Help comes when you need it most

It took them two days to reach the port town due west of Green Hollow, where both Tom and Torail disembarked in order to travel with all haste to the halls of the Gyrfalcon. It would take them almost three to reach a safe place along the north west coast where they could come on shore and head south towards the lake. Chaise stood at the bow of the Deadly Nightshade ship as it cut through the waves. He looked out across the great expanse of water as the moonlight melted across the blackness towards the ship until the waves were broken at the ship’s keel and the moonlight was shattered into a thousand glittering gems on the water’s surface.

It was the night before they landed on the north coast, and he could not sleep. Nightmares plagued his waking world as well as his sleeping. All was silent for the few crew members manning the navigation and the whisper of the wind around him. Looking out into the vast darkness Chaise felt worry consume him for his young daughter lost out there somewhere, and he longed for the warmth of his wife’s embrace. Seeing her twin before him, having the hope that Alina may have somehow been returned to her and then having it viciously ripped away was heart breaking. Seeing the same face and same smile before him so clearly made the loss again so close and painful. Pools of tears appeared at the corner of his vision as he leant forward against the ship and lost himself to his memories.

Rob stood on the deck and looked forward toward the lone figure leant forward over the bow of the ship. Gripping the soft material of Chaise’s cloak in his hands he hesitated, remember the anger he had last seen in his friend’s eyes. He did not want to be in that situation again. He stood still for a while watching as Chaise’s body shivered with silent sobs and the cold until he had made up his mind.

Approaching him cautiously, he deliberately cleared his throat when some distance still from him. As expected, Chaise started, having not heard his approach. Quickly looking down, Rob had the graciousness to look away as Chaise wiped his eyes of the wetness. As Chaise looked back at him, Rob nervously cleared his throat again and looked down to his own hands. Holding out the green cloak he spoke hoarsely.

“I thought you may be cold.” Silently Chaise nodded and received his cloak, holding it in his open hand as Rob came next to him and leant against the balustrade, gazing outwards as Chaise had done.

They stood, side by side in silence for a time before Chaise turned and looked upon his friend.

“Forgive me.”

Rob hesitated only briefly before turning towards him, his head still hung. “For what my lord?” Chaise sighed as he reached out and placed his free hand upon his shoulder.

“Rob,” still he did not match his gaze so he repeated himself more forcefully, and this time Rob’s shining eyes rose and met Chaise’s. “Rob, forgive me. I have not been myself, and I have acted, and spoken..” Rob broke in as Chaise spoke by raising his hand.

“My friend, there is nothing to forgive.”

Placing his own hand upon Chaise’s shoulder he smiled warmly towards him before pulling him into an embrace.

“I miss her terribly Rob.” Chaise mumbled into Rob’s shoulder where he stood. Rob rose his head and blinked rapidly.

“ I know Chaise, as do I.” Pushing Chaise away to arms length Rob gazed at him through teary eyes. “Now put that cloak on before you catch a cold.”

Chaise laughed meekly as he obliged swallowing the tears that threatened again. Both men turned again to look out over the water as the eastern sky slowly lightened and they made their way onwards. “Trust you to be a mother hen.” He spoke jokingly.

Rob smiled to hear his friend before replying in the same jest. “Well someone has to look after you!”

Lia awoke to a cold sensation spreading across her back. Coming back to her senses she realised she was lying spread eagle on a cold and wet stone floor, and the puddle water was slowly saturating her tunic back. Curling up into herself she remembered the fight that had ended with her being knocked out, and hesitantly she reached around to the back of her head where she had been hit. In the dim light she could make out the gleam of crimson liquid coating her fingers as she held her hand out before her.

Pushing herself to her feet she slowly moved over to the only window, and standing on her tip toes she could rest her chin on the sill and look out past the bars. The land outside was dark but for the dawn light that penetrated from the eastern horizon where the sky had a light pink tinge. In the twilight she could make out the curve of the river far below running through the dense forest out towards the distant gorge where she had been mere days before.

Moving across the damp floor, she tried the heavy door and was unsurprised to find it held firm. Peering out of the thin slit of a window in the door she saw a long dark corridor darkening away either side from the doorway.

A sense of frustration spread over her as she began to pace back and forth across the tiny cell until all she felt was a hollow helplessness. She did not know how long it was she paced the floor before she heard a voice approaching along the corridor, one she thought was familiar.

“And now that we have her she will be our bait, it will not be long before her pathetic father follows her,” she knew that voice, Marcus. “And then they both shall be dead, and you shall have the throne as your almighty father before you should have had.”

Seething with anger, Lia moved so that she could see the figures through the slit. Marcus had his back to the door, but as he moved the second person spoke, and Lia felt her breath catch in her throat.

“Yes Sir.”

There before her stood the wild boy from the mountains that had saved her life. Raising his eyes to look through the door through the door, Garrow’s placid facade faltered for a mere second as his eyes connected with hers. Marcus too had looked towards where Lia stood, bathed in the light of the torch he carried, stood in her ragged and filthy clothes, and Marcus scoffed.

“First the King’s daughter, and then the King!”

Lia growled as she moved swiftly to the door and grasped desperately at the bars in the window, heaving fruitlessly, causing Marcus to laugh more before moving away.

“Come boy.” Looking to Marcus, Garrow nodded.

“Yes sir.” He began to move away along the corridor following the dwindling light that Marcus carried. Lia, stood grasping the metal bars felt her chance slip away from her and risked everything.

“No! Release me” Both Marcus and Garrow spun on their heels at the sound of her voice. The older man merely laughed scornfully to her before disappearing round the corner, but Garrow stood for a moment longer, and in that moment he locked eyes with her and winked, before he too disappeared from her sight.