Hope's Rebirth--Part 2

Here is the conclusion!

          “Watch out for that-“

          “Ouch!”  Adabella grasped her shin in pain.

          “-stump,” Viho finished. 

          “I am alright.  Just give me a moment,” she balanced on one leg and rubbed the other soothingly. 

          Viho leaned against a tree and watched her, amused.  “You were the one who insisted on coming.”

          “And you were the one who did not mention we were going all the way to Carnan.”

          “A small detail.”

          “A detail that is over a week’s travel away.”

          “Like I said, a small detail.” 

          She placed her other foot back on the ground and moved onward again.  “Next time I will drag every single detail out of you before I take one step forward.”

          He fell in step beside her.  “Warning taken.”

          The crack of a twig sounded nearby.  Before she could stop herself she had an arrow to her bow and was raising it. 

          Viho grabbed her arm.  “It is just a deer.  And at the moment I don’t think we want to have one to skin and cook.”

          “Oh.”  She tried the smile.  “I thought perhaps it was…” Her voice trailed off.

          “Was what?”

          “An Odisunus.”

          “They are here?” irritated, he glared at her.  “Why haven’t you told me this already?  The Maligno is one thing to watch for, the Odisunus is another.”

          “I’m sorry…I just didn’t think of it.”

          Viho tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.  “It’s alright.  We’ll just have to keep a closer look out than we have been.

v   

          Bedraggled and weary, Adabella stopped and took a deep breath, then wrinkled her nose.  The overpowering scent of fires, burned food, and unwashed bodies was enough to make her gag.  “I would say we are there.”  They stood on the edge of a road that ran beside the large encampment and disappeared within the city walls. 

          Still partly concealed by bushes and trees, she turned to Viho, “You ready?”

          He raised one eyebrow and then stepped out onto the road.  They had long since been challenged by sentries and given permission to pass. 

          Puffs of dust rose up around their feet as they made their way past the camp and towards Carnan.  They had been given strict instructions to go straight to headquarters and make their presence known.  Any deviation from those instructions would result in death.  From the look in the man’s eyes, Adabella had no doubt he meant what he said.

          The walls of the city rose up high and formidable.  Up above sentries paced up and down, their eyes searching for the approach of the enemy.  At the gate they were stopped once again before they were directed towards a small, stone building right within the walls. 

          After a quick interrogation, Viho was sent to the training field while Adabella was sent to help the other women in a nearby courtyard. 

          “Yes,” a large women placed her hands on her hips and looked her over, “What do you want?”

          Women, going to and fro, glanced at Adabella then moved on.  “I was told I needed to come see you.”

          “Ah yes.  Someone else to help.  Well, the more the hands the better I suppose.  Do you know how to use that?”  She motioned to the bow and arrows.

          Adabella nodded mutely.

          “Well, then, you can go hunt for food if you like.  We are in continual need of it, and it frees up a few of the men to train.”

          Relief flooded her body.  Hunting was something she knew she could do.  “It would be a pleasure.”

v   

          Darkness had fallen over the camp before Adabella was free to go look for Viho.  After scouring the camp she headed towards the woods.  Perhaps he didn’t get enough of them during our long hike.  She smiled.  “Viho?” she called into the trees.

          There was no answer.  She took a few steps into the dark folds of the woods.  A familiar smell filled her nose.  Sulphur.  Run!  Her body screamed.  Before she was able to take a step, a dark shape loomed over her, its eyes shining like flames.  The feeling of evil poured out from it, swallowing her.

          The Maligno drew his sword, the moonlight flickering off it.  

          She grasped for her bow and arrow.  “Viho!” 

          The sword swept down on a deadly arc towards her head. 

          She threw herself backwards.  Pain stabbed up her arm.

          He drew near and a dry chuckling sound filled the air. 

          Her shaky fingers sent an arrow flying through the darkness.  She heard a curse as it connected.  Behind her the thud of feet approached.  The dark shape melted silently back into the woods.  Her body began to shake.

          “Ada!” Viho grabbed her shoulder.  “Are you hurt?”  More men swarmed around them and further into the forest. 

          It took a moment for her dry mouth to respond.  “It was a Maligno.”

          His face tensed, but his hands remained gentle as he guided her back into the camp and into the city.  Her feet stumbled along, her mind numb.  She could hear voices and feel more hands guiding her, but it all felt a long way off.  Everything went black and she knew no more.

v   

          A mist swirled around her hiding from view the enemies that she knew surrounded her.  She was going to die on this field all alone.  She reached for an arrow but her hands came away empty.  “No!” she cried into the mist.  “You must at least give me a chance!”  Laughter met her words as dark shapes began to close in. 

          “Help!” her voice sounded hollow and empty. 

          The mist grew dark until all she could see were those flaming eyes steadily moving closer.  Then, a spot of light appeared in the distance.  Her eyes widened. “It can’t be!”  The unicorn nickered loudly as it proudly cantered towards her, its horn glowing in a myriad of colors. 

          The enemies around her cried out and fled as the unicorn grew closer.  It stopped in front of her, its body the color pearls.  It lowered its nuzzle until it touched her forehead.  Come.  The word flitted through her mind.

          The unicorn turned, its mane and tale flowing behind it. 

          “Come?  Come where?” 

          The unicorn did not answer, but continued to move away.

v   

         

          Adabella’s eyes flew open.  Her breath came in great gasps.  She slowly sat up.  The cot beneath her let out a small squeak.  After being attacked by the Maligno, they must have put her in one of the houses.  In truth she could not remember.  But at the moment, she did not care.  Her mind was reliving the dream.

          “Adabella!” the door burst open.  Viho staggered in, blood dripping from his arm.  “They need you up on the wall with the archers!”

          She vaulted to her feet.  “What?!” then the sounds coming from outside the building registered.  They were the sounds of battle.  “B-but you are hurt!”

          “It is just a scratch.  Now get going.”  He shoved her bow and arrows into her hands and together they ran down the street, weaving around wounded men and animals.  “Up there!”  He pointed up a small, narrow staircase that led to the top of the wall.

          “Wait, where are you going?” 

          “I have to get back to the fighting.”  He turned to head towards the gate.

          “No!  You are not going without me!”

          “Don’t be stubborn!  It’s madness out there, you would only get killed.”  With that he disappeared through the gate.

          No!  This can’t be happening!  I’m not ready!  “I must be ready!”

          As she turned to go up the stairs, a voice filled her mind.  Come.  With those words, a gentle force pulled her towards the gate. 

          What is going on?!  But, in a moment, the force disappeared, and she was left standing feebly beside the gate.  I don’t understand. 

          Come. 

          Something deep within her stirred and everything around her grew dark, then lightened.  The sounds of battle no longer rang in her ears.  Instead, she stood in a small cabin where a fire crackled loudly.

          A mother sat rocking silently watching a young girl solemnly looking into the fire’s flames.  “Someday, I will find them.  And then I will bring them back.”  The child’s voice whispered. 

          As the image faded away, the words continued to go through her mind.  I will bring them back.  I will bring them back. 

          “I was too young to understand.  I can’t bring them back.”  Adabella weakly leaned against the cold, rock wall of the city. 

          You can.  Come.

          Something that could not be explained was calling her. 

          Once again she felt herself being pulled towards the gate.  This time she gave in and went through the wooden doors.  The moment she was outside, her pace picked up to a dead run.  No matter how she tried to still her feet they continued to pull her through the fighting and towards the woods. 

          Sweat covered every inch of her body and her breath came in ragged gasps.  But some unseen power fed strength into her legs.  So, she ran.  The mountains once again seemed to call her to them.  Then, when she was sure that she would never be free from this power, she entered a clearing.  In the center sat a small, clay pitcher and a bowl. 

          Pour. 

          With rubbery legs she walked over to it.  Slowly, her fingers trembling, she poured.  A colorful liquid fell out of the pitcher and into the bowl, and as it fell, a beautiful sound filled the air.  It was not music, but something more rich and vibrant. 

          The weariness in Adabella’s body washed away and was replaced with joy and excitement. 

          As the last of the liquid flowed into the bowl, a power, greater than anything Adabella had yet experienced, filled the clearing.  As it did so, a light as bright as the sun exploded from the bowl, sending her flying backwards.  Sparkling rainbows shot up into the air, glittering light falling from their tips. 

          You have done it!  Voices filled her mind to over flowing as she huddled on the ground stunned. 

          What were they?  Where were they coming from?  Then she knew.  Out of the light stepped a unicorn.  More beautiful and magnificent then she could have ever imagined.  His horn was pure white, as was his body.  Behind him, more unicorns appeared.  Their horns glittered with color. 

          “Prepare yourself for battle!” the one in the lead reared up, pawing the air. 

          Adabella lay, opened mouthed, her body filled to the brim with delight.

          The unicorn pranced over to her, the thump of his hooves matching the thumping of her heart.  “My name is Aurea Siri.  You may ride me.  We must quickly get to the battle or else all will be lost.”

          No more words were needed to display the urgency of the matter.  She leapt onto his back and moved with the rhythm of his hooves.

          As they ran through the forest everything turned new.  Flowers sprang up from the forest’s floor, filling the ground with color, trees budded, and the grass turned green.  

          How beautiful.  That was the only way she could describe it.

          The trees before them gave way to an empty battle field.  The battle was now taking place within the walls of Carnan, leaving twisted and torn bodies laying everywhere. 

          Her head bowed with grief. 

          “Do not grieve.” 

          As the words were spoken, the bodies of the enemies disappeared, while at the same time, the bodies of those that had fought for the uprising rose to their feet.  Their eyes widened in shock at the sight of the unicorns then grew joyful.  Cheers filled the air.  “They have returned!  The unicorns have returned!”

          Aurea Siri plunged through the field and up to the city’s gates.  They fell away before them to reveal fierce fighting.  At first they went unnoticed.  Then a wild cry of fear came from one side, and a cry of joy from the other.  “They have returned!”

          Unicorns plunged around Aurea Siri and into the city.  Their enemies, in fear, fled through the city, trying to find a hiding place where none was.    

          “Adabella!” a familiar voice cried out.

          “Viho!” she leapt from the unicorn’s back, “They are back, Viho, they are back!”  She threw her arms around him, tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks.  The unicorns were back.  And with them, hope and joy.