Laeleth ran frantically through the dense overgrowth. She had heard the sounds of a fight beginning, and had not waited to see the outcome. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her body covered in cold beads of sweat. She could hardly see in the dim light this deep within the trees.
She had not heard anyone come into the forest after her. She had to stop, she could hardly breathe. Laeleth walked slower and slower trying to catch her breath, but every step that took her away from Gabriel sent a shock of pain through her heart.
He must have been outnumbered or he would never have told her to run. He was afraid of no man, especially that scoundrel Brenner! Why was Brenner here? Was it true they had Laevon?
All of the dreadful premonitions she had known before now settled again on her soul.
Her spirit was failing, but her feet would not stop. She stumbled about as if in a stupor with no idea or direction of where she was going. She had left all their remaining supplies behind in her flight. All she had with her now was her satchel and the crossbow that never left her side.
But she was alone - separated again from everyone and everything she loved. The misery of it all finally overwhelmed her like a crushing blow.
Laeleth let herself collapse to her hands upon the forest floor. The hard earth resisted her beneath the freshly fallen leaves. She hung her head as intense despair, grief, and anger flooded her entire soul. She should never have left him. She should have stayed and fought with him! They had been separated ...
Laeleth’s thoughts grew more despondent the longer she remained. Maybe it would have been better to let him go alone after all. It was all her fault they had not made better time. If Gabriel had not been so concerned with her comfort and health they could have been over the mountains by now. All of her despair had quickly turned into loathing towards herself. She clenched the leaves beneath her hands and they crumbled into dust. She feared something terrible had happened to him. She would never forgive herself for this.
In utter defeat she began to sob, her entire being wracked with grief and rage … but now there was no one to comfort her.
Laeleth lay on her back on the carpet of red and gold leaves, staring up at the hazy sunlight.
If Gabriel was gone she did not want to live. He was her existence. No one she had ever known understood her so completely or had sacrificed so much to save her.
As the gentle air of the forest wafted around her she felt either entirely numb or at absolute peace.
The birds had begun their subtle, morning song and the forest was now less haunting. The changing colors of the scattered deciduous leaves, as they were kissed by the light, were beautiful to see.
Laeleth recalled that autumn day she had ventured too far from home … that first day she had met Gabriel. It was almost like she had been here before – in another time and place. Why did things feel so familiar?
She noticed an unusual movement over her head and then a flash of brilliant white. Laeleth sat up suddenly as her curiosity got the better of her fatigue and sorrow.
As she glanced around the small area she saw it again - a glimmer - only a quick flash as though it had been a refraction of the light.
She waited as she held her breath. There was something magical, unexplainable, and of a fantastic nature here, and she anticipated its arrival.
And then, in an unforgettable moment, a butterfly flitted across her line of sight.
But not just a butterfly - it was the butterfly – the one she had followed before in her wayward curiosity.
Its wings were a shade of bright, iridescent white with sparkling silver thread along the veins. It was the most mesmerizing and gorgeous creature she had ever beheld and certainly as captivating now as it had been all that time ago. What could its arrival mean? Was it a sign?
Laeleth dared not move as she was under a spell of enchanted wonder. It landed on a low hanging branch next to her and remained there, gently fanning its wings.
