The Lost Explorer (An Atlantis Fanfiction)

Chapter Two: A Slave

Chapter Two: A Slave

The days melted into one for Helga, it was the same, she was left alone most of the time. With Natala appearing now and again to check her healing, or offer her broth. Malakas would materialize occasionally speaking to her for a few moments or simply attending to her...

There was another, the girl that had been there that first day, occasionally she came with Natala, but she simply stood in a corner and glared. It wasn't until Malakas made one of his visits to her did Helga even discover her name.

" Víbora, she does not trust you. Your kind." He said simply, he always talked like that, not ever addressing anything, just stating.

"I gathered." Helga returned, she could sit up now, and feed herself, according to Natala she would soon be strong again.

"My sister, she is like my father before he became the past. They do not like change, or anything new." Malakas explained, his blue eyes traveling to the various articles hung up on the walls before turning his attention back to her.

Helga made a huffing sound, it sounded like a lot of people she used to know.

"What of you Helga? Do you like change?" He asked suddenly, catching her eyes. She was surprised at the question, and shrugged her shoulders.

"I adapt." She answered, feeling that was closest to the truth. Malakas nodded his head again, his face suddenly going serious as he seemed to remember something.

"At the rise of the next sun I must take you before the Queen." He said, looking back at her as though expecting some sort of reaction. Instead Helga's expression simply got grim.

"So what happens?" She asked, trying to sound casual. Malakas shrugged at that, though Helga got the idea he simply didn't want to tell her.

"It is all in the Queen's eyes." He answered, as though that somehow explained everything.

All to soon he left, and Natala returned, shaking her head slightly.

"You're face is flushed, he should not keep you talking so long." She commented, moving about the room capably.

"I'm fine." Helga answered, running a hand through her hair, glad she could move without pain. Natala made a sound in her throat, something between a snort and a chuckle.

"You are simply used to the pain... The body cannot heal on demand." She responded, coming over and holding a hand out. Helga looked at it suspiciously, raising her eyebrows.

"Take my hand Child, let us see how you have come." Helga didn't want to, but she certainly couldn't refuse, so she put her own hand in Natala's wrinkled one, and swung her legs on the side of the pallet.

Her bare feet touched the floor cautiously, and she found herself gripping Natala's hand as she struggled to remember how exactly she was supposed to stand.

"Slow." Natala cautioned, using her own hand to pull Helga forward. Finally she was shakily standing on her own two legs. Helga let out a little sound of surpise when she finally straightened herself, she couldn't help but smile.

"Good Child, good." Was all Natala said, but there was a pleased look on her face. Helga glanced at the older woman before swallowing. Carefully she put her left foot out in front of her, easing her weight onto it. Then she brought her right forward, it dragged on the ground slightly, but she moved it nonetheless.

And so she went carefully, gaining confidence with each step, until she released her grip on Natala's hand and could stand alone. Perhaps too much confidence, because she tried to take a normal step and lost her balance. She would have fallen to the floor had another person just entered the room, so instead of the floor Helga collided with a solider chest.