were a mere twig.
Swallowing she backed away slowly her palms held up before her her eyes darting in panic from the bear to its claws then back trying to but completely unable to think for the fear clogged her mind thickly, blocking out reason.
The creature took another swipe and she screamed in pain as she felt its dagger like claws slice through her flesh.
Sobs overtook her as she dragged herself through the blood stained snow, pain and cold wracking through her body as nothing else could.
She tried to tell herself this was not the end. It could not be. Surely her life was worth more than just a meal to some foreign bear.
She sobbed the action causing her to jerk her head upwards.
Then she saw it…. Something moving in the distance… much much higher up… maybe just maybe…
Screams pierced the air as her flesh was cut to ribbons, the pain searing through her as though her very soul were alight with the heat of a thousand torches.
Black spots covered her vision and she knew her time had come.
So her life had been meaningless.
With no past… no present… how could she have even thought of a future?
With deep sorrow she surrendered, closing her eyes to embrace the darkness.
Like it blankets the night sky … she let it envelope her in its shadows.